Kitsune Tails
The Summer of Demos - Day Twelve
I’ve covered a few independent games that wear their influences on their sleeve in this series. Master Key was a Zelda-like that didn’t even make me think I should just be playing Tunic despite its similar hands-off approach and fox protagonist. Bits & Bops felt like it could be a new Rhythm Heaven/Paradise game but still felt like its own thing. When I played Kitsune Tails’ demo, all I could see was Super Mario Bros. 3.
As platformers go, Super Mario Bros. 3 is a favourite of mine and it’s clear that the people at Kitsune Games feel the same way. Between the overworld map, the card matching minigame to get items, the Goomba’s Shoe power-up and the momentum meter in the corner of the screen à la Raccoon Mario, you can’t shake SMB3 from your mind when you play the game. Koopa Troopas are now Pangolins, Hammer Bros. are Tanooki and Goombas are Ants. The lack of a tail swiping ability in your default form did send me to a few deaths.
The most interesting parts are where it diverges, with an early cutscene setting me up for a cave level and veering completely to an Autumnal level. The map changes seasons as you complete new levels but the levels themselves do not change seasons, trapped in an eternal Winter or Spring. The ghost house does subvert expectations pretty well : ghosts will chase you, whether you have your back to them or not, until you’re in the radius of a lamp. You can carry some lamps around but otherwise spend the level dashing between safe zones.
Also of note are the cutscenes between levels. They tell the tale of our protagonist Yuzu starting her life as a messenger and getting close to Akko, the village healer. Arguably a better show for the theatre audience than Luigi jumping around. All the same, Kitsune Tails feels stuck in the shadow of SMB3’s Angry Sun to me, even with the developer’s experience with Kaizo and headline-grabbing forays like Super Bernie World.
As a fan of platformers, I’ll likely try out the full release but despite the demo’s cliffhanger ending, I can’t help but think about just firing up its main inspiration again instead.
In a word : familiar.
Kitsune Tails is an upcoming 2D platformer developed and published by Kitsune Games in collaboration with MidBoss LLC for PC via Steam targeting a 1st of August 2024 release. Ports for the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4/5 and XBox One/Series consoles with Ratalaika Games are planned, as well as an Itch release on PC. Its prequel game Kitsune Zero is available now on PC via Itch and Steam.
This article is part of the Summer of Demos series, where I’ll be releasing a Demo Diving preview article each day in July. If you liked this article, be sure to share it with a friend or enemy. If you back me on Patreon, you get access to articles one day before they release anywhere else. If we reach £25/month before the end of July, I’ll extend the Summer of Demos into August.