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The Darkness: The Official Thread
- Thread starter SPEA
- Start date
Red Blaster
Member
Are they gonna patch the multiplayer at all and make it actually work okay? I also wonder if it's also possible to add AA to the PS3 via a patch.
gollumsluvslave
Member
Just finished.
On the whole I'd have to say it was excellent, barring a few misteps here and there.
Hell I finished it 2 days after I bought it which hasn't happened in an age!
Bad points:-
Other than these minor issues I thought it was a blast. 9.0
On the whole I'd have to say it was excellent, barring a few misteps here and there.
Hell I finished it 2 days after I bought it which hasn't happened in an age!
Bad points:-
The final level with Paullie was a bit of a dissapointment - not a particularly challenging boss battle. The mansion itself was pretty cool though.
Felt quite short on the whole.
Other than these minor issues I thought it was a blast. 9.0
Thunderbear
Mawio Gawaxy iz da Wheeson hee pways games
Red Blaster said:
The bad AA has really impacted the experience for me... can't help it. I like the game fine, but the lack of AA bugs me.
urk said:
yeah i met him, talked and then he got sucked away...so how do i get to the top of the bunker? i am seeing no way "out" of the initial area. there are two sub areas with doors, one leads to a gate that i cannot open or move...really annoying since i havent been stuck like this before
bengraven
Member
One thing that sucked: my friend has been watching me play and wanted to finally play, so he goes to start a new game and it says "if you do this, you lose all your saves". I don't want to create a new profile, so I let him play my game.
Naturally, he doesn't care about eating hearts or especially (OH HE HATES DOING IT) collecting phone numbers and letters.
Naturally, he doesn't care about eating hearts or especially (OH HE HATES DOING IT) collecting phone numbers and letters.
Ok, guys. I just received my 360 back from the mail and am interested in picking this game up. I'm on limited funds and noticed the game has an 80% rating on gamerankings. I enjoyed Riddick a great deal and really just want to play a good game. Worth $60 or hold off for something better?
The Other World (I found out it's not Hell per se) is one of the problems with the game. Everything looks the same and the enemies are just so boring. The whole thing is boring. But everything else is great. You might like it more when you get to the final level.Y2Kev said:
Any word on a MP patch? This could easily be a great game if they could stop the lag ala CoD2.
Picture launch CoD2. Lag everywhere except for the host. For some reason, I've noticed hosts slaughter on there or somebody who I expect is the host. If they can patch it like Infinity Ward patched Call of Duty 2, it won't be anything to rival Halo or Gears, but it'll be some fun and something different.Fletcher said:
DevelopmentArrested
Banned
Multiplayer isn't even worth looking at. Period. Horrible unplayable lag or not.
Just finished singleplayer and to be honest, this was nowhere near Riddick.
The atmosphere wasn't as engrossing, story not as good, fire-fights nowhere near as fun, etc.
I'd probably give the game a low 7 or high 6 now...
Just finished singleplayer and to be honest, this was nowhere near Riddick.
The atmosphere wasn't as engrossing, story not as good, fire-fights nowhere near as fun, etc.
I'd probably give the game a low 7 or high 6 now...
Captain Glanton
Banned
KarishBHR said:
I found that there are a few places where the game keeps you on the "right" track by presenting nigh-impossible enemies instead of the old invisible walls or barriers. There was one point where I kept trying to get down this street and kept getting gunned down. I finally tried an alley instead, and the NPC I was supposed to meet was down the alley anyway, and had I gotten down the street I'd have been going the wrong direction.
So if you find yourself getting slaughtered, look around and see if there's a separate branching pathway you can take.
I enjoyed the game and it's worth the money, but Riddick was so much better IMO (and felt much more polished). The Darkness is a very good game but also pretty flawed IMO.
1) The game world in The Darkness is very small and even worse it's broken up into smaller sections with all those (cleverly hidden) load screens that play the cutscenes, which started to get annoying after awhile. The "Otherworld" suffered from the opposite kind of in that it was very big and there wasn't much to do there. The area just wasn't very interesting to me (foggy, empty, boring, repetitive, etc).
2) The Darklings you can summon were mostly useless and broken, only the Berserker seemed to work properly. The rest had awful AI that would get stuck on objects or just stand in place (even when directing them).
3) The firefights were not very fun most of the time IMO. I'm not exactly sure what it was, I think a lot of the weapons were not very satisfying to fire (the pistols seemed better then most weapons IMO) and the enemy AI was not that smart. The darkness powers make up for this though.
4) This might seem like nitpicking but there were several things that broke the immersion for me. It felt weird that almost all the NPC's were ONLY in the subways (and that it was always the same people there the whole game too) - there was absolutely no one in the streets of New York (I would've at least liked to see parked cars or something, it felt way too empty).
And although the voice acting was excellent the lip-syncing was atrocious.
5) The side quests were mostly tedious and unfun (everything was either fetch this or kill this person.) I would've liked to see more variety there.
1) The game world in The Darkness is very small and even worse it's broken up into smaller sections with all those (cleverly hidden) load screens that play the cutscenes, which started to get annoying after awhile. The "Otherworld" suffered from the opposite kind of in that it was very big and there wasn't much to do there. The area just wasn't very interesting to me (foggy, empty, boring, repetitive, etc).
2) The Darklings you can summon were mostly useless and broken, only the Berserker seemed to work properly. The rest had awful AI that would get stuck on objects or just stand in place (even when directing them).
3) The firefights were not very fun most of the time IMO. I'm not exactly sure what it was, I think a lot of the weapons were not very satisfying to fire (the pistols seemed better then most weapons IMO) and the enemy AI was not that smart. The darkness powers make up for this though.
4) This might seem like nitpicking but there were several things that broke the immersion for me. It felt weird that almost all the NPC's were ONLY in the subways (and that it was always the same people there the whole game too) - there was absolutely no one in the streets of New York (I would've at least liked to see parked cars or something, it felt way too empty).
And although the voice acting was excellent the lip-syncing was atrocious.
5) The side quests were mostly tedious and unfun (everything was either fetch this or kill this person.) I would've liked to see more variety there.
Sean said:
It's odd. I can't argue with any of that. Those are all valid points. But for whatever reason, the game is still great despite its warts. Riddick was much the same for me. There were plenty of borked elements, but for whatever reason (storytelling, immersion, visceral elements?) the game just works for me.
UncleGuito
Banned
Here's what I think. I don't have any problems with the lack of hand holding gameplay or anything like that. I quite like it. Maybe there will be some spoilers in here, but I doubt it. Maybe just location names.
Graphically, the game is kind of mixed. I think the character models were eery looking at times, and lip sync was nonexistent. However, the texture work is top notch. This game might have sharper textures than any game out there right now. Motion blur was too severe. Blurring on a simple turn is nonsense. Does this happen in real life to anyone? Why should it happen to Jackie? The animations in the game were generally fairly good. I like some of the personality the animations give to the darklings and to the arms. The way they fight for hearts is always cute, but after the 50th time, I noticed I hate waiting for the "press A" dialog to pop up again. I think I would have liked it if both arms could eat at the same time. The monologues have amazing graphics. Is that the in-game model with enhanced lighting? I didn't think it was, but it's just amazing.
I think the level design is pretty poor. I found myself getting lost a bit, and not because I don't know how to use a subway system or read a subway map-- I live in New York City, I'm quite good at those things. Everything is just a series of interlocking squares with some alleyways through in for good measure. Often times while progressing through a level I'd find myself back in the place where I started abruptly. Often I am unsure that I actually completed the objective I meant to complete. The first time I had to
I went in circles through the abattoir until I saw the locked door in the far corner. I don't think the place is nearly as tightly designed as the prison in Riddick.
The otherworld is just an absolute mess. Everytime I strayed a bit far I seemed to warp back to some center point without it being explicitly clear why. It's dark, but often I'm exposed to the light and the red tint of the sky and ground don't really work well with the slight red tint of the "Darkness." It's confusing and it is never clear where you are, even if you look at the map. It isn't even entirely clear what significance the setting has for Jackie; I would have liked a little more story in the game in general. Why isn't Jackie's sexual frustration in the game when it's such a huge part of the comic? Why
The gunplay is a little strange. I don't like the way a lot of the weapons feel, and the lack of a reticle with the strong autoaim at the default level makes the game feel a lot like a modern day Goldeneye. I can't tell you how often I am finding my Darklings ****ing stuck on things. God it's so annoying. It's just like Goldeneye. There is a lot of focus on the Darkness powers to make up for some really "meh" gunplay, but does anyone regularly use any power other than Dark Crawl or whatever it's called? I just hang back and use that. I never have used the arm in any scenario other than those where it's necessary like
. I could use the
but why bother? I might expose myself to the light.
The AI feels really stupid. I'm playing on medium but I have only died twice, and I'm pretty mediocre at shooters-- check out my Halo 3 beta k/d ratio. Maybe it's that I just hang back and exploit the unbalanced dark crawl power. I dunno. The other thing that really bothers me about the way combat progresses is that the Darklings are totally, totally broken. Just totally broken. Every darkling I spawn gets caught on shit that it should easily be able to move over, the Kamikazees are always blowing themselves up into things for no reason, the bezerker is always dead before it can do anything, and my gunners ALWAYS shoot into walls endlessly. It's just not fun. I try not to spawn them unless I can use the lightbreaker. Dude is awesome and he does his job. I like the little dialog between the Darklings...it's funny and I do enjoy penguins.
The music is all really great. The dialog is really great. The voice acting is really great. The presentation and delivery of the story (or rather, what's there) is really great. These are things that Starbreeze showed they OWN in Riddick and it's true again here. The difference is that the setting just does not facilitate that same style of gameplay nearly as well.
I have to wonder whether or not the decision to forego a HUD was a smart one. I don't think it works with the darkness mechanic all the time. I'm constantly wondering how shrouded in darkness I am, and I'm always wondering how much darkness power I've saved up. The visual clue often blends into the background or the other existing lights, and worse, the sizzling noise can only be heard when you play with the volume on and loud. I play a lot at night and I can't afford to play it that loudly. A shame to 1990s Nintendo I am indeed. The lack of a reticle is interesting. I do like that quite a bit. In the end, I find trying to gauge where I am in darkness more frustrating than fun.
Some of the coolest sequences in the game are all automated, which is kind of disappointing. I think this is why I'm a fan of QTEs. For example, Jackie's
I was disappointed I had to watch that. It was pretty great to watch. Starbreeze does great things with camera manipulation and it makes you feel like you're really in the game, but I think I would have liked to play along.
I'm not done with the game. I am through to chapter 4 I think.
I'm really disappointed in the game. I was expecting another Riddick like experience, and the game feels more like a game in the style of Riddick that fails to capture some of the great stuff about the original.
However, I'm being harsh because of my expectations. This is not a bad game. This is not a bad game at all, in fact, it is a good game with some serious flaws. The game oozes with polish. You can absolutely see where Starbreeze spent a ton of time-- the textures, the videos, the dialog, the monologues...IMO it just falls way short.
I'm gonna wait to finish it before I "score" it, because I hear the ending is sweet. I also hear it's
I'm impressed with the game, but for reasons I didn't think I would be.
edit: I did one sidequest so far. One woman asked me to find her bracelet. It was RIGHT ****ING BEHIND HER. I was like, **** this shit, I'm gonna go eat some more hearts or something.
Graphically, the game is kind of mixed. I think the character models were eery looking at times, and lip sync was nonexistent. However, the texture work is top notch. This game might have sharper textures than any game out there right now. Motion blur was too severe. Blurring on a simple turn is nonsense. Does this happen in real life to anyone? Why should it happen to Jackie? The animations in the game were generally fairly good. I like some of the personality the animations give to the darklings and to the arms. The way they fight for hearts is always cute, but after the 50th time, I noticed I hate waiting for the "press A" dialog to pop up again. I think I would have liked it if both arms could eat at the same time. The monologues have amazing graphics. Is that the in-game model with enhanced lighting? I didn't think it was, but it's just amazing.
I think the level design is pretty poor. I found myself getting lost a bit, and not because I don't know how to use a subway system or read a subway map-- I live in New York City, I'm quite good at those things. Everything is just a series of interlocking squares with some alleyways through in for good measure. Often times while progressing through a level I'd find myself back in the place where I started abruptly. Often I am unsure that I actually completed the objective I meant to complete. The first time I had to
burn Paulie's money
The otherworld is just an absolute mess. Everytime I strayed a bit far I seemed to warp back to some center point without it being explicitly clear why. It's dark, but often I'm exposed to the light and the red tint of the sky and ground don't really work well with the slight red tint of the "Darkness." It's confusing and it is never clear where you are, even if you look at the map. It isn't even entirely clear what significance the setting has for Jackie; I would have liked a little more story in the game in general. Why isn't Jackie's sexual frustration in the game when it's such a huge part of the comic? Why
does the Darkness continue to help Jackie even though Jackie is trying to control and kill it? We learn that he was "testing him" (maybe you buy it) throughout the entire process, but is this really believable?
The gunplay is a little strange. I don't like the way a lot of the weapons feel, and the lack of a reticle with the strong autoaim at the default level makes the game feel a lot like a modern day Goldeneye. I can't tell you how often I am finding my Darklings ****ing stuck on things. God it's so annoying. It's just like Goldeneye. There is a lot of focus on the Darkness powers to make up for some really "meh" gunplay, but does anyone regularly use any power other than Dark Crawl or whatever it's called? I just hang back and use that. I never have used the arm in any scenario other than those where it's necessary like
moving the bell
darkness guns
The AI feels really stupid. I'm playing on medium but I have only died twice, and I'm pretty mediocre at shooters-- check out my Halo 3 beta k/d ratio. Maybe it's that I just hang back and exploit the unbalanced dark crawl power. I dunno. The other thing that really bothers me about the way combat progresses is that the Darklings are totally, totally broken. Just totally broken. Every darkling I spawn gets caught on shit that it should easily be able to move over, the Kamikazees are always blowing themselves up into things for no reason, the bezerker is always dead before it can do anything, and my gunners ALWAYS shoot into walls endlessly. It's just not fun. I try not to spawn them unless I can use the lightbreaker. Dude is awesome and he does his job. I like the little dialog between the Darklings...it's funny and I do enjoy penguins.
The music is all really great. The dialog is really great. The voice acting is really great. The presentation and delivery of the story (or rather, what's there) is really great. These are things that Starbreeze showed they OWN in Riddick and it's true again here. The difference is that the setting just does not facilitate that same style of gameplay nearly as well.
I have to wonder whether or not the decision to forego a HUD was a smart one. I don't think it works with the darkness mechanic all the time. I'm constantly wondering how shrouded in darkness I am, and I'm always wondering how much darkness power I've saved up. The visual clue often blends into the background or the other existing lights, and worse, the sizzling noise can only be heard when you play with the volume on and loud. I play a lot at night and I can't afford to play it that loudly. A shame to 1990s Nintendo I am indeed. The lack of a reticle is interesting. I do like that quite a bit. In the end, I find trying to gauge where I am in darkness more frustrating than fun.
Some of the coolest sequences in the game are all automated, which is kind of disappointing. I think this is why I'm a fan of QTEs. For example, Jackie's
jump off the police station esque building.
I'm not done with the game. I am through to chapter 4 I think.
I'm really disappointed in the game. I was expecting another Riddick like experience, and the game feels more like a game in the style of Riddick that fails to capture some of the great stuff about the original.
However, I'm being harsh because of my expectations. This is not a bad game. This is not a bad game at all, in fact, it is a good game with some serious flaws. The game oozes with polish. You can absolutely see where Starbreeze spent a ton of time-- the textures, the videos, the dialog, the monologues...IMO it just falls way short.
I'm gonna wait to finish it before I "score" it, because I hear the ending is sweet. I also hear it's
automated. :\
I'm impressed with the game, but for reasons I didn't think I would be.
edit: I did one sidequest so far. One woman asked me to find her bracelet. It was RIGHT ****ING BEHIND HER. I was like, **** this shit, I'm gonna go eat some more hearts or something.
Feindflug said:
Go towards Eddie Shrote's apartment, right before you get to the door look at the wall to the right with "Mace" written on it. Look up and you should see an open window, use creeping dark to get into the room to kill the guy. There's also a darkling outfit in there.
blindrocket
Member
Im going back through on Hard and making a few different verbal choices in conversations. Its revealing more to me than the first playthrough. Im also using the creeping dark power a lot more and it is very satisfying. 
supermackem
Banned
Wow i have both versions now, and let me tell you the 360 version is both better texture wise aa wise but also loading wise. On the ps3 version the cool loading screens are followed by 2-3 seconds of loading bar, however on the 360 the loading screens arnt there infact you can even skip some of the cool loading screen too.
supermackem said:
I'm playing the 360 version and I'm towards the end of the game. It's just now starting to give me the loading bars after the (loading) cut scenes. I wasn't getting this at all until this point. The game is also freezing like crazy. I had it lock up about 6 times last night.
Y2Kev said:
While I agree with just about everything you say there, I think it really testifies to the greatness of this game when so many people can look beyond the flaws and truly enjoy it. I think the thing I agree with the most is the darklings. They were a wasted opportunity. I liked the gunner darkling, but he would just stand somewhere and shoot the ground if there were enemies in the area. I'd redirect him to where he could get a shot, and he refused to listen to me.
While it never crashed on me, I did catch a few loading bars near the end.Vik_Vaughn said:
In particular, there is one scene that has Jackie pointing his guns in various directions (a non story loading scene). That particular one was always too short and I'd end up with lodaing bars.