Finding the Best ARPG Ever Made: Darkstone

Darkstone is one of the oldest ARPG's, releasing way back in 1999. Therefore, it's understandable that it completely ripped off every single thing that made Diablo such a success. But, through a series of innovations not seen in the genre even to this day, Darkstone carves out a unique experience for itself. And does that mean it is possibly the best ARPG ever made? No, probably not.
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[@Rencol666]

okay since im one of the very few people who actually played the game extensively, i fell obliged to give some points: 1) game was revolutionary at its time for random main quests generation. D1 just randomized side quests, this did the story 2) you could select and play as 2 characters at once, in single player. When you control one, the other does what you tell it to (cast spells, tank, ranged attack...) and it gave the game very unique feeling 3) the skills you can learn can be very game changing and were totally new for me in hack and slash game 4) there is area with training dummies you can practice on 5) you picked the most boring class. Each class specializes on different kind of weapon main stats 6) there was male and female variant for each class, but those actually had different skills and playstyle 7) manual/automatic combat style changes what left mouse button do. Manual you have to click for every attack like D1, automatic you click and hold like in D2 8) there is A LOT of spells in this game and some were very visually pleasant and interesting 9) there are hidden things in game, like the bard in town, if you click on the plate for donations and give her money, a cutscene will play with quite nice song playing for you 10) you can reach the end boss without finishing the main quest, but because you need the crystals to weaken him he will just pwn your ass 11) instead of diablo, the game is more a combination of diablo, nox and ultima 12) if this game had a remaster, i would gladly pay 70 bucks for it

[@-RedWitch-]

Also there is a cool song

[@UNGGodYT]

the cristals are for stopping him from regenerate health, without activating it, when he is close to death , he gains full life again. it is a pity the magic equipment is only unlock is higher difficulties and most people would not change it and restart before finishing the game once. it is funny you can actually kill the last boss invisible with aura of pain.

[@bondapovon]

This was my first AARPG ever lol

[@seer6251]

You're a mega chad, thank you for the writeup. I always try to make a leveled review of something I haven't played, and therefore I never look up much of anything. Only if I'm stuck because something is vaguely cryptic. These points are definitely stuff I would cover if I had to make the video over again, and I might just go back and investigate the game some more for my own personal interest.

[@Daftanemone]

@@seer6251based on your last few videos you won’t. People call you out for your bad takes every video and never do anything to correct them

[@wastelanderone]

That 'activate windows' absolute perfection.

[@warmetalpacifist]

If only there was "Unregistered Hypercam 2" up there too

[@cariyaputta]

3D with rotating isometric camera is crazy for the time. Grim Dawn's grandpa.

[@seer6251]

I know right, thought the same thing!

[@Notayoutuber8175]

Hey, new viewer here. You know how I can tell you're a great KZbinr? You've managed to make me, a guy who does not give a flying fuck about RPGs of any kind, binge watch a series about finding the best ARPG. You are quite possibly the funniest person I've ever come across on this platform and I genuinely love every video I've seen from you. Keep up the incredible work and keep being awesome! ❤️

[@seer6251]

Thank you so much! It's super humbling for me that you enjoy my content, despite not being invested in the subject matter. Comments like yours make my whole week! I'm excited to continue talking this kind of shit as much as possible!

[@Weirdo9494]

The age value does in fact matter a lot. I remember someone in my family getting super invested into this game, but they would never use healing potions, just wait out damage. It turns out, they waited so long their character got into their 60s and their stats plummeted. They couldn't even survive a single fight against a random mook. Made them ragequit the game and they never played it since. I also remember using the Horn of Plenty in that one quest you did to spawn rows and rows of chicken to just leave laying on the ground before turning it in. Like, I would cover the floor with chicken and just come back to it and pick a chicken off the floor anytime I was hungry. Now that I realize it, I probably could have sold it for infinite money and broke the game in comical ways, but I never considered it because I was a little child and had not developed my senses for manipulating game mechanics like a gremlin yet.

[@JanJansen985]

Im pretty sure i did that with the horn of plenty and it didnt work out I dont think you could sell food or it wasnt profitable

[@seer6251]

Wow, those are two very cool facts! I would've never guessed the age thing, and I didn't bother trying to use the horn.

[@morj5184]

There was a glitch involving the banker in town to just duplicate money flat out, but I don't recall how to do it. Pretty crazy though!

[@Fsynergy]

do not hesitate to click this 2:43

[@luobomu9747]

Just do what the man says! What are you hesitating for?!

[@SpecShadow]

worth it

[@Robert_Paprika]

I did

[@RandomPerson964]

I came.

[@itsJets]

There was a bug for this game on PS1 where a certain mace in the shop sold for more than the purchase price so you could get infinite gold really early in the game lol

[@durrclips746]

Record of Lodoss War. Dreamcast. A dreamcast arpg! Do it! Do it!

[@sanguinedeserter561]

Just found ur channel, great content

[@seer6251]

Thank you!

[@icerennodd7006]

Holy shit. Core memory unlocked. Polar Bolar was the first thing I played on my first personal PC, a Windows XP from wayyy back.

[@FrasierFanMSU]

I spent too many of my evenings in the winter of 1999 eating 7-11 nachos, drinking Steel Reserve, and playing this game (in that order). Comparatively speaking, the game was *awesome.*

[@illiusterka]

Both wholesome and holesome, very good. Thank, Seer

[@seer6251]

Thank sir

[@Cam-pe3nd]

I seem to remember your character making an almost sarcastic "woww" when learning a skill, and being able to talk to an NPC that played a recording of a song by one of the dev's sister and her band or something like that. I played it for like ten minutes on the PSOne.

[@seer6251]

He does make the sarcastic wOoow sound lol. I actually thought about mentioning it. Didn't see the song NPC though, might go back and check it out.

[@Rencol666]

Oh finally some NEW video about darkstone! im writing this comment before watching the video, and if you slur my childhood love in any way, i will unsubscribe with tears in eyes!

[@Rencol666]

okay since im one of the very few people who actually played the game extensively, i fell obliged to give some points: 1) game was revolutionary at its time for random main quests generation. D1 just randomized side quests, this did the story 2) you could select and play as 2 characters at once, in single player. When you control one, the other does what you tell it to (cast spells, tank, ranged attack...) and it gave the game very unique feeling 3) the skills you can learn can be very game changing and were totally new for me in hack and slash game 4) there is area with training dummies you can practice on 5) you picked the most boring class. Each class specializes on different kind of weapon main stats 6) there was male and female variant for each class, but those actually had different skills and playstyle 7) manual/automatic combat style changes what left mouse button do. Manual you have to click for every attack like D1, automatic you click and hold like in D2 8) there is A LOT of spells in this game and some were very visually pleasant and interesting 9) there are hidden things in game, like the bard in town, if you click on the plate for donations and give her money, a cutscene will play with quite nice song playing for you 10) you can reach the end boss without finishing the main quest, but because you need the crystals to weaken him he will just pwn your ass 11) instead of diablo, the game is more a combination of diablo, nox and ultima 12) if this game had a remaster, i would gladly pay 70 bucks for it

[@mitchcolangelo550]

One of my all time favorite arpgs from back in the day. My cd stopped working one day sadly

[@Danielhofjr]

Seer video day is very good day 🎉

[@bondapovon]

Glad to see these more obscure ones. Looking forward to you doing Throne of Darkness to really cover the bases!

[@xAutoTx]

Not until he does Throne of Agony to put the ribbon on Dungeon Siege Dfebruary

[@Junks1774]

God damn. You’re criminally underrated, been watching you a rly long time. Love it all!

[@Nomnia]

10:42 seer, I like claymates. Used to play it all the time as a kid. Love that's its on the switch now. Can I get a t-shirt?

[@seer6251]

👕

[@naikyou]

Fitting that you mentioned Claymates. Someone I have been watching for like 16 years now just got done with a video series on that.

[@ethangnasher3848]

16 years? Who that may be?

[@naikyou]

@@ethangnasher3848 Someone called NakaTeleeli that has been uploading let's plays since then. His most recent playthroughs include stuff like Diablo 1, R Type Final 2 and Claymates, so a pretty wide array of genres.

[@naikyou]

@@ethangnasher3848 A guy called NakaTeleeli who has been making let's play videos since then. He covers quite the wide array of games, the most recent being Diablo 1 and R Type Final 2.

[@VideoGamingSociety]

Great video as always! You should review Sacred Gold edition

[@tendiesoffmyplate9085]

Man. This game came out around the same time in my head as Oni and Sanity: Aiken's artefact. Such nostalgia. Much ball tingling.

[@scrowfunk8109]

ACTIVATE WINDOWS DAMNIT

[@Casual.Gamer_0000]

🤣he don't even bothered to mention it in this time. i quess, its become the series symbol after the FATE review.

[@fartface8918]

if no one got me i know the activate windows noticaion got me, all my homies never activate windows

[@user-xu6pd5hs3r]

@@Casual.Gamer_0000he did mention it

[@MrDowntemp0]

never.

[@maciejkedziora8395]

Don't do it😄

[@TheEtherea]

The most important thing was that it really was a modernized version of D1 with their own twist. The 3d aspect of the game, the fact that you had different classes and sex to choose from was extremely mind blowing at the time, especially when D2 would launch at... was it 640x480 2d graphics? which was raised in LOD to 800x600.

[@jtnachos16]

I actually remember this game quite fondly from way back on the PS version. Spent stupid amounts of time on it. Oh, and Balder's gate Dark Alliance was mindblowing for a console version of an ARPG as well.

[@loquitran1]

Damn, I've played this game when I was a kid, there was a gaming magazine here that came with a game each week(or month?), and this game was one of them. I loved this game, thank you for doing a review.

[@loquitran1]

Holy shit, I am a fucking member??? Thank you whoever gifted me a subscription, if you ever read this.

[@ASHFAR578]

aww. my uncle played this a lot and i was watching when i was very young. beaten it myself not to long ago it was a nice game. also love the song bard plays

[@FatalKitsune]

I can't wait to see Seer take on the Deathspank franchise. Those games are... something.

[@7DragonEyes7]

Anyone did count the Diablo 1 mentions? I heard once the Diablo 3 meter reach 69, Seer will play Minecraft Dungeons.

[@majordude1065]

eventually this game would go full circle as several of its item icons would be used in the Diablo 2 mod, Median XL. Starts out lifting things from Diablo and is eventually lifted from to wind up in a Diablo 2 mod like 20 years after the game comes out. Great video as always, thank you for your hard work!

[@seer6251]

That's sick! Actually didn't know that, I love when games do that sort of thing. The Doom community loves grabbing official sprites/stuff from other games, and it's always fun to see that kind of fusion between games. And thank you for your kind words as well!

[@tobedetermined2424]

Something a bit interesting. This game was also on PS1. And the most notable thing about that is that the save game size takes up like half the memory card.

[@thereshi6599]

Fuck yes, new seer arpg vid. My shitty week might've just turned around.

[@BaDMrFrOsTii]

Big fan of Claymates AND ClayFighter. Thanks for the shirt, bro.

[@KOSS800]

Aging mechanic was a total pain in the ass. As your age gets old your stats start decreasing. Youth potions become invaluable at that point. Awesome game at the time

[@seth8858]

Claymates is a gem, I want that tshirt!

[@DrRESHES]

It's funny what i did to find this video. I opened an old early 00s physical game journal that I have since childhood, flipped through it, there was a top 10 at the end - which was about hottest women from video games, it said that the Rin from Drakan is N.2 and was on the cover of their magazine in 1999, which I don't have, but i have all their magazines digitally. Found it, flipped through it, saw DarkStone with a high score, searched the name here, and here I am.

[@samflood5631]

I remembered playing this game a lot on my Samsung Tablet. It’s a shame that this was pulled from the App Store sometime in 2016. I do hope that Darkstone will have a PS5/PS6/PS7 remake in the future.

[@MrDaniLestat]

Hey Seer! I think you should try Xanadu Next, it's a japanese take on the genre, made by Falcom, the creators of the Ys series :D I bet you'll like it

[@brandonsutton3714]

Ahhh man, I remember buying that for Playstation...waaaay back in the day. Can't remember a single thing about it, though!

[@dylan8363]

I played this game! I remember it taking up lots of space on the PS1 memory card 😃

[@GNParty]

I can't believe Seer goes through all 100s of his comments to leave a ♥️ on each‼️

[@WalcomS7]

I had no idea this was on PC. I played Diablo and Diablo 2 before this, but remember losing a whole week to playing this on the Playstation and it was pretty OHKAY. Any chance you played Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on the Gameboy Advance? It's an Diablo with more hobbits. Kid me thought it was okay, but he's an idiot.

[@seer6251]

Oh shit a GBA ARPG? I will definitely take a look at that lol. I have rampant curiosity to how that will be and who you play as.

[@danielsicko8593]

There are four GBA ARPGs. Two LotR games and Shining Soul 1 and 2

[@WalcomS7]

@@danielsicko8593 Oh yeah! I actually have played a bit of Shining Soul recently, and it was actually really good. Had drops with affixes and everything, and built for multiplayer. Made me hate the fact I never played it as a kid. As for the second LOTR Game, now I wonder which one I played.

[@temnbl1]

Love your vids!

[@seer6251]

Thank you!

[@TheNemkris]

A carpenter opening the way to God? Cool symbolism. Also great video it made me laugh multiple times which is quite rare!

[@Roge9]

This game was a good time on the PS1, despite the port having issues. Think it also had some cool exclusive things too.

[@warmetalpacifist]

Seer is such a great youtuber that I sometimes imagine myself visiting him, and eating chicken together. We would get along great, he's chimplike, I'm orangutanlike. I'm sure we could be friends

[@warmetalpacifist]

Also, Draak on these

[@Kestila]

holy nostalgia my brothers and I used to play this on ps1

[@ClausRow]

same

[@dermosquitor9984]

Will you give tochlight synergies a go? I would like to knoe what you think about the balancing.

[@numulis321]

I would love an update on the Diablo 2 mercenary run through when you get some free time :-) do you stream?

[@UNGGodYT]

I played the psx version, fun fact but unfun after it ends, after you goes to nest tier of difficult, the game starts to have equipment with magic attribute, armor with light aura, shield with mana shield, helmeth with eternal youth/abundance, weapons that shoots magic missiles or fireball when attacking, it become a lot more fun to play, also the game has several quest for the cristal, so it is not always the same. But i am sad you did not mention the musical or the "band of the well" a single time.

[@seer6251]

Wow, it might be worth playing again in that case lol. I usually figure increasing the difficulty doesn't make that large of a difference.

[@Augoeides32]

The game actually had a lot more depth to it. Playing as the Werewolf guy was a lot of fun, and some of the Spells got really crazy. I played this a ton when I was younger, and was absolutely hooked. However, I did try to go back and relive it some years back, and for whatever reason, the controls and movement just didn't hold up to my memory. I couldn't get through the first dungeon without getting frustrated from just trying to manage basic game crap.

[@Casual.Gamer_0000]

btw. you should try one of these: - Revenant - King's Bounty: Legend - Depths of Peril

[@SpecShadow]

+1 for Revenant- where unarmed combat felt like cheap VHS kung-fu movies

[@ArinJager1]

make one on *_Revenant_* (checked the wiki, it's an ARPG alright... from 1999, published by Eidos)... _thanks in advance_ :D

[@cup_noodls]

If Seer mentions Diablo 2 666 times he will have to activate Windows

[@paulferenc]

I remember I got this game from a friend back in 2004, and just fell in love with this game right away. Warrior and Wizard are my favorite characters, but i always played with only one, i hate sharing xp, plus that your secondary is really dumb get stuck all time, cant even cast spells or heal themself. That's why most people prefer playing with one instead of two characters in single player.

[@JamesHxc]

I had this on PlayStation growing up. Never beat it though. Little kid me thought this game was hard as hell and I never knew what to do.

[@LumberJackAhz]

Check out The Slormancer!!!! I really do think you will like it, and its at its 0.9 currently. So maybe wait until 1.0, but even now its still amazing to play!!!!!!!!

[@WildFungus]

sometimes I scream. Sometimes I scream SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER

[@Zelgados]

I love this game. I never got to play it on PC, but I use to play the hell out of it on the PSX.

[@scottmiller2467]

I don't know if he's heard of a game called shadows awakening but he should do a video on that one just for the gimmick alone

[@Wirt99]

The movement was so much smoother than d1, it didnt cause my eyes to bleed imo.

[@HNWILL]

saving the dark alliance and champions games for later ay

[@TheBladeKnight12]

@seer when will you post the minecraft dungeon experience or if it's the best ARPG? also will you ever categorize the game undecember as the best ARPG? it is also free to play :3

[@Scrial]

Hey Seer. Are you planning to look at Victor Vran? It's a pretty fun ARPG with WASD controls.

[@seer6251]

That one is definitely on the way!

[@james543]

Yo bro. The Darkstone will shine. Is Soulbringer an ARPG? Oh and Revenant.

[@dermosquitor9984]

I love this one. Its Diablo 1 nostalgia but even cosier. I am only sad that the female witch has a witch hat but the wizard dont have a gadalfesk wizard hat:( You vids have bekome one of my mothly highlights, for real!

[@seer6251]

Thank you! I'm really happy you're enjoying the videos! I can imagine if I played this one back in the day, I'd have a similar feeling of nostalgia, but it just blipped by me unfortunately.

[@polishdronestrike1797]

You know what game I will ask you to review, you have seen my comment under every recent arpg video

[@apblolol]

polar bowler was one of my favorite games

[@nassorshabataka9168]

hey man if want a suggest for a new arpg to play u should try riftbreaker its a tower defense arpg i think u would enjoy it

[@tristanmattwig8541]

R u going to play darksiders Genesis for this series?

[@connormako1987]

Please play Baulders Gate Dark Alliance 2 and Bards Tale. They have different and unique combat.

[@vorco1809]

I love this stuff. Don't play ARPG, but these are great.

[@seer6251]

Thank you!

[@ChainsX]

Holy shit I played this as a kid and thought I dreamt this up.

[@hanticleer1372]

Little fun fact about this game: if you play on the ps1 as a thief you can cancel the throwing knife animation by walking forward. Instantly making the thief the best class bar none!

[@UNGGodYT]

even more fun is to be a wizard using magic bomb and literally demolish any mob by running while spamming it.

[@davidbiro1671]

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut coming when?

[@knifemind]

I still have this one on disk. I think it's decent. The Win98/early XP days were good times.

[@seer6251]

Definitely a decent game! I enjoy playing and completing as much stuff as possible, and I wasn't having a bad time with this one.

[@Casual.Gamer_0000]

oh yes. i played this. this is amazing. especially the atmosphere and artstyle.

[@Lemmavs]

oh boy, its by the same ones that made Shaq Fu. but why does the graphics remind me soooo much of MediEvil on ps1 ? ^^

[@Eldergloom]

Check out Champions of Norrath and Champions: Return to Arms.

[@mr.negigen3k978]

BTW the itemization on novice difficulty seems purposely shitty. When you hit the next level threshold to unlock the next difficulty, instantly switch regardless of your progress. New modifiers start to appear on gear, as well as more of them stacked on each item. Also their bonuses are like 10 times higher.

[@krel3358]

I want to see more of your diablo 2 merc thing

[@seer6251]

Part 2 soon!™

[@krel3358]

@@seer6251 This word "soon" sounds like something Korean.

[@Prop-gl4fs]

Loki: Heroes of Mythology next?

[@swingeingfolk2196]

If only seer knew greek. He'd have a field day with that Kolos guy 😂😂

[@Skaatje]

There was a small hint in the name 'draak' though, since that literally means dragon. 🙃

[@Rencol666]

not to mention he is in the opening cinematic xD

[@seer6251]

oops lol

[@gregharder2765]

I've never beaten this game for all the reasons you provided and really appreciate the spoilers.

[@lerimusurelu6908]

It was a great game indeed, i was a kid when i played the Demo...

[@IceGamer98]

Best ending, catchphrase found!

[@Iankill2121]

I loved this game as a kid after renting it for psx, mostly because it was like diablo.

[@KurisuKun]

I really dig the graphics

[@RC-vc2io]

Seer really is the best.

[@baileysmith2999]

Nice video, would you like to review X-Men Legends/Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

[@seer6251]

Of course! MUA was all the rage at some point in my life, I played it a long time ago. Always down to try stuff out.

[@baileysmith2999]

@@seer6251 👍🏻

[@deetsitmeisterjd]

Seer coming in clutch while I yank my clutch. Diablo 2. Balls. Chad etc, yada yada, you know the drill folks.

[@Jasiuuu]

used to play it back in the day ( i was 11 xD) when diablo droped never touched this again till 2023 when i replay it for nostalgia five popcorn bags

[@ColaOfKoala]

I’m a Claymates fan!

[@Grizz.99607]

Another request to review Cory in the house on the ds 👏

[@caramelconundrum9280]

This game has a dope soundtrack

[@Craisant]

also i like claymates, do i get the shirt now?

[@seer6251]

👕

[@theguy405]

Holy shit my childhood

[@marcel3644]

V rising next!! 🧛🏻

[@knastrarn]

Seer first person in history of gaming to play Darkstone singleplayer with 1 character! Wtf!

[@catchinvibes]

@10:00 You missed a wasp.