The Darkness (is awesome)

[walrusmonger]

Picked up The Darkness today after thinking a long 10 minutes about which version to get.

Xbox 360- "better framerate, slightly better textures" (or so people think)
PS3- "more video content"

My major gripe is that the PS3 controller gets all wacky sometimes, cutting out or spinning my character around. Even with these negative points, I still like the PS3 controller more, and blu ray > dvd, so I went with the PS3 version (blu ray discs are God's gift to everyone, you can literally wipe them with paper towels and they dont scratch).

Anyway, after playing for a solid 4 to 5 hours today, I can honestly say that this is the first game to do the NYC subway justice. Slightly more graffiti in the subway then what actually exists, but besides that it feels so homey to me.

**edit*** 3 posts and only 1/2 of what I wrote showed :(

The Darkness, for those who haven't been following it, is based upon a comic book that i don't really know anything about. It’s a FPS where you have wicked demon powers, and actually has a very strong storyline. It's by the makers of Riddick, which I never purchased because I hate Vinny D, but after playing The Darkness, I will be sure to pick up the remake for the 360.

The Darkness does to modern gaming what Metal Gear Solid did to the PlayStation. Before MGS, there was never really a game that felt so cinematic (not talking about adventure games, talking about action games), with a tightly wound story line, stunning graphics, great game play and solid controls. When you played MGS you became Solid Snake, you felt the lust for Sniper Wolf, you feared Psycho Mantis. In The Darkness, you get tied close to the characters very quickly.

The cut scenes are incredible. The detail of the character models is stunning, the animation is pretty good, but the camera angles do so much more than make you feel like you're sitting through a cut scene.

Gameplay is generic FPS until you get the powers, which I most certainly will not spoil. These powers are *fun* to use, and never feel tacky or gimmicky. On the PS3 version, the aiming is a little weird because the auto aim is very good at locking on, while the sticks aren't as FPS-friendly as the 360. They take a small amount of time to get used to, but once you do it's like second nature.

What would the cinematic experience be without killer audio? The Darkness doesn't fail to deliver, and has not only solid sound effects, but a very nice score. The voice acting is top notch- if anyone has watched Oz on HBO, you will instantly recognize who the main character was, and feel a little uncomfortable because you know what he looks like naked.

Besides a gripping single player game, The Darkness also has multiplayer. I hate multiplayer because I generally suck at games, but I do like making LAN matches and playing with myself. So I hosted a game, and ran around the map just screwing around. It was fun, so I can imagine that anyone who is good at shooters will love to play it online.

Overall, I can't say how long the game lasts, but if I beat it, I will feel like I got my money's worth. If this game was only 10 hours, it would be 10 of the most enjoyable hours I have spent playing a game in the past few years. The team who worked on this put a ton of effort into the world, it feels alive, and their dedication paid off.

I am currently in love with this game, and am forcing myself not to play it because I don't want it to be over so soon :) I'll keep posts active when I finish the game with an estimated time of completion.

[Oobgarm]

So good it deserved 3(!) posts! :) LOL

I was checking some games out yesterday when I spotted The Darkness. I'd totally forgotten about it; as it was one of those high-profile games that was paraded around before the release of the next-gen systems.

I figure that if you put 4-5 hours into it in one sitting, it's got to be pretty good, yes?

[segagamer4life]

it looks good, I am gonna rent this shortly..

[heybtbm]

FYI: The PS3 and 360 versions are both $49.99 at Circuit City this week. I thought about picking it up, but the broken multiplayer may make this a $30 purchase somewhere down the line. I learned my lesson last year after paying full price for Prey.

[walrusmonger]

I feel it's very good, my posts were wacky last night so I saved what I wrote, just pasted it. Hope my very mini review helps anyone decide if they want it ;)

[Anthony1]

Each month I get a free rental from Blockbuster thru the Total Access plan or whatever the hell they call it. Last month I used my free rental to check out Forza 2 and this month I'll use it to check out this game. I definitely think this is the game of the summer. Bioshock and Metroid and Lair are coming out too late in the summer to qualify, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm going to have to check out a bunch of reviews to decide which version to rent, the PS3 or 360 version. Normally, I go with the 360 version, because it's usually been in development longer, and is normally the lead sku. But I'll check out a bunch of various reviews and see if maybe the PS3 version is actually a bit better. I'm completely opposite when it comes to controllers. I prefer the 360 controller over the PS3 controller big time.

[walrusmonger]

The PS3 version has accomplishments as well, so while you don't hear the same noise as the 360 version, you will have stuff unlocked and ready for when Home actually hits the PS3 :)

[heybtbm]

I'm completely opposite when it comes to controllers. I prefer the 360 controller over the PS3 controller big time.

You and just about 99.99% of all FPS players. I've never met someone preferring the PS-style over the Xbox style for FPS's. I don't think I'd want to.

[Anthony1]

I've never met someone preferring the PS-style over the Xbox style for FPS's. I don't think I'd want to.


The OP seemed to prefer the PS3 controller:


Even with these negative points, I still like the PS3 controller more, and blu ray > dvd, so I went with the PS3 version


I've also heard of many other people preferring the PS2/PS3 style of controller over the 360 controller, which baffles me as well, considering there is no rumble and the placement of the left thumbstick on the 360 controller is much more ergonomic. Of course, if you were a diehard PS2 gamer for many years and just got very used to using that controller, then I can see how you wouldn't want to change, even if the change was for the better.

[Azraelscross]

as soon as i saw the small teaser on tv and, after that, read up on it some a few weeks ago i knew this is gonna be one of the first games i pick up when i get a 360 *which will be in a couple weeks hopefully*

also might be a comic that isn't Aliens or Predator, or the Batman VS Dread one i own, i would actually read

[walrusmonger]

Even though I like the 360 controller more for FPS games, since it feels natural, I prefer to use the PS3 controller. It's much lighter and I like the triggers (might be the only person on earth that likes them) for shooters more than the 360 controller.

[BHvrd]

I got the Darkness yesterday also.

I'm not quite as impressed as you are over it though considering the amount of waiting and development time this sucker was in. I have a problem that Jackie gets his powers while talking to a bum in a random room, and the story seems kinda tacked on "though it may get better later".

The opening cinematic with the car is very cool "didn't see that coming, lol", and the Darklings I like alot, as well as the execution gameplay, but overall the game doesn't seem as polished as it could have been......again, considering how long we have been waiting for this game. Seriously this game was touted as a BIG DEAL, and it's kinda meh.

I played and beat Riddick on the Xbox, and this game moves and feels very much like it did, which is a good thing, but also feels a bit rehashed. I like the multiplayer, it isn't serious at all! It's just fun killing Quake style, I like it, though it isn't at all serious it is fun.

I've only played about 3 hours into the game, so take my comments based on that, but that's my overall impression so far. Good, but not great.




Update:


Ok i've gotten a bit further now, about 5 hours in now. I'm really surprised by the amount of television you are able to watch, it's really cool, I like the feature alot.

The basic game is ok, but as i'm getting further in i'm seeing that the deatils are what are making the game alot better. I like how the maps are kinda persistant and not much loading, makes it feel less like a game and more realistic. Still I hope the story starts making more sense it still seems a bit tacked on, and why did he get the darkness in that room with the bum, lol.

All in all this is one of the few games i've sat down with a while and played, i'm glad I bought it, one of the better experiences i've had in a while regardless of my gripes. I will agree that the game has a nice cinematic feel, so did Riddick you should really get that game if you like this.