The Darkness II demo comes to your browser

[Dark Drakan]

​

I was more than a little sceptical when it was announced that Starbreeze were not developing the sequel to one of the underrated gems in gaming The Darkness. However after playing the demo if the whole game can recreate and recapture that feel over its duration I shall be pleased. Now you have no excuse to give the demo a try as its out on Xbox Live, Playstation Network, PC and now also in your PC's browser here.​

​

Embrace The Darkness​

​

The full game was released in the US today with European launch coming this Friday, ive already preordered...​

 

[Gikoku]

Well this I wasn't expecting, but that''s pretty neat. Downloading the demo right now on XBL in fact, hope it's as good as you say man (though my wallet doesn't).

 

[Dark Drakan]

Well this I wasn't expecting, but that''s pretty neat. Downloading the demo right now on XBL in fact, hope it's as good as you say man (though my wallet doesn't).

At first I didnt like the idea of them stepping away from the more realistic look and heading more towards the comic style but you seem to forget about it pretty fast. The violence has been increased to make up for the style change and although its a comic style its still pretty dark and gory which I like. Pattons voice as The Darkness is superb once again and I like the way they had the demo playout, I was left wanting to play more which is what a demo should make you feel like.

Once you get used to quad wielding weapons and demon arms etc it becomes second nature and makes you feel like the killing machine you are. A little disappointed they changed Jackie's voice but thats a minor thing I can overlook if the game is fun all the way through. I know its not a long game but it has 4 player co-op too and the original wasnt majorly long so as long as it tells a good story im happy.

 

[Gikoku]

At first I didnt like the idea of them stepping away from the more realistic look and heading more towards the comic style but you seem to forget about it pretty fast. The violence has been increased to make up for the style change and although its a comic style its still pretty dark and gory which I like. Pattons voice as The Darkness is superb once again and I like the way they had the demo playout, I was left wanting to play more which is what a demo should make you feel like.

Once you get used to quad wielding weapons and demon arms etc it becomes second nature and makes you feel like the killing machine you are. A little disappointed they changed Jackie's voice but thats a minor thing I can overlook if the game is fun all the way through. I know its not a long game but it has 4 player co-op too and the original wasnt majorly long so as long as it tells a good story im happy.

"I like the way he feels... he feels sticky." lol wtf.

I'm almost done with the demo now and I'm loving it to be honest. I didn't like that they changed Jackie's voice as well, but the new voice actor manages just fine and hasn't taken away from me still caring about the character. Controls are solid and the Darkness abilities and gore is VERY satisfying, watching guys get torn asunder all over my screen in seconds is just awesome. I actually like the new art style, I mean it manages to work while still being believable and fresh. The intro where you walk into the restaurant was quite beautiful and I was happy to see them following the original and giving you a fun yet immersive on-rails scenario.

I really like the gameplay as well, very solid, though the picking up of certain objects (like pipes/poles) can be a bit problematic when in a chaotic firefight. Patton as the Darkness again is excellent, but not to take away from the rest of the cast, the acting in general for this game is still on par with the original.. which I was afraid wouldn't be the case given its new visual approach.

As it stands, I'm just about sold on this game.. no real negatives I have with the demo yet and it impresses me where I had originally thought it might fail.

 

[Dark Drakan]

I liked the slow intro which then boiled into chaos and lots of bloodshed and violence. As you said the voice acting seems pretty solid and some decent performances and they really arent afraid of descending into the dark side of the game. I liked the little flashes back to Jackie and Jenny, I hope that the game continues down that route. Amidst the violence. death and torture little signs to show Jackie did once care for someone who was violently taken away from him.

I wasnt a huge fan of The Darkling having lots to say as I imagine that may grate on you after a while if he keeps repeating one liners etc. I like the new unlock system as the rewards for more violent kills etc, also you can do a 2nd playthrough with all your skills unlocked that you did in the 1st playthrough which is a nice touch as the game isnt meant to be that long. I dont know if im going to like it more than the original as the original took me massively by surprise but if it can stand beside it as a worthy sequel I will be more than happy. The story was the real star of the show in the original but the combat seems to have taken centre stage now which isnt a bad thing as it wasnt perfect in the original, so long as the story is good im happy.

 

[Gikoku]

Yeah, it definitely feels like the action has become the center of attention this time around.. which has me concerned now that I think about it. I'm wondering if they kept in some of the little aspects that made the original so good, the little things I mean, such as making phone calls, watching actual television, talking to people etc. None of which was in attendance during the demo, and when I did finally come across a TV it was just a light source. When the Darkling started running his mouth it felt a bit weird in a way, like "Should he be talking this much?" and it definitely set a different tone for the game, albeit amusing. I like that they still have them do silly antics such as urinating on corpses, farting, doing pro-wrestling moves with dead bodies, etc.

I have to admit, when Jackie had that first Jenny flashback I actually felt a bit bad for the guy cause I vividly remembered the events in the original. Better than the original? I don't think so either, but based on its own merits this game definitely seems to deliver in all the right places.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Yeah, it definitely feels like the action has become the center of attention this time around.. which has me concerned now that I think about it. I'm wondering if they kept in some of the little aspects that made the original so good, the little things I mean, such as making phone calls, watching actual television, talking to people etc. None of which was in attendance during the demo, and when I did finally come across a TV it was just a light source. When the Darkling started running his mouth it felt a bit weird in a way, like "Should he be talking this much?" and it definitely set a different tone for the game, albeit amusing. I like that they still have them do silly antics such as urinating on corpses, farting, doing pro-wrestling moves with dead bodies, etc.

I have to admit, when Jackie had that first Jenny flashback I actually felt a bit bad for the guy cause I vividly remembered the events in the original. Better than the original? I don't think so either, but based on its own merits this game definitely seems to deliver in all the right places.

Yeah the same concerns I have but apparently the story takes a while to start coming into its own but it does by the end and although the regular ending apparently leaves you like WTF the alternate ending is good according to the reviews.

 

[Gikoku]

Interesting, I'm gonna need to get this game asap though because the demo left me wanting more.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Interesting, I'm gonna need to get this game asap though because the demo left me wanting more.

Review round ups are as follows currently.

HERE

 

[Gikoku]

Review round ups are as follows currently.

HERE

Really good scores there, the story having to take awhile to build up doesn't bother me since I'm patient enough for it. I trust the gameplay, character enhancements and side distractions (if there are any) will keep me entertained until then.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Really good scores there, the story having to take awhile to build up doesn't bother me since I'm patient enough for it. I trust the gameplay, character enhancements and side distractions (if there are any) will keep me entertained until then.

Only downers the reviewers have been saying are the boss fights and the ending.

The Darkness II takes pacing seriously. A hub ties the missions together, and the plot breaks up the action perfectly - giving you plenty of time to talk to characters and soak up the details.

It's one of the best shooter-stories we've seen in years - justifying its own ludicrous nature in interesting and unexpected ways. If the ending didn't feel like such a cop-out, The Darkness II could have been on par with BioShock. As it is, the gripping narrative and wonderfully empowering combat mean you'll be talking about it for months after completing it.

The city was the hub in the first one and the train station which is quite similar. Nice that the co-op modes can be played through in single player too.

 

[Gikoku]

Not sure what the appeal is with throwing boss battles in, I personally don't like them in a lot of games. Deus Ex: HR is a prime example of a game that didn't benefit from having boss battles, because it throws out the primary form of gameplay completely out the window and turns it into something it's not (in HR's case: stealth is pointless against bosses). Hopefully these boss battles aren't cheaply made for the sake of adding an unnecessary challenge which just results in headaches.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Not sure what the appeal is with throwing boss battles in, I personally don't like them in a lot of games. Deus Ex: HR is a prime example of a game that didn't benefit from having boss battles, because it throws out the primary form of gameplay completely out the window and turns it into something it's not (in HR's case: stealth is pointless against bosses). Hopefully these boss battles aren't cheaply made for the sake of adding an unnecessary challenge which just results in headaches.

Yeah its almost as if developers are afraid of leaving them out. Games like this dont need boss battles per say as surely there shouldnt be anything bigger and badder than Jackie. Just throw in more enemies with better weapons so you have to use all the skills at your disposal to survive rather than a boss where you have to whittle down a huge health bar. Just makes these sequences stand out like they dont belong or slot in very well.

 

[Tsuyu]

I hope the story is as good as the original. I'm manly enough to admit I cried a bit when they popped his girlfriend...

 

[Dark Drakan]

I hope the story is as good as the original. I'm manly enough to admit I cried a bit when they popped his girlfriend...

That moment always sticks in my mind as one of the truly memorable gaming experiences ive had for some time. I dont know if they will match that being as the violence seems to have been upped and Jackie seems to have gone down a darker path (no pun intended). But there seem to be touching undertones of him and his memories of her so im hoping. It has been praised for its pacing so im hoping that between the violence, bloodshed and death there is a deeper story too. My copy is in the post so im hoping it arrives tomorrow so I can see for myself.