Dark Quest
- January 21, 2015
- brainseal
In Dark Quest, players become a barbarian hero on a mission to destroy an evil sorcerer's dungeon and bring peace to the land of Darkwood. Explore mazes, discover hidden doors, and battle hordes of enemies in this turn-based fantasy role-playing adventure. The sorcerer will test your limits with his twisted games of death, adding an extra layer of challenge to your quest.
Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of classic board games like HeroQuest, providing a simple and fun dungeon crawling experience.
- Easy to pick up and play, making it accessible for both newcomers to turn-based games and fans of tabletop RPGs.
- Offers a casual gaming experience with quick turn-based gameplay, allowing for short play sessions.
- Lacks depth and complexity, with simple mechanics and a very basic story that may not engage players looking for a more substantial experience.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustrating gameplay moments and confusion over item management.
- Repetitive gameplay with limited content, as the game is short and lacks replayability, making it feel like a missed opportunity for more engaging design.
- story58 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story in "Dark Quest" is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, often described as a simple premise of stopping an evil wizard with little narrative development or character progression. Players note that the dialogue is repetitive and poorly written, with many aspects feeling like a shallow homage to classic board games like Hero Quest rather than a fully realized narrative experience. Overall, while some enjoy the nostalgic gameplay, the story is considered a weak point, offering little engagement beyond basic mission objectives.
“Dark Quest really feels like doing a cute little one-shot D&D adventure.”
“This game will look familiar to anyone who has played the 1989 Hero Quest board game.”
“In the end, I actually had some fun with Dark Quest because it was a take on a good game design, and it reminded me of the fun times I had playing the original Hero Quest board game as a kid.”
“There really is no story, just stop the evil wizard who is threatening the village, and a few text bubbles when meeting some bosses and such.”
“Dull non-existing story, bad graphics, ugly UI, no depth on anything, no character progression, no items or gear, repetitive as hell; sorry but this game is rubbish.”
“- story is toilet paper thin; it's basically 'kill bad wizard...for reasons'.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, featuring basic mechanics and minimal story, which leads to a repetitive experience with limited replayability. Players control characters in a quick turn-based format, but the lack of depth and customization, along with a clunky interface, detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some mechanics, like the 'skull of fate,' add a slight twist, the overall consensus is that the gameplay feels shallow and fails to provide a compelling or engaging experience.
“The skull of fate mechanic keeps you on your toes.”
“Good: simple point and click gameplay, and some neat, easy to use mechanics.”
“As for the gameplay mechanics, you receive a certain number of turns where you can get to control your characters.”
“Boring and repetitive gameplay loop.”
“The gameplay is extremely basic, the mechanics have all the depth of a puddle, there is absolutely no character progression, the visuals are repetitive and the interface is clunky, when it works at all.”
“There's not enough explanation of a lot of the gameplay, nor enough content to last more than a few hours.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as simple, dated, and lacking depth. While some appreciate the artwork reminiscent of classic RPGs, others criticize the poor visuals, clunky UI, and overall lack of engaging design. Overall, the graphics seem to be overshadowed by the game's repetitive mechanics and weak narrative.
“Great artwork to be compared to AD&D.”
“Graphics are kind of nice, but let's be honest: it only looks RPG-like.”
“Dark Quest, for better or for worse, is an indie clone of HeroQuest, both in aesthetics and gameplay.”
“Dull non-existing story, bad graphics, ugly UI, no depth on anything, no character progression, no items or gears, repetitive as hell, sorry but this game is rubbish.”
“Poor visuals, poor sound effects, and poor narrative.”
“The gameplay is extremely basic, the mechanics have all the depth of a puddle, there is absolutely no character progression, the visuals are repetitive and the interface is clunky, when it works at all.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, leading some players to uninstall it before completion. While it captures a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of classic board games, the lack of clear explanations and persistent technical problems detract from the overall experience.
“Like a knockoff of the old Warhammer Quest board game, but nothing's explained and the game itself is pretty buggy.”
“Really good for people who want that Hero Quest vibe, but unfortunately remained buggy enough that I was forced to uninstall it before fully completing it.”
“Glitches: the game eventually displays the wrong messages on your items bar.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects in the game are generally considered satisfactory, providing a decent backdrop that enhances the combat experience with a reactive feel.
“The sound and music are nice and give a good reactive feel to combat.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks any real impact.”
“The music feels repetitive and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The sound effects are underwhelming and fail to immerse you in the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by a clever moment during the end credits, where the mention of the art team elicits laughter, suggesting a lighthearted and playful tone throughout the experience.
“I found it hilarious during the end credits when they revealed who the art guy was.”
“The witty dialogue and clever puns kept me laughing throughout the game.”
“I loved the absurd situations the characters found themselves in; it added a delightful layer of humor.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with players noting that it can be completed in approximately two and a half hours, leaving little incentive to revisit once all quests are finished.
“It's also rather short and lacks much replay value, as I completed all of the quests included in the game in around two and a half hours of play.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its good-natured and wholesome experience, providing players with simple yet fulfilling enjoyment.
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with users noting a complete lack of meaningful progression and feedback. Players report that leveling up occurs only once per dungeon without any clear indicators or a character sheet, leading to a frustrating experience.
“Character development is non-existent. You seem to level up only once per dungeon, gaining health points and other stats, but there are no numbers or notifications to indicate this. A simple character sheet would greatly improve the experience.”
“The lack of meaningful character development is frustrating. It feels like there are no real choices or growth, making the gameplay feel stagnant.”
“I was disappointed by the character development system. It lacks depth and variety, leaving players with a sense of unfulfillment.”