Karma: The Dark World

Imagine, if you will, an adaptation of the book 1984 directed by David Lynch from a screenplay by Christopher Nolan. That’s the best way to describe the new science fiction brain-bender Karma: The Dark World, a game where you’re never really sure what’s real and what is a fabricated memory created by an evil corporation. With a heavy dose of surreal imagery and confounding twists and turns, you’ll never know where this game is going next, leaving you scratching your head right up to the very end. But does a good mystery equate to a good game? That’s what we’re about to find out when I review Karma: The Dark World.

Where do I even begin? This is the story of a man who wakes up in a hospital bed unsure of who he is or what’s going on. He’s understandably taken aback by his weird metal arm, the strange glitches happening outside and the fact that he looks exactly like Machine Gun Kelly after a month-long bender. That’s confusing, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg, because it won’t take long for our hero to find himself inside the body of Daniel McGovern, a strait-laced agent for the Thought Bureau who is investigating crimes against an evil corporation called Leviathan. Are you confused? Good!

I’m not going to lie; this type of wacky science fiction set-up is right up my alley. It’s the reason I got hooked to shows like Lost and Twin Peaks, and I knew that I was going to love this game right from the cold open. In just the first few minutes, I had so many questions. Who is this amnesiac? Why are they growing humans in dirt? What’s up with all of the people with television heads? And, most importantly, did they really think they could get away with setting part of the game in the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks and we wouldn’t notice it? I mean, they didn’t even change the floor tiles.

Without spoiling too much, I can say that Karma is about an investigation. It starts out as a fairly straight-forward case against Sean Mehndez. No, not that Shawn Mendes, but rather a scientist who was working on an experimental project before going crazy and getting himself arrested. By quite literally traveling inside of Sean’s memories, we’re able to put the puzzle together and solve the case. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. But things start to go sideways when the Bureau’s investigator starts learning the truth about the company he works for.

Things become even more complicated when Rachel Weiss shows up. No, not that Rachel Weisz, but rather another scientist who holds the key to answering a lot of the questions set up at the start. Or maybe she complicates things even more. The truth is, the whole thing is a little murky and you won’t know what’s going on until you watch the thirty-minute-long ending cinema. And even then, you might still have a few questions.

Because this is a game about a guy who is inside the mind of another guy who is often inside the mind of a third person, much of this game feels like a fever dream. There’s a haziness to each scenario, almost as if we’re spying in on the memories of an untrustworthy narrator. The set-up gives the developers the freedom to craft an experience that touches on practically every emotion, all while never getting so weird that you stop caring about the characters. The game seamlessly shifts from being genuinely frightening to emotionally melodramatic in the blink of an eye, and when I tell you to expect the unexpected, I mean it. One of the most touching moments involves a couple of dots in a Pac-Man style maze. You can’t say that about very many games.

Although the more surreal moments don’t necessarily add much to the story, they are extremely cool to look at. I joked about the obvious nods to the Black Lodge, but there are definitely times when it feels like you’re on a roller coaster ride through some of David Lynch’s greatest nightmares. What’s nice is that there’s a fun mix of different styles and tones, leading to a game that is constantly changing from one scene to the next. More than anything else, this is a game about memorable moments. Even if you don’t follow the convoluted story, the big moments and set pieces will stick with you long after the game ends.

Despite the surreal levels and dream logic, Karma is very much a standard first-person narrative adventure. It’s the kind of game where you pick up notes and diaries that help fill in the backstory, all while solving extremely simple puzzles in order to get more of the story. I will say that Karma does a better job of keeping the gameplay fresh than most games in this genre, which may make it more appealing to those who normally avoid this type of game. For example, one harrowing scenario will have our hero use a camera to not only see an alternate world, but also defeat the monsters in it. There are also some genuinely fun chase scenes, adding some exciting action to the horror and melodrama.

Best of all, the whole thing looks great. And I’m not just talking about the cool set pieces, but also the people and the dystopian world. Even the boring interiors are fascinating to look at, thanks to the retro futurism style and technology. This game does more world building before the title card drops than some games do in an entire trilogy. And when those memorable moments hit, they look phenomenal.

On the downside, there are times when I wished the roller coaster ride was a little more interactive. There are lengthy stretches of the game devoted to the story being told to you or just watching cinemas. This is especially noticeable in the final act, where you solve two very short puzzles before watching an ending that’s somehow longer than a Charles in Charge rerun. If you’re looking for a lot of action and puzzles, then you might be disappointed, because this first-person adventure is more interested in the story and mystery.

Speaking of which, I’m not sure how much sense Karma’s story actually makes. Don’t get me wrong, I was fully with it in the moment, but the more I thought about it after the fact, the less sense it made. It also hints at a sequel that could be even more exciting, though also complicates my understanding of what happens in the core game. I have a hunch that a second play will help answer some of the questions I had, though it’s okay if there are some holes in this ambitious science fiction adventure. It’s not the first time that’s happened.

The problem with reviewing a game like Karma is that I’m forced to talk around most of the best story beats and spoilers. At $25, I would say that the ride is well worth the price of admission. It lasts around four or five hours, and let me tell you, those hours are packed with crazy and memorable moments you won’t soon forget. I’m only scratching the surface with this review. If you’re a fan of this type of science fiction thriller, then you’re going to find a lot to love about Karma: The Dark World.