Dark Light | PS5 Review

Dark light aims to take the Metroidvania, Soulsborne, and Roguelike genres by storm in it's dark tale about ancient celestial beings, gods, demons, AI, and the last remnants of humanity. As a Dark Hunter recently revived by an AI drone you take up arms, and join humanity's last hope under the guidance of a designated AI facilitator. A celestial AI being sent to safeguard humanity, and bring them through these dark ages. 

At a hub of sorts you take on your obligated duty by utilizing the various vendors for preparedness and upgrade sake as well as a resident teleporter to venture out into the world and complete quest based objectives inline with three warring factions. As you traverse the map with a melee, and ranged weapon in hand alongside unique skills afforded by the faction roguelike system you'll earn currency, face foes, and best bosses as you deck out your loadouts with all the item drops that you find. Obtaining along the way elemental gems, body armor components, and new abilities used for traversal.

Staying true to all three genres that it imitates, Dark Light features Metroidvania, Soulsborne and Roguelike elements tethered together in a truly complimentary fashion. The Metroidvania map based progression, itself, being dependent upon finding key items and abilities. An effort made more difficult by lesser, and greater boss-like enemies with beefy health bars, and varied attacks. Enemy variety making for a proper challenge for anyone trying to complete a playthrough. 

In the way of Soulsborne influence you will need to learn the enemy patterns, enemy weaknesses, and deal damage with your two base weapons while avoiding damage through a defensive roll as well as a parry mechanic. Collecting as you do so anything that would drop from the enemy including ammo, health orbs, drone energy orbs, weapons, or armor components. The latter of which come in color coded rarities with added benefits such as elemental damage, physical damage, and resistances. 

Beyond the Metroidvania, and Soulsborne influence lies the roguelike mechanics. In this case you'll find randomized skills of the passive and active kind at faction banners located throughout the various themed locations. Affording you a chance to add to your arsenal of abilities on each outing, and in so doing, allowing for the use of a multifunctional loadout that has up to three drone skills, three base skills, and limited use throwables. Things that are swapped between via quick access methods using the DPad along side set shoulder/trigger button presets. Each skill assigned, in kind, to a specific button. Leaving the melee, and gun usage to be fitted to the controller's face buttons. 

As the Dark Hunter you will have to manage and maintain your health, drone energy, and stamina as you dish out death. This can be done through Soulsborne-like health and drone energy orbs. Leaving the stamina to be a recoverable option tied to the stat upgrade system that you'll be using back at the hub of operations. Upgrading, as it were, is done at a headless winged statue of the god Nike, and includes the usual strength, intellect, vitality, and agility stats with the game differing options being that of faith and blood. 

Upgrading these stats requires the game's only currency obtained from the trading of shards which are dropped by lesser, and greater enemies. Shards can be traded for currency via the banker that is found not only at the base hub of operations, but also along the various mapped locations for convenience sake. Allowing you to stash said currency without the fear of losing it upon death. Should you die with shards on-hand though the usual Soulsborne method of recovery does apply.

Upgrading in 'Dark Light' is the key to beating the game's increasingly difficult to navigate areas, and is not only stat based. You'll be able to also upgrade weapons and armor as well as attach elemental gems to weapons for added effects. Even the AI drone companion can be changed or upgraded allowing for new drone base support skills. The drone, in particular, acts as a defensive or offensive extension to your combat efforts, but relies upon drone energy to be of use. This is where the drone energy orb comes in handy.

When it comes to mission objectives you will be traveling back and forth through portals in different locations to interact with key characters of interest, and fight sub-bosses as well as bosses. You start off at the undercity, and work your way across the maps utilizing checkpoints, health restoration points, and and portals as you deal with the enemy threat through hazard filled platforming. 

You'll also need to find keys as well as unlock barred passages using levers, switches, and elevators that are often hidden from sight. Viewing the map often is necessary to find your bearings, and to figure out where it is you need to be in relation to the current mission/quest objectives. Completing objectives awards loadout gear, currency, new abilities, and new weapons. 

Gameplay customization is also an option made available in 'Dark Light'. Not only can you adjust volumes, and all that basic stuff, but you can also toggle on/off player friendly options that make traversal easier. Things such as auto-climbing. Visually you can additionally use a pixel slider to decrease or intensify the pixel effect. Giving it a full-on retro appearance or a modern PS5 worthy upgrade. That or something between.

The Verdict ...

Dark Light has been on my radar for quite some time. It always looked promising to me, and the idea of a genre blend always excites me. I often wonder how well mechanics will be implemented, and how cohesive it will all be. While Dark Light isn't initially easy to pick up on you will find that through continued play the awkwardness of the control scheme will become a second nature kind of deal. leaving you to focus more on the gameplay, as should be the case. 

Aside from that there's a lot of menu management to deal with as well as inventory management. Through your loadout you can actually custom tailor your playstyle by assigning the various weapon and skill options. Making the way you deal and avoid damage unique to your playthrough. 

Story-wise Dark Light throws a lot at you. Blending religion, mythology, and modern science in a way that's not overly outlandish. While it might seem like something ChatGP cooked up it is a reasonable plot, and provides enough motive for your efforts going forward. In the way of visual presentation, and audio the game really nails that dark religious vibe, and gives the player a dystopian world with features worth taking a good hard look at. 

It is mostly a 2.5D experience with highly detailed character models and environments. All showcased to a foreboding tune that plays hauntingly, and complimentary in the background. I loved every bit of it, and was surprised they offered a retro and modern visual option for players willing to buy into it.

For what it's worth Dark Light gets a highly respected recommendation from yours truly! As a fan of all three genres I think the developer did the game and genres justice. Offering something, that while familiar, stands out from the crowd enough to be it's own beast! Don't miss out on this one if you are into Metroidvanias, Soulsbornes, or Roguelikes!!!