Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut PS5 Review - Hobo John Wick Vs Nazis

Published by Dolores Entertainment S.L. and developed by ROWYE, Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut hits the PS5 today well after it's debut on PC, for better or for worse. Harkening back to a bygone era of humor and horror filled 90's boomer shooters like Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein we find a story rich and fully voiced campaign with bonus challenges tied to an unnamed hobo, who like John Wick, is out to seek revenge for his dog. 

This revenge mission, if you can call it that, has the hound loving hobo facing off against Nazis, Nazi zombies, and a whole other host of enemies hellbent on using his dog as experiment fodder. As said hobo you will brave 13 labyrinthine stages filled with weapons, secrets, gated access, hazards, and a companion rat that can be used to circumvent traps or distract guards. The route you take is up to you, but mind your timing as this is an oldschool score based speedrun affair where points are tallied for efforts rendered.

Gritty, bloody, hokey, and somewhat broken, Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut on the PS5 tries to copy yesteryear's hits from the boomer shooter genre. Wolfenstein is definitely it's biggest inspiration, but Duke Nukem also seems to have inspired features like the vocalization of the hobo hero as he drops one liners like they are Halloween candy for the Trick-Or-Treaters. All as he lays waste to every living and dead thing that crosses his path as he searches for his beloved canine companion. Inspirations aside this quest for revenge ultimately takes our hitman hobo through various Nazi occupied strongholds, and otherworldly areas wherein lies 23 different types of enemies/factions, and the accessible arsenal of weapons required to dispatch each and every one of them. 

The hobo on the hunt isn't immortal though, or even John Wick, by comparison. Thus there are things you must mind as you press onward. As with any boomer shooter, 90's or otherwise, you'll find that health and shields matter in the world of Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut. Thankfully food/shield items can be found along the way to replenish any health/shields that are lost in the fray. While traversing the gated areas, and maze-like pathways of each stage you'll also need to pick up weapons, and ammo clips to supply your ongoing vengeance. Weapons include everything from a hand gun to a sub-machine gun, and even a rocket launcher along with throwing explosives like mines and grenades being an alternate option. Additionally you can also kick away enemies and obstacles as well as crouch and light your path with a flashlight. All of these components come together for both traversal and combat means.

In the way of secrets Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut has it's fair share hidden in each of the stages, and for completionists finding all these bits and baubles will take some hunting down if you are aiming for playthrough perfection. Aside from that the game offers a challenge mode for extended play after you've mastered the campaign.

The Presentation ...

When it comes to visuals Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut harbors a more modern appearance with added polish in comparison to the boomer shooters that inspired it. It is definitely upscaled in 4K fashion for modern consoles, and features 60FPS gameplay that is both fast and fluid. Environments and stage themes vary in color as well as in contrast. Making it a diverse collection of interesting locations brought to life with proper lighting, and special effects. Even the hobo gets the attention to detail with a throwback avatar/portrait that mimics this old Wolfenstein one. 

Audibly the game features an industrial synth soundtrack that matches the mood, and atmosphere. It's nothing profoundly standout in nature, but it works well enough to highlight the onscreen action and gritty fast paced carnage.

The Verdict ...

At the time of this review Darkenstein 3D Director's Cut is without a patch that it desperately needs. The game has a game breaking bug that results in a black screen after completing the first campaign stage. It limited my playthrough, and had me dashboarding back to the console menu to restart the game from scratch. It's not in an ideal state to be recommended, but hopefully the developer can patch the game soon, and prevent any loss in sales and interest. The game, from what I've seen, isn't bad. It may be a little janky control-wise, but the story, combat, and stage traversal is what you'd expect from a game inspired by 90's boomer shooters.