The majority of Directive 8020 is set on a Space Colony ship called the Cassiopeia. The crew’s objective is to be the first people on Tau Ceti F and make sure it is okay for the colony ships following to settle there. One of the best parts of the game is the environment and its atmosphere. The game does a good job of making you feel trapped on a ship with the threat and the characters on board.

Directive 8020 Characters and Story

The cast consists of 10 characters total, but focuses on 5 of them. A couple of the characters stand out, but others are bland. A lot of the dialogue is stale with no chemistry between characters, and other times, the dialogue is compelling. So overall, it is a mixed bag.

Dialogue choices in the game matter as they are used to progress traits, which unlock destinies. Destinies are other outcomes for some scenarios that occur if the corresponding trait has leveled up enough. There is also an optional messaging feature, which is a nice added detail to help get to know the characters. During some parts of the game, the active character can message the other survivors, and sometimes the player can choose which message to send to help progress traits.

The story of Directive 8020, for the most part, is predictable as it follows a lot of horror tropes, especially since its main inspirations are Alien and The Thing. By the end of the game, the story does get better and includes some really memorable twists, which makes the 8-chapter story worth checking out. The game takes the approach of the player knowing a lot of elements that the characters do not. This both helps and hurts the story as some parts are predictable, but others lead to surprising outcomes.

A big example of this is the use of flashforwards, where the player knows what is going to happen when the story reaches a certain point. The story also does not change too much, as most outcomes are very similar. In a game where choices matter, not many parts feel like the player’s choice really matters.

Replayability and Exploration

The turning-points system is back, which is a good thing. It is a really good system that allows players to replay and change the story’s outcome at any time. Locked outcomes show requirements that are needed. These requirements are that either a character’s destiny be unlocked, a certain character be alive, or that a particular previous story branch be achieved. The game also shows total completion. It is easy for a completionist to track which scenes are missing, as well as find collectibles.

The biggest feature in Directive 8020 compared to Supermassive Games’ previous games is being able to walk around and explore parts of the ship. The levels are linear as it is a narrative-driven game, but there are parts where you can explore side rooms. These lead to finding more details about the setting and story, as well as finding secret collectibles. It makes the game more engaging, allowing the player to get to know the ship and its secrets. There is also a lockpicking minigame, adding to the exploration and the feeling of tension when sneaking around.

Stealth

The game features stealth sections where the player has to sneak around the current threat. However, the enemy AI could be heavily improved. The enemies always follow a set, predictable path, which makes it easy to evade if the player pays attention. But if the player gets caught, there is a second-chance mechanic that lets the character stun the enemy and get away. The stealth never changes, except that the setting becomes creepier as the game progresses. As the game goes on, some stealth sections feel repetitive. It is more of the same, which makes it feel lackluster.

Final Reaction

Overall, Directive 8020 is a fine game. Fans of this kind of game will enjoy it, and its added features help get new players invested. The story is worth experiencing despite some stale characters and uninspired gameplay segments.

The game is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X. On PC, there is a lack of optimization that the developers hopefully will patch soon.

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The game is set in a dystopian future, and Directive 8020 follows the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia. The team was dispatched to scout a distant planet in hopes of finding a new home for humanity. Naturally, what started as a routine survey has turned into a downward spiral of horror and nightmares. Stranded in the emptiness of space, the crew discovers there is an alien organism capable of perfectly mimicking its prey, causing paranoia and distrust among the crew.

The hallmark of any Dark Pictures title, the game is led by Hollywood actress Lashana Lynch (The Woman King, No Time to Die) as Brianna Young, the pilot of the Cassiopeia. Other key characters include Commander Nolan Stafford, played by British actor Danny Sapani (Black Panther, Paramount +’s Halo).

Directive 8020 retains many of the signature elements of other The Dark Pictures games, such as narrative-driven choices and quick-time events, but it also introduces some new gameplay mechanics. This game will emphasize real-time threats, where every decision and step forward could be your last. Stealth will play a major part in Directive 8020, where you will have to quietly sneak around enemies and choose paths that may result in the untimely demise of your character. Thankfully, there will be five different protagonists you will be able to play as in the game.

The choices you make will impact the storyline, the other characters, and the overall outcome of the game. In one scenario, we saw the crew interrogating another crew member who was accused of being a mimic and not a human. Everyone was pleading their case for why the crew member was or wasn’t a mimic. Judging from the information you have been provided, you have to choose whether the character lives or dies, and if you are wrong, you will have to live with that choice.

There is one new feature that I did not like in Directive 8020, the Turning Points story tree. This new feature allows you to rewind time during your playthrough and change any of the decisions you’ve made in the game. I’ve always liked the idea of having to deal with your choices and that my playthrough could be completely different from your own. Thankfully, there is a hardcore mode that will disable Turning Points, should you choose not to use this new feature.

With its blend of cinematic storytelling, survival horror, and player choices, Directive 8020 is shaping up to be another chilling installment in The Dark Pictures series when it launches on October 2nd, just in time for the spooky season. While pre-orders are not yet available, players can wishlist the game on the Steam Store, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store.

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