System Requirements: Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 512 MB RAM and a Direct X 9 compliant 128 MB video card.
Tested on: Pentium D 920, 3 GB DDR2 800, Asus X1900XT 512.
Review:
Lets face it…games based on the Half Life 2 engine are a dollar a dozen (if not a dime). RPGs based on the same are somewhat of a rarity though. Only Vampire The Masquerade : Bloodlines comes to mind, Arx Fatalis another such title. Bloodlines wasn’t a bad game, but it did have flaws, being buggy as hell. Not so with the game I’m reviewing today. Dark Messiah (referred to as M&M from now on) is stable, better looking than HL2 at times, and packs a really immersive storyline into some of the best gameplay I’ve seen from first person games of this genre.
You play as Sareth, (of unknown parentage…as usual). As a warrior you’re sent on a mission by your mentor Phenrig to meet another mage of some renown. Incidentally he’s got a hot daughter Leanna…and she looks decent, not like the ugly females in Oblivion! The house is attacked the very night you arrive after everyone’s abed, and the master killed. You’ll have to escape through the first floor window, and it’s up to you to use stealth of go on an all out killing rampage. From here on the story is told throughout the 9 chapters you’ll play through to finish this game…I leave you discover Sareth’s origins…and his destiny!
Sareth has a pretty straight up skill tree, which you’ll climb courtesy of points gained from completing objectives. You can specialize in magic, straight up melee or archery. There are a few supporting skills as well like stealth, and health and mana power ups. Melee weapons bring out some real cool combo moves, and this is where M&M scores gameplay wise. All melee weapons daggers especially, (Sareth can dual wield), can be used for a series of quick slashing attacks, or a tap and hold power attack, which looks different with different direction keys. Sareth also has a rage meter, which fills by performing kills or taking damage. You’ll see Sareth kicking serious creature butt…beheading, running enemies through (swords), knife-throwing (daggers) is all very possible. You’ll also be able to kick enemies off ledges, into campfires and on to spikes. Be careful enemies will also similar tactics on you, and you need to block as well as attack, or you can end up dead real quick.
Spell casting is also a visual treat, not to mention very useful, especially since archery doesn’t really dish out a lot of damage.
I don’t really have to reiterate graphics…everyone here’s probably played HL2. You’ll notice very little of the story’s revealed as well. I really think this games a must play…give it a try even if you aren’t an RPG type gamer. You’ll be surprised…I definitely was!
I’d give Dark Messiah an 8.5/10
Screenies -
1280 x 1024, 4x AF, 4x AA
Here's a dagger stealth kill
Gory as hell...I like it!
Sareth in demon form...Can shift at will but drains health (similar to POP 2T)
Tested on: Pentium D 920, 3 GB DDR2 800, Asus X1900XT 512.
Review:
Lets face it…games based on the Half Life 2 engine are a dollar a dozen (if not a dime). RPGs based on the same are somewhat of a rarity though. Only Vampire The Masquerade : Bloodlines comes to mind, Arx Fatalis another such title. Bloodlines wasn’t a bad game, but it did have flaws, being buggy as hell. Not so with the game I’m reviewing today. Dark Messiah (referred to as M&M from now on) is stable, better looking than HL2 at times, and packs a really immersive storyline into some of the best gameplay I’ve seen from first person games of this genre.
You play as Sareth, (of unknown parentage…as usual). As a warrior you’re sent on a mission by your mentor Phenrig to meet another mage of some renown. Incidentally he’s got a hot daughter Leanna…and she looks decent, not like the ugly females in Oblivion! The house is attacked the very night you arrive after everyone’s abed, and the master killed. You’ll have to escape through the first floor window, and it’s up to you to use stealth of go on an all out killing rampage. From here on the story is told throughout the 9 chapters you’ll play through to finish this game…I leave you discover Sareth’s origins…and his destiny!
Sareth has a pretty straight up skill tree, which you’ll climb courtesy of points gained from completing objectives. You can specialize in magic, straight up melee or archery. There are a few supporting skills as well like stealth, and health and mana power ups. Melee weapons bring out some real cool combo moves, and this is where M&M scores gameplay wise. All melee weapons daggers especially, (Sareth can dual wield), can be used for a series of quick slashing attacks, or a tap and hold power attack, which looks different with different direction keys. Sareth also has a rage meter, which fills by performing kills or taking damage. You’ll see Sareth kicking serious creature butt…beheading, running enemies through (swords), knife-throwing (daggers) is all very possible. You’ll also be able to kick enemies off ledges, into campfires and on to spikes. Be careful enemies will also similar tactics on you, and you need to block as well as attack, or you can end up dead real quick.
Spell casting is also a visual treat, not to mention very useful, especially since archery doesn’t really dish out a lot of damage.
I don’t really have to reiterate graphics…everyone here’s probably played HL2. You’ll notice very little of the story’s revealed as well. I really think this games a must play…give it a try even if you aren’t an RPG type gamer. You’ll be surprised…I definitely was!
I’d give Dark Messiah an 8.5/10
Screenies -
1280 x 1024, 4x AF, 4x AA
Here's a dagger stealth kill
Gory as hell...I like it!
Sareth in demon form...Can shift at will but drains health (similar to POP 2T)
hyeah:
...... 
