Darkness Ahead
- November 2, 2016
- Useless Machines
Get on SteamIn "Darkness Ahead" , players embark on an adventure to find a missing brother in a plateau with a dark past. The game features a mysterious story, puzzle-solving, and the collection of useful tools and clues. Players must navigate abandoned buildings, avoid threats, and unravel the supernatural events that occurred in the area. The ultimate goal is to understand the past and use that knowledge to find the missing brother.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating storyline with elements of horror and adventure, enhanced by intriguing mini-puzzles.
- Graphics and sound design are of commendable quality, contributing to an atmospheric experience.
- Fans of walking simulator/horror/adventure games may find enjoyment in the game's mystery and exploration elements.
- The game suffers from severe technical issues, including frequent crashes and poor optimization, making it unplayable for many users.
- Gameplay is repetitive and lacks engaging content, with many areas feeling empty and similar in design.
- The game has been criticized for being an asset flip, lacking originality and effort in its development.
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story in "Darkness Ahead" revolves around a protagonist searching for his missing brother, who disappeared during a camping trip, leading him to an old village filled with horror and adventure elements. While some reviews criticize the plot for being weak and simplistic, others appreciate its captivating nature and the integration of intriguing mini-puzzles that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is described as mysterious and engaging, appealing to fans of horror-adventure games.
“Darkness Ahead offers a captivating storyline, incorporating elements of horror and adventure through its intriguing mini-puzzles.”
“The story is simple: the main character is searching for his brother who disappeared on a camping trip, so he heads to the camping site.”
“If you like games with horror-adventure elements and a mysterious story, you will like this one as well.”
“A very weak horror movie with a strained, difficult storyline.”
“Looking for your missing sibling, apparently, but does the intricacy of plot matter when confronted with such low effort asset flipping?”
“The main plot of the game can be completed in 30-40 minutes.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the commendable quality of the visuals and sound design, while others criticize the poor optimization and performance issues. Despite some players achieving a satisfactory experience on older hardware, there are complaints about the game's graphical fidelity being subpar, especially when compared to other titles.
“The graphics and sound design are of commendable quality.”
“Graphics quality looks satisfying and sound design is very good.”
“Genuine mess of a game; your taskbar, despite not being visible, is always there. If you look down and click, you get pulled out of the game. The game will start up SteamVR and Oculus even though it doesn't seem to be a VR game. After closing all of that, I stood staring at a barren dark field. The game is so poorly optimized it sounds like I'm running GTA V with those stupid graphics mods.”
“[*]+ average level of graphics”
“Also, graphics and sound design are decent.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some users report severe issues, unable to play even on the lowest settings, others have noted improvements following an optimization update that enhanced performance on their systems.
“The optimization update made the game run much more smoothly on my system.”
“I noticed a significant improvement in performance after the latest optimization patch.”
“The game's optimization has really enhanced my overall experience, making it more enjoyable.”
“Horrible optimization, can't even play on the lowest settings.”
“Horrible optimization, can't even play on the lowest settings.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the developers has been criticized for being exploitative and unethical, as they allegedly use plagiarized assets without proper credit, leading to accusations of creating low-quality, cash grab games. This pattern of behavior raises concerns about the integrity of their business practices in the gaming industry.
“The developers here didn't credit any of the artists and real game developers who created the assets, so this feels like plagiarism and a cash grab.”
“The industry has shown a repeated pattern of unethically using other people's work on Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its calming and relaxing qualities, providing a soothing backdrop that can enhance the experience. However, some players find that it becomes repetitive and can lead to boredom during extended gameplay.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The soundtrack of delayed footsteps while finding letters by the barrel fires created an immersive atmosphere.”
“After searching all the houses that are the exact same, finding the letters by the barrel fires, then lighting candles to the soundtrack of delayed footsteps, I got depressingly bored.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is noted for its strong sense of mystery and visual appeal, though some reviewers feel it falls short of being a masterpiece overall.
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the total gameplay experience is relatively short, with the full game lasting approximately 34 minutes, while some users report spending around 104 minutes in total, likely due to replaying or exploring different aspects of the game.
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging and keeps you on your toes.”
“I love how the mechanics are intuitive yet challenging, making every session enjoyable.”
“The variety of gameplay options allows for a unique experience each time you play.”
“My total gameplay time is 104 minutes... this full game is around 34 minutes.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted the gameplay experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful end credits, which evoke strong feelings, leaving players in a vulnerable state, reflecting on their journey and the relief of completion.
“One redeeming feature of this game is the end credits, which nearly made me cry, leaving me in a fetal position... 'It's over, it's finally over...'”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the predictable and scripted appearances of creatures, which contrasts with the lack of meaningful interaction, creating a sense of irony. Players find amusement in the absurdity of the situation rather than in dynamic gameplay.
“The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the dialogue, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the quirky character interactions; they really bring the game to life!”
“The absurd situations and witty one-liners had me chuckling throughout my entire playthrough.”
