Shaft VI, 1966-68. Ink on paper, 80 cm by 63 cm. 5 in mountainous Chur, Switzerland, in 1940, H.R. Giger lived in an idyllic childhood in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Dive into The Art of H. Giger, a Swiss surrealist painter best known for airbrush images of humans and machines linked together in a cold mirkokosmos:“ Landscape XVI - H.R. Giger, 1972 Acryl on Paper”.
- > >
- Dark Seed
Description of Dark Seed
One of the most memorable (and few) science fiction- horror games ever released, Dark Seed is an interesting horror/scifi story based on the haunting artwork of H.R. Giger, creator of Aliens.
As writer Mike Dawson, you must travel in both the human and alien dimensions to thwart the aliens' evil plans. Interesting premise and outstanding graphics make for an interesting game that unfortunately gets bogged down with too many illogical (and timed) puzzles. A good first effort from Cyberdreams, and much better than its horrible successor Dark Seed 2.
Review By HOTUD
External links
Captures and Snapshots
Screenshots from MobyGames.com
Comments and reviews
MisterAdam922019-07-141 point DOS version
Finally, my little review and backstory how I found out about this game.
I played the Japanese PlayStation (PS1, PSX) version of the game (Never release in the west, only in Japan!) oddly, on an ('ehemm') hardmodded PS1 I picked up. (this was several years ago, I got my first PlayStation when I was younger more on that later.)
I burned nearly the whole library of games for the console (Mostly English games, several Japanese games.) via that rom site that was raided because of Big N, and tested each game for 10 mins. average and came across this and it perplexed me and its been on my mind ever since, so I've got it again now. (My modded PS1 Died on me when i tested all the burned games, ain't that something HAHA. Plus my PlayStation I got when I was younger eventually got modded and died on me as well. Hard mod chips are bad. AVOID THEM!)
But, Yeah that's how I found out about this game, I can't wait to play it.
Oh yeah, Enjoy people!
MisterAdam922019-07-142 points DOS version
AGJERDE and GIGERFAN pretty much near enough-ish said what I've said but just cleaned it up a bit and provided a more iron-clad solution for those who are struggling. (Sorry AGJERDE and GIGERFAN and others.)
Anyway, notes:
I've noticed when you run the game that the files START.EXE and TOS.EXE interchange while playing the game (It does it automatically when the game is booted with 'ds', DOSBox tells you what file is running at the top of the window when actively playing in windowed mode.)
The game starts like it should, (Title, credit crawl, disturbing but funny dream cutscene at the beginning with the protagonist etc.) using the START.EXE but then (This is when most people trying, especially the ones who commented (And me earlier today.)), to get past the rainbow coloured static/pixels) it uses the TOC.EXE for the gameplay, the fix should remedy that error and play flawlessly between cutscenes and game.
I've only played up until you get the package/box when the courier ring the doorbell or knocks on the door followed by the cutscene with the baby/alien (Whatever it is!) and it indeed switches back to the PLAY.EXE for cutscenes and back to TOC.EXE for gameplay.
I tried to work around the floppy version from this site but to no avail, on the floppy version it asks for Disk 1 at the exact point where the CD version messes up pre fix, so I downloaded the floppy version somewhere else (Sorry MyAbandonware) and it worked perfectly!
I will play this game another time but follow the guide to my fix and it should be fine.
Though I'd let Y'all know in-depth why this was happening.
Enjoy!
MisterAdam922019-07-142 points DOS version
Here's the fix for the CD Version:
1. Instead of mounting the .cue from the .bin/.cue files via IMGMOUNT and using the INSTALL.EXE inside said .cue VIA DOSBox, Download ISOBuster (This will help you open said .bin/.cue files. Very handy program/app whatever you call 'em these days.)
2. After installing ISOBuster, run the program, click on FILE OPEN IMAGE FILE, locate the folder or whatever directory where the .bin/.cue files are and select the .cue file.
This will open the files as I previously mentioned, on the left pane is the path of the contents (CD SESSION 1 TRACK01 DARKSEED151) it should show the expanded path, LEFT-Click on DARKSEED151, (It has a red box with the letters ISO next to it.) in the right pane it shows a DARKSEED Folder, a INSTALL.EXE (as mentioned), a README Text File and a .WRI File.
RIGHT-Click on the DARKSEED FOLDER and RIGHT-Click Extract Folder, choose the destination (Just put it in the directory where your DOSBox game(s) etc. are.) and close, uninstall, whatever your preference with ISOBuster when finished.
3. Now we have the meat of the files to run the game, put the .bin/.cue files in your DOSBox game directory (or in your Dark Seed Folder for example.), then we just have to IMGMOUNT the .bin/.cue files with DOSBox for succession.
For those who don't know how to IMGMOUNT or forgot and are too lazy to check the DOSBox Wiki (I sometimes forget... It happens!)
(NOTE: Put in the full directory of the location of the .bin/.cue files when image mounting, to be on the safe side.)
IMGMOUNT (pick any available virtual drive letter A:-Y: (Z: is already in use with DOSBox and most people I'm guessing mount virtual drive with drive letter C: when booting games etc.)) 'yourmounteddriveletter:' (e.g. A:-Y: not including your chosen IMGMOUNT virtual drive letter.) 'dosboxgamesdirectory' (where your games are located.) 'gamedirectory' (darkseed folder, 8 character limit (name of folder) for DOS, so it's perfect.) 'folderwith.bin.cuefiles' (optional but I prefer to put it in a folder to keep the files tidy, I'm weird like that (OCD), ha.) 'darkseed.cue' -T CDROM
For example it will look like this, (the DSCD folder is optional):
IMGMOUNT D: C:DOSBOXDARKSEEDDSCDDARKSEED.CUE -T CDROM
4. When the .cue is mounted and you see the MSCDEX installed message, it's time to boot up the game, USE the DS.BAT file to boot so type 'ds', (without quotes.) Simple.
5. ???=PROFIT.
6. My sincerest apologies for the wall of text, I'm just trying to help.
Fred2019-07-071 point
@RPA yes! From day one. Stranger things show *lots* of “inspiration” from Darkseed.
A d now, in season 3, they add the comic book “the spread”
The Playen2019-05-170 point DOS version
bonjour, je ne parviens pas a exécuter la version fr de dark seed,il ce fige et l'écran a plein de petit pixel multicolore qui apparaît juste après la cène d’implantation de l'alien serai t-il possible de m'aidé ?
Cordialement
RPA2019-04-041 point
. . . and now this summer’s (2019) third season of ‘Stranger Things’ will feature a town carnival and climactic scene in a hall of mirrors. Uh-huh . . . The Dark Seed parallels continue. ;-)
gigerfan2018-11-238 points
to anyone not wanting to go through the history of comments here to get the game up and running - the floppy version will work without too much fuss - just keep in mind that you're supposed to run 'ds.bat' instead of 'start.exe' to avoid the game hanging up.
The cd version has different sounding music and a lot more voice cues - still you use dosbox to run it, but since it's a cue/bin you'll need to mount it in dosbox and run the installer - if you don't do that, the game will mess up after the opening cut scene.
How to mount the cd
https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/IMGMOUNT
If you want to convert the bin to iso, use this tool
http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/WinBin2Iso
RPA2018-10-061 point DOS version
Glitch, When I played DS1 installed on my Win XP machine years ago, the haunting background music worked fine, but the voiced person-to-person conversations were garbled. I put it down to just my audio hardware/software limitations at the time. That being said, I do not believe Mike Dawson's thoughts are voiced in DS1.
Could you be recalling the sequel: Dark Seed II ? I can confirm that you will hear Dawson's reflective thoughts (and quite a few!) in that one. I hope this helps.
Glitch2018-10-040 point DOS version
Running this from the browser, I noticed there are some missing sounds. I remember hearing him voice out what he was thinking, but now it's just text. I know it can seem quite arbitrary, but it's very immersive to me. I was wondering if anyone installing this with DosBox has this issue as well, or if the problem does not exists with installed version
agjerde2018-07-234 points DOS version
To avoid avoid the crash at the alien implant scene in the intro, try mounting the disc in DosBox:
mount c c:[your path]
imgmount d c:[your path]darkseed.cue -t iso
d:
install [wait for install, then type 'ds' to run]
Next time you wanna play, do the same mount and imgmount, then:
c:
cd darkseed
ds
Dawson2018-06-121 point
Agree with the Stranger Things I thought the same! If they filmed a Darkseed movie would look cool with that background and ambiance.
RPA2018-02-222 points
'Stranger Things' anyone? As soon as I started watching the brilliant Netflix series, I knew the Duffer brothers had to have played these Dark Seed games when they were younger. Even the menacing synth pace in the original game must be an influence on the TV show's sound during visits to the nether, 'Upside Down' world.
Thanks for offering this classic game series so we can - as adults! - again sojourn awhile among the surreal landscapes of the late Swiss master, H.R. Giger.
kyle2017-04-252 points DOS version
Had trouble with this as well, Open up the game folder and navigate to the 'readme' file. It details how to run It. Can't believe I never checked It until I read all these comments.
To run It don't run the 'start.exe', instead run 'ds.bat'
Need to re-configure your controls? type 'ds /m'
There's more in the readme but that's probably your problem if your reading this.
Hope this helps.
Look She Glows2017-04-151 point
Open DOSBOX
mount c c:/darkseed
C:/
ds
BoldFaceSeven2015-01-061 point DOS version
IT wont start as a .bat file
F32015-01-051 point DOS version
I've tried EVERYTHING people have mentioned but I still can't get past the 'alien seed implant in the brains or whatever' cutscene... After the scene 'small rainbow dots' appear all over the screen. Any idea? Anyone?
m1keman5on2014-11-041 point DOS version
when the game crashes (well in my version) hit enter, type darkseed and enter. I read in other places that you have to write 'tos' instead of darkseed.
In the version that I have, there are two exe files in the game directory, start.exe and darkseed.exe
JAY DEE2014-10-280 point DOS version
yep mine crashes at the same place
Dr CAtJail2014-08-190 point DOS version
This game is going to Rock.
ReyalpCB42014-08-050 point DOS version
I tried changing the CDLETTER file to C but it still crashes after the alien implant scene. it just gets all scrambled and static covered and just sits there
gasher32014-08-011 point DOS version
This doesn't work for me as it is, crashed after the starting scene. The fix is to edit 'CDLETTER' and change it from D to C. And also start the game using 'ds.bat', not 'start.exe'. Everything works well so far including speech. Hope this helps if you are having problems running the game.
indstr2014-02-110 point DOS version
Wow, I remember seeing this one time in Radio shack and thinking it looked incredible. I've still never really played it, but I still remember it from looking at the box. I should try it someday
UGC2013-06-27-1 point DOS version
Hey Guacho, try running it with the .bat file instead of just writing start.
Type: start.bat and it should'nt freeze! :D
I still have a problem, why is there no speech?
Mac Game Hr Giger Art Images
Guacho2013-01-070 point DOS version
It freezes after Mike gets an alien fetus in his brain.
MENTD2012-10-270 point DOS version
H.R. Giger didn't create ALIENS, he created ALIEN. James Cameron (ALIENS director) didn't involve Giger in ALIENS and the film suffered because of it. (Looked like plastic crappy sets as opposed to the awesome Giger sculpted sets and creature from the first film.)
tpgb122012-03-161 point DOS version
Crashes when tos.exe is loaded.
ScaryGamer2011-11-01-1 point DOS version
well no one would download this because its french please find english
so someone will download this :) updated
F0XX2011-05-260 point DOS version
Not just cheap thrills
Jack Halftrack2008-11-130 point DOS version
HR Giger art. Remember the movie Alien ?
Hr Giger Video Game
Write a comment
Share your gamer memories, help others to run the game or comment anything you'd like. If you have trouble to run Dark Seed, read the abandonware guide first!
Download Dark Seed
We may have multiple downloads for few games when different versions are available. Also, we try to upload manuals and extra documentations when possible. If the manual is missing and you own the original manual, please contact us!
Just one click to download at full speed!
DOS Version
Game Extras
Various files to help you run Dark Seed, apply patchs, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.
Amiga ROM
- Year:1992
- Publisher:Cyberdreams, Inc.
- Developer:Cyberdreams, Inc.
Similar games
Fellow retro gamers also downloaded these games: