This week Epic is giving away Darq: Complete Edition. What kind of game is it? And who should get it?
Week X, Game Y: Kids of the future may have to work out in maths exams at what rate the Epic Store gives away bigger or smaller games. Until then, it’s hard to explain. But at least we know that this week you can count on the dark platformer Darq in the Complete Edition.
The promotion runs from 28 October to 4 November 2021, and if you buy it, you get to keep Darq: Complete Edition permanently. The only requirement: you need an Epic account.
And speaking of numbers: Lifetime is not infinite, so here’s our (from now on guaranteed maths wit-free) short introduction to help you settle a question: Is Darq the right game for you?
This is what Darq is all about
False: Math is off the table, but there was no mention of science! Darq is, in fact, a game full of physics puzzles. OK, corny jokes aside: Playing the role of Lloyd the boy, you dream away comfortably until it dawns on you that you can influence the dream. And, more disturbingly, you never wake up from this slumber. Soon it becomes a nightmare!
In Darq: Complete Edition, you traverse stylishly drawn levels, solve sometimes wacky puzzles and manipulate the game’s physics. You also sneak past enemies, which is somewhat reminiscent of the approach taken in the oldschool classic Oddworld. In Darq, the lucid dream sets the stage for a psychological play. Instead of a lot of action and violence, Darq relies on the slow build-up of tension and creepy atmosphere.
The art design is reminiscent of a mixture of the modern classic Limbo and Tim Burton films like Corpse Bride or Frankenweenie. The sound design is by Bjørn Jacobsen, who worked on Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman and Eve Online.
The trailer shows moving gameplay scenes:
Suitable for whom?
Those who find artistically-inspired creepiness, grip-heavy puzzle gameplay and head-spinning cinema entertaining should be well advised to play Darq: Complete Edition. The current free game in the Epic Store is a pure single-player title. If this description bores you, you can safely skip Darq.
The complete version published by Epic contains the two DLCs The Tower and The Crypt, which bring new locations, game mechanics and physics puzzles. You’ll also learn more about the story of protagonist Lloyd and his nightmares.
Darq inspires: On (Steam), over 2,600 players are convinced with a whopping 93 percent positive reviews (majority). The press, on the other hand, rates the basic game Darq on Metacritic with an average of only 70 out of 100 points.
Want to see for yourself? Follow the switch to Epic’s website:
Have you played Darq yet? What do you think of the game? Feel free to help the undecided in the comments!
