Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dark Age of Camelot: Catacombs expands the realm of DAoC by plunging players into 15 distinct underground regions filled with lurking dangers and hidden treasures. Each realm—Albion, Hibernia, and Midgard—gains an entry point in its capital city, making it seamless to transition from open-world RvR to intense dungeon crawling. While the catacombs themselves are shared across realms and RvR is disabled inside, the realm-specific entry ensures that each faction still retains its unique flavor and progression.

One of the standout features is “Private Adventuring,” which lets solo players and groups tackle instanced dungeons without interference from rival realms. This design choice balances the thrill of risk with the comfort of controlled difficulty, letting veteran raiding parties test their mettle or newcomers learn the ropes at their own pace. Dungeon masters can customize party size and challenge level, resulting in an experience that scales well from solo expeditions to full raid runs.

Adding further depth, Catacombs introduces five new character classes—Heretic for Albion, Vampiir and Bainshee for Hibernia, and Warloks and Valkyries for Midgard. Each class brings unique mechanics, from the Heretic’s dark magic casts to the Valkyrie’s blend of melee prowess and supportive abilities. This influx of new roles revitalizes group dynamics and encourages experimentation in both PvE and RvR outside the catacombs.

Graphics

The expansion boasts the largest graphics engine overhaul in Dark Age of Camelot’s history, delivering richer textures, improved lighting, and more dynamic environmental effects. Descending into the catacombs, players will notice realistic shadow play cast by flickering torches, water reflections in subterranean pools, and subtle particle effects that bring the underground world to life. The heightened visual fidelity significantly elevates the atmosphere, instantly immersing adventurers in a darker, more ominous setting.

Character customization also receives a substantial boost. The new engine allows for highly detailed faces, hair styles, and armor variations, meaning players can craft avatars that stand out in crowded cities or dungeon hallways. Whether you’re sporting ornate plate mail as a Valkyrie or draped in ethereal robes as a Bainshee, the attention to detail in model design and animation makes each class feel unique and visually engaging.

Beyond cosmetics, environmental storytelling shines through in the caverns’ architecture—ancient runes glow on mossy walls, collapsed columns litter corridors, and subterranean vegetation creeps through cracks in the stone. The consistent level of polish across dungeon layouts ensures that exploration never feels repetitive, encouraging players to uncover every hidden chamber and side passage.

Story

While Dark Age of Camelot’s primary narrative revolves around realm conflict and epic RvR battles, Catacombs delves into the forgotten history lurking below the surface. Ancient civilizations, long erased by time, left behind cryptic texts and shrines that hint at powerful artifacts waiting to be reclaimed—or destroyed. This subterranean lore adds a rich backdrop to the expansion’s dungeon-centric adventures.

Questlines in Catacombs weave together personal motivations of the five new classes with the darker mysteries of the underground world. Players might begin as curious Heretics seeking forbidden knowledge or as Vampiirs driven by an insatiable bloodlust, only to discover deeper cosmic stakes that tie into the fate of Albion, Hibernia, and Midgard. These layered narratives give each catacomb region a sense of purpose, transforming mere experience farming into a compelling saga.

NPCs encountered in the depths range from tortured spirits longing for release to cunning guardians bent on protecting their ancient domains. Dialogues are more nuanced than before, with choices that occasionally influence dungeon objectives or unlock secret encounter areas. This narrative depth elevates Catacombs beyond a simple loot grind, making every descent feel like a chapter in a larger, unfolding epic.

Overall Experience

Dark Age of Camelot: Catacombs successfully shifts the series’ focus from large-scale realm warfare to intimate dungeon expeditions, offering a refreshing change of pace. The blend of private instanced adventures and shared catacomb designs ensures both solo players and full groups find challenges tailored to their playstyle. The lack of RvR inside the dungeons provides a safe haven for exploration, while the threat of rival realms still looms outside.

With its massive graphics update, Catacombs stands as one of the most visually striking expansions in the game’s history. Enhanced character customization and atmospheric dungeon design combine to create a truly immersive underground world. The introduction of five new classes injects fresh life into established party compositions, encouraging veterans to rethink strategies and newcomers to join in with a variety of roles.

Ultimately, Catacombs enriches Dark Age of Camelot by adding depth to its lore, variety to its gameplay, and polish to its presentation. Whether you’re a long-time DAoC devotee seeking new frontiers or a curious adventurer drawn by the promise of epic dungeons, this expansion delivers hours of engrossing content and memorable encounters. For anyone looking to explore the shadows beneath Camelot’s kingdoms, Catacombs is a must-have addition.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10