**Exploring Darkhaven: An Early Look into Moon Beast’s Action RPG**
Moon Beast has stirred excitement within the gaming community by releasing a pre-alpha demo of their action RPG, Darkhaven. Developed by former Blizzard North developers, the game evokes nostalgia for classic titles like Diablo 2 while introducing elements of a dynamic, destructible world akin to Minecraft. Players can now dive into this early build to experience its gameplay mechanics and features.
In my recent hour with the Darkhaven demo, I found it reminiscent of the Diablo franchise, complete with health and mana indicators and a character equipment screen that echoes Blizzard’s classic design. Combat is fierce, with enemies spawning rapidly, challenging players to use their abilities and gear strategically in order to gather loot.
One of the standout features is the environmental interaction during battles. Creative use of explosive spells and heavy weapons can reshape the landscape, creating craters and destroying obstacles. However, the game maintains a balance by ensuring that key structures remain indestructible, adding a layer of strategy to combat scenarios.
The demo also showcases dynamic events within the game world. For instance, I encountered a sarcophagus that released necromantic spores, slowly altering the terrain into an undead-infested region. Players are tasked with defeating the lich at the heart of these occurrences before succumbing to the dark powers that threaten to overtake the map.
Moon Beast has promised that the equippables in Darkhaven are designed to be “bold” and “expressive,” encouraging players to hold onto gear that retains significance rather than simply trading for higher damage output. During my playthrough, I remembered specific items, such as a flame-infused dagger and unique footwear that allowed me to traverse water—the kind of inventive loot that makes exploration rewarding.
While Darkhaven features weapon rarities and gem socketing for modifications, its current inventory system is intentionally simplified compared to the complexity found in contemporary games like Path of Exile and Diablo 4. The game also introduces a jump and dodge mechanic, further enhancing the action-oriented nature of combat.
Overall, my initial hour in Darkhaven felt more engaging than my first moments in Diablo 4. However, there’s still a sense that the game is in its infancy, with map destruction tactics feeling somewhat basic. Future iterations could develop these mechanics further, especially with the promise of intersecting global calamities that could lead to significant player-driven architectural projects.
Though the potential for an engaging world is evident, the involvement of a Kickstarter campaign raises cautious optimism. Many gamers have witnessed the pitfalls of unmet expectations in crowdfunding scenarios. Moon Beast acknowledges that the demo represents a work-in-progress, inviting players to provide feedback to refine gameplay as development continues.
The Darkhaven demo features several hours of gameplay, one character class, a selection of skills, character progression capped at level 8, and a notable world event—the Lich invasion. While multiplayer is available, it remains in an experimental phase, which may see temporary adjustments during the development cycle.
For those interested in exploring this early version of Darkhaven, more information is available on [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3571870/Darkhaven/).
