I thought the copious amounts of blood was a minus though, in that it’s just too shiny and unrealistic looking ala the old Mortal Kombat games.
At first this seemed too cartoon-like for the very grim and violent atmosphere, but it ultimately works out. Digital Extremes used their in house Evolution Engine to pump out a colorful comicbook or cel-shaded look. Visually, The Darkness II gets a lot right as well. No matter who is talking, the voice acting is certainly commendable. This gives ample opportunity to hear the great voice acting, from the screechy, hissy words of The Darkness, the British accent of the Darkling, the curse-word-riddled Italians, and the soft spoken Jenny. Story details are revealed primarily in conversation with friendly and enemy AI, through conversations that are both interactive (and by that I mean press Square when prompted) and passive. I never found myself invested in Jackie or his mob buddies though, but I was intrigued by the numerous mind-games The Darkness submitted Jackie too and also what the mysterious Brotherhood was all about.
I will say that for as brief as the story mode is, it does stay pretty entertaining. I honestly felt like this game could have been even shorter if not for a few drawn out sequences in combat or other areas where you must slow-walk your way around and talk to different people (like in the mansion). In light of the gameplay being pretty mediocre, although admittedly different due to the special powers and conditions of The Darkness, the story fortunately keeps the game interesting for it’s very brief five to six hour stay. Paul Jenkins, writer for The Darkness comic, did a good job with the story, which is one of the stronger aspects of the game. The Darkness needs a host, it needs Jackie, to continue to survive, and so you have an interesting Jekyl and Hyde sort of symbiotic relationship between the two entities. The Darkness knows Jackie wants nothing more than to be with Jenny again, to relieve himself of this infinite burden he has placed on himself because Jenny died due to Jackie’s involvement with the mob. When The Darkness is active, it controls its hosts via manipulation and deception. Jackie obliges as he tries to figure out who put out the hit, following a trail that takes him around town. It heals its host (Jackie) but instantly yearns for human hearts and souls that Jackie must feed it.
An attempt on his life in the opening minutes that nearly kills him gives ample cause for The Darkness to uncage itself. So, this new adventure begins with Jackie taking a night on the town, meeting with many mob buddies at a favorite restaurant. We learn (or are reminded of) the tragic mob hit death of Jenny, Jackie’s love interest who was killed in the first game, and we are shown that Jackie has gone from low-level hitman to the don of his mob family. In this video, which is actually an in-game cutscene, ultra-nervous guy Johnny Powell (reminded me of Kramer) explains what The Darkness is, where it came from, and how it manifested itself on Jackie’s 21st birthday. When you go to start a new campaign, you can optionally watch a video that catches you right up to the opening night of The Darkness II. For players that have no idea what The Darkness is, or who didn’t play through the original, fear not.
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