Dark, unsettling atmosphere is a trademark of Darkest Dungeon. The story starts with Player receiving the letter, from his Ancestor, revealing strange and unnatural events happening in the family manor. Old man bit more than he could chew.After sealing the letter, he committed suicide, hinting us that psychological terror lurks around Hamlet. Hamlet is a small town near the family estate, which will be operational base for all adventures.
Bumpy road and few dead bandits later, Player realizes and probably regrets his decision to restore family name and ruined town he arrived in. When you see graveyard for your heroes as a town building, you feel something is not right. Lets take a look:
Player will send missions, one at a time, to explore nearby locations, in attempt to demystify circumstances and reasons why his recently deceased relative lost his mind. Having group of heroes at your disposal, you will pick 4 at a time, forming parties for missions. Game has 16 classes of heroes, very unique ones, with even greater number of viable party combinations.
Great, but why should i play this game?
- Game is challenging. There is no possibility of saving game in alternative game slots. You cannot save between missions and try them again if something goes wrong. Game is being autosaved in the background, and saved on exit. Once hero dies, he is gone. If entire party dies, u lose 4 heroes permanently and their artifacts. Stagecoach brings you new low level recruits every weak, to replenish your losses.
- Something can always go wrong, Heroes will catch diseases, negative quirks, gamble your artifacts away, steal loot for themselves (destroying it effectively), put themselves in a harm's way, indulge their vices, reach high stress levels and start acting cowardly. That's right, they aren't that brave. Actually calling them heroes is huge overstatement. They are just regular people. When they reach 100 stress level, and everything stresses them out, even walking backwards, they will become afflicted. Which means they become afraid, abusive, masochistic, selfish, paranoid, rapturous or hopeless. That's not worst of it, they will spread their negativity on other members, cascading stressful events. Upon reaching 200 stress, "heroes" will get a heart attack and die even full hp.
- Not a standard hack and slash. Monsters are just a part of the equation, one must carry food, torches, bandages, anti-venom, shovels, holy water, keys and other supplies while trying to collect loot. Being too greedy, and throwing away food to carry gold can sometimes be a fatal mistake.
- Enemies are having certain immunities and different offensive capabilities. Some are fast and deal more damage, some apply diseases, bleed or blight. Some induce stress or shuffle your party. Not knowing what type of enemies are you going to face, and choosing wrong skills is proper way to fail.
- Unique game, that focuses on mind and mental stability of individuals. Makes us wonder if we are any different in real life. Stuff piles up and we snap.
- Narrator (ancestor's voice) with his archaic English makes feeling of dread even more intense.
- Music complements all around negativity, soundtracks enhance moments of greatest despair.
Why you shouldn't play this game
- This is not for casual gamers, without analytical and planning skills
- If you think great games are about fancy graphics
- If you are overly attached to your characters, but aren't ready to think in order to keep them alive
- even developers warn about odd concept they wrap their game around