What a nice and interesting content creator and video to stumble over. Always glad to find more reviews of older games that are often practically forgotten by now.
i haven´t played this game in ages but i still remember how surprisingly comftable the UI was for a game at the time when compared to other RPG´s of the era
I find the UI and controls to be surprisingly modern and intuitive for a 30+ year old game. It really was innovative for the time and I can see how it must have influenced a lot of later RPGs
When this game originally came out it was so bug-ridden that a lot of people wrote it off and forgot about it, which is a shame because it was really groundbreaking, and once they got the bugs squashed it was a real gem. That poor launch is probably a big part of why it never got a sequel which, again, was a real shame.
I’ll make more dominions content soon as well, It took me a long time to make the video on Bandar but probably a simpler nation would not be as in-depth. I think first however I’d like to make another CoE5 video, probably about Warlock or Senator.
I played this game so much in the late '90s. I believe you are correct about combat: this is the first RT with pause RPG that I ever saw and couldn't find an earlier example. It makes the game feels retro-modern at this point, which is perfect.
I was eyeing Darklands sat in my GOG games library last week thinking it's been a good while since I enjoyed the game, good to see it getting some attention. King of Dragon pass next up? :D
Darklands was actually the first game where I learned about all the various names of medieval weapons and armor ( Saints too), not to mention interesting German words like Raubritter. Wish someone would create a similar game without some of its flaws (so much grinding and random forest wandering…). I actually loved the combat and the multi-level dungeons. It had just the right amount of historical context mixed with the supernatural.
I appreciate the attention to detail in a realistic historical setting as well. I wish more games would go this route as opposed to generic fantasy or some bizarre world. The real world is plenty interesting and you can just inject a small amount of fantasy into an otherwise historical setting to make it more “gamey”
I love this game. I first encountered it helping a friend install it on their family computer in the mid-late 90s. I've got my own (physical) copy of it on the shelves above my desk.
The coins are pronounced "fen-nig-e" Pfennigs. Also the root for the word Penny in english. Also makes me really happy to see Darklands! I love this game, really wish there was a true successor to it.
The part about invoking St. Christopher led me on a frenetic wiki-hopping marathon which ended with me learning about an open query in hagiography that studies the possible pagan origins of folk saints, as well as what the word ‘hagiography’ means. Apparently I had it already starred in my dictionary app a few years ago, so I’m convinced this knowledge was well worth the half hour or so of my life this round of autism cost me.
First pc game I ever played, can't even remember who I was dating back then, but damn do I remember this game. I remember figuratively bashing my head against a wall trying to figure out how to use the rope to climb to a cave
Nope, it actually is the DF soundtrack, and definitely not the original music. Possibly because of copyright reasons. TH-cam's automated copyright strike system for using anything that even sounds like licensed music is such a minefield of nonsense and copyright trolls that for a channel making its living on TH-cam, it's basically not worth it to risk the original music of some old game with unclear copyright status and instead use suitable atmospheric music that is known to be safe (like the DF soundtrack) instead.
I’d have to disagree, the combat system feels quite modern imo and easy to get the hang of. The most dated part is the intense grinding for stats and repetitive enemies.
@@CairnEnjoyer Think so? In "normal" fights this may be ok, but I found it pretty cumbersome in some of the later quests like the monastry or the caves
![[FULL] RETROSPECTIVE : Final Fantasy Tactics](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RUBmYqs1jZ0/mqdefault.jpg)
Check out the Darklands Hintbook if you are interested in playing.
www.mocagh.org/miscgame/darklands-hintbook.pdf
"I invoked St Christopher to drive more recklessly" Oh, you Catholics!
Got to love the Saint that increases your reputation in Sweden in a game where the farthest north you can go is Denmark.
Swedes FUMING at this news.
Darklands aka hobo simulator. I loved sleeping in parks at night hoping I wouldn't get caught by the guards.
>sleeping in the park
>getting into bumfights
>begging
>ranting about satan
Basically early game Darklands
What a nice and interesting content creator and video to stumble over. Always glad to find more reviews of older games that are often practically forgotten by now.
i haven´t played this game in ages but i still remember how surprisingly comftable the UI was for a game at the time when compared to other RPG´s of the era
I find the UI and controls to be surprisingly modern and intuitive for a 30+ year old game. It really was innovative for the time and I can see how it must have influenced a lot of later RPGs
Wizardry and the first AD&D games were out, but nowhere this detailed. And alchemical grenades.
When this game originally came out it was so bug-ridden that a lot of people wrote it off and forgot about it, which is a shame because it was really groundbreaking, and once they got the bugs squashed it was a real gem. That poor launch is probably a big part of why it never got a sequel which, again, was a real shame.
This is becoming a true and fun retrogaming channel, especially for those that look intresting but which i have decided to not play.
This is my steam/GOG backlog channel 😅
@@CairnEnjoyer its so over dominions bros
I’ll make more dominions content soon as well, It took me a long time to make the video on Bandar but probably a simpler nation would not be as in-depth. I think first however I’d like to make another CoE5 video, probably about Warlock or Senator.
I played this game so much in the late '90s. I believe you are correct about combat: this is the first RT with pause RPG that I ever saw and couldn't find an earlier example. It makes the game feels retro-modern at this point, which is perfect.
I was eyeing Darklands sat in my GOG games library last week thinking it's been a good while since I enjoyed the game, good to see it getting some attention.
King of Dragon pass next up? :D
It’s very grindy but fun if you don’t mind that, especially once you can start using the magic system
Darklands was actually the first game where I learned about all the various names of medieval weapons and armor ( Saints too), not to mention interesting German words like Raubritter. Wish someone would create a similar game without some of its flaws (so much grinding and random forest wandering…). I actually loved the combat and the multi-level dungeons. It had just the right amount of historical context mixed with the supernatural.
I appreciate the attention to detail in a realistic historical setting as well. I wish more games would go this route as opposed to generic fantasy or some bizarre world. The real world is plenty interesting and you can just inject a small amount of fantasy into an otherwise historical setting to make it more “gamey”
“I invoked saint christopher while driving”
Oh no, he thinks he can cast magic spells
These people should not be allowed on the road
I love this game. I first encountered it helping a friend install it on their family computer in the mid-late 90s. I've got my own (physical) copy of it on the shelves above my desk.
another banger game
now i want to play darklands to check out the area where i live :D
this is really in depth
The coins are pronounced "fen-nig-e" Pfennigs. Also the root for the word Penny in english.
Also makes me really happy to see Darklands! I love this game, really wish there was a true successor to it.
The part about invoking St. Christopher led me on a frenetic wiki-hopping marathon which ended with me learning about an open query in hagiography that studies the possible pagan origins of folk saints, as well as what the word ‘hagiography’ means.
Apparently I had it already starred in my dictionary app a few years ago, so I’m convinced this knowledge was well worth the half hour or so of my life this round of autism cost me.
First pc game I ever played, can't even remember who I was dating back then, but damn do I remember this game. I remember figuratively bashing my head against a wall trying to figure out how to use the rope to climb to a cave
Wow amazing showcase as always. I’m going to start a small gaming blog and pass these off as my own finds.
The OG minmaxer party builder
Oh good someone still remembers Darklands
Love me some Darklands.
Based Catholic gaming
✝️
Arcanum would also be a good suggestion.
“I invoke the saints”
Do not recommend channel, papist channels burn.
@@darkhelmutt3417 Martin Luther believed deeply in the communion of the saints.
The soundtrack is very similar to that of Dwarf Fortress. Is this the original music?
No I put DF music in since most of the game has no music.
Nope, it actually is the DF soundtrack, and definitely not the original music. Possibly because of copyright reasons. TH-cam's automated copyright strike system for using anything that even sounds like licensed music is such a minefield of nonsense and copyright trolls that for a channel making its living on TH-cam, it's basically not worth it to risk the original music of some old game with unclear copyright status and instead use suitable atmospheric music that is known to be safe (like the DF soundtrack) instead.
I love to play retro games and this is one of my most favorite RPGs ever. It's too bad that the combat system has aged like milk in this one :(
I’d have to disagree, the combat system feels quite modern imo and easy to get the hang of. The most dated part is the intense grinding for stats and repetitive enemies.
@@CairnEnjoyer Think so? In "normal" fights this may be ok, but I found it pretty cumbersome in some of the later quests like the monastry or the caves
@@RogerKaptunik it’s easier with the hotkeys to be fair instead of just selecting everything manually.
very gemmy