2Dark

2Dark is as rough as widely-released games come, but even more impressive is the way it puts the player and their prey on equal footing. The shadows are just as dangerous for the villains as they are for the hero. This is a truly difficult game to get through on multiple levels, but it offers profound satisfaction in fighting the worst evil imaginable.

A great return to the good old times, but with some technical issues that make this game less "better".

2Dark that creeps on a subject that not many dare to venture in; the kidnapping, torture, and murder of children.

True to its name, 2Dark is a shocking, often even disgusting affair that manages to frustrate about as much as it innovates.

It's more survival than horror and it feels like a 20-year-old game, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Make sure you understand what type of experience it is, because it's aimed at players who enjoy retro, unforgiving gameplay.

Quotation forthcoming.

2Dark has a lot of potential, and the premise is exciting. The developers dared to delve into a dark plot, and that bravery should be applauded. The title doesn't fail in any particular way, but it also doesn't meet its full potential. The gameplay felt overly complicated and could've benefited from a less is more approach. Some improvements to the inventory system also could've made gamers feel more in control of the protagonist. It would've been amazing if the game had managed to remain focused on some quick and tense action sequences, rather than spending so much time on tedious tasks, which interrupted the sense of immersion.

When you first take a peek at 2Dark, the name, the descriptions and whatnot, you get a sense that this game is just gonna be another generic survival horror game that takes itself way too seriously -- maybe with crafting elements sprinkled in there to further piss me off; No charm, no redeeming value, either a Silent Hill knockoff or a Slenderman knockoff. However you will soon realize that 2Dark is, and thank god for that, its own original thing with a different approach to horror. The story is deliberately cheesy. The game itself knows that the story's bland, is quickly brushed off and rarely mentioned ever again. You're a private detective with a murdered family who rescues children from evil clowns, serial killers and rest of the kitchen sink. It's okay, not too aggregating, a bit too edgy but mostly harmless.

The story of 2Dark gives you the creeps. This is not your typical horror game, but it is more spooky than some of those. Unfortunately, the game is frustrating from time to time.

I commend 2Dark for tackling a tough premise, but it’s one I could have just as well left alone, too. The gameplay combined with the presentation just click with me, and it made this one a chore to play. If you’re into stealth and horror, especially top-down, retro-themed ones, there could be definitely be something here for you as some of 2Dark’s mechanics are sound. Otherwise, it’s probably safe to wait for a deep sale or a pass on this one.

2Dark delivers on a dark story but struggles with the gameplay. The visuals soften the horror a little but the developers should be applauded for the premise. The stealth gameplay works but the trial and error nature of it may start to grate, thankfully the story is intriguing enough to pull you through to the end.

If 2Dark’s tone was in line with its subject matter, it might have been something worthy of recommendation. But its story is almost nonexistent and nothing quite works as intended.

It is not quite clear to whom this game and its strange subject is targeted towards. In any case we find it flawed, repetitive and rather uninspired.

Despite the pedigree of the developer, and some unusually disturbing subject matter, the main enemies in this survival horror are frustration and boredom.

The setup for 2DARK holds intrigue, with a grim plot, and suitably creepy settings, but so much of how it actually plays out quickly diminishes the horror aspect of it. Respectable enough as a game, a failure as a horror.

2Dark will not make you feel annoyed, it will make you feel sad, and that's definitely worse. [May 2017, p.96]

2Dark tries to do too many things at once. Its stealth mechanics, while occasionally satisfying, are frustrating and pedestrian. Similarly, its attempts at horror, while presented well, are undermined by bad writing and repetitive gameplay. A lack of clear signposting and a terrible UI do nothing to help this maddening experience.