The Dark Pictures anthology is set to get its second season withDirective 8020. First teased in its predecessorThe Devil in Me,Directive 8020is a bold new venture for the horror franchise. This time, The Dark Pictures series is taking a hard turn into heavy sci-fi, exploring the limits of cosmic horror.
Although much of the game is still a mystery, a more in-depth trailer was revealed at last week’s Gamescom. Starring Lashana Lynch,Directive 8020takes place on a ship called Cassiopeia. The danger lurking in this ship is unknown, but it is clear thatDirective 8020is taking inspiration from notable body horror stories, likeThe ThingandDead Space. It’s an exciting new frontier for The Dark Picturesto explore, but there are also promises that the expected gameplay will be evolving as well. It has been confirmed that the game will feature real-time threats and put an emphasis on stealth. This is a promising update, and it hopefully means the end to a tired mechanic in the series: the heartbeat rhythm game.
Directive 8020 Will Hopefully Put The Dark Pictures Rhythm Game to Rest
Bringing Deeper Mechanics to The Dark Pictures
The Dark Picturesgames have featured a variety of compelling horror stories, but the games have also been hit with accusations of being walking simulators. AlthoughThe Dark Picturestitles aren’t known for their gameplay, this seems like it might change, at least slightly. This turn to stealth and real-time danger is a surprising but welcome change of pace, and it will be even better if it ends the use of the heartbeat rhythm game players have been required to go through in previous entries.
The concept of the rhythm game makes sense and is simple. Players have to keep in time with button prompts as a character’s heartbeat keeps the rhythm. If players fail to keep time, there could be deadly consequences. This mechanic is used when a character has to hide from the game’s enemies, and unfortunately, it has grown old. There are someaspectsDirective 8020needs to avoidif it wants to kick off Season 2 strong, and the long-running rhythm game is the perfect place to start.
A release date forDirective 8020has yet to be announced, but it is expected to be released sometime in 2025.
Although this rhythm-based game has been a connecting feature throughout the franchise, it seems more like a way for Supermassive Games to sidestep the walking simulator comments. It’s an evolution ofUntil Dawn’s treacherous motion sensor controls, but it is time for something new. WithDirective 8020’sDead Spacevibes, a more stealth-focused take onThe Dark Picturesgameplay will be fascinating to see come to fruition.
Directive 8020 Bringing Season 2 of The Dark Pictures Anthology to Life
With the game being led by Lashana Lynch and a bold new subversion of how the established gameplay of the series is being handled,Directive 8020is a thrilling prospect. There are plenty of ways thatDirective 8020could risk feeling like a recycled sci-fi horror story, but its embrace of cosmic horror will hopefully inspire Supermassive Games to be more experimental instead of reusing old tropes. Thankfully, the confirmation thatThe Dark Picturesgames are leaning more towards stealth and involved gameplay hints that experimentation and playing with the formula is going to be a major part of Season 2.
AsThe Dark Picturesanthology’s first foray into cosmic horror, it will be compelling to see how far Supermassive Games is able to handle the subgenre. The inclusion of the heartbeat rhythm game was a fair attempt at making the series more interactive, but hopefully,Directive 8020has found a better balance between cinematic moments and immersing players in the story.
The Dark Pictures
The Dark Pictures Anthology is a franchise crafted by Supermassive Games, the same creative team that released Until Dawn. Similar to Until Dawn, the Dark Pictures Anthology includes a series of horror-inspired adventures that feature decision-making and an interactive narrative-driven experience. So far, the Dark Pictures has seen Little Hope, the House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me.
