The Darkness is one hell of a good reason to upgrade to next-gen; probably the best comic-book based game ever.
User Rating: 9 | The Darkness PS3
Comic book games have a history of disappointment, just ask anyone who played Superman 64. The Darkness, while not a famous franchise, manages to create a dark, gritty and brutal experience that actually surpasses anything the comic has done. From a technical standpoint, the game is cutting edge: you can see the grease in a slick mobster's hair, there are no framerate hitches, blood realistically splatters across the wall. Story wise the game is also quite a treat, sporting a dark, pulp-fiction feel for a plot that you would find in a good graphic novel. Voice acting in excellent and believable and music suits the mood at nearly every point in the story. The games greatest allowance for freedom is the Darkness mechanic, which lets you utilize a number of otherworldly powers to dispatch your foes how you see fit. To acquire energy to use your powers you must be veiled in darkness, so shooting out lights is a big part of the game. All of the lighting effects are extremely impressive and you would find yourself squinting in the dark if you didn't equip the Darkness. The World War I netherworld you visit when you die during the story is far more exciting than New York City, so unfortunately your otherworld ventures are few and far between. Though at times your Darkness feels over-powered , the game gets you so deep into your role as Jackie Estacado that you feel like you should be overpowering; you're the freakin' Darkness! Overall despite some pretty average gun mechanics, this game is really quite an achievement and should be the standard at which all future comic book based games are measured. 
