Dirge
- February 1, 2024
- NonNobis Games
"Dirge is a local or online multiplayer horror shooter game set in the post-World War II era, where players join the Paranormal Investigator Task Force to explore haunted locations and uncover supernatural mysteries. In the 2-4 player co-op mode, investigators work together to complete tasks and vanquish evil forces, while one player assumes the role of a terrifying monster trying to stop them. Players must face twisted beings and confront malevolent forces in this chilling world."
Reviews
- Dirge offers a unique and fun concept, allowing players to engage in cooperative gameplay against monsters, which adds a fresh twist to the horror genre.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and are actively working on improvements, showing a commitment to enhancing the game experience.
- The game features a captivating atmosphere with good graphics and sound design, making it enjoyable to explore with friends.
- The game suffers from significant optimization issues and bugs, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Many players find the controls and camera mechanics to be clunky and uncomfortable, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- The current content is limited, with only a few maps and monsters available, leading to repetitive gameplay after a short time.
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and thrilling qualities, featuring labyrinthine map designs, a noir aesthetic, and effective use of sound and music to enhance tension. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of horror and intrigue, with dark secrets and spooky elements that keep players engaged. However, some criticism arises from issues like poor machine translation, which can detract from the overall atmospheric experience.
“The overall aesthetic of the game is super noir and fun, the characters are all grizzled toughs with tragic backstories, the music is atmospheric, the voice acting is campy in all the right ways, it's fun.”
“The atmosphere is immersive and the traps add a spooky element.”
“Dirge is a thrilling journey into the world of dark secrets and mysteries, which makes you immersed in the atmosphere of horror and intrigue from the very beginning of the game until the very finale.”
“No sense of atmosphere.”
“I'm only putting a 'thumbs up' because I like the idea of a 'free maniac' with an intimidating atmosphere.”
“Dirge is a game intended for an audience that loves a 'Resident Evil' atmosphere, except instead of zombies, your threat is instead malevolent spirits.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is polarizing, with some players enjoying the exploration, resource gathering, and tension-filled encounters with monsters, while others criticize it for being confusing and poorly executed. Despite its flaws, the game features unique mechanics and a variety of puzzles that enhance engagement, particularly in cooperative play. Overall, it offers a mix of adrenaline-pumping action and atmospheric horror, appealing to fans of the genre.
“The gameplay mostly consists of exploration, finding clues and secrets, and gathering resources, all the while being hunted by the monster, occasional minions, and environmental scares that keep the tension up while allowing you to focus on exploring instead of just running.”
“Dirge is an adrenaline-pumping game that combines cooperative gameplay with heart-pounding thrills.”
“I was impressed by the performance of the game, with smooth gameplay and stunning graphics that truly immerse you in the dark and eerie world of Dirge.”
“The game leaves a mixed impression due to serious flaws that significantly affect gameplay.”
“The mechanic of the game is uncomfortable.”
“Rambo type of gameplay or Fortnite... if you run out of ammo, it can get really, really dangerous!”
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning quality and immersive aesthetic, effectively complementing the dark and eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the detailed character models and the overall art style, which is described as having a polished, almost AA quality. While some reviewers note that further improvements are needed, the game's graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the overall experience.
“Among the positives, one can note the beautiful graphics and the concept of the game itself.”
“The graphics and sound design in Dirge are simply stunning.”
“I was impressed by the performance of the game, with smooth gameplay and stunning graphics that truly immerse you in the dark and eerie world of Dirge.”
“It is true to say that a lot of polishing graphically and task-wise is indeed needed for this game to grow out of its infancy.”
“The character models seem very realistic, as does the house, but there are still significant improvements needed in the overall graphics.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players report smooth performance and immersive graphics, many others criticize the game for requiring high-end specs despite its outdated visuals and numerous glitches. There is a consensus that improvements are needed to enhance the overall optimization experience.
“An interesting game; as for optimization, everything is at the highest level here too.”
“I don't experience any optimization issues, and it's never crashed on me.”
“I was impressed by the performance of the game, with smooth gameplay and stunning graphics that truly immerse you in the dark and eerie world of Dirge.”
“The game is not optimized enough.”
“Nice idea, does not look too bad either, it has potential...but... the lack of optimization and the amount of glitches are insane.”
“It's optimized for a 2060 with 32 gigs of RAM when it looks on par with something from the Xbox 360 era, if that.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story in "Dirge" is praised for its immersive and gripping narrative, enhanced by environmental storytelling through notes that reveal secrets and lore. Players appreciate the tension and atmosphere that keep them engaged, with diverse quests and expansive maps that encourage cooperative play. Overall, the game offers a compelling experience that combines investigation and action, making it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a rich story-driven adventure.
“They immerse you into the dark world of the game and create an atmosphere that makes your heart beat faster from the tension and expectation of the next plot twist.”
“But what makes 'Dirge' truly unique is its gripping story.”
“I came in expecting investigation, lore, story beats, gloom, and doom.”
“I came in expecting investigation, lore, story beats, gloom and doom.”
“There are several maps and every single playtime I have different quests to do - and don't think you can do it in minutes, the maps are huge and yeah, there is a time limit.... so it's not like you can do a picnic beside playing this game!”
“With different types of enemies as well as boss-like monsters that require different methods to combat and different types of missions and goals to boot, I've spent hours having fun with my friends.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report significant glitches and bugs that affect gameplay, others find it surprisingly stable for an indie title, with no game-breaking issues encountered. Overall, the game's imperfections contribute to its charm and unpredictability, making it enjoyable despite the optimization challenges.
“Remarkably bug-free for an indie horror game made by two people; we encountered no game-breaking bugs in this early access title.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or significant glitches, which is impressive for an indie project.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by the stability; it felt polished and well-tested, especially considering the small development team.”
“This is a cool free horror game, just be prepared for some glitches with guns when you're playing.”
“This game is really confusing; the gameplay is fairly buggy.”
“Nice idea, does not look too bad either; it has potential, but the lack of optimization and the amount of glitches are insane.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing, particularly in a multiplayer setting. It blends elements of horror and comedy effectively, making for a fun experience, though some technical issues, like a broken keyboard, can detract from the enjoyment.
“I enjoyed the game; it's essentially a pretty funny horror experience, if not for the broken keyboard - I would play again.”
“The game is very funny, especially with friends... of course, if there are any >;)”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's music is atmospheric and complements its noir aesthetic, enhancing the overall fun experience. The campy voice acting adds to the charm, fitting well with the grizzled characters and their tragic backstories.
“The overall aesthetic of the game is super noir and fun, the characters are all grizzled toughs with tragic backstories, and the music is atmospheric.”
“The music perfectly complements the game's tone, enhancing the immersive experience and drawing players deeper into the story.”
“Each track in the soundtrack is carefully crafted, adding layers of emotion and intensity to the gameplay.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, thanks to its extensive customization options for matches and a wide variety of randomized tasks, ensuring players remain engaged and entertained without experiencing boredom.
“It has incredible replay value due to the customization options for each match and a large array of randomized tasks to complete, so we have yet to get bored (especially when you can create a perfect, absolutely chaotic storm with the settings).”