Return To Home Page		June 15 2007

Release Date	Distributer	Publisher	Developer
20/7/2007	2K Games	2K Games	Starbreeze Studios
Offline Players	Online players	Price	Anticipation
1	2-16	$119.95

The Darkness has some stunning visuals.

Well here’s another gorgeous looking title for the Playstation 3. Under development by the award-winning developer Starbreeze Studios, the people behind the technically stunning Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, The Darkness video game is based on the best-selling comic book series from Top Cow Productions and utilizes a Starbreeze internally developed next-generation game engine. The Darkness will feature a distinct blend of dark modern crime drama and supernatural horror with intense first person non-linear gameplay.

A couple of darklings cause mayhem.

At the night of his 21st birthday, the Francetti family Don, Uncle Paulie, sends out hitman Jackie Estacado on a job. The hit turns out to be a trap and Jackie finds that Paulie wants Jackie dead. Later the same night, Jackie is possessed by "The Darkness", an ancient demonic power that gives Jackie spectacular powers. The story revolves around Jackie and Paulie fighting over the future of the Francetti family, and of Jackie's search for light and love in a dark and violent world. Written by Eisner Award winner and comic book author Paul Jenkins, the player will learn to utilize traditional weapons and the extraordinary powers of The Darkness.

Using the most basic weapon, dual pistols.

Essentially this game is a First Person Shooter that allows players to call upon the forces of the evil underworld as they fight in gritty, urban environments. In the game you are armed with an arsenal of guns, gamers will battle an array of demonic creatures and supernatural powers. Most interestingly the players’ demonic powers come into play when he is placed in the shadows. For this reason one of the key gameplay elements is remaining in the dark. One of his powers is the ability to grow long tentacles which can be used to attack enemies, or unlock doors from otherwise unreachable directions. Perhaps the coolest is that the player can summon 'Darklings'. Similar to the two dogs from Ghostbusters these creatures wreak all manner of havoc in the game and offer a very cool method of taking out enemies.

Looks like Jackie may be in trouble here!

One interesting side note is that Platinum Studios and Dimension Films are currently in pre-production for a movie projected for a 2007 release. It remains to be seen if this game uses assets, or indeed plotlines, from the movie but like Starbreeze's Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay we do expect there to be some links, but for the title to take a different aspect to the story. Starbreeze have also confirmed the game will include multi-player modes with confirmation that you will be able to play as the Darklings in a deathmatch styled game.

Exterior visuals impress the most.

Were it not for the fact that Starbreeze Studios are developing this game we may have doubted that the visuals were actually from the game. However with the developers behind Chronicles of Riddick working on the game we have no doubt that this game will look every bit as impressive as these screenshots. With well over a years development time remaining The Darkness is one game to add to our most wanted list. Expect The Darkness to hit the Playstation 3 on July 20, 2007.