Dark Envoy

If you want a CRPG experience that feels a little less complex than many, you could do worse than check out Dark Envoy’s colourful fantasy world.

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In "Dark Envoy," players traverse a hand-painted, fantasy world as they command two protagonists in real-time tactical combat. With a focus on strategic choices, players can explore an open world, engage in dialogues, and make decisions that alter the story's outcome. The game combines the elements of spellcasting, alchemy, crafting, and item collection in a non-linear journey with multiple endings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 304 reviews

story49 positive mentions

stability28 negative mentions

Engaging real-time combat system with the ability to pause or slow down time, allowing for strategic planning during battles.
Rich world-building and character customization options, providing a variety of playstyles and builds.
Decent voice acting and a compelling story that keeps players invested in the characters and their journey.

Numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes, poor pathfinding, and unresponsive controls, detracting from the overall experience.
Linear gameplay with repetitive level design and lack of meaningful exploration, making the game feel somewhat stale.
Limited character progression due to the restriction of active and passive skills, leading to a feeling of wasted potential in character builds.

story
202 mentions
24 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either bland or poorly executed, often feeling disconnected from character motivations and plot developments. While some appreciate the potential for impactful choices and unexpected twists, others criticize the linearity and lack of depth in character arcs and dialogue. Overall, the narrative is seen as serviceable but not particularly engaging, with many players expressing a desire for a more cohesive and immersive storytelling experience.
- “The storytelling in this game was superb for my taste; I liked the graphical style of the cutscenes, the narration, everything.”
- “The story might start off slow, but it really picks up as unexpected plot twists emerge, gradually revealing a rich and intriguing narrative.”
- “The voice acting is great, and the story pulls you in.”
- “The story feels linear and uninspiring; the attempts to provide 'choice'—like, kill someone or let them go—look like a stub.”
- “Everything I've mentioned, coupled with one-dimensional, cliché characters and an overall lack of story substance, has left me disappointed.”
- “The plot is bad; it seems that developers did not put any thought into the world background and characters.”
gameplay
64 mentions
30 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging combat mechanics, character customization, and tactical elements, while others criticize its lack of depth and repetitive nature in the later stages. Many appreciate the unique features like the "bullet time pause" and the overall fun factor, but technical issues, balance problems, and uninspired boss fights detract from the experience for some. Overall, while the gameplay shows potential and can be enjoyable, it suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of polish.
- “The main attraction of the game is its gameplay, which shines at every combat.”
- “This CRPG is really fun, with highly satisfying gameplay.”
- “The tactical gameplay is very interesting, and I really love the 12% speed option during combat; it gives a great sense of real-time without the wait-and-see of turn-based, which is my preferred option usually.”
- “The fights just feel uninspired, almost no interesting bosses or mechanics - this being the spiritual successor of Tower of Time, it's incomprehensible.”
- “First of all, bugs: tons of bugs - mechanics not working as expected, skills not working as expected, sound issues, AI issues, and sometimes game slow mode becomes permanent, requiring you to exit the game to fix that.”
- “I felt no grip to the gameplay, nor the setting, nor the half-pre-made characters, and I wasn't interested in pursuing the story further after the first few quests.”
graphics
48 mentions
46 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the art style and visual effects, particularly in combat and cutscenes. While some describe the graphics as "very good" and "gorgeous," others note issues such as frame rate drops and outdated animations. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for an indie title, with potential for improvement in future updates.
- “The graphics are really very good; I particularly like the ancient tombs architecture, and the spell and weapon effects look great.”
- “I have to say, though, I am really glad I persevered, as the game is very fun to play and the graphics/artwork are absolutely fantastic (especially for a Unity game).”
- “The art/graphics in the game world were just gorgeous.”
- “The graphics, especially in the cutscenes, are meh. I'm aware that the devs wanted to make an adventure RPG, but if you think about Pathfinder or Cyberpunk, then you don't really need cutscenes.”
- “The game just drops to 30-40 fps in combat because of the massive amounts of effects, and both on low and ultra graphics, nothing changes.”
- “Graphics make it look like a PS2 game; non-existent help index.”
stability
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. Players have encountered issues such as freezing, broken skills, and problematic multiplayer functionality, leading many to recommend waiting for patches before fully engaging with the game. While some enjoy the core gameplay despite these flaws, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and overly buggy.
- “I was having a good time playing it but the constant freezes and losing hours of time makes it not worth it.”
- “Don't buy this buggy mess of a game until they have patched it.”
- “Very very buggy, crashed every 2 minutes.”
optimization
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing severe performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and frame rate drops below 30fps, which significantly detracts from the gameplay experience. Conversely, others report smooth performance on higher-end systems, suggesting that optimization may vary based on hardware. Overall, many recommend waiting for updates to address these performance and optimization concerns before purchasing.
- “Lastly, the optimization is fantastic and I haven't had a single issue since I started playing.”
- “The graphics are good and the game runs smoothly on my RTX 3070.”
- “Also, the optimization is great so you don't have to play on a high-end PC to have fun.”
- “Performance is also crummy with sound effects chopping in and out during normal speed combat under 30 fps.”
- “I do not know if it's because my computer is old or poor optimization; I had several stuttering episodes, lagging, and an occasional crash.”
- “Severe performance and optimization issues, alongside bugs of various severity, hinder the experience from start to end.”
music
9 mentions
78 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its intensity during combat and its ability to enhance the dark atmosphere. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others note that it can be repetitive and lacks memorability. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The music is great and pretty intense at times of combat; the OST keeps a similar dark theme and it just sounds so good.”
- “Good level design, nice-looking and satisfying skills, music that introduces the atmosphere of dungeons, simple and pleasant crafting, the difficulty level is not exaggerated.”
- “The soundtrack fits; I like it.”
- “The music is basic and repetitive, just like it was in Tower of Time.”
- “The combat is reminiscent of Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, but the music lacks variety and depth.”
humor
8 mentions
88 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the funny character interactions and absurd combat mechanics, while others find the humor to be overly zany and immersion-breaking, especially in a serious context like war. Notable moments include hilariously bad scenes and witty dialogue that can elicit genuine laughter, though opinions vary on whether this style enhances or detracts from the overall experience.
- “I'm enjoying RTS-like combat with slow motion; the level design and cool graphics are pleasing to my eyes, and for now, I find the main characters interesting and funny.”
- “Funny conversations and satisfying mechanics.”
- “The story is nothing you can compare to BG3, but it wraps up some mature topics mixed with a bit of sarcasm. The first mission hooked me when the bad guy gets headbutted, which made me laugh so hard that I nearly fell off my chair.”
- “The characters are 'zany and wacky'; I don’t want unfunny, immersion-breaking humor in a game about war.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and detract from the overall experience.”
- “I found the jokes to be stale and lacking any real wit, making the game less enjoyable.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability due to its branching choices that significantly impact the story and gameplay, as well as diverse class options. Players appreciate the potential for varied experiences with different character builds and decisions, enhancing the overall replay value. However, some users feel that additional features, like portable play and customizable controls, could further improve this aspect.
- “There are a bunch of choices here and there which increase the scope of replayability.”
- “The choices in the story feel like they make a difference in the world you are in, giving the game solid replayability.”
- “Since there are branching choices that alter the story and some dungeons, and diverse class options, the replay value is overall good.”
- “If it were playable on the portable and the bindings could be changed, then it might be at least partly redeemed.”
- “The choices in the story feel like they make a difference in the world you are in, so giving the game some solid replayability.”
- “And once I get more characters and classes unlocked, I can see the potential for a lot of replay value.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its meticulous level design, immersive graphics, and effective music that enhances the dungeon experience. While some reviewers feel it lacks a unique atmospheric experience, the overall setting, story, and crafting elements contribute to a satisfying and enjoyable environment. Despite mixed feelings, many believe the game offers a compelling atmosphere that could resonate well with other players.
- “Every single thing on the map is incredibly well made and atmospheric.”
- “I wish more CRPGs had this framework to help with immersion, atmosphere, and tone.”
- “Good level design, nice-looking and satisfying skills, music that introduces the atmosphere of dungeons, simple and pleasant crafting, the difficulty level is not exaggerated.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its interesting story and engaging crafting and enchanting mechanics, though some players find the voice acting and writing to be cringe-worthy. While the character design is praised, the overall experience is marred by repetitive combat and a lack of variance in encounters, particularly in later levels. Players express hope for improvements in future updates, highlighting the potential of the game's graphics and character design.
- “Graphics and sound design were top notch; it is fully voiced, and although there is some jank when it comes to character movement, it really can be overlooked by the great voice acting and character design.”
- “It's got an enjoyable story; the character development is interesting and the crafting and enchanting mechanics are great.”
- “The voice acting, writing, and character design are hyper cringe. The combat was interesting up to around level 6, but then it becomes a casual number min-max fest with virtually no variance in encounters throughout all of Act 2.”
- “I hope it will improve in future updates; I really like the graphics and character design.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express disappointment with the emotional depth of the game's characters, feeling that the limited choice of abilities leads to a lack of meaningful character development. While there are moments of emotional impact, these are overshadowed by the overall blandness and simplicity of the characters' motives and emotional states.
- “The emotional moments in the game are beautifully crafted, making me feel deeply connected to the characters.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story's emotional depth, which resonated with my own experiences.”
- “The game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, creating a memorable experience.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find grinding to be a tedious aspect of the game, as it often involves repetitively farming and crafting the same gear with improved stats. However, on lower difficulties, the AI can effectively manage gameplay, allowing players to enjoy a more automated experience if they have developed a strong character.
- “Nobody likes grinding, but on lower difficulties (I played on normal), the AI control is good enough that if you've done the work of putting a good character together, the game can play itself very successfully.”
- “Crafting is okay, but simplified, and as you progress through the game you are just farming for and crafting the same gear over and over, but with higher values.”