The Dark Queen of Mortholme
The Dark Queen of Mortholme Review
The Dark Queen of Mortholme offers a unique and compelling concept that flips the traditional boss fight perspective, allowing players to experience the story from the villain's point of view. The game features well-written dialogue with emotional depth, exploring themes of change, acceptance, and the evolving relationship between the hero and the Dark Queen. The pixel art style is praised for its charm and quality, accompanied by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
However, the gameplay is widely seen as overly scripted and simplistic, with combat mechanics that limit player agency and rely heavily on repetitive patterns. The AI is designed to perfectly dodge attacks, giving an illusion of learning but often leading to frustration. Additionally, the game's short duration—roughly 30 to 45 minutes to complete all endings—leaves many players wanting more content and depth. Pricing is considered slightly high for the experience offered, though some find it reasonable for the narrative and artistic value.
Highlights
Players consistently praise the innovative narrative perspective, allowing a fresh take on the boss vs. hero dynamic. The dialogue writing and character development receive strong commendations for emotional impact and meaningful interactions. The pixel art graphics are described as beautiful and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the game's immersive feel. The soundtrack, while subtle, complements the tone effectively. The game also impresses with its clever AI design that creates a believable opponent despite its scripted nature.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's brevity, with many players feeling the experience is too short to justify the price fully. The combat system is seen as shallow and scripted, reducing strategic depth and leading to repetitive gameplay. Some reviews mention that the AI's perfect dodging can feel unfair and breaks immersion. Additionally, the dialogue choices have limited impact on the story's outcome, diminishing replay value. Several players note the game feels more like a demo or interactive narrative than a full-fledged game, and they hope for future expansions or updates to enrich content.
Pros
- • Innovative perspective of playing as the boss character in a Souls-like setting.
- • Well-written dialogue with emotional and philosophical depth.
- • Beautiful pixel art style that enhances the game's atmosphere.
- • Clever AI that simulates learning and adapts to player patterns.
- • Engaging character interactions that add meaning to the narrative.
- • Soundtrack complements the tone without overpowering gameplay.
- • Multiple endings encourage replaying for story variations.
Cons
- • Extremely short gameplay duration limits overall value.
- • Combat feels scripted and repetitive with limited player agency.
- • AI’s perfect dodging can be frustrating and break immersion.
- • Dialogue choices have minimal impact on story outcomes.
- • Lack of content beyond initial playthroughs reduces replayability.
- • Feels more like a demo than a full game for some players.
- • Price considered slightly high relative to playtime by many.
Rating Criteria
You are the final boss, the Dark Queen of Mortholme, unrivaled in power. A hero invades and is easily crushed. Yet, they keep returning. A short-form indie game about an unusual bond, perspectives, and the beauty of change.