D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die

 PC
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. The Jimquisition
    Jun 9, 2015
    85
    I’m thrilled it’s on PC, and I’m delighted we’ll finally get to see the series continued – this prologue and two full-fledged episodes are great, but I really need to know what happens next!
  2. CD-Action
    Jul 27, 2015
    80
    Avant-garde at its best. Not all elements of this hugely unique game merge perfectly, but I haven’t had so much fun with time travel since Chrono Trigger. [08/2015, p.62]
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  3. Hardcore Gamer
    Jul 7, 2015
    80
    Whereas the PC adaptation of Deadly Premonition was a god-awful buggy mess, D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die has been ported with care and love.
  5. PLAY! Zine
    Jul 3, 2015
    80
    An ambitious mix of themes and characters that are equally engaging, bizarre and funny.
  6. 3DJuegos
    Jun 22, 2015
    80
    D4 hasn't a big talent, but it has a strong personality. If you want to try something different, this is a good choice. It's not for everyone, but maybe it could be for you.
  7. PC Invasion
    Jun 14, 2015
    80
    Swery does Telltale, by way of an obsessed, time-travelling detective and lots of references to Boston. D4 is as unique and strange as you’d hope; and (unlike Deadly Premonition,) a decent enough PC version.
  8. Game Revolution
    Jun 10, 2015
    80
    D4 is a game that knows what it is. It’s quirky and odd with an outrageous story and over-the-top characters, and that may not sit well with some people, but that’s the kind of game Swery is known to make.
  9. PC Gamer
    Jun 5, 2015
    78
    A strange, intangible experience, with style that transcends its own rubbishness.
  10. DarkZero
    Jun 9, 2015
    70
    D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die should do well though, because even though there isn’t much game to it, the popularity of these cinematic adventure titles do good when the price is right on Steam, and coming out with 10% discounted at £9.89 means it doesn’t hurt the wallet to to experience four hours of what I believe will be the most entertaining and off-the-wall story to grace 2015.
  11. Ragequit.gr
    Jun 12, 2015
    65
    Wildly inconsistent writing that comes off not as the delightful, Lynchian madness of Deadly Premonition but as a haphazard collection of "weird" cobbled together just to provoke, coupled with extremely anime-centric sensibilities, make D4's audience an extremely limited and specific one. It may look like a dark, metaphysical mystery game, but it most assuredly is not. It feels like an exercise in extremes, with no clear identity of what game it truly wishes to be.
  12. Twinfinite
    Jun 27, 2015
    60
    Like Deadly Premonition before it D4 suffers from awkward controls, and some frustrating nonsensical mechanics. Fortunately D4’s strange and hilarious story and characters more than make up for what it lacks, while its soundtrack is a joy to listen to.
  13. Eurogamer Italy
    Jun 11, 2015
    60
    The last game from Deadly Premonition's developers is a non-game based on the story instead of interactivity. Be warned!
  14. Gaming Age
    Aug 12, 2015
    42
    D4 plays quite well with a mouse, and is a much more accessible experience than its Kinect version, making this the most enjoyable way to play the adventure game. It also sucks for those expecting a PC port that will allow them to change essential settings, and in no way accommodates more than the Xbox One version would have offered.
  15. Riot Pixels
    Jul 16, 2015
    15
    This Frankenstein’s monster disguised as an adventure game is a clear example of how its creators do not understand what humor, storytelling or gameplay is. At first, you blame the cultural barrier between Japan and the Western world. Then you think that Access Games is trolling us. Finally, you realize that this is just interactive gibberish created by talentless hacks.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 86
  3. Negative: 10 out of 86
  1. flashmozzg
    Jun 27, 2015
    10
    This was a blast. In the best tradition of SWERY. It gives much more refined feel of mystery and craziness than Deadly Premonition (anotherThis was a blast. In the best tradition of SWERY. It gives much more refined feel of mystery and craziness than Deadly Premonition (another SWERY game) and at the same time - this is almost perfect port. Don't believe somewhat high minimum requirements. Try the free available demo and see for yourself. Most modern notebooks can run it!
    The only "bad" thing I can say about this game is that it's too short (only 1st season consisting of 2 eps released right now and it ends on cliffhanger). But it's more about sales the game had/will have.    … Full Review »
  2. grenouille
    Jun 25, 2015
    8
    To start with a side note, the whole time I played this game I kept remembering a novel I read in high school called The Wind-Up BirdTo start with a side note, the whole time I played this game I kept remembering a novel I read in high school called The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle so for those familiar with that novel this game feels like that but less sexual and in game form.

    Otherwise, take Swery's distinct style and mash it together with a Tellale game and this is what you get. I thought some of the unconventional pieces of the game worked really well in shaking up the traditional adventure game format. Your character can switch between a past scenario and the present, meaning that for some of the optional side quests you will need to use objects found in the present to solve the mystery in the past. While navigating the world, you use up action points which are refilled by eating food. I thought this system worked well since it incentivizes exploration because you'd want to find the food to be able to use more action points to be able to explore more.

    Tonally the game has some set themes that it likes to throw in the player's face at every opportunity. Hockey, food, anthropomorphism, and plane tech are regular themes that constantly appear throughout these two episodes. The eerie strangeness may be off-putting for many the way more surreal works can be.

    Unfortunately, there is no real plot resolution and the second/last episode released ends on a cliffhanger at the height of the story's conflict so buyer beware if Swery does not get funding for a third+episodes. Nonetheless, I would recommend this for those who like Swery/telltale games even if the story never gets resolved since it does some interesting things on the way there.    … Full Review »
  3. punishing
    Jan 1, 2016
    9
    D4 is a strange adventure game about a detective, David Young, who has lost some of his memories and is trying to uncover the mystery of hisD4 is a strange adventure game about a detective, David Young, who has lost some of his memories and is trying to uncover the mystery of his past using his new found power to travel through time and place using mementos. Through his journey he meets some of the most eccentric characters imaginable and must interact with them to uncover clues. The interface is point and click with various action sequences mixed in each of the 2 episodes. The game can be played entirely with the mouse which is great because you need a free arm to constantly wail in the air as things get more and more bizarre.

    Pros:
    Amazing and memorable characters.
    Interesting story and setting that kept me immersed.
    Action sequences have style and add well to the mix.
    Interface is stylish and simple.
    Music fits the mood and it's really good.
    Vision system to help uncover clues.

    Cons:
    Only 2 episodes in Season 1, but they are both fantastic.
    If you're familiar with adventure games, you won't find a challenge here.
    It is a linear story.

    I was really surprised by this game, the story, setting, characters, mood, and style are all amazing. I had far more fun with this game than the Tell Tale games. I'm strongly looking forward to a Season 2.    … Full Review »
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