“Dark and Darker” is a PC game title developed and published by “IRONMACE” whose “early access version” has been distributed on Steam since June 8, 2024. It is an online role-playing game where you can enjoy PvPvE dungeon adventure elements from an FPS perspective in an unforgiving hardcore fantasy world.
A new title that features a thrilling game system similar to the popular FPS game “Escape from Tarkov'' with its high-risk, high-reward play elements, an impressive first-person view that maintains a sense of immersion, and a flow of play that allows you to experience tense interpersonal battles online.
Recommended for those who like to demonstrate their skills in PvPvE, those who want to enjoy Tarkov-style gameplay set in a fantasy world, and those who want to contribute to the development from the early access stage, where the game world is changed based on player feedback and opinions.
- fantasy tarkov style
- Cooperative play with up to 3 people
- Thrilling PvPvE
A new work that allows you to enjoy fantasy Tarkov
“Dark and Darker”, which is currently available in early access on the PC game portal site “Steam” store, is a recommended new game that lets you experience a thrilling dungeon crawl in an unforgiving fantasy world. It is a must-see online RPG title that is currently attracting a lot of attention from players around the world.
Players will descend into a fantasy world of swords and magic and fight to obtain the loot hidden inside the dungeon. In addition to playing solo, you can also play online with players from all over the world while forming a party, so it can be said that it is a PC game that is recommended for people who have many friends.
The maximum number of people in the party is three, and the key point is that each person can choose a different class to facilitate exploration and battle. This is a work that shines with the party concept of classic fantasy RPGs, and it will be fun to play by choosing professions such as ranger, bard, barbarian, etc. and demonstrating the strengths of your party.
Developed by indie game developer IRONMACE, Dark and Darker aims to capture the wonder and awe of classic fantasy adventure games. It is a must-see title that is popular all over the world with a style that also has a classic atmosphere.
High-risk, high-return style
A major reason why “Dark and Darker'' is attracting so much attention is due to the game's harsh game system. If you are careless and die, you will lose all the loot you have obtained up to that point, and many people liken this system to Escape from Tarkov.
“Escape from Tarkov'' is a military-style action FPS title that has gained acclaim for its system in which the player moves on a specific map, steals a variety of loot, and ultimately aims to “escape alive.'' In the same game, if a player dies, they will receive a heavy penalty of “losing all loot.''
This game is played from the same first-person view as “Escape from Tarkov,'' and there are similarities in the penalty for death, so many players regardless of nationality regard it as a “fantasy Tarkov.'' This new work is also recommended for those who are intrigued by the word “Tarkov style.”
The game is characterized by the appearance of many evil enemies, and you are sure to enjoy the thrilling battles where even the slightest letdown can lead to death. As you advance through battles while handling weapons with a variety of attack characteristics, overcome the enemy players you encounter, and use your courage, wit, and cunning to discover “mythical treasures.''
Basically, it has a cycle of repeatedly invading dungeons, collecting treasure, and returning alive, so it is not suitable for people who place importance on the story or those who are looking for a role-playing game that allows them to experience growth while visiting different locations. It is a title with a play style specialized in PvPvE.
Difference between free version and purchased version
“Dark and Darker'', which is distributed as an early access version on Steam, is a free version that allows you to experience only part of the game's systems, and has a mechanism that allows you to unlock locked elements by paying in-game. It is important to note that the flavor is different from typical “free-to-play” games.
In the basic free version, the number of characters that can be created is limited to one, and the dungeons that can be entered are also limited to “normal”. In the retail version, you can play in the “High Roller Dungeon'' where you can equip yourself with loot and receive further rewards, so there is a big difference in the restrictions you feel while playing. This is a new game that cannot be unlocked without paying.
The full version also allows you to trade with other players and gives you access to nine character slots and a shared stash. You can start by playing the free version to get a feel for it, and if you decide that this is the game you're into, you can unlock the retail version by paying the equivalent of $30.
Behind these restrictions, developers are trying hard to come to terms with Steam and Epic Games, and there is also the purpose of differentiating new players from existing players (not in a critical sense), but it is also true that games are under fire because of this. The details will be described in the next section, including comments from the developer.
In my personal opinion, I feel that promoting this work as a “trial version of the product version'' instead of an “early access version'' would have caused less trouble (as the work has already been distributed on other platforms), but I feel like it's wrong to say anything about what happened, so I'll omit it here.
Current status and future plans for the early access version
As for the game system, it is as stated in the previous section, and it is safe to assume that there are differences in the content that can be accessed between the free version and the retail version. The “early access” status is expected to last at least one year, and up to two years, during which time improvements and updates will be made to the product based on user feedback.
This game has already been test-played with 100,000 people, and in addition to carrying out server load tests when accessed by a large number of players, there are plans to hold large-scale test-plays when major content is implemented. Checking the game's official website and social media to learn about future plans will save you stress.
The official version is expected to have more character classes to choose from, as well as more weapons, skills, spells, monsters, and boss characters. The number of maps will increase, and social functions for the community will also be implemented. Modifications will likely be made to the currently existing system from time to time.
Feedback from players will be accepted on the official Discord server, and since there is already a chat for Japan, there is an advantage that even people who are not good at foreign languages can contribute to the development of the work. The more you keep reporting your experiences and problems while actually playing the game, the more refined the official version will be.
Due to the nature of this work, it is unlikely that the game system will be drastically changed, and therefore player requests may only be accepted to a certain extent. It would be more rewarding to focus your feedback on how to develop the Tarkov-type game system so that more players can enjoy it even more.
Supports Japanese interface
The basic play is a free item payment format, and the product version functions are unlocked by making in-game payments. The game is equipped with a Japanese interface as standard, so even people who are not good at foreign game works can download it with confidence. The film has been given a CERO rating of “D” due to depictions of bleeding and murder.
As mentioned above, this game supports online multiplayer in addition to solo play, and is characterized by the fact that up to three players can form a party and experience thrilling dungeon crawling elements. If you want to fully enjoy the thrill of PvPvE, we recommend playing online multiplayer, where you can bring out the characteristics of each character.
There are currently no Steam achievements that can be unlocked, which is extremely disappointing. Since this is a work that was distributed as a Steam version, I would have liked to see some “added value'' that would stimulate people's desire to play it via the Steam store. It may be that they are facing various problems and are not at all concerned, but this is not a point that deserves much praise.
Currently, there is no official support for playing with a general-purpose controller, and there is no mention of compatibility with Valve's portable game console “Steam Deck.'' Regarding the latter, there are many new releases, so there is a possibility that the review has not been completed in time, but the developer will need to explain this point as well.
System requirements
Dark and Darker has medium system requirements. The graphics board presented in the recommended requirements is equivalent to or higher than AMD's RX 5600 class, and the recommended amount of main memory is 16GB, which is a common capacity. If you have a gaming PC in the current mid-spec range, you should be able to enjoy playing without any problems.
The recommended CPU model is a processor with 4 or more cores running at 3.6GHz, and in this respect it can be said that the entry barrier is low. The installation size is 15GB, but this may increase as development progresses, so if you usually have a lot of games packed into your storage, it would be a good idea to increase the free space in advance.
“Dark and Darker,'' a new high-risk, high-return game that allows you to experience battles in a Tarkov-like fantasy world, is currently being distributed on the Steam Store as an “early access version.'' Although it is a work that is concerned about the generally rough reviews, the game is a workmanship that is guaranteed to be fun.
If you are interested, please visit the store now and check detailed game information.
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About “IRONMACE”
The game is being developed by IRONMACE, a South Korean-based studio that calls itself a group of veteran developers. The motivation for forming the group was “to show the world that South Korea can build a global game franchise that involves passionate fans from both the East and the West,'' and the group is a group of experts who have worked on many of the games that have become big hits in South Korea.
In a statement about the studio's formation, they said: “We have seen how game companies sell their souls for easy money. It is disheartening to see them engage in increasingly exploitative practices, becoming more like casinos than bringing joy to gamers.” Probably referring to the existing F2P system.
It also says, “We are a cheerful group of veteran game developers who have become disillusioned with the exploitative and greedy practices we once created,'' which can be interpreted as a sign that they too had a history of accepting easy monetization systems, and that they quit because they were fed up with that business model. These are the people who have embarked on a fight to win back the hearts of gamers.
“Our mission is to seize this potential and create games that put gamers first, bridge cultural gaps, and are true to our roots.'' I sense that this sentence also hints at resentment towards the business model that is likely to become the norm as companies become larger. If these words come from the heart, they can be called enlightened beings.
It is true that online games these days seem to have fallen into disrepair due to the payment system, and problems have been pointed out where elementary school users are using their parents' credit cards without permission and making heavy charges, causing all kinds of trouble that would have been unimaginable in the industry before online games. For those who truly love games, this is a very uncomfortable situation.
The problem with games that emphasize payment is that they do not have a “player-first'' attitude. There are many “money-driven'' companies that exploit large sums of money from some passionate fans, and these companies generously distribute large sums of money to the mass media in order to spread the word about the game. The person who is expected to collect it is none other than game users.
They promote giveaways on social media as a campaign, engage users who are not usually interested in games, and then actually access the game and make them pay for it. Does this composition really have anything to do with the “inherent fun of the game''? Personally, I don't think so.
There is nothing wrong with the idea of “making games and making a lot of money,'' but in a world that focuses on the end user, there are many companies that only think of users as “making money,'' and this is where the roots of the decline of online game culture remain deep-rooted. It is rare for people to “awaken'' themselves and create new games in this way, and the current situation is that many people live their lives as they are carried away.
In that sense, this work is a game that is offered from a very rare position, and it will shine as a strong antithesis to the “pay-to-play” games that currently flood the market. Those of us who have enjoyed our lives through games should not remain indifferent to the “big problems'' that games are currently facing.
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Controversial views on F2P
If you look at the game's details page, you'll see that the user ratings on the Steam store are mixed, but this is largely due to the developer's decision to introduce the F2P (free-to-play) business model. So why did Dark and Darker move to F2P?
This work has a history of being distributed on its own platform (Blacksmith) even before it was distributed on Steam and Epic Games, and it has been revealed that this business model was born when it was distributed on a major platform as an “early access version”. However, this brought both unexpected developments and criticism to the developer side.
Here we will deliver IRONMACE's statement that was uploaded to the official website on June 9, 2024. The full text is quite long, so only the main points have been translated, but it should convey the apology, background, and gratitude to the users. If you want to read the full text, please visit the game's official website and refer to the relevant section.
Philosophy behind the free-to-play model
We take your feedback seriously and want to explain the reasoning behind our current “free to play” model. I would also like to clear up any misunderstandings and explain our future plans. We apologize to anyone who was misled by the game being sold as “free to play.”
The main reason we released the game as free-to-play (F2P) was because we promised Blacksmith's early and loyal users that we would do everything in our power to not force them to buy the game again, even when it was ported to major platforms. We will not take unfair advantage of our fans.
When we had the opportunity to release the game on the Epic Games Store and Steam platforms, we were excited to return. However, given the large number of previous Blacksmith customers, it was not practical to give away thousands of keys to Blacksmith customers, nor was it fair to the platform partners.
This only increased risk for customers and provided little benefit. The solution to overcome the technical, logistical, and contractual hurdles we faced was to move to a Free to Play model. This allows current customers to migrate naturally to their partner platform of choice without exploitable keys.
When we designed our current free-to-play system, our intention was to ensure that our previous customers didn't feel unfairly treated for supporting us. While we're excited about the new move to a free-to-play version, we wanted to make sure you felt like you were being properly rewarded for your loyalty.
To give you a little background, we implemented the current Normal game mode, which limits items to common grade, in November 2023 and quickly became a fan favorite. Players saw this mode as a solution to the disparity, with many seeing it as the fairest and most balanced mode rather than a restrictive system.
We decided to open up normal mode to the free version due to its high value to the community, but we didn't take into account how new players who don't know the development status might perceive this mode, and how it might be interpreted as an attempt to bait them. This is the furthest thing from the truth.
Another reason for restricting free players to normal mode is to act as a barrier and reduce the incentive for hackers to sabotage the game. Like many other competitive online games, we face the challenge of fighting against those who try to gain an advantage through unfair means.
We knew that by making it free to play, we would be sending an invitation to hackers all over the world. Restricting hackers with free accounts to the less disruptive Normal mode was also a precaution to compartmentalize the damage they could cause.
Free account status allows players to experience normal mode dungeons with one character, store earned loot, and complete quests. This improves your standing with merchants, improving their prices and goods, while also expanding the arsenal of items that Squire merchants offer to players.
Despite our intentions, we were unable to predict the expectations new players would have when approaching the game. We did not intend to deceive players, but we now know that the current normal/high roller branch is not well designed for F2P players.
We built a complete loot extraction game and then forced the majority of our player base to not have access to their hard-earned loot without a workaround. We now understand the absurdity of the situation and want to make amends.
We are currently working on a solution that takes into account the needs of both existing and new players. Our goal is to respect the loyalty of existing players while allowing new players to experience the full loop of a complete loot extraction experience and risk their loot.
We're still working on the details of our plans to address High Roller Dungeon access, the ability to unlock character slots. We will announce the details as soon as they are finalized. Our goal is to be fair and square with our players and do our best to show our appreciation.
We'd like to thank everyone for their incredible support over the past two years as we work to make Dark and Darker the best it can be. We couldn't ask for a better, more passionate community. Thank you for working hard until the end!
-Iron Mace-
The above is a partial excerpt of IRONMACE's views on F2P. As the game became popular, the number of users increased, and the number of new players joining the game increased day by day, the involvement of hackers, which is common in free-to-play games, became a problem, and the fact that they took the wrong measures and measures under such circumstances also contributed to the lower evaluation.
The F2P conversion was done from a user-friendly perspective, wanting to avoid double purchases by users who had previously purchased the product, but it appears that a gate that should not be opened was opened, and IRONMACE is now faced with this problem in parallel with development. I can't help but hope that the situation will settle down in a positive direction.
An analysis of user reviews posted on Steam reveals that even veteran users who have reached the level of proficiency are divided in their opinions, with many players giving negative opinions citing the inability to keep up with the “complicated updates.'' On the other hand, there are also people who continue to play while calmly dealing with updates.
Many of the people who came into contact with this game when it was basically free were unable to access the game's complete system, so many players left the game at this stage. Some systems have been improved in subsequent updates, but it may be difficult to notice changes in the work if you uninstall the game.
As IRONMACE acknowledged in a statement, the F2P version of this game created confusion that was different from what was initially expected, and the game developed into a “flame'' with many players criticizing it. There are many cases like this in the history of online games, but in order to put out the flames, active improvements by developers are essential, so it can be said that the situation is quite difficult.
In that sense, this game is still being improved, and there are few features that can be recommended for F2P fans who want to play in a calm state. Those who can proceed with the game after fully understanding the above-mentioned “confusion'' will probably be able to play the game without any problems, but we cannot deny the possibility that the system will change in further updates in the future.
While the free-to-play distribution format allows many players to get involved, it also tends to attract “hostile users” who have no respect for the game, and this can be said to occur in games of various genres, regardless of this work. A certain level of understanding and morals are required on the user's side, but overcoming this is by no means easy.
As a result of casual players and hardcore gamers evaluating the work from different perspectives, a certain kind of “gap'' has been created in this game, and it will probably take more time for the overall reviews to soften. I'm looking forward to seeing how IRONMACE will take the lead and transform it into a work that more people can enjoy.
There is a large element of uncertainty in works distributed as early access versions. If you don't like them, you can try accessing the game after a certain amount of time, or consider playing it when the official version is released, but with the current situation where price revisions are being suggested, you could end up missing out on the chance to play for free.
In the end, the best solution is for players to decide whether or not to play the game based on their own judgment, and it is necessary to not be unduly influenced by the opinions of others. Best of all, the game is currently free to install and play, so it's best to make the decision to purchase the product version based on your experience there. Make your own decisions without thinking too much.
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