Directive 8020 Review: A Space Horror Journey
The latest entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology series ventures into outer space for the first time, drawing inspiration from John Carpenter's The Thing. Developed by Surrey-based studio Supermassive Games, known for interactive movies like Until Dawn, Directive 8020 continues the tradition of narrative-driven horror with a sci-fi twist.
After a falling out with Sony, Supermassive moved to self-publishing, releasing titles like The Quarry and The Dark Pictures Anthology. The last flatscreen entry was The Devil In Me in 2022, with Switchback VR in 2023. Directive 8020 follows the same model: co-op decision-making (local only at launch, online later), exploration, puzzles, and stealth.
The plot: Earth is in climate collapse, and humanity's hope rests on Tau Ceti f, a real exoplanet. Two ships leave Earth: the Cassiopeia scouts the planet, while a second carries colonists. The game focuses on the Cassiopeia's crew, including billionaire LaMarcus Williams, grizzled hero Nolan Stafford, rising star Brianna Young, and physicist Laura Eisele.
When the crew wakes from hyper-sleep, they find the ship damaged by a meteorite, introducing a rogue biological entity. The game involves walking through gloomy interiors, solving find-the-battery puzzles, and stealth sections. The new Turning Point system allows rewinding to any decision to see alternate outcomes, a generous feature for exploring consequences.
However, the game suffers from under-informed choices. Players often make decisions without enough context, feeling like coin tosses. Frequent flashbacks and character hopping make it hard to connect with the leads. The rigid linearity is apparent, with narrow corridors and limited agency.
Despite these flaws, Directive 8020 has high production values, solid voice acting, and a few good twists. The Turning Point system is an inspired innovation for a genre that feels old-fashioned. The game is a polished but constrained experience, earning a 6/10.
