The Dark Mod

The Dark Mod 2.0 for PC is a completely standalone version of a Doom 3 modification that makes id Software’s game similar to the Thief stealth game titles. It is a free production (available for download from the Internet) developed by an independent team at Broken Glass Studios.

Plot

Similarities to the series initially developed by Looking Glass Studios are incredibly clear. The title is set in a dark, Gothic fantasy world that also has some steampunk elements to it. We assume the role of an elusive thief whose basic goal is to become rich with treasures and valuables stolen from heavily guarded places. There is no specific storyline because the game is a kind of a platform and a sandbox that can be enriched with maps, missions, and campaigns that we had created or downloaded from the Internet.

Mechanics

Inspirations drawn from the Thief series are also visible in gameplay mechanics. The world is observed from the first-person perspective (FPP) and is traversed by weaving from a shadow to a shadow, from a hideout to a hideout so that we remain undetected. The protagonist is not much of a hand-to-hand fighter and while he is able to win a one-on-one fight with a guard, fighting a battle against an entire patrol is a lost cause for him. Luckily, the hero has numerous accessories and gadgets at his disposal that bear a close resemblance to the equipment used by Garrett in Thief. These include a bow with water arrows (that put torches out) or gas ones (that incapacitate all living creatures within range) as well as tools like a club that allow to silently stun watchmen.

Compared to non-standalone editions (that ended with the release of version 1.08), in version 2.0, the artificial intelligence of NPCs has been enhanced. Although it is still far from perfect, some bugs that allowed players to easily get rid of guards were eliminated. Moreover, the guards now search locations much more thoroughly, have more sensitive hearing (you can configure the sensitivity), and also pay attention to, for example, doors that are unexpectedly opened in their immediate surrounding. Furthermore, watchmen finally react properly to bodies that fall down next to them since it is accompanied with an adequately loud sound (the heavier the equipment, the louder).

Technical aspects

Making The Dark Mod a standalone production also made the developers stop using many elements that originally came from Doom 3. In other words, many objects and sounds were replaced and improved. It applies mostly to the graphics that features prettier character models, among other things, though as far as the technical side is concerned, the game still offers visuals comparable to 2004’s Thief: Deadly Shadows.

Alas, Broken Glass Studios’ decision has its downsides. Since the entire structure of the production was reworked, previously created missions and levels might stop working, even making playing The Dark Mod impossible. Therefore, the developers recommend deleting all levels downloaded before the release of version 2.0.

Last updated on August 12, 2016