Karma: The Dark World Review

Have you ever asked yourself what it would be like if an amalgamation of classic horror games were thrown into a blender and what the end result would be? I sure haven't, but it is fun to imagine when a team gets together to make a passion project that, in certain aspects, pays homage to the giants of gaming's past.

It is quite the experience for gaming veterans when they can pick up on elements in games released today that harken back to some of their favorite titles. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Look no further than Karma: The Dark World, a psychological horror thriller with many twists and turns that might leave you scratching your head by the time the credits roll around. Let's "dive" into the world of Karma: The Dark World.

Karma: The Dark World comes from the minds of POLLARD STUDIO LLC, a studio formed in 2018, with the game being their only work to date. It's no surprise that Karma: The Dark World has been the only project they have done so far. Early gameplay footage shown at the Tokyo Game Show back in 2021 was stunning, to say the least.

From the visuals and developer intro explaining the intricacies of this universe, Karma: The Dark World looked to be a psychological thriller for the ages. The team at POLLARD STUDIO LLC was able to utilize Unreal Engine 5 to the fullest extent to create the dystopian world found within these invisible walls. It almost feels like playing a big-budget title, yet it's incredible to see how this talented team brought their vision to life.

Our story begins in a dystopian East Germany in the year 1984. The use of that year specifically means a great deal because, like the titular novel of the same name, East Germany is ruled by the iron fist of an authoritarian regime known as the Leviathan Corporation. The Leviathan Corporation works people to death with cruel working conditions, providing highly addictive substances to pollute their minds, and mass surveillance of all citizens.

You are Daniel McGovern, an agent working for the Leviathan company under their Thought Bureau. Your job is to interrogate any suspicious characters that might be conspiring against the Leviathan Corporation. Daniel finds out he certainly got more than he bargained for in this position.

How do you interrogate these suspects? You start off with a series of normal questions about their whereabouts and standard detective fare until your journey takes a turn for the insane with the usage of "brain dive" helmets. You and the suspect will both wear these helmets, akin to virtual reality headsets, where you cross over into their memories and see exactly how the events of the story were set into motion.

This is where the meat and potatoes of Karma: The Dark World lies. As you go memory spelunking throughout the story, you quickly find out something big is amiss in East Germany. Daniel soon finds himself entrenched in a massive conspiracy when he quickly realizes the severity of what is going on.

On the surface, Karma: The Dark World gives the impression that it might be a psychological horror first-person shooter, but it couldn't be further from the truth. There isn't much in the way of actual gameplay, but rather, it is a narrative-rich experience with stunning visuals and surrealist landscapes that are the stuff of nightmares.

Some of the dreamscapes found within the suspect's memories range from bizarre to downright terrifying. Certain locales reminded me of games like Outlast, which have a foreboding atmosphere. That is the name of the game when it comes to Karma: The Dark World atmosphere. You're practically playing a walking simulator at times, with minor puzzles sprinkled about. The few puzzles in the game had me scratching my head a few times until I eventually solved them with admiration for POLLARD's cleverness.

The first few acts of the game are genuinely well-paced, and at no point did I ever feel it was a slog, that is, until the second half of the game. Certain sections in this latter portion took such a left turn that I didn't expect, breaking my immersion in the process. Certain story beats just didn't capture me in these sections, like with the first suspect, and left me asking more questions than were answered.

Not to mention, some of the cutscenes just go on a bit too long. It is such a shame because Karma: The Dark World is a feast for the eyes and ears, so long as it doesn't revolve around the story. Making my way through cobweb-infested tunnels with Christmas strung along was spectacular to look at. Unreal Engine 5 was put on full display in the way the light illuminated those same tunnels, or sunlight peering in through a window and reflecting off coffee mugs.

Amongst the main objectives, there are collectible figurines sprinkled around the world of Karma: The Dark World. They serve as extra content for the completionist you are seeking out. These can be quite tough if you don't understand the accompanying hint images to solve the puzzle.

The sound design was top-notch in Karma: The Dark World as well. This game is best played with headphones to feel that deep level of immersion as you stroll along. Don't get me started on the acting, either. POLLARD went all out with getting full-motion captured actors to really bring these characters to life with realistic facial expressions and believable performances from all cast members involved.

When Daniel began to panic and scream, I actually felt the raw emotion the actor was trying to convey. As the story unfolded in dramatic ways, I felt Daniel's struggle in his current predicament at any given time. When it comes to making a psychological thriller such as Karma: The Dark World, aspects like these are paramount in delivering an immersive experience for the player.

Unfortunately, the score wasn't particularly memorable. While the music featured was by no means awful, it just left a lot to be desired, especially in such a game filled to the brim with surreal visuals and intense moments. For an independent developer and being their debut title, the developers were not going to hit the mark on everything, but that is okay. You aren't going to win it all on your first try, most of the time, that is.

For a game such as Karma: The Dark World, it'd be awesome if it featured a score akin to Silent Hill 2's hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. The ambition behind the development was undeniable. While there may be only a handful of moments that truly feel like a traditional game, some sections came completely out of left field—in the best way possible.

Remember earlier in this review when I said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? In a dystopian psychological horror game such as this, a certain section seemed to be inspired by Flower? Yes, the very same Flower that launched for the PS3 all the way back in 2009. A cozy game where you make flowers bloom, that's it.

It doesn't stop there either; in multiple segments of the game, the layout and surrounding elements seemed almost right out of Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, and I couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face. It can't be a coincidence either; the developers clearly have a love for multiple franchises and seemed like they couldn't help but express that in motion. Daniel finds himself with a camera where the objective is to destroy enemies and objects with a camera; Fatal Frame, anyone? As much as moments like these warm my heart, it's hard to overlook that latter portion of the game.

From stunning visuals to an immersive opening act, Karma: The Dark World is almost a superb psychological thriller that just misses the mark. If there were engaging gameplay, it'd be a much easier recommendation, but alas, the game functions mostly off of eye candy as its selling point, and with a weak ending to the game, which makes this a hard sell, at least at full price.

The nod to the book 1984 throughout the game was cool to see, as that is the quintessential book when it comes to themes of oppression and authoritarianism. The talent at POLLARD has a bright future ahead of them, and I would at least keep tabs on their next venture. I can tell a lot of resources were poured into the making of Karma: The Dark World.

Six years of development time is no joke. The utilization of Unreal Engine 5 was expertly executed, as this game is just such a feast for the senses. I played this on a base PlayStation 5, so I can only imagine how stunning the game must look on the PlayStation 5 Pro. The way reflections hit certain objects was beautiful to marvel at. While Karma: The Dark World is an impressive debut, it goes to show that not all that glitters is gold.

In the end, Karma: The Dark World is a visually stunning psychological thriller that pays homage to classic horror games, but ultimately falls short due to its lack of engaging gameplay and a weak second half. While the game's atmosphere, motion-captured performances, and Unreal Engine 5 visuals shine, its narrative missteps and minimal interactivity make it a tough recommendation at full price.