Watch my interview with creator, Guillaume Le Pennec: th-cam.com/video/LYOa9xuOhu4/w-d-xo.html If you'd like to see it released again, vote for Dark Earth on GOG's wishlist: www.gog.com/wishlist/games/dark_earth And visit my GOG Partner page for curated list of over 100 games ► indigogaming.link/
It annoys me greatly you used Fallout as the similarity and not Elder Scrolls. It's a game with demons and shit using medieval weapons. Sincerely a salty Elder Scrolls weeb
I have not heard of Dark Earth until now. I played AITD and all of the RE titles. Forgot how cheesy the first Resident Evil dialog was! LOL! Great video! Your production, presentation, and your voice are all incredible! As rare these days, as finding a Unicorn or a beautiful woman who isn't crazy! LOL! Have a great day!
You understand what it is to review and critique a game, but you take it many steps further. It's structured in a way that you don't realize that the video is over 20 minutes, it certainly does not feel that long.
It is pretty wild! It's both enlightening to hear their side of the story, but also comforting to know that these are real people with real lives and goals. Makes the whole industry feel more genuine and relatable, I guess.
Jake Moore Bro you gotta watch Gog.com they always show love for these games and they keep the games updated with all the newest patches. Seriously cool website and great company. Same company that made the witcher.
I saw a play of it on twitch, the guy moaning every second of how much it sucks just because he was unable to learn the tank controls and combat characteristics. This guy was even old like, so, People have changed a lot, no more patience, they want to skip every part.
@i eat snails -- I just ran a search on these two game stores, and neither of them has the game. I'd expected GOG to have it, I wonder why they don't. Maybe it isn't optimized enough to be playable on contemporary gaming gear or PCs.
That would actually be freemasons. The Magic Flute by Mozart has a Sun Cult that's really just a lodge of freemasonry. But worship of the sun has occurred since their founding. Video game wise, u right tho ^^
I cannot believe someone like you did an actual video on this game. I played it when was I was a kid, not understanding most of the mechanics, let alone the dialogue as I wasn't a native speaker of English. But I loved the gameplay and figuring out what I had to do along the way.. I owned the big box copy of it too, a vivid memory that was only thrust back because of this video. I forgot the name of the game but remembered how it played and looked, thank you for bringing this back and for the voting!
Its my favourite game you can run it on windows 10 also its easy to get it work. If you wish to try it : collectionchamber.blogspot.hu/2017/03/dark-earth.html
When this game came out, it made the cover of the gaming magazine I was reading at the time, with XCOM 3 and Dungeon Keeper also reviewed in the same issue! I never expected this to become an obscure title.
Yeah it was quite a case of hype and anticipation, I think the muddled release after they lost EA as a publisher was a big hit to its success, and the difficulty in getting it on consoles or any of the planned sequels taking off eventually killed its chances of going mainstream.
There are some great quotes in this game. Some bordered on cheesy, but like I said in my video, the voice acting/writing was pretty amazing for a mid-1990's game.
It's a bummer this game is unavailable via digital means, as you really sold me on it. It looks fascinating! By the way, THANK YOU for your video on Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines. I picked it up because I was craving a new RPG and was intrigued by the video you made on it. I just beat it the other day and I've already started my next playthrough with a new clan. I thought it was a buggy mess, but a masterpiece all the same. There were so many times where the dialogue options allowed me to say EXACTLY what I would've said in my characters shoes, and that was satisfying as hell. That title would've flown completely under my radar were it not for your series of videos on Troika Games, but I now consider it one of the best RPGs I've ever played. I really dig your coverage of these more obscure titles, as I see them as a gateway to new gaming experiences I may have unfortunately missed during an old underground game's heyday. A/w this was yet another outstanding video essay from you. Awesome job, as always!
That's awesome, I'm glad my recommendation of Vampire led to an interesting experience for you! I really wish Dark Earth was available for easy purchase as well. Not sure the legal state it's in, and it was a little tricky to get working on modern systems, too. Let's hope GOG gets ahold of it someday.
You can download the french version here: www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=715&fic=liens You just have to learn french like we do with your games. :D
Troika's games known for good stories and bugs, but with help of fan-made patches they can be played with little problem. Found "Dark earth" years ago on russian site, where its avaible in russian and english with bunch of patches and fixes to make it run on modern hardware (for example they changed original 16-bit installer for newer option, that will run on x64 Win7). I think there was 2 dubbed versions of it as well... both very cheasy sounding. I was not understanding english well back then and subtitles was (and still is) too fast to read. Game a bit glitchy, but easy to setup now and not causing BSODs. Cant say about legal status of the game. Looks like another abandonware.
I remember playing it at one of my friend's house. I guess we were 12yrs old. I was sitting next to him and just watching and suggesting him what do to 😅 great memories!
One of the first game I ve played when I got my first decent computer in 1998. And probably the reason for my love of the post apocalypse genre. Lore in this game is so solid and original, between steampunk, post apo and Dark Fantasy. Never played anything similar ever since. It needs a remake. Seriously.
If I learned anything over this last two decades, and especially the 2010s, its that obscure and presumed-dead franchises tend to get a second chance sooner or later. So this setting being used again in some way, shape or form doesn't strike me as unbelievable.
Yes ! Dark Earth and Fallout were the most influential games I had the chance to play in the late 90's. And of all the youtubers out there, I am glad you are the one to bring it to light again. Thanks a lot. Wow, this brings so many memories...
I would not write a better comment than you did. I loved dark earth from the day I first saw the trailer. And together with the first fallout these are my favorite games from the 90's era. I would love to see a sequel or read a book. I would like to see the world beyond Sparta.
@@emtione Thank you ! As far as I know, no books have been written, however there is always the tabletop RPG Dark Earth, which expands the universe with new stories, places etc. Wether you are in tabletop RPGs or not, just reading the rulebook is interesting. I am not sure if it can be found in English though, I've always seen it in French.
Damn Indigo, you are like the master of finding interesting and very obscure games! Too bad this game and Magic and Mayhem are not on digital stores since I would gladly buy these games... Keep being awesome dude, your videos are top notch!
Yeah I'm still disappointed Magic & Mayhem and Dark Earth aren't readily available. A second wind like a GOG release could respark interest in these franchises.
Exactly, I upvoted Magic and Mayhem multiple times on the community wishlist same with a ton of obscure sounding games as well as games that I would love to own... Maybe one day these games will be available!
I was looking for this game for ages, forgot the name and its old ( not well situated among media) Thank you so much for discovering my long years search game !! 💪❤
Damn, the late 90's where a great time for games with weird, alien and gritty settings: This game, Thief, Planescape Torment, Abe's Oddysee, Sacrifice, to name a few. They remind me of some of my favorite artists like Gerald Brom, and they really sparked your imagination with unique, grimy settings. Also physical huds with buttons that tie into the tone of the game was a great thing.
I wish I was old enough to enjoy some of kalistos pc games , I remember being 5 when I first played nightmare creatures in 1997, that game was so well done and it was on console .. I could only imagine the fun I would have had with a pc back in those days . Adventure games are going to come back to the mainstream . I believe it will bloom in the form of open world games ; wether they be single player or multiplayer . I love Ms-dos games and old pc games - and they were like ALL adventure games .
I searched on the TH-cam "Dark Earth Review" unbeknown of this recent documentary. I also go to GoG from time to time if the Dark Earth is there. I loved this game back in '97. Dark Earth is a very special gem. Dark, grim, also niche maybe but special at all. Another point I would like to add to the documentary is that the game was incredibly optimized for the low end PC's in the early era of Pentiums. I could literally run and enjoy the game with my 486 DX2-66 powered PC.
Hey, I don't believe you remember the conversation we had over on your Fallout analysis video, long story short, you got me playing that franchise albeit only the first and the second part. I'm still getting ready for that plunge into the Bethesda part of the franchise. I don't watch all of your videos, but this game has that interesting post apo vibe and naturally I had to watch it. Once again you have made high quality video exploring a game I have never heard of before. Now i kinda want to play it or hopefully see a new game from this IP. You really deserve more recognition, and hopefully sooner rather than later your quality videos will find the audience you deserve.
Thanks for coming back to watch my content! I'm glad I helped interest you in the original Fallout games, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the series as well. And thanks for your kind words, I do hope I continue to see growth on my channel.
It is one of the best videos made in this matter regarding video games, both the edition and the script are sublime. I have quoted your video in a research paper regarding applied narratives of the 21st century, the structuring around the concept of adventure at the beginning is just very cool.
Oh man, count me in as one who bought the game based on the box art, but this game was so unique and compelling. One of my fondest gaming memories, along with Sanitarium!
Played that in 1999. Wonderful game. For the time, that is. If you played it today, you would complain about clunky controls, repetitive dialogue, and puzzles that could block your progress. It did not have many QoL features you take for granted today. It did not even have texture filtering, and in 640x480, it would look like hell on today's monitors.
Man, this whole day I’ve been wanting to try this game out, I literally dreamed about it when I took a nap which is weird, same happened with Magic and Mayhem and Mechcommander
I don't like to promote piracy, but since there hasn't been a retail release for two decades this is practically abandonware. Check out Collection Chamber. This package has a built-in VM with Dark Earth pre-installed, works well: collectionchamber.blogspot.com/2017/03/dark-earth.html
Indigo Gaming This reply never showed up for me, thanks I’m gonna try it out after work, I’ve been craving some point and click style game... my favorite point and click is Dragonsphere btw
The world of this game has left a lasting impression on me, as a child I used to write essays inspired by its world DURING MY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. Dark, mature, with a polished uchronic art direction, futuristic remnants of the old world set in wrought iron, its violence, its social commentary between Upper and down-town, the religious perdition of the elite who allow the worst to happen through military treachery, the fraternity, solidarity and criminality of the proletariat. Splendid game mechanics, with a branching scenario, actions with consequences and a mood system that allows you to manage a wide variety of situations in different ways... The possibility of killing everyone, despite the consequences on the rest of the game and on your state of poisoning... The fact that it's possible not to finish the game if you've acted badly or in pitiful conditions... The beauty of the scenery...In the warm comfort of my childhood memories, this game is an unspeakable marvel. I don't get people that criticize the combat system. It's simple, precise, technic...it's good, get better if you're frustrated. Lots of French games were quite groundbreaking in the 90's : Little Big Adventure Dark Earth Heart of Darkness Alone In The Dark Another world The Rayman series, Myst series Toy Commander Beyond Good and Evil (not the 90's but a mesterpiece IMO) Splinter Cells (early 00's) Ubi-soft also revived the Prince Of Persia saga) Also, in terms of great cinematic narration with fleshed-out character "Remember Me" (released in 2013) is really close to Beyond Good And Evil. There's an X-factor with original and moving scenaris and narration in all those games. etc.
The entire survival horror and adventure game genres owe a lot to Infogrames, Adeline/Delphine and Cryo Interactive. Great French devs that shaped the landscape of gaming!
Never heard of this game, looks like they were doing some things I would of definitely been into as Fallout remains my favorite overall franchise, even with Fallout 4 utter loss of real rpg, or real choices of meaning. Thank you for taking the time to spot light this game
Alright, I may be suuuper late for this comment onto this game, but I have to say that throughout the entire video essay I was captivated by the art of the for 1990s. It's quite the amazing graphics for this because it's so in the nitty and gritty, it makes it so nice to see and when you were talking about the cut scene and I was watching it. I felt what you were feeling the cut scenes had that feeling that made it feel so nightmarish or to have that anxiety for what to come
It's amazing to find out about things I missed because I was not well versedi n the PC gaming world until the early 2000s. But you cover the mainstream things so well too that I enjoy everything you put out immensely. So please, keep doing what you are passionate about.
I've just found your channel through your 'Why Fallout isn't Fallout'-video and I really love it! Keep it up! TH-cam needs more creators like you who do qualitative content which does not shy from being long format and in depth. Love it!
Glad you feel that way about my work! It seems to be the longer road on TH-cam currently, as what's most successful right now is bandwagoning on hot topics and pumping out videos every few days, but I'm really happy that thousands of people still come out and enjoy a journey through gaming's history and topics that interest us in this amazing industry. Thanks for watching!
I completely had forgotten I owned, played and loved this game as a kid. Thank you for this great video to remind us how great this universe is and hopefully we can see it flourish sometime in the future! 👍👏🍻
I remember back in the day getting stuck in the end of the game not knowing how to continue. I ultimately searched the files and found the sound files of all the dark/light reactions. One gave me the clue needed to continue.
I sat behind my uncle as he played the beginning of this game. That's all I ever saw of it. But oh man did the setting and presentation captivate me. I found your video trying to find and remember it. Thanks for making this!
First of all, you explained the adventure genre very well. As for the game, I'm really intrigued. There are so many obscure on PC, esp. ones from Europe. You did a great job with the video.
I had this game as a child. I was stucked as some point. I played and replayed. So many hours trying to figure out what I missed, but I never beat it. I love this game, but it still haunts me to this day.
I remember the tabletop roleplaying game of the same name that inspired the videogame, it was quite nice (despite the typical French rpg issue of holes and poor rules; also the book binding was atrocious and fell apart before finishing the first read through). I still have some books of it in a box somewhere. The visual design and illustrations of the book were well above average, using some of the development money of the videogame for shared concept art if I remember correctly. I'd completely forgotten about the videogame, even though I played it when it was first released. Gosh, I'm old. Thanks for the nostalgia trip!
That's really cool! Yeah I actually interviewed the creative director for the game, the video game actually inspired the tabletop game, not the other way around. Great setting!
Thank you for bringing Dark Earth to people's attention. It is still one of my 10 favorite games of all time, and a true gem. It's a shame that GOG couldn't publish it.
This is still one of the best games I've ever played and an unforgettable part of my childhood with the most unique atmosphere and lore. I *really* hope Guillaume finds a way to bring us something new that'll bring the Dark Earth world back to life.
I'm not too into adventure games, but man, did Kalisto go all in on this one. Shame it didn't pan out and the fates themselves seemed to work against them at every turn. I feel bad for them. Still, this was a nice, informative video. Thanks for introducing this one to me.
Yeah it's interesting. I got to talk to the head creative for the game, and his insight was very informative. Part of what made this game so special (multiple paths, lots of optional dialogue options, multiple states of monster form, etc.) was due to inexperience. A more "veteran" dev would have probably skipped these bits and just stuck with a core experience that most people would see and hear. I'm working on the interview, should be out next week.
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"Sun God, hold me in your rays!" haven't played this in soooo long.
My dad played this when I was a kid. It was scary as hell but so distinct. Thanks for covering it. Hope GOG picks it up someday so I can play it as an adult.
I don't think games are often personal projects since so many people are always involved, but in this case it seems this game was thought as a work of art by the authors. It shows, because of the tremendous amount of work put into it; the authors weren't just trying to cash in, they really invested themselves in this and honestly that's praiseworthy. Btw, your voice is great man, you have natural talent for this.
Oh wow. Thank you. I have been looking for this game for many years after owning it from new in 1997 but, as a 14 year old, failing to progress very far with it. I thought that it was called Dark 'something' but couldn't remember exactly. Incredibly, I only came across this as a TH-cam recommendation video, and I had been thinking about this game again just yesterday. Satisfied. Thanks again.
Thanks man. I think the intro kind of visually imitates what my channel does, bringing older (classic, pixelated) games into a modern presentation/look. At least that's what I was attempting.
I have been looking for Nightmare Creatures since I was a child, not finding ANY goddamn reference to what it was or was called and here in the video you finally gave me that info. THANK YOU!
I've always loved this game and it's truly awesome to see it being covered like this! Thank you for your thoughtful content :) and i hope more people will enjoy this unique game and others like it. I would love to see more videos like this for sure.
Thank you for this amazing video! It has been over 20 years since I played Dark Earth, and the fact that I have searched and found your video shows that I have always been trying to reconnect with this masterpiece that has left an indelible impression on my mind. Thank you!! Other lost games that I still hold close to my heart are "Faery Tale Adventure II - Halls of the Dead" and "Sub Culture". I hope you will look into them.
I remember Adventure on the Atari. Played it many years after it came out, and couldn't believe how much fun a game about squares moving back and fourth could be with a little imagination on the part of the player
Thanks! I've been putting a lot more effort into editing around the music and flow of my voiceover, and adding a lot more cutaways and examples in-between. In addition to my videos getting longer and longer (earlier Not Forgotten videos were 8-13 mins). I'm glad it's showing!
The animation (as in, the actual motions of the characters) in those pre-rendered cutscenes is pretty impressive! Very detailed and lifelike for the era.
You've jolted a memory out of me that was long lost. Crazy. I think this game was included with my first 133mhz tower way back when I was just starting my journey with pc gaming. It was this and Jones Life In The Fast Lane. I ended up liking Jones way more, and then Fallout 1 came into my life... Getting old is weird...
I've never heard of this game before, but it seems really interesting. Time to add it to my backlog. :) EDIT: Just read your pinned comment about the game not being available on GoG yet. I'm definitely voting for this one, and hope it will become available for purchase again.
I hope my video helps get it some attention. Dark Earth briefly got the #3 slot on GoG's community wishlist for the week, which is awesome, but I imagine the rights are tied up somewhere.
Quickly became one of my favorite channels on TH-cam; I always loved looking around and finding the rarer games and reading up on them, finding out that they were used as inspiration for other games, and this channel is the epitome of that. Excellent job man. So many gaming channels give such bland reviews for certain overrated games, it’s awesome just seeing a channel like this existing. So grateful I found your channel.
It's at once strange and mesmerizing to retroactively discover what was supposed to be one's childhood; I vividly remember seeing a two-page review of this title in one of my dad's computer magazines (it was 1997, so - looking back - it was charmingly primitive by today's standards) and that artwork of the purple-veined "Creature of the Dark" had burnt itself in my mind since then. I read and re-read that article so many times and while I couldn't even begin to imagine what was described (I was 8 yrs old, after all) it was so much different from everything I had seen until then. (The parents had a rather . . . conservative approach to video games, you could say - learning software and flight sims were the only things considered "worthy" of spending time on) Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this essay of yours ...
I still have Dark Earth in its original box. A digital release would be nice too, but I really would love to see more done with the world Kalisto created. I also had no idea Kalisto made so many games I spent my childhood playing. Fifth Element was great and I'll argue politely with anyone who disagrees.
Yeah I had no idea they made such a variety of games either until I looked into their work. An eclectic library but it's clear they had talent, it just needed more focus and planning, it seemed as they had several projects, including a Highlander game in the works that were all cancelled.
This must be the most underrated channel I have discovered so far ! You deserve a million subscribers and more! Thanks to NerdSlayer for mentioning you in his latest video ! Please keep making gaming related documentaries!
It's 3 am, tired, sleepy and i remembered this game i don't know why.. then i thought let's see what the youtube has to say about it, and here i am. Indeed, a game that linger a lifetime must have done few things exceptionaly right. Thank you for this and i hope to see more about gems like Ecstatica, Little Big Adventure, Legacy of Kain and many other long lost games but certainly not forgotten.
Definitely a game I've never heard about. It's such a crime to see intellectual properties like this fall into obscurity. I have always been a fan of the classic 90's survival horror genre. This video was put together well. Thank you for informing me about this game.
You guys, Gvmers, and NoClip are all three some of the best docuseries on TH-cam. Plleeeasssseee keep going. Your videos always bring back some great memories of early games and some new ones I never got a chance to grab a hold of when I was younger and make me go back and give them a (albeit dated) shot. Thank you. You're a gift to all gamers.
Holy crap, I felt like the only person that ever played this game, thank you so much for reminding me about this. I was stuck and stopped playing so so many years ago. I think it’s time to jump back in
![Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 | เพื่อจักรพรรดิ ! [ตอนเดียวจบ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4M0ckYMA4-U/mqdefault.jpg)
Watch my interview with creator, Guillaume Le Pennec: th-cam.com/video/LYOa9xuOhu4/w-d-xo.html
If you'd like to see it released again, vote for Dark Earth on GOG's wishlist: www.gog.com/wishlist/games/dark_earth
And visit my GOG Partner page for curated list of over 100 games ► indigogaming.link/
Already Voted
It annoys me greatly you used Fallout as the similarity and not Elder Scrolls. It's a game with demons and shit using medieval weapons. Sincerely a salty Elder Scrolls weeb
I referenced Fallout as they both feature a post-apocalyptic wasteland with monsters, scavengers, scrap metal and pre-cataclysm artifacts and guns.
Ooooffff, someone can't notice the obvious but its ok
I have not heard of Dark Earth until now. I played AITD and all of the RE titles. Forgot how cheesy the first Resident Evil dialog was! LOL! Great video! Your production, presentation, and your voice are all incredible! As rare these days, as finding a Unicorn or a beautiful woman who isn't crazy! LOL! Have a great day!
I always like learning about games that I have never heard about.
Same! It's fascinating (•w•
That's game history preservation!
Yeah. It’s always fascinating to hear about all these different games, what made them unique, and so on.
I played this game for years.
@@InnerEagle I remember playing the demo of this game, it was on a CD of a gaming magazine.
It's channels like these that make TH-cam a worthwhile video platform.
Thanks. That means a lot to me. Glad I can help provide worthwhile gaming content.
You understand what it is to review and critique a game, but you take it many steps further. It's structured in a way that you don't realize that the video is over 20 minutes, it certainly does not feel that long.
It's very professional, indeed.
Fuck yeah
sadly not much left
It must be so surreal to actually speak to the legends behind the games you grew up on.
It is pretty wild! It's both enlightening to hear their side of the story, but also comforting to know that these are real people with real lives and goals. Makes the whole industry feel more genuine and relatable, I guess.
These videos always make me sad. Games like these don't deserve to be forgotten and i wish they could get a second chance
me too ;-;
Jake Moore Bro you gotta watch Gog.com they always show love for these games and they keep the games updated with all the newest patches. Seriously cool website and great company. Same company that made the witcher.
I saw a play of it on twitch, the guy moaning every second of how much it sucks just because he was unable to learn the tank controls and combat characteristics. This guy was even old like, so, People have changed a lot, no more patience, they want to skip every part.
It is available on abandonware at least.
@i eat snails -- I just ran a search on these two game stores, and neither of them has the game. I'd expected GOG to have it, I wonder why they don't. Maybe it isn't optimized enough to be playable on contemporary gaming gear or PCs.
It's incredible how an old game looks way more interesting than modern ones.
The original praisers of the sun!!!!
Right? I realized that when replaying the game.
After reading that title qnd reading this comment all i have to say is: patrolling the dark earth almost makes you wish TO PRAISE THE SUN
Y
That would actually be freemasons. The Magic Flute by Mozart has a Sun Cult that's really just a lodge of freemasonry. But worship of the sun has occurred since their founding.
Video game wise, u right tho ^^
first time I heard "praise the sun" I thought this game became popular again :P
I have seen some obscure games nowadays get remakes or remasters, and man does Dark Earth deserve that treatment.
What a buried treasure of a game.
oh fuck no
The world had a unique look and feel ... something you rarely see these days
I cannot believe someone like you did an actual video on this game. I played it when was I was a kid, not understanding most of the mechanics, let alone the dialogue as I wasn't a native speaker of English. But I loved the gameplay and figuring out what I had to do along the way.. I owned the big box copy of it too, a vivid memory that was only thrust back because of this video.
I forgot the name of the game but remembered how it played and looked, thank you for bringing this back and for the voting!
Me: This game seams interesting I wonder if It's on gog?
Video narrator: The game has never been released digitally.
Me: :(
It's on GOG now.
Its my favourite game you can run it on windows 10 also its easy to get it work. If you wish to try it : collectionchamber.blogspot.hu/2017/03/dark-earth.html
@@rock7343 Doesn't seem to be?
if they are not selling it online you can download it as abadonware (since they obviously are not printing this game on cd for decades)
@@lucasbobo22where do you find and download it if it's abandonware? I know you can manually search for games but most sources have been taken down.
You truly do some of the best video essays on TH-cam. They’re well written, have a unique style, and a cool narrating voice to top it off.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy them!
When this game came out, it made the cover of the gaming magazine I was reading at the time, with XCOM 3 and Dungeon Keeper also reviewed in the same issue! I never expected this to become an obscure title.
Yeah it was quite a case of hype and anticipation, I think the muddled release after they lost EA as a publisher was a big hit to its success, and the difficulty in getting it on consoles or any of the planned sequels taking off eventually killed its chances of going mainstream.
Y E S Thank god I thought this diamond in the rough had been largely forgotten
There are dozens of us that remember! DOZENS! 😄
@@Indigo_Gaming That's a perfect Duckman reference.
My brothers and I still quote this game:
“Ah! There you are!.. Go to your post!!”
There are some great quotes in this game. Some bordered on cheesy, but like I said in my video, the voice acting/writing was pretty amazing for a mid-1990's game.
It's a bummer this game is unavailable via digital means, as you really sold me on it. It looks fascinating! By the way, THANK YOU for your video on Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines. I picked it up because I was craving a new RPG and was intrigued by the video you made on it. I just beat it the other day and I've already started my next playthrough with a new clan. I thought it was a buggy mess, but a masterpiece all the same. There were so many times where the dialogue options allowed me to say EXACTLY what I would've said in my characters shoes, and that was satisfying as hell. That title would've flown completely under my radar were it not for your series of videos on Troika Games, but I now consider it one of the best RPGs I've ever played.
I really dig your coverage of these more obscure titles, as I see them as a gateway to new gaming experiences I may have unfortunately missed during an old underground game's heyday. A/w this was yet another outstanding video essay from you. Awesome job, as always!
That's awesome, I'm glad my recommendation of Vampire led to an interesting experience for you! I really wish Dark Earth was available for easy purchase as well. Not sure the legal state it's in, and it was a little tricky to get working on modern systems, too. Let's hope GOG gets ahold of it someday.
You can download the french version here: www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=715&fic=liens You just have to learn french like we do with your games. :D
www.myabandonware.com/game/dark-earth-bdm#download english version is available as well
it's abandonware, you can find it easily
Troika's games known for good stories and bugs, but with help of fan-made patches they can be played with little problem.
Found "Dark earth" years ago on russian site, where its avaible in russian and english with bunch of patches and fixes to make it run on modern hardware (for example they changed original 16-bit installer for newer option, that will run on x64 Win7). I think there was 2 dubbed versions of it as well... both very cheasy sounding. I was not understanding english well back then and subtitles was (and still is) too fast to read. Game a bit glitchy, but easy to setup now and not causing BSODs.
Cant say about legal status of the game. Looks like another abandonware.
I remember playing it at one of my friend's house. I guess we were 12yrs old. I was sitting next to him and just watching and suggesting him what do to 😅 great memories!
I have fond memories of this game from a demo disk I had in the 90s.
ARKHAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING
That Arkhan, always getting into trouble!
Giving the phrase "Praise the Sun" a whole new meaning.
Literally praising the sun.
One of the first game I ve played when I got my first decent computer in 1998.
And probably the reason for my love of the post apocalypse genre.
Lore in this game is so solid and original, between steampunk, post apo and Dark Fantasy.
Never played anything similar ever since.
It needs a remake.
Seriously.
I really miss the days of prerendered graphics. It was such a good way to overcome the graphical limitations of that time.
I love seeing lost gems getting the coverage they deserve. It's the appreciation of the art that helps these games live on.
If I learned anything over this last two decades, and especially the 2010s, its that obscure and presumed-dead franchises tend to get a second chance sooner or later. So this setting being used again in some way, shape or form doesn't strike me as unbelievable.
It really never leaves you. I, too, have had this game stuck in my head for over 20 years, easily.
It's incredibly memorable. Before making this video, some lines were seared into my brain despite me not hearing them for nearly two decades.
Yes ! Dark Earth and Fallout were the most influential games I had the chance to play in the late 90's. And of all the youtubers out there, I am glad you are the one to bring it to light again. Thanks a lot. Wow, this brings so many memories...
I would not write a better comment than you did. I loved dark earth from the day I first saw the trailer. And together with the first fallout these are my favorite games from the 90's era. I would love to see a sequel or read a book. I would like to see the world beyond Sparta.
@@emtione Thank you ! As far as I know, no books have been written, however there is always the tabletop RPG Dark Earth, which expands the universe with new stories, places etc. Wether you are in tabletop RPGs or not, just reading the rulebook is interesting. I am not sure if it can be found in English though, I've always seen it in French.
Watching this brings me back to the good ole' days of G4. Thank you for that man.
Ah yes, G4, simpler times! Thanks for watching!
Damn Indigo, you are like the master of finding interesting and very obscure games! Too bad this game and Magic and Mayhem are not on digital stores since I would gladly buy these games... Keep being awesome dude, your videos are top notch!
Yeah I'm still disappointed Magic & Mayhem and Dark Earth aren't readily available. A second wind like a GOG release could respark interest in these franchises.
Exactly, I upvoted Magic and Mayhem multiple times on the community wishlist same with a ton of obscure sounding games as well as games that I would love to own... Maybe one day these games will be available!
Obscure old gem game coverage/documentary? Yes!!!
I have, but I never expected to see Dark Earth here!
I was looking for this game for ages, forgot the name and its old ( not well situated among media) Thank you so much for discovering my long years search game !! 💪❤
Of course you remember the game who's main character name is arkhan.
Damn, the late 90's where a great time for games with weird, alien and gritty settings: This game, Thief, Planescape Torment, Abe's Oddysee, Sacrifice, to name a few. They remind me of some of my favorite artists like Gerald Brom, and they really sparked your imagination with unique, grimy settings. Also physical huds with buttons that tie into the tone of the game was a great thing.
I wish I was old enough to enjoy some of kalistos pc games , I remember being 5 when I first played nightmare creatures in 1997, that game was so well done and it was on console .. I could only imagine the fun I would have had with a pc back in those days .
Adventure games are going to come back to the mainstream . I believe it will bloom in the form of open world games ; wether they be single player or multiplayer .
I love Ms-dos games and old pc games - and they were like ALL adventure games .
I searched on the TH-cam "Dark Earth Review" unbeknown of this recent documentary. I also go to GoG from time to time if the Dark Earth is there.
I loved this game back in '97. Dark Earth is a very special gem. Dark, grim, also niche maybe but special at all.
Another point I would like to add to the documentary is that the game was incredibly optimized for the low end PC's in the early era of Pentiums. I could literally run and enjoy the game with my 486 DX2-66 powered PC.
Yeah I remember having no issues with the game, I believe I ran it on a Pentium 60, which struggled with a lot of games at the time.
www.myabandonware.com/game/dark-earth-bdm
Another fantastic mini documentary. I love your videos.
Hey, I don't believe you remember the conversation we had over on your Fallout analysis video, long story short, you got me playing that franchise albeit only the first and the second part. I'm still getting ready for that plunge into the Bethesda part of the franchise. I don't watch all of your videos, but this game has that interesting post apo vibe and naturally I had to watch it. Once again you have made high quality video exploring a game I have never heard of before. Now i kinda want to play it or hopefully see a new game from this IP. You really deserve more recognition, and hopefully sooner rather than later your quality videos will find the audience you deserve.
Thanks for coming back to watch my content! I'm glad I helped interest you in the original Fallout games, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the series as well. And thanks for your kind words, I do hope I continue to see growth on my channel.
It is one of the best videos made in this matter regarding video games, both the edition and the script are sublime. I have quoted your video in a research paper regarding applied narratives of the 21st century, the structuring around the concept of adventure at the beginning is just very cool.
I'm flattered! Thanks for watching, and good luck on your paper!
Oh man, count me in as one who bought the game based on the box art, but this game was so unique and compelling. One of my fondest gaming memories, along with Sanitarium!
I just discovered this game. At 13:00 i was already convinced to give it a try. Voted on GOG community wishlist to be avaiable again.
Nice video! :D
Played that in 1999. Wonderful game. For the time, that is.
If you played it today, you would complain about clunky controls, repetitive dialogue, and puzzles that could block your progress. It did not have many QoL features you take for granted today. It did not even have texture filtering, and in 640x480, it would look like hell on today's monitors.
Man, this whole day I’ve been wanting to try this game out, I literally dreamed about it when I took a nap which is weird, same happened with Magic and Mayhem and Mechcommander
I don't like to promote piracy, but since there hasn't been a retail release for two decades this is practically abandonware. Check out Collection Chamber. This package has a built-in VM with Dark Earth pre-installed, works well:
collectionchamber.blogspot.com/2017/03/dark-earth.html
Indigo Gaming This reply never showed up for me, thanks I’m gonna try it out after work, I’ve been craving some point and click style game... my favorite point and click is Dragonsphere btw
The world of this game has left a lasting impression on me, as a child I used to write essays inspired by its world DURING MY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.
Dark, mature, with a polished uchronic art direction, futuristic remnants of the old world set in wrought iron, its violence, its social commentary between Upper and down-town, the religious perdition of the elite who allow the worst to happen through military treachery, the fraternity, solidarity and criminality of the proletariat.
Splendid game mechanics, with a branching scenario, actions with consequences and a mood system that allows you to manage a wide variety of situations in different ways... The possibility of killing everyone, despite the consequences on the rest of the game and on your state of poisoning... The fact that it's possible not to finish the game if you've acted badly or in pitiful conditions... The beauty of the scenery...In the warm comfort of my childhood memories, this game is an unspeakable marvel.
I don't get people that criticize the combat system. It's simple, precise, technic...it's good, get better if you're frustrated.
Lots of French games were quite groundbreaking in the 90's :
Little Big Adventure
Dark Earth
Heart of Darkness
Alone In The Dark
Another world
The Rayman series,
Myst series
Toy Commander
Beyond Good and Evil (not the 90's but a mesterpiece IMO)
Splinter Cells (early 00's)
Ubi-soft also revived the Prince Of Persia saga)
Also, in terms of great cinematic narration with fleshed-out character "Remember Me" (released in 2013) is really close to Beyond Good And Evil.
There's an X-factor with original and moving scenaris and narration in all those games.
etc.
The entire survival horror and adventure game genres owe a lot to Infogrames, Adeline/Delphine and Cryo Interactive. Great French devs that shaped the landscape of gaming!
Never heard of this game, looks like they were doing some things I would of definitely been into as Fallout remains my favorite overall franchise, even with Fallout 4 utter loss of real rpg, or real choices of meaning. Thank you for taking the time to spot light this game
Boomer moment
Alright, I may be suuuper late for this comment onto this game, but I have to say that throughout the entire video essay I was captivated by the art of the for 1990s. It's quite the amazing graphics for this because it's so in the nitty and gritty, it makes it so nice to see and when you were talking about the cut scene and I was watching it. I felt what you were feeling the cut scenes had that feeling that made it feel so nightmarish or to have that anxiety for what to come
I have fond memories of playing dark earth as a kid. It was the first game I played with adult themes.
If this gem ever comes to GOG I will buy it outright.
Thank you Indigo Gaming for the great vid on this lost treasure!
still have my cd, doesn't want to work though :(
@@sopelloprzecudny3203 You already tried running it in compatibility mode, right?
@@daveinjapan yeah no luck, I'll try Peixoto's patch when I feel like trying again
@@sopelloprzecudny3203 How about a Windows 95 virtual machine?
art style reminds me of Planescape: Torment, god that game is incredible, best writing ever
old comment, but it does have some similar vibes to Planescape, the story itself isn't as good though.
For years I keep coming back to this specific video. The game Dark Earth and the story behind it's creation is just fascinating to me.
It's amazing to find out about things I missed because I was not well versedi n the PC gaming world until the early 2000s. But you cover the mainstream things so well too that I enjoy everything you put out immensely. So please, keep doing what you are passionate about.
I still pray for a GOG version of this game - used to love it back in the day.... ah, memories.
I've just found your channel through your 'Why Fallout isn't Fallout'-video and I really love it! Keep it up! TH-cam needs more creators like you who do qualitative content which does not shy from being long format and in depth. Love it!
Glad you feel that way about my work! It seems to be the longer road on TH-cam currently, as what's most successful right now is bandwagoning on hot topics and pumping out videos every few days, but I'm really happy that thousands of people still come out and enjoy a journey through gaming's history and topics that interest us in this amazing industry. Thanks for watching!
Really amazing. Was so filled with joy as you explored the game, then stricken with sadness as you explored the developer. So good. Thanks dude
I completely had forgotten I owned, played and loved this game as a kid. Thank you for this great video to remind us how great this universe is and hopefully we can see it flourish sometime in the future! 👍👏🍻
I remember back in the day getting stuck in the end of the game not knowing how to continue. I ultimately searched the files and found the sound files of all the dark/light reactions. One gave me the clue needed to continue.
Yeah that system was a bit obtuse, even admitted so by its game director during our interview.
"Dedication to the craft" also fits this video ;)
Much appreciated. Thanks for watching, hope you enjoyed!
I sat behind my uncle as he played the beginning of this game. That's all I ever saw of it. But oh man did the setting and presentation captivate me. I found your video trying to find and remember it. Thanks for making this!
First of all, you explained the adventure genre very well.
As for the game, I'm really intrigued. There are so many obscure on PC, esp. ones from Europe.
You did a great job with the video.
Yeah there are more awesome, obscure games than I have time to make videos about. Thanks, glad you liked the video, as always, Hemang!
I had this game as a child. I was stucked as some point.
I played and replayed. So many hours trying to figure out what I missed, but I never beat it.
I love this game, but it still haunts me to this day.
I remember the tabletop roleplaying game of the same name that inspired the videogame, it was quite nice (despite the typical French rpg issue of holes and poor rules; also the book binding was atrocious and fell apart before finishing the first read through). I still have some books of it in a box somewhere.
The visual design and illustrations of the book were well above average, using some of the development money of the videogame for shared concept art if I remember correctly.
I'd completely forgotten about the videogame, even though I played it when it was first released. Gosh, I'm old. Thanks for the nostalgia trip!
That's really cool! Yeah I actually interviewed the creative director for the game, the video game actually inspired the tabletop game, not the other way around. Great setting!
Thank you for bringing Dark Earth to people's attention. It is still one of my 10 favorite games of all time, and a true gem. It's a shame that GOG couldn't publish it.
Yes please do this , as much as i like mainstream stuff i always do like discoverign obscure gems like these which you so seldom hear of .
This is still one of the best games I've ever played and an unforgettable part of my childhood with the most unique atmosphere and lore. I *really* hope Guillaume finds a way to bring us something new that'll bring the Dark Earth world back to life.
I'm not too into adventure games, but man, did Kalisto go all in on this one. Shame it didn't pan out and the fates themselves seemed to work against them at every turn. I feel bad for them.
Still, this was a nice, informative video. Thanks for introducing this one to me.
Yeah it's interesting. I got to talk to the head creative for the game, and his insight was very informative. Part of what made this game so special (multiple paths, lots of optional dialogue options, multiple states of monster form, etc.) was due to inexperience. A more "veteran" dev would have probably skipped these bits and just stuck with a core experience that most people would see and hear. I'm working on the interview, should be out next week.
"Sun God, hold me in your rays!" haven't played this in soooo long.
Arkhan: A mechanism..
A mechanism..
A mechanism...
A mechanism....
A mechanism..
Provost Dhorkan: Arkhan!!!!!!!!!
My dad played this when I was a kid. It was scary as hell but so distinct. Thanks for covering it. Hope GOG picks it up someday so I can play it as an adult.
I remember demo for this. It was so damn atmospheric. Thank You for reminding me !
Hey no problem! That's what this series is for!
I don't think games are often personal projects since so many people are always involved, but in this case it seems this game was thought as a work of art by the authors. It shows, because of the tremendous amount of work put into it; the authors weren't just trying to cash in, they really invested themselves in this and honestly that's praiseworthy. Btw, your voice is great man, you have natural talent for this.
Wow, great video. Can't wait for the interview!
It's mid-post-production. Should be out soon-ish!
Oh wow. Thank you. I have been looking for this game for many years after owning it from new in 1997 but, as a 14 year old, failing to progress very far with it. I thought that it was called Dark 'something' but couldn't remember exactly. Incredibly, I only came across this as a TH-cam recommendation video, and I had been thinking about this game again just yesterday. Satisfied. Thanks again.
It's amazing when the TH-cam algorithm actually works and connects you to something you've been wanting to see!
@@Indigo_Gaming It got you a new sub :) I enjoy your work. Thanks.
As usual, another solid video, great intro too
Salokin What’s up Salokin! You and Examined Life of Gaming are two of my favorite reviewers ever!
Gord Lord thanks, marathoning adventure time, you?
Thanks man. I think the intro kind of visually imitates what my channel does, bringing older (classic, pixelated) games into a modern presentation/look. At least that's what I was attempting.
Salokin just getting into Op Flash and Arma 2 myself
Yes, his into reminded me of some of the adventure games I played when I didn't even know what adv games were or what their names were. Thumbs up.
I have been looking for Nightmare Creatures since I was a child, not finding ANY goddamn reference to what it was or was called and here in the video you finally gave me that info. THANK YOU!
Didn't get around to playing the full version of Nightmare Creatures until recently. I just replayed the Playstation demo disc back in the day. 😄
I've always loved this game and it's truly awesome to see it being covered like this! Thank you for your thoughtful content :) and i hope more people will enjoy this unique game and others like it. I would love to see more videos like this for sure.
I'm surprised to see so many people who've played it arriving so early to see this video! The internet is an amazing place.
Thank you for this amazing video! It has been over 20 years since I played Dark Earth, and the fact that I have searched and found your video shows that I have always been trying to reconnect with this masterpiece that has left an indelible impression on my mind. Thank you!!
Other lost games that I still hold close to my heart are "Faery Tale Adventure II - Halls of the Dead" and "Sub Culture". I hope you will look into them.
This was awesome -- favorite vid on the channel so far. Please more.
I remember Adventure on the Atari.
Played it many years after it came out, and couldn't believe how much fun a game about squares moving back and fourth could be with a little imagination on the part of the player
Clearly it's been an inspiration to a lot of people. Was even critical in the development and story of Ready Player One, the book especially.
What a great, well rounded video and commentary! A very delightful watch. +1!
Dude you have seriously stepped up in terms of quality in every way. You are an inspiration. Well done.
Thanks! I've been putting a lot more effort into editing around the music and flow of my voiceover, and adding a lot more cutaways and examples in-between. In addition to my videos getting longer and longer (earlier Not Forgotten videos were 8-13 mins). I'm glad it's showing!
Your videos are awesome. Legit documentaries. Very high production value and amazingly researched and presented content!
The animation (as in, the actual motions of the characters) in those pre-rendered cutscenes is pretty impressive! Very detailed and lifelike for the era.
Would be nice if they still made games like this.
You've jolted a memory out of me that was long lost. Crazy. I think this game was included with my first 133mhz tower way back when I was just starting my journey with pc gaming. It was this and Jones Life In The Fast Lane. I ended up liking Jones way more, and then Fallout 1 came into my life... Getting old is weird...
I've never heard of this game before, but it seems really interesting.
Time to add it to my backlog. :)
EDIT: Just read your pinned comment about the game not being available on GoG yet. I'm definitely voting for this one, and hope it will become available for purchase again.
I hope my video helps get it some attention. Dark Earth briefly got the #3 slot on GoG's community wishlist for the week, which is awesome, but I imagine the rights are tied up somewhere.
Quickly became one of my favorite channels on TH-cam; I always loved looking around and finding the rarer games and reading up on them, finding out that they were used as inspiration for other games, and this channel is the epitome of that. Excellent job man.
So many gaming channels give such bland reviews for certain overrated games, it’s awesome just seeing a channel like this existing. So grateful I found your channel.
I voted on GOG. Thanks. Reminds me of Fallout 1.
Awesome! Yeah it definitely has a thick apocalyptic atmosphere. Hopefully someone can track down the IP and get it up for download on GOG.
It's aesthetic kinda reminds me of Planescape Torment in a lot of ways visually.
It's at once strange and mesmerizing to retroactively discover what was supposed to be one's childhood; I vividly remember seeing a two-page review of this title in one of my dad's computer magazines (it was 1997, so - looking back - it was charmingly primitive by today's standards) and that artwork of the purple-veined "Creature of the Dark" had burnt itself in my mind since then.
I read and re-read that article so many times and while I couldn't even begin to imagine what was described (I was 8 yrs old, after all) it was so much different from everything I had seen until then.
(The parents had a rather . . . conservative approach to video games, you could say - learning software and flight sims were the only things considered "worthy" of spending time on)
Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this essay of yours ...
Very high quality video as usual !!
I still have Dark Earth in its original box. A digital release would be nice too, but I really would love to see more done with the world Kalisto created.
I also had no idea Kalisto made so many games I spent my childhood playing. Fifth Element was great and I'll argue politely with anyone who disagrees.
Yeah I had no idea they made such a variety of games either until I looked into their work. An eclectic library but it's clear they had talent, it just needed more focus and planning, it seemed as they had several projects, including a Highlander game in the works that were all cancelled.
Top quality content as always. You really are the best, man.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoy my work!
Thanks for making this game Not Forgotten. I played a very long time ago, a terrific game that no one remembered.
Amazing as always, thanks Indigo
This must be the most underrated channel I have discovered so far ! You deserve a million subscribers and more! Thanks to NerdSlayer for mentioning you in his latest video ! Please keep making gaming related documentaries!
Nerdslayer is an awesome guy. Glad you enjoy my work!
I really miss prerendered backgrounds.
It's 3 am, tired, sleepy and i remembered this game i don't know why.. then i thought let's see what the youtube has to say about it, and here i am. Indeed, a game that linger a lifetime must have done few things exceptionaly right.
Thank you for this and i hope to see more about gems like Ecstatica, Little Big Adventure, Legacy of Kain and many other long lost games but certainly not forgotten.
I think I learned something today. Thank you.
Definitely a game I've never heard about. It's such a crime to see intellectual properties like this fall into obscurity. I have always been a fan of the classic 90's survival horror genre. This video was put together well. Thank you for informing me about this game.
5:24 PRAISE THE SUN !!!!!!! \|T|/
Netflix should produce a series in the Dark Earth-universe. The setting alone would make it better than 90% of their current productions.
Oh man i wish i could play this game, looks amazing 😍
myabandonware has it
You guys, Gvmers, and NoClip are all three some of the best docuseries on TH-cam. Plleeeasssseee keep going. Your videos always bring back some great memories of early games and some new ones I never got a chance to grab a hold of when I was younger and make me go back and give them a (albeit dated) shot. Thank you. You're a gift to all gamers.
They sure don't make games like they used to.
They do, but we will probably hear about them becoming cult classics in like 10 to 15 years
That's kind of a total lie.
Most definitely not. In some ways thats a great thing, and in some, terrible.
Holy crap, I felt like the only person that ever played this game, thank you so much for reminding me about this. I was stuck and stopped playing so so many years ago. I think it’s time to jump back in