I feel like I should give a review of this game, having put in as much time as I have. I look at the reviews, and despite having an excellent rating, both overall and recent, I see tons of negative ones being featured. So here's an honest review, and how I think people get the wrong impression of this game.

First off, I want to say that visual, and audio components of this game are fantastic. Artistic style is beautiful, and the narration is perfect. Just to hear the way Wayne June talks to you is worth the price tag. The controls have improved since the betas, not that they were bad, but just more quality of life changes have taken place to make it easier on the player.

The game starts out with a good bit of difficulty, you can even die in the tutorial stages. That should tell you everything about what you can expect from this game. People tend to pick this game up, thinking that they're going to outsmart the AI with their logical builds of skills and party compositions. That is a BIG mistake. Wayne June will tell you, "Overconfidence is a slow, and insidious killer." You can have the best items, and a great party, and still get run over by RNG.

Now people think that's a bad thing. The only bad thing here, is the player. When RNG is making your run through the dungeon take a turn for the worse, you are expected to pull the run. Even in the final missions where there are penalties for doing so. It is up to you, the player, to know when to pack it in, and let your party recover. If you try to plough on through, arrogantly thinking that you should win regardless, that is your downfall.

I can tell you from experience, I've been there. I've lost entire parties with end game trinkets, and that's my fault for not pulling them out sooner. If you can't handle that kind of loss, you should play something else. Maybe Hello Kitty Island is more your kind of game.

If you want to feel that gut wrenching terror of not knowing whether your party is going to make it, this is for you. I can't tell you how many times I've had my finger on the white flag, debating if I should run away. Then pressing on only to have my party die from chained heart attacks. I don't blame the game for my poor decisions, perhaps I blame RNG, and curse up a storm. But I knew the risks, and that blame ultimately falls square on my own shoulders.

So, no big loss. You get a new party together, and grind them up. Watch as they all go insane, and half of them die off before they're ready for the final dungeons...

Welcome to Darkest Dungeon my friends. You will scream. You will probably cry. You may even smash your keyboard (*cough*Zeke*cough*). But there's a satisfying feeling when you finally take on a level 5 boss, and crush them under your blade. So take your torches, and keep the lights burning. For you will find no mercy waiting for you beneath the ruins of your estate, and only your madness to keep you company in the dark.