Action games with a twist. They seem to crop up every few weeks for Microsoft’s powerful Xbox 360 these days, so this title needs something extra special to get our juices flowing.
The Darkness, thankfully, has two huge aces up its murky sleeve. First of all, it’s made by the same guys who created the excellent Xbox action ‘em up Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. Second, it’s sinister title hints towards a major twist from the norm.
Safe to say this isn’t a straight actioner a la Lost Planet.
They say:
1UP: “The Darkness doesn't give off quite the same "this is amazing and you absolutely must play it" vibe that Riddick did.”
Gamespot: “If you're a sucker for M rated action - and really, how can you pass on a game with a human heart eating mechanic? - you'll definitely want to play The Darkness.”
Eurogamer: “Once The Darkness gets its tentacles around you, resistance is futile.”
We say:
For anyone who knows the comic book The Darkness is based upon (aptly titled The Darkness) you won’t be surprised that the video game contains no end of balls out action.
Viewed from a first person perspective, there’s a tonne of gunplay here. Like Lost Planet and Chronicles of Riddick before it, you get powerful weaponry right from the off. The gun wielding here isn’t quite as polished as those other top class titles though.
Playing as Jackie Estacado, the action is fast and furious from the start. Barely a minute into the game you’ll have busted a few heads with your shotgun, made a speedy getaway from some crooked cops and found yourself the subject of a hit from the leader of your own crime family, your uncle. It could almost double for an Emmerdale plot.
The big twist becomes apparent half an hour in. Not only are you the subject of a hit from a hugely powerful crime syndicate, but you find yourself possessed by ‘The Darkness’ too (cue spooky 'oooooos’). It not only rains, it bloody pours for our Jackie.
Luckily, these powers aren’t all bad. Two snake like entities shoot out from Jackie’s shoulder blades, snapping and growling away at your side any time you feel like whipping them out.
The problem is, they only have a limited lifespan. Use them up in the bright sunlight and they’ll slowly die away to nothingness. Nip into the shadows however and they’ll be boosted by masses of energy and be ready to rip a fair few throats out all over again.
The Darkness isn’t one for the faint hearted. Blowing a few heads off might have been enough to earn the 18 certificate that adorns the box, but with those two big tentacles and mouths gleefully ripping out throats and devouring the innards of anyone you so wish, it’s one to only play when the kids have been packed off to bed.
The story pushing you, and the action, along is well written too. Taking as much as it can from the source material, the voice acting in particular feels spot on. The voice of The Darkness itself in particular is superbly creepy.
The graphic obsessed among you are in for a treat too. Though most of the game is played in the dark - much like the superb detective thriller Condemned - the quality of the graphics shine brilliantly bright. If you’re HD ready, you’re in for a hell of a treat.
While the gun action is lacking in places, you can’t call yourself a gamer if you don’t give give this a blast. Try not to find yourself succumbing to The Darkness yourself mind. Ripping throats out is frowned upon in today’s society.
Like this? Try these:
Lost Planet – Xbox 360, PC
FEAR – PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Condemned – Xbox 360, PC
FORMAT REVIEWED
Xbox 360
OTHER FORMATS
PS3
POSTED...
Mon 16 Jul 2007 at 2:23pm
