E3 2011: The Darkness 2 Preview
By:
Wesley Ruscher
|
June 9, 2011, 5:27 am

The Darkness is one of my favorite Xbox games of this generation. While not the most polished experience, the Darkness brought one of the most grippingly emotional narratives to the first-person genre. But original developers Starbreeze Studios are no longer associated with the franchise. Instead the reins have been handed off to Dark Sector developers Digital Extreme.

 
The first change Digital Extreme has made to the Darkness 2 is ditching the realistic graphics for a more true to source material comic book style. Helping create this new adaptation all of the textures in the game have been painstakingly hand-painted. What has yet to be uncovered for the new game is whether the story developing narrative plots of the first will still be intact. One thing is for sure after a witnessing a 20-minute play through, the Darkness 2 has upped the intensity, brutality and gore of its predecessor in every way.
  • Quad Wielding
    Two demonic tentacles plus dual wielding firearms makes main protagonist Jackie Estacado one vicious mafia Don. Each appendage is fully controllable and allows Jackie to rip enemies in half while popping heads with pinpoint accuracy.The amount of carnage at Jackie’s disposable is purely poetic when the blood starts spilling.
     
  • The Brotherhood
    It’s been two years since Jackie offed his uncle and became new Don of the family. Having suppressed his darkness powers for two years, Jackie finally loses his cool unleashing his dark furry. With his darkness powers out in the open a new adversary emerges hunting down Jackie and his powers.

    What makes the Brotherhood such a dangerous adversary for Jackie is they know all about his powers and how to fight it. Wanting the darkness for their personal gain, the Brotherhood come equipped for the challenge. Spotlights and vans with floodlights shine down upon Jackie neutralizing his powers. Later in the playable demo electric whip carrying members of the Brotherhood use their extra arsenal to disarm Jackie of his weapons. Combined with the use of light the Brotherhood looks to keep Jackie on his toes.

     
  • Kill for Skill
    Killing enemies earns Jackie points that can be used at “talent shrines” to upgrade any of four different skill trees. During the eyes-on demo I watch at E3 Jackie upgraded his gun skills to imbuing his darkness attributes into his firearms. The skill called “Heart of Darkness” allowed Jackie to see enemies through walls and hiding behind cover and also let his bullets penetrate walls to take them down faster. With four branching categories to upgrade Jackie, The Darkness 2 is posed to offers tactics for all types of gamers.
     
  • Can’t We All Get Along
    After suppressing the darkness for two years, Jackie is reunited with his demonic influencing appendages and they still don’t get along. A few times during the demo Jackie told his free riding companions to “shut the fuck up” and then hit them with the butt of his weapon. How their relationship progresses is sure to promise another unique adventure for the deadly three-some.
After what I’ve seen of Darkness 2, October 4th can’t come soon enough. While questions about story progression are still pressing the improvements to the combat system look more than adequate to deliver a solid blood-soaked experience this fall.
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