Where do you start when describing Dark Grim Mariupolis? It’s a point-and-click, which is the easy bit. Then there’s the wireframe vector graphics and smudged screen, which makes it look like an arcade cabinet from about 1986. It’s set in a dystopian future full of robots, and they’ve all deteriorated to the degree that most of their conversations make zero sense. Like what you’re hearing? Dark Grim Mariupolis is out today on Xbox One.
Where were we? There’s more. You play a detective named Thor, which is a hint of how broad the influences are on the storytelling. There’s a lot of Norse, Ionic and Doric myth here, which seems highbrow until the developers stir in some drug and beer jokes. It’s surrealist too, with your actions not always making sense, and events often taking Lynchean turns. It’s a Russian-developed game, so there’s also some quirky translations and deep, dark introspection.
Still with us? There’s some Layton-sequel puzzles here too, requiring you to get your Mensa on. Having played through it ourselves (the review is incoming), we can reveal that they are some of the most demonic puzzles you’ll come across.
Edit: Our review of Dark Grim Mariupolis is now live. Give it a read.
Features include:
- Steal another’s property to find out the truth.
- Solve puzzles and conduct investigations.
- Reply in appropriate manner in dialogs to achieve your goals.
- Sometimes you’ll have to make a moral choice.
- Deceive and hide your true intensions.
- Complain about life, work and social order.
One thing is for sure: you won’t have played anything like Dark Grim Mariupolis on Xbox One. It’s out today for a mere £4.19. To put the click into this point-and-click, you can play it on PC where it’s been available on Steam for a little while already.
Game Description:
Introducing “Dark Grim Mariupolis”, a point’n’click adventure game set in a world, combining noir, Greek mythology, magic, mysticism, hopeless entourage of Greco-Roman Age of Decadence and stifling everyday routine. Encourage yourself and step into darkness… Enter Mariupolis, a dark place accompanied with confusing, strange music of no visible source. You are some sort of a detective, and therefore you need to investigate, but why? That’s the thing you’re going to find out… or, maybe not. Everything depends on you and sudden whims of Pentaculus, a grim god stretching its hands out over the whole city. Investigate and solve puzzles, while resisting dark and obscure grasp of Mariupolis, where the only things guarding you from its baneful influence are sarcasm and arrogance. And be aware – your hero might actually die.
