The Darkness: Urban Grit      

December 22nd, 2007

If you want to whack a few guys who are bothering your action, we’ve got just the solution—The Darkness. You’re a young hit man for the Mob and your uncle Paulie has plotted to blow you to oblivion for your role in a muffed transaction. You want to get back at him in the best possible way and somehow The Darkness has infected you. What is this force? 

Extra arms appear that act as whips, you develop vision that won’t quit in low light, and you get recuperative powers that can’t be believed. As your quest to avenge yourself against Paulie advances, your powers increase with the addition of guns and a black void that swallows up baddies. Four auxiliary beings (Darklings) add to your flexible killing tools but drain your available power.

This is all set in New York City (imagine that) in an environment that is downtown dirty and dingy. You always seem to know where to go as you go from room after room in a limited but free movement scenario. The back-story is more than adequate and the graphics are evocative of the urban landscape where we imagine all wise guy stories are staged.

Guns are unfortunately the best weapons provided and targets are achieved without much trouble. Auto targeting detracts from the difficulty The Darkness could otherwise benefit from. Some of the action is uncomfortably gory (eating the hearts of your enemies?) but the visual sumptuousness grows on you.

Single player mode is the best play while online multi player mode has a few pitfalls when one player can’t keep up. All in all, The Darkness is a successful title in spite of the limitations of somewhat simplistic play.

Entry Filed under: Game Reviews