During the February playtest of Dark and Darker, one team of dungeon delvers was not satisfied with killing other players by merely hacking them to bits, instead devising a scenario in which a portcullis became a guillotine. Players are still getting a feel for Dark and Darker, going to outlandish and hilarious lengths to test out the indie game's mechanics, and this might be the most diabolical example yet.
Dark and Darker is the upcoming extraction-based PVPVE game from developer IRONMACE. With a blend of genres, players describe Dark and Darker as a cross between Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Escape From Tarkov. Loading into instanced matches, players must hack-and-slash their way through the denizens of a dungeon, plundering whatever loot they can, all while contending with a lobby full of other players intent on the same. As the playable area gradually shrinks the same way a battle royale might, those players must fight each other for one of the limited available exit portals before the circle closes in and whoever still remains, perishes.
A clip by streamer Surefour was posted to Reddit showing what may well be the first documented portcullis kill in Dark and Darker's cutthroat community. Setting an ambush point with his two teammates, Surefour utilized their kit as the ranger class to place a foothold trap right underneath a lever-activated gate through which two rooms connect. The trap immobilizes any hapless player who steps onto it, dealing a modest amount of damage, and keeping them rooted until they manually deactivate the trap. As the trap sprung, the players leaped into action, killing two before setting their sights on the ensnared third. Instead of a quick and clean death, Surefour activated the lever for the portcullis, which slammed shut and dealt a severe blow to the trapped player. They then re-raised the gate and pulled it shut again, dealing the fatal strike amid raucous laughter and triumph.
For now, fans of Dark and Darker have had to settle for brief playtests of the game while IRONMACE collects feedback data to polish its game for release. Planned to release in early access Spring of 2023, gamers looking for an extraction-based game with a medieval spin anxiously have their sights on Dark and Darker's launch. With a thrilling, high-stakes gameplay loop, solid balance, and relatively few bugs for a game so early in its life cycle, Dark and Darker is poised to be a breakout hit when its servers go live for good.
Death by portcullis is just one of many grisly fates that await Dark and Darker players. While the current playtest is slated to end on February 16, fans of the game will be busy concocting new and devious ways to reign supreme before the Spring 2023 early access release of the game.
Dark and Darker releases in late 2023 on PC.