D.A.R.K Review

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

D.A.R.K Review

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D.A.R.K Review

By Jennifer Allen on June 28th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: FUN BUT LACKING
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

D.A.R.K makes for an interesting departure from the norm but needs more of a hook.

Developer: Chillingo
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4

Graphics / Sound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When thinking of reasons why Chillingo is such a big and successful games publisher, it’s games like Cut the Rope and Angry Birds that come to mind. Not atmospheric, creepy shooters like D.A.R.K. Assuming this is a sign of things to come, Chillingo could soon be the name to go for solid mature games too. D.A.R.K isn’t perfect but it is enjoyable and very easy to dip into. Further expansion on the idea could have made for a great title.

To say that D.A.R.K is a twin shooter slightly undersells it. The combat sequences involve using the left virtual stick to move and the right stick to shoot but there’s a bit of exploration available too. D.A.R.K is unfortunately pretty linear with players mostly finding themselves going from room to room fighting set waves of enemies but it’s still quite fun. Shooting is pretty easy to get to grips with thanks to D.A.R.K offering a form of lock on system thus making it easy to hit the right target. There’s also the addition of a roll button, bizarrely placed above the fire button, but I never really found cause to use it.

To add further interactivity, D.A.R.K provides a simple upgrade system. Experience is gained through killing enemies with a levelling up system allowing players to boost their health, regeneration, speed and power. Shops also allow for new weapons and armor to be purchased and upgrades to be acquired. A decent scattering of weapon types is available too with the inclusion of the likes of flamethrowers and lasers.

It’s the prospect of a compelling story that would have made all the difference for D.A.R.K but alas there isn’t one to be seen here. Instead a loose and fairly uninspired story provides the backdrop for this game. It’s not the end of the world as the game is still fun and provides a few key atmospheric moments but it does feel like a missed opportunity.

D.A.R.K isn’t a must buy but players could do a lot worse than to buy this. It’s fun enough for what it is, it just feels like it could have been more. It certainly provides an interesting new direction for Chillingo, one that I look forward to seeing what comes next. It could just do with a bit more personality.