How Directive 8020 Could Kick Off a New Era of Dark Pictures Games

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How Directive 8020 Could Kick Off a New Era of Dark Pictures Games

Key Takeaways

  • Directive 8020 marks a thrilling new chapter in The Dark Pictures Anthology, diving into hard sci-fi and intense body horror.
  • Featuring powerhouse actor Lashana Lynch as astronaut Brianna Young, the game teases grotesque transformation and sinister lurking.
  • Supermassive Games’ cosmic horror tone in Directive 8020 opens doors for fresh, fear-inducing scenarios in the evolving horror genre.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of chills and thrills under my belt, I can confidently say that the latest addition to The Dark Pictures Anthology, Directive 8020, has piqued my interest like no other. With its hard sci-fi setting and intense body horror elements, it’s clear Supermassive Games is pushing the boundaries of what this franchise can do.

The mysterious Directive 8020, which has been shrouded in secrecy since its unveiling, has recently revealed more details about its cosmic horror chapter within The Dark Pictures Anthology at Gamescom. Supermassive Games’ chilling horror series has always offered terrifying tales, but the upcoming Directive 8020 is introducing an exhilarating twist to its storyline.

Onboard the colony ship of Cassiopeia, disaster has struck.

Directive 8020 Teases Intense Body Horror

There is Something Sinister Lurking on the Cassiopeia

Although the trailer for Directive 8020 was brief, it provided a little more insight into what players can expect. Until now, all that was known about Directive 8020 was a short teaser trailer that revealed the game’s space setting. The sneak peek was revealed as an Easter egg in its predecessor, The Devil in Me. In the new trailer, pilot Brianna Young is shown running down a dark hallway overrun with some sort of organic-looking material covering the walls. It’s unknown what is chasing her until the end of the trailer reveals that something mimicking Young’s appearance is the one on her tail.

The trailer then cuts to various shots of what are presumably crew members being transformed by an unknown substance or being that could be taking inspiration from Dead Space and The Thing. Body horror in video games can really make a player’s stomach turn if done effectively, and Directive 8020 will hopefully nail this premise. Although the flashes of crew members being transformed into monsters were brief, they appeared quite grotesque. This is an exciting turn for Supermassive Games, as the series has only dabbled with this type of horror.

Supermassive Games has delved into the theme of body horror in its two lengthy productions, but not extensively in The Dark Pictures Anthology. The game that sparked the series, Until Dawn, presented a chilling portrayal of a Wendigo, while The Quarry offered a fresh perspective on the werewolf storyline. Both games depicted gruesome ways in which a human’s body could be disfigured by supernatural entities, but The Dark Pictures Anthology has yet to fully delve into this. Exploring body horror can lead to incredibly frightening scenarios, and it would be exciting if Directive 8020 gave Supermassive Games the opportunity to further investigate this theme.

Future Dark Pictures Titles Could Lean Into More Grotesque Imagery

In order for “The Dark Pictures Anthology” to maintain its distinct identity within the rapidly developing horror genre, Supermassive Games should consider venturing into a fresh direction with their upcoming title, “Directive 8020”. As this game marks the start of Season 2, it’s crucial that it makes a strong impact. The best Supermassive Games productions have been characterized by innovative twists on conventional horror themes, and the cosmic horror atmosphere of “Directive 8020” presents numerous opportunities for creativity. Cosmic horror, as seen in classics like the “Alien” series and “Event Horizon”, is a highly creative subgenre that invites exploration into the unknown horrors lurking in space.

Time will reveal whether Directive 8020 will rank among the most chilling cosmic horror game titles in contemporary gaming, but its early indications are compelling. With Lashana Lynch spearheading the narrative and an innovative fresh landscape, The Dark Pictures series seems to be on the brink of an exciting new chapter.

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2024-08-26 20:23