Ittle Dew 2
A Zelda-like action-adventure sequel with open dungeon order.
Ittle Dew 2 is an action-adventure game from Swedish indie developer Ludosity. Originally published by Nicalis, it is the follow-up to the 2013 game Ittle Dew. It launched on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 15, 2016. A revised edition called Ittle Dew 2+ arrived on Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2017, and its updates eventually reached the Windows version on May 26, 2019. The Switch is the only platform with a physical copy. On September 20, 2019, publisher Nicalis pulled the game from all digital console stores after a falling-out with the developer, though the Steam release stayed up because Ludosity self-published it there. The game returned to the Nintendo Switch eShop on March 19, 2020, this time self-published by Ludosity.
The story follows protagonist Ittle and her cheerful companion Tippsie, who wash up on a strange island after their raft breaks apart. Their goal is to recover the scattered pieces, fix the raft, and leave.
Gameplay uses an overhead view similar to action-adventure titles like The Legend of Zelda. Players explore a large overworld that connects smaller, isolated areas called dungeons, where most of the action happens. In these dungeons, players fight enemies and solve puzzles, eventually defeating a boss to earn a Raft Piece. There are eight Raft Pieces total, and while a suggested order exists, players can tackle them in any sequence. Scattered across the overworld are caves containing individual puzzles or combat challenges, which may reward collectibles or upgrades.
As in the first game, items found in dungeons aid in combat and puzzle-solving, and some are required to progress. However, because the game is open-ended, each dungeon is designed to be beatable using only the item found inside plus the starting weapon. Every cave can also be cleared without any dungeon items or upgrades. Finding a duplicate of a dungeon item upgrades the player’s existing version. Players can also discover crayon boxes that permanently boost maximum health, collectible cards, and cosmetic outfits for the character.
According to Metacritic, Ittle Dew 2 scored 75 out of 100 on PlayStation 4 and 72 out of 100 on Xbox One. Hardcore Gamer gave it 3.5 out of 5, with reviewer Jeremy Peeples noting it “isn’t perfect, but does smooth out some of the rough edges of its predecessor.” The Indie Game Website awarded it an 8 out of 10.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Ittle Dew 2
- Developer
- Ludosity
- Publisher
- Ludosity / Nicalis (console releases, formerly)
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Linux
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game follows the main protagonist Ittle and her blithe buddy Tippsie, who find themselves stranded on an unfamiliar island after their raft breaks into pieces. Their goal is to recover the pieces, repair the raft, and escape. The gameplay takes an overhead perspective reminiscent of other action-adventure games such as The Legend of Zelda, featuring a large overworld that serves as a hub to access smaller isolated areas called dungeons. The player fights enemies and solves puzzles to progress through these dungeons, and must defeat a dungeon boss to obtain a Raft Piece. There are eight Raft Pieces in total, and although there is a recommended order, the player is free to complete them in any order they choose. Supplementary caves contain smaller individual puzzles or combat challenges and can reward the player with collectibles or upgrades.
Items found in dungeons assist in combat or puzzle-solving, some necessary for progression. However, due to the open nature of the game, the dungeons are designed to be completed with only the item found inside and the weapon the player starts with. Every cave is also completable with no dungeon items or upgrades. Each dungeon item can be found more than once, and finding a duplicate upgrades the player's existing item. Additional collectibles include boxes of crayons that permanently increase maximum health, collectible cards, and cosmetic outfits for the player character.
Reader's Guide
Ittle Dew 2 is notable for its open-ended dungeon structure, allowing players to tackle the eight main dungeons in any order, a design choice that encourages exploration and replayability. The game's removal from digital console platforms in September 2019 due to a breakdown in relations between publisher Nicalis and developer Ludosity marked a significant disruption in its availability, though the Steam release remained accessible. The eventual re-release on the Nintendo Switch eShop in March 2020 under Ludosity's self-publishing restored console access. Reception was moderately positive, with Metacritic scores of 75 for PlayStation 4 and 72 for Xbox One. Hardcore Gamer's Jeremy Peeples gave it a 3.5 out of 5, noting it 'isn't perfect, but does smooth out some of the rough edges of its predecessor.' The Indie Game Website scored it an 8 out of 10. The game's legacy includes its status as a sequel that refined the formula of the original, and its unusual publishing history highlights the volatility of indie game distribution.
Did You Know?
- The Nintendo Switch is the only platform that received a physical release of the game.
- The game was removed from all digital console platforms on September 20, 2019 due to a breakdown in relations between the publisher and developer.
- Ittle Dew 2+ was released for the Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2017.
- The Steam release remained available after the console delisting because it was self-published.
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