Dark Fall: Ghost Vigil
- January 10, 2020
- Darkling Room
- 11h median play time
In "Dark Fall: Ghost Vigil" , join the Oxford Paranormal Group for an all-night investigation of Harwood House, a haunted estate with a history of ghost sightings. Utilize paranormal equipment to conduct experiments and capture evidence of supernatural entities. Discover the chilling past of this abandoned building, believed to be haunted by multiple spirits.
Reviews
- The game features a captivating atmosphere and engaging story that keeps players invested throughout their experience.
- Puzzles are challenging yet satisfying, often requiring players to take notes and think critically to progress.
- The incorporation of ghost hunting gadgets adds a unique and immersive element to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
- The constant interruptions from NPCs over the walkie-talkie can be annoying and disrupt the immersive atmosphere of the game.
- Some puzzles are overly complex or vague, leading players to rely on walkthroughs to progress.
- Technical issues, such as glitches and unresponsive controls, detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- story50 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in this game is highly praised for its depth and engagement, weaving together intricate lore and past events that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the immersive atmosphere, strong voice acting, and the integration of puzzles that drive the narrative forward, although some find certain plot elements vague. Overall, the game is recommended for its rich storytelling, challenging gameplay, and the ability to evoke a haunting mood throughout the experience.
“However, story-wise, this is probably the best one, going way deeper into the Dark Fall lore, with a storyline that links various past events (from different times) and ties them together perfectly.”
“The story is engaging and keeps you wondering about what's going on and wanting to keep going to learn more.”
“The story, the gadgets, the spookiness - so cool.”
“If you are interested in the story, just watch a playthrough on YouTube, you won't lose anything compared to playing it...”
“The story itself was okay, up to a point. I still am having trouble with why a children's home is making ads to persuade people to send their children to them... it did annoy me a bit and it seemed all very vague.”
“Despite that open-endedness, you will still have to satisfy some random triggers to keep the story moving, and I would argue that they aren’t all that intuitive thanks to the open exploration without guidance of any kind.”
- atmosphere31 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience through well-crafted sound design and visual elements. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a gripping sense of foreboding, with some noting that the atmosphere is complemented by engaging voice acting and original puzzles. However, a few criticisms arise regarding repetitive sound effects and technical issues that can detract from the overall experience.
“However, the atmosphere and scripted events are astoundingly good.”
“Darkling Room has always had a knack for creating a gripping, eerie atmosphere, and they absolutely nailed it once again.”
“As usual, the sound effects are very well done and, mixed with the otherworldly music, create a very unnerving atmosphere at many times throughout the game.”
“The only thing that really bothered me were the 'spooky' sound effects; in the beginning, it really adds to the atmosphere, but after a while, it gets annoying real quick.”
“Zero atmosphere, lame artwork.”
“For me, the 'group' aspect takes away from the atmosphere of the game and puts a damper on the foreboding and suspense that the other games had.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and attention to detail, contributing to an eerie atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some users noted issues with navigation and optimization for certain monitors, the overall aesthetic and unique visual style received positive feedback, making it a standout feature of the game. Many reviewers appreciated the combination of stunning visuals with engaging storytelling and interactive puzzles.
“It's spooky and challenging but not overly so, and the graphics are gorgeous.”
“The graphics are really good, especially some of the special effects used to portray the supernatural.”
“The graphics were crisp and clear with a great attention to detail.”
“Zero atmosphere, lame artwork.”
“The only minor issue I had was that it was not optimized for my ultra-wide monitor as some of the graphics didn't display properly.”
“Still point and click, but with better visuals and animations.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of ghost hunting mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, appealing to fans of the genre with its unique gadgets and satisfying object-finding tasks. While some players appreciate the integration of story and gameplay, others find certain sections tedious and the sound design distracting. Overall, it offers a rich experience for those who enjoy the developer's previous titles, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its specific style and pacing.
“The gameplay has changed a bit in a positive way, adding something cool and new - gadgets!”
“Gameplay mainly relies on object finding and ghost hunting using equipment, which is essential to progressing the story.”
“I really enjoyed the ghost box, a great addition to the ghost hunting mechanics.”
“For me, there are just too many tedious sections and mechanics coupled with terrible noises.”
“Anyway, like I said, a super sound-focused review, but the sounds are so prominent (and I hate annoying sounds so much) that this was most impactful to my gameplay experience.”
“And there are supposedly puzzles you can complete, according to the walkthrough, that are either very difficult to find or don't exist in the gameplay.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report significant glitches and unresponsive controls that detract from the experience, others have found it to be well-made with no noticeable issues. The presence of technical problems seems to undermine the game's otherwise solid foundation.
“Finally, the controls are clunky, unresponsive, and buggy.”
“However, since the game in its themes and core is solid, I am somewhat bothered by the glitches and technical issues that riddle it.”
“Unfortunately, the game stumbles in gaining that trust due to its many weird glitches.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the children's voices amusingly annoying rather than creepy, while others appreciate the genuinely funny dialogue and clever easter eggs. The voice acting receives criticism for being poorly delivered at times, which can be either endearing or irritating, but there are also moments of top-notch banter that elicit genuine laughter. Overall, the humor adds an interesting layer to the experience, despite its inconsistencies.
“It has its flaws, but it's interesting, funny, genuinely creepy at times, is loaded with easter eggs regarding other titles, and evokes the earlier games' need for a pen and paper to keep notes throughout your adventure.”
“The dialog on the walkie talkies made me laugh at times too.”
“The voice acting is top notch, some of the banter really is hilarious.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious, with repetitive mini-games and mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Many express frustration with the lack of clarity on when to use various gadgets, leading to aimless wandering and unnecessary delays in progression. While some puzzles are manageable, a few become monotonous, contributing to a sense of fatigue as players navigate through the game.
“For me, there are just too many tedious sections and mechanics coupled with terrible noises.”
“Lots of tedious mini-games and an arsenal of gadgets that I was never really sure when to use, so I would just randomly try each one upon entering a new scene, which further added to the tedium.”
“After a while, the mini-games can get a bit boring and tedious, and I feel like I am just wandering about trying to move forward. We got stuck a few times because apparently we had to play more of the mini-games to move on, which was again a bit tedious.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in Jonathan Boakes' games is praised for its charm and eerie quality, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere alongside well-executed sound effects. The combination of otherworldly music and immersive sound design contributes to a consistently unnerving experience, while also incorporating elements of folklore and technology.
“Jonathan Boakes' games are so charming and eerie; the atmosphere, the music, the story, the puzzles, and the homage to Saxton and Nigel Danvers—loved it all!”
“As usual, the sound effects are very well done and, mixed with the otherworldly music, create a very unnerving atmosphere at many times throughout the game.”
“Jonathan Boakes' games are so charming and eerie, the atmosphere, the music, the story, the puzzles, the homage parts of Saxton and Nigel Danvers, loved it all!”
“As always, there's oodles of delicious flora and folklore, music and megaliths, as well as helpful technology and machines that go ping.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its unclear and potentially inappropriate advertising strategy, particularly regarding a children's home that seems to be promoting itself in a confusing manner. This vagueness detracts from the overall experience and raises questions about the game's messaging.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads and prompts to spend money.”
“I found the in-game purchases to be excessively priced, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating that you can't progress without spending real money; it feels like the game is designed to push you into making purchases.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its mature emotional depth, characterized by themes of loss and innocence, evoking a poignant sense of yearning for the past or future, which is reflected in its atmospheric settings like crumbling corridors and lonely dormitories.
“However, there's a mature emotional depth to this game too - a sad, poignant undertone of loss and innocence, a yearning for a past (or a future) that is quietly echoed in the crumbling corridors and lonely dormitories.”