A Dystopian Descent into Madness
There are stories better suited for different forms of media. Some tales can be told in 90 minutes as a film, others require a longer format. And then there are narratives that need to be told via video games. KARMA: The Dark World is one of those examples. Thanks to the imagery involved and the abstract narrative, it simply wouldn’t have worked in any other format.
Thank God for games then. It’s not perfect, but it is an experience that will live long in the memory.
Roam Agents and Blurred Realities
KARMA: The Dark World is a first-person psychological horror/thriller from first-time developer Pollard Studio in China. You are Daniel McGovern, a Roam Agent for the all-seeing, all-knowing Leviathan Corporation. Roam Agents are tasked with investigating crime scenes and conducting interviews to get to the bottom of crimes that have occurred. They also have another trick up their sleeve.
Roam Agents can dive into suspects’ memories to find crucial information to either confirm their involvement in a crime or rule them out. The latest case to arrive on Daniel’s desk is in regards to a gentleman called Sean Mehndez which will be anything but routine.
The world of KARMA is a dystopian landscape set primarily in 1984. Now, that should probably sound familiar to a certain book. KARMA doesn’t hide its influences, instead being heavily shaped by then. As well as 1984, one section also has you running around the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks, complete with red curtains and zig-zag flooring. But you could do a lot worse than using these two as places of inspiration.
Puzzles and Psychological Terror
Daniel’s investigation into Sean’s purported crimes start off simple enough, arriving at his place of work to take a look around. It isn’t long though before things start getting weird, and it never really stops until the end. The lines between real and memory become more and more blurred the more you play. At first, you can easily tell the difference, but as you dive into the memories of others, are you seeing their thoughts or manifestations of your own? It’s why KARMA works best as a videogame; a first-person viewpoint means it’s not always obvious whose memories you are seeing, and it uses this to its advantage.
It also helps that KARMA is a stunning game. Not just in terms of some of the imagery it conjures up, but also using the power of Unreal Engine 5. Within five minutes I was seeing bodies seemingly being harvested, and things only ratcheted up from there.
The horror elements are infrequent, but when they come, they pack a punch. At times, they can feel a little cheap, such as when you simply need to run from a particularly gruesome looking enemy, but they can also be highly effective. One moment had me using a camera to spot a hideous woman who was otherwise invisible. It is much deeper than that, but this section felt more like a puzzle than a boss fight, and is all the more rewarding when you figure it out yourself.
A Stunning World with Sputtering Transitions
It’s difficult to pick out favourite moments, because KARMA: The Dark World is rammed full of them. The aforementioned trek through the Black Lodge, being surrounding by a family stabbing their food as you walk across their dining table completely shrunken down, a man hiding in a wardrobe but all you can see are his arms. And the eyes, my word, the eyes staring at you. All of these images have been consciously designed, and in true KARMA style I would love to delve into the minds of the developers to see just how they came up with them.
Then the third act comes in and just goes fully abstract. You will be guiding a paper plane – not unlike the Aery games – around an apple tree, or trying to navigate through a black void, all whilst making sense of the deepening plot. And why do most of the residents have old CRT TVs for heads? It does feel like KARMA loses its way a little bit towards the end; up until this point the story has had us completely gripped. But these abstract sections, whilst they don’t feel out of place entirely, do detract from some narrative conclusions. KARMA does finish strongly though, getting itself back on track for an overall satisfying resolution.
However, as immersive and engaging as KARMA: The Dark World is, there is a major issue currently that really dampens the experience. KARMA seamlessly switches between gameplay and cutscenes, or it would do if the game didn’t sputter and stutter during every single transition, both in and out of them. It breaks the atmosphere and immersion regularly. The rest of the time, the game runs smoothly, but this issue cannot be overlooked due to its frequency. A patch has been promised, but there is currently no timeframe for it.
One final thought, and it may seem a little leftfield but worth mentioning. If you are a fan of The 1% Club, then the collectibles in KARMA are right up your street. Find a colourful trinket box – not hard to spot against the concrete grey – and they contain a logic puzzle for you to solve. Correctly do so, and you are rewarded with a little figure that further fleshes out this world. Get it wrong however, and you will have to return to the chapter select screen after completing the game.
A Unique Experience with a Lasting Impression
KARMA: The Dark World is the kind of game that will stick with you long after you complete it. Far from perfect, with a disappointing third act and some major performance issues, thankfully the pros outweigh the cons. It comes complete with some of the most stunning visual imagery and an engaging plot that blurs the lines between a dystopian reality and a dream state. It’s those that help ensure KARMA: The Dark World leaves a lasting impression.
Important Links
Is This Mind-Bending Thriller a Must-Play? KARMA: The Dark World Dives onto Xbox – https://www.thexboxhub.com/is-this-mind-bending-thriller-a-must-play-karma-the-dark-world-dives-onto-xbox/
Buy KARMA: The Dark World on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/karma-the-dark-world/9PBTRH54WM9Q/0010
Grab a Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/karma-the-dark-world-digital-deluxe-bundle/9msslw12pfsp
