Save Kids in 2DARK; New Game From Alone in the Dark Creator
There are a lot of “retro” style indie games in the world now, enough to even say that the market has become saturated. Many of those games are fantastic, but unfortunately a great many also go unseen by the majority of gamers. What these retro games need is a familiar name behind them, and a brand new concept. Thankfully 2DARK has both of these things. Created by Frédérick Raynal, the mind behind the original Alone in the Dark, 2DARK is a horror game about saving children from serial killers.
It can be difficult to bring children in as victims in the horror genre, as it’s something that no one wishes to think about. Though sometimes a controversial subject, when treated correctly, can lead to some serious drama. 2DARK hopes to meet the right balance between the horrifying thought of children being murdered in heinous ways, and the literal light in the dark of them being saved.
In 2DARK you play as detective Mr. Smith, who’s wife was brutally murdered (decapitated) right in front of his eyes. His two children were kidnapped by the murderer. Years later, these terrifying events still haunt Mr. Smith as he searches for his children, and his wife’s murderer. His unending search leads him to the town of Gloomywood (also the name of the game’s development team). In Gloomywood, Mr. Smith discovers a child abduction ring, and thus begins his attempt to save all the kids.
In each level, Mr. Smith will uncover a serial killer who has a taste for young flesh. While rescuing as many children as he possibly can, Mr. Smith will eventually confront the serial killer in his lair, and defeat them. Throughout the game, he will meet—and defeat—many a serial killer. During my time with a member of the Gloomywood team at E3 2016, I was not privy to how 2DARK will end. However, I did find out that the end of the game will be horrifying, not only for the children in the game, but also the adults. Suffice it to say, something wicked this way comes for Mr. Smith.
The graphics in 2DARK have a retro vibe, with 2D backgrounds and voxel characters. The lighting effects are not only great, but they serve an important purpose. Most of the maps in 2DARK are cast in a thick blanket of darkness. Your flashlight serves as the only light source in many areas. And don’t think for a second that an area becomes well-lit just because you explored it. In 2DARK your memory will have to serve you well, because the darkness will not abate, and there are no in-game maps to help you along your way.
While light is important in 2DARK, the most crucial gameplay mechanic is definitely sound. From within the darkness you’ll be able to see vibrations of sounds, indicated with purple circles emanating from the source of the sound. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing if the noise be friend or foe until you see it in the light. Bullets will already be incredibly limited, so you don’t want to go wasting them blindly on a reverberation that could actually be a child crying.
I was told that experimentation is the true key to 2DARK. There will be absolutely no hand-holding in this game. Your items/ammunition will be limited, so you have to choose with care when to use them. Items will also have multiple different uses. One that I was introduced to was candy. It can be used to help soothe a crying child while you are leading them to safety, but it can also be thrown at enemies to distract them. Another factor that illustrates the importance of experimentation in 2DARK is saving. Unlike most games, saving happens during live play time. Mr. Smith will smoke a cigarette when you are saving, leaving him vulnerable to attack from enemies. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also die if Mr. Smith smokes too many cigarettes. After a random amount he will start to cough, your sign that you might be smoking too much. There will be no further indication of when he’s had too many, but too many will kill him.
2DARK is deceptively complicated. Everything from its name, to its graphics seems to indicate a simple game. There’s much more to the name of 2DARK than at first glance however. I was told that the 2 in 2DARK stands for the 2D graphics in the game. The “dark” has multiple meanings. For one, 2DARK is apparently the spiritual successor to Alone in the Dark. It’s also, “too dark,” because it revolves around children being murdered by serial killers.
If you think you have what it takes to save the kids, watch out for 2DARK at the end of 2016 when it will be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam for PCs.
Categorized:Horror Gaming News
