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How Metascores Are Calculated
76
Age of Booty
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
The Darkness features a distinct blend of dark modern crime drama and supernatural horror with intense first person non-linear gameplay. The game is a dynamic first person shooter that allows players to call upon the forces of the evil underworld as they fight in gritty, urban environments. Armed with an arsenal of guns, gamers battle an array of demonic creatures and supernatural powers. In the game, players assume the role of mafia hitman Jackie Estacado. On the night of his 21st birthday, Jackie is possessed by "The Darkness," an ancient demonic entity that gives Jackie spectacular powers. The story, written by Eisner Award winner Paul Jenkins, follows Jackie and his fight with the fictional Francetti mafia. As the story unfolds, the player will learn to utilize traditional weapons and the extraordinary powers of The Darkness. [2K Games]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 92
Game Chronicles
I was completely sucked in. I couldn’t stop playing. By the end I wanted more. I wanted to be Jackie Estacado. I wanted to find out what happens next.
 91
Play UK
The Darkness combines the best bits of mafia and war films, producing one complete, intriguing experience...Few licensed games go beyond the realms of their source material, but The Darkness does it in a fun, gritty and engaging way. [Issue#154, p.62]
91
Gamer 2.0
The Darkness isn’t all that long and clocks in at about 10 hours, but it feels fresh the entire way through and doesn’t overstay its welcome.
90
PSM Magazine
The Darkness is brutal in its violence, language, and dark tone. [Aug 2007, p.70]
90
1UP
It also feels like a more polished game, and the base mechanics work extremely well by the time you reach the end of the single-player campaign. It doesn't quite have "Riddick's" pacing, due to the open city that asks you to find your own way through, but it presents a better feeling of accomplishment and familiarity by the end.
90
TotalPlayStation
The Darkness is a meaty, emotional, visceral experience that few games will ever be able to match. Starbreeze's next-gen debut hits on some many levels that we're almost scared to think of what they'll do next.
90
Play Magazine
I love it when I feel like a game has shown me something new. [Aug 2007, p.66]
90
Hardcore Gamer Magazine
It's rare to play an FPS with gameplay this creative and exciting. [Vol 3, Issue 2, p.54]
88
Game Informer
Interactive storytelling is rarely this good, and there are few game endings that make you sit back and think, “Man, what if I did this instead?” like this one does. For its amazing narrative and believability of characters, and the twisted joys that come from being a slave of a demon, The Darkness will keep you enthralled, even when the gameplay lags a little behind.
86
PSX Extreme
For all its drawbacks and shortcomings, this title makes good on its initial promise - seen right at the start - to deliver a unique and beautifully paced action quest. If only they would've built on the superb foundation just a bit more.
86
The New York Times
Part of The Darkness’s charm is its wealth of extravagant, often irrelevant detail.
86
IC-Games
The Darkness offers up just about everything we have come to desire in a FPS and has wrapped the package up nicely with a few neat touches of its own.
85
ZTGameDomain
A fantastic game with an engaging story that only manages to slip up towards the end.
85
GameZone
The Darkness is a deep FPS game, giving you a nice world to explore and great Darkness powers to use. The controls are a little sluggish, however, and the AI leaves a little bit to be desired.
85
GameSpot
A remarkable action game that tells a compelling story from start to finish.
82
GameTrailers
It’s like a great amusement park ride: fun while it lasts. But peel off that shiny paint and pause the adrenaline rush and you see there are some core problems hiding in the shadows, like underlying structure and play that just don’t completely congeal. Even so, it’s a hell of a ride, and it’s hard not to be forgiving and embrace this darkness.
82
Cheat Code Central
The Darkness is truly a brilliant ray of light during this otherwise abysmal summer gaming drought.
82
Game Over Online
Its story is one of the most interesting and engaging stories (albeit dark) that I've ever seen in a video game.
81
Games Master UK
Not without flaws, but dripping with atmosphere and filled with 'whoa' moments. [Aug 2007, p.74]
80
GameSpy
It's the closest thing we've seen to an HD-gen "Silent Hill," except that in The Darkness you get to play as that venerable franchise's ultimate evil monstrosity, Pyramid Head, clothed in the flesh of a mafia hit man.
80
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Keeping the "set" locations small allows for some impressive and immersive detail--throw in quality script and voice acting, and the whole experience is compelling enough (and very well paced) to transcend its brief playtime. [Aug 2007, p.74]
80
GameDaily
The game looks gorgeous, featuring dark, seedy locales and superb special effects. The gallons of blood. The tentacle detail. The characters. It's without question one of the best looking video games...That notwithstanding, it's not the deepest of adventures.
80
AceGamez
If you're looking for a tactical shooter or a horror game that makes you soil your pants then you should probably look elsewhere. But if you are happy with a cool first person shooter with a great gritty plot and some fun horror and supernatural elements then you'll be very happy that you plunged into The Darkness.
80
GamerNode
It's a very intense game in more ways than one. There is gore galore and foul language liberally spoken. The story is solid and adds to the action of the game. But it maybe just too intense and spooky for some.
77
IGN
It's too bad that the AI and gameplay mechanics couldn't be smoothed out a bit more to match the impressive visual presentation.
77
Worth Playing
There is a good game in here, but it's too bad that the AI and gameplay mechanics weren't as impressive as the deep story line.
71
PSM3 Magazine UK
The gorgeous visuals, incredible atmosphere, unique subject matter and immense production values are let down, and ultimately made redundant, by the abysmal pacing, sloppy design and criminal lack of length. [Aug 2007, p.60]
70
Edge Magazine
Fans of the series are in the position of seeing a game that is an enhancement, rather than an exploitation, of its source material – and fans of the FPS have another good example of the genre to add to their busy schedules. [Aug 2007, p.86]
70
Total Video Games
Despite offering a significantly compelling single-player story, there's little to keep you coming back once it's been completed.
67
Game Revolution
The handicapped shooting elements, the inconsequential mini-games, and the lack of connection between them will probably turn off diehard shooter fans. It’s not the biggest game, nor the most technical, but it is original—absurd and effective despite its faults.
65
DailyGame
The back-and-forth structure is tedious, and the narrative needed to be much more fleshed-out. Too bad great loading-screen treatments can't make up for overall shortcomings.
60
Gamestyle
While Starbreeze have brought their customary expertise graphically, so many other aspects of The Darkness are sadly lacking.
60
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Most of the time this feels like a clutter of poorly executed ideas held together with little more than good intentions. [Aug 2007, p.96]
50
The Onion (A.V. Club)
The Darkness is an overreaching, frequently clumsy genre hybrid with moments of brilliance.
40
G4 TV
I was looking forward to it, but left very disappointed. It’s completely playable. Being about 7 hours long helps but I spent the entire game waiting for it to get good, to make sense, to make a case for all the incongruous elements of design, gameplay and story, and then it ended.
Glen V. gave it an8: Ang F. gave it a1: Dafydd E. gave it a6: David S. gave it an8: Tuomas K. gave it a9: USMC Tazz gave it a2: Ray W. gave it a0: |
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