Sometimes a game just slips under the radar. Whatever the reason for this occurring, be it bad marketing, classification problems or a strange concept, some games just fail to find their audience. Here at Player2.net.au we want to highlight these rough gems and that is where “In Case You Missed It” comes in. Some games just deserve a second chance.
In Case You Missed It – The Darkness 2
In the world of comic book to video game conversions the original Darkness is held in high regard. The game, developed by Starbreeze, was the perfect mix of story, adventure and action and it went on to be one of the more popular games in the early years of the Xbox 360. But when Starbreeze moved on from the franchise many thought that The Darkness would never return to haunt consoles again. Luckily the torch was picked up by Digital Extremes and thus The Darkness 2 was born.
Being from a totally different developer meant that the game is significantly different from original but that doesn’t mean it is worse. The Darkness 2 is a much more action focused game than the First installment. A new control scheme was introduced which allowed players to utilize all of The Darkness’s powers with the push of a button. This enabled the combat to become much more dynamic. The mix of demonic powers, tentacle attacks and traditional gunplay gave The Darkness 2 a unique free flowing feel that is truly the game’s highlight.
Digital Extremes also gave the game a radically changed look. While the original went for a more realistic tone The Darkness 2 embraced its comic book roots with a cel shaded graphic style that was a real treat to look at. This altered appearance added touches of flair to the combat and along with just the right amount of slowdown to emphasise a particularly graphic kill made the Darkness 2 a feast for the eyes.
The game however did make some sacrifices when compared to the initial title. The story now is a much simpler affair and gone are the puzzles and exposition that gave players a break in the first game. The Darkness 2 is a pure action affair and luckily it is a very very good one. Perhaps the best thing to return from the original however is Mike Patton. The Faith no More singer once again gives a creepy and chilling vocal performance as The Darkness its self. His sinister growl and raging screams brought the malevolent force to life in a way that no other could. Spine tingling stuff.
The Darkness 2 is a game that many dismissed because of its differences to the original and that is a shame. While it is true that it is a very different game, The Darkness 2 is superior to the original in quite a few ways. The combat is simply breathtaking and is the prime reason to purchase this game. The Darkness 2 is available on the PS3 and Xbox 360 as well as the PC. The PC version is the one to get as it looks amazing and can be picked up for a steal on Steam. If you are looking for a pure action experience with a unique combat system and buckets of style then you could certainly do a lot worse than The Darkness 2.
Matt Hewson
