Dark Scrolls Reviews
Devolver Digital often publishes experimental and unusual games, and Dark Scrolls certainly qualifies as such. But while playing, I'm reminded time and again of another recent release, Ball x Pit.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Dark Scrolls does a good job of balancing the cosy repetitiveness of a roguelike with the challenge inherent to the Soulslike genre. There are so many different ways to play, with six characters unlockable on top of the original three, all with their own unique abilities, movement and attack patterns.For the price, there's very little reason to not give this a shot, especially for those who gravitate towards pixel art or any of the genres encompassed within Dark Scrolls.
Dark Scrolls is a game which I reckon will be a perfect salve for some people, being a neat call-back to the days of 8-bit gaming and old school shmups, but I just found it to be a bit too samey. It's fun, sure, but it works best in shorter half hour bursts for me. I expect a bit more from my roguelites, but if you approach this as an arcade game instead, you'll be in a better frame of mind.
It isn't that Dark Scrolls lacks outright complexity, with multiple paths through the short game, nuance between characters, and some secret mini-quests to round out its content.
Dark Scrolls takes the philosophy of old SonSon-style forced-scrolling arcade platformers and infuses it with a modern roguelite structure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dark Scrolls is certainly fun at times, but it overall feels a bit insubstantial.
You can strongly dislike automatic side scrolling platformers and still love playing Dark Scrolls. I am proof in the proverbial pudding – I struggled to put it down. What sets Dark Scrolls apart from other platformers is its focus on simplicity. It's a great co-op platformer that's merely held back by its balance and relatively punishing progression. Its charm and co-op chaos will win you over the next time you want a party game to play with your friends!
Dark Scrolls is retro for all the right reasons, and very few of the wrong ones, and you’ll get plenty of substance considering its budget price point.
A bit too much is left up to the player to figure out, and I would have welcomed a bit more transparency while I struggled through my first couple hours with the game. By the time I hit my stride, I was bored of fighting the same enemies and bosses over and over. Short bursts and co-op play feel like the best ways to enjoy Dark Scrolls. Even then, there's really not enough charm or polish to shine through an experience that references the classics without containing what gives them staying power.
As a co-op game, Dark Scrolls offers a whole heck of a lot of fun so make sure you bring a chum along for the ride to get the most out of it. 📜
Un nuevo experimento de Doinksoft, que como pasa con todos sus juegos, les sale bien. Una oda a los grandes arcades y plataformas de los años 80 y 90 y a su vez, y aunque parezca contradictorio, un soplo de aire fresco al catálogo de este tipo de juegos.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dark Scrolls proves once again that great fun doesn’t require a massive budget. Featuring charming retro visuals, addictive gameplay, and ever-changing stages that keep each run fresh, Doinksoft delivers a challenging yet lighthearted experience. While a few control issues hold it back, it’s an easy recommendation for players looking for a fun and highly replayable adventure.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Unfortunately, Dark Scrolls fails to live up to its immense potential, delivering an adventure that lacks polish in crucial areas and suffers heavily from repetition. Players with friends willing to embark on a new 8-bit-style adventure might find some enjoyment in doinksoft’s latest title, but for everyone else, there are more consistent and entertaining alternatives available on the Nintendo console.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dark Scrolls is a title that manages to be entertaining, yet it fails to shine in the execution of its core mechanics and often stumbles in the presentation of its systems.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dark Scrolls isn’t a disaster, far from it. Its fast-paced action, humour, quirky heroes and co-op mode make for a few enjoyable sessions, especially with a friend on the sofa. But the imprecise controls, confusing progression and overly repetitive gameplay prevent the game from becoming truly addictive.
Review in French | Read full review
Dark Scrolls is a trip down memory lane that emphasizes more tripping than memories. While charming in its adherence to retro stylings, it’s a lesson in why some of that game design is no longer the standard for roguelikes. For folks itching to relive the glory days of figuring out how to play a game all on your own, Dark Scrolls is a hunk of coarse sand paper to scratch that particular itch.
Dark Scrolls isn't the first to do what it does—after all, roguelikes and roguelites don't keep coming out so frequently by accident, even if there are complaints about genre saturation—but it is very well-executed and excels at it. Not to mention that chaotic co-op has become a staple in games famously known for tearing families apart, like Overcooked (it might sound like an exaggeration, but there’s a grain of truth to it).
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Overall, Dark Scrolls is a basic action platformer that stays true to the genre roots. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and sticks to its strengths. The variation of characters and one life will ensure you get a few hours of enjoyment out of this game. If you enjoy this style of game, make sure to check out Doinksoft’s back catalogue, as they have released a number of these types of games, so you’ll never be disappointed!
With a little more time, Dark Scrolls could be a delightful little arcade-style sidescrolling rougelike.
Dark Scrolls is a good side-scrolling roguelike adventure filled with fun characters, fantastic art style, and a unique star system that makes the game stand out from others. However, the lack of difficulty and lack of true path changes bring down this solid adventure.