I have never read any of the comics this game is based on...but I do know of them. But this game was my first proper introduction to The Darkness, so I write this as a game fan, not a comic fan...and it's very disappointing.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad game. Just a dull one. Here we have the tried and VERY tested First Person Shooter (FPS) game. With so many FPS out there, it's hard to do anything interesting or new with the genre...and this game also fails. It really is nothing more than another FPS, it offers nothing new to keep the genre alive. The missions are sub-standard stuff, and with a character that has the abilities Jackie does have you'd think they could inject some life into the mission design. Then there is all the pointless walking between locations, getting on and off trains....it's tedious. This game does not know if it wants to be a free roaming explorable game world (al-la GTA) or a restrictive FPS. So they tried to mix the 2 and fail. Yes you can ignore the missions and go off and explore, but with such a small game map and and lifeless empty one too (I'll get to that next)...why bother? There is nothing to explore anyway. The game is set in New York, though you would not believe that unless you were told as much. The streets are empty, you are lucky if you see more than 2 pedestrians at once. Also, it's such a small part of NY you do get to walk around that it beggars belief that the developers did NOT include more life and interaction.
The basic gameplay is just that...basic. Nothing really to keep a gamers enjoyment alive. It does have an interesting story...but this is a GAME, and GAMES require GAMEPLAY to make them enjoyable. I'm sure this would make a fine film (if done right), but it makes a dull, repetitive game.
The graphics are very nice...but I don't play games to look at nice graphics. I play games for the enjoyment and challenge of the game. As for the challenge, there really is none. I started a game on normal setting just to get a feel for the game. Found it all too easy, so re-started on hard and still found that too easy...and that was with turning off auto aim, etc. There are side missions and collect-ables...but they are just as tedious as the main game.
A rather average game that looks nice but really seems about 8 years old gameplay wise. Wait for the inevitable film instead, I'm sure it'll be FAR more enjoyable than playing this tiresome effort.
As one of the NPC police officers say in the game "Move along, nothing to see here"...yup, that pretty much sums up this game.
