The Darkness

The Darkness for X360 and PS3 is an action game based on a popular comic book series published by Top Cow. Its virtual representation was created by Starbreeze – a Swedish developer popular mainly for The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.

Plot & Mechanics

In terms of the plot, the video game follows the comic book's footsteps. Jackie Estacado is both the protagonist and the player's representative here. He is an assassin working for the mob. On his 21st birthday, Jackie gets assigned with a job given by Uncle Paulie, who is the Don of the Franchetti family. However, the said job turns out to be a carefully crafted trap aiming to deprive Jackie of his life. The protagonist manages to escape, but he finds out the Darkness lies within him. The titular, ancient power takes control over one man from Jackie's family once in a generation.

The Darkness for X360 and PS3 focuses both on Jackie's fight against the power taking control over him, and his vengeance for the trap he was pushed into, as mentioned above. In this dark world filled with violence and enmity, Jackie Estacado has to learn how to control the power lying within him, as well as to find his own destiny, freedom, and love. The path to achieving these goals is not a walk in the park however, for Uncle Paulie sends subsequent assassins after the protagonist, and different monsters come from the alternative reality to attack him. The action takes place in dirty slums and shady corners of the New York City, places such as docks or subway tunnels, so the atmosphere is truly dark here. All of the in-game locations were given a large degree of destructibility, thus fans of causing mayhem should not be disappointed.

The Darkness for X360 and PS3 is quite an interesting mixture of a mob story and a survival horror. Combined with a non-linear plot, it creates an atmosphere capable of drawing the fans of such games in for many hours. The game can be played either from first, or third person perspective. High-quality graphics are generated by an improved version of the engine used in production of the previously mentioned The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.

Last updated on 10 December 2007