Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #766 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Take 2
• Released on: 2007-06-28
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• ESRB Rating: Adults Only
• Platform: Xbox 360

Manufacturer's Description:
The Darkness video game is based on TopCow's cult comic hit of the same name that was written by famed comic-book author, Paul Jenkins, and co-created by famed comic-book artist, Marc Silvestri. The story for The Darkness video game was also written in collaboration with Paul Jenkins.

The Darkness is a gritty, first-person, action-adventure game with a horror twist. On mafia hitman Jackie Estacado's 21st birthday, the awesome and terrible powers of the Darkness awaken within him allowing Jackie to wreak havoc on his enemies. In the game, players experience extremely intense and immersive cinematic action. Players will have an array of dark and other-worldly powers available, including cannibalizing the corpses of slain victims and transforming them into Darklings - impish demonites that commit unspeakable acts.

Amazon.co.uk Review

Developer Starbreeze Studios seem to have found a niche for themselves creating top notch video games based on licensing tie-ins that hardly anyone has ever heard of. The Chronicles of Riddick may have been a film flop but the game was one of the best first person shooters on the original Xbox. This follow-up is based on an obscure comic book about a Mafia hitman with the rather handy ability to conjure up the eponymous Darkness – source of seemingly unlimited demonic power.

To some degree the game can be played like a standard first person shooter, with main character Jackie Estacado proving a dab hand with a wide variety of standard pistols, machine guns and shotguns. The Darkness powers though are obviously the game’s real draw, with the ability to use super strong tentacles to fling around objects in the impressively interactive game world or act as a shield or even spy camera. The most interesting of the Darkness abilities though is summoning special imps called darklings. These come in twenty different types, from interrogator to kamikaze to decoy, and ensure there’s always more than one way to tackle any obstacle.

The only problem with the Darkness as a power is that it doesn’t work in strong light, which is where the need for more traditional weaponry comes in – especially when shooting out lights to get your demonic groove back on. The graphics are superb (The Chronicles of Riddick still looks better than many low end 360 games) and despite its obscure origins the Darkness itself turns out to be the most interesting thing to happen to first person shooters in years.
Harrison Dent

Customer Reviews

The Mafia gone supernatural
In my opinion a vast game with many locations which can be reached on foot (watch out as you walk the streets as you might be held up at gun point)or by subway (or tank when you go back in time to WW1, I haven't completed the game yet, although I must be near it, so I couldn't comment if there any other modes of getting arround). There is a story line that reads like a paperback with twists and turns involving lots of small side tasks which you can either agree to do or decline. Graphics are quite good as is the sound/music. You are eased into the controls as you progress and gather more weapons. Not wanting to give too much away a really good game, which if you stay with it, it will grow on you. The only down side if you can call it one is there are a lot of cut scenes as you move from area to area but hey just enough for a few sips of the old coffee. Enjoy.

Magnificent
I don't have a bad thing to say about this game, it is brilliant on all levels. Now stop reading and press ADD TO BASKET. You won't be disappointed.

Afriad of the dark
The Darkness is a great story driven first person shooter that can offer much love to both the horror and action shooter fan. It provides visceral gaming that wouldn't be out of place on big budget Hollywood flicks, fast paced combat, a brilliant and driven story and plenty of gore to boot.

You play the protagonist mafia hitman Jackie, who on his 21st birthday is given a present he wasn't really expecting. The possession of a powerful entity known as 'The Darkness'. This provides a slightly different experience than the standard first person shooter, giving the player all kinds of funky abilities including vine-like tentacles that rip bad guys apart to cheeky minions summoned at your will.

The way you can approach the game is up to you. That's one of the games strongest points - choice. Whether you fancy loading up your assault rifle and going in 'commando' style, then that works. If your more inclined to sneak around using the creeping dark (a snake like detachable part of the Darkness), sneaking up on unsuspecting gang members for stealth kills, or use the games very swarve close combat finishing moves execution style, then it all works rather well.

However, this game is not without its faults. Frustrating moments that result in game-fault player deaths can leave you frothing at the mouth, with the entire control system sometimes seeming just a little bit confused with itself. Take for example the tentacle power, which when works is bloody fantastic, used to instantly kill an enemy then holding the button down you can fling them rag-doll style in a never tiring fashion. However this, more often than not, doesn't go to plan, often completely missing an enemy that's squeezing round upon round of shotgun shells down your throat, only to take out a nearby light instead. Leaving you either dead or frantically smashing lights around the baddy.

The same can be true of the minions, who could have done with some more attention. The AI for them seems pretty weak, as they stumble around corners or shoot at things that aren't there. This is a shame, because when they work, they work really well and have a cheeky charm that makes them a pleasure to be around anyway.

Another small note to make is on travel through the game world, which is done by two subway stations used to contact all the major locations. However knowing where you need to go at any one point can be a little confusing, with the game providing little direct indication that people who play games like the new GTA have come to expect. A little more detail in the inventory style objective page would have solved this.

Despite these issues, the game remains a great buy and I highly recommend it. I was left at the end of the game wanting more and hopefully will soon be looking forward to a sequel.