Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals
- June 27, 2020
- Glowstick Entertainment
- 41h median play time
Get on Steam"Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals" is a multiplayer horror game where players can choose to be monsters or mortals from various universes. The game features different modes such as Maze Escape, Shard Mayhem, and Soul Collection, each with its own unique objectives and gameplay. In Maze Escape, mortals must collect shards to summon a portal and escape while monsters try to stop them. Shard Mayhem is a free-for-all mode for monsters only, and Soul Collection involves mortals competing to save their souls by collecting shards.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique multiplayer experience that combines elements of horror and competitive gameplay, making it fun to play with friends.
- The graphics and character designs are well-executed, providing an engaging atmosphere that fans of Dark Deception will appreciate.
- The developers are actively working on updates and new content, showing commitment to improving the game and expanding its features.
- The matchmaking system is severely lacking, often resulting in long wait times to find a game, and many players report connection issues.
- There are significant balance issues with characters, leading to some being overpowered while others feel nearly useless, which can frustrate players.
- The game is plagued by bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, making it feel unfinished and in need of further development.
- gameplay93 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its unique mechanics and fast-paced action, while others criticize it for being clunky, repetitive, and unbalanced. Many users noted issues such as long queue times, bugs, and a lack of diverse game modes, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, some players find the atmosphere and character abilities engaging, suggesting that with further updates and balancing, the game could improve significantly.
“It takes the classic Pac-Man inspired gameplay and makes it work as a PvP fighting game.”
“The gameplay is really good, the abilities are nice and awesome, the maps are wonderful :)”
“This game is amazing, the fast-paced action mixed with some unique gameplay mechanics make this game a must-have.”
“The queue times are ridiculous, up to 2 hours, and the gameplay is clunky and buggy.”
“It's not a bad game, but it's not good either. The gameplay is somewhat boring because all you do in this game is constantly clicking M1 on another player to hopefully kill them.”
“The gameplay, although somewhat unique, gets boring quickly, and with a selection of only 7 maps and 3 game modes creates a stale experience.”
- stability50 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and connection issues that hinder gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over its unpolished state and lack of balance, suggesting it feels more like an unfinished product than a completed game. Overall, the consensus indicates that while the game has potential, it currently suffers from severe stability issues that detract from the experience.
“I have a laptop that was less than $100, and it runs great with all settings on the lowest except for resolution.”
“The game is extremely buggy and freezes easily, especially in loading screens.”
“It's like alpha testing a game but instead of the developers paying you for your time, you have to pay them to try to play their buggy mess.”
“There are still a good amount of bugs and glitches that need to be worked out in the system, and I believe that some of the monsters need to be nerfed a bit.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the visuals, character designs, and overall aesthetic appeal, often rating them around 9/10. However, some players have reported issues such as minor graphical glitches, lag on medium settings, and connection problems that detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, technical issues and low player counts have been noted as concerns.
“Amazing graphics and characters; I recommend it's so much fun.”
“Excellent graphics with unique characters and gameplay.”
“My favorite game, I bought it just yesterday and today I started playing, and it was so good, the graphics were staggering and the gameplay is intense and fun!”
“Its a good concept, but maybe a little boost in graphics and a little less bugs.”
“This game is aesthetically pleasing, but the poor quality of PvP, low player count, and horrific connection issues make this game borderline unplayable.”
“Graphics are horrible, gameplay is clunky and just bad overall.”
- story17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users finding it bland and lacking depth, particularly in "Monsters & Mortals." While some appreciate the horror elements and potential for future DLCs to enhance the narrative, others criticize the absence of character backstory and engaging plotlines. In contrast, the original "Dark Deception" is praised for its compelling and addictive story, highlighting a significant difference between the two games.
“Its a fun multiplayer experience with all the makings of a great horror game, mixing the story from Dark Deception and including games like Monstrum and Silent Hill.”
“Love the story of both Dark Deception games. Can't wait for the future DLC with more game crossovers like Yandere Simulator and Evil Nun.”
“In Dark Deception, you are alone as you walk through a very well-developed story and collect 'soul shards' to try and change your fate after dying.”
“Very hard game, crates are very expensive, most of the DLCs are cringe, and it has a very bad story.”
“There also isn't much depth in the characters, and there is no backstory.”
“In Monsters & Mortals... it's a completely different story.”
- music17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and amusing tracks, particularly the bombastic menu music and the "pizza time!" theme. However, others criticize the repetitive and loud nature of certain songs, such as the altered alphabet song sung by bosses, and the inability to adjust volume settings. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a highlight by some, it also detracts from the experience for others due to its overwhelming presence and lack of variety.
“The music is amazing.”
“The music is the second best part of the game; the songs are catchy or just the right note of silly spooky, and the bombastic menu music is a hilarious contrast to the utter giggle fest that awaits you in-game.”
“The game has a good design, a spectacular soundtrack, and has cool crossovers with other horror games.”
“The soundtrack is killing me.”
“Music is hella loud and you cannot change the volume on it.”
“After listening to an alphabet song for the duration of what I think was something called a 'boss battle' or maybe it was a 'trap' or one of the other five billion things assaulting my retinas.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it hilarious, especially when playing with friends, leading to memorable and laugh-out-loud moments. The absurdity of certain elements, like character interactions and unexpected scenarios, adds to the comedic experience, making it a fun choice for group play despite some gameplay issues. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging multiplayer dynamics, ensuring players have a good time.
“This game is pretty hilarious with friends!”
“But I still find it fun to play even with the same players, so if we are talking about playing this game with friends, I think you should buy the game. You will probably have lots of fun; there are tons of funny moments that will probably leave you and your friends laughing.”
“On a side note, the monkey business boss is simultaneously the most terrifying and most hilarious thing I've encountered.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its dark and eerie qualities, reminiscent of the "Dark Deception" series, featuring creepy environments and unsettling sound design that create a tense and immersive experience. Despite some technical issues, the engaging atmosphere and unique gameplay contribute to its appeal for both fans and newcomers.
“I'm practically hooked on this game's great atmosphere and unique gameplay, and with collaboration DLCs on the way, this game has gone straight to my favorites.”
“While 'Monsters & Mortals' doesn’t delve deeply into narrative, it maintains the dark and eerie atmosphere that fans of 'Dark Deception' will recognize.”
“The creepy environments and unsettling sound design help sustain a tense and immersive atmosphere throughout gameplay.”
“While monsters & mortals doesn’t delve deeply into narrative, it maintains the dark and eerie atmosphere that fans of dark deception will recognize.”
“- eerie atmosphere: maintains the unsettling atmosphere of the dark deception series.”
“- eerie atmosphere: maintains the unsettling atmosphere of the dark deception series.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players find it fun and well-optimized, others report significant issues such as long queue times, unbalanced gameplay, and a lack of basic settings. The matchmaking system also hampers the experience, as it requires a full group of friends to ensure balanced games, leading to inconsistent performance when playing with random players.
“Game is very fun and cheap, very well optimized.”
“It is not possible to queue with one or two friends and find a random player via matchmaking, meaning if you don't have three friends with the game ready to go at once, the only full games (which the main game mode is balanced around) you will find will be with completely random players from random regions leading to varied performance.”
“While there are some issues with balance and technical performance, the game’s unique gameplay modes and engaging atmosphere make it worth exploring for fans and newcomers alike.”
“The game is fun, but the developers don't even bother to add basic settings and optimization.”
“It is not possible to queue with one or two friends and find a random player via matchmaking, meaning if you don't have three friends with the game ready to go at once, the only full games (which the main game mode is balanced around) you will find will be with completely random players from random regions, leading to varied performance.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse gameplay modes, character abilities, and engaging map designs. The inclusion of both monsters and mortals as playable characters enhances the fun and variety, making each playthrough feel fresh and enjoyable. Overall, the game offers significant replay value, especially with potential improvements to map tuning for free-for-all modes.
“It's a fun game with lots of monsters (and mortals) and it's very replayable.”
“The game itself is enjoyable and can be very replayable with some more tuning when it comes to making maps that are focused on the free-for-all modes, and it's nice to have the Pac-Man styled horror maps used separately for the maze escape game mode as I find that to be more interesting than something like Dead by Daylight.”
“The diverse gameplay modes and character abilities add considerable replay value.”
“The best I can describe it is 'it's Dark Deception, but a multiplayer.' Both the monsters and the mortals are playable.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for being heavily reliant on microtransactions, leading many to perceive it as a cash grab. Players feel that the lack of sufficient advertising and a dwindling player base exacerbate the issue, while the limited content and reliance on purchasable characters detract from the overall experience.
“The game idea is kind of interesting, but the execution and the final product are really lame. Almost half of the characters are unlockable through in-game purchases.”
“The monetization model is frustrating, as it feels like you need to spend money to enjoy the full experience.”
“But it's a dead game now, filled with microtransactions, and only a handful of people play it.”
“This can make the game seem like one huge cash grab, and I can't really argue with that line of thinking. If this game was released with more characters and some maps that weren't just copy and pasted from the main game, it would have been much better.”
“The game idea is kind of interesting, but the execution and the final product are really lame. Almost half of the characters are unlockable by in-game purchase, and the multiplayer has a lot of lag and ping.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, citing a lack of meaningful progression and rewards that fail to enhance gameplay. The slow pace of earning cosmetics and the minimal impact of the leveling system contribute to a sense of tedium, with some players feeling that extensive grinding is necessary to achieve even basic rewards.
“Lack of progression: there is a severe lack of progression that you would find with any other online multiplayer game as this title only has a leveling system and a badge that goes along with it. While these things are nice, they simply aren't enough to keep me coming back, as grinding for cosmetics is slow and doesn't impact the gameplay that much to warrant me spending a lot of time here.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I ended up grinding for almost two hours to get a regular level gacha and I ended up with an MS Paint-esque drawing of the chef monkey.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game excels in simplicity and fun gameplay, it is noted for its strong character designs rather than deep character development.
“The character development in this game is incredibly engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
“The game offers a rich backstory for each character, enhancing the overall experience and making their growth feel meaningful.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is likened to a version of Pac-Man that incorporates themes of emotional struggle or deficiency, suggesting a unique blend of gameplay and emotional depth that resonates with players.
