Recent reviews by Yonder

I really tried to like this game, I genuinely tried, but I can’t deny it anymore - this game is a disappointing mess. I loved the first one, but this sequel was a disappointment in so many ways. Here are some reasons why I think so:

The first game had the player feeling like an actual detective, uncovering clues and lore through reading and researching the available notes and documents at their own pace. The story unfolded as you progressed, and it felt natural and rewarding in a sense. “Thinking” about clues is no longer an essential part in puzzle solving here, in fact I haven’t even tried to see if it’s incorporated into the game mechanics because it hasn’t been necessary up to this point. In this game, it feels like the story is happening around the player without their effort rather than it unfolding because of the player. Instead of uncovering the mystery and story at your own pace and through interesting tidbits of world-building, the devs chose to go heavy on the dialogue. And exposition through lengthy dialogue is possibly the most dull and unimaginative way to tell a story, not rewarding at all.

The story is all over the place. It’s like they were trying to incorporate every single Lovecraft trope and bit of lore into a single narrative, which might have worked if the game had a more thought-out storyline but it absolutely doesn’t. Unlike the first game where the story had few but carefully selected themes and tropes and there was a singular focus tying it all together, this game just tries to do everything at once. It’s not captivating, it’s confusing and makes you feel scatterbrained. Less is more.

They kept the original clunky inventory system, which in the first game was manageable albeit a bit annoying, but in this game they added like 20+ more items for you to carry around, which makes it really annoying to scroll through the inventory and find an item.

Did I mention this Director’s Cut edition of the game apparently changes some of the puzzles in the game? There’s no walkthrough I could find online for it, and I looked - because the solutions ended up being so nonsensical there is no way a rational person would come to those conclusions on their own. Takes you out of the immersion completely.

The game is still atmospheric, though. The sound design is genuinely nice, and I liked the voice work.

Overall score: 4.5/10. Out of all their games I’ve played (Darkness Within 1, Darkness Within 2 and Conarium) this one is the weakest link.

I don't understand the negative reviews. This is, by far, the best game set in the Cthulu Mythos universe I've come across. If you've read The Mountains of Madness you can really tell how much effort and love went into this game to replicate that authentic lovecraftian atmosphere, and this shows in the writing especially. I guess that's what I care about when it comes to Lovecraft adaptations - writing and atmosphere. And this game nails both of those things. I don't have much to say about the gameplay. It's difficult to make slow-burn and exploration-based gameplay interesting, but this game does it and it works. Pick up every clue, read every letter, and you'll know what I mean.

This was the first VR game I ever played, and the single most immersive gaming experience I think I've ever had.

The only game that has ever really managed to scare me.

Very atmospheric game with great sound design and art style. The puzzles are engaging, the story keeps you interested, the gameplay is seamless and the menu provides a lot of customization options.

Good game

gud gmae