DARQ: Complete Edition

DARQ: Complete Edition is the complete release of the 2019 PC-based DARQ horror platform game. This time, the producer, independent studio Unfold Games, has prepared game for more hardware platforms, including the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This was possible thanks to the cooperation with Polish company Feardemic, belonging to Bloober Team (The Medium, Layers of Fear). DARQ: The Complete Edition contains two feature DLCs, The Tower and The Crypt, which are made available for free for owners of the main game on PC.

Plot

The main character of DARQ: Complete Edition is Lloyd - a boy who one night discovers that he was in a conscious dream. Unfortunately, this quickly turns into a real nightmare for the hero; as if that wasn't enough, the next attempts to wake up from him burn in a pan. The protagonist must therefore learn to survive in a reality full of dangers and strange phenomena not subject to the laws governing the outside world. The story can end in several ways, and which of the finals we see depends on the choices we make during the game.

In the first DLC, entitled The Tower, Llyod sets off in his dream to discover all its secrets. In the second add-on, The Crypt, the protagonist finds himself in the middle of a real nightmare, the action of which takes him to a crypt full of sinister dead people.

Mechanics

In DARQ: Complete Edition, we walk around the vast house (partly procedurally generated), look for useful objects and solve environmental puzzles. Most puzzles require manipulation of the laws of physics (Lloyd can, for example, levitate) and the environment (for example, turning whole rooms); besides, at certain moments we are doomed to move in total darkness. The whole thing is governed by the so-called logic of sleep, so for example, when you enter a room you have already visited, it may turn out that its decor has completely changed.

It is complicated by the fact that enemies wander through the locations, with which the boy cannot engage in an open fight. In order to escape with life, the protagonist must carefully take the next steps and sneak behind their backs, trying at all costs to avoid direct confrontation. There is also a lot of so-called jump scare, however, they are rare, because the creators try to arouse fear in us mainly through the gloomy atmosphere.

Both The Tower and The Crypt offer new locations, puzzles and obstacles to overcome. Especially the second and last DLC can boast the most ambitious and unique level of all available DARQ: Complete Edition. While creating it, the developer was tempted to add new mechanics and intricate environmental puzzles, challenging even for experienced players.

Technical aspects

DARQ: Complete Edition has monochromatic 2.5D graphics, maintained in a style reminiscent of Tim Burton's film works. We observe the action from the side, but the camera following Lloyd often changes position, showing the locations from different perspectives. The struggle is accompanied by music recorded by a symphony orchestra from Budapest. The author of the soundtrack is Vlad Marhulets, while Bjorn Jacobsen (Cyberpunk 2077) is responsible for preparing the disturbing sounds.. Graphic design in the new release presents the same level, and the game does not get any additional tracks recorded for the complete edition.

Although this is not a remaster, DARQ: Complete Edition for next generation consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X) works in higher resolution (4K) and smooth animation than on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.