The Dark Within

Sometimes the unexplained is the scariest thing of all, especially if you are personally in a situation that threatens your well-being for some reason and you are unable to understand what is going on. Thus, it’s quite terrifying to wake up in a place you are not familiar with, especially if the place in question also happens to be dark and full of unsettling things.

The Dark Within is a 2D platformer in which you play the role of a man trying to figure out where he is and what is happening to him, while also exploring the surrounding area in order to maybe find a way out. Most of the gameplay revolves around classic platforming challenges and a few puzzles you must solve, none of which are particularly tough.

As for the story, it all starts when the main character wakes up with a mysterious wound and in a strange place full of unsettling objects. Everything around him is purple and smells, which adds to his discomfort level. However, it would appear that he also has a special power that allows him to switch between realities, one of which is actually green and full of jolly people.

Although some of the jumps can be quite difficult if you don’t sprint at the right time, the puzzles themselves are the most annoying, because they challenge your memory. Hence, you can only switch dimensions for a short period of time, and you must remember the location of certain traps in order to switch back at the right time. It’s quite difficult, but it’s also pretty fun if you enjoy a challenge.

As for the graphics, they are nothing to write home about, at least not when it comes to the quality of the artwork. However, the general look is quite polished and enjoyable, not to mention creepy in certain situations. The green reality is very calming, on the other hand, so it’s nice to experience the contrast for yourself, especially since it makes the story more engaging.

In the end, The Dark Within is quite short and predictable, but then again it was designed and built in just a few days for a game jam competition. Hence, it’s actually quite polished and refined for such a rushed production.