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D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die
By Neilie Johnson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Surreal, violent murder investigation has control flaws.
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D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die
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What’s It About?
D4: DARK DREAMS DON'T DIE tells the story of "a man with a very strange fate." That man is David Young, a former detective with the Boston police department. After a full mental breakdown, David spends his days locked in his apartment mourning the loss of his pregnant wife, Peggy, and swearing revenge upon her killers. The upside of his terrible loss is that he's gained the ability to "dive" into the past by touching various items called "mementos." He uses this ability to jump back into the midst of an old drug case involving an airplane, a vanishing courier, and a shadowy figure called only "D." He's convinced that if he can identify "D," he'll find his wife's killer.
Is It Any Good?
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is an unforgettably bizarre adventure. On the surface, it's a typical hard-boiled detective story, but underneath it's a surreal trip through one man's psyche. David has the ability to travel through time and space, so the action jumps between the present and the past. The present involves piecing together events leading up to David's wife's murder and hanging out with his gluttonous ex-partner and a strange, free-loading girl who thinks she's a cat. Although the present contains plenty of pointless (albeit entertaining) moments, the past focuses strictly on David's investigation. You search for evidence and interview passengers/potential suspects (there are many eccentric, even grotesque, personalities). Things get downright David Lynchian here, full of twisted nightmare logic. It's both exciting and unsettling.
Unfortunately, the experience is diluted by a clunky control scheme. Everything is done by moving a pointer over on-screen icons, which is slightly less cumbersome with a controller. Other problems are the game's wooden characters and episodic nature. The former you can get used to; the latter just isn't fair, because it means the game ends right when it's really getting interesting. Despite these flaws, D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is well worth your time and money. It offers an absorbing story, interesting ideas and varied, compelling gameplay. Its stylistic approach could make playing it a “love it or hate it” kind of prospect, but if you keep an open mind, you're in for a good -- or at least thought-provoking -- time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Familes can talk about violence in games. What's more disturbing: the depiction of violence or psychological motives that cause someone to commit violence?
Discuss losing a loved one. The main character in D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die loses his wife tragically and has trouble mourning her. How do different people express grief? What might be a healthy way to handle painful emotions?
Game Details
- Platform: Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Access Games
- Release date: September 19, 2014
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures
- ESRB rating: M for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content and/or Strong Language
- Last updated: January 13, 2022
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