Dark Fall: Lost Souls

I too played this latest game, from Jonathan Boakes, and found it a darker, more sombre affair. There are drug and alcohol references, which explain the more mature rating given to the game, but I also found the story was nicely balanced between WWII nostalgia and modern urban horror. There are scenes set back in 1947 that simply ooze nostalgia, in honey coloured hues, enlivened by a period musical score that will delight anyone interested in Britain during World War 2.

As someone who lives in a `modern, rural town', I found the references to teenage drug and alcohol abuse horribly familiar, and feel the game provided enough of a negative stance to suggest the writer is very much against what is happening to the smaller, neglected rural communities, where anti-social behaviour and crime is constantly on the up. But, like I've said, these elements are balanced very well with the `trips' to the past.

The story is dark, but does offer salvation. The puzzles are clever, with… more »

I too played this latest game, from Jonathan Boakes, and found it a darker, more sombre affair. There are drug and alcohol references, which explain the more mature rating given to the game, but I also found the story was nicely balanced between WWII nostalgia and modern urban horror. There are scenes set back in 1947 that simply ooze nostalgia, in honey coloured hues, enlivened by a period musical score that will delight anyone interested in Britain during World War 2.

As someone who lives in a `modern, rural town', I found the references to teenage drug and alcohol abuse horribly familiar, and feel the game provided enough of a negative stance to suggest the writer is very much against what is happening to the smaller, neglected rural communities, where anti-social behaviour and crime is constantly on the up. But, like I've said, these elements are balanced very well with the `trips' to the past.

The story is dark, but does offer salvation. The puzzles are clever, with little or no need for a walkthrough, (a couple of forgivable `pixel hunts' aside). The musical score is both appropriate to the settings (anything from 1940's Theatre Land to the urban metallic creaks of abandoned buildings), and the sound effects are very effective! Lots of the chills are sound based, so make sure your speakers are nice and loud! (Note to developers, a Soundtrack CD would have been a nice extra!)

All in all, not a game for everyone, given the age rating, and true-to-life setting and story, but it comes highly recommended to those who enjoy something a little more immersive and narrative driven that the current flood of Hidden Object Games.