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 games: the darkness
This week, the Mafia's tentacles. Innocent pomp-rock fans beware: The Darkness has nothing to do with the band of the same name. Far from it. Instead it's an adaptation of a comic book in which the protagonist is a host of nightmarish demonic powers called 'The Darkness', which have currently taken the form of Mafia hitman named Jackie Estacado. As the anti-hero central character of the videogame, controlling Jackie allows you to use his powers to brutal and gory effect. This is a game in which slithering black tentacles emerge from your body and rip out the hearts of your enemies, so it's not one for the weak of stomach. Like Starbreeze Studio's previous dark and brilliant action game, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, The Darkness is spectacularly brutal. Also, like Riddick, it is a game that is spectacularly solid and inventive. The Darkness might initially appear to be just another linear shooter, albeit a marvellously detailed one, but continued play reveals this to be one of the slickest action titles of recent years. It's packed with choices and neat touches, such as the movement of the guns and tentacles on screen, but it's also filled with some excellent scripted flourishes, like the opening car chase. The Darkness aims high and still hits its mark.  The central theme, which is that you must stick to the shadows to remain at full power, is superbly realised, and creates a strong atmosphere of gloom and evil throughout the game. You always feel empowered, and perhaps slightly guilty, as you tackle your enemies with a range of vicious weapons, including an unsettling creeping tentacle attack, in which you slither in for the kill with gruesome effect. Multiplayer is a small-scale eight player affair, but offers an interesting mix of characters from throughout the game. The best 360 shooter since Gears Of War, this is going to be an essential game for connoisseurs of digital violence.
Jim Rossignol
The Darkness is out now on Xbox 360 and PS3.
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 overlordgames #208  pegglegames #207  tomb raider... games #206 mercury...games #205  starcraft IIgames #204 books  books and comics archive Author interviews and reviews from 2002 to 2008. |
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