Dark Nights with Poe and Munro
- May 4, 2021
- D'Avekki Studios Ltd
You won't be spending many Dark Nights with Poe and Munro, but you'll find a few memorable episodes of interactive TV in this FMV success story.
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Get on Apple Store"Dark Nights with Poe and Munro" is a point-and-click adventure game where players help local radio hosts Poe and Munro solve six unique mysteries. The game features full HD video, a timed hot-spot interface, and multiple endings. This standalone spin-off from the creators of "The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker" and "The Shapeshifting Detective" offers a different gameplay experience.
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Reviews
- The game successfully blends humor, weirdness, and a spooky atmosphere, creating an engaging interactive experience.
- Poe and Munro are charming characters with great chemistry, making their adventures enjoyable and entertaining.
- The episodic format allows for quick replayability, with different choices leading to various outcomes and scenes.
- The choices can often be vague and unclear, making it difficult to understand their impact on the story.
- The episodic nature can lead to disjointed narratives, with some episodes feeling incomplete or lacking a cohesive plot.
- Some players may find the acting and writing to be campy or over-the-top, which could detract from the overall experience.
- story122 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "Dark Nights with Poe and Munro" is characterized by its episodic structure, featuring a collection of short, self-contained narratives that often lack coherence and depth, leading to confusion among players. While some appreciate the quirky and humorous elements, many find the plot disjointed, with minimal connections between episodes and choices that feel inconsequential. Overall, the storytelling is seen as original but inconsistent, with a mix of engaging moments overshadowed by logical gaps and underdeveloped character arcs.
“Dark nights with Poe and Munro is a story-focused game about the hosts of a late-night radio show in a small English town, where you’ll watch live-action video clips and occasionally make choices which can influence how the story plays out.”
“The story is brilliant and keeps you hooked the whole way through, and this one has a lot more humor and it's used at the perfect times to play against how dramatic it gets.”
“Engaging story with comedy bits mixed in that had me laughing more than I expected.”
“The story decided to go on with no further explanation; at the end, it is some government crazy test making people vanish like a portkey in Harry Potter, or some devil taking human souls.”
“There are no explanations, no foreshadowing, and no story, but the movie clips keep switching again and again.”
“The episodic nature of this game makes it more of a collection of short stories rather than one story connected throughout each episode.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking in depth and clarity, often describing it as simplistic and confusing. While some appreciate the interactive movie experience and quirky characters, others express disappointment in the minimal mechanics and decision-making elements, suggesting it feels more like a passive viewing experience than an engaging game. Overall, it seems best suited for those who enjoy narrative-driven content rather than traditional gameplay challenges.
“Though the gameplay is confusing at first, once you figure it out, it becomes a very entertaining interactive movie.”
“For the price of $12.99, you get a solid few hours of entertaining gameplay if you're into the kind of 'sit back and enjoy while making choices' kind of game.”
“Each game developed by d'avekki studio has a different gameplay and story experience, but also has a certain familiar feel.”
“The gameplay is ... inessential.”
“Mechanically, this is the weakest d'avekki studios game I've played so far.”
“The ambiguity of the mechanics plus the ambiguity of the story made it just... confusing.”
- humor27 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever balance of dark comedy, cheesy dialogue, and engaging characters, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. The over-the-top British humor and theatrical acting contribute to a charming and entertaining experience, with moments of silliness and suspense that enhance the overall narrative. While some acting may be awkward, it adds to the quirky charm, making the game a fun and memorable adventure.
“This is FMV done right; it manages to balance the weirdness, the humor, the spooky mood, and the narrative in a pretty compelling way.”
“The dialogue was interesting and creative, and I found myself laughing out loud.”
“Poe and Munro frequently put dark humor to good use.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game offers substantial replayability due to its branching storylines and multiple endings influenced by player choices, making it enjoyable to explore different outcomes. While some players note that the overall replay value may not be high, many appreciate the mystery and entertainment value that encourage repeated playthroughs. The anthology format, featuring independent episodes, further enhances the replay potential, inviting players to experience various narratives and character interactions.
“There is quite some replayability potential, because some episodes offer vastly different branches/endings depending on your choices.”
“It is an absolutely wonderful game that presents great replayability and features fascinating characters.”
“The replay value isn't high.”
“D'avekki gives us another amazing example of how great FMV games can be, and with 6 short stories that can all be played independently, it encourages replayability to make different choices in order to change the endings.”
“This anthology series of six short but replayable episodes has just the right mix of charm, melodrama, and creepiness to make it worth a look.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its dark, suspenseful tone reminiscent of "The X-Files" and find it suitable for Halloween, others criticize it for lacking depth and excitement, leading to flat storytelling. The peculiar characters and engaging music contribute to a creepy ambiance, though some scenes are overly dark, which may detract from the experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a mysterious and eerie setting that compels players to revisit its episodes.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere of each episode; it reminded me a lot of The X-Files in a way.”
“Dark nights with Poe and Munro create a wonderful bedtime story, perfect for relaxing and great to play on Halloween. The music, story, and voices contribute to a creepy success, with six short stories that have a suspenseful atmosphere.”
“The overall tone and scenarios create a suitably creepy atmosphere at times, prompting me to go back and replay episodes to see what happens.”
“It feels as if it was lacking the dense atmosphere of the other titles.”
“So lots of caveats, but the overall tone and scenarios are sort of working for me... it does create a suitably creepy atmosphere at times, and I am going back and replaying episodes to see what happens.”
“It's self-indulgent at times (I seriously don't get Poe and Munro's romance), but the sexually charged atmosphere and the peculiar characters compelled me to return time and again to the mysterious town of August.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some users noting a low-budget feel and awkward scenes that may detract from the experience. However, others appreciate the unique aesthetic that combines supernatural elements with a radio co-host theme, highlighting the effective use of cinematography and color that evokes a distinct "uncanny present." Overall, while the graphical interface may lack clarity, the overall visual style resonates with fans of the genre.
“The graphical interface doesn't really tell you what your characters will do once you select them, and they are incredibly vague.”
“Graphics API: OpenGL”
“Cinematography, editing, soundscape, costumes, colors... with everything we're right back in that beautifully crafted 'uncanny present' of the previous games that's such a huge part of why I love their aesthetic.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of performances in the series is generally praised, with actors delivering excellent and engaging portrayals that enhance the overall experience. While some performances may feel stereotyped, they are complemented by strong character development and humor, contributing to a captivating narrative. Notably, standout performances, such as Leah Cunard's and Klemens Koehring's, leave a lasting impression on viewers.
“The performances are all excellent, and the episodes are wonderfully packaged, often make-your-skin-crawl standalones - that fuse into a greater whole.”
“Leah Cunard comes off as charming and likable from the start, and to see her performance radically change during a certain crossover scene just blew me away.”
“Klemens Koehring was also very strong in his performance, and would be the first actor to give me a case of 'manly voice' envy.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its fitting and fantastic score, enhancing the overall atmosphere with a suspenseful and creepy vibe. Users appreciate the combination of flowing colors and music during the credits, as well as the relaxing qualities of the soundtrack, making it particularly enjoyable for themed occasions like Halloween.
“If you return to the game and begin the next episode, you are treated to a credits sequence of flowing colors and music.”
“Dark nights with Poe and Munro offers a wonderful bedtime story, perfect for relaxing and great to play on Halloween, featuring a fantastic music score, engaging story, and voices that create a creepy atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is fitting and great.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unique blend of campy humor and genuine emotional depth, fostering a strong attachment to its characters and the overarching universe of the Cowles FMV games.
“A delightfully camp but genuinely heartfelt horror comedy.”
“I have an immense emotional attachment to these characters, and to the universe of the Cowles FMV games as a whole.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report occasional glitches during gameplay, which may be attributed to lower-end hardware, suggesting that stability can vary based on the system used.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
Critic Reviews
Dark Nights with Poe and Munro review
Dark Nights with Poe and Munro is perfect for fans of D'Avekki Studios. However, the short episodes can undermine the great story ideas and actor chemistry on display.
70%Dark Nights with Poe and Munro Review
If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Not Poe and Munro because, as engrossing as Dark Nights with Poe and Munro is, the pair’s relationship oozes unease.
70%Dark Nights with Poe and Munro Review
There is a lot of potential in Dark Nights with Poe and Munro. But, I needed the player to have a more active role rather than a passive one. But, perhaps there is an audience out there for this game and I just may not be it.
60%
