Kotaku: The Darkness

The Darkness II: The Kotaku Review

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST

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The first Darkness game was released in 2007. With some original ideas for the genre and a setting that wasn't space or a war, it was a surprise hit, and people still say nice things about it today. More »

The Darkness II Weathers the Hellish Attentions of Game Reviewers

Mike Fahey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

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There are plenty of things you can do with a tentacle besides porn, and The Darkness II has them all covered. Jackie Estacado has gone through hell; now he faces an even greater challenge: Critics. More »

Nine Inch Nails Adds Background Noise to The Darkness II Launch Trailer

Mike Fahey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST

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Remember back in 1996 when Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame did the music for Quake? His music in the launch trailer for The Darkness II sounds pretty much just like that. More »

Does The Gore in The Darkness II Make You Squeamish?

Nick Vannucci — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST

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Ready for a bit of the 'ol ultra-violence? Featured here are the grossest, gnarliest, and most stomach-churning moments contained in the demo for upcoming video game The Darkness II. More »

"Itʼs not just about killing a dude, it's why you are killing a dude."

Brian Crecente — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

The joy of playing The Darkness II doesn't come from just killing people, it's how creatively you dismantle their mortal coil. But the folks behind the game think there's meaning, and joy, to be found in the why of killing as well. More »

The Powers, Weapons and Cursed Heroes of The Darkness II's Vendettas

Brian Crecente — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST

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The Darkness II's four new characters, each cursed with Darkness-imbued weapons, were all created by renowned comic book writer Paul Jenkins. More »

The Darkness II's Multiplayer Is Co-op Only. Introduces Four New Characters

Brian Crecente — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

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The Darkness II doesn't have traditional multiplayer. There are no multiples of Jackie Estacado using their powers over The Darkness to fight it out in endless battles. The core mythology of The Darkness prevents it. More »

Take a Look at the Fine Art of Death-Dealing in This Darkness II trailer

Evan Narcisse — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EDT

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First they deliver an intricately carved pumpkin to Kotaku HQ, then this painful-looking trailer that showcases the flair with which you can dispatch enemies in the upcoming Darkness II. You can really see how the game uses its comic-book art style to maximum effect and those demon appendages give you even more options to off your antagonists. The Digital Extremes-developed sequel hits systems next February. More »

The Powers, Persecution, and Prostitutes of The Darkness II

Mike Fahey — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:20:00 EDT

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With the New York City Comic-Con just a few days away, 2K Games gives fans of the comic book-based The Darkness II a little show of its own, with videos of Jackie Estacado's powers, the evil organization he'll be using them against, and the odd slice of cheesecake. More »

Only The Darkness II Could Reward Preorders with a Heart-Eating Bonus

Mike Fahey — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EDT

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While The Darkness II doesn't hit store shelves until February 7, preordering now for a free upgrade to the limited edition would be good for your heart, and extremely bad for the hearts of your enemies. More »

This Trailer Is Black, Bloody, and Hopeless, and That's Just the Way The Darkness Likes It

Mike Fahey — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:40:00 EDT

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The Darkness comic book has been around since 1996, but you don't need to worry about fifteen years of continuity in order to understand 2K Games' The Darkness II. You just need three minutes with Johnny Powell. More »

Swiss Police Call for Ban on The Darkness II [Updated]

Brian Crecente — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:20:00 EDT

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A Swiss police association is calling for a ban on The Darkness II because the game includes moments of police being shot and killed, a Swiss newspaper reports. More »

The Darkness II Slips From Crowded Fall to Early (Still Crowded) 2012

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:40:00 EDT

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The thinning of the fall and winter 2011 video game herd claims a victim today, as 2K Games delays Digital Extremes' The Darkness II. Originally on the books for an October release, 2K is now aiming the first-person shooter for February 2012. More »

The Darkness II Displays Some Vibrant, Comic-Book Color in Debut Gameplay Trailer

Drew Cohen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:20:00 EDT

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2K Games has released an initial, stand-alone gameplay trailer for The Darkness II, sequel to 2007's under-appreciated gem The Darkness. The title will pick up where the last left off, with mafioso protagonist Jackie Estacado wielding an assortment of grotesque powers, including the ability to summon impish "Darklings" and to pilot yucky, stretchy tentacles and tendrils. More »

The Many Ways To Kill In The Darkness II

Stephen Totilo — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

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The Darkness II is a grisly video game. More »

The Darkness Returns With Hellish Quad-Wielding Action

Mike Fahey — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Four years after his tremendous video game debut, comic book anti-hero Jackie Estacado returns in The Darkness II, and this time he's bringing all four of his arms to bear at once. More »

The Darkness Gets A Sequel, New Developer

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:30:00 EDT

The Darkness was one of the unsung heroes of 2007, a perfectly capable shooter that was lost in the wake of biggershooters like BioShock, Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4. Let's see if the sequel can do better. More »

The Darkness Getting A Sequel It Shouldn't Have

Mike Fahey — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EDT

No, please don't. Starbreeze Studios' The Darkness might not have set the sales charts ablaze, but it did contain two of the most emotionally charged moments I've ever experienced in a video game, with one quietly making the impact of the other that much more profound. It's the sort of game that would only be diluted by a sequel, but it looks like they're going to do it anyway. It's rumor until it's official, but at the New York Comic Con's Top Cow panel, said sequel was all but announced.

"We can't say DARKNESS and video game sequel in the same sentence. So, DARKNESS. Wink. Sequel."

This can only end in tears, and not the good kind you get when a powerful story draws them from their ducts like a fiddler draws rats. Ooo, maybe if the sequel lets you shoot rats from your eyes? Cool, but doubtful. I just know that any attempt to recapture such magic moments will feel like just that - attempts. Please prove me wrong. More »

Buy Bioshock, Get The Darkness Free

Mark Wilson — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:00:02 EST

Here's a pretty good deal from Amazon. Buy Bioshock for $50 and get The Darkness for free. "But the shipping," you say. "But the tax," you say. "I cannot afford such things," you say. "I'm saving for a new KitchenAid mixer to make game cakes," you say. Amazon gives free shipping on orders over $25, and there's no tax in most states. For those interested, hit the link and scroll down to the "Best Value" option. That's where the hot savings are. More »

PlayStation Store Update: Advanced Rock Edition

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:20:32 EDT

This week's PlayStation Store update should be going live right around.... now. It's a rather solid week, containing the expansion to the previously released Blast Factor known as Blast Factor: Advanced Research. That's a $4.99 download. On the free side, demos for Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 and The Darkness are also available. But that's not all! More »

The Darkness Demo Hits 360

Brian Crecente — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:00:54 EDT

The Darkness Demo hit the Xbox 360's Live Marketplace this morning. The demo features single-player gameplay from three early levels in the game including the Tunnel, Cemetery and Grinders Lane. More »

PlayStation Store Update: Symphony of the Night

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:40:02 EDT

What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets! I'll tell you what isn't a miserable little pile of secrets—this week's PlayStation Store update. (Worst post intro ever.) The library of PSone games playable on the PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP has been increased by one, with Konami's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. A fine addition, to be sure, but at the non-standard price of $9.99 (all other PSone titles are $5.99), it's slightly tarnished. More »

Banned in Singapore

Kim Phu — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:40:00 EDT

Not only was I born in Singapore, but I still hold my passport from there, so I think I'm allowed to say that they can be ~~retarded~~ overly-protective of their citizens sometimes. The Darkness is the newest game to be added to the list of games that have been banned in the country for excessive violence. This is another title from 2k that won't be seeing the light of day (at least legally) in Singapore since GTA IV has also been banned. Rumor also has it that Bioshock will be the next one on the Eurasian chopping block for the same reason. Like the slogan, "It's Uniquely Singapore". More »

The Darkness Changed For Germany

Mike Fahey — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:32:40 EDT

Looks like gamers in Germany are going to have to wait a little longer to play The Darkness on their Xbox 360s, and the version the end up with will different quite a bit from what we're playing now in the state and UK. Probably the most major change needed before the game is released is the removal of Nazi symbolism, which of course hearkens back to a period of history that Germany isn't too proud of. More »

The Darkness (Xbox 360)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EDT

The Darkness isn't just an English rock band with a penchant for big hair and florescent fahsions anymore—it's become a videogame! Really! Published by 2K Games, The Darkness is an FPS with a twist. You lurk in the shadows not just to hide, but to because the darkness actually fuels your inner demon. So how does it play? Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: the only review that wasn't trademarked when we planned the feature. More »

ESRB Issues Warnings To Industry On Violent Game Trailers

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:20:34 EDT

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board today cracked down on a handful of notable violent game trailers, enforcing its advertising policy on trailers produced by video game publishers. In accordance with the ESRB's Principles and Guidelines for Responsible Advertising Practices, notices from 2K Games and D3 Publisher went out to multiple outlets today reflecting the ESRB's enforcement of these guidelines. More »

Week in Games: Wizards, Demons, Robots and Pokemon Edition

fdemarco — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EDT

There is a deluge of titles coming out this week with a little something for everyone. My game dollars this week will be going to The Darkness and the harry Potter game for the Wii. There are several others I'd like to get, but I'm saving my pennies for the Limited Edition of BioShock coming in just under two months. Which of this week's blockbuster titles will you be picking up? Flynn De Marco More »

Clip: The Darkness Multiplayer Mode

fdemarco — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EDT

I always love posting a new bit of Darkeness footage. It never fails to impress and in this case it actually gave me a good laugh. In the multiplayer mode, you can switch back and forth between gangster and minion hellspawn. The minion form is pretty cool but I laughed out loud several time while watching the two minions going at shrieking and running around like something out of a Jim Henson movie. But, all Muppets aside, this looks like it will be a pretty interesting title although for me, I doubt I'll be playing much multiplayer mode given my terrible shooting skills. Still, the lure of gangsters and demons is hard to resist. Flynn De Marco More »

The Darkness' Otherworld

Brian Crecente — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:00:56 EDT

2K just released this new video of The Darkness to show off scenes and gameplay from the Otherworld as well as some later levels in the game. What do you think? Brian Crecente More »

Clip: The Darkness

fdemarco — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EDT

Although I'm not really an FPS aficionado, two titles have interested me enough to want to give them a try. The first is, of course, BioShock and the second would be the star of this particular clip, The Darkness. Something about running around with netherworld demon heads and tendrily tentacles, sucking gangsters into black holes and eating their souls sounds to just too good to pass up. Hopefully by the time this one lands I'll have practiced enough on some older games to actually make it past the first level without blowing myself up. Flynn De Marco More »

Ditch Those Cut Scenes!

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 31 May 2007 02:00:13 EDT

Big time comic and game scribe Paul Jenkins, who adapted comic book The Darkness for cross-platform gaming, hates on cut-scenes. His two cents: More »

The Darkness: Demon Hand

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 18 May 2007 21:40:29 EDT

I haven't really been paying too much attention to Starbreeze's The Darkness for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3, but after seeing this clip, I'll have to start. Sure, the comic book fan inside me withered into nothingness long ago, plus I'm a jaded FPS player, but extra demonic arms? C'mon. Michael McWhertor More »

Clip: New Darkness Gorefest

Brian Crecente — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:20:21 EDT

Lots of blood and gore in the vid, but it doesn't change the fact that I remain on the line about the game. I was so unimpressed at last year's E3 and so impressed with the stuff released earlier this year. This particular video is sorta meh. Maybe I'm just moody. Brian Crecente More »

The Darkness Movie Coming

Brian Crecente — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:00:03 EST

Top Cow's comic The Darkness is getting the hollywood treatment, according to MTV who spoke with Top Cow head Marc Silvestri. More »

Clip: The Darkness

Brian Crecente — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:00:04 EST

A GameTrailer user upped this cool video showing the people behind The Darkness comic at the New York Comic Con talking about the game and showing a lot of game details, including a pretty brutal torture scene. The game looks like it's really shaping up from what I saw at E3. Really. Brian Crecente More »

Does the PS3 Have Enough Texture Memory to Render This Decapitation?

brownlee — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:40:25 EDT

Hello, fanboys! Another small scrap of negative information about the PS3 for you to draft your anti-Sony manifestos around! Another tidbit for you to laboriously disprove in pro-Sony Excel Gant charts. The Darkness lead designer says the PS3 has less texture memory than the 360! More »

New "The Darkness" Trailer

egauger — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:40:30 EDT

This was camcorded at San Diego Comic Con (aka Nerd Prom) and has an irritating background patter of attendees, but is very watchable. I like the critters in this so far, but I'm not seeing anything else that's blowing me away. More »

New The Darkness Screens Hit The Kotaku

Brian Crecente — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 22:40:17 EDT

The Darkness Preview at Comic-Con

Brian Crecente — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:00:00 EDT

Upcoming next-gen game The Darkness will be on -hand at Comic-cCon International in San Diego this weekend. More »

What The Darkness Won't Look Like

Brian Crecente — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:00:31 EDT

Xboxgen posted a slew of concept art images for Xbox 360 and PS3 game The Darkness recently. Too bad the game I saw at E3 seemed so sterile compared to these. If even half of the raw artistry seen in this artwork made it into the game, I might change my mind about the game. More »