As Dusk Falls Reviews
So overall, is As Dusk Falls worth it? It has a captivating story with more than a few rocky moments, but is as close to feeling “genre” as it can get. It also has a lot of shortcomings that might only be saved by the interesting multiplayer features. It’s the perfect game to pull out for any digital or physical get-togethers, but is otherwise a reminder of wasted potential.
As Dusk Falls is exciting, beautiful, and heavy-handed. Its more streamlined approach to narrative gameplay and its less traditional art style create an immersive experience that engages with the player's imagination. That it can work both as a morally challenging single-player story and a party game for multiple players speaks to the confidence that its developers have. But its second half of the story undercuts some of the tension that its excellent first half builds, and a terrible cliffhanger might leave you feeling betrayed.
As Dusk Falls is a supremely confident first title from a talented indie studio, one that raises the bar for interactive narrative gaming by several notches.
I had almost no technical issues and the story itself is worth knowing, therefore I can recommend As Dusk Falls to all fans of good tales. Even if there isn’t much gameplay.
Review in Polish | Read full review
A satisfying story with some degree of player agency that is seamlessly well-acted and boasts a unique visual style.
From start to end, As Dusk Falls is all about moments-small interactions full of humanity that ground the flawed ambition of the experience and make the sum of the parts almost greater than the whole. The cliffhanger that the first half ends on-the narrative is charmingly divided into two books, Collision and Expansion-will be burned into my memory for a long time, both for its sheer audacity and how it pushes everything into new directions. It's not a perfect package, but it's one that will engross you for its entire seven hour playtime while dangling its many loose threads to entice you into yet another playthrough.
As Dusk Falls tells a wonderful story that is not only thought provoking, but willing to discuss difficult subjects that aren't often talked about.
Normally, with a choice-driven adventure, I'm once and done, ready for a post-game water-cooler discussion. As Dusk Falls' warrants more than one playthrough, if only to see how differently things can pan out. If that open ending is any indication, there's more to come.
As it ran its course, I realised I quite adored As Dusk Falls. As a decades-spanning crime thriller throughout America's western plains, it's well acted and admirably realised. Although the cliffhanger beckons another chapter, my journey through As Dusk Falls felt whole, though I can't wait to explore all of the possibilities on offer.
As Dusk Falls is the non-game narrative adventure for your non-gaming family and housemates. It’s the most engaged I’ve ever seen my lapsed casual gamer partner in a videogame and that’s because it has the familiar story pacing of a six-part TV series and almost no gameplay, which means minimal barrier to entry.
As Dusk Falls exceeds all expectations and is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining experience for single and multiplayer alike.
Thanks to its ability to constantly cut the ground from under its feet, As Dusk Falls does not turn into a run-of-the-mill narrative that we will forget in an hour. Instead, the game leaves its mark on us, the sad but understandable problems of its characters casting a long shadow. And it certainly won't get out of my head for a long time, making me think what if I did one way or another.
As Dusk Falls is an incredibly easy game to judge within its opening hours. If, by the time you finish the first chapter, you find yourself liking the characters and wanting to know what happens, As Dusk Falls is great. If it can't grab you by that point, however, there isn't any other reason to keep playing, thanks to its dull gameplay and hit-or-miss art style.
The characters too feel real, down-to-earth, and the sort of archetypes you'd expect to see in a branching crime drama.
As Dusk Falls is the kind of game that Xbox Game Pass was made for, in the best possible sense of such a compliment; it’s a narrative thriller and adventure that’s easily worth the price of admission, and more importantly, it’s absolutely worthy of your time.
As Dusk Falls is undoubtedly a better written game than all the others created by Quantic Dream. with beautiful and complex characters and a compelling and mature story.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This interactive crime drama packs a unique visual style and some gripping moments dealing with mature themes. The choices you make are crucial to the fates of two families, but the impact is more keenly felt in the first act than the second.
The addition of a co-op mode and the “Explore Story” feature greatly increase its replayability as well. Despite the original six to seven-hour playtime, As Dusk Falls would be a great addition to your gaming library, as you can always come back to uncover a new story path that you didn't take before.
As Dusk Falls is fair experience, but compared to the other representatives of its genre, it manages to stand out only as being the closest to a tv series, rather than a videogame. The plentitude of choices creates numerous ramifications that will encourage the fans of the genre to go through multiple playthroughs in order to discover every outcome.
Interactive adventure games don't always need surprising, original, or dense stories. As Dusk Falls is proof that a well-written and acted crime drama is enough to get us involved in a new universe. Although the gameplay is simple, the interactivity in this game is manifested through the player's decision-making power and the most diverse consequences of their choices.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review