Duskers
Release Date: May 18, 2016
Strategy, roguelike, 2D, elements of strategy, exploration games, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
A strategy with roguelike elements, taking place in a post-apocalyptic science-fiction world. In Duskers, the player assumes the role of a drone operator, a survivor from a catastrophe that apparently annihilated every other person and changed the space into a cemetery full of dangerous monsters and other hazards. The player’s task is to discover the secret behind the tragedy and acquire the items necessary for survival.
Duskers for PC is another production of Misfits Attics studio, the authors of A Virus Named TOM. This time, the developers focused on complicated, complex mechanics, forcing the player to discover a secret as to why the space had decayed into a great cemetery.
Plot
The player assumes the role of a drone operator, probably the only human in the whole universe. The space had become a dead, hostile place. Our hero has only old electronics and a remote controlled drone at this disposal, with the device being his eyes and ears in the outside world. The plot is unwrapped by operational notes found in other drones or ship wrecks. This way, step by step, our hero slowly reveals the mystery behind the strange event.
Mechanics
Duskers for PC is characterized by complicated mechanics. The game is a mix between a strategy game and a rougelike. The backbone of the gameplay is the exploration of the space, salvaging resources and parts necessary to upgrade the drone. Our way is often crossed by dangerous, mysterious monsters, with our character having to plan every encounter, as weapons are a scarcity around here. Otherwise, his vessel will be permanently destroyed, which forces us to begin a completely new playthrough. The game world is procedurally generated, so you never know what you may find in the next room. The vessel’s sensors can be damaged – this includes the camera which transmits the visuals to the computer screen. Aside from that, the sensors don’t work so well on large distances – they can only detect objects, without identifying them or whether they are dangerous. The player has to keep an eye on fuel levels, as an empty fuel tank means the game is over.
However, the most interesting aspect of Duskers is the controls. While the drone is controlled using direction keys, the other orders are issued using the command line. For example, if we want to receive some information about the item nearby the vessel, we need to input “info” into the command line.
Technical aspects
Duskers takes place in a two-dimensional environment. The visuals are not very detailed, which to some extent was explained by the plot – we are receiving a video transmission from the sensors onboard our drone. However, this means reasonable system requirements, allowing older hardware users for fluid gameplay.
Last updated on September 16, 2016
Videos and Screens
[1:25] Duskers trailer
PC Gamer: 86 / 100 by Christopher Livingston
A tense and spooky strategy roguelike that's as satisfying as it is harrowing.
ComiConverse: 4 / 5 by Alan Stock
Sci-fi lovers will enjoy this; a survival game full of atmosphere and tension, but it requires investment by the player.
High-Def Digest: 4 / 5 by Levi van Tine
'Duskers' is an excellent game for scratching that obsessive roguelike itch. It’s minimalist and tough as nails with a peculiar interface, but as it turns out, successfully crushing all infestations on a ship with a novella of keystrokes provides a special kind of satisfaction.
Duskers Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Misfits Attic
Publisher: Misfits Attic
Age restrictions: none
