Darksburg

Darksburg is a four-player, top-down Co-Op Multiplayer Action Game by French independent developer Shiro Games. It was released on Steam in Early Access on February 12, 2020, and left EA on September 23 of that year.

It can summed up as Left 4 Dead meets Action RPG meets Roguelike. It takes place in the titular fictional, Germanic-flavored late medieval city, which finds itself ravaged by a Zombie Apocalypse. The players take the role of a Ragtag Bunch of Misfits trying to fight their way to survival. Standing in their way are not only the shambling hordes of Infected, but dangerous Revenants, foremost among them the fallen Baron von Darksburg himself.

Originally, gameplay was much more similar to Left 4 Dead, where a single fixed map would be played at a time with an option for a versus mode where other players could control the Revenants. The Baron would be encountered at random in each level, like the Tank enemy in L4D This gametype is still playable as "Classic" mode.

The later "Going Rogue" update added a new gametype called "Outbreak", where each map is played in sequence, with the added hiccup of their layouts using Procedural Generation. Enemy encounters, items, and gameplay modifiers are all randomized. After the four main maps, you must face the Baron in his crypt to win the run. If you do win, you unlock a higher difficulty setting, beginning with Normal and progressing from Ascension 1 to 10, each round adding newer and more difficulty modifiers.

Tropes used in Darksburg include:

• Action Girl: Rose, Abigail and Dr. Dolorosa. The description of the "Ukemi Mastery" perk implies that Dolorosa is also an...
• Action Mom: Though that could just be in a figurative sense given her concern for her patients.
• Added Alliterative Appeal: The player characters are identified this way: Rose and Twig are the Deadeye Duo, Abigail is the Neurotic Nun, Runolf is the Gleeful Gourmet, Varag is the Wary Wolfman, and Dr. Dolorosa is the Macabre Matron.
• All-Natural Snake Oil: Referenced by the flavor text for the "Dr. Dolorosa's Four Thieves Vinegar" curio. The good doctor reformulated it to simply poison the Infected instead.
• Attack Animal: Rose has one in Twig, a trained, deadly... chipmunk?
• Automatic Crossbows: In gameplay terms Rose's crossbow behaves this way. The player can continuously fire and Rose is never seen actually reloading it.
• Badass Beard: Runolf braids his into two separate tails.
• Badass Grandpa: Varag is stated to be "elderly." His fur is a bit grayish and his voice rather raspy, but its anyone's guess how wolfmen age in this setting.
• The Berserker: Varag can be played this way, and it isn't necessarily mutually exclusive with playing him as a tank.
• Big Fun: Runolf is somewhere between this and Stout Strength. He's a burly, bearded mountain of a man with arm muscles to match, but a little round around the midsection and by far the friendliest member of the team.
• The Big Guy: Runolf again.
• Blood Knight: Rose enjoys fighting "a little more then is socially acceptable- even in Darksburg."
• Bounty Hunter: Rose is one, or was, anyway. One of her selection quotes in the main menu attests to her annoyance that she's not getting paid to fight zombies. One of her last jobs before the outbreak was capturing Varag- good thing he doesn't hold grudges.
• Burning Rubber: Abigail's Whirlwind can leave behind a trail of damaging flames with a certain perk. Runolf can also do this with one of his perks, "Slurp Road"- but in his case, it's burning soup. Notably, allies standing on the soup trail will continuously heal, whereas his thrown soup only heals on impact.
• Chef of Iron: Runolf yet again. His mushroom soup is apparently so good that it can heal and buff the team and as be used as Edible Ammunition against the Infected.
• Clap Your Hands If You Believe: Referenced by the flavor text of the "Sister Abigail's Symbol of the Light" curio. It is supposed to manifest the faith of its user as a fiery aura (which it actually does in game) but apparently this came as a great surprise to the first person for whom this actually worked.
• Cool Mask: Dr. Dolorosa wears a beaked one in the classical "plague doctor" fashion. It has glowing lenses and is combined with a Nice Hat and a heavy overcoat. We don't actually know what she looks like under it.
• Combat Medic: Mechanically speaking, Runolf is one. Depending on your setup, he can be a Lightning Bruiser as easily as he can be a full-time healing machine. The two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, either!
• Covered in Gunge: Dr. Dolorosa's Goo Cannon does this to enemies, knocking them away and doing a small amount of damage. Knocking enemies into solid objects this way will hurt them a bit more, and various perks can improve its functionality, such as reducing enemy defense and slowing them.
• Crazy Prepared: The flavor text for the "Survivor's Guide to the Apocalypse" curio notes that it was written before the outbreak.
• Critical Status Buff: When Varag's permanent health drops to a third, he enters "Wounded Beast" state wherin his ultimate ability charges three times as fast. Certain perks and curios add additional benefits to this state.
• Crisis of Faith: Abigail had one during her time as a mercenary captain that led her to become a nun. She was betrayed by her own lieutenant and left for dead.
• Dare to Be Badass: When reviving Rose, Varag may remark, "Where's that grit of yours?"
• Deadly Gas: Half of Dr. Dolorosa's skill lineup involves the use of this, giving her devastating Area of Effect capability. Ironically, this wasn't even the intention behind her heroic ability: "Experimental Cure". It was intended to do just that- cure the infection, but instead simply kills them outright. This is remarkably convenient for the Doctor and her team given the circumstances, but she's not particularly happy about it. She also specifically notes when using it that she's lost track of how many times she's tested the formula.
• Death From Above: Rose's heroic ability, "Barrage", drops a heavy bolt from the sky that leaves a burning patch afterwards.
• Determinator: A possible perk for Varag called "Tough Guy" makes him this. With it, as long as there is at least one other player left on the team to revive him, Varag can be revived endlessly.
• Edible Ammunition: Runolf's soup is cooked to the point where it will harm the Infected, burning them and slowing them.
• Elite Mooks: It's possible to encounter named Infected with various special abilities. They're far less dangerous then the Revenants but should still be engaged carefully.
  • Hulks are Smash Mooks capable of Knockback.
  • Spear Captains are like regular spear throwers, but worse.
  • Banshees can emit an Area of Effect scream that disorients the survivors.
  • Elite Artificers will throw timed explosives at the survivors, instead of simply being Action Bombs like the regular artificers.
  • Protectors are like the Shield Bearing Mooks, but worse.
  • Blackguards are the real elites, zombie Praetorian Guard who were sent to quell the outbreak only to turn themselves. They move in groups and dogpile the survivors with leaping slam attacks and halberds.
• Elite Zombie: The Revenants fit the bill. Much like the Specials of Left for Dead, they have unique models, vocalizations and active abilities, use some semblance of tactics, and the survivors will announce to each other whenever one is near.
  • The Brute is a souped-up Smash Mook capable of a Spin Attack and Foe-Tossing Charge, and can execute the former in the middle of the latter. In life, he was a highwayman named Jorg Bähr, and just as much of a jerk.
  • The Executioner can abduct survivors with his rope and then attempt to execute them with a charged swing from his axe, which is a One-Hit Kill if fully charged. In life, he was Gerald Sauer, and still an executioner- but a bit less indiscriminate with his head-taking.
  • The Fishmonger is a Long-Range Fighter that can toss harpoons, immobilize survivors with her net and toss a bigger harpoon that can knock a survivor a long distance, For Massive Damage if they hit a wall. In life, she was Maritza Haifisch, a simple, if very tall and muscular, fish peddler.
  • The Raven Master is another Long-Range Fighter that can stun survivors and deal high damage in a cone with his swarms of ravens. In life, he was Bertram Rabenschwarz, a creepy loner and used his ravens to deliver mail- which he would read and reveal the secrets of people he didn't like.
  • The Burning Witch is basically the Revenant's Squishy Wizard, capable of throwing Fireballs, dashing around and leaving fire trails, and letting out a huge, high-damage Area of Effect explosion. In life, she was Lorraine Ardeleanu, a mere fortune teller who told good stories, and at worst was a bit of a con artist. They burned her at the stake anyway.
• Eyepatch of Power: Rose's missing right eye is hidden beneath a red headband.
• Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Both played straight and averted. Some of the characters address Runolf as "Innkeeper" but others use his name. Some also just call Dr. Dolorosa "Doctor"
• Final Boss: Baron Manfred von Darksburg, the city's former ruler, who is inexplicably huge, has a BFS, can project Sword Beams and deal extreme damage in a cone or with leaping slam attacks, and also make himself invulnerable using magic banners that must be destroyed before you can hurt him again. In life he was said to have been a respected Reasonable Authority Figure, but not so much these days.
• Flunky Boss: In Outbreak mode, Common Infected and Revenants will continuously spawn in the Baron's arena. Depending on your character and setup, this can actually prove beneficial.
• Foe-Tossing Charge: Runolf can do this, but so can the Brute.
• For Science!: Downplayed with Dr. Dolorosa but very much there. She is primarily motivated by altruism in her efforts to cure the infection, but she is nonetheless a scientist in the the midst of the grandest and deadliest experiment of all: survival.
  • One of her core mechanics is gathering samples of the infection, which Randomly Drop from enemies and are portrayed as little floating, purple gas clouds. Doing so gives her a bit of temporary health and recharges both her "Asphyxiant" and "Experimental Cure" abilities.
• Fragile Speedster: Rose and Abigail start out this way. If played correctly, Rose can become nearly untouchable while Abigail can have a near-constant barrier of temporary health.
• Friend to All Children: Runolf is one, according to the flavor text of the "Runolf's Boarlet Badge of Friendship" curio. He once ran a scout group for orphans and misfits, the "Boarlets." There is seemingly no information on what might have become of said boarlets...
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: Both Rose and Varag are missing an eye and have nasty slash scars to prove it, Rose hides hers under a red headband. Varag... not so much.
• Good with Numbers: The flavor text of the "Rose's Old Abacus" curio attests that she is. It was apparently her favorite tool for calculating her fees before she figured out how to do the math entirely in her head.
• Grim Up North: Where Runolf is implied to be from. He came to Darksburg for a fresh start and was formerly the owner and proprietor of the beloved Golden Boar Inn.
• Holy Hand Grenade: Abigail appears to be capable of this. Her attacks tend to produce bright yellowish-white flashes of holy light, and her ultimate ability, Exorcism, projects a devastating blast of holy energy that burns the Infected to ashes.
• I Don't Like the Sound of That Place: The city of Darksburg itself, which is found in the Duchy of Dreadmire.
• Improbable Weapon User: Some of the survivors use what was probably closest to hand as their Weapon of Choice: Runolf uses a soup ladle the size and in the fashion of a two-handed maul, Varag uses the the door to the cell he was held in and the shackles that held him as an impromptu shield and flail combo, and Abigail uses a large wood-and-iron cross to beat the holy hell out of things. Only Rose and Dolorosa thought to bring actual weapons: A crossbow and set of throwing knives, respectively.
• Inexplicable Treasure Chests: And baskets, besides. These are why its usually better to explore off the beaten path in a level. Both will always contain gold Darks and Dreadium Ingots. Baskets may sometimes have a healing item, but a chest will always have either that, an artifact, or a Tome of Self-Improvement.
• Instant Expert: Picking up a Tome of Self-Improvement makes you one, giving you a choice of three general stat upgrades that benefit any character.
• Killer Rabbit: Rose's chipmunk companion, Twig. Not only can he be used to slow down groups of Infected and reduce their defense, he can be upgraded to deal damage.
• Lack of Empathy: Rose apparently has this problem, though it doesn't really reflect in gameplay. The exception is her concern for Twig, and mentioning this around her is considered a "health hazard."
• Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Varag uses the door of the cell he was previously contained in as a makeshift shield. It can block nearly anything for a set duration, and then unleash a Counter Attack depending on the amount of damage it absorbed.
• Night of the Living Mooks
• Nun-Too-Holy: Downplayed with Abigail. She is clearly good enough to have actual holy magic, but she used to be a mercenary and still has a bit of Blood Knight in her.
• Magic Mushroom: Runolf's soup is probably made of them, considering their effects listed above under Chef of Iron. Whoever is playing as Runolf can see large orange mushrooms growing throughout the levels and can pick them up to recharge his healing abilities. They also confer a small amount of temporary health to Runolf.
• Magikarp Power: Abigail has a notably weaker early game then the other characters, as she is a melee character like Runolf and Varag but lacks much of their ability to mitigate damage. However, with the right masteries, curios and perks, she becomes a screen-clearing powerhouse by the end of a run. She just might be riding on a full bar of temporary health while she does it.
• Motherly Scientist: Dr. Dolorosa is characterized as this somewhat, complete with a Motherly Side Plait. A dedicated doctor before and after the outbreak, she spent the first days trying to care for the infected while feverishly searching for a cure. Even now, with her patients literally biting at her heels, she holds out hope.
• Mysterious Past: Runolf prefers not to talk about his past life, and Varag doesn't discuss how wolfmen like him came to be.
• The Nicknamer: Rose shortens everyone's names: "Abi", "Run", "Dol", except for Varag, who she just calls "doggy."
• Thieves' Guild: Darksburg has or had one, as evidenced by the "Thieves Guild's Secret Signet Ring" curio. Equipping it allows you to open special Thieves Stash chests that contain one artifact, one healing item and one Tome of Self-Improvement in addition to Darks and Dreadium Ingots.
• OOC Is Serious Business: Upon reviving Dr. Dolorosa, The normally rather jovial Runolf will simply ask "The rumors... are they true?"
• Our Werewolves Are Different: Varag is a playable one. He's easily the grumpiest of the heroes but is as helpful as the rest (depending on who's playing him of course).
• Our Zombies Are Different: Aside from the standard Infected there are the Revenants, equivalent to the Special Infected of Left 4 Dead and possessing not only special attacks but also names and backstories. They range from Tragic Monster (The Burning Witch) to being about as unpleasant as they were alive (The Brute, The Raven Master). Some types exhibit suspiciously un-zombielike behaviors: Spear and poison throwers will move away from the survivors if they get too close, and the Blackguards move and strike in seemingly trained and cohesive fashion.
• Random Drop: What item you get out of a chest, or whether you get an item out of a basket at all, is random.
• Ripped from the Headlines: Among Dr. Dolorosa's selection quotes are "Please respect social distancing" and "Flatten the curve".
• Shield Bearing Mook: Some Infected have shields, reducing a significant amount of damage if attacked from that direction. They can also Counter Attack like Varag can, knocking players back and blurring their vision. They also come in a larger, golden variant, denoted by the word "Protector" above their heads.
• Shout-Out: The "Green Man's Compass" curio references The Legend of Zelda and its protagonists' serial habit of breaking into people's houses and stealing their stuff.
• Shell-Shocked Veteran: Abigail's mercenary career left her with "little gratification and many nightmares," as the developers put it.
• Smash Mook: The "Hulking Infected" elite type, and taken Up to Eleven by the Brute.
• Spread Shot: A certain perk adds this to Rose's crossbow.
• Sprint Shoes: The Seven-League Boots, an artifact that grants short-distance teleportation, confers a brief movement speed bonus after teleporting once upgraded.
• Stuff Blowing Up: A player with the Frag' Bomb Artifact can do this on command. Fully upgraded, it can clear out large groups of Infected and even be used to bypass "Destroy the Gate" objectives.
• Upgrade Artifact: Players can obtain these from the Cabinet of Curios in exchange for Dreadium Ingots. Unlocked Curios persist between runs. Their effects vary wildly, and include Heart Container, Ring of Power, 1-Up and more.
• Unnecessary Combat Roll: Dolorosa can do one, and it is far from unnecessary. She begins with two uses of it and perks can improve it in various ways.
• Welcome to Corneria: Prior to a certain update, Dr. Dolorosa would utter "Interesting!" when picking up infection samples much more often.
• Zombie Apocalypse