After the release of Until Dawn, there were doubts about whether Supermassive Games would recapture its sudden success with The Dark Pictures. The anthology series would focus on shorter stories and shorter release schedules, but would feel rushed or underdeveloped. With this in mind, the series would take a brief hiatus after the release of The Devil Inside Me. Four years later, Supermassive Games returns to the horror anthology franchise in a new light with Directive 8020.
Directive 8020 has undergone a complete overhaul, extending its length compared to previous titles. Instead of focusing on smaller stories, each new entry will be treated as a separate season comprising eight episodes. Originally slated for release in 2025, it took another year for the team to polish the overall experience. At last, Directive 8020 is here, and while this is largely a step in the right direction, some shortcomings do hinder the overall experience.
Beyond the Stars Awaits Something Worse than Hope
Earth and Humanity on the brink of extinction, with the only means of survival being through the stars. Organized by the Croninth corporation, they sent the best to find any means of hospitable life on Tau Ceti f. However, on the way there, a meteor strikes inside the Cassiopeia and breaks a hole in the cargo hold. While the rest of the crew is in cryosleep, the sleep technicians on board must handle the repairs themselves. This meteor is the catalyst for the horrors to come, as it begins to infect the Cassiopeia, mimicking any organic lifeforms. After being blindsided, both sleep technicians meet gruesome fates, setting the tone for the rest of the season.
From the start of episode 2 onward, a series of cold opens shapes future choices and deepens the game’s overall mystery. These cold opens can range from before the mission launches to halfway into the game, as each crewmate faces off against a mimic. An encounter with a mimic leads to some unique situations, but overall, it returns to the cliché of Body Snatchers. Where every character trusts each other in one scene, only to irrationally distrust each other in the next. It’s inconsistent, but once a pivotal moment plays out, it changes the entire narrative in its head.
With the switch to a standalone season, Directive 8020 is a lot longer than the previous titles in the anthology. Comprising an eight-episode season, it reflects the current nature of serializations on streaming services. It allows for expansion on a single setting while also tying it into previous entries in The Dark Pictures anthology. Overall, Directive 8020 felt like a series to binge in a single weekend, only to find more episodes. However, in the later episodes, the pacing felt much slower, even though the tension was very high.
Far Along the Stars, Nobody is Alone
Lashana Lynch stars as Brianna Young, one of the pilots of the Cassiopeia, following in her late father’s footsteps. She plays a prominent role even though her involvement is brief, as the game shifts perspectives with the other characters. This constant switching leaves her behind as the story progresses, and some sections aren’t as interactive and just stand and talk. She does play into the major plot twist near the end of the game as well as the final sequence. Overall, her performance improves as the game goes on, and she shows a wide range of emotions throughout.
Outside of Brianna Young, there are five other playable protagonists, along with four non-playable characters. They fill out the rest of the cast and also provide memorable performances throughout the runtime. A notable standout is Noah Mitchell, the other pilot of the Cassiopeia, whose demeanor is harsh but with a heart of gold. One notable absence is Pip Torrent’s character, The Curator, reflecting the shift from an anthology format to a serialized season. If there were one character I’d like to learn more about, it’d be Laura Eisely, as her high-strung personality keeps her from exploring quieter moments.
Throughout the episodes, there are multiple secrets to collect, which add context to the overall mystery and more. Largely during the explorable sections, it rewards curiosity through data logs and recorded messages from the sleep technicians. These secrets also reveal past character relationships, alongside the in-game messaging system, which reveals other characters’ thoughts as the game progresses. These message interactions allows to communicate with non-playable characters to see how they’re doing and expand on the trait system. But another collectible per episode is the myriad deaths that can befall the playable and non-playable cast, as previous choices can lead to distinct deaths.
There are still choices to be made that affect how a future episode plays out through the Turning Point system. Replacing the Bearing system, Turning Points is a pivotal system that advances both the narrative and the characters. Appearing either in the middle of an episode or at the end, they determine each character’s fate early on. Some outcomes can be locked out due to choices made in the first episode, which is very interesting as each choice plays out. However, this also means going all the way back to the start to unlock other alternate events.
During each episode, interactive set pieces allow for a brief exploration of the Cassiopeia. Showing how the parasitic meteorite grows, eating through the ship, and bringing unimaginable horrors. Throughout the various stealth segments and running sequences, the crew encounters different types of mimics and, later, a combined monster. This monster can teleport ahead with relative ease using the growth around the ship’s interior, but only jumps at the player once during a specific segment. But overall, there’s no combat beyond using the wedge tool to subdue them via a quick-time event.
Instead of combat, there’s a greater emphasis on puzzle-solving through various set pieces. Each character ends up finding themselves in several events that require powering a door to progress further. Some doors are locked behind and require an override with the wedge tool. And earlier choices feed into other set pieces, which can determine a character’s fate. Solving puzzles is key to keeping the entire cast alive, as there’s a social deduction segment that can branch in two directions.
Smooth Operations with Shining Distractions
While it does use Unreal Engine, Directive 8020 was solid throughout an entire playthrough. There were no performance hitches even during intense set pieces, as the characters found themselves in tight spots. However, there are moments when a character model starts clipping ever so slightly while crawling between walls. There is also a danger indicator that bleeds outside the stealth segment and appears during pivotal cutscenes. Aside from that, there weren’t any notable dips or crashes, which is a good sign of the time spent polishing the game before release.
Before starting the game, there is a wide array of difficulties and play styles that are available. Exploration mode allows the player to revisit previous decisions, while survival leaves the player no room to revisit any previous mistakes. They can be changed during gameplay, along with custom difficulty options. Additionally, Movie Night mode is back, allowing five players to each play one character. But it’s only available in a local setting, with interest in adding online multiplayer in a future update.
Somewhere In Space, Nobody Will Hear You Scream
Directive 8020 is a step in the right direction for The Dark Pictures to evolve beyond its anthological origins. With a greater focus on centered plots, the Turning Point system becomes more effective in its choices. The cast’s performances further improve the plot, even though the setting falls into a cliché.
While the latter episodes feel longer, they can hinder the plot’s pace as it reaches the end. With little to no performance issues, the danger indicator bleeding in does make somber moments more distracting. Yet, it’s an overall improvement that makes the journey to the stars more worthwhile.
Disclaimer: Supermassive Games provided a PC (Steam) copy of Directive 8020 for review purposes.
