Preview: The Darkness
The bloody comic hits the Xbox 360 and PS3. Here are our hands-on impressions.
Jackie Estacado, the reluctant "hero" of The Darkness, is an heir to a devastating supernatural power as old as time. Based on the hit graphic novel, the game takes players through the origins of ex-mobster Jackie Estacado, offering a new storyline never revealed on paper.
Calling All Darklings
The opening interactive cinematic sees Jackie waking up in the back seat of a car that's barreling through a freeway tunnel. After blasting the pursuers with a handy shotgun, the car is smashed to pieces and Jackie is left on foot to tangle with the cops and the heavily armed goons of the Franchetti family. At this point, The Darkness, creepily voiced by Faith No More lead singer Mike Patton, has already begun to taunt Jackie, warning him of the chaos to come.
Early in the game, before you've gained your powers, you'll mostly lean on dual-wielded pistols (independently fired with the left and right triggers). But the real fun begins in close quarters, where you can initiate a vicious execution-style kill. In one example, Jackie jams the barrel of his revolver into the goon's mouth and splatters his brains on a nearby headstone. Can you say "M rating"?
The Darkness Is Spreading
As in the graphic novel, wielders of The Darkness can create objects and life forms out of shadows, with one catch: these constructs will evaporate when exposed to light. This light/dark mechanic serves an important role in the nuts and bolts of gameplay, as the player summons mobile serpent heads and shadowy tentacles to execute Jackie's dirty work: killing enemies, lifting heavy objects, and accessing hidden locales. But if exposed to light, Jackie's shadowy creations weaken and dissipate, meaning you'll want to stick to the shadows.
Left and right guns function independently with the left and right triggers
Pleasantly gruesome
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