Wow. I really enjoyed the Starbreeze game. I have even been thinking of picking it back up again since it is cheap and running thru it again. The multiplayer was lackluster, but the single player was good fun. I hope they don't stray too far in the sequel... but hearing that Starbreeze has nothing to do with it, my hopes are in check...
The only reason I cared at all about The Darkness was because it was a Starbreeze Studios game. Sure the game had it's faults but it was generally well executed and a ton of fun.
I'm glad to see another studio take a whack at the IP, but mainly because I'm more interested in seeing what Starbreeze could do with something other than Riddick or a comic book property.
This next mystery developer better have their shit together, they have a tough pedigree to follow. To hear that Mike Patton hasn't even been approached to reprise his role in the sequel says a lot about the priorities of this new team, and none of it good.
I loved the darkness, despite it's lack of polish in some areas. Starbreeze again took an IP I don't care anything about (and still don't beyond the game) and made me spend 60 bucks to experience their way of making games when it was released. I have to say lacking Starbreeze I'm not too terrbily interested in this game. I didn't play this game for the game mechanics (which were fun enough). Mike Patton is a must have though. I saw Darkness 2 and got a tingle, then saw new dev, and that tingle fizzled.
Certainly, agreeing with most of the other posts here, The Darkness was a cool game, I liked the whole "pick up pistols use the ammo then drop when your done" really forcing you to be clever using the darkness power and not going crazy on ammo.
But, sadly, the shooting mechanics and multiplayer were awful, aiming was a nightmare and it was one of those "oh someone is shooting me from like 10 miles away and I just cannot hit him" moments ALL OF THE TIME.
But story line, and the narrative all very cool, even the powers had potential but I just found as well sometimes you would have the crosshairs directly on someone and still - to no effect.
If the new devs can improve the gun-play and multiplayer, then they have my money.
If the new devs improve gun-play and multiplayer at the expense of a great story, voice-acting and characterization, then they have completely lost my interest.
Personally as a Darkness fan something was missing with it being and FPS. Part of the sheer awesomeness of Jackie was seeing the armor and that he also could fight hand to hand. Plus something was just missing maybe it is my love for Darkness but it would be like Witchblade and she became just a set of guns. Heres hoping for some more from the new devs.
@TheNexusRebound: I'm thinking for this one, he's gotta fight the Angelus! and have the Witchblade cameo! Maybe even the Magdalena shows! they need to have more amazing figures from the comic universe embedded within the game.
Unsung hero indeed.
The Darkness is worth playing if only for the orphanage scene - those who have played it know what I'm talking about. It caught me completely by surprise, it was very powerful - especially after the "couch scene" in the apartment, which did more to get me attached to the characters than the entire FPS genre combined.
Yup, The Darkness still has two of the best gaming moments I've experienced this gen.
I also really liked its structure and I hope they expand on the adventure aspect. If even a non-FPS-fanatic like me could enjoy it as much as I did, Starbreeze clearly did something right.
It's sad that they're not developing the sequel - let's hope Top Cow don't ship it to a mediocre developer for a quick buck.
I actually cried during the Orphanage. Not full out bawling, but the same teary eyed have to blink a few times that I did when Meryl ate a bullet in the first MGS (pre Twin Snakes).
I also got the Romantic achievement without even trying or knowing about it, because the whole apartment scene was so touching I sat there and literally watched the movie with her.
@Antiterra: The couch part was certainly interesting... one time I actually sat through the entire movie. More games should have stuff like that. The orphanage was also so sad that I couldn't stop myself from tearing up and silently weeping like when you have to shoot The Boss at the end of MGS3, which is a tad bit embarrassing with your friend in the room watching you play...
*SPOILERS (just in case)*
The WWI-Hell was really annoying. The game was fantastic... except for that section. Some of that was so tedious and boring it drove me nuts.
The end level though was so fucking cool, it was one of the few superpower-based games that actually made me feel like a powerful badass. Tearing through that mansion with super-charged powers was a great finale.
@Antiterra:
Agreed. the game was amazing, aside from the ho-hum facial animation, the game was fantastic. A great story and voice work right up until the final scene.
It was a hell of a lot better than Halo 3's campaign...
Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku promoted this comment
Edited by Char Aznable at 07/28/09 3:11 AM
Char Aznable was starred
Char Aznable was unstarred
Yeah, this article re-inspired me to go back and play it again. I had it, played it with my brother, watched it get beaten, but never picked up the controller to plow through it myself.
It was so much like a movie I got lazy and just wanted to see it get played, rather than play it.
@Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku: I felt like that even when I was playing. Did you jump the first time you were exiting the tunnel onto the plains and the Hun appeared right in front of you for a single frame? That scared the bejesus out of me, and it's the only type of fright/scare that really horrifies me, e.g., the girl from The Ring flickering and accelerating/reversing in movement, Richard from Silent Hill: The Room.
I didn't watch the entire movie in the appartment, but I did stay a very long time on that couch. It's strange how such a simple thing can pull you in.
After the final scene in the orphanage, I was equal parts devastated and furious. It went completely against the way things are "supposed to happen" in video games. I hated the Darkness, to the point where I'd call it out in the light just to see it fry.
...Maybe I should see a shrink.
Nah dude. When my buddy and I hit that scene, he paused the game and said 'time for a smoke'. I dont even normally smoke tobacco and it was like 'yeah...'.
Then we quietly stood outside and burned one each before going back in and continuing. Normal conversation didn't start up again for a while.
I had quite a good time with the Darkness. I'll be happy to see it return. It wasn't amazing, but it had a good mood, was fun to play, and pretty well designed. Side note? Make like a million of those loading screen monologues- they're interesting, and they add to the world, and when you're lost and find yourself loading every other minute, hearing the same one repeatedly gets pretty annoying.
Dangeresque (Kojima-san doesn't have to make Metal Gear any more) was starred
Dangeresque (Kojima-san doesn't have to make Metal Gear any more) was unstarred
Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku promoted this comment
Edited by notquitedeadyet at 07/28/09 2:43 AM
notquitedeadyet was starred
notquitedeadyet was unstarred
@Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku: $4.99 new? What a steal. The Darkness was a fun, sleek shooter that did far more for me than most of its genre contemporaries.
It deserved far more attention than it got, for a comic book adaptation. I'd never even read the comic but the Mafioso-inflused with demons story intrigued me enough to go out and find it.
I figure for five bucks, I can give it away as a stocking stuffer or something.
"Merry Christmas! Heres a game about using demons to eat the hearts of mafia goons!"
@Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku: Good thinking on the stocking stuffer. Not read the comic myself either but I might buy the game now. I saw it at a friends and it seemed pretty good. It's only £4.95 at zavvi (online for 360).
nothing says christmas cheer to kids like a violent game. And if they're adults then it'd make a pretty decent game.
Oh sweet Jesus, YES! The Darkness is one of my favorite titles of this generation. Easily one of my top 25 titles of the gen so far. Can't wait for this.
07/28/09
07/28/09
Controls left something to be imagined and the multiplayer was down right unplayable, but the level design was superb, sound effects were halo esq.
The lighting system (and how it affected gameplay) was revolutionary. And the story? Without a doubt up there with the likes of Bioshock.
At 10 bucks, if you haven't experienced this gem yet, get it. It's well worth it
07/28/09
I'm glad to see another studio take a whack at the IP, but mainly because I'm more interested in seeing what Starbreeze could do with something other than Riddick or a comic book property.
This next mystery developer better have their shit together, they have a tough pedigree to follow. To hear that Mike Patton hasn't even been approached to reprise his role in the sequel says a lot about the priorities of this new team, and none of it good.
07/28/09
07/29/09
07/28/09
But, sadly, the shooting mechanics and multiplayer were awful, aiming was a nightmare and it was one of those "oh someone is shooting me from like 10 miles away and I just cannot hit him" moments ALL OF THE TIME.
But story line, and the narrative all very cool, even the powers had potential but I just found as well sometimes you would have the crosshairs directly on someone and still - to no effect.
Definitely keeping an eye on this one.
07/28/09
If the new devs improve gun-play and multiplayer at the expense of a great story, voice-acting and characterization, then they have completely lost my interest.
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07/28/09
This is not a spoiler that should be spoiled. What are you doing?
07/28/09
07/28/09
"Hes working with Turtle Rock on PC Zombie Shooter Left 4 Dead". Haha.
07/28/09
The Darkness is worth playing if only for the orphanage scene - those who have played it know what I'm talking about. It caught me completely by surprise, it was very powerful - especially after the "couch scene" in the apartment, which did more to get me attached to the characters than the entire FPS genre combined.
Yup, The Darkness still has two of the best gaming moments I've experienced this gen.
I also really liked its structure and I hope they expand on the adventure aspect. If even a non-FPS-fanatic like me could enjoy it as much as I did, Starbreeze clearly did something right.
It's sad that they're not developing the sequel - let's hope Top Cow don't ship it to a mediocre developer for a quick buck.
07/28/09
I actually cried during the Orphanage. Not full out bawling, but the same teary eyed have to blink a few times that I did when Meryl ate a bullet in the first MGS (pre Twin Snakes).
I also got the Romantic achievement without even trying or knowing about it, because the whole apartment scene was so touching I sat there and literally watched the movie with her.
07/28/09
*SPOILERS (just in case)*
The WWI-Hell was really annoying. The game was fantastic... except for that section. Some of that was so tedious and boring it drove me nuts.
The end level though was so fucking cool, it was one of the few superpower-based games that actually made me feel like a powerful badass. Tearing through that mansion with super-charged powers was a great finale.
07/28/09
Agreed. the game was amazing, aside from the ho-hum facial animation, the game was fantastic. A great story and voice work right up until the final scene.
It was a hell of a lot better than Halo 3's campaign...
07/28/09
@Antiterra: Me too. The Darkness is the home of three of the most moving scenes in video game history.
ALL. OF. VIDEO. GAME. HISTORY. CAPS LOCK. COOL. God, that was a fantastic game. *Takes it off the shelf.* I know what I'm doing tonight.
07/28/09
Yeah, this article re-inspired me to go back and play it again. I had it, played it with my brother, watched it get beaten, but never picked up the controller to plow through it myself.
It was so much like a movie I got lazy and just wanted to see it get played, rather than play it.
07/28/09
07/28/09
I didn't watch the entire movie in the appartment, but I did stay a very long time on that couch. It's strange how such a simple thing can pull you in.
After the final scene in the orphanage, I was equal parts devastated and furious. It went completely against the way things are "supposed to happen" in video games. I hated the Darkness, to the point where I'd call it out in the light just to see it fry.
...Maybe I should see a shrink.
07/28/09
Nah dude. When my buddy and I hit that scene, he paused the game and said 'time for a smoke'. I dont even normally smoke tobacco and it was like 'yeah...'.
Then we quietly stood outside and burned one each before going back in and continuing. Normal conversation didn't start up again for a while.
07/28/09
07/28/09
It remains a crown jewel of my collection, and my collection is nothing but an asortment of gems.
07/28/09
Wait, no Starbreeze? Well, anticipation down. I can't think of anyone else at all i'd want to see working on it. No alive studio, at least.
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07/28/09
So I bought seven of them. SEVEN. :P
Christmas shopping done, the really lazy way.
07/28/09
Are you serious!? I'm jumping on that shit now!
SUPER EDIT 64: Just saw that "a few months ago" part. But it's still cheap according to gamestop/ebgames's site(s).
07/28/09
That was seven months ago. But about a year and a half ago, I bought my copy for 4.99 used.
So I would guess its still pretty dirt cheap there. And well worth the price.
07/28/09
Funny that you'd buy seven copies though. You should make a tower of darkness.
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07/28/09
It deserved far more attention than it got, for a comic book adaptation. I'd never even read the comic but the Mafioso-inflused with demons story intrigued me enough to go out and find it.
I figure for five bucks, I can give it away as a stocking stuffer or something.
"Merry Christmas! Heres a game about using demons to eat the hearts of mafia goons!"
07/28/09
nothing says christmas cheer to kids like a violent game. And if they're adults then it'd make a pretty decent game.
07/28/09
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