Review: Darkest Dungeon: The Fire's Edge

Embers and Blades Arrive in the Dungeon

Darkest Dungeon: The Fire's Edge is the new DLC for the first Darkest Dungeon, bringing additional content to Red Hook Studios' strategic RPG. The main highlights are the arrival of two new characters, the Runaway and the Duelist, as well as new combat mechanics, Trinkets, Districts, and events for the Hamlet. It is an expansion arriving years after the original release, adding new possibilities for those who continue exploring the game's dungeons.

CONTEÚDO

The Runaway is one of the added characters and has a very interesting mechanic involving fire and embers. Her abilities allow her to create burning areas on the battlefield, making enemy positioning important to get the most out of her attacks. She primarily works as a damage-dealing character positioned toward the back of the formation, contributing to the party while using her fire-related abilities.

The Duelist, on the other hand, has a different approach and makes heavy use of movement during combat. Her abilities allow her to constantly move forward and backward between the party's positions, switching between different stances and making the most of her counterattacks. She is a character who relies heavily on positioning, adding a different dynamic to team composition.

In addition to the two characters, The Fire's Edge adds new customization options through Trinkets and three new Districts for the Hamlet. There are also new events that can appear throughout the campaign, providing additional rewards and benefits. The content was designed to integrate with the original game and also received special attention regarding compatibility with existing mods.

MY IMPRESSIONS

I really enjoyed the content added, especially the two new characters. The Runaway ended up being my favorite, mainly because of the ability to place fire and embers on the ground. It is a mechanic that I found quite different within the first Darkest Dungeon, especially considering how long the game has been available and the fact that it already has a sequel. The Runaway works very well as a damage dealer from the backline, although I still believe there are better alternatives when the goal is to maximize the party's damage output.

The Duelist also caught my attention because of the way she works. She practically moves back and forth between the other characters during combat, creating an interesting mix between a short- and long-range character. The counterattack system is also one of the aspects I liked most about her, and I particularly think this mechanic could work very well on other characters in the game. She is a character who requires attention to positioning, but that is precisely what makes her so interesting to use.

One aspect that could have been handled better is the way the DLC content is incorporated into the game. I think it is interesting to have the option to select which DLCs we want to use, especially for players starting a new campaign, but I felt that the content could have been integrated more naturally once it was available. In my case, I started the game without fully understanding how the new characters would be added. Once I started using the content, however, the experience was very positive. The new Trinkets and Districts also complement the experience well and help fit the new content into Darkest Dungeon's existing structure.

TRAILER OFFICIAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elgCnwSNZcM

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Fire's Edge shows that there is still room to add new possibilities to the first Darkest Dungeon, even so many years after its release. I particularly enjoyed the two new characters, with the Runaway being the biggest highlight for me, and I also found the way the new systems complement the familiar experience quite interesting. The content is not particularly extensive, but it is quite meaningful for those who continue playing and enjoy experimenting with new combinations in Darkest Dungeon.

SCORE: 7.9/10

Review by Gamertag: SCOULZ