First Look: Digital Extremes and 2K Games presents "The Darkness II"
It's been awhile since gamers last saw Jackie Estacado, the mafia hitman who inherited supernatural powers known as the Darkness on his 21st birthday. As a fan of the first game, which was released in 2007 and based on Top Cow Production's comic book series, I was glad to hear that Digital Extremes and 2K Games are bringing this long-awaited sequel to gamers. At a recent Los Angeles event for The Darkness II, we got some hands-on time with this first-person shooter in its current alpha stage.
The Darkness II takes place two years after the events of the first game in which Jackie used the Darkness to avenge the murder of his girlfriend Jenny Romano. In a cutscene, we were introduced to a new mysterious villain who wants the Darkness for his own and wants Jackie to relinquish his powers. Jenny also made a very brief appearance during the demo as a ghost-like vision and she seems to blame Jackie for what happened in the first game, however this could be a reflection of the guilt he still appears to carry over her death. Sadly, Jenny's role and other story details are hush-hush at this point.
The single most noticeable change in The Darkness II are the graphics. Fans of the first game will undoubtedly have mixed feelings about this new visual look. The sequel's art style is being described by 2K as "graphic noir" and is reminiscent of 2K's 2009 game Borderlands with its cell-shading style. The game's textures are hand-painted and the colors are rich. It ties into the "graphic novel come to life" concept and reflects the original medium from which it came but it seems to be missing some of the the dark and moody atmosphere present in the first game.
The Darkness II demo also showcased just how deeply Jackie's powers are incorporated into every aspect of gameplay, from the quad-wielding mechanics to the greater emphasis on up-close-and-personal combat. The Darkness won't work in the light and Jackie becomes vulnerable to enemy attacks without it. We quickly got in the habit of taking out light sources with guns or the demon arms so we could always have the powerful Darkness abilities at our disposal. The importance of light versus dark adds an additional layer to the game and sets it apart from most current shooters.
The combat was incredibly smooth in the level we played, which took us from an Italian restaurant, to an alley and street, and then into a subway. For gamers who are not familiar with the series, the demon arms are large snake-like entities that extend over Jackie's shoulders and are essential weapons in the game. Jackie will need to use guns and the demon arms to his advantage via the game's quad-wielding combat. From our experience, The Darkness II makes excellent use of these mechanics.
Dual-wielded handguns are controlled by the trigger buttons on the Xbox 360 controller; the left trigger for the gun in Jackie's left hand, and right trigger for the right-hand gun. The demon arms are controlled by the bumper buttons similarly. The left bumper controls the left demon arm, which is dedicated to grabbing and throwing. The right bumper controls the right demon arm, which slashes and also acts as a whip when using the right analog stick to determine the direction of the attacks. With the left demon arm, not only were we able to pick up objects such as steel pipes and throw them at enemies to impale or decapitate them, we used it to provide cover by ripping off a taxi door and carrying it as a shield while shooting through the window. In addition to handguns, we got to use sub-machine guns and shotguns in the demo. These can't be dual-wielded but provide heavier firepower than the pistols.
We were intrigued by what seems to be a point system awarding the player a score based on how the enemy was executed (headshot, demon arm kill, etc.). 2K wouldn't reveal details about the implications of the point system, but this being present perhaps hints at possible level-up boosts or customization of powers by unlocking or upgrading abilities. (Of course we wont' know for sure until it's confirmed by 2K or Digital Extremes, but it would be a welcome feature among most first-person shooter fans.)
Jackie's new sidekick was also introduced in the demo. The darklings, gargoyle-like demon minions each with its own costume and personality, were a fan favorite of the first game. The Darkness II showcased a single darkling, and it was hinted that this darkling would be important to the story. Our new little psychotic friend was helpful in executing enemies, finding guns for Jackie, and will continuously follow you as long as there isn't too much light around.
Though many details of the story and other aspects of the game are under wraps at this time, The Darkness II is shaping up to be a welcome continuation of the series, especially if 2K and Digital Extremes can provide the atmosphere and a compelling story that made the first game a cult classic. I can say that from what we've seen so far, The Darkness II has the potential to be standout title that offers gamers a refreshingly different combat style. The Darkness II is scheduled to be released October 4 on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
Attention Gamers: Thanks to 2K Games and Top Cow Productions, The Darkness II Confession comic was released on Free Comic Book Day, May 7. With a story created by Top Cow's Matt Hawkins and Filip Sablik and featuring art by Michael Broussard and Romano Molenaar, and a cover by Matt Timson, Confession is a full-color 32-page comic that bridges the gap between the first game and The Darkness II. It provides a great primer for gamers who are new to the series and a cool collectable for fans. If you missed the chance to get your free copy of Confession from your local comic book shop, there's a possibility that Top Cow will make it available for digital download at a future date.