REVIEW : DARQ: Complete Edition (XBOX Series X)
With our review of DARQ: Complete Edition, we rediscover a title that is both unsettling and amusing at the same time. But, unfortunately, even one of those games that didn’t instantly catch on with the general public was enveloped by the torrent of new releases that hit PC and consoles every month. As a result, DARQ, developed by the independent firm Unfold Games, required some patience.
It has now been released on next-generation systems as well as the Nintendo Switch, completing the journey. The good news is that those who arrived late will now enjoy it in the best edition. The narrative of DARQ: Complete Edition is very cryptic and proceeds by remarkable analogue jumps, but the title does not lack a plot; the developers of Unfold Games were tasked with providing the main coordinates.
For example, we know that the protagonist’s name is Lloyd and that he is a frightening little child who has experiences at the paranormal’s edge in his nightmares. Lloyd is well aware of the existence of dreams and the knowledge that each fresh dream gradually devolves into a nightmare. And that he must break free from this nightmare to return home.
The main adventure is broken into seven stages, each corresponding to one of Lloyd’s dreams. As in Little Nightmares, several crucial parts of the plot are clarified piece by piece.
However, given the strange tones and the obvious symbolism of objects and settings, it is up to the player to piece together Lloyd’s story. The writer came up with the idea based on certain enemies that appear in several stages, particularly in the final minutes of the main adventure’s ending. Unfortunately, we cannot predict any of this because doing so would destroy the gaming experience; among other things, DARQ: Complete Edition is already quite short, and it would be cruel to expose what you will face.
However, the suggestion we want to provide you is to admire the many intricacies of the levels while trying to figure out how to proceed. Even though it isn’t relevant to the gameplay, every feature, decoration, and detail in DARQ: Complete Edition is related to the primary narrative and can give you an interesting interpretation of Lloyd’s dream experience.
Don’t be fooled by the tags that are used to identify it, such as on Steam: Even before returning to the “action” and “adventure,” DARQ: Complete Edition features the gameplay of an excellent puzzle. Completing each level entails figuring out how to get to the exit before it’s too late. To do so, you’ll need to hone your wits in a unique method, experimenting with different combinations of things and systems. This is sometimes simple and sometimes more difficult, especially in the later levels.
Almost all of the environmental puzzles featured are well thought out; only a few looked extremely frustrating or imbalanced to the writer; however, it was a case when even fear reigned supreme due to various hazards approaching us at breakneck speed. Overall, the difficulty level is seldom prohibitive; for example, DARQ: Complete Edition is a fantastic title for both the young and the old, and it never ceases to amaze.
Another intriguing aspect of DARQ: Complete Edition’s gameplay is the ability to change perspective and frame, which alters the options presented by different levels in the same way. Is there a road that you can’t follow because it’s inaccessible? With that lever over there, try turning the view 180 degrees. At other points, the level’s depth levels or gravity force Lloyd’s movements to shift; yet, the protagonist can still walk on walls and ceilings as if nothing has happened. After all, it only exists in fantasies, not in reality. Or isn’t it?
DARQ: Complete Edition adds to what has already been seen elsewhere, both in the past and more lately. The ability to switch between cinematic and performance modes is a significant difference. Our recommendation is to go with the latter, as the overall look is still fine at 1800p: you don’t need 4K to appreciate DARQ’s ambience truly.
PREVIEW : Trigon: Space Story (PC)
