The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020 Reviews
Directive 8020 is everything you could want from a sci-fi horror game: Body horror aliens, the unwavering dread that all of us are insignificant when set against the great expanse of the universe, and fun QTEs.
Directive 8020 is a step forward for The Dark Pictures Anthology in terms of spectacle and storytelling, making it a chilling and impressive start to the second season of the series.
Supermassive goes sci-fi horror, with a refreshingly cerebral, slowburn take on its usual popcorn thrills. It's let down by perfunctory stealth and an overfamiliar plot, but a stellar cast helps make it all worthwhile.
Directive 8020 offers a few changes to the series template, and all for the very respectable reason of wanting to evolve and iterate the core gameplay fans know and love. Turning Points is a fantastic new addition, but the new stealth sections quickly became repetitive. Still, you can see the promising seed of what that idea could grow into in future games.
The Dark Pictures, as a broad project, feels like it's at a crossroads with Directive 8020.
Directive 8020 is a good addition to the Dark Pictures anthology and a solid start to its second season. Its story ranks among Supermassive Games’ best work, marking a much-needed step forward for a studio that has struggled to release standout titles in recent years.
Directive 8020 is an interesting experience, with some bold ideas, that will please fans of 70s and 80s science fiction, as well as those who enjoy racking their brains about whether they made the right decision.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Directive 8020 is by far the best Dark Pictures game, embracing more stealth gameplay, making the branching story feel seamless, and setting a new bar for the genre.
Directive 8020 feels like Supermassive’s response to growing criticism around the Dark Pictures series.
There's a lot to like about Directive 8020, as the sci-fi horror video game is a nice departure from Supermassive's previous titles.
Directive 8020 takes a bold step forward for cinematic horror, even as some of its biggest choices could have used a little more uncertainty.
Directive 8020 is Supermassive Games doing what it does best: making a horror adventure out of genre fiction. In this case, it’s body-snatching, Alien-hunting sci-fi and a diminishing crew under increasing pressure. Both its setting and time-jumping narrative construction make it unique, but it never strays very far from the constraints of its inspirations. Impressive visuals, effective performances and generally polished mechanics are countered by a muted tone, some dull exploration sequences and stealth. The game’s pacing and momentum sometimes feel out of whack. Still, both fans of Supermassive’s approach to storytelling and classic sci-fi will enjoy their time on Tau Ceti f.
It's dingy and it's not without some mutations, but Directive 8020 is definitely worth exploring - just expect the mundane along the way.
Directive 8020 may not be the revolution some were hoping for, but it still stands out as an interesting evolution of The Dark Pictures formula. With this new title, Supermassive Games tries new things and experiments, offering us a narratively gripping adventure, though its gameplay unfortunately suffers from an approach that's far too formulaic. It's still a solid popcorn game, however, and will certainly appeal to fans of the genre and those who enjoy slightly goofy horror experiences.
Review in French | Read full review
The Dark Pictures Anthology builds on some established features—the horror feel, the focus on plot and characters, and the narrative forks—as well as significant new features, most notably a new setting and revamped gameplay. Unfortunately, this desire for innovation hasn't been fully realized, as Directive 8020's stealth mechanics are too basic to sustain the large number of sequences that utilize them, and the sci-fi setting remains anchored to banal stylistic elements that prevent the title from standing out from the crowd. The narrative fails to build the gravitas that should characterize a rescue mission for the entire human race, but it picks up slightly with a body horror ending and an interesting twist. The new Turning Point map is a godsend for completionists, who can finally explore every nook and cranny of the story without having to replay entire chapters needlessly. On the graphics and performance front, Supermassive has done a good job, despite the lackluster art design.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Directive 8020 does a lot correctly, but tends to get in its own way instead of letting the player sit in the uncomfortableness. The new Turning Point system makes exploring new outcomes a breeze.
Hyped as a combination of the horror of Alien and the paranoia of The Thing, Directive 8020 does neither well.
Directive 8020 feels like Supermassive Games has finally rejuvenated after the disappointing The Devil In Me.
Directive 8020 represents the best that The Dark Pictures games have had to offer thus far, proving that Supermassive Games is right at home within sci-fi horror. If you’re a fan of the studio’s previous games, this is an absolute must-play.
Directive 8020 may not reach the stars, but it still delivers a thrilling sci-fi horror ride