DarkEden is the first and now arrived to be the best online action-horror MMORPG. Based on an isometric-2D environment (3/4 perspective), similar in graphics and feelings with Diablo II or Baldur’s Gate, the game let you enter in a world of conflicts between three races (vampires, ousters and slayers).

 

 

One of the things that impressed me, the most, at this game is the combination between an archaic era and a contemporary era. Half of the world has archaic elements characteristics highlighted by old buildings architectures, images of old customs (the impale custom of Romanian Vlad Tepes that can be seen everywhere around vampire’s zones), while the other half has elements (like vehicles, buildings...) designed with a contemporary look. If you go into a trip from Limbo to Eslania is like you are travelling in time, you can observe the transition from archaic to contemporary times.

 

 

 

 

Another thing that impressed me is the combination between fantasy, horror and technology. Playing all three races I had a different feeling each time I switched to another race, due the fact that each race can be associated with one of the above words: Ousters – fantasy; Vampires – horror;  Slayers - technology. In another words, DarkEden is a game where you can find all the above characteristics; if you want a fantasy environment you can choose Ouster race; if you want a horror feeling you can choose Vampires race; and if you want a technology scenario no one stops you to play Slayers.

 

 

 

Playing ousters I have the feeling of a fantasy world; everything around ousters is parts from a fantasy scenario: the story, the skills description and visual effects, the look of the ouster’s village, cave houses etc.

 

 

Vampires are the synonym for terror and evil. Everything around them is dark, cold and sinister.  They use skills based on curses, poisons and blood control. It’s interesting that, opposite other races, playing a vampire character makes you think/feel that you are able to control other players characters. You have a set of skills which, used smart, let you control how your opponent moves and attacks (eg of skills: hallucination, paralyze, blind, darkness).

 

 

When I tried slayers, this feeling has changed in to a combination between military power and “religion”. The slayers are surrounded by technological elements, military skills (guns, swords, explosions), contemporary buildings and vehicles. But in contrary to the other two races (fantasy and horror), Slayers have a religious sonority. Very often you can find the word “holy” or some other clerkly words in the skills names or description; the animation of skills, the movement of characters, the sound during skills casting, also, inflict the idea of clerkly.

 

 

I like that DarkEden Ignited offers three different channels, where I can go and level with same character. This is a good feature for a populated server, because it is easier to find maps where no one else is there, so I can play alone and peacefully avoiding the pvp while levelling.

 

DarkEden have two systems of character growth: vampire and ousters use level system, while the slayers use the skill system. The maximum level is 250, though I never saw anyone achieving this level. The levelling speed differs from race to race, from class to class. To achieve levels in DarkEden Ignited isn’t hard nor slow if you know how, where and when to play.

DarkEden Ignited offer events that help with levelling process and the items drop rate is good. So building a nice character can be done before “you get old”.

 

To improve the character, DarkEden world offers a vast variety of items (with one, two or three options), skills, rank skills and magic books which differ from a race to another race.

 

Enhancement and forge systems are also present.  No option items can be enchanted into an item with options; item’s options can be increased, changed or deleted; items with one option can be forged (combined) into one, resulting single item with two options. The interesting part (but also the most annoying one) is that the enchantment system depends on the character’s luck. In other words enchant can fail decreasing the item’s option or the worst: broking it.

 

Except levels, rank is also important for the character. DarkEden offer a rank system which gives extra attributes for the character, depending on the rank level.

 

Pet system exists as well. The pets, also, differ from race to race: ousters have Pixie, vampires have Stirge and Slayers have Centauro. And the classic wolf dog which is a common pet for all races. Each pet have it own attributes: the Pixie can drain the soul of the dead enemies, the Stirge can take the blood of the enemies and the Centauro can attack the enemies. A pet must be catch before being yours. The pet also have a levelling system, the maximum level begin 60. A pet is very helpfully by looting the items from the dead bodies and by giving to your characters extra attributes.

 

As all classic stories about vampires describe how they become stronger in night, the game have implemented a day / night system. Vampires become stronger in night, as slayers and ousters become stronger in day time.

 

 

 

Slayers (humans), divided in 5 classes (Healer, Sworder, Blader, Enchanter, and Gunner) are a team-work based race. When I started my slayer character was very hard to chose what type I want. I couldn’t decide what I like most: swords or blades? Or maybe guns? Or what about healing or chanting. In the end didn’t matter what class I was choosing, because each of the 5 classes is powerful. This race is deadly when it is played in teams, but the weaker class played alone.

 

Ousters (half vampire, half humans), an elemental race, it is divided into 4 classes: combat, fire, water and earth. Each class has its own characteristics, but the interesting part is that you are able to make a hybrid ouster by combining the elements. For example, you can learn and use attack skills from earth, some of the fire skills and healing powers from water. At low levels, the ouster character is weak in pvm and sometime in pvp also, but at higher levels this race is deadly in parties or solo.

 

Vampires (feeders of the life essence) are divided in 2 classes: combat and mage. Though, vs other races that have more than 2 classes, vampires can use the all skills from both combat and mage. This class is the most annoying class in pvp. The combats induce a lot of damage, especially in night; they are fast killers. Mages induce less damage, but making the pvp being hard and lasting.

 

 

 

 

Anyway, enough said! No one can “learn” a game by reading a forum. That’s why I invite you to join Ignited and having funny moments of playing. And do not forget: in game, you can always ask for help.

 

So, as an overall opinion:

DarkEden is an old game (vs other new games that exist) but... it has “something” that over games don’t offer; “something” that makes me play it. I like the community; being an old Diablo fan I admit that I enjoy the graphics – it reminds me of Diablo; and I enjoy how the game play process.

 

Good

Active GMs

Constant updates to game with fixes and improvements

Events

No lag to the server (smooth playing)

A lot of fun

Interesting: the players age range from 18 to 60+ years (it’s a game for all ages)

Market support but FREE to play

 

Bad:

Being in Europe, the event’s times does not all correspond with my playing hours

For the moment, there isn’t support for bigger (> 1280x1024) resolution