The Dark Spire

 DS
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Apr 14, 2009
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
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  1. Daverwob
    Sep 10, 2010
    10
    If you've played games for 20 years and are pretty much sick of the hand-holding, cut-scene ridden, dodgy narrative-driven masses of games we are spoonfed these days, and just want an old-school, polished and incredibly addictive dungeon crawler in the style of yesteryear, this is for you. Why not challenge your brain to a style of game you've never played before? Brilliant, perfect (forIf you've played games for 20 years and are pretty much sick of the hand-holding, cut-scene ridden, dodgy narrative-driven masses of games we are spoonfed these days, and just want an old-school, polished and incredibly addictive dungeon crawler in the style of yesteryear, this is for you. Why not challenge your brain to a style of game you've never played before? Brilliant, perfect (for what it is), so don't judge this by what you are expecting from the games of today, judge it for what it is, with an appreciation for the past. This guy sums it up perfectly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRpxc4yXvU

    These types of games are what I live for.    … Expand
  2. efake
    Apr 21, 2009
    9
    Exactly what it presents itself as. A very well done wizardry clone. If that sounds fun, get it and enjoy it. If you're not sure what that is, skip it. Good music and writing. interesting puzzles, and the harsh sort of gameplay you should be expecting from a game that pays such obvious homage to the old school dungeon crawlers. Niche as hell, but accomplishes exactly what it wanted Exactly what it presents itself as. A very well done wizardry clone. If that sounds fun, get it and enjoy it. If you're not sure what that is, skip it. Good music and writing. interesting puzzles, and the harsh sort of gameplay you should be expecting from a game that pays such obvious homage to the old school dungeon crawlers. Niche as hell, but accomplishes exactly what it wanted to, and you've got to respect that.… Expand
  3. Nick
    Apr 18, 2009
    9
    If you are looking for a challenging dungeon crawler RPG that hails its roots from games like Wizardry then you need to buy The Dark Spire. This is not the game you complete in 8 hours. This game is about figuring out the best 4 party strategy that can conquer monsters and complete quests.
  4. JPoppaWUSC
    Oct 13, 2011
    10
    This is the handheld game of choice for those of us raised on Zork and Wizardry, and it's a perfect addition to the hardcore RPG library that has more recently included games like Demon's Souls and The Witcher. The game has already become a rarity in the United States, but considering the fact that it has received Game of the Year awards from classic RPG circles, it's well worth timeThis is the handheld game of choice for those of us raised on Zork and Wizardry, and it's a perfect addition to the hardcore RPG library that has more recently included games like Demon's Souls and The Witcher. The game has already become a rarity in the United States, but considering the fact that it has received Game of the Year awards from classic RPG circles, it's well worth time spent seeking it out. Other recommended classics in the same vein may include 3D Dot Game Heroes on PS3, Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade on PSP, Etrian Odyssey on DS, Warriors of the Lost Empire on PSP, or Fighting Fantasy on DS.… Expand
  5. JJCoolio
    Aug 17, 2009
    0
    dont play this pece ov shit its da worst ds game eva.
    tha gfx r blak nd white and its way to hard u cant even get past the tutoril withot dying. and wen u die you lose all yor charecters and it costs loads of monie to make them alive agen. trust me play chinatown wars instead of this pece of shit.
  6. rpgmasta
    Sep 17, 2018
    10
    Pure retro-nostalgia. Surely it is not a game for everyone, but it is a tribute to the dungeon crawler genre.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best DS Game of 2009
35
#35 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
28
#28 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. GamePro
    70
    However, I realize there is indeed a market for this kind of game, and for those looking for a fun (albeit masochistically hard) old-school RPG, there is no better place to go than The Dark Spire. [Apr 2009, p.80]
  2. Nintendo Power
    50
    A drab experience that takes little advantage of the DS hardware (menu issues annoy) and rarely rises above the level of sufficiency. [May 2009, p.91]
  3. Destructoid
    75
    You have to hand it to Atlus and Success for taking on a project that's aimed at such a niche audience -- their passion for giving gamers a hardcore title obviously ranked above any need to dumb the game down. Bravo!
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