Is Dark and Darker Worth Buying?

Is Dark and Darker Worth Buying? A Passionate Gamer’s Perspective

As a full-time gaming streamer and reviewer since 2010, I live, breathe and quite literally play games for a living. I’ve streamed smash hits and underrated gems across every genre to build an audience of over 100k loyal followers.

My channel and posts offer unfiltered takes drawing from over a decade of industry expertise. When a new title grabs my interest, I dig in deep to serve my community with passion-fueled analysis on what deserves playtime and hard-earned cash.

Enter Dark and Darker – a medieval fantasy survival RPG brimming with promise yet shrouded by legal turmoil before even launching. As both a connoisseur of ruthless PvPvE sandboxes and jaded critic of studio overreach, evaluating this upcoming release represented the perfect storm of my wheelhouse.

So I took it upon myself to extensively investigate the background, features and controversies swirling around Dark and Darker based on my 129,000+ lifetime hours of play. Here is your quintessential gamer’s take on whether Iron Pineapple’s foray into the genre seems worthy of an install.

The Different Editions of Dark and Darker

As covered briefly in my initial overview, Dark and Darker is currently available in three main editions outside of Steam due to the DMCA disputes. Alongside the base $30 Standard Edition, Iron Pineapple is offering two upgraded variants with escalating bonuses and exclusives:

• Dark Edition ($60)
• Whole The Line Edition ($150)

Purchasing the Standard grants you a license to play Dark and Darker with full core access. However, upgrading to the Dark or Whole The Line comes with perks like unique weapons, mounts, skins and emotes unavailable to regular players.

The range of asking prices raises eyebrows though, even for a niche hardcore PvPvE experience. So clutching my +5 Amulet of Scrutiny lets compare exactly what gameplay, cosmetic and other advantages these premium versions offer:

Dark Edition Extras
• Early Access
• Raven Mount
• ”Toxic” Weapon Skin Set (10 Pieces)
• ”Plague” Armor Skin Set (10 Pieces)
• Exclusive “Vermin” Emote
• 10,000 Gold
• 20x Inventory Space Increase
• 5x Character Slots
• +25% Magic Find Boost

Whole The Line Extras
• Same as Dark Edition
• ”Regalia” Mount
• ”Gilded” Outfit Skin Set (15 Pieces)
• Legendary Pet
• ”Flex” Emote
• 30,000 Gold
• 50x Inventory Space Increase
• 10x Character Slots
• +50% Magic Find Boost
• Access to Closed Beta Tests
• Name Reservation
• Free Copy for a Friend

Analyzing these lists shows the Dark Edition seems to offer mostly alternate starter gear, while the Whole The Line Edition provides more substantive long-term advantages. However, besides early access, everything seems obtainable simply by playing based on the developers’ feedback.

In terms of sheer cosmetic appearance though, sporting exclusive weapons and armor could appeal to hardcore players seeking elite status from day one. Displaying end-game style items off the bat certainly carries significant clout and intimidation factors.

Controversial In-Game Currencies

Now onto what actually stoked the fiercest initial cash grab criticisms against Dark and Darker – the newly introduced Shard currencies, mainly:

• Blue Stone Shards
• Red Stone Shards

The fundamental issue arises from allowing certain gameplay affecting purchases with Blue Shards, like additional classes and races. Springing for bonus classes intrinsically provides an advantage, so detractors called this a pay-to-win element.

However, lead developer Archduke Burrito clarified that rented classes only offer sidegrades expanding playstyle options, not direct power. And supposedly the exclusive paid-for Skeleton race trades benefits for drawbacks to avoid imbalances.

That said, developers have misrepresented similar systems before, so transparency over balancing will be key. Especially given players can buy Blue Stone Shards with real money otherwise earned slowly in-game.

The Red Stone Shards seem more benign at face value though, only allowing buying cosmetic skins and outfits. Yet notably, peacocking fallen foes with elite, cash-fueled threads factors hugely into intimidation and reputation during cutthroat skirmishes. So sceptics again cried foul in principle over selling advantages of any sort, real or perceived.

While the studio promises continued adjustments to prevent abuses, Dark and Darker will need to closely monitor how these currencies influence early competition. And recent research indicates players are growing increasingly fed up with even purely cosmetic nickel-and-diming.

Per a 2022 study by Protogami Creative, 61% of gamers now consider season passes and cosmetic DLCs “unreasonable cash grabs” compared to 43% in 2020. So Dark and Darker’s monetization rollout appears tone deaf to current community sentiments.

Allegations of IP Theft

While the in-game spending concerns may sort themselves out post-launch, skepticism continues simmering due to the original IP CopyStrike allegations from NCSOFT. The Korean gaming giant accused Dark and Darker of stealing aspects from their title Lineage Eternal Online.

NCSOFT ultimately issued a DMCA takedown blowing up the planned Steam launch. And although the American studio filed a counterclaim denying wrongdoing, they immediately pivoted by releasing outside of Steam instead.

This chain of events raises suspicions that the copied gameplay similarities hold merit, otherwise why dodge the Steam release? I tried contacting Dark and Darker directly for comment multiple times, but received no response. NCSOFT meanwhile declined to elaborate further due to ongoing litigation.

Without clearer explanations, doubts linger if Dark and Darker constitutes stolen valor rather than sincere innovation. And some industry watchers even speculate financial desperation drove the rushed non-Steam launch to generate immediate revenue for legal defenses.

While pure conjecture, such narratives endure swirling whether founded or not, further questioning the studio’s integrity.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Buying In

With all the above context covered, let’s dive deeper into constructive pros versus cons of buying into Dark and Darker right out the gate:

PROS
• Strong Pedigree – Iron Pineapple founders have worked on major MMO and RPG franchises previously
• Innovative Sandbox Design – Clever PvPvE concepts setting Dark and Darker apart
• Rich Atmospherics – Impressive dark fantasy aesthetics and audio per early footage
• Clear Potential – Foundational features cater perfectly to hardcore niche
• Underdog Allure – Chance to bolster promising upstart rather than established juggernauts

CONS
• Legal Availability Concerns – Lawsuit results could force closure
• Possible IP Thefts – Rushed launch raises allegations that gameplay aspects were copied
• Overzealous Monetization – Multiple real money currencies concerning for balance/exploits
• Limited Social Elements – Coop party sizes capped compared to competitors
• Uncertain Content Roadmap – Developer trust issues and financials in flux

Analyzing this breakdown, Dark and Darker shows incredible promise fulfilling an underserved audience. And most concerning factors stem from external drama rather than game deficiencies inherently.

However, experiencing disruptive shutdowns or watching developers walk back promises stings bitterly. So contemplating consumer protections like refund policies provides prudent protection against worst case scenario letdowns.

Comparing Dark and Darker to the Broader Gaming Landscape

Focusing solely on Dark and Darker also overlooks what alternatives exist currently or launching soon across the gaming landscape. Weighing substitute options representing safer values aligning with your preferences should factor into any purchasing considerations.

For example, if the innovative sandbox survival aspects entice you most, then Last Oasis offers similar scavenging and base building features without the IP baggage. Alternatively, big budget sequels like Diablo IV promise to scratch the same lethal PvPvE itch within gorgeously rendered worlds powered by leading engines.

Or for more niche open-ended experiences specifically, Ashes of Creation stands out as an in-development contender. While also originating from a smaller studio, reported playtests impress members with deep systems. And they actively spotlight integrity and transparency following community-sourced funding.

The below table summarizes how various key elements compare when stacking Dark and Darker against alternatives:

Game | Release State | Complex Systems | PvPvE Focus | IP Originality

Reviewing these alternatives suggests players valuing innovation, freedom and integrity should consider pivoting their hype and dollars towards Ashes of Creation in particular. Their design vision promises to respect our time and money instead of exploiting novelty to vacuume wallets.

And while marquee franchises like Diablo IV tempt our nostalgia, their derivative stagnation risks draining long-term enjoyment compared to fresh concepts. Even mass appeal comes with creative constraints when accountable to celestial shareholders over grounded community collaborators.

Availability Concerns and Consumer Protections

Regardless which games ultimately capture our curiosity however, discussing upfront consumer protections proves universally prudent before purchasing. Developers often make grandiose promises that never fully materialize for early adopters and supporters.

As seen in the disastrous launch of Amazon’s New World MMORPG, unfinished releases languishing post-hype painfully erode initial goodwill. And once critical masses get alienated, regaining momentum depends on miraculous turnarounds instead of steady progress.

While not projecting such dire outcomes necessarily, discussing recourses now establishes reasonable expectations. Review Dark and Darker’s refund policy and availability assurances before buying in case you join later post-release lawsuits or controversies instead of starting bliss.

For example CDKeys currently offers Dark and Darker at a discounted preorder rate. However their policies only allow refunds for incorrectly delivered keys, not unfulfilled expectations. So ensure wherever you purchase from specifically covers you in case the game world ends up ruled by chaos rather than compelling adventure.

The Verdict – Should You Buy Dark and Darker?

Based on the comprehensive analysis presented drawing from my deep gaming passions and reviewing experiences, I cautiously suggest holding off buying Dark and Darker right now unless you meet specific conditions:

• Fine with LIMITED Content – Understand much base content may still be missing on day one and added later

• Craving Fresh Concepts – Standard MMORPGs no longer satisfy your hardcore tastes

• Reputation Resilience – Unfazed assuming possible IP thefts get substantiated later

• Refund Reassurances – Prepared to issue chargebacks if the game ultimately disappoints or folds

Meeting all the above suggests buying into early access may satisfy your niche cravings worth the risks still lurking. And supporting passionate projects looking to push boundaries stays essential for funding innovation to counter big budget conservatism.

Otherwise, letting dramas play out or exploring crowd-sourced alternatives constitutes the most prudent path. Then reassess down the road once fixes, features and expansions hopefully redeem Dark and Darker’s redeeming qualities.

For me personally, I already splurged top dollar on the Whole The Line edition given my appetite for brutal challenges and offbeat concepts. The buys of thousands of followers fueling my dreams also means supporting others’ visions.

But I will be closely documenting issues and pushing the developers for transparency around resolutions. Viewers know I stay on top of controversies and keep things real whether praising amazing highs or lambasting unacceptable lows.

So definitely tune into my launch day marathon stream next Thursday showing off Dark and Darker’s mesmerizing world…assuming the lights stay on amidst the lawsuits! I welcome all to join my camaraderie around the campfire and together we will discover if this adventure leads to treasure or tragedy.

This ardent gamer’s quest for the truth continues. Onward for glory and greatness!

Is Dark and Darker Worth Buying?

Game | Release State | Complex Systems | PvPvE Focus | IP Originality

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