THIS IS FINE | The Long Dark Misery mode (Last Horizon update)

The Last Horizon update to The Long Dark has dropped, and it's got something for everybody -- a new game mode built around suffering, a new mechanic that's so unpopular it's already been pulled, and a new zone rife with timberwolves and frigid weather. Sound familiar? Anyway, having visited the new zone and completed the third and final Tale, we pivot to experiencing the latest game mode designed to make players suffer: Misery.

In this game, your luck can turn just that quickly. The Long Dark has caught up with us after three weeks of cruising along in Misery mode. We start with a good old-fashioned craftathon, starting with a bow (8:30) and a dozen arrows so we're not constantly on the defensive. The idea was to make rabbitskin mitts and deerskin boots, as well, but a lack of available calories forces us to decamp for Milton. Our first attempt is short-circuited by weather and an arrow thief (i.e. a wolf), though we do harvest a prop deer to retain Well-Fed. On our second attempt we found our arrow thief (1:02:45) -- who is on an inconvenient hillside, of course -- and make it to Trapper's after a pit stop at the Camp Office. Astrid takes the opportunity to make the rabbitskin mitts there (1:25:00), which represent a big upgrade in warmth from her work gloves. Thankfully, the climbing area when we first get to Milton is replete with rabbits and cat tails, so calorie concerns are eased.

I should've known something was up when we got to Milton proper. The wolves' behavior seemed different, like they were lingering where they sensed the player and deviating from their usual haunts. The Orca and Grey Mother's house yield good loot, as usual, and the Milton Credit Union provides not only the guaranteed coffee but a pair of work boots and a third Mackinaw jacket from the safe (2:47:00), making the deerskin boots less of a priority. Milton giveth ... and then Milton very nearly taketh away. We learn the hard way that you cannot, in fact, draw your bow while in a vehicle (2:56:45). Instead, we find ourselves right in front of one of the loitering wolves, with the ensuing struggle taking Astrid down to 5 percent health. An instant stim and some birch bark tea-infused rest stabilize her health, but the mental effects of nearly throwing the run in such a stupid fashion take longer to fade. Then, just for fun, the game throws another near-death experience at us with a wolf that saunters right up to us while creeping into the church (3:15:35). Shaken but stabilized, we ride out the rest of the day at the trailer near the cave to HRV. We're going to have to play smarter if we're going to live to see one more affliction, let alone three. From the July 18, 2024, stream at   / trooperbari  .

The Long Dark is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster. There are no zombies -- only you, the cold, and all the threats Mother Nature can muster. https://store.steampowered.com/app/30...