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[Phediuk]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Darkness_(video_game)

Release date: June 25, 2007

The Darkness was pretty much Starbreeze's successor to Riddick, in that it combined a more-or-less linear shooter campaign with some NPC interactions between levels. I remember my mind being kinda blown by how you could watch whole TV shows in-game.

It was one of those games that had a "next-gen" feel at the time, without being an exceptional game. I associate with stuff like Lost Planet and the original Prey in my mind. They were cool proofs-of-concept for the 360 while devs were still learning to adapt to the demands of the hardware. Bioshock would arrive that August, after which it felt like the PS2 era was left behind for good.

Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaY7wU_r__o

It also looks considerably worse than I remember. It was released right at the height of the "shiny walls and a fuckload of bloom" era.

It was also the game featured on the first-ever episode of Zero Punctuation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWS9_nrKOPA

 

[Josemsar]

Here... Waiting for a third part... Man, that cliffhanger on the second part is still killing me...

 

[Corpsepyre]

Great game with Mike Patton killing it as the demon. Part 2 was even better with way tighter gameplay.

 

[Evil Monkey DTT]

I really liked the writing of this game, and like with Riddick you can see them trying so many new ideas out. The couch scene is one of my favorite in all of gaming.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Still one of the weirdest games to not receive a PC release. Especially considering Overkill had worked on PC beforehand.

 

[60EffPeeEss]

Mad there was never a PC release. Game could use some permanent playability.

 

[pswii60]

Loved this game so much. The atmosphere was amazing. Played well on 360 too.

 

[DukeBobby]

Here... Waiting for a third part... Man, that cliffhanger on the second part is still killing me...

It would be great if MachineGames somehow managed to attain the rights to it.

It would be back where it belongs.

 

[Peroroncino]

Here... Waiting for a third part... Man, that cliffhanger on the second part is still killing me...

same here

 

[OldMuffin]

Where's my 3rd part 2k (or who ever owns the game rights)? It's been 5 years since the last part, and instead of giving us some more of this goodness we have gotten micro transaction galore games such as Evolve

 

[Anung]

One of my favourite games of that generation. And also on the short list of games that actually makes me feel something on an emotional level. I'm glad the games DNA (and team) gets to live on in the excellent new Wolfenstein games.

The sequel was pretty good too.

 

[Auto-Reply]

One of my favorite game on 360, also had one of my favorite endings of all games with the best song at the end. By no means a perfect game, but a very unique game.

 

[NeoRaider]

I played Darkness II two times and had a blast! Never got a chance to play the first game sadly but Darkness II is one of my all time favorite games.

 

[DAHGAMING]

One of my games of that generation. An emotional rollercoaster.

 

[N° 2048]

Played both games and would love a third.

 

[Tizoc]

Op shpuldve made the title state that ot is the game series as the comic has been around for more than 10'years

 

[antitrop]

Teleport-Lightning WW1 Hell part aside, it was one of my favorite games of last generation. The sequel could have been a lot worse, but it didn't feel in the same spirit as The Darkness (more of a straight-forward FPS, less of an adventure game).

These days, I'm thankful for MachineGames. The New Order is one of my favorite FPS and The New Colossus was the coolest looking game I saw at E3.

 

[Hag]

I want this on steam ):

One of my favorites, never liked 2

 

[Ceallach]

Love the games, would love a third or reboot that brought the franchise closer to the comics. Hell, a witchblade game for that matter.

 

[Falchion]

This game was actually a very pleasant surprise and I really liked what I played from the second even though I never beat it. I'd love to see it on Xbox BC so I could finish it up.

 

[TheDeftone]

Great game. Still hoping for a BC release on Xbox One.

 

[theaffection]

Cool game. Interactivity with NPC's and the storytelling is really well done. Kinda jarring to play these days like alot of other pre-COD4 FPS'. Love that mid-00's jankiness.

 

[MidnightCowboy]

I really enjoyed this game. It came out a little before Bioshock and lowkey liked it more.

 

[Canucked]

I loved the first one so much. I really wish more were coming.

 

[Leafhopper]

Not sure why 1 isn't on PC and 2 is.

Did they switch Publishers between 1 and 2?

EDIT: Oh Starbreeze made 1 and Digital Extremes made 2 but they are both still published by 2K. Weird. Explains why people don't seem to like 2 though.

 

[RedSwirl]

Mad there was never a PC release. Game could use some permanent playability.

Next best thing would be it getting added to Xbox One BC.

 

[Aztec_82]

Great game. Still hoping for a BC release on Xbox One.

Hoping for BC on Xbox one as well.

 

[Josemsar]

Not sure why 1 isn't on PC and 2 is.

Did they switch Publishers between 1 and 2?

EDIT: Oh Starbreeze made 1 and Digital Extremes made 2 but they are both still published by 2K. Weird. Explains why people don't seem to like 2 though.

The second one had some improvements on gameplay, but I still prefer the more realistic / obscure look of the first one.

 

[antitrop]

Not sure why 1 isn't on PC and 2 is.

Did they switch Publishers between 1 and 2?

EDIT: Oh Starbreeze made 1 and Digital Extremes made 2 but they are both still published by 2K. Weird. Explains why people don't seem to like 2 though.

Digital Extremes did a pretty good job and the story was co-written by Walt Williams (Spec Ops: The Line), but Starbreeze (and now MachineGames) games have a very unique style.

 

[AgentLampshade]

"Too late Jackie. Love dies."

I've been wanting to replay this since I binged The Darkness quotes on YouTube one day.

 

[Leafhopper]

The second one had some improvements on gameplay, but I still prefer the more realistic / obscure look of the first one.

Digital Extremes did a pretty good job and the story was co-written by Walt Williams (Spec Ops: The Line), but Starbreeze (and now MachineGames) games have a very unique style.

Ah I see. Didn't know that. Still interested in playing this at some point. Haven't played 2 because I didn't get a chance at 1.

 

[timothyonfire]

Cool game. Interactivity with NPC's and the storytelling is really well done. Kinda jarring to play these days like alot of other pre-COD4 FPS'. Love that mid-00's jankiness.

I'm always complaining to my girlfriend that I miss the old jankiness of games. Especially the RPGs like Two Worlds or Risen. I wish we had more of those this generation.

 

[DukeBobby]

"Too late Jackie. Love dies."

I've been wanting to replay this since I binged The Darkness quotes on YouTube one day.

Damn, that scene

 

[AgentLampshade]

Poor left tentacle never ate a single heart.

 

[ScaryShark]

Not sure why 1 isn't on PC and 2 is.

Did they switch Publishers between 1 and 2?

EDIT: Oh Starbreeze made 1 and Digital Extremes made 2 but they are both still published by 2K. Weird. Explains why people don't seem to like 2 though.

I like the sequel more personally.

 

[RomeoDog]

Pretty sure I finished this game on PS3 but don't remember the ending. It was ahead of its time though.

 

[KDC720]

Never played the first beyond the demo, but I did play through the sequel for the first time recently and thought it was fantastic. Absolutely a game that flew under the radar I think.

Hope they make both games BC on xbox at some point.

 

[Rymuth]

"There's something important here that the Darkness is trying to protect. I can feel its agitation. But If I stay the course, if I defy the voices in my head and never look back...maybe up ahead I'll see a light. And maybe in that light - I'll see you, Jenny."

T_____T

 

[Abilidebob]

Absofuckinglutely amazing game. I still haven't played a game with a better atmosphere.

 

[JDB]

The Darkness 2 is one of my favorite games ever. Would love a sequel that combines the gameplay of that game with the first game's level design.

 

[60EffPeeEss]

I've read the comics, and the second game is much more in line with them than the first, but the first is great. So undying bleak.

 

[isaacnukem]

I loved the first title. Thought it was one of the best FPS titles I've ever played. Now imagine a Vampire the Masquerade title with the game's graphics and atmosphere.

I played the game on the hardest difficulty and while there were a few really tough moments, the game made you really feel powerful against everything. The powers were awesome.

Only played a few minutes of the second one and it felt more action-oriented. Hopefully the quests remained?

 

[Miasma]

Loved this game back in the day, gameplay has not aged well unfortunately.

 

[MCN]

For some reason I thought this thread was about the band.

 

[CannonFodder52]

Loved the first game. For some reason, the second game just didn't connect with me.

 

[Roufianos]

It was definitely one of the best FPS campaigns I've played. Absolutely loved it.

 

[lynux3]

I remember getting to the very end and getting stuck due to a game breaking bug. Never went back... maybe I should.

 

[Acidote]

Obligatory Jenny scene on every The Darkness thread.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

The WWII sections or whatever they were absolutely broke the game for me. The modern day stuff had its moments, and the game had a cool vibe... but the overall package wasn't particularly good.

 

[GrayFoxPL]

Fucking awesome game!