Game Description
The Darkness II has an astounding composition of both flavor and unique gameplay. You play the role of Jackie, who is the host of the Darkness – a demonic presence that transforms him into a Satanic creature. He is a mafia Don, and exploring his life is both interesting and gritty. His interactions with other characters help to trace his path down insanity as he is consumed by the Darkness. He has visions of his dead lover, Jenny, and this leads to some complex plot expectations that you actually feel invested in. The whole way through, you are simultaneously wishing for some sort of redemption for Jackie, some way to bring Jenny back, and all the while expecting, and hoping, that the Darkness will deliver you more methods of murder.
We have all heard of dual wielding guns, but this game gives you quad wield. Jackie has two human arms for shooting guns, and two snake-arms which are used for stabbing and ripping apart enemies. This provides some intense action sequences, where you can take out multiple enemies at once, and not just one-shot-two-kills, think four-shots-four-kills.
Being creative in the way you kill your enemies grants you “Essence Points,” which are used to upgrade abilities and add to your arsenal. With four trigger buttons and a whole slew of abilities, the Darkness 2 excels in variety. The enemies are also creative, and you will need to change the way you engage each scenario. What’s more, the world is exceptionally interactive; Jackie’s mafia thugs are chatty and there is no dearth of usable items.
This game is not for the faint of heart. It is drawn in a graphic noir style which feeds the dark feeling. The killing is bloody, intense, and insistent. As you play this game, your mind will undoubtedly be affected by the Darkness, and you will truly need to bring out the demonic side of your mind to gain your Essence Points. The game will last seven or so hours, depending on what difficulty level you set, but there are additional modes and a co-op which flesh the game out.
