Dropsy (video game)

Dropsy is a 2015 point-and-click adventure video game developed by US-based indie developer Tendershoot (pseudonym of Jay Tholen) and indie development studio A Jolly Corpse, and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released on September 10, 2015 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux. The iOS port of Dropsy was released on December 17, 2015. The Nintendo Switch version was released on September 29, 2022.

This article is about the 2015 video game. For other uses, see Dropsy (disambiguation).

Dropsy
Developer(s)
  • Tendershoot
  • A Jolly Corpse
Publisher(s)Devolver Digital
Director(s)
  • Jay Tholen
  • Jesse Bull
Designer(s)
  • Jay Tholen
  • Jesse Bull
Programmer(s)David Walton
Artist(s)
  • Jay Tholen
  • Jesse Bull
Writer(s)
  • Jay Tholen
  • Jesse Bull
Composer(s)
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, OS X, Linux
  • September 10, 2015
  • iOS
  • December 17, 2015
  • Android
  • December 20, 2017
  • Switch
  • September 29, 2022
Genre(s)Point-and-click adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay and plot

Dropsy is a point-and-click adventure centered on a clown named Dropsy. Players control Dropsy while exploring an open world in which they can interact with the environment, solve puzzles, and talk to non-player characters. In the game, Dropsy becomes an outcast after a fire at his family's circus and must work to discover the truth behind it in order to clear his name.[1] The game contains no text, so dialogue is represented by visual icons.[2][3] The game features over 50 minutes of live music composed and performed by Chris Schlarb.

Development

Dropsy began on the Something Awful forums in 2008 as a choose-your-own adventure game illustrated by Jay Tholen about a clown named Dropsy; forum commentators would suggest what the character would do and the choices would be illustrated and added to the story. The character originated from a platform game created by Tholen in 2004.[4] Demand for a playable version of the story increased and so Tholen began designing a game based around the story with the help of some members of the forum.[4] Tholen cites games such as EarthBound, Grim Fandango, and The Neverhood as inspirations for the game.[5] In 2011 a Kickstarter campaign raised $225 USD to fund a software package to help development, followed by another campaign in July 2013 which did not reach its $25,000 USD goal.[2][6] A third campaign, started in October 2013, asked for $14,000 USD and finished with nearly $25,000 USD raised. On October 31, 2013, Tholen released a short horror-themed side game titled Dropsy and the Black Lodge.[7] In November it was announced that Devolver Digital would be publishing the game, providing quality assurance and marketing, but not directing where the Kickstarter funds would be spent.[2] On September 17, 2014, indie studio A Jolly Corpse joined the team.[8] One year later on September 10, 2015, the game was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux.

Reception

The PC version received "favorable" reviews, while the Switch version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. Kelly, Andy (December 30, 2013). "Dropsy first-look: the surreal adventure game that wants you to love the unlovable". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  2. Matulef, Jeffrey (November 21, 2013). "Devolver Digital to publish horrifying, adorable clown-based adventure Dropsy". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  3. Grayson, Nathan (October 25, 2013). "Dropsy Is An Adorable, Grotesque Open-World Adventure". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  4. Gera, Emily (July 17, 2013). "Dropsy: The surreal adventure game the Internet made". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  5. Sullivan, Lucas (July 13, 2013). "Dropsy is weird to the power of clown…in a good way". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  6. Polson, John (July 3, 2013). "Dropsy: a dialogue-free adventure game about a carefree, hands-free clown". IndieGames.com. UBM plc. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  7. Tholen, Jay (October 31, 2013). "Dropsy and the Black Lodge". itch.io. moon coop. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  8. "A Jolly Corpse and Devolver Digital bringing you the Love of a Handless Clown". A Jolly Corpse. Tumblr. September 17, 2014.
  9. "Dropsy for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  10. "Dropsy for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  11. Wilczynski, Alice (September 21, 2015). "Test: Dropsy (PC)". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  12. Allin, Jack (November 16, 2015). "Dropsy review (PC)". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  13. Furniss, Zack (September 15, 2015). "Review: Dropsy (PC)". Destructoid. Gamurs. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  14. Almogi, Gil (September 16, 2015). "Dropsy Review (PC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  15. Espineli, Matt (September 25, 2015). "Dropsy Review (Mac) [date mislabeled as "June 20, 2016"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  16. Estrada, Marcus (September 13, 2015). "Review: Dropsy (PC)". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  17. Morrison, Angus (September 14, 2015). "Dropsy review". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  18. Musgrave, Shaun (October 4, 2022). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Dorfromantik' and 'Dropsy', Plus the Latest Reviews and Sales". TouchArcade. TouchArcade.com, LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  19. Greene, Gavin (September 9, 2015). "Dropsy is lovable despite some ugliness (PC)". VentureBeat. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  20. Orry, Tom (September 15, 2015). "Dropsy Review (PC)". VideoGamer.com. Recero Network. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  21. O'Mara, Matthew (September 22, 2015). "Dropsy Review: Don't judge this clown by his makeup (PC)". National Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
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