Dolmen

When a game presents a dark and unhinged setting, it should send shivers down the spine of most gamers. This exciting feeling is one that you will be extremely familiar with if you decide to play Dolmen.

Story and Setting

As a game inspired by Soulslike titles, Dolmen brings a sci-fi element that completely brings something new and interesting to the table. Dolmen mimics many elements of Dark Souls, especially in the Blighttown aspects of the first game. Because of this, it may either be exactly what you’ve been looking for in a video game since the original Dark Souls, or it might be one of your most disliked gaming experiences ever.

While playing a game like Dolmen, there are more than a few instances where you’ll be thrown into the fray and tested for your skills. With the overarching horror at every twist and turn, the game quickly lets you realize that the only way to truly progress is by being brave enough to face what lies ahead.

There are piles of larvae at every corner, looking ready to burst and unleash a deadly swarm of creatures. Hell, there are multiple instances where that exact situation occurs.

Why you’re placed in this terrifying location by the game is explained as an investigation mission. You’re there to figure out the cause of an accident of catastrophic magnitudes, and the only thing you know at the start is that it involved a powerful resource called Dolmen crystals.

Gameplay

There are classes to choose from in this game, giving you the option to become a character that possesses strong defensive stats if you choose to play as the Tanker class, and other classes have their own perks/drawbacks. While exploring the game, there are checkpoints that can be found throughout the world, akin to the Bonfire or Grace system found in Dark Souls and Elden Ring respectively. In Dolmen, the checkpoints also act as a teleporter to other checkpoints and your hub location. The hub location in this game is actually back on your spaceship headquarters, and this area lets you change your character’s appearance, upgrade items, craft new ones and level up through the power of Nanites.

In Dolmen, the only way to gain the upper hand is by learning the movements of your enemies and mastering the timing of your own abilities. You’ll need to know the ideal points to roll, step back and engage with your enemies. In Dolmen, the game also gives you access to secondary weapons, allowing you to take advantage of new abilities including the power to command flames and shoot your way through enemies from a long distance.

Verdict

Dolmen is a game that doesn’t really re-invent the wheel for souls-like titles, but it still makes for a fun experience, especially when locked in with the amazing combat system.

Pros

• Great combat
• Interesting environments

Cons

• Too similar to Dark Souls
• Could use some narrative guidance