The hardcore gamer is a tough one to please. Games such as Demon’s Souls and Bayonetta laid the groundwork for gritty titles such as Bloodborne or Nioh to capture the hearts of gamers looking for that tough-as-nails experience. An unlikely stand-out, however, is Darkest Dungeon by Red Hook Studios. With the eighth generation of consoles coming to a close, we here at Duel Screens wanted to highlight some of our must-play experiences before grabbing your new PS5 or Xbox Series X. This is Duel Screens Selects.
Peril and Suffering
The story of the archetypal “hero” is rarely explored in nuance. Their likes, dislikes, personality, and mentality can all be lost in the heat of constant gameplay. Other times the narrative is weaved within the secrets and details of the game, making it hard to keep track of those not actively looking for each piece. Darkest Dungeon puts this experience above all others making for an engaging and fun experience.
Your heroes go from hired guns to tortured souls after their brave adventures through the dungeon. They come in many interesting shapes and sizes, from traditional Knights and Rogues to Houndmasters and Alchemists, ensuring each adventuring party is packed with personality. While earning riches and artifacts, the perils will wreak havoc on their mind and drain their morale. This normally forces a change within the hero, for better or worse, and other times it may require them to take a bit of a vacation after they return to base. The horror that awaits in these labyrinths, however, is each bit as tough as they are terrifying.
An Air of Melancholy
The atmosphere of Darkest Dungeon is impeccable and nearly every mechanic plays off of it. From the character classes to the soundtrack, to the hideous monsters, to the engrossing narration, you will always feel like you are right next to your party as they trek through the darkness. The horrors that await them will stir uneasiness in their hearts, increasing their stress level and pushing them to the brink of madness. It is ultimately up to the character themselves to deal with their resolve breaking and whether or not they can overcome the anxiety is an important factor to success. These elements, combined with some basic exploration, elevate the turn-based RPG package it comes in.
While the overall story is long due to the nature of conquering each dungeon, each hero you hire will make their own. Their experiences in the dungeons will change them, for better or worse, which will influence your choices on which missions you will send them on. A bad experience against the Undead may leave the hero with a fear of them, nullifying any strengths they may have had for a mission ahead. Others may suffer wounds that impact their performance and while most ailments are treatable, money is finite and can run out. This is all relative to how well you are prepared for each mission and you can never be too prepared in Darkest Dungeon. Couple all this with a rather unforgiving difficulty curve and you will find yourself on the edge of your seat during each mission, fighting to keep your warriors sane and alive.
To Conquer Evil
There are many unique qualities to Darkest Dungeon that separate it from the mold. Its emphasis on atmosphere and character development are effortlessly weaved into the gameplay in masterful fashion. Combat and exploration, while basic, are immersing with a ton of subtle charm. The gritty storybook style visuals are compelling when coupled with the light mechanic of the game, which changes the intensity of battle depending on how dark it is in the dungeon. This mechanic also serves as a dynamic visual aid, subtly reminding you of the creeping shadow.
Darkest Dungeon finds a great place between the modern narrative-style title and the hardcore, high-tension experience found in a “Souls” style game. While not an action game, the way the turn-based battles unfold will always leave you with a thrilling anxiety as death is permanent for your heroes. A short walk down the path could lead to a myriad of traps, treasures, or ambushes and each battle can go wildly wrong. Few games reach the fine niche that this title has found for itself, making it one of the must-play experiences of this generation.
