Dark Scrolls
Review
Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
A Chaotic, Co-Op Arcade Delight
Devolver Digital has a reputation for publishing games that are high on energy, rich in personality, and unapologetically chaotic. Their latest offering, Dark Scrolls, fits this mould perfectly. It is a fantasy-themed action platformer that fuses side-scrolling, shoot-'em-up (shmup) style madness with roguelite progression. The result? A game packed to the brim with charm, challenge, and plenty of secrets.
An Urgency You Can Feel
From the moment a run begins, Dark Scrolls demands your absolute attention. This is an automatic side-scroller, meaning the screen is constantly moving forward with or without you. If you fall behind, the environment itself becomes your enemy, trapping you and ending your run. This mechanic injects a constant, pulsing sense of urgency into every second of gameplay, forcing sharp reflexes and split-second decisions.
Visually, the game is a nostalgic treat. The pixelated graphics look like they have been pulled straight out of a 1980s arcade cabinet, perfectly capturing a retro aesthetic while maintaining the smooth performance needed to handle the screen-filling chaos.
Strength in Numbers (And Ghosts)
While Dark Scrolls is perfectly playable as a single-player experience, it absolutely excels when played in co-op with a friend.
The game features a roster of nine unlockable characters, each bringing distinct skills to the table. Half the fun is experimenting with how these characters interact. When playing with a partner, teams can combine their unique skills to unleash incredibly powerful, synergistic attacks. For example, during my time with the game, I took a particular liking to Grizz and his devastating ground pound ability.
Co-op also introduces a fantastic mechanic that keeps the fun going even after a mistake - The Ghost Advantage. When a player dies, they don't just sit on the sidelines. They return as a ghost. While ghosts can't directly damage enemies, they can stun them, providing crucial crowd control that makes the run significantly manageable for the surviving player, as well as providing a platform to bounce off if needed. And if the partner makes it through the level, that will be resurrected at the firepit.
The only minor downside to bringing a friend along is that with two players on screen alongside dozens of projectiles, the levels can feel a little cluttered, and it is easy to occasionally get in each other's way.
Perks, Shoppes, and Deep Customization
Progression within a run relies heavily on collecting coins scattered throughout the areas. These coins serve a dual purpose: they can be spent to open up different branching pathways across the maps, used to upgrade weapons, or they can be spent at Bruce & Goose's Shoppe to buy perks, devastating new attacks, and summoned allies.
The game's perk system is unusual and took a little while to get used to, but after several playthroughs, can be used to devastating effect. Each character has five stars beneath their health bar that charge up as you deal damage. Once players hit the five star mark, they can unleash their powerful special ability, which empties the star meter. Players can also purchase perks which automatically activate at a specific (chosen) star level. Depending on which star level you choose to activate the perk, it can become a powerful device. Indeed, the combination of the star meter ability and the perks can make light work of boss battles.
Dark Scrolls balances high-intensity platforming with a somewhat rewarding progression system. The boss battles are a highlight, utilizing tried-and-true pattern-recognition mechanics that often reward patience and muscle memory. Coupled with a map full of mysteries, branching paths, and new heroes to rescue, there is an amount of replay value here. The single-player mode is so-so, but if you are looking for a frantic, retro-fueled challenge to tackle with a friend on the couch, Dark Scrolls is an absolute must-play.
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6.5
fun score
Pros
Perka, abilities and various characters are fun to play around with
Cons
No story to speak of, Rather short - but can be played through with different characters
