Fuddam
Reviewer - FuddamDark Void is a curious beastie: feels a bit outdated, with a very linear storyline (zero possibility to explore so far), average graphics, and repetitive gameplay looms large (well, until the novelty of whichever chapter you begin using the jetpack to look for stuff).
I played it for over 3 hours last night, after some teething troubles with installation, and weird graphic glitches.
The game hung the first time my character died, and during the 2nd chapter, every time I died I had to restart the chapter - NOT nice. No save games, and a lengthy chapter.... it should at least take you back to the latest checkpoint.
Other niggles includes when you boot the game, you can't skip past the advertising which gets irritating quickly, and delays when trying to skip a cut scene.
Halfway through chapter 2, you have to pass through a doorway you've busted open with a turret weapon. Instead of a cave, I found a ledge with a massive drop, and a weapons cache & powerup floating out of reach over the abyss. There was NO way to reach it, and restarting the chapter (!) gave no improvement. I even tried jumping into space, but fell to my death, which then triggered an unintended checkpoint. This meant I respawned on the ledge, but could no longer exit the cave back to the bridge - an invisible door stopped me. Very annoying. I only realised it was glitching when I rebooted the game, restarted the chapter for the 6th (7th?) time, and suddenly the cave appeared where it was supposed to be.
Click for larger imageIt isn't all bad. The fighting on the cliffs (ie vertical movement) is novel, the use of the jetpack is cool - well, it makes a change from stomping through the undergrowth, and the character movement is nimble.
Pudding test: I feel like continuing the game, so that's a good sign. However, I'm NOT expecting a lipsticked rhino wearing a bowler hat and a tutu - nothing exciting/surprising anticipated.
I wouldn't pay good money for Dark Void, but it makes a change from the FPS games I usually frequent. A nice try.
