It has been far too long since a truly solid Action-RPG was released. More recently we have had games like Sacred 2 and Torchlight, but still nothing to rival the legend that is Diablo II. So, the big question is, should you give a damn about Darkspore? Well, yes – maybe. Okay, not really. Sadly, Darkspore is actually pretty mediocre.
The first thing I would like to point out, for anyone that does not already know, Darkspore is an ONLINE ONLY game. You can play solo, but that still requires a constant internet connection. I would also like to mention that the initial patch from retail is roughly 1GB. To add insult to injury (specifically for the numerous bandwidth deficient here in SA) Darkspore uses up large amounts of data while playing. On average, a solid evening of playtime will set you back about 100MB.
In Darkspore you play as a Crogenitor, a vastly advanced race which can control its DNA. However, the discovery of E-DNA has changed everything. E-DNA twists and warps any living organisms that it comes in contact with. It soon spreads like wildfire in the universe and it is discovered that all affected are connected to a hive mind called The Darkspore.
In a failed bid to rid the universe of The Darkspore, most of the Crogenitors were destroyed, and this is where you come in. In a desperate attempt to save their race, some Crogenitors were placed in stasis and hidden. You play as one of them. It is now your task to use a stabilized version of E-DNA to create your own army to rid the universe of The Darkspore.
My initial impression of Darkspore’s setting was a good one. It felt fresh, specifically in a genre dominated by swords and sorcery. Sadly, the story is quickly let down due to its delivery. The majority of the plot is told through HELIX, an advanced A.I. aboard your ship. It all feels rather disconnected when HELIX informs you on details, especially since it deals mostly with past events. You feel like an observer to the story rather than taking an active role.
As far as gameplay is concerned, Darkspore is pretty run-of-the-mill. You will spend most of your time endlessly clicking, like only an Action-RPG can make one do. This clicking mostly involves looting and customizing your heroes. However, don’t expect any talents, skills or stats to apply. You create a squad of three heroes and get down to business – no frills, no fuss. The only thing doing any “leveling up” is you as the Crogenitor, and that only leads to more heroes and some miscellaneous purchasable perks.
Darkspore hero customization screen
Since the heroes are the backbone of Darkspore, I want to spend some time talking about them. Like I mentioned, you create a squad of three heroes. As you progress through the game, you can unlock more heroes to build varying squads from. Annoyingly, some heroes are even regurgitated in the higher levels, and many share similar looks – which I feel is sloppy.
Heroes do not gain experience. Instead, your heroes level is dependant on the quality of gear equipped, giving an average level based on said items. It works, but I miss the feel of gaining a level. You will also never apply any stats to your heroes. In Darkspore, there are three basic stats – Strength, Dexterity and Mind, and each hero is connected to one. Once again, the only thing affecting those stats are the items equipped on your heroes.
A squad is born
The same lack of direct control is seen in your hero’s skills. When not endlessly clicking, you will be using a mere handful of skills. There are only six skills per hero, of which one is a base attack. Two more are “shared” skills. Basically, you have six set skills per hero, primarily only using two to three skills constantly. It can get dull pretty quick if you are not trying out new heroes for variety.
There is, however, one somewhat redeeming feature in Darkspore and that is customizing your hero’s visuals. Regardless of whether someone else is playing the exact same hero as yours, you can personalize its looks vastly, from their textures, to the sizes and shapes of body parts. The equipped items can also be manipulated. They range from industry standards like weapons and armor, to more unique items such as eyes, wings, feet and claws.
Once you are happy with your squad, you can either do some missions on the campaign or do some PvP. Initially the campaign is an utter breeze, but it ramps up in difficulty nicely as you progress. There are also three difficulties to unlock and play through, offering some longevity.
Finding others to group with is almost essential to the Darkspore experience. Luckily, Maxis has that covered with the “Matchmaker” button which allows for easy grouping. Once in a group (or solo for that matter), you will move through the mission, killing creatures and eventually you will face a boss fight. Once completed, you return to your ship and are then given a choice.
A boss encounter
Each mission culminates with a reward. So now you decide – should you cash in, or take a chance risking it all doing another mission for an even greater haul? Chances for greater rewards are also affected by side objectives in each mission, such as killing all the creatures, or not using healing items within a boss arena. It is often best to take a chance, chaining several missions together to maximize ones rewards.
Sadly, as far as rewards go, they are not all that compelling. Any Action-RPG worth its salt relies heavily on great items, keeping the player wanting ever more. Personally, I never felt that with Darkspore. It fails to keep the carrot dangling effectively.
For the PvP inclined out there, Darkspore has you covered (albeit with a very light coat). PvP generally involves pitting one’s trio of heroes against others in an arena match over rounds. I found it very dull. With so many heroes to pick from, it felt more like rock / paper / scissors, rather than a test of skill.
Visually speaking, Darkspore is, yet again, adequate, lacking anything which makes it “pop”. Hero models look interesting but can also look out of place, specifically when zoomed in. Enemy creatures, bosses and environments lack any awe factor, making for a rather by-the-numbers affair. Environments range from jungles, deserts to tundra’s and floating structures in space. They are, however, heavily regurgitated and very linear.
Darkspore regurgitates environments with alarming regularity
Final Thoughts
Basically Darkspore is an average Action-RPG lacking real depth. This is somewhat made up for by the great visual customization of one’s heroes and the ease of grouping. It certainly isn’t a Diablo, or Titan Quest for that matter, but it should give someone who loves the genre a fair amount of enjoyment while waiting on Diablo III. For anyone else, rather wait for it to hit the bargain bin before you fork out any hard earned cash.
Loading ...
