Wed, 20 Jan 2010 by Corbie Dillard
More 8-bit retro goodness
We've already seen Capcom enjoy success on WiiWare with their retro-infused Mega Man 9 release. Now it seems they're trying to show DSiWare the same retro love with Dark Void Zero. Of course now the question is, does the game live up to the lofty standards the company has already put in place with Mega Man 9?
Dark Void Zero features a very simple and intuitive gameplay system. Your goal in each level is to locate the various keycards needed to unlock doors, ultimately reaching the portal code needed to progress to the next area. Of course, you're going to have to defeat a boss first. While this might sound simple, you'll quickly find out just how tough it can be, but the game allows you to choose from three difficulties to better customise the game to your skill level.
As you run around each area, you'll come up against a host of enemies trying to stand in your way. You're armed with a standard weapon, but you can also acquire secondary weapons that feature more firepower. You'll find these quite useful in shooting through some of the walls that get in your way, not to mention some of the more powerful enemies.
You can also locate a jet pack that will allow you to fly and hover in the air. If it's collecting items you like, you can also pick up tech points and journal entries strung throughout each level as well. These can be a good incentive to go back and play the levels again in order to locate everything.
Once you've traversed each area, you'll have to match up against one of the game's foreboding bosses. If you thought the levels themselves were tough, wait until you get a load of the game's bosses.
The control scheme in Dark Void Zero is extremely basic and easy to pick up. The two-button setup works well in accurately portraying the good old NES control schemes from the 8-bit era. Couple the tight controls with some extremely well-designed areas and you have an action platformer that should challenge fans of all skill levels. Even with only three levels, there's so much challenge in each area that you'll still get your money's worth out of the game, and then some.
Visually, Dark Void Zero is exactly what you'd expect from a company shooting for an 8-bit NES-style visual presentation. If you didn't know better, you'd swear you were playing an old NES game, minus the heavy flickering of course. There's still enough detail in the visuals to be able to easily distinguish items you'll be searching for, and the enemies are all well-animated, probably even more so than would actually be possible on a standard NES console. Toss in some wildly vivid colour schemes and you have a very authentic 8-bit visual experience.
Obviously you're going to need a good set of 8-bit chip tunes to complement your visual styling and Dark Void Zero doesn't disappoint. Not only are there some absolutely amazing retro chip tunes to enjoy, but the sound effects the game makes use of are equally authentic as well. It's clear that Capcom put in some time and effort into making sure the audio presentation matched that of the visuals and it makes for a truly incredible audio-visual experience overall.
User Comments
1. Dragoon
20 Jan 2010, 11:07 GMT
Will get!
2. Croz
20 Jan 2010, 11:13 GMT
Excellent review you've sold me the game
but will we have a EU release.
3. James Newton
20 Jan 2010, 11:17 GMT
Dark Void's out on 360, PC and PS3 this Friday - the smart money is on a DSiWare release too.
4. Kirk
20 Jan 2010, 11:29 GMT
This actually looks really cool.
I think I'm actually more interested in this than either of the Megaman games for WiiWare.
5. Spaceboy
20 Jan 2010, 11:50 GMT
I can't put this game down! I haven't beaten it yet, it took me quite a few deaths to make it past level one (Contra style deaths: slow progress with each life and gained knowledge of the pattern and playing field). I bought it completely on a whim before any reviews, and I'm so glad that it turned out this good. My DSi is quickly becoming my bestest buddy ;D Buyyy itttt.
6. Sean Aaron
20 Jan 2010, 12:05 GMT
The real question is, when is it coming to Japan?
7. Supermegaman
20 Jan 2010, 12:49 GMT
Youve convinced me! Finally, some more people are learning to use dsiware to its full potential!
8. Jazzem
20 Jan 2010, 12:51 GMT
And PAL regions for that matter!
Can't wait for it, looks superb
9. Willy105
20 Jan 2010, 13:02 GMT
Very interesting! Knowing how the HD versions turned out, this may be the Dark Void to get!
10. RocketBird
20 Jan 2010, 13:27 GMT
Any word on it coming to Wii Ware?
11. Mendoza
20 Jan 2010, 13:31 GMT
Obvious reviewer states the obvious ^^
Good review nonetheless and of course a game which any DSi
owner should definetaly get. Otherwise they won't be using their handheld well or they are just plain casuals
Must get!!!
12. GameLord08
20 Jan 2010, 13:59 GMT
YES! What I've been waitin' for! Gotta get this ASAP!
13. KnucklesSonic8
20 Jan 2010, 14:29 GMT
Great review. Very motivating indeed.
14. siavm
20 Jan 2010, 14:40 GMT
Good review but wow. Dark void gets okay to bad reviews and this one gets good reviews.
15. ninji
20 Jan 2010, 14:51 GMT
9 is a bit high and the game is short indeed, i finished it whithin 2 hrs at difficult setting. the bosses are indeed very difficult. And THE GAME IS AWESOME, makes me wanting for more! fully worth the 500 pnts and more. imo
16. Sushie
20 Jan 2010, 15:29 GMT
Interesting...this game is getting better reviews than the console release is.
17. Armand
20 Jan 2010, 15:47 GMT
Great game and i love the NES retro style .
18. romulo
20 Jan 2010, 15:55 GMT
Funny thing is that this tie-in is actually better than the "true" Dark Void on other consoles.
19. Raylax
20 Jan 2010, 15:56 GMT
This looks cool, and loving that it's on DSiWare. Any word of a European release yet? I want it.
20. motang
20 Jan 2010, 16:30 GMT
This was went completely under my radar! I will be getting this once I get home.
21. Kid_A
20 Jan 2010, 16:49 GMT
Looks awesome. I need some new DSiWare games...
22. thelawyer
20 Jan 2010, 17:59 GMT
Can't wait till it comes out in the UK!
23. Joe Diddley
20 Jan 2010, 18:06 GMT
High degree of difficulty (even on easy) puts me off a bit. I will probably be still getting it anyway.
24. WolfRamHeart
20 Jan 2010, 18:12 GMT
It seems this game turned out to be a whole lot better than the one on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Retro gaming FTW!
25. SilentJ
20 Jan 2010, 18:23 GMT
This will probably be the first game I download if I ever get a DSi.
26. MDee14
20 Jan 2010, 19:19 GMT
This game is amazing and i'm happy i got it.
But there's one problem and every developer is doing it. Why have a leaderboard if you don't include an online leaderboard. This is 2010 and i believe an online leaderboard should be a standard.
Nintendo SDK kits come with wifi, therefore there's no excuse.
27. nintendogamerftw
20 Jan 2010, 19:24 GMT
I need points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
28. CorusFace
20 Jan 2010, 19:51 GMT
wow, i'm surprised
29. Syr
20 Jan 2010, 19:53 GMT
Best game yet on DSi-ware, IMO!
No save feature, eh? Or am I just brain farting..
30. mnementh
20 Jan 2010, 19:55 GMT
Personally I don't think Capcom deserves any downloads of this. They put this on the Dsi and the rest of the franchise on the 360 and PS3 and what about the Wii? Frak them!!!
31. mnementh
20 Jan 2010, 19:57 GMT
#WolfRamHeart:
"It seems this game turned out to be a whole lot better than the one on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Retro gaming FTW!"
That's good to hear, but it still doesn't justify that they're not releasing a version for the Wii. I'm beginning to be really scared for the wii's future and I don't like it.
32. KrazyKain
20 Jan 2010, 20:00 GMT
getting a DSi soon, this'll be my first dsiware i'm sure
supercommando... its a well written review, and clearly all the commentors agree, so you are in fact the unnecessery hater
33. TheLonelyGamer
20 Jan 2010, 21:12 GMT
Great review Corbie.
This game is so awesome, I love it!
34. vcmacleod
20 Jan 2010, 21:24 GMT
I beat it last night. it's good. But in keeping true to it's NES origin, it froze on me once while on the second level. I guess when i started i didn't blow it out enough.
my first dsi download. A true piece of gaming history.
35. vcmacleod
20 Jan 2010, 21:26 GMT
@Syr (and others)
it automatically saves when you beat a level, so if you quit and come back to the game you choose continue and start whatever level you reached last. There's only 3.
36. 1spore2
20 Jan 2010, 23:07 GMT
Hehe, looks cool!
37. slapshot82
20 Jan 2010, 23:30 GMT
@Corbie..... Awesome Review Man. I actually was thinking that if you did the review you would give it a 9, and correct I was lol. Great game, and really makes me miss the good ole NES 2D Days. Hopefully Capcom will see there is a market for 2D Games on DSiWare and will start supporting the service. I REALLY hope so.
38. irken004
21 Jan 2010, 00:27 GMT
Well worth a 9.
39. motang
21 Jan 2010, 01:53 GMT
Just bought it and I must say it is one awesome game! I am enjoying it well worth the money and the score!
40. touffeboy
21 Jan 2010, 03:47 GMT
Looks Really cool but i have no DSi
41. Mickeymac
21 Jan 2010, 03:54 GMT
How I wish I could get it.
42. Azikira
21 Jan 2010, 04:56 GMT
I want this game soooo badly!! If I had any sort of money I would :C loves 8-bit old school games
43. BlueFlameBat
21 Jan 2010, 07:12 GMT
What are the controls and are the customizable?
44. Corbie
21 Jan 2010, 07:51 GMT
Just two buttons (A and B), just like the NES, and no you can't customize their functions.
45. JakobG
21 Jan 2010, 08:04 GMT
The cover looks awesomer than the whole PS3/360 game.
46. bluecat
21 Jan 2010, 15:11 GMT
Well this looks fun! I will have to keep it in mind when getting more DSiWare!
47. sonic_brawler95
21 Jan 2010, 20:07 GMT
This is the best DSiware yet! Well worth those 500 points!!!
Oh and great review corbs!
48. irken004
21 Jan 2010, 22:14 GMT
Remember guys, there is a PC version coming out sometime soon.
49. cheapogamer4life
22 Jan 2010, 04:42 GMT
@vcmac
congrats on your first dsiware game,you picked a great game to start with, Im not sure if thats good or bad......
@corbie: great review
50. Destroyer360
22 Jan 2010, 23:07 GMT
I would get this, but worried about the fact there's only 3 levels.
How long are the levels? Thanks in advance!
51. vince220
23 Jan 2010, 00:34 GMT
Each level takes maybe 10 to 15 minutes after you get familiar with it. However, if you factor in all the trial and error, collecting all the items, getting high scores, and harder difficulty modes, each level could easily last over 2 to 3 hours. In my opinion, this game has tons of replayability.
I wasn't the biggest 8-bit action game fan, but all the praise this game has received from the people who played it convinced me to buy it, and I'm happy I did. This game has definitely made me a fan of the genre.
52. Doskias
24 Jan 2010, 02:04 GMT
Played, beat, and loved everything about this game - except for the length. Hopefully we'll see more like it in the future.
53. Dsiwarehunter
25 Jan 2010, 07:11 GMT
got it. Good game. It was pretty darn short, but just what I wanted. I recommend it! The game saves automatically, only between levels.
54. Mikarlo
30 Jan 2010, 15:28 GMT
I love this game! It quite possibly may be the best game available for DSiWare currently. Well worth the 500 pts! I agree with others who say it is too short...but really, as good as this game is, complaining about the length is just nit-picking. Congrats Capcom...and Thank You!
55. sonic_brawler95
07 Feb 2010, 05:46 GMT
I have the demo of the console Dark Void on my PS3, and I love replaying it a lot (I should play the whole game instead, maybe rent it). But Dark Void Zero is waaaaaaaay better because of its awesome retro-ness. Keep em coming Capcom!
56. Rerun
26 Feb 2010, 03:09 GMT
3 levels is short. But I'd rather have 3 levels of a great game rather than 8 levels of a mediocre one. We need more 8-bit retro games from CAPCOM and everyone else.
57. -TR
06 Mar 2010, 21:33 GMT
I'm kinda semi interested in this, although I'll be ctaching up on the Art Style games, plus Reflect Missle, Mighty Flip Champs, and everything else I've missed first...
58. SpriteKing
08 Mar 2010, 19:22 GMT
This game rules!
And It's hard, too. Bonus!
59. LordWotton
11 Mar 2010, 14:02 GMT
Vintage, polished, well designed levels, entertaining, pretty hard. A must have.
60. Objection_Blaster
22 Apr 2010, 15:32 BST
There is an iPhone/iTouch version out now. No word on if it controls decently, but it's only $3.
61. nintendopower33
26 Apr 2010, 02:45 BST
A 9/10! Looks like this is a definite buy!
62. hulklol123456789
02 May 2010, 21:21 BST
I want these 1
63. winter123
15 May 2010, 05:51 BST
never got into mega man but this reminds me of metroid fusion for the GBA which i have many fond memories of. glad its better than the console release - IGN SCORE
"Meh"
64. hulklol123456789
17 May 2010, 03:10 BST
These is really the best paltformer ever, it is a MUST buy.