Last week, we did an Out of the Box on The Darkness that was largely positive, and after further testing we still maintain that this game is a smashing success. Still, that's based on a single-player focus, because the multiplayer is tragically flawed and mired in substandard lag. Even with the nearly unplayable multiplayer side, however, The Darkness remains a consummate example of the horror genre and could easily serve as the bar by which future games of its type are measured.

Face-bitingly Fantastic

From start to finish, The Darkness is drenched in an atmosphere of unmatched terror. While the original comic material contained some superhero-style elements (including The Darkness's janky costume), few of the cheesier elements have made their way into the game. This is excellent, and the mark of developer Starbreeze (creators of the critically acclaimed Chronicles of Riddick) can be seen in the dark and tortured feel of what is essentially an improved re-imagining of the character and story. The Jackie Estacado (the game's anti-hero protagonist) of this game is a darker and even more brutal rendition than we've ever seen before.


The gruesomely gritty nature of this new The Darkness comes through in a palpable sense of overwhelming dread juxtaposed with an awesome feeling of incredible power. While Jackie is slaved to the source of his disturbing abilities, he's also empowered by his eventual rebellion against an ancient supernatural demon that simultaneously supplies obscene amounts of power while bending him to its will. All of this comes across fantastically in the game, and you'll be forcibly made to feel every ounce of angst and anger at the sublimation of Jackie's will. This makes the single-player campaign a positively outstanding experience that will undoubtedly impact your psyche on multiple levels.