Dark Realm: Guardian of Flames – Review

Queen Valera is one of the last mages of the Firewielders and her next challenge is the hardest one yet. Long ago, the Dark Lord Azomod was banished to the depths of the Dark Realm, but he has managed to escape and ready to come back stronger than ever. Can Queen Valera uses her power to defend Azomod from destroying her beloved kingdom?

Dark Realm has always been one of our personal favorite series due to its stellar storytelling and excellent execution. Guardian of Flames tells a story that is nothing unique to the genre, and might have been deemed boring if it was done by some other developers. However, the creative minds at Mad Head managed to make this same-old storyline feels fresh and interesting, especially by including exciting backstory and introducing fascinating characters.

A good story would go to waste if it is accompanied by a lackluster production. Luckily, the visuals in Dark Realm: Guardian of Flames could not have been more epic. Each scene is drawn and painted with such precision and professionalism that is extremely captivating. Of course, the cutscenes and the audio are essential as well, and Mad Head certainly does not disappoint.

Dark Realm: Guardian of Flames involves a fair share of hand-holding, which dilutes the challenge of the game a little. Still, the game remains satisfyingly entertaining, particularly with its hidden object scenes and puzzles. As always, the hidden object scenes are multi-layered and varied, featuring incredible designs and top-notch creativity. The puzzles are well-integrated into the storyline and offer minor challenges.

Compared to other games in Mad Head’s archive, Dark Realm: Guardian of Flames is relatively weak in terms of bonus content. The Collector’s Edition comes with a bonus chapter, a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, replayable hidden object scenes, achievements, morphing objects, and collectibles.

Dark Realm: Guardian of Flames is another outstanding addition to this spotless franchise. The gameplay could have been a little more complex, but the game is pretty much perfect otherwise.