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DOLMEN is Dark Souls in SPAAAAACE (PS4/PS5/XB1/XS)

cormack12

Gold Member
Source: https://cogconnected.com/preview/dolmen-is-dark-souls-in-spaaaaace/



Dolmen Preview
When it comes to Soulslike games, there are two species. There are those games that bear a vague, passing resemblance. Some games, though, are so close to FromSoftware’s template that, mechanically at least, they have a near one-to-one correspondence. Dolmen is one of those games.

Instead of the trappings of high fantasy, Dolmen wears the mantle of science fiction. You are on a hostile planet called Revion Prime, there to bring back samples of a mystical crystal called Dolmen. You explore, fight monsters, die, get a little stronger, and the Soulslike cycle continues.

Souls players will feel right at home. Instead of Firelink Shrine or Majula, you have a space ship home base. In place of bonfires, there are beacons. You earn the game’s soul-like currency and crafting/upgrade materials by killing enemies. Death takes you back to a beacon, and the chance to retrieve your souls.

Where Dolmen departs from the template — and smartly, too — is in the area of energy management. Instead of healing flasks, you have batteries. You can reassign your battery power to healing or to powering your special, elemental abilities. It’s sort of a streamlined version of Dark Souls 3’s two-flask system. It works well, and adds a nice bit of risk/reward strategy to the mix. Of course, managing stamina is part of the game, too.

I played through Dolmen with three of its starting classes. There’s the slow but high damage-dealing, two handed swordsman, the agile but weak rogue type, and the ranged weapon specialist. As with Dark Souls, starting classes are just that, and you can shape them however you want over time. This is one area where Dolmen might want to play attention to balance. The heavy swordsman is sluggish to the point of being frustrating, and the two-handed fighter is too weak. For me, the only viable class was the one that started with an effective pulse rifle and melee weapon axe. All classes start with a pistol, and some have a shield. I never quite got the hang of Dolmen’s parry mechanic.
 

skit_data

Member
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.
 
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Spukc

always chasing the next thrill
soul's like

Here We Go Dragon GIF by CBC
 

Kssio_Aug

Member
Looking at the gameplay trailer I'm not convinced. It seems to me the character movements are a bit too slow and the transition between melee and shooting doesn't seem to work very well. I also didn't like the impact of the combat.

Just a first impression though... hopefully it ends up being good.
 

Spaceman292

Banned
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.
True Dark Souls starts at the dick
 

FrankWza

Member
I see a lot of Returnal in this too. Looks good to me. They have time to keep working on it but I’ll check out that stream on Friday.
 

Loope

Member
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.
Same feeling Portuguese have buying a Hyunday Kona (cunt in Portuguese, although with a C instead of K, we don't use K on vernacular or Portuguese words) so they changed the name to Kauai. Maybe they should do the same with that name :messenger_grinning_sweat:
 

skit_data

Member
Same feeling Portuguese have buying a Hyunday Kona (cunt in Portuguese, although with a C instead of K, we don't use K on vernacular or Portuguese words) so they changed the name to Kauai. Maybe they should do the same with that name :messenger_grinning_sweat:
I remember Opel (I think it was) having to re-launch a car model in Sweden that they named ”Fitta”. Literally ”Cunt” as well xD
 

ButchCat

Member
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.
Reminds me of the Turkish dish dolma. I'm kind of hungry now actually.
IMG_3093.jpg
 

sloppyjoe_gamer

Gold Member
I lasted about 30 seconds ...
Terrible animations.
Generic and ugly art-direction.
generic music


I get it, it's not a "AAA" (or even "AA") game but...this doesn't seem good

Yes, ive heard that about you....jk

Idk...i get leery anytime someone says a game is "Souls like", usually means it isnt.
 

RoadHazard

Gold Member
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.

Was coming to post this. I'd say it's closer to "the dong" or "the schlong" though ("the dick" I would translate to "kuken"), but yeah, this is one well-hung game!
 

Fredrik

Member
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.
Heh yeah it’s a bit awkward 😂

I wouldn’t translate it to the dick though, it’s not that direct. It depends on the situation, there is food called kåldolmar and vindolme etc and that’s not translated to cabbage dick or wine dick, I think
 
Well.... that looked rough.

All that future-ass-futuristic armour and yon mon is fucking about with a shitty fireman's axe.... wut? At least give the MC a freaking lightsabre as a melee weapon or something that fits the setting better. So dumb.
 

RoadHazard

Gold Member
Didn't we already have Dark Souls in space? Don't remember what it was called, but I think it was pretty decent?
 

Northeastmonk

Gold Member
I don’t know about everyone else, but with Elden Ring and Stranger of Paradise out next year. That doesn’t make me want another clone. It takes me back to Diablo and all the Diablo clones. Tecmo has basically been at the top of their game when it comes to cloning this play style.

I wouldn’t pay full price for this. I also think this was probably somebody’s dream project. There doesn’t appear to be a huge secret to discover. It’s basically meant to be challenging with a new coat of paint. I see them working hard to make the game, but it definitely has competition from the makers themselves.

The inspiration from the Souls game(s) is not as welcoming as you might tend to believe. I personally dislike all this inspiration. It leaves little for the other person to work with. They’re just trying to achieve something they saw someone else create. That doesn’t always work out for the fan/consumer.
 
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Ywap

Member
I’m sure its a great game and all but…
Dolmen?

I can’t buy a game that has the name
”Dolmen”. It literally translates to ”The Dick” in swedish.

Edit: It’s almost as bad as that upcoming superhero movie called Knull. I really wonder how they are going to solve that marketing here in sweden.
Haha, yeah, i was thinking the same thing regarding "Dolmen" :messenger_tears_of_joy:
 
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GymWolf

Member
Art design for characters and creatures is pretty dull.

The surge series remain the best scifi souls out there.
 

Stuart360

Member
Its out now on Steam -


The game only has a 61 on MC but i have to admit i'm tempted,. This Lovecraftian in outer space aesthetic is very appealing.
Probably wait for a sale which shouldnt be too far away.
 
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Dr. Claus

Vincit qui se vincit
Its out now on Steam -


The game only has a 61 on MC but i have to admit i'm tempted,. This Lovecraftian in outer space aesthetic is very appealing.
Probably wait for a sale which shouldnt be too far away.

Metacritic doesn’t mean shit. Watch some gameplay, see some discussions by people who actually bought and played the games with their own money, and decide for yourself if it is up your alley. Don’t let some halfwitted monkey fuckers (i.e. Gaming “Journalists”) tell you if a game is good or not.
 

Stuart360

Member
Metacritic doesn’t mean shit. Watch some gameplay, see some discussions by people who actually bought and played the games with their own money, and decide for yourself if it is up your alley. Don’t let some halfwitted monkey fuckers (i.e. Gaming “Journalists”) tell you if a game is good or not.
Thats what i do, its just in my current financail position i cant really take risks on games anymore.
I'm going to see what the Steam user reviews say after a day or two.
 
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