The Dark Stone from Mebara
- February 27, 2015
- Jerseyware Gaming
Get on Steam"The Dark Stone from Mebara" is a horror-adventure game set in 1920s Massachusetts, where players step into the shoes of a detective agency owner and his employees. They investigate a cursed black rock, uncovering cosmic origins, battling cultists and horrors, and confronting madness. The game boasts an ATB and spell-casting system, with detailed level-ups and immersive period visuals, all based on H.P. Lovecraft's mythology. Explore, battle, and unravel the mysteries of this dark stone in a chilling, atmospheric adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a strong Lovecraftian atmosphere with a well-written story and engaging themes of hidden knowledge and madness.
- For fans of old-school turn-based RPGs, the combat and item hunting provide a familiar and enjoyable experience.
- The graphics, while 2D, are well-executed and contribute to the overall artistic feel of the game.
- The game suffers from severe balance issues, making encounters frustratingly difficult and often reliant on luck rather than strategy.
- Players frequently encounter bugs and lack of guidance, leading to confusion and hindering progress in the game.
- Healing options are extremely limited, leaving players feeling underprepared for battles and unable to recover from damage.
- story18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its originality and strong Lovecraftian themes, offering a unique take on the "unknown from beyond" concept, alongside well-developed characters. However, players express frustration with the challenging combat and the difficulty in progressing through the story due to unclear clues and potential bugs. Overall, while the narrative has its merits, the execution can be hindered by gameplay mechanics.
“Pretty good game if you like a good Lovecraftian story.”
“Haven't gotten that far yet, but the story so far seems a bit different from other HPL-inspired games, so points for originality and for tapping into the 'unknown from beyond' theme of Lovecraft's that was so central to his work, instead of simply focusing on the horrible monsters (though those are in plentiful supply as well).”
“The fights were challenging, much tougher than I expected, and the storyline was neat with lots of great homages to Lovecraft's works.”
“The game throws you into ridiculously hard fights right out of the gates (as soon as the story stops blathering on) you can't avoid them, you're not prepared for them (as in you hardly have the ability to heal and have very few items) and the only way to get through them is by luck and save scumming.”
“I can't find the right hidden pixel to proceed with the story and I don't know if there is a tile that I've missed or if it's a bug.”
“Well, that's just for starters... the story sucks, graphics suck (not even has a nice retro, basic to it).”
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the old-school 2D aesthetic reminiscent of titles like Arcanum, while others criticize them as poor and lacking detail. Many users noted that the graphics force players to rely on their imagination, and there are mentions of bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visual presentation seems to polarize opinions, appealing to fans of retro styles but disappointing those expecting modern graphical fidelity.
“The graphics most resembled Arcanum's, to my eye, and although 3D graphics have evolved to the point where we now have good levels of detail, there will always be something artistic and interesting about 2D graphics done well.”
“The graphics most resembled Arcanum's, to my eye, and although 3D graphics have evolved to the point where we now have good levels of detail, there will always be something artistic and interesting about 2D graphics done well.”
“The graphics most resembled Arcanum's, to my eye, and although 3D graphics have evolved to the point where we now have good levels of detail, there will always be something artistic and interesting about 2D graphics done well.”
“You're forced to use imagination due to the graphics.”
“Bugs and poor graphics.”
“Well, that's just for starters... the story sucks, graphics suck (not even has a nice retro, basic to it).”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong Lovecraftian atmosphere, effectively setting a haunting mood that enhances the overall experience. Despite some negative reviews, many players find the sound design and ambiance to be compelling and immersive.
“Well worth playing for a really good Lovecraftian atmosphere; don't worry too much about the negative reviews.”
“Sounds good, very atmospheric, and does a good job setting the mood.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is hindered by mechanics and balance issues, despite a solid concept. Players feel that the execution does not effectively support the intended style of play.
“The concept is just fine, but the mechanics and balance just don't support this style of play.”
- music4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with users expressing a strong appreciation for the soundtrack, highlighting it as a standout feature.
“I like the music quite a bit.”
“Only one good thing... the soundtrack!”
