The Darkness Below
- April 15, 2021
- vlzvl
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Darkness Below" is a first person grid-based dungeon crawler,inspired by titles such as Dungeon Master, Eye of the Beholder, Lands of Lore & Might and Magic 3-5! Features (v1.2 + Prelude) windows / linux / android*prelude version - contains about ~3 hours of the full releaseturn-based moving & battling much like M&M 3-5interactable items & objects (ground items, levers, doors, keylocks)variou…
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game captures the charm and nostalgia of classic dungeon crawlers like Might and Magic and Eye of the Beholder, providing an engaging and immersive experience.
- The developer is highly responsive and actively working on updates, which gives players confidence in the game's future development and content expansion.
- The graphics are well-designed and visually appealing, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game while maintaining a retro aesthetic.
- The game is still in early access and lacks many features, leading to a somewhat incomplete experience with limited content and mechanics.
- The user interface can be clunky and slow to navigate, making inventory management and interactions with objects laborious.
- There are some bugs and glitches present, such as issues with quests and character abilities, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story is considered interesting and has a solid foundation, but players feel it requires further development, including additional hubs, dungeons, and side quests. While NPCs serve as quest givers and companions, there are notable glitches affecting quest completion and companion mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Players are eager for updates to enhance the narrative and gameplay elements.
“The storyline is interesting, and I look forward to the updates and then the finished game.”
“NPCs hanging out around town are quest givers, storytellers, and hirelings.”
“If the whole story and locations are ready, and it has a good editor, it will take the author a year or two to add the amount of content being flaunted.”
“The game still needs to be fleshed out a little with quests and more monsters and items, but the essential elements are already there.”
“You can also pick up a quest-specific companion, but as long as you don't complete the quest, he'll stay with you forever as things currently stand, and he is currently glitched to where even if you do finish his quest, you can go back to where you find him and start the quest again, thus recruiting him again despite the quest actually being finished.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their polished pixel-art style, offering a nostalgic yet modern aesthetic that enhances the dungeon-crawling experience. Reviewers appreciate the detailed visuals and the absence of bugs, highlighting the game's ability to balance retro charm with contemporary design elements. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
“The darkness below is all you could ask for dungeon crawlers of old fused into the present with modern trappings and gorgeous graphics which don't murder the eyes with pixel melted colors.”
“The graphics are very nice!”
“In pixel-art style, detailed and polished while maintaining a fine overall unity.”
“Graphics are average and I haven't had any bugs that I am aware of.”
“At last, a blobber which has better graphics than Might and Magic 3-5!”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay features diverse races and mechanics, contributing to a fun retro RPG-lite experience with nostalgic graphics. However, some players note that the stat and mechanics system could be improved, and the initial town feels somewhat sparse.
“All told, it's actually a fun retro RPG-lite title with some nice nostalgic graphics and gameplay.”
“The only minor quibble I have is the way stats and mechanics work; the first town seems sparse (yes, I know it's a village).”
“Definitely different races and mechanics.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While some bugs and glitches are present, the developer is proactive in addressing these issues promptly, ensuring a relatively stable gaming experience.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experience constant lag and frame drops, which ruin the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, and it feels like stability was not a priority.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music is characterized as classical, fitting well with the game's theme, and is noted for being well-executed.
“The music is classical for this type of game, but it's well handled.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“Each track is thoughtfully composed, adding depth and emotion to the game's atmosphere.”
“The music is classical for this type of game, but it's here and well handled.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the music fits the theme, it often fades into the background and becomes forgettable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a unique atmosphere that stands out, even with its classic background, creating an engaging and distinctive experience for players.
“Despite its very classic background, the game has an atmosphere all its own.”
