Discover the intense challenges and immersive storytelling of Darkest Dungeon II.
Table of Contents
Review: Darkest Dungeon II
Darkest Dungeon II is a turn-based roguelite that immerses players in a decaying world filled with despair, monstrous enemies, and unrelenting challenges. As a soul-like fanatic, I have played my fair share of difficult and tormenting games, but Darkest Dungeon II stands out as one of the most painfully engrossing and addictively tormenting experiences I have ever encountered. The game’s unique mechanics and punishing difficulty create an atmosphere of constant tension and dread, making it a must-play for those who thrive on overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.
A Deceptive Theme
The theme of Darkest Dungeon II might initially deceive you. You are thrown into a world overrun with despair, and you set out on a journey with four battle-forged mortal champions, a stagecoach, and the unwavering hope that no matter how many times you fail, the next run might save the world. This setup seems crude, typical, and idealistic. However, Darkest Dungeon II is anything but typical. It is a cruel and dark turn-based roguelite that is insanely enjoyable despite its focus on making players suffer. It is not simple, it is not typical, and it certainly doesn’t offer hope in the traditional sense.
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Embracing Loss and Suffering
Losing is an essential part of any roguelite. It is how you learn the battle system and, hopefully, do better in the next cycle. But Darkest Dungeon II doesn’t just make you lose; it makes you suffer. Unlike a normal turn-based game, Darkest Dungeon II does not have a card-drawing system or mana system that restricts champions from using their skills. As long as they are in the right positions, they can do whatever you want them to do. Instead, the game introduces a pressure system that indicates each champion’s stress level. This stress level increases when an enemy lands a critical hit or uses a heavy damage move, when facing unfortunate obstacles on the road, and when witnessing their fellow champions die.
During my first few playthroughs, the pressure system caused most of my failures. When a champion’s stress level is maxed out, they are at risk of a meltdown. A meltdown is no joke—it immediately decreases their HP to a critical level and negatively affects their relationship with their companions. This brings us to the relationship system, another layer of complexity in Darkest Dungeon II.
The Relationship System
The relationship system is a double-edged sword. Each champion has unique relationships with other champions in the team, which influences how they feel about each other. Negative relationships can tear your team apart from the inside. Reaching a negative relationship is not as easy as triggering a meltdown, but it is still something you must watch out for. It is much easier to form negative relationships than positive ones, especially through meltdowns, decisions that not every member approves of, and simply bad conversations along the road. After all, it is simpler to get people to hate you than to like you. Sometimes, it is merely inevitable.
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Permanent Death and Limited Healing
To add to the difficulty, Darkest Dungeon II features a permanent death system, zero health restoration after battles, and a lack of viable HP restore options. There were times when I finally reached the next inn, which serves as a checkpoint, but had only one or two champions left and was forced to consider quitting. These systems might seem overwhelming, especially for newcomers, but they contribute to making the game’s desperate world feel more realistic and immersive. After a few cycles of clueless death, I started to enjoy the suffering, which I believe is the true magic of Darkest Dungeon II. The game presents an overwhelming and seemingly impossible task but allows you to chip away at it little by little, hooking you tighter with each attempt. The game becomes more enjoyable as the hours accumulate.
Visual and Auditory Excellence
Despite the constant suffering and almost no reward, I couldn’t manage to stop playing Darkest Dungeon II even within the first few hours. The game captures your attention with its grotesque and retro comic-like aesthetics. Sometimes, the visuals are immersive and epic, like when you embark on a new map with your four heroes staring into their fate. Other times, they are disturbingly creative, such as when a knight-like enemy with stag-horns growing out of their eyes throws creeks on their helmet made of wood. The killing blows dealt by your champions are always executed in brutal and bloody animations, adding to the game’s visual impact.
The narration of Darkest Dungeon II, which follows you throughout the game, is another major attraction. The narration lines mix dark humor, extravagant poetry, and acute philosophy, written in a pretentious and medieval style but brought to life by the signature voice of Wayne June, who is widely renowned in the industry. The narration creates such an engrossing atmosphere that when I turned off the volume for a short while, I immediately felt an emptiness as if something was missing from the game. The narration paints the strongest picture of Darkest Dungeon II, complementing the addictive visuals.
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Unique Storytelling
The story of Darkest Dungeon II is intriguing, not because the plot is mind-blowingly revolutionary, but because of how it is told. The game unveils the background slowly, in pieces, at the start of every expedition, making you want to find out more. The fragmented storytelling is effective and difficult to master, but Darkest Dungeon II strikes the right balance, keeping you engaged without overwhelming you with information.
The independent background stories of each champion are particularly impressive. Instead of conventional flashbacks, Darkest Dungeon II tells these stories through battles. For example, in the second chapter of Audrey, the grave robber’s story, there is no passage to read. Instead, you experience a battle between her, her ex-husband, and a food trolley. The dialogues screamed by her husband, his actions, and Audrey’s responses—ranging from placation to hiding in the shadows to poison his drinks—all contribute to the storytelling. This approach exemplifies the principle of “show, don’t tell” in storytelling.
Conclusion
Darkest Dungeon II is a great game, but it is not for everyone. It almost strictly separates its audience through playtime. For gamers who enjoy a great challenge and don’t mind constant humiliation and failure along the way, Darkest Dungeon II is a perfect match. On the other hand, gamers who prefer a smooth difficulty arc, constant progress, and a sense of accomplishment might find the game overwhelming and unenjoyable. Regardless of which category you fall into, devoting a few hours to Darkest Dungeon II might just lead to your next addiction.
FAQs
Q: Is Darkest Dungeon II suitable for newcomers to the roguelite genre?
A: Darkest Dungeon II is extremely challenging and might be overwhelming for newcomers. The game has a steep learning curve and does not offer much in terms of tutorials. However, if you enjoy a challenge and are willing to learn through failure, it can be a rewarding experience.
Q: What makes the pressure system unique in Darkest Dungeon II?
A: The pressure system in Darkest Dungeon II indicates each champion’s stress level, which increases due to critical hits, heavy damage, unfortunate obstacles, and witnessing fellow champions die. High stress levels can lead to meltdowns, drastically affecting the champion’s HP and relationships with others.
Q: How does the relationship system affect gameplay?
A: The relationship system in Darkest Dungeon II determines how champions feel about each other. Negative relationships can cause internal conflicts within the team, while positive relationships can provide beneficial interactions. Managing these relationships is crucial to maintaining team cohesion and effectiveness.
Q: What is the significance of permanent death in the game?
A: Permanent death means that once a champion dies, they are gone for good. This adds a layer of difficulty and tension, as you must carefully manage your team’s health and make strategic decisions to avoid losing valuable members.
Q: How does the storytelling in Darkest Dungeon II differ from other games?
A: Darkest Dungeon II uses fragmented storytelling, revealing pieces of the plot at the start of each expedition. The game also tells champions’ background stories through battles, using actions and dialogues to convey the narrative instead of conventional flashbacks or text passages.
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Q: Is there any way to restore health in Darkest Dungeon II?
A: Health restoration options are limited in Darkest Dungeon II. There is no automatic health restoration after battles, and viable HP restore options are scarce. This makes managing your team’s health a critical aspect of gameplay.
Q: How important are the visuals and narration in creating the game’s atmosphere?
A: The grotesque, retro comic-like visuals and the pretentious, medieval-style narration by Wayne June play significant roles in creating Darkest Dungeon II’s engrossing atmosphere. The visuals are expressive and impactful, while the narration adds depth and immersion to the game.
Q: Can you change the difficulty settings in Darkest Dungeon II?
A: Darkest Dungeon II does not offer traditional difficulty settings. The game is designed to be challenging, and its systems are meant to create a sense of constant tension and struggle. Players must adapt to the difficulty and learn to overcome the game’s challenges through experience.
Q: What platforms is Darkest Dungeon II available on?
A: Darkest Dungeon II is available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and all newer console models. The game’s challenging gameplay and unique mechanics are consistent across all platforms.
Q: Is Darkest Dungeon II worth playing for fans of the first game?
A: Yes, fans of the first Darkest Dungeon will likely find Darkest Dungeon II to be a worthy successor. The game builds on the original’s mechanics, introducing new systems like the pressure and relationship systems, while retaining the challenging and immersive gameplay that made the first game popular.