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Darkness, The

EMAIL PRINT ps3

7.3 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 35 critic reviews
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Based on 36 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Starbreeze Studios

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: June 25, 2007

Summary

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]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide

Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview(s) Official Website

What The Critics Said

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...

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.

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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]

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.

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PSM Magazine

The Darkness is brutal in its violence, language, and dark tone. [Aug 2007, p.70]

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.

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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.

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Play Magazine

I love it when I feel like a game has shown me something new. [Aug 2007, p.66]

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

It's rare to play an FPS with gameplay this creative and exciting. [Vol 3, Issue 2, p.54]

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.

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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.

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The New York Times

Part of The Darkness’s charm is its wealth of extravagant, often irrelevant detail.

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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.

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ZTGameDomain

A fantastic game with an engaging story that only manages to slip up towards the end.

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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.

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GameSpot

A remarkable action game that tells a compelling story from start to finish.

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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.

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Cheat Code Central

The Darkness is truly a brilliant ray of light during this otherwise abysmal summer gaming drought.

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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.

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Games Master UK

Not without flaws, but dripping with atmosphere and filled with 'whoa' moments. [Aug 2007, p.74]

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.

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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]

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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]

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]

Total Video Games

Despite offering a significantly compelling single-player story, there's little to keep you coming back once it's been completed.

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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.

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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.

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Gamestyle

While Starbreeze have brought their customary expertise graphically, so many other aspects of The Darkness are sadly lacking.

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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]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

The Darkness is an overreaching, frequently clumsy genre hybrid with moments of brilliance.

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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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.3 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Glen V. gave it an8:
Great graphics and gameplay...a little slow at some points but a worth addition to my limited PS3 library.

Ang F. gave it a1:
Ok, how can anyone rate this game good in any aspect. First and foremost, the controls are so bad. You cant even get a far away head shot and the worst part about the game was those annoying snakes you have to unlesh. Try to go up a pole with those snakes and then down, its almost impossible to control. I was trying so hard to like the game, I wanted to love it but I had to return the game the same day, it was one if not the worst game I have played for the ps3 yet. You have critics rating this game over 7 out of 10, WTF? How much were they paid to review this game or did they play a different game then I did. I would of rather played pong for atari.

Dafydd E. gave it a6:
This game has its moments but can be rather frustrating. I think I just dont like checkpoints. It is yet another game with absolutely no antialiasing, almost every surface with jagged edges. If it weren't for this lack of AA it would look very nice. Is a little antialiasing too much to ask (this is supposed to be next-gen don't forget)? The controls are clunky. It was expensive too, so I would expect better for the price.

David S. gave it an8:
This game is really atmospheric and dark, it make for a nice first person shooter experience. The textures could use a bit of an upgrade and I don't think it plays in 1080p but the gameplay is fun. Also there is very little lag due to dedicated servers which the 360 doesn't have, contrary to a previous review.

Tuomas K. gave it a9:
One of the best games in PS3 right now.It has extra content against it's XO counterpart and plays and looks tid bit better.Story is awesome and this first game that gives u the sense of being dominating over opponents,but don't worry this game isin't easy.One of the best I have played.There is also patch coming that will fix multiplayer issues and i think everryone should get this.Don't listen to those whiners,they own Xbox and just bitching because of that.

USMC Tazz gave it a2:
I agree with Jason H. I played this and the whole time I'm thinking will it get good. Walking around empty streets.....shooting out lights. Plus each major person you kill is void of excitement. I'm selling mine to buy Lair. No replay value-Demons you summon are usually blind and the enemy seem to carry machine guns that they pull out only to shoot your demons.........Plus Jackie never seems surprised at his powers or even mentions them until late in the game!!! HE HAS TENTACLES!!!! I'm still trying to firgure out how it got such high ratings.......Read Jason H for the best review of this game and also rent it don't buy.

Ray W. gave it a0:
Once you have seen the opening sequence you may as well trade the game if you bought it or return it if you rented it. There is nothing compelling beyond this point. The game is plain boring and Jackie shoots the way he walks, slowly and awkwardly. The Darkness tries to do too much and does nothing right. Bargain bin at best.

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Darkness, The

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