The Darkness

"This game will rip your heart out!"

The Darkness has been a anticipated game for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 and I truly believe that this game will literally rip your heart out! Anyway, on to the review

Story: 10/10

The story is based on the experience of Jackie Estacado, a hitman that has just received the mysterious powers of the Darkness. This game will put you through his problems with it. The game had an enjoyable story line, and plenty of plot twists. I think the main reason people think this game is short is because of the storyline, it's constantly pushing you round the next bend to see what happens and to be honest, the story line never disappoints, it only impresses.

Gameplay: 8/10

Most of the game, you'll be counting on the Darkness to keep you safe. The game really is about going from point A to B while fighting whatever scum bags are in your way. You have a mix of firearms to help you shoot the hell out of anyone in your way. Sound like a standard shooter? Well yes, but then there is the Darkness... Does ripping the heart out of enemies appeal to you? Does stabbing scared gangsters with a sharp tentacle sound appealing? Well, this can all be achievable in this game. You can further improve your powers by devouring the hearts of your enemies. You'll definitely be maxed out by the end of the game, even if you didn't pursue the large amount of side quests the game has to offer. You can complete the game in roughly ten hours. Multiplayer can further improve your playing time, but only slightly to be honest.

Graphics: 9/10

One word: Amazing. The graphics are amazing. From the two demon heads on your shoulder, to basically... Everything around you. New York looks gritty and the characters are well texturized. What really is a let down, is the frame rate, it can be quite slow and clunky and since there is usually alot going on at once, the slow downs can be quite frequent.

Controls: 7/10

Standard FPS controls. They are tight, and very usable. There is quite a nice touch though, the further you press the gun trigger button down, the further Jackie's finger goes down the trigger. Yeah, so the controls are pretty average.

Sound: 10/10

Wow, what can I say? The music is amazing. It's fast paced and puts you in the mood. Perfectly suiting every situation you're in an further immersing you into the game. The actual sound effects are top knotch from the two demon heads who are fighting over that one heart you just devoured from an enemy from the excellent performance from Mike who plays the Darkness. Sound will definitely not disappoint

In closing, the Darkness is an excellent gaming experience that will definitely be enjoyable... While it lasts. I definitely enjoyed it though, perhaps it could've been longer but the time I did spend on the Darkness truly was not wasted.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/02/07