Dark Void Zero

About

Dark Void Zero is a retro-style 8-bit game that serves as a prequel to the original Dark Void. Players take on the role of Rusty, a test pilot, and Nikola Tesla's trusted friend, utilizing a rocket pack to navigate through levels and battle enemies. The PC version includes online features such as achievements, leaderboards, and multiple endings, adding a modern twist to this classic-inspired game. The soundtrack is also noteworthy, having received awards in the past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

48%

Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Dark Void Zero captures the nostalgic feel of classic NES games with its retro graphics and sound design.
The game offers a challenging experience reminiscent of old-school platformers, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
Despite its flaws, many players appreciate the charm and effort put into the game, especially at a low price point.

The game suffers from severe DRM issues, making it difficult or impossible for many players to activate and play.
Controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The game is very short, with only three levels, and can feel repetitive and punishing due to its design choices.

graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The graphics of the game are a divisive aspect among reviewers, with many criticizing them for being blurry and poorly executed, especially on larger screens, despite attempts to capture a retro NES aesthetic. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and vibrant colors reminiscent of 90s 2D games, others argue that the visuals fall short of modern standards, appearing more like compressed images than authentic pixel art. Overall, the graphics seem to evoke mixed feelings, with some praising their retro appeal while others deem them unattractive and lacking in quality.
- “The graphics remind me of the 90's 2D games; charming and stylish.”
- “This game is an awesome throwback to the NES era of action platformers, complete with tight player controls, beautiful 8-bit graphics, and a killer soundtrack...for this price, I'm surprised everybody doesn't own this already!”
- “Graphically, yes it's retro but it's easily worth the amount paid for, and even more so when it's on sale.”
- “Since this game was once a DSiWare exclusive and uses a lot of low-resolution PNGs for its visuals, it looks really blurry if played on large monitors.”
- “They're trying to go for a NES aesthetic, but it doesn't look NES at all.”
- “I haven't played the DSiWare version, mind you, but from videos of gameplay I figured the PC version would be somehow better in at least resolution, but a better look at the graphics here only serves to the game's detriment; the native resolution on the DS makes it look as if it were a unique step beyond 8-bit, the two options (windowed and fullscreen) on PC make it look like a poor mockery of a NES game.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some reviewers appreciating its nostalgic 8-bit chiptune style reminiscent of classic NES titles, while others find it forgettable and uninspired, likening it to lesser tracks from more renowned games. Although the sound effects are generally fitting for the retro theme, some inconsistencies detract from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a decent homage to the era, but it lacks variety and memorable compositions, earning ratings around 6-7 out of 10.
- “The atmosphere and the music are fantastic; if you are in love with NES and SNES games like Super Mario World or the early Castlevania games, you will like it.”
- “It's a great retro style game with an amazing soundtrack.”
- “While the controls can often be stiff and the game itself short, it still works well to capture the rough and tumble days of NES gaming with its wonderful chiptune music, graphics, and challenging gameplay.”
- “Now in terms of music variety, I believe this game only has 7 or so music tracks, most of those are story and boss themes.”
- “The music was literally forgettable; I don't remember if it even had music, but the sound effects and graphics were fitting for the era represented.”
- “The jump controls are stiff, the music is dull, the gameplay boring, and the graphics ugly.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The gameplay of Dark Void Zero is a nostalgic homage to classic NES action platformers, featuring maze-like levels and jetpack mechanics reminiscent of titles like Bionic Commando. However, players criticize the stiff controls, awkward mechanics, and repetitive level design, leading to a mixed reception where some appreciate the retro aesthetic while others find it frustrating and lacking in innovation. Overall, the gameplay captures the essence of old-school gaming but may not appeal to those seeking modern refinements.
- “The gameplay of Dark Void Zero boils down to navigating large, maze-like levels with the aid of a jetpack.”
- “They nailed the retro look and gameplay spot on.”
- “While the controls can often be stiff and the game itself short, it still works well to capture the rough and tumble days of NES gaming with its wonderful chiptune music, graphics, and challenging gameplay.”
- “The jump controls are stiff, the music is dull, the gameplay boring, and the graphics ugly.”
- “The controls are finicky and hard to use gracefully, and the gameplay is just a slog, having to go back and forth every-which-way to get keycards and killing the same boring respawning enemies.”
- “Either way, poor mechanics without the memories to back them up are a disappointment, and make this game overall not worth it to me.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game's story is a straightforward "kill all of enemy faction" narrative typical of many action NES titles, earning a mixed reception with a score of 7/10 for its simplicity and effectiveness. While some players find it inoffensive and functional, others criticize it as uninspired and lacking depth, with a few noting that the backstory created for the game's release is more engaging, rated at 9/10. Overall, the story is seen as a nostalgic element that does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The story they made up for the origin of the game is a 9/10.”
- “Its a challenging and fun game with a decent (if not silly) story.”
- “+short but effective and to the point story”
- “The story is simple, like most action NES titles, revolving around the theme of 'kill all of the enemy faction.'”
- “The story has been done before and lacks originality.”
- “The story isn't very engaging and fails to capture the player's interest.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while there are rewarding completion and collectible achievements, many feel that the extensive and tedious grinding required for certain achievements detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel overly time-consuming and frustrating.
- “On one hand, you get completion achievements and collectible achievements; on the other, you have a ton of grueling grinding achievements, one of which can take you an hour or more to get.”
- “It's too tedious to play, even on easy.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find it enjoyable and entertaining, others criticize the design choices, such as instant kill mechanics, which detract from the overall experience and challenge.
- “Awesome game, simple and very funny!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious situations that keep the gameplay entertaining.”
- “It's not funny or challenging to have instant kill mines, instant kill exploding enemies, and instant kill lava in areas where you have to use the jetpack, especially in a game where you only have 3 lives and no continues.”
- “The humor falls flat when the gameplay is more frustrating than funny, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “Attempts at humor feel forced and often detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of Dark Void Zero is highly praised for its nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic NES and SNES titles like Super Mario World and early Castlevania games. Players appreciate the fantastic music and overall ambiance, which effectively captures the essence of retro gaming.
- “Dark Void Zero has an amazing atmosphere, and while playing, it really feels like an old game.”
- “The atmosphere and the music are fantastic. If you love NES and SNES games like Super Mario World or the early Castlevania games, you will enjoy this.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users have reported that Capcom's retroactive addition of obscure DRM to older titles has negatively impacted modding capabilities, caused performance issues, and led to crashes, particularly on the Steam Deck.
- “Capcom retroactively adds obscure DRM to their older titles, breaking modding support on Steam Deck and causing performance issues and crashes.”
- “The optimization is so poor that even high-end systems struggle to maintain a stable frame rate.”
- “Frequent updates seem to introduce more bugs than they fix, leading to a frustrating experience for players.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's monetization strategy included a unique advertising campaign that presented it as a rediscovered dual-screen Nintendo arcade machine title, which added an intriguing layer to its marketing approach.

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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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