What could be a more definitive Lovecraft experience than referring to the unadulterated source material in Dagon: Complete Edition. Previously available on PC with additional DLC, Bit Golem's narrative-driven tale has been published by Feardemic on the Switch with the exclusive DLC: What the Moon Brings.
I've reviewed the base game before, but for those who struggle with clicks and following instructions, let's summarise it here. Dagon: by H.P. Lovecraft is the first story in the Cthulhu Mythos (a term the author never penned, but one you're undoubtedly familiar with). In it, we follow the story of a soldier who is lost at sea, only to 'awaken' in a somewhat hellish land that drives the protagonist mad. The tale is faithfully told from their perspective, and the player is merely an observer, for the game is essentially interactive fiction in the minimalist sense.
Dagon: Complete Edition Switch Review
Before perceiving that as anything negative, that lack of bloat in Dagon: Complete Edition means that you can enjoy these short stories uninterruptedly, hopefully motivating you to seek out Lovecraft's other stories (as I did after playing the original base game and The Innsmouth Case), or the experience can be a little more informative through the scattering of symbols that unlock some interesting trivia pieces. Do note that these are also missable, so they may prompt repeat playthroughs.
That said, I finished Dagon: Complete Edition within one sitting. It took approximately two or three episodes of Haikyuu! (the family were watching), and a few pauses to drink some tea, and then I was done. Granted, I hadn't unlocked all the trivia, but enough to be satisfied and move on. Without a doubt, Dagon: by H.P. Lovecraft was eminent with some excellent visuals (even on the Switch!) and an unsettling ambient soundtrack. I feel pretty foolish as I didn't realise the voiceovers were AI, but the first (also used in the exclusive DLC) was great.
Source: Screen capture
Bottled It
My enthusiasm isn't the same for The Little Glass Bottle DLC. This short story was based on a tale by the author when he was seven years old and felt more like padding than anything. Die-hard Lovecraft fans may be in their element to soak up anything by the author, and while he had a talent for writing at such a young age, the tale was a little cliche, the mise-en-scene a bit dull, and the voiceover irritating. Heck, it's DLC and inclusive, so can't complain, though I will carry that over to the next piece, The Railway Horror DLC.
The developers have taken it one step further with The Railway Horror DLC, which is more experimental to their credit. Based on a dream rather than a short story, this is told from Lovecraft's perspective when he shares a dream experience in letter form with a long-term friend and collaborator. As the source material hasn't been covered by anyone else(?), Bit Golem try new ideas, and in principle, they work well. The trivia works here more as a justification for their constructs but also as insight to those unfamiliar with Lovecraft...lore. My only issue with this DLC was the voiceover - it was annoying and made me wonder why they would have opted for this particular voice, but lo and behold - there's an explanation for it in the trivia. My apologies, Hubert. As for the artistic choices, these were great, especially at the end.
The Gibbous Moon
Finally, we have What the Moon Brings DLC - a little-known story by Lovecraft, but arguably one of the most lucid. Visually, this is more conceptual than the others, and within a dreamscape, and while Dagon has the foundations, this DLC captured my imagination the most. Once again, and encapsulating Lovecraft's flair for an excellent ending, all I wanted to do was stay in that world just a little longer and continue staring at the shapes in the lake. It's a shame, as Dagon: Complete Edition was over too soon.
Like similar titles I've covered, such as The Night Fisherman, these passive tales can be profound. Granted, Lovecraft gets the credit for the original works, but the way these are presented creates some believable, if terrifying, worlds. Removing that choice and consequence in a game and being in it 'for the ride' gives a decent payoff. In that brief time it took to conclude Dagon: Complete Edition, I felt fulfilled and reached for my Lovecraft anthology off the bookshelf again. I love it when video games prompt further reading.
