A simple, competent shmup can be a beautiful thing, a collection of different heroes to unlock an easy hook. It isn't that Dark Scrolls lacks outright complexity, with multiple paths through the short game, nuance between characters, and some secret mini-quests to round out its content. But it barely acknowledges success or failure, never challenges you after the first few hours, and can't devise a reward or goal to spur you on after you've seen what little it has to offer. If Dark Scrolls were an arcade cabinet back in the day, a few quarters would be enough to send you off to the next one.