The Darkness - 360/PS3 - Review

[Kenzomatic]

The Darkness

I think everyone knows, but if you don’t, The Darkness is based off an 80’s comic book of the same name, and to my knowledge the game follows the story very closely. You follow the life of Jackie as he gets his revenge on the people who killed him. So it’s basically a mob game with supernatural powers. It starts off in a car chase where you die which awakens the darkness that is inside you. The game is a first person shooter combined with the darkness special attacks. Your special powers are where almost all the upgrades are so as time goes you’ll use the darkness more and more. You gain upgrades by eating the hearts of your victims and which set at both certain section and number of hearts eaten.

The game play is very good and all the attacks look and feel great from snaking up on people and attacking them to calling minions out of special portals to help you fight. Though the minions, who range from a gunner to a suicide bomber, really don’t make much of a dent in the enemies. The darkness of course must stay in the dark or it will weaken until it hides and leaves you vulnerable. The same is true if you get hit to many times, you will need to hide while the darkness (you) regains strength from the dark. As you move through areas you will want to shoot out lights to protect the darkness so you can fight at full strength. Later in the game you with get the demon arm which will allow you to attack people as well as nock out light allowing you to conserve your ammo. One of the coolest darkness attacks come later in the game which is a black hole that sucks everyone into it and kills them.

Many people have complained that the game is not as fun because as you become stronger your enemies don’t. I think this is a plus because towards the end you’re killing hundreds of people with ease and its fun. The first person shooting feels surprisingly good as you use 2 guns and I feel adds to the game as you can plan things better. Like firing with one then the other as you change clips. My biggest complaint is the amount of backtracking you have to do.

There are 2 worlds you will visit New York in the 80’s and the darkness world which is a World War 2 type setting. In New York you will use the subway to travel and it acts as the hub world where you get your missions and side quest, from there you take the train to your destination and go out into the city. The city section are rather small but they make up for it with detail as everything looks beautiful. Also between area there are many loads times which they have placed video clips over of Jackie telling various stories. This works good until the middle of the game where you are running back and forth and constantly waiting to load the next area and the video clips start to repeat.

The darkness world is almost completely open and extremely beautiful in its own dark way. You come to this place a few time through out the game when you die here you fight Nazi’s and meet your great great grandfather who tells you why all this is happening.

The story starts out awesome then deteriorate toward the end and leaves you wondering what happens next. The answer you can find in the comic books but here. The areas you visit are for the most part all real locations in New York which is pretty cool. Of course it is always night and no explanations for why, like you went to bed during the day. I guess you just hanged out in the subway all day. I don’t know you also never sleep.

The Graphics are top notch and extremely detailed, which is why the worlds/area are so small. The darkness looks great and so do all the character designs. The place is New York at night in the 80’s given it is a limited rather small New York. The darkness world is kick ass and one of the cooler worlds I’ve seen

Overall the first part of the game is a 9.5 but after that you start to run out of new areas to explore and the size starts to feel small and repetitive. Combine that with the story which doesn’t stay as strong as it starts out and you get an awesome 1st half that starts to fall apart towards the end. That said gaining the powers and abilities along with some kick ass environment hold things fairly tight. So you end with a great game that’s not completely satisfying.

Overall

8/10

[MesoZombie]

I recently played this game as well

And I general I agree, but I did find the game completely satisfying….

I enjoyed the mindless goons that would show up and throw them selves in front of my uber darkness guns

I enjoyed ripping a black hole in space and letting it suck guys into its whirling depths

I enjoyed the voice in my head making my skin crawl as it promised me everything and wormed its way deeper

My biggest complaint was having to watch Jenny die b/c I like my character felt helpless to stop it….despite all of the power I held even before the darkness gave me more I (Jackie Estacado) could do nothing but be a witness to the price I had to pay


I really think there is a great struggle b/t the main character and life

He has great potential to change the world, al be it in a dark way in the game, but he must make a sacrifice of himself in order to do it


Side note, the leather that is jackies jacket…did it not at times look real?

[Kenzomatic]

When it ended I just wanted more and whished there had been more areas to explore.

Also in the comics he goes to hell to save Jenny so if the do make a sequal that is probably where it will go as thats the point in the comics where they left off.

[MesoZombie]

really, in the game she is the last person i thought that would go there

also which was creepier the Nazis or the allied

[Kenzomatic]

I don't know but that bird man was by far the creepiest thing in the game.

[MesoZombie]

yeah, did you notice that he was one of teh four, i know famine was as well but who were the other two/

i was expecting some general theme but i wonder if they fell short there

[Don Ramón]

Is Darkness comics form the 80s?
I am old then

[MesoZombie]

don have you enjoyed this game yet (if not please do its a solid experience)

[Don Ramón]

not yet... but since you both recommend it... I will give it a try

[MesoZombie]

At times the voice acting and gestures a re spot on, Jenny had that a lot, other times you will hear him talking and his lips wont move……..

[Don Ramón]

Kenzo Can I use your review for my magazine?

[Kenzomatic]

Magazine?

[Don Ramón]

mmmm.. yes I do have a Weekly section... in my country... and a magazine starting december

[Kenzomatic]

Yes you can use the review

you can credit

Brian McKenzie
or
Charles Weber (my pen name)

which ever you would like

[Don Ramón]

ok!

[hunter_alien]

Yes you can use the review

you can credit

Brian McKenzie
or
Charles Weber (my pen name)

which ever you would like

Wow... you have a pen name Mine is Bob btw

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