Game review: D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die.

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die
From: Access Games
For: Xbox One

You are David Young, an American private detective suffering from amnesia and trying to delve into his past and uncover the mysteries surrounding his wife's untimely death and the secrets of a deadly drug named "real blood".

D4 has a unique art style, with shaded cells and dark penned outlines, and has a western vibe yet contains uniquely Japanese elements. From a girl who dresses and acts like a cat, to moments of nonsensical weirdness, D4 will have you engrossed one minute and scratching your head the next.

Even though you can use Kinect or the controller, it's clear that the game was initially designed to be controlled using Kinect gestures only, and for a time it's a unique and fun experience. But before too long, swiping the screen and hovering over things with your hands and arms becomes a chore.

Because the narrative and style of D4 plays out like more of a movie than a game, relaxing on the couch using the controller becomes the preferred option.

Each scene you encounter contains dozens of objects (clues) to interact with. You interact with other characters and learn their stories by picking from a selection of dialogue choices that take differing approaches.

Every now and then you'll need to push buttons intensely or flail your arm in the right direction, but generally the game flows at a leisurely pace.

There's enough uniqueness to keep things interesting, but D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is not everyone's cup of tea.

- Review courtesy of Fatso Games Club