The Darkness (Xbox 360, 2007)

Graphics: Excellent 9/10
The graphics are very well done and they are sharp. The mouth movement when the characters speak is weak, but the attention to most other details is remarkable.

Sound: Great – 8.5/10
You can tell that there is gun fire, and there is something behind you - nice touches for surround sound.

Gameplay: Great – 8.5/10
The gameplay is well done and the physics are fun to play with and there are plenty of variances to keep your interst

Replay Value – Above Average 7/10
This is a great single player campaign game, but the multiplayer was thrown in because it could be.

Overall – 8.5/10
This is a fun game that gives a new spin to the first person shooter genre, though nothing revolutionary, and makes an entertaining and engrossing game. The gameplay brings you in, but it is the weak multiplayer however, is what keeps this game from really shining.

The Darkness from the makers of “The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay” is a first-person shooter where you use the lack of light to your advantage. You play Jackie Estacado, who quickly earns the ability to generate tentacles from his back, and by staying out of the light, you gain powers to dominate the game, and your enemies. You can use your darkness powers to create black holes, take out lights in a stabbing motion, sneak ahead and along walls like a snake to areas you can't reach on foot, pick up and toss around objects, etc. You will want to make sure that you take out the lights in this game as you battle along to make sure you have as much of an advantage as you possibly can.

This is not your average “run and gun” first person shooter. This game has a lot of dialogue and downtime talking to individuals that it feels like Shenmue at times with all the questioning, and there is a descent amount of time that is spent traveling. The semi-open structure allows roaming to ask questions and fight, but the game makes sure to leave enough with clues, tasks, and signage to streamline this game if you wanted to finish it as quick as possible you achievement hunters.

Like Riddick, the main story here won't take you long to get through (it's in the 10-hour range), but because of the game structure, you can spend time getting lost and messing around in the wrong parts of town if you choose, or if you are looking for all the hidden items.

Once you complete the game though, this game lacks replay value due to the very poor multiplayer. The multiplayer structure is simple and the Starbreeze team inadvertently admits that multiplayer shouldn't be taken too seriously, as this mode relies on a gimmick: the ability to shape shift from a human to a Darkling. The multiplayer is fun, but it is not a reason to keep playing the game.

The story on The Darkness, along with the unique first person shooter elements, makes this game definitely worth checking out. It is a polished, sharp, single player game, with a complete ending, and great story line.