Fur-Fun

Fur-Fun is a 3D platformer that pays homage to classic 90s games like Banjo-Kazooie and Yooka-Laylee. Originally launched as a Kickstarter project called Kewpie-Jazzy, the game features a cat and parrot duo embarking on an adventure, with a focus on cooperative gameplay. Developed by DokyCamp and Dalas Games, Fur-Fun offers a mix of exploration and platforming challenges, though it has faced controversy over alleged similarities to other titles and accusations of asset theft.

Fur-Fun: A Controversial Homage or a Cynical Cash Grab?

Introduction

In the annals of video game history, few titles have sparked as much controversy, debate, and outright vitriol as Fur-Fun. Released in 2017 by Dalas Games, this 3D platformer was ostensibly designed as a love letter to the golden age of collectathon platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Yooka-Laylee. However, its legacy is not one of fond nostalgia but of allegations of plagiarism, unpaid labor, and a developer’s inability to handle criticism. This review will dissect Fur-Fun in exhaustive detail, exploring its development history, narrative (or lack thereof), gameplay mechanics, and the storm of controversy that ultimately defined its place in gaming culture.

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Development History & Context

The Birth of Kewpie-Jazzy

Fur-Fun began life under a different name: Kewpie-Jazzy. Launched as a Kickstarter campaign in September 2016 by the Spanish studio DokyCamp, the project was pitched as a “3D Platformer Rare-Style!”—a clear nod to the beloved Banjo-Kazooie series. The campaign sought €92,000 but raised a paltry €656 from 36 backers, a resounding failure that seemed to spell the end of the project.

The Kickstarter page itself was mired in controversy. Critics noted striking similarities between Kewpie-Jazzy’s campaign and that of Yooka-Laylee, the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie developed by Playtonic Games. While DokyCamp claimed the similarities were merely structural—”inspired by” rather than copied—the resemblance was uncanny. Headers, phrasing, and even the layout of the page bore a suspicious resemblance to Yooka-Laylee’s campaign, leading to accusations of plagiarism.

The Dalas Intervention

Enter Dalas, a Spanish YouTuber with over 4.3 million subscribers on his main channel and 2 million on his gaming-focused channel, WhaTheGame. After the Kickstarter’s failure, Dalas reportedly purchased the rights to the project and rebranded it as Fur-Fun. The game was relaunched on Steam Early Access in February 2017, now marketed as a multiplayer 3D platformer with co-op support.

Dalas’ involvement brought a new level of visibility to the project, but it also introduced a host of new controversies. His public persona was already polarizing, known for inflammatory remarks and a combative attitude toward critics. This reputation would soon bleed into Fur-Fun’s development and reception.

Technological Constraints and the Unreal Engine 4

Fur-Fun was built using Unreal Engine 4, a powerful but complex tool for indie developers. The game’s technical foundation was shaky from the outset, with reports of frequent bugs, poor optimization, and janky physics. The ragdoll system, touted as a selling point in the Steam description, often resulted in unintended hilarity—or frustration—as characters flailed unpredictably during gameplay.

The game’s Early Access status was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it allowed Dalas and his team to iterate on the game based on player feedback. On the other, it exposed Fur-Fun’s rough edges to a wider audience, inviting scrutiny that the developers were ill-prepared to handle.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot: A Thin Veneer of Nostalgia

Fur-Fun’s narrative is, at best, an afterthought. The game’s Steam description promises a “funny intro” and a “very, very funny” final boss, but the actual story is virtually nonexistent. Players control one of two generic animal characters—a cat and a bird—as they traverse a series of levels, collecting coins and battling bosses. There is no overarching plot, no character development, and no meaningful dialogue.

The game’s lack of narrative depth is particularly glaring when compared to its inspirations. Banjo-Kazooie and Yooka-Laylee both feature vibrant worlds, memorable characters, and witty writing. Fur-Fun, by contrast, offers little more than a loose framework for its gameplay mechanics.

Themes: Homage or Theft?

Thematically, Fur-Fun positions itself as a homage to 90s platformers. The developers have repeatedly stated that the game is intended to evoke the spirit of Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot, and other classics. However, the line between homage and outright plagiarism is thin, and Fur-Fun frequently crosses it.

Allegations of Asset Theft

The most damning evidence of Fur-Fun’s questionable practices comes from its use of assets lifted directly from other games. Shortly after its release, players discovered that the game’s files contained music tracks from Banjo-Kazooie, including “Bubblegloop Swamp,” “Mad Monster Mansion,” and “Tooty’s Theme.” These tracks were not merely inspired by the originals—they were identical, albeit slightly compressed.

Dalas initially denied these allegations, claiming that the files were either fabricated or never present in the game. However, independent investigators, including the video game archaeologist OtherEhm, confirmed the presence of these assets in the game’s Early Access build. The tracks were later removed, but the damage to Fur-Fun’s reputation was already done.

Visual and Design Similarities

Beyond the audio, Fur-Fun’s visual design borrows heavily from its inspirations. One level, in particular, bears a striking resemblance to Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts’ “LOGBOX 720,” a stage set inside an Xbox 360 console. The similarities are so pronounced that critics accused Fur-Fun of outright copying the level’s structure and aesthetics.

Additionally, the game’s collectible coins were initially modeled after those from Super Mario World, and its currency system used Minecraft’s gold ingots as placeholders. These elements were later replaced, but their inclusion in the initial release further fueled accusations of laziness and theft.

The Case of DJembe the Meerkat

One of Fur-Fun’s most egregious design choices is the inclusion of DJembe, a meerkat character who bears an uncanny resemblance to Timon from The Lion King. The similarity is so blatant that it borders on copyright infringement. Dalas claimed that he was not involved in DJembe’s creation and that the character was a holdover from the game’s earlier development. However, the inclusion of such a recognizable character—especially in a game already mired in controversy—was a baffling decision.

Dialogue and Tone

Fur-Fun’s writing is juvenile, relying heavily on meme culture and crude humor. Dalas himself provides the voiceover for the game’s narrator, delivering lines with a thick Spanish accent that some players found charming and others found grating. The game’s Steam description is littered with forced humor, including phrases like “HOOOHHMYGODIMSOFUNNY THESE JOKES HFMFG,” which come across as desperate attempts to appeal to a younger audience.

The tone is inconsistent, oscillating between attempts at whimsy and outright immaturity. The game’s lack of a coherent narrative voice makes it difficult to engage with on any meaningful level.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop

At its core, Fur-Fun is a collectathon platformer. Players explore levels, gather coins, and unlock new areas. The game supports up to four players in co-op mode, though the experience is often marred by technical issues and poor level design.

Movement and Controls

The game’s controls are a significant point of contention. Fur-Fun uses a third-person perspective with direct control, but the implementation is clunky. Characters often feel sluggish, and the physics system—particularly the ragdoll mechanics—can make precise platforming a frustrating experience.

The game’s tutorial is minimal, relying on voiceover and crudely drawn signs to explain mechanics. This lack of polish extends to the game’s UI, which is functional but uninspired.

Character Abilities

Fur-Fun features two playable characters, each with unique abilities. However, these abilities are underdeveloped and rarely feel impactful. The cat character, for example, can climb certain surfaces, while the bird can glide. In practice, these mechanics are often more cumbersome than useful, and the game does little to encourage players to experiment with them.

Combat and Enemies

Combat in Fur-Fun is simplistic, consisting primarily of basic attacks and dodging. Enemies are generic and lack the charm or challenge of those found in the games Fur-Fun seeks to emulate. Boss battles, touted as a major feature, are similarly underwhelming, often devolving into repetitive patterns that are easy to exploit.

Multiplayer and Co-op

One of Fur-Fun’s selling points is its support for up to four players in co-op mode. In theory, this could have been a fun way to experience the game with friends. In practice, the multiplayer is plagued by synchronization issues, lag, and a lack of meaningful cooperation mechanics. The game’s levels are not designed with multiplayer in mind, leading to chaotic and often frustrating sessions.

Progression and Unlockables

Progression in Fur-Fun is tied to collecting coins, which unlock new levels and character skins. However, the game’s short length—some players reported beating it in under three minutes—means that there is little incentive to continue playing after the initial run-through. The lack of a meaningful ending or post-game content further diminishes the game’s replay value.

Bugs and Technical Issues

Fur-Fun’s Early Access status is evident in its myriad technical issues. Players reported frequent crashes, physics glitches, and softlocks. One particularly egregious bug allowed characters to fall through the world, resulting in an infinite descent that required a restart.

The developers promised “daily updates” to address these issues, but many bugs persisted throughout the game’s lifecycle. The frequent patches often introduced new problems, leading to a cycle of frustration for players.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Fur-Fun’s world is a hodgepodge of ideas borrowed from other games. Levels range from generic forests to deserts and haunted mansions, but none of these environments feel distinct or memorable. The game’s art style is colorful but lacks the polish and personality of its inspirations.

The game’s attempt at humor is evident in its level design, which occasionally includes references to other games or internet memes. However, these references often feel forced and out of place, contributing to the game’s overall lack of cohesion.

Visual Design

The visual design of Fur-Fun is a mixed bag. On one hand, the game’s use of Unreal Engine 4 allows for detailed environments and character models. On the other, the execution is often sloppy, with textures that appear unfinished and animations that lack fluidity.

The game’s character designs are particularly uninspired. The two main characters—a cat and a bird—are generic, and their animations are stiff. DJembe the meerkat, with his blatant resemblance to Timon, stands out as a particularly egregious example of unoriginal design.

Sound Design and Music

The sound design in Fur-Fun is perhaps the most controversial aspect of the game. As mentioned earlier, the initial release included tracks lifted directly from Banjo-Kazooie. Even after these tracks were removed, the game’s original music failed to impress. The compositions are forgettable, lacking the whimsy and charm of the games they seek to emulate.

Dalas’ voiceover work as the narrator is polarizing. His delivery is often over-the-top, and his Spanish accent can make the dialogue difficult to understand. The game’s reliance on voiceover for its tutorial and other explanations is a double-edged sword, as the poor quality of the narration detracts from the overall experience.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Fur-Fun was met with overwhelming negativity upon its release. On Metacritic, the game holds a user score of 1.3 out of 10, based on 50 reviews. Steam reviews are similarly scathing, with the game earning a “Mostly Negative” rating from players.

Critics and players alike cited the game’s technical issues, lack of originality, and poor design as major flaws. The allegations of asset theft and plagiarism further tarnished the game’s reputation, leading many to dismiss it as a cynical cash grab rather than a genuine homage.

Commercially, Fur-Fun was a failure. Dalas admitted in a Steam community post that the game had “almost no sales at all,” making it impossible to reinvest in further development. The game’s delisting from Steam in 2018 marked the end of its brief and tumultuous lifecycle.

The Developer’s Response to Criticism

Dalas’ handling of criticism was perhaps the most damaging aspect of Fur-Fun’s legacy. Rather than addressing concerns constructively, Dalas and his team often responded with hostility. Critics were banned from the game’s Steam forums, and negative reviews were initially removed. Dalas’ Twitter account, which was used to promote the game, became a battleground, with the developer engaging in heated exchanges with detractors.

The situation escalated when Dalas issued copyright strikes against YouTube videos that criticized Fur-Fun. One notable case involved the YouTuber Mildew, whose video comparing Fur-Fun to Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was temporarily taken down. While the strike was later reversed, the incident further damaged Dalas’ reputation and reinforced the perception that Fur-Fun was a project built on deception.

Influence and Industry Impact

Fur-Fun’s legacy is not one of innovation or influence but of cautionary tale. The game serves as a stark reminder of the pitfalls of Early Access development, particularly when combined with a lack of transparency and an inability to handle criticism.

The controversy surrounding Fur-Fun also highlights the challenges faced by indie developers in an era where crowdfunding and digital distribution have lowered the barriers to entry. While these platforms have democratized game development, they have also made it easier for unscrupulous developers to exploit nostalgia and mislead backers.

In the years since Fur-Fun’s release, the game has become a footnote in gaming history, remembered primarily for its controversies rather than its gameplay. It stands as a testament to the importance of originality, ethical development practices, and the need for developers to engage with their communities in good faith.

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Conclusion

Fur-Fun is a game that will be remembered not for its quality but for its controversies. From its plagiarized Kickstarter campaign to its use of stolen assets, from its unpaid collaborators to its developer’s combative response to criticism, Fur-Fun is a case study in how not to develop and market a video game.

While the game’s intentions—to pay homage to the golden age of 3D platformers—may have been genuine, its execution was fatally flawed. Fur-Fun is a cautionary tale about the dangers of cutting corners, the importance of originality, and the need for developers to engage with their audience with humility and transparency.

In the pantheon of video game history, Fur-Fun occupies a unique and unenviable position. It is not a game that will be fondly remembered or revisited with nostalgia. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the pitfalls that await developers who prioritize expedience over integrity, and ego over engagement.

Final Verdict: 2/10 – A Flawed Homage Marred by Controversy

Fur-Fun is a game that fails on nearly every level. Its technical issues, lack of originality, and the controversies surrounding its development make it difficult to recommend. While it may hold some nostalgic appeal for fans of 90s platformers, its execution is so flawed that any enjoyment is overshadowed by frustration and disappointment. Fur-Fun is a game best left to the annals of gaming history—a cautionary tale rather than a classic.