Dex

2026-08-22

I dug out "Dex" from my Switch collection. I bought it don't know how long ago but never even started. Well. That's fixed now. I was planning on running it once and putting aside, but I found it interesting enough to continue. Hard to say now if it's an RPG lite or an action-adventure game with a more elaborate stats system. Or maybe a beefed-up cinematic platformer. In any case, it's fun. And visually appealing. I think I'll go with a charming picklocker-hacker build.

All the characters are handdrawn and all the dialogues are voiced over, save for our replies. Animation frames are scarce and it seemed bad when I was watching videos about the game, but within the game it actually works for better, giving it the 1990s flavour. Cutscenes are static images with dialogues, which further enforce this impression.

2026-08-24

I chose casual combat and I'm not getting my ass handed to me, and after "Dead Cells" it's not so terribly difficult to hit an enemy and roll on their other side and hit again. And so on, and so on, until they're dead. I often sneak and choke them from behind. This could be tougher with normal fights, but I'm not here for fights. I've been exploring all the quests and places and talking to all the NPCs. Having fun.

The charismatic lockpicking hacker build has been working out fine for me.

I read that the game was released a bit too early originally and was bugged. But the Switch version, subtitled "Enhanced Version", came up 5 years later and I don't record any bugs. This has always been Switch's advantage. You wait a couple of years and you get a game with all the addons and Quality of Life stuff. If they made the port properly.

2026-08-25

The game crashed yesterday and I had to restart it. I guess it was running for too long.

2026-08-30

I finished "Dex" yesterday. I went into the final section of the game only to learn that there are two more. After all the non-linear and RPG-like first half, the game suddenly changed more into a cinematic platformer. Not that it's a bad thing. I got to make some ethical choices and express my loyalties. It's my understanding that there are two endings, but there are many plot forks on the way that one can build their own story.

Note: There are three endings in fact, though, depending on choices in the game only two of them are available at the end.

Gameplay-wise, "Dex" reminded me of "The Way Remastered" that I played a couple of years ago. It's also available for Switch if you're interested. Vibe-wise, the game reminded me of the middle part of "Flashback". The one where we have to earn money to take a part in a competition to win a ticket off the planet. And world-wise, it brought fond memories of "Beneath the Steel Sky".

I liked the soundtrack. One track, I think from Afterlight Boulevard, reminded me of "Halt And Catch Fire". It's a typical background music, although I caught myself whistling some themes after playing. Good news is it's available on Tidal. And other platforms.