The Darkness - wow

[MiracleOfSound]

I just bought this game today, a few Euros in a bargain bin section of Gamestop, and to say I'm pleasantly surprised is an understatement, I'm totally fucking blown away by it.

It's a title that you don't often seem to hear critics or gamers rave about so I was expecting an average shooter at best. Indeed, It does have its flaws, the powers make the game a little too easy and Jackie's walking speed is painfully slow.

But the presentation, holy shit, I can't belive this game is two years old, the graphics are up there with Bioshock and Condemned 2, the area design is stunning, especially in the

Spoiler

world war sections

The story is told amazingly well, and the quiet moment sitting with your girlfriend watching TV was the most accurate portrayal of being in love I have yet seen in a game, all the simple little subtle details they put in make the characters so wonderfully believable.

And on top of all that... it's got MIKE FUCKING PATTON.

Awesome.

What did you guys think of this game?

 

[VitalSigns]

I love this game I picked it up for $5 dollars.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

Yes, it is arguably the sleeper hit of 2007.

 

[SargeantGunlock]

I know right good sound track i hope they do a second

 

[Darkwolf9]

I thought it was good too. Just like what you mentioned about the powers, they definitely made the game too easy save a few boss battles towards the end. The presentation and story was great. I really like the intro while driving through the tunnel.

 

[ThaBenMan]

I've had a copy of this for a while now, but have yet to play it. I've got a few more games to play first, but I look forward to it.

 

[ElephantGuts]

I agree, I loved it. The story was great, very interesting and immersive. Gameplay is good too, though the only weapons you need are your pistols.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

ah the darkness. i enjoyed this game i liked just how evil "the darkness" villain actually was. because for the first few bits i thought it was there to protect Jackie but then when Jenny got captured and it prevented Jackie from saving her i kinda felt bad for him. Then later when you willingly give up your powers and encounter a human incarnation of the darkness that was truly pantswetting and scary

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I thought it was good too. Just like what you mentioned about the powers, they definitely made the game too easy save a few boss battles towards the end. The presentation and story was great. I really like the intro while driving through the tunnel.

Yeah that intro is pretty amazing. They don't waste any time getting right into the action and I loved it when the guy got clattered by the incoming truck...

I know right good sound track i hope they do a second

Hell yeah I forgot to mention the soundtrack, it's beautiful. That haunting music that plays in the subways, really sucks you into the emotions of the story.

 

[SargeantGunlock]

I thought it was good too. Just like what you mentioned about the powers, they definitely made the game too easy save a few boss battles towards the end. The presentation and story was great. I really like the intro while driving through the tunnel.

Yeah that intro is pretty amazing. They don't waste any time getting right into the action and I loved it when the guy got clattered by the incoming truck...

I know right good sound track i hope they do a second

Hell yeah I forgot to mention the soundtrack, it's beautiful. That haunting music that plays in the subways, really sucks you into the emotions of the story.

I'm sure there was Metal in there some where?

 

[Major_Sam]

It was great, the combat was okay, the ending was shit, but overall it has one of the best stories in games. Especially when

Spoiler

Jenny gets shot in front of you.

Yeah that was pretty damn intense.
It was a great game. Beautiful soundtrack and it was quite believable. Your little minions were very cute as well. Cheeky little bastards....

 

[gunbladejoe]

never played it but I did see a freind play it and it seemed like one of those badass games that never got the praise it deserved.

 

[CoverYourHead]

My biggest problem was that the minion AI was... well... terrible I mean seriously! I don't even know where to begin. Still, I really liked the game. Tons o' fun.

 

[Zyxzy]

Yeah, the Darkness really packs a punch. Jenny's fate is just made worse by the apartment scene.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I'm sure there was Metal in there some where?

Yep there was some idustrial metal tracks during combat scenes with double bass pedal, chugging riffs, the lot. There were actual metal tracks from real bands on the TVs too, some were actually really good.

I wonder did Mike Patton do some of the music too?

 

[Lord Beautiful]

It was great, the combat was okay, the ending was shit, but overall it has one of the best stories in games. Especially when

Spoiler

Jenny gets shot in front of you.

That scene was very well done, so much in fact that it actually pissed me off. But yes, the ending was shit.

 

[Marv21]

I was thinking about making a thread along these lines saying....."dude is this just me or is The Darkness one of the greatest games on the 360"

It got me into the Darkness comics...which I reccomend you read! I hope they make a sequal with Angelus, the witchblade and the Brotherhood of the Darkness!

The WW scenes were well done, but it kind of screwed up the comic something bad when his family had the darkness for over 2000 years and all the drawbacks to the darkness were never shown...like the fornication clause!


BUT IT WAS A GOOD GAME!

 

[Pseudonym2]

I had a lot of problems with it.
1 The whole darkness thing. Either I got killed because I was weak or I got lost because it was dark.

2 Annoying puzzles. Yahtzee already mentioned some of these so I won't. There was the time I walked into a room had a shootout and a guy told me where to go next. Then he stood in doorway and wouldn't let me leave. I had to restart.

3 It was difficult to tell if someone died. I lost count of how many times I shot someone a bunch of times, watched them go flying back like they were hit with a car, shot them a few more times, then got killed when they got back up again. The slow aiming and moving doesn't help either.

4 The protagonist is one third Italian New York mobster, one third emo kid, and one third Keanu Reeves. He would switch between these mid monologue. Listing to him try to insult or threaten someone while sounding stoned was hilarious. Creator Garth Ennis said the Darkness was a ?bankrupt idea? and said he came up with it when he was ?out of ideas.? He also said he came did the original comic book ?purely for the money.? It shows.

5 The ending

Spoiler

The Darkness warns you that you will lose your soul if you kill this one guy. Despite the set up like it's the player's choice, your only choice is to be an idiot and kill him. Jackie doesn't mind the only door locks behind him and it never reveals how he gets out.

6 The plot. How could Jenny not know her boyfriend and uncle were mobsters? Why does the Darkness need a host? Why does Jackie say "That was the first time I died" when he didn't die but ignores every time you get shot in between? Why does park calling people unlock content? Why is New York City virtually empty?

Spoiler

Why does Jackie kill himself if he knows he will regenerate?

7 The train station. Walking across tow was a pain due to how slow Jackie walks.


Using the darkness powers was fun but the rest of the game was just bizarre.