A positive experience in every way. The main focus of the game is combat and it works. Thanks to the options to upgrade and equip your characters, it doesn't get boring. The story is interesting enough to make you want to keep playing, and the steampunk setting doesn't get boring either. There is nothing to fault the game for, it delivers what it promises. [Issue#331]
"Dark Envoy" emerges as an ambitious blend of RPG elements, tactical combat, and an immersive world, though its execution falls somewhat short of its lofty aspirations. Set in a fantastical realm where magic and technology coalesce, players embark on a journey fraught with political intrigue and moral dilemmas. The game's narrative attempts to weave a complex tale of power struggles and personal vendettas, but often feels disjointed and lacks the depth needed to fully engage players.
Visually, "Dark Envoy" showcases a richly detailed world, with diverse landscapes and character designs that breathe life into its universe. However, technical issues such as occasional frame rate drops and clunky animations detract from the overall experience.Where the game truly shines is in its combat system, offering a satisfying blend of real-time action and strategic decision-making. Players can customize their party members with a variety of skills and equipment, leading to dynamic encounters that require careful planning and execution.
Despite its flaws, "Dark Envoy" offers an intriguing experience for fans of the RPG genre. While it may not reach the heights of its inspirations, its unique setting and engaging gameplay make it worth exploring for those seeking a new adventure.
Dark Envoy is a solid cRPG featuring an interesting world and lore, a solid real-time with pause combat system with turn-based elements and a simple choice and consequence system that lends the experience to multiple playthroughs. The focus on combat, however, came at the expense of everything else, preventing the game from being an essential purchase if not for fans of the studio's previous game and cRPG fanatics.
Dark Envoy is an interesting CRPG that has some good features such as customization, some not always negligible defects such as a flawed AI, a combat system that fails to express its potential, a weak story and, perhaps, even an ambition that seems held back by the constraints imposed by her independent nature.
The new isometric RPG from the creators of Tower of Time looks interesting at first glance, but a closer look reveals its flaws. The most interesting are the fights in real time with the possibility of slowing down. Overall, though, the game feels unfinished.
I went into Dark Envoy curious about the title, but I came away apathetic and annoyed. There are some interesting class & skill systems in place, but tedious encounter design, a sluggish narrative, forgettable characters, and a multitude of performance issues, all make this title a difficult RPG to recommend.
I first heard about Dark Envoy at this year’s Gamescom. I remember talking with their dev team who were probably some of the nicest people there and I was amazed that this ambitious game was created by such small team! When I bought the full version of Dark Envoy I was truly amazed by the storytelling, game mechanics and the immersion in the entire experience (probably played the whole game in 3/4 sittings ;-;) Good job to the devs and I can’t wait for the upcoming updates to make completely different decisions in my second playthrough!
I really enjoyed Tower of Time, and Dark Envoy, developed by the same team, delivers a similar combat experience as that which made me enjoy Tower of Time. The game keeps things straightforward, which I appreciate. You can navigate through the relatively small dungeons easily, making them perfect for single-session play. Plus, their linear design means you can easily pick up where you left off. The game moves at a good pace, saving you from endless quest hunting.
For me, Dark Envoy ranks among the top games of the year. It's simply enjoyable. (In contrast, I couldn't get into a heavyweight like Baldur's Gate 3. Despite spending hours on it, I felt lost, and the combat just didn't click for me. There was too much wandering and too much needlessly fluffy dialogue)
However, potential buyers should be aware that Dark Envoy has its rough edges. The user interface is notably clunky, and the animations sometimes disrupt the combat flow. Although combat is generally smooth, characters can occasionally get stuck. My fondness for the game might partly stem from nostalgia and the lack of similar real-time-with-slowdown (where you see where area-of-effects land and you can then get away from that spot if you pay attention) RPGs that match its combat mechanics. The sound design impresses me, little things like the realistic creaking of a bridge, adding a great atmospheric touch. The environments/dungeons are equally impressing (within the boundaries of the general graphics design). With a more well-rounded team and better quality assurance, I'm excited to see what these developers could achieve.
Overall, given its surprisingly affordable price, I'd recommend Dark Envoy to anyone looking for a quick-to-play, easy-to-pick-up RPG with a unique real-time combat system. Be prepared for graphics that aren't top-of-the-line and some lack of polish, but if you can overlook these aspects, the game is definitely worth trying out.
Even though it's out as a full game, it looks like it's still in early access. It needs detailed updates and improvements. The biggest weakness for me was the animations. I played Tower of Time, the previous RPG from these developers, and Dark Envoy looks like a game with potential if they don't abandon the development process.
Note that it's not a cRPG, it's a combat-focused RPG with elements from cRPGs, MOBAs, ARPGs, etc all blended together. But it feels like an Early Access title and not worth the cost.
Pros:
- Visually appealing
- Combat is fun
- Good character customization where every stat matters
- Magic shield system gives you leeway in taking damage
- Challenge is good - random optional dungeons go fast/easy, story dungeons have a few fights that will really test you, as they should
- Fights involve using objects, terrain, hacked turrets etc to your advantage... but you probably don't *have* to unless playing on a higher difficulty
Cons:
- No respec
- Dodging red stuff is a little too much like a MMO/MOBA/whatever
- VA is a bit weak, it's often rushed, making it sound very unnatural
- Some annoying minor bugs
- General lack of information and no combat log
- Can't make characters
- Feels like Early Access
- Balance issues
C’est une sorte de jeu de rôle dont l’exécution et la rigueur laissent fortement à désirer… certes, on comprend qu’il s’agit d’un simple ou double A mais tout de même ! l’interface par exemple est aussi mal faite au clavier (et à la souris)… qu’à la manette.
Tout fonctionne à l’à peu près, rien n’est réellement convaincant, y compris les dialogues ou la mise en scène…La présentation reste dans l’ensemble à revoir… presque entièrement ! les choix artistiques sont étranges et surtout, le monde qui mélange la fantasy et le steampunk, se révèle peu engageant, superficiel et… sans intérêt.
Le jeu est aussi à la masse techniquement parlant : il charge un peu trop, il rame régulièrement… et reste loin d’être beau !Il faut dire que le moteur Unity souvent utilisé par les studios désargentés est rarement bien utilisé… et puis, l’Unity reste un peu pourri, il faut bien dire aussi.
Enfin, l’autre gros problème du jeu concerne son système de combat en temps réel avec pause optionnelle (ou ralentissement) : c’est d’un ennui et d’une platitude… incroyables !
Dans ces bien tristes conditions, il est impossible de persévérer, ce ne serait que du temps perdu… il convient donc de rediriger ce sombre envoi et de l’envoyer directement vers la poubelle la plus proche !
SummaryMalakai and Kaela are children of war refugees, living the day-to-day life of adventurers as they seek ancient relics and forgotten places. Soon they too will have to learn how to survive in the chaos of war, as blood and tragedy will mark the beginning of their true journey.
Dark Envoy merges together a rich, non-linear story and tacti...