Dusk Wiki
Register
Advertisement

This article is a stub. You can help Dusk Wiki by expanding it.

The unofficial official guide for how to play DUSK. This guide is a constant work in progress, so if you feel there was information left out, feel free to add.

Controls

The control scheme provided here is also available in the Settings menu, under the Feel tab.

  • WASD - movement
  • SPACE - Jump
  • Left CTRL - Crouch
  • SHIFT - Walk
  • Mouse 1 - Attack/Throw
  • Mouse 2 - Weapon Zoom
  • E - Interact
  • F - Flashlight
  • R - Flip Weapon
  • H - Holster
  • T - Record Time
  • C - Center View
  • Q - Last Used Weapon
  • Mouse Wheel Up/Down - Next/Prev weapon
  • Num 1-0 - Quickly access weapons
  • F6 - Quick Save
  • F9 - Quick Load
  • +/- - Increase/decrease screen and HUD size
  • TAB - Show stats menu/player scoreboard
  • Arrow Keys - Look up/down left/right

Basic Gameplay

The main goal of each level in DUSK is simple and to the point: find the level's exit. This is achieved by going through the level and overcoming any level obstacles in the player's way. Each level has a counter for kills earned and secrets unlocked, which can be kept track of throughout the game by pressing TAB. There are also four awards for completing a level:

  • Pacifist - Complete a level without killing any enemies (AI infighting does not count).
  • Untouchable - Complete a level without taking any damage.
  • Low Tech - Complete a level by only using melee weapons and throwable objects. This usually is earned in conjunction with the Pacifist award.
  • Completionist - Complete a level with every kill and secret possible.

Earning an award changes the level's sickles on the level select screen, which goes in order of rust, bronze, silver, gold, evil.

Mechanics

HUD & Viewmodel

The Heads-Up Display, or HUD, displays various vital information, including:

  • Health - How much health the player has. Health stacks up to a maximum of 200.
  • Morale - How much armor the player has. Morale stacks up to a maximum of 200.
  • Current Weapon - What weapon the player is currently using.
  • Ammo - How much ammo the current weapon holds. Maximum values vary dependent on weapon.

The viewmodel displays what weapon the player is currently holding. Viewmodels can be spun or flipped by pressing R. Flipping any weapon will do a 10 damage melee attack, with the exception of Sword, Sickles, Crossbow, or Super Shotgun. The viewmodel can be adjusted to reduce the weapon's size and viewing angle in the Settings menu, under the Look tab.

Keys

Keys are an essential part of the game. In order to proceed through some doors, the player will need to collect color-coded keys that match the locked doors. There are currently red, blue, and yellow keys available.

Doors and Switches

Several doors are openable throughout the game, however some are locked behind buttons or levers. When interacted with, a message reading "THIS DOOR OPENS ELSEWHERE" will appear. Buttons come in a variety of different forms, however levers stay consistent amongst levels. Both are able to be activated by using E or by shooting them.

Powerups

Powerups are items that when picked up, grant the player a temporary advantage over their enemies. Each one is uniquely designed and performs a different function. Current powerups in the game include:

Players can equip multiple different powerups at the same time, each with its own timer displayed on the screen in the form of a dwindling circle.

Props and Miscellaneous Objects

There are various props scattered throughout the levels for decoration purposes. However, these can be used as weapons of their own. To throw an object, pick it up using E and press Mouse 1 to throw.

In addition to thrown objects, usable items are also found throughout many of the levels in DUSK. Some of these are throwable props, while others are able to be consumed. These include:

  • Crystal of Madness - A green gem that when broken, creates a cloud of green smoke that causes enemies to fight each other.
  • Gas Can - An explosive object that can be thrown to blow open holes in cracked walls.
  • Beer Bottle - A beer bottle that when consumed, restores one point of morale. Drinking more than four beer bottles applies the Intoxicated effect.
  • Hash - A can of corned beef that when consumed, restores two health.
  • Beds and Mattresses - Players are able to sleep on beds, mattresses, and sleeping bags to restore 25 points of morale. This removes any morale bonuses acquired above 100.

Hazards

In addition to various enemies, hazards and traps exist on nearly every map. Hazards are most common in the form of:

  • Explosive Barrels - These objects are usually marked by a biohazard symbol on the barrel.
  • Acid Puddles - Small pools of bubbling acid can be found on the ground in some areas. They will damage the player over time when stood on.
  • Fluids - Certain liquids such as lava and toxic waste will cause damage to the player when walking on them.
  • Fireball Traps - Destructible traps that shoot fireballs at a fast speed.
  • Environmental Hazards - These include traps that are part of the level design, such as the grinders in E2M4: Into the Thresher.
  • Trigger Hurts - Falling off of elevated levels such as E2M7: Neobabel will kill the player through use of a trigger hurt. When a threshold is passed, the player dies instantly.

Secrets

Each level in DUSK contains its own secret areas and passages. When accessed, these will assist the player in collecting more weapons, powerups, and hard-to-find items such as the Soap. Secrets are usually locked behind hidden switches, misaligned wall textures, and otherwise unnoticeable details. Finding a secret will help add to the Completionist award.

Movement Techniques

Different strategies for movement are available in order to help players go through the levels faster or to reach out-of-bounds secrets.

Sliding

Holding the crouch button while running will result in a slide. Slide is useful to traverse small openings without losing speed or to avoid enemy fire, as it makes the player's hitbox smaller. The player maintains a degree of control during the slide. Movement speed gradually decreases during sliding, until it transitions into regular crouch-walking.

Bunny Hopping

While not exactly strafe jumping or bunny hopping in the traditional sense, DUSK has a feature in which the player can reach a much higher speed via jumping and inputting two directions. This is achieved so long as when the player hits the ground after a jump the strafe left or strafe right (A or D) keys are pressed down, and the player keeps constantly jumping. If the player doesn't alternate the strafing directions, he or she will be traveling in a diagonal direction, though there isn't a way to go in a perfectly straight line whilst strafe jumping/bunny hopping, alternating your left and right strafing while jumping will dart the player in a somewhat straight fashion. This skill can be useful for evading fire in both the campaign and in Duskworld multiplayer matches.

Weapon Jumping

DUSK allows the usage of the Riveter to rocket jump across maps, similarly to Quake's rocket launcher. To do this, the player must jump and look behind or below them quickly while shooting the weapon. The force of the explosion will propel the player forward, with distance dependent on how fast they are moving. This can also be achieved with the Mortar, albeit on a much more difficult scale. To rocket jump with the Mortar's grenades, the player will need to time their jump to the remote detonation available on the weapon.

Additionally, the Crossbow provides a significant knockback after firing the weapon. This can be used to cross gaps or to reach higher areas, but on a smaller scale. To jump with the Crossbow, the player simply has to look in the direction they want to be propelled from, then fire. Powerups like the Fast Fire Totem will make using the crossbow for movement significantly easier.

Prop Hopping

An unorthodox method to movement, prop hopping is where a player is able to take flight using only a map prop and their hands. To prop hop, stand on top of an object and repeatedly press E and SPACE until the desired height is achieved. This can help with bypassing large sections of levels and finding secrets, however it can also lead to the player falling out of the map or being stuck.

Advertisement