2Dark

Did somebody turn the lights off?

02 February 2017 | By Emma Matthews

Wandering around in the dark is scary at the best of times, no matter how old you are. 2Dark plays on that fear of the dark, throwing in serial killer enemies, torches with draining batteries and creepy locations to explore.

Players will take control of former detective, Mr. Smith in his quest to find his children, who were kidnapped seven years previous. Navigating through a strange town known as Gloomywood, you will encounter a variety of unsavoury characters, unearthing the town’s deepest secrets as you inch closer to rescuing your children. Danger lurks around every corner and at points, you will have to rely on the measly flame of a small lighter in order to see where you are going. It’s fair to say that 2Dark has an atmosphere that keeps you pushing forward while simultaneously persuading you to turn back. Combining horror, stealth and adventure into one frightful package, creator Frédérick Raynal, has constructed a gloomy world in which child abduction has become a common occurrence. However, the story isn’t the only thing that makes 2Dark seem a bit different.

2Dark ensures that every single one of your actions has a consequence. You’ll likely require a torch or lighter in order to see where you are going but these luxuries can prove to be as dangerous as they are helpful. Light and sound attract the attention of your enemies, meaning that you’ll spend a lot of your time creeping in the shadows. Knowing the surrounding area is therefore fundamental to you completing a level, as you’ll have to skirt around your enemies while obtaining various supplies, keys and weapons. Speaking of supplies, these are also limited so you’ll have to manage them carefully. Rushing into a pair of bad guys all guns blazing may give you a satisfying rush, but can you afford to use those bullets on this part of the level? Could they be better utilised later on? Batteries and bullets appear to be scarce when you’re feeling your way down a dark corridor, but if you take the time to comb your environment, you’re sure to be rewarded.

Similar to other stealthy games such as HITMAN, 2Dark encourages you to learn and improve as you play each level. It’s very easy to get caught so you may find yourself testing out several infiltration strategies (and certainly messing a few of them up) before heading in for that clean run. However, there are a few things that you cannot control. Your job is to locate and save the children that are trapped on each level, which is no easy task! Locating the child may prove to be a horrific experience, but getting them back outside to safety can be an entirely different challenge. Stopping for too long may result in the rescued child becoming upset or fidgety which could instantly give away your position to nearby enemies.

Moreover, 2Dark takes every opportunity to test its players, even when it comes to saving the game. Rather than a traditional method of saving progress, this game relies on Mr. Smith lighting up a GloomyStrike (cigarette). You’re also warned that Mr. Smith may have a noisy coughing fit when you save, which could easily become a problem if you’re trying to save the game when you’re very close to an enemy. After checking 2Dark’s Steam page, it also states that players should “remember, smoking really does kill”. This hints that although saving is a safe option, it may inflict more damage upon Mr. Smith in the long run. Seeing as there’s also an achievement for finishing a level without saving, this may be the case - although we’ll have to wait and see. Maybe they are just trying to reiterate that smoking isn’t cool.

Overall, spending a couple of hours with 2Dark probably left me with more questions than answers. The game has a very twisted and creepy feel to it, which some players may find intriguing. However, the creator has also given players the option to hurt and even kill children in this game. For this reason, it appears that the depth (and darkness) of each player’s experience is very much shaped by their decisions. It will be interesting to see how players react to this as most games try to steer clear of this controversial topic. Due to the fact that players are encouraged to perfect their approach to each level (which can only be achieved by playing it multiple times), 2Dark doesn’t appear to be a particularly casual experience. This game requires its players to concentrate, learn and utilise every item they find and it rewards players that find the most efficient means of doing so. With its dark undertones and unnerving atmosphere, 2Dark may be a title to keep your eye on, particularly as it is set to release very soon.

Most Anticipated Feature: Meeting more serial killers.