Posted February 08, 2016
I absolutely love this game!! Forgive me if I jump around a bit...
I was 12 years old and got Dark Earth for Christmas in 1997. I was expecting some mediocre crappy game because my parents weren't very good with picking things out related to video games. It turned out to be one of the best games I ever owned in the Windows '95 and Windows '98 era.
The story of Arkhan unfolds in a unique, interesting, post apocalyptic, dark fantasy setting which is unlike anything else I've ever played. The look and feel of the game combined with great cut scenes to further the story were ahead of their time. The pre rendered backgrounds are reminiscent of Myst and Riven but when you add the story and gameplay, it's so much better than Myst and Riven (even though those games broke the mold for immersive environments and puzzles).
Unfortunately the game only runs the best on Windows '95, Windows '98, Windows XP if you're a techie who knows how to change certain configurations, or a modern virtual machine which emulates Windows '95/'98.
I'm fortunate to have found playonmac.com which allows me to play it on my Macbook. You just download everything, pick Windows '95 in the Wine configuration, then pick to MANUALLY install. Browse your disc drive (or torrent if you downloaded it) for the setup.exe file. Playonmac will run the setup and install the game for you. Then you will have shortcuts showing from the Playonmac menu such as Dark Earth 32K and Dark Earth 256. I double click on Dark Earth 256 and the game runs just fine. Here's the only catch I've found: you can NOT save your game. If you try going into the save menu from the main screen, the game will crash!! So you still beat the game as long as you leave your computer on, use pause, and don't die! :)
It's a shame that ever since Kalisto Entertainment vanished, they abandoned this. There's a video on Youtube showing the development team working on Dark Earth although it's in French. It looks like it was filmed as sort of a promo piece for the game while they were working on it.
*Just add www. before the link
.youtube.com/watch?v=xMYjwM-p0l8
There's also information and screenshots showing a game called Silent Chaos. It started off being the sequel to Dark Earth but was changed a bit once Squaresoft got a hold of it (they were going to publish it). You can very much see from the screenshots and trailer how it started off as Dark Earth 2 and then mutated once Square got it. Just look at the characters (Square) versus the environment (Dark Earth 2).
*Just add www. before the link
.unseen64.net/2009/08/03/silent-chaos-psx-cancelled/
I wish there was some way we could contact someone who was part of making Dark Earth! There has to be a way to bring this to GOG so we can all enjoy it on modern operating systems such as Windows 8 and 10 and Mac computers! What would be even better is if someone enhanced the graphics and everything so the game could be ported as a digital download to PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC/Mac. However, that would cost money and since Kalisto Entertainment is defunct, I don't know who would pay for it and make the effort.
This is such a good game that deserves to be recognized for how awesome it was and still is! When I fired this game up on my Mac yesterday for the first time in about 15 years, I was ecstatic! Sure the controls are a little clunky, the combat leaves more to be desired, and it looks a little dated, but those are minor gripes compared to all the positive things Dark Earth has to offer.
Everyone who enjoys adventure/fantasy/dark/mature themes should definitely give this game a try! It's a pain to get running but I promise you it's a journey worth playing through!
There's a few good Dark Earth walkthroughs I've seen on Youtube too! Spread the word and please try to get this game brought back into the limelight! I'd sacrifice one of my nuts just to get this game remastered or have a sequel made!!
Dark Earth is amazing! Go find a way to play it now!!!
I was 12 years old and got Dark Earth for Christmas in 1997. I was expecting some mediocre crappy game because my parents weren't very good with picking things out related to video games. It turned out to be one of the best games I ever owned in the Windows '95 and Windows '98 era.
The story of Arkhan unfolds in a unique, interesting, post apocalyptic, dark fantasy setting which is unlike anything else I've ever played. The look and feel of the game combined with great cut scenes to further the story were ahead of their time. The pre rendered backgrounds are reminiscent of Myst and Riven but when you add the story and gameplay, it's so much better than Myst and Riven (even though those games broke the mold for immersive environments and puzzles).
Unfortunately the game only runs the best on Windows '95, Windows '98, Windows XP if you're a techie who knows how to change certain configurations, or a modern virtual machine which emulates Windows '95/'98.
I'm fortunate to have found playonmac.com which allows me to play it on my Macbook. You just download everything, pick Windows '95 in the Wine configuration, then pick to MANUALLY install. Browse your disc drive (or torrent if you downloaded it) for the setup.exe file. Playonmac will run the setup and install the game for you. Then you will have shortcuts showing from the Playonmac menu such as Dark Earth 32K and Dark Earth 256. I double click on Dark Earth 256 and the game runs just fine. Here's the only catch I've found: you can NOT save your game. If you try going into the save menu from the main screen, the game will crash!! So you still beat the game as long as you leave your computer on, use pause, and don't die! :)
It's a shame that ever since Kalisto Entertainment vanished, they abandoned this. There's a video on Youtube showing the development team working on Dark Earth although it's in French. It looks like it was filmed as sort of a promo piece for the game while they were working on it.
*Just add www. before the link
.youtube.com/watch?v=xMYjwM-p0l8
There's also information and screenshots showing a game called Silent Chaos. It started off being the sequel to Dark Earth but was changed a bit once Squaresoft got a hold of it (they were going to publish it). You can very much see from the screenshots and trailer how it started off as Dark Earth 2 and then mutated once Square got it. Just look at the characters (Square) versus the environment (Dark Earth 2).
*Just add www. before the link
.unseen64.net/2009/08/03/silent-chaos-psx-cancelled/
I wish there was some way we could contact someone who was part of making Dark Earth! There has to be a way to bring this to GOG so we can all enjoy it on modern operating systems such as Windows 8 and 10 and Mac computers! What would be even better is if someone enhanced the graphics and everything so the game could be ported as a digital download to PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC/Mac. However, that would cost money and since Kalisto Entertainment is defunct, I don't know who would pay for it and make the effort.
This is such a good game that deserves to be recognized for how awesome it was and still is! When I fired this game up on my Mac yesterday for the first time in about 15 years, I was ecstatic! Sure the controls are a little clunky, the combat leaves more to be desired, and it looks a little dated, but those are minor gripes compared to all the positive things Dark Earth has to offer.
Everyone who enjoys adventure/fantasy/dark/mature themes should definitely give this game a try! It's a pain to get running but I promise you it's a journey worth playing through!
There's a few good Dark Earth walkthroughs I've seen on Youtube too! Spread the word and please try to get this game brought back into the limelight! I'd sacrifice one of my nuts just to get this game remastered or have a sequel made!!
Dark Earth is amazing! Go find a way to play it now!!!
Post edited February 08, 2016 by chameleonsky
