Why do people say Darkwood sucks?

[Unseen]

I don't get it, I've recommended this game on horror channels and chatrooms and sometimes people say DW sucks. Why? I can't wrap my head around it, I mean I know opinion is opinion but...

I've literally never seen horror art like this... The artist Artur Kordas is up there imo with Zdzislaw Beksinski and H. R. Giger. The gameplay combined SH, zelda1, resident evil, diablo, and many more.. Its a frickin masterpiece that should be more famous and people just write it off...

Its sad to me, how is it that people won't praise this game? I mean some do but not enough, this game should be known by every horror fan. Its lovecraft, poe, and more, its not basic gore crap like killing field which I found boring and refunded... Its a straight up nightmare story with amazing gameplay, atmosphere, art, music, story, depth... And people refuse to try it.. To even give it a look.

I mean the art profiles alone should be enough to net any horror fan. I know opinion is opinion and preference etc... But I'm not praising a game just to do it.. I don't praise any game and say, oh this zeldas the best zelda, or this rpg is the best rpg... But to me DW is the best horror game. Best one I played... Why can't more people see this? I also enjoyed Amnesia DD which is more well known... But that game was 9 hours long if that, and is basically walking sim with puzzles and light stealth. This is a way more heavy game, with more content, scares, gameplay, atmosphere etc. I understand its not an online game with DLC garbage and micro transactions, but its on the same level to me as any of the previous resident evils or SH's. And that's not taking away from them, but in art, DW is superior imo. I get a far more creepy feeling looking at the trader, or even the frickin doctor, than the nurses in SH. Or the pointless pyramid head. Don't get me wrong I'm replaying SH1 and I love it, but its not the same as DW. That's how much I love this game.

Yea maybe I'm a DW fanboy but I can't help it, the games soul sucking it will forever be in my nightmares and in a fond way not one I wanna get rid of... Every horror fan should play this to the end or not judge it, but even before the end I loved it. The swamp only amped up the action and to be honest I kinda liked the first 2 areas best just for the subtle creepy darkness and mystery of it all. This game deserves more than what people give it..

[Unseen]

Originally posted by trembo F|C:

It does have controller support -- I have a controller at home, I'm just out of town.

It controls really well on M/K but id like to try it again with a controller see what its like.

Really I just don't see why people won't even give the game a chance like they dismiss it immediately.. Its one of the best games of its kind imo, my only critique of DW is the intro might of been a bit confusing for some players as it involved figuring out the functions. Also that the first couple of nights really add to the tension and horror and might be a bit much for people who were expecting lots of shooting and action. I actually find the start of the game the most creepy with the little subtle mysterious things going on. The later parts like the swamp I think are more action orientated due to the influx of the creepy enemies. So both are really scary but I think some might not of got the start of the game and the tension it created. I personally like the start of it best, cause you feel more vulnerable due to lack of supplies and weapons.

The intro wasn't bad, but I dunno if it was as good as the rest of the game. Its better when you understand the story more.

[trembo]

I agree - the controls are perfect on M+KB. The game is a masterpiece in my opinion. I'm a huge fan of narratives like Dark Souls and Darkwood which remain mysterious and you have to think and put together what has happened or what is going on. The different NPC's and the quest lines that unfold based on player choice adds to massive replayability. I haven't made it through Old Woods (on my initital playthrough still) but spent a lot of time in Dry Meadow and Silent Forest stockpiling supplies and experimenting with different weapons and mechanics.

The combat is clunky, I get it, but the combat isn't the main draw of the game, imo. The people who say it sucks are probably the same ones buying Call of Duty games -- simply a different breed of gamer.

[Unseen]

I actually didn't find it that clunky compared to other twin sticks. He holds his ground well and doesn't float all over the place and take cheap shots like in games like smash tv. I actually found DW to be the best controls on a top down game I've played since metal gear solid 2. I actually find the combat in this game to be very well done and tense. Especially for what kinda game it is, but of course in 3rd person, with the same kinda art and atmosphere this game would be epic. Its really more about the concept and idea. As zelda 1 and a lttp are amazing games, but zelda oot perfected them. Imagine if the same happens to darkwood. Defending your base at night was intense and fun, propping up a table and hiding behind it, shotgun ready popping off savages and dogs. When a banshee comes in and you gotta switch quickly to pistol, all while hiding behind whatever you can put in the way. Its awesome, the combat to me is very nice.

I also kinda like the COD games, nice scripts and good action. Good firefights, lotsa blood and gore in world at war. Modern warfares a very slick gunfight, but I'm not interested in buying a dozen cods especially when I still like the old games. My only complaint with cod is over saturation.

[MazyRun]

Originally posted by FinalFantasyLore:

I actually found DW to be the best controls on a top down game I've played since metal gear solid 2. I actually find the combat in this game to be very well done and tense.

I agree, the combat in general is really well done, the movement & melee/shooting mechanics feel great on both control options (controller or M/KB).

Interestingly the last 2 big video reviews of this game (made by youtubbers) both said similar things in their final verdict.. they both loved the game, everything about it, basically suggesting it was near perfect game design, but they both cited the combat as a mild sticking point for them (it was the only thing preventing them giving the game 10/10)..

Now if you watch their gameplay you can see why they mentioned the combat.. they were not good at movement and timing attacks yet, which is to be expected, they hadn't racked up many hours of combat experience yet.. and this was the only reason the combat was the only aspect of the game they couldn't get to grips with..

However, they shouldn't have mentioned the combat as a reason for not giving the game a top rating because they should realize that the combat is the skill based element of the game which they would have got good at if they had played more.

So I'm sure that if they had played more it would have clicked with them and they would have changed their mind and possibly realized that the combat is actually one of the best things about the game. In other words, they would have given the game 10/10 instead of 9/10 if they had been more patient.

[Unseen]

Yea its easy to get hit early on when you're learning as it makes it that more intense. I hate games where you feel overpowered all the time and run over stuff, unless its a fantasy game like an rpg or something. Its cool in action games but in a horror game about tension and suspense the enemies have to make you feel afraid. The lead character in this games a tough old man but he doesn't have access to much besides an AK if he can get it from wolf which isnt easy. In the early goings all you have is a board and nails and dealing with even a few savages can be risky. But everytime I died I knew it was something I did wrong, or not right, because that's whats so cool about DW its enemies really do want you dead and I like nightmare but I also don't want the game to end because of a mistake.

One of the deadliest things in the game are the spirits that kill you on a lights out. Sometimes its very hard to avoid this death. And the fear of being killed by a spiritual unknown always keeps the tension up in this game for me.

Its good to keep a lantern around just in case, or a flashlight, but even they seem to go out sometimes during these events.

[Doomape]

Ok I can try answer the question. I recently tried Darkwood for a few hours and just couldnt get into it. I think the top down view and graphics is what killed it for me. In horror games I actually want to see gore, disfigured monsters etc The top down view and cartoony graphics just removed scare factor for me. Running away from a shrieking heretic in a poorly lit mining complex in outlast 2 , that was scary for me. I could see the weirdo up close. In Darkwood I turned the wrong corner and got whacked by a forest dweller, but that felt mostly annoying. I got annoyed wondering through unispired woods and annoyed at how slow and awkwardly your character swings his weapon. Other than that Darkwood seemed like your generic survival game. Find food, fuel, stay inside the house after dark etc. Im not saying this game is a failure it just didnt appeal to me for reasons above. I will give the game credit for outstanding sound design. That certainty contributes to an eerie atmosphere. Artwork was also super cool and very fitting.

[Unseen]

Darkwoods not suppose to be visceral as all hell, its suppose to be creepy and with some spiritual elements. And I get the top down point I'm not a big fan of stick shooters. But I really think you should give it a chance beyond the nail and boards as that's not exactly going to do the game justice. If the artworks good then by not completing it you're gonna miss out on more.

I don't really agree about the monsters, maybe its cause you see them from above.. But in full 3d the monsters in DW would be far more creepy than some psychos with axes. We're talking about natural mutations of human beings. Centipede men, humans fused and combined into a spider, not a real spider mind you but a disfigured mutilated corpse zombie. Would be pretty freaky with a game like outlasts production. You really should look at this from an indie perspective outlasts graphics are very high quality and nowhere near an indie game like DW. With awesome art, atmosphere, sound, production etc. Its like comparing Resident evil 4 to the original blood omen. Blood omen is an artistic atmosphere classic, but doesn't have the modern themes that new games have.

I look at DW as a masterpiece book and masterpiece horror storytelling. I heard outlast was good and I got the first one recently on sell but my pc wouldn't play it right. I can play newer farcrys and most ps3/360 stuff so my PC isn't early 2000's, but I still can't play outlast. Not even number 1, pretty much anybody could play DW. Until I get an upgrade I can't judge outlast. But I still think its not really that fair to compare a genius indie game with amazing art and quality like DW to a
technical juggernaut like outlast. Being an oldschool gamer I think DW is miles ahead of the classics but that's just my opinion. In design, art, atmosphere, storyline, characters, etc. I really don't see how you getting killed by the equivalent goombas in DW made you feel annoyed, that's what games do, especially when someone runs into one. What do you think someone would do if you tried to hit them with nails? Stand there?

Also as good as Outlast looks to me, its still yet another 1st person game. Like amnesia, alien isolation, death stranding, and more.. Its getting a bit old everything in FP. DW would be terrible in FP imo. But I did ask why and I'm glad someone filled that role, and I encourage anyone to share their opinion. But you'll find there's a lot of people who really like DW more than most horror they've played. I won't make a judgment on outlast I wanted to play it, but its a heavy game also not everyone can run. DW is a game most everyone could run.

[★nd★]

Can't believe people can hate this game. Just played the wedding and I am amazed. Better than most horror games I've played so far (and they are good ones)

[Captain Dickärd]

I initially gave the game a negative review after beating it and I'm trying to get into the game again to see if my opinion changes. Here's some of the things that frustrated me back when I got the game.

Melee combat is simplistic, unfun, and clunky to the point that I avoid using melee weapons at all cost. There's no block or parry button, and the dodge moves you less distance than a strong fart. Once I learn the enemy attack pattern I'm mostly just grinding a healthbar down after baiting attacks and wearing out my glass-like weapons at the same time.

Other tedious mechanics like having to loot ferry items around the map or play a nightly tower defense game keeps me doing grindy tasks instead of enjoying exploration of the map. Finite resources means I can't really slow down and explore at pace I like because I could eventually run out of items and my hatred for the melee combat exacerbates this issue since I'm constantly crafting ranged weapons and traps. Hideouts being specific set places further contributes to time wasting as you loot ferry and backtrack to the one building that's safe at night.

Footage from the wedding quest was what got me buying the game, but I've never received the note from the night event on any of my saves despite hearing the knocking. I also didn't encounter any other scenarios that seemed as spooky as the wedding trailer as I went through the game, and that was really what I was looking for,

Overall I think the game would be much more enjoyable if I could spend less time ferrying loot to maintain a fort against a predictable nightly horde and more time exploring the various points of the map. Finite resources have me feeling like I'm racing a timer to beat the game Pikmin 1 style. I'd also like to have seen more spooky quests like wedding.

If anyone has advice on how to mitigate these frustrations on my next playthrough I'd be glad to read it.

[Unseen]

There is a guy called the bike man, you can have him ferry items for alcohol.
You can call him with the bell you find in the 2nd house. Just use it and look outside near the house he'll be there.

Also the wedding was a part I missed my first playthrough as well as if you don't do certain things initially you can miss it.

I can see how it might be kinda slow for some, I really got into the atmosphere and setting, more so than any other horror game besides the original blood omen. The game shares a lot in common with zelda with the inventory, top down exploration, etc. So I think you really need to try zelda 1 on NES if you wanna get an idea of what kinda game DW really is. Also my only real gripe with the game as I'm a fan who thinks its one of the greatest horror games, but I've seriously never seen character profiles like this, in anything, games, movies, books, I mean geiger and beksinski are two of my favorites but I like artur kordas even more, for his blending grim realism with abstract horror. That's another thing about DW, even tho its poland, it still has that feeling you've been there, or seen stuff like this. Old trailer parks, run down ghettos like at the end, dark woods, swamps, run down old flooded buildings. This has supernatural horror elements but the realism and atmosphere are also there, which gives you a haunting and familiar feel to it.

But my only real gripe is that, sometimes it can be a waiting game. I think that is why there is no pause during window. I think waiting for evening could be a real drag sometimes as the night time were the best parts gameplay wise. Exploring is fun but like most top downs such as zelda you eventually find everything. The night segments were my fav parts, but speeding up the process would of been nice. Since daytime has no enemy attacks besides on the map, they could of allowed us to skip the daytime with a quick nap, like in fallout or morrowind. Would of sped up the gameplay greatly. I really hope there is a sequel, or a new version like issac rebirth or something, that lets us do all kinds of new stuff. I would pay 20$ for a new darkwood.

[Deformerad Dallarydsbo]

Darkwood is the freshest horror experience i've had in any media for the last 15 years, more the fool those who deprive themselves of this game and call themselves horror fans

[?????]

Whoever says this game sucks, sucks a giant ♥♥♥♥ himself

[Robert Rodríguez]

No idea really. I've spent 90 hours on this game, 100% the achievements and bought the gorgeous artbook and OST from the devs and don't regret a single penny, well spent indeed. My biggest personal complaint could perhaps go towards the night sections but other than that even if not for the gameplay the artwork is tremendous and I venerate it

[Stadtguerilla]

Controld are utterly terrible. Anything you want to do feels like actual, hard work, because the character moves sluggish with even more annoying: a momentum when accelerating. Item handling is finnicky, and anything important is way too hard too see on the map, because everything is greyish and way too small. Just frustrating and boring.
I honestly started the game without even knowing anything about it and was looking forward to what some people claimed was a great horror game.
Yes, it turned out to be horror . but not the intended way of horror.
Frustrated I stoped the game after abouit 20 minutes not being able to even leave the startiong area - which from what I read is because I could not find the cupboard the needed key is in. A d*mn cupboard which I walked past like ten times, but could not see, because it was like grey on grey. Bye, terrible game.

[Unseen]

I strongly disagree some of the best top down controls I've played in a game since metal gear solid sons of liberty. Not sure where you get that...

Its an absolute masterpiece. Not a terrible game at all one of the best pure examples of its genre. And this is more of what I was talking about, people not even giving it a chance and dismissing it immediately cause of, controls, you can't see the map? Really I had no problems at all with this. You're gonna hate it when lights out happens, but you probably won't give it that much of a chance.

Sad I see you don't own it anymore, must of refunded it. Your loss I suppose. Also what you heard about this being some kinda good horror game is actually an understatement. Its a contender for the best horror game. Up there in the top 5 imo with silent hill, resident evil, pathologic, and blood omen. If you don't like those games either, I don't think you really get what horror games are suppose to be.

They are suppose to be atmosphere, misery, gloom, and not just splatter gore action flicks with zombies. That's not how psycho, or hills have eyes were. Hills have eyes is an incredibly creepy film, and its not even that violent. You don't understand poe, shelly or lovecraft. You want an instant gratification 3d smorgasboard. Also the controls and top down perspective. If you don't like this, stick to new fully 3d games. Don't even play zelda, metal gear solid, blood omen, you will hate those revolutionary classics as well.

Pretty hard to fail the super simple prelude. If you couldn't do that maybe you would be happier refunding it.