Ready for first year spooks on Xbox? Yes, Directive 8020 brings its sci-fi horror experience to Xbox tomorrowand an update now on what is Supermassive Games’ next entry in the Dark Pictures franchise.
We’re going to compile some of these reviews, then, so you can get a good picture of what you can expect with this latest big-budget horror game on Xbox. Let’s hack!
“Directive 8020 is a love letter to space horror that looks beyond skirmishes in the night. The mistrust cultivated in the small group, the dialogue choices, and the interactions all create a game that feels like it belongs on the shelf next to titles like Dead Space, Sunshine, Event Horizon, and The Thing.”
“Supermassive Games has been honing their The Dark Pictures Anthology horror formula since 2019, with each entry sharpening the balance between cinematic storytelling and player-driven horror. Directive 8020 feels like the next evolution of that template, taking a step away from anthology writing to deliver a stand-alone experience, though for longtime fans it’s a reference. 8020 is the best game yet.” of Dark Pictures, combining subtle gameplay, making branching story feel seamless, and setting a new bar for the genre.”
“Supermassive Games is taking the Dark Pictures series into space with Directive 8020, and by introducing new gameplay features such as imagination, you’re more focused on the action than ever before. Add its superb presentation and heartwarming story and you have the best Dark Pictures game yet, and a must-play for fans of space horror.”
“It’s clear that Directive 8020 builds on the promising but uneven Dark Pictures Anthology games that Supermassive has worked on over the past decade. But it takes a bold step in the direction of the Turning Point mechanic, and confidently jumps into cool territory. Directive 8020 is everything you could want in a sci-fi horror game: ours is insignificant compared to the vast expanse of space, and fun QTEs.”
IGN (8/10)
“I’ve been a big fan of The Dark Pictures since the beginning, despite its problems and shortcomings, and Directive 8020 is a fun and impressive start to the second season of the anthology. The effective setting of deep space, smart writing, strong performances from the main characters, and the period – if overused – the new stealth mechanic is a skill I wish I had to bring out the best pictures of trees. moment destroys the magic and suspense of the first game, even if it’s a welcome device for returns, this is a step forward for the anthology in terms of spectacle and storytelling, making it more than worth the ride.”
“Directive 8020 is a welcome evolution of Supermassive’s The Dark Pictures Anthology survival horror series, offering a more forgiving game experience, improved visuals, and subtle new elements. While the core of the game remains, fans may feel torn about these new additions, as the game leans more on traditional survival compared to other heavy titles, but heavy proportions compared to other previous titles. The sci-fi genre.”
“I’ve only played single player, but that said, I’m struggling to see how teams will find this as enjoyable as other Dark Pictures titles. There are very small, dangerous choices to be made and too many chances to die because you’re not smart, or cunning and managing to scan and puzzle at the same time. Supermassive fans will get enough for me to get enough experience to buy into the camp, and fix a few things.”
“In some ways, Directive 8020 feels like a game of missed opportunities, and a lot of near-misses. But sometimes Supermassive’s ambition pays off. It’s too long-winded, too low-key, and I wish it had pushed harder to find its own identity as it’s so charted, it’s getting its cool and it’s getting its breakthrough. It’s an amazing actor that made me care.”
“I took more notes while playing Directive 8020 than I usually do while reviewing a game, and almost all of them are character complaints or a frustrating story. The main purpose of this scene is to engage and draw me into a story full of characters whose fate is invested in me. Instead, I’ve been too busy questioning decisions (theirs, not mine), rolling my eyes, and rolling my eyes.”
At the time of writing, Directive 8020 has a Metacritic rating of 72 and an OpenCritic score of 76; respectable numbers but nothing shocking, then. If you want to give yourself this new Dark Pictures game, it will be available on Xbox Series X|S on Tuesday, May 12.