I finally got my copy( from Play.com for 23 €, cheapest price I could find) and started playing it. I like it. I like it alot and I heavily recommend it to all Lovecraft, Penumbra and puzzle lovers here.
See, the game's engine and the gameplay has been improved alot that you can now run freely around and even talk to people, it's a big improvement to the former click and point gameplay experience. The graphics got a big update aswell.
The game has now a similar engine as Penumbra and it even feels like playing Penumbra minus hiding from the walking infecteds with 8 inch long penises.
The gameplay is as hard as the former game, you go around,collect items, find notes, research the notes to draw hints out, and combine the hints into one conclusion until you figure out how to move forward.
For now, since you can talk with some people so far you have certain options to talk with them. You have the option to lie, being rude, or being honest, depending who you are talking to. I won't spoiler much, but you are getting quickly an alley who is supporting you on the lingual and historical aspect.
And it's as challenging and as hard as the precedessor, giving you lots and lots and lots of free time to figure the riddles out and write down the combination IRL. And it's still creepy.
However, I really suggest you looking for a walkthrough now and then, not bcause the riddles are that hard but because some puzzles are suffering under bugs which haven't been patched out. Or just check out the bug list of V. 1.00
http://www.zoetrope-interactive.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=242&posts=1&start=1
Retail copy has simple serial check, so no problem with the DRM.
I really hope we will see some games published by Iceberg Interactive on GoG.
Darkness Within, Zeno Clash, the Dracula Trilogy and the Still Life games have the potential for an approval.

The comparisons with Penumbra certainly perked my interest. I'll have to look into this one.
Here's a link to the demo.

Don't expect a 1 to 1 execution however. For instance there isn't the realistic mouse interaction feature.
DW still goes its own style, taking the core gameplay elements from the precedessor and expanded it on a better engine. And it seems the team took alot of inspiration from Penumbra.

I'll give the demo a try and go from there. I want to judge it on its own merits, which is somewhat easier given that I haven't played the poorly received prequel.

Demo's not bad. I can see why you're comparing it to Penumbra. I haven't played it much yet though.
Edit: demo's incredibly limited. Most features and items aren't there at all. More like a tech demo than anything.

Trust me, you get items in the finale version. Many items. I think like 10 at the beginning if you lurk right and more onward to confuse you. But the issue with combining thoughts is still as hard. There are some things I already concluded but cannot combine them righ 8(
Just finished it, and I love it.
Now I'll have to replay it to find all secrets easter eggs 83

I took a look at a walkthrough just to confirm that I did all I can with it and even in that small area, most of the content is missing. Seems like it's a good game though.

Trust me, it is a good game, but you must've played DW 1 before playing this. It's really story driven. That's why I hope we'll get it on GoG or something.
That reminds me, I should do more let's play vids again 8/

I don't know... I have the full version and have played a bit (I'm in Arkhamend, trying to get a book). There are some good ideas here, definitely. But the story isn't really grabbing me, and the controls are a bit fiddly. I can't really see myself completing it, but who knows.
As an aside, most of the games you mentioned in the first post are from other publishers, like Microids. The only one Iceberg seems to have the worldwide rights to is the first Darkness Within, and that one might not be good enough for GOG (I sort of liked it, but it was quite flawed).

It gets better later on, the fun starts soon after you got the book and leave Arkhamend.

Well, i'm not surprised that the story isn't grabbing you. If you're in Arkhamend trying to get the book basically you played the controls/inventory tutorial and you've seen 1% or 2% of the game. Give it a chance.
I don't understand what you mean about the controls, to me they feel smooth as silk. Different from the tradicional p&c, yes, but smooth nevertheless.
As for the first one, it's a damn good game. Sure, it' a bit hard and it didn't live up to its full potencial, but that's doesn't mean it's not good. Some side threads of the plot weren't fully explored, but the main plot delivers just the same.

It just arrived. I'm not playing it until I finish Darkness Within 1, though. I guess it's time to re-install it and get by that part I got stuck on, then.

Where did you stuck exactly?

Last thing I remember was some guy jumping off of a cliff. I may have gotten a bit past that, but that's the last thing I remember.

Oh yeah, I know which scene you mean, this is where you meet Edward Pick, the great Poet.