Event Horizon’s “Dark Envoy” is an ambitious blend of classic CRPG mechanics with modern action RPG elements. It’s a game that promises a deep, engaging experience but ultimately stumbles due to a series of critical missteps. As a spiritual successor to “Tower of Time,” “Dark Envoy” showcases the developer’s knack for complex systems and rich lore. However, it also highlights their ongoing struggle with technical polish and cohesive storytelling.
Setting the Scene: A World Divided
“Dark Envoy” transports players to the world of Jäan, a land torn apart by conflict between the technologically advanced human Empire and the magic-wielding League. At the heart of this struggle are siblings Malakai and Kaela, relic hunters who find themselves caught in the middle of a war they never intended to join. This backdrop of steampunk fantasy sets the stage for a journey filled with moral choices, ancient mysteries, and epic battles.
The narrative begins with promise, as you customize your characters and choose their initial classes—Warrior, Engineer, Adept, or Ranger. Each class comes with its own set of skills and attributes, allowing for a high degree of personalization. The sibling duo’s quest for powerful relics leads them through beautifully crafted environments, from ancient temples to bustling cities, all rendered in a vibrant art style that blends fantasy and steampunk aesthetics.
Gameplay: A Dual-Edged Sword
One of “Dark Envoy’s” standout features is its hybrid combat system. Players can switch between real-time action and a tactical pause mode, reminiscent of classic CRPGs like “Baldur’s Gate.” This system shines when your party grows from two to four members, requiring strategic positioning and careful management of skills and equipment.
However, the combat system is a double-edged sword. While tactical mode allows for strategic depth, it also introduces a level of chaos that can be hard to manage. The screen often becomes cluttered with spells, attacks, and movement commands, making it difficult to maintain control. Moreover, AI-controlled party members frequently make poor decisions, running headlong into danger or failing to utilize their abilities effectively. This necessitates constant micromanagement, which can be both time-consuming and frustrating.
Customization and Progression: A Mixed Bag
The character customization and progression systems in “Dark Envoy” are both deep and rewarding, at least initially. The branching skill trees and sub-classes offer a plethora of options for tailoring your heroes to your preferred playstyle. Whether you favor a tanky Warrior, a nimble Ranger, a tech-savvy Engineer, or a spell-slinging Adept, there’s plenty of room for experimentation.
However, this depth begins to wane as the game progresses. Once you’ve unlocked the key skills and equipped your party with high-rarity gear, further progression feels redundant. Lesser gear becomes meaningless, and the excitement of finding new loot diminishes. The research tree, which initially provides compelling upgrades and enhancements, becomes obsolete once the most critical research is completed.
Technical Woes: A Plague on Your Journey
“Dark Envoy’s” potential is severely hampered by a slew of technical issues. From frequent crashes that necessitate system reboots to pathfinding bugs that turn combat encounters into logistical nightmares, the game’s stability is a significant concern. Characters often get stuck on terrain or block each other’s movements, especially in tight spaces. This not only disrupts the flow of combat but also saps the enjoyment from exploration and strategic planning.
Moreover, the game’s control schemes leave much to be desired. Controller support is theoretically present but plagued by bugs and awkward implementation. Even mouse and keyboard controls can be unintuitive, with default key bindings that feel cumbersome and poorly thought out.
Storytelling: An Underwhelming Saga
While the premise of “Dark Envoy” is intriguing, the execution of its story leaves much to be desired. The dialogue and voice acting range from serviceable to cringeworthy, failing to bring the characters and their world to life. The narrative choices, though present, lack the weight and impact seen in other RPGs, often boiling down to binary options with little lasting consequence.
Companions, who should add depth and personal stakes to the story, feel underdeveloped. Their side quests and backstories, which have the potential to add richness to the main plot, are often shallow and disconnected from the overall narrative. This lack of character depth makes it hard to form attachments or care about their fates.
Visuals and Atmosphere: A Bright Spot
Despite its flaws, “Dark Envoy” excels in its visual presentation. The game’s art style is a vibrant blend of fantasy and steampunk elements, creating a world that is both unique and visually appealing. Spell effects, environmental details, and character designs are all well-crafted, contributing to an immersive atmosphere. The ability to zoom in and out, along with smooth camera controls, enhances the exploration experience, making it easier to appreciate the game’s detailed environments.
Conclusion: Potential Unfulfilled
“Dark Envoy” is a game with a wealth of potential, hampered by technical issues and inconsistent execution. Its blend of real-time and tactical combat offers a unique twist on the RPG formula, and its customization options provide a deep and rewarding experience for those willing to dive in. However, the game’s numerous bugs, lackluster story, and frustrating AI significantly detract from the overall experience.
For dedicated fans of the genre, “Dark Envoy” might still offer moments of enjoyment, especially if you relish deep character builds and strategic combat. However, it’s hard to recommend it without significant reservations in its current state. With further patches and improvements, “Dark Envoy” could evolve into a standout title, but for now, it remains a flawed gem in the rough. Approach it with cautious optimism and tempered expectations.
Helrato, or Hel for short, is your typical young gamer from Australia who grew up with an older brother that introduced him to gaming. That same older brother would give him an unplugged controller and told him that he was playing, and that's how Helrato's journey into games started - by believing he was playing something when in fact he wasn't playing anything.
Helrato's favourite game franchises include Assassin's Creed, Age of Empires, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid. With his old favourite games of all time being Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena, Legaia 2 and Dark Chronicle (Dark Cloud 2). If you know those games, mad respect.
When he's not writing reviews, he's playing games, when he's not playing games, he's thinking about playing games, when he's thinking about playing games, he's at work - not playing games.
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