Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dark Side builds on its predecessor’s foundation by combining strategic objectives with pulse-pounding action. Your primary mission is clear: infiltrate the Ketar base on the moon Tricuspid and destroy their Energy Collection Devices (ECDs) before they power up the Zephyr One and devastate the planet Evath. Each ECD you eliminate grants precious extra seconds on your mission clock, but the devices are linked in networks that can regenerate if attacked in the wrong sequence. This forces you to plan each strike carefully, prioritizing solitary ECDs to prevent instant rebirth of their neighbors.

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Your character is equipped with a jet pack, lasers, and a rechargeable shield, introducing a satisfying layer of resource management to every encounter. Jet pack fuel depletes rapidly, so bursts of flight must be timed judiciously, whether you’re evading Plexor turrets or scaling buildings for a better vantage. Meanwhile, shield energy can be replenished by collecting pentagons and rods scattered throughout the landscape, encouraging you to explore hidden tunnels and out-of-the-way courtyards in search of vital power-ups.

Exploration is at the heart of Dark Side’s gameplay loop. Using the Freescape 3D engine, you can change your viewing angle, adjust step length, and perform quick U-turns, which makes traversing the verdant hills and underground corridors more fluid and engaging. The addition of deflector devices—trap mechanisms that beam you into prison cells—adds tension to every corridor, demanding constant vigilance. The blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-like target sequencing keeps the gameplay fresh from start to finish.

Graphics

Dark Side’s visuals are a testament to the innovation of the Freescape engine, one of the first to render fully three-dimensional polygons on 8-bit and 16-bit systems. While the environments are undeniably blocky by modern standards, the simple geometric shapes create a distinctive, almost abstract aesthetic that remains charming decades later. Trees become angular green prisms; buildings stand as stark architectural silhouettes; tunnels carve clean lines through the moon’s surface.

The color palette is limited but effective, using shades of green, gray, and brown to differentiate terrain, structures, and hazards. Plexor turrets and deflector devices pop against the landscape with brighter hues, ensuring they catch your eye even during frenetic firefights. Frame rates on contemporary hardware stay surprisingly stable, allowing smooth control when rotating the camera view or performing quick vertical ascents with your jet pack.

One of the most impressive aspects of Dark Side’s graphics is its sense of scale and depth. The ability to look down from high platforms or soar above tree canopies reveals an expansive world that feels larger than the confines of the screen. The stark contrast between bright outdoor areas and the dimly lit interiors of underground passages enhances the game’s atmosphere, making each newly discovered chamber feel like a genuine reward for your curiosity.

Story

Dark Side picks up where Driller left off, expanding the lore of the Ketar threat and deepening the stakes for the galaxy. After your victory on Mitral, the Ketars have shifted tactics from planetary destruction to harnessing raw energy. Their network of Energy Collection Devices is the linchpin of Zephyr One, a super-weapon capable of inflicting a crippling radiation overload on the world of Evath. With time running out, you are humanity’s only hope to thwart this insidious plan.

The narrative unfolds through terse mission briefings and environmental storytelling rather than cutscenes, allowing you to piece together the Ketars’ ambitions as you navigate Tricuspid’s facilities. The networked design of the ECDs not only provides a compelling gameplay puzzle but also underscores the enemy’s strategic sophistication. Each recon mission amplifies the urgency, as the invasion clock ticks down and the landscape grows increasingly patrolled by automated defenses.

Tricuspid itself becomes a character in the story. Overgrown exteriors hint at long-abandoned Ketar construction zones, while claustrophobic tunnels suggest deeper secrets waiting to be uncovered. Though the plot is straightforward, the tension generated by limited time, regenerating devices, and hidden traps makes the narrative feel immediate and high-stakes, driving you to push forward even when your shield is low and your fuel gauge teeters on empty.

Overall Experience

Dark Side succeeds in weaving together tight resource management, open-ended exploration, and a minimalist yet compelling narrative. The Freescape engine’s 3D world invites you to roam freely, rewarding daring leaps and thorough searches with crucial power-ups. Meanwhile, the interconnected puzzles of the ECDs provide a mental workout that complements the adrenaline rush of laser battles and turret evasion.

The learning curve can be steep, particularly for players new to first-person polygonal environments, but the game’s intuitive controls and clear visual cues help smooth the transition. Jet pack mastery quickly becomes second nature, and the satisfaction of dismantling a complex ECD network before the timer expires never grows old. Occasional frustration with respawning devices or unexpected deflector traps is balanced by the triumph of each successful mission completion.

Today, Dark Side stands as both a nostalgic landmark and a solid action-puzzle hybrid. Its distinctive graphics, strategic depth, and clever use of 3D space offer an experience unlike most contemporaries, and its influence can be traced in modern first-person titles that blend combat with environmental puzzles. For retro enthusiasts and newcomers curious about the early days of real-time 3D gaming alike, Dark Side remains a compelling journey through the darker reaches of the moon.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10