one of the very few Comicbook-to-Videogame that is plain fun, technically excellent and close to the material
let's start with the game play since it is the core of the game or at least a good 30% of it.
the game plays fairly smooth with a constant fram rate which is always a plus in a shooter. the controls are intuitive to say the least and the menus and the in game choices are quite perfect. The Darkness powers are easy to use each has its own use and its own perk and no they are not "overpowered" as many seem to think..those who say so must have finished the game on the easy setting...even the "black hole" power is terrific really but it forces you to get close to your enemies -who will probably shoot the hell out of you before you get there- and leaves you drained for a few moments afterwards which is quite enough usually to get your ass handed to you. Not to mention that managing to get rid of ALL the lights is never as easy at it sounds and it will often results in you rannig out of darkness power because you ended up under a bright spotlight you did not notice or too long....in other words the game just feels right although some game play elements could have been improved upon and the movements Jackie could have been sped up just a little, yes the Darkness is not a twitchy shooter but still sometimes it can get slightly bothersome. It's nice to say also that there are no real "loading" sequences....since every time such moments arrive there is an animated scene of Jackie speaking or doing something....also the fact that when he is speaking he seems to be doing so with Jenny from a "spotlight" surrounded by darkness is a true touch of genius.
Graphics. Well let's say it, The Darkness looks AMAZING. The chiaroscuro in the game is awesome. the Physics are accurate and realistic, the details are as clear, as crisp and as sharp as ever especially in the subway stations. Sometimes you will notice the odd not so detailed face in the game but it is trascurable ....what might make some noses turn is the lipsinc and the lip animations which are not quite up with the rest of the graphical splendor of the game itself. some of the animations and the ragdoll physics could have been handled better as well. It is to notice that the game lacks an HUD for the vat majority og it (icons remain on screen for a few moments when you, say, select a darkness power or a weapon, but vanish almost right away truly making you feel as if you were playing an interactive movie and not just a videogame.
Sound: there is only 1 word to describe it.....perfect. it is everything it should be, excellent gunfire, lovely sound effects in general -with the single very small flaw that some of the "impacts" of objects thrown around could have been a lil louder- . The voiceacting is particularly shining in this game, excellent characterization but for the love of GOD do all italian americans have such a poor grasp of the italian language?...regardless.....yeah it''s quite an experience with full blown surround sound. that and "the Darkness" itself has the creepiest, most fitting voice of all the characters.
Value: now...if you are someone who buys a shooter for the multiplayer aspect "the Darkness" is not for you, The darkness has an excellent story, very dramatic and emotional in several points that never really has up and downs but remains on a good solid level the entire time .....it is abo9ut 10-12 hours long.....more if you decide to complete all the side missions which albeit simple add flavor and fun to the game. The multiplayer tho is just a rather run of the mill experience but it should not bring the overall score of the game down seen as the game is not MP oriented as the developers themselves said over and over and focuses on the single player and its amazing story which will drive you to replay the game a few times to get everything the way you wanted it to be and of course the achievement which are not impossible -like some other games like GoW or Dead Rising- but are just right to keep you playing those extra few hours
all in all...I love the setting, I love what they did with the character and I love the supernatural element
this game deserves to be experienced