Dark Realms (abbreviated DR for short) is an experience like none other.  It originally started off as a wadfile for Raven Software's game Hexen, which has over the past decade become an instant bestseller amongst 1st person shooter fans.  However, unlike the original Hexen, which is composed mostly of action and some adventure parts, DR forces you to think hard if you wish to overcome many of the obstactles, because it is a critical thinking game.

    Inspired by Zorkish puzzles and the character interaction found in many other underrated classics like Betrayal At Krondor, Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure, Strife, and, most importantly, Stonekeep, Dark Realms provides the one link Hexen has been solely missing: the human dimension, and the emotion that makes role-playing so addictive.  But know this: this is not a role-playing adventure, or at least not in the sense of mainstream role-playing games like Dungeons And Dragons.  This Hexen experience is completely original, and purely authentic.

Ever since the first release in 2003, here is what has been accomplished:

• Three hubs, totalling sixteen levels
  
• New puzzles, all of which are challenging, yet logical
• A new immersive plot that even still continues to unfold.  Visit the Story So Far section to read what had happened just before you begin the game
• Multiple endings, depending on how you play the game
• New special effects never before seen in Hexen (trains that run on horizontal tracks and transport you to the next level; houses appearing from thin air; corridors that are directly below other corridors; moving gigantic blocks of stone; dialogue between NPCs; and more!)
  
• New music
• New artwork

• make one last hub, totalling four.
  
• make the maps increasingly non-linear (in every sense of the term)
  
• *at least ten new enemies, each with new battle tactics - without replacing a single sprite
• *at least eight new weapons, all entirely new and not just borrowed from elsewhere
• *the three original classes (fighter, cleric, mage) might be merged into one, who would have all the original twelve weapons and plenty more
• dozens of new puzzles, obstacles, items and artifacts unlike any other seen in any Hexen MOD before
• a haunting new musical score, written by me
• lots of new scenery and artwork
• more friends to make; more alliances to form
• *the biggest battle Hexen has ever seen (where you lead an army of 100s against another army of 100s).....

The Elven Gathering is a prequel to Dark Realms, that marks the extinction of the ever-so-cliche elves.  It started in late June 2005, and was created to enhance the DR storyline.  Currently it's only half-done.  The following are what is planned with this project:

• Four massive wads with an explorative nature (unlike a thinking nature like in Dark Realms)
• Much more complex natural-looking maps, especially in the first level, which takes place in a dense mountain range
  
• Unlike Dark Realms, where the levels form hubs, the levels in The Elven Gathering will progress linearly (in a storylike nature)
  
• Like Dark Realms, The Elven Gathering will also have only one class.
• Breathtaking new cinematic score (songs are longer and more symphonic)
• Exciting and intense storyline that makes way for our protagonist in the main project