The Darkness

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 247 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 188 out of 247
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 247
  3. Negative: 24 out of 247
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  1. goodgriff33
    Sep 2, 2023
    8
    Answer: 75 characters is between 10 words and 19 words with spaces included in the character count. If spaces are not included in the character count, then 75 characters is between 12 words and 25 words.
  2. Flashyboy89
    May 19, 2023
    9
    Damn, this game is satisfying to play. Sick gunplay, ragdoll physics are on point, nice graphics and good sound.
  3. Atze
    Dec 13, 2020
    10
    The story is mindblowing and i love the power from "the darkness".
    Very nice setting and intresting twist.
  4. SleepNot
    Apr 1, 2020
    10
    The Darkness is a very atmospheric mystic game! It's don't looks like other games. Great experience!
  5. SmileyHunter
    Dec 16, 2018
    10
    I would like part 3 of this game please with free roam again like part one Jens.A
  6. canceRnya
    Oct 30, 2018
    9
    Прекрасный, оригинальный, и мрачный экшон.
  7. AddMeForCoOp
    Jun 24, 2018
    10
    2018 review: PSA: The multiplayer on XBOX 360 is dead (both ranked and unranked). The singleplayer story however, is one of the best I've ever played. Better than the sequel actually (which went for a more cartoony and less serious style. So this is still a highly recommended game.
  8. osprey
    Aug 28, 2016
    10
    One of the best games I have ever played. The story is amazing and it takes you places you would never expect to go. This game does things like let you sit down and watch an entire movie on t.v. and makes you really feel things deeply. It is very special and not to be missed. Stay with this game to the end and you will be rewarded with a truly unique gaming experience.
  9. Xprimentyl
    Jun 22, 2016
    9
    I feel a bit silly writing a review for a 9 year old game, but conversation in another forum got me feeling nostalgic, so I figured “why the hell not?” In my humblest of opinions, “The Darkness” is easily one of the best games of the last gen that no one played; oddly enough, the few that did pretty much universally agree that it is a great game. You’d hope that kind of promise wouldI feel a bit silly writing a review for a 9 year old game, but conversation in another forum got me feeling nostalgic, so I figured “why the hell not?” In my humblest of opinions, “The Darkness” is easily one of the best games of the last gen that no one played; oddly enough, the few that did pretty much universally agree that it is a great game. You’d hope that kind of promise would spread its popularity, but if I recall correctly, it launched (under-hyped) as a new IP right around the time some fairly big and well-tried franchises were dropping titles, so to say it was overshadowed is an understatement. It saw a near immediate and dramatic price drop and was stacking up in the used bins faster than level 20 Tetris blocks. Seeing that, I took it as a sign of poor quality, discounted it entirely and forgot about it. Fast-forward some time into a personal gaming drought, I saw it in the used bin for $5 and decided to bite…

    I was convinced $5 was a steal within the first 30 minutes; nearly called Game Stop to offer them the other $55 I felt I owed them. From the beginning, “The Darkness” drew me in unlike any FPS prior to it or since. The world was dark and brooding, the characters incredibly deep and fleshed out and the Darkness Powers you unlock were a pure, brutal joy to use. Let me just say that had more people played it when it launched, the Darkness Tendrils could easily have been as iconic for the last gen as the “Gears of War” Chainsaw Gun; creeping along the floor and biting my enemies’ faces off right before ripping out and eating their still beating hearts never got old throughout my half-dozen or so playthroughs! As an FPS, “The Darkness” has some work to do; the gun work is mediocre at best, but the Darkness Powers are so much fun to use and so varied, more often than not, I found myself forgetting I even HAD guns preferring to move in closer for a bloody melee, using my tentacles to slither up unnoticed and rip enemies to pieces or casting a crushing black hole to clear entire areas of threats without breaking a sweat!

    However, the biggest draw that really makes “The Darkness” stand out for me still to this day would have to be the emotions it put me through. Without spoiling anything, the writers and voice actors made Jackie, his girlfriend Jenny and their relationship real enough to me that I became emotionally invested; that was unprecedented for me. The game opens up allowing the player (Jackie) to actively experience an intimate moment between the two young lovers, nothing sexual at all, just a very close moment that actively involves the player in a unique way, eschewing skippable cutscenes or annoying, clumsy quick-time events like other titles might have differed to. With Jackie and Jenny being so well written and voiced to that point, when that moment was over, it felt like I loved Jenny, which made the subsequent revenge-fueled visceral gore-fest of the 8-hour campaign extremely personal and satisfying for Jackie and me both. Not saying everyone did, will, could or should have the same emotionally intense experience as I, but I think most could, at least one some level, appreciate how the experience differs from the way most other games might attempt to tug at your heartstrings    … Expand
  10. rutulgandhi
    Jun 18, 2014
    8
    Without a doubt, the first thing that will catch your eye after you slip The Darkness into your drive is the incredible job the folks at Starbreeze did on nailing all of the little details that immerse a player in a world. The presentation is top-notch, from the menus to the cutscenes, each of which happens in real-time. As you explore the world, you'll likely notice dozens of littleWithout a doubt, the first thing that will catch your eye after you slip The Darkness into your drive is the incredible job the folks at Starbreeze did on nailing all of the little details that immerse a player in a world. The presentation is top-notch, from the menus to the cutscenes, each of which happens in real-time. As you explore the world, you'll likely notice dozens of little things that catch your eye, be it the graffiti in the subway stations or the peeling paint in the abandoned buildings. There's no doubt about it: this is next-gen eye candy. Our only real qualms with the whole open-world thing is the fact that you need to travel across town using subway stations which, while very realistic, are just as much a pain in the ass as they are in the real world.

    The first half hour or so of the game feels like a fairly standard first-person shooter, albeit one that looks excellent. Jackie's weapons of choice are dual-wielded pistols, although you'll find plenty of old standbys (shotguns, rifles, etc.) as you progress through the game. When you're dual-wielding, each of the triggers fires a weapon, while the left trigger is used for melee attacks when using a single firearm. It's likely that you won't use the firearms that much once you unlock the Darkness powers, but it's always nice to have them handy. One of the coolest gunplay elements is the ability to pull off "execution-style" kills when you're close to a foe. It's a lot of nasty, noisy fun that fits in perfectly with game's twisted theme.

    Although the shooter is all well and good, it's the Darkness powers that really make the game special. After a little while, you'll gain the ability to send out a snake-like appendage called The Creeping Darkness. You can use this guy to sneak through vents (allowing you to open locked doors from the other side) or simply send it off to literally bite the faces off of your foes. They also have the ability to devour the hearts of your fallen enemies, which allows you to gain more power when you're in the dark. You'll also earn a tentacle that can impale foes and smash out lights, as well as Darkness-powered pistols that actually aren't quite as cool as they sound. You'll need to spend a bit of time in the shadows to fill up your stores of Darkness power.

    The most powerful of the Darkness powers is the Black Hole, which sucks anything within about 20 feet into a swirling vortex. While this power is impressive, it's actually too overpowered and makes the last few hours of the action a lesson in repetitive gameplay. Actually, all of the Darkness powers are like that, and you'll probably spend most of the game killing enemies in an area, breaking all of the lights to power back up, then moving on to the next batch of enemies. This "lather, rinse, repeat" style of gameplay gets old around the 5 hour mark, which is only about halfway through the game. Of course, you could always just fight your way through with the firearms at your disposal, but then you'll be missing out on the gory fun.

    While the Darkness powers add a nice bit of fun to the game, the "Darklings" that you can conjure are simultaneous awesome and annoying. When you're in Darkness mode, you can stand near any of the portals on the ground and create one of several mean little imps. The Darklings come in a variety of flavors, from the Berserkers that jump on your enemies to the Kamikazes that will act as suicide bombers (they can clear paths or kill baddies). The one that comes in most handy is probably the Lightkiller, who can enter a room and destroy any light that threatens you. Although the Darklings are a blast to watch (they'll urinate on your dead enemies or say some horribly inappropriate things), they can be extremely frustrating to control at times.

    Once you're done with the single-player campaign (which, unfortunately, has a disappointing ending), you can take the action online against your buddies. The Darkness features some fairly run-of-the-mill multiplayer gametypes, but the proceedings are improved by the fact that you can play as a human, a darkling, or a shapeshifter. This make the multiplayer fun for a while, but the action is ultimately hindered by poor controls and an unstable framerate. The maps are all surprisingly small, too, which theoretically keeps the action intense, but in reality just makes everything that much more confusing. If you don't have an Xbox Live account you can play via System Link, but there's no splitscreen mode or anything for single-box play.

    In the end, the development team may have been a little too ambitious, as the game tries some new things, succeeding in some areas and falling just short in others. The presentation and visuals are absolutely top-notch, but the gameplay ultimately becomes a bit too repetitive and the multiplayer feels tacked-on. Still, this is definitely a promising next-gen start for the folks at Starbreeze, and I can't wait to see what they've got in store for us next time.    … Expand
  11. cmainthuging12
    Jun 11, 2014
    10
    The creators did a good job emerging the player to the story and the characters, So much that it feels strangely like your in the game at some moments, even though it's just a videogame, This game emerged me into it like no other game ive ever played, Made me feel uncomfortable at times but there is some light to this game and not all of it was morbid, I wish more games could immerge thereThe creators did a good job emerging the player to the story and the characters, So much that it feels strangely like your in the game at some moments, even though it's just a videogame, This game emerged me into it like no other game ive ever played, Made me feel uncomfortable at times but there is some light to this game and not all of it was morbid, I wish more games could immerge there players like in this game instead of the typical shootemup.… Expand
  12. coopert
    Jan 18, 2014
    9
    This game was bought for me and from the cover art I was led to believe this was a B-movie level production but I gave it a chance and found one of the most compelling experiences the 360 has to offer. It has everything, fantastic art style (that even makes New York not boring for one of the only times this gen), solid gameplay, gripping story line and a great comic book presentation. TheThis game was bought for me and from the cover art I was led to believe this was a B-movie level production but I gave it a chance and found one of the most compelling experiences the 360 has to offer. It has everything, fantastic art style (that even makes New York not boring for one of the only times this gen), solid gameplay, gripping story line and a great comic book presentation. The story runs on the edge of gritty gang crime in New York and adds dark fantasy to the mix but the Darkness is based on a comic book, having not read any of the comics I can not tell you how well it captivates the general ideas, moods and characters. Overall a great videogame and well worth a play, not much replay value but a good chunky single player campaign that can be picked up for very cheap now.… Expand
  13. DarkJEM
    Dec 13, 2013
    10
    Although short in terms of the games I usually play (Oblivion, Morrowind, Skyrim and the like), the Darkness proves that not all games have to be monumentally long to be superb. You really get a feel for the characters both dark and light. The game was a pleasure from start to finish.
  14. MightyQuinn21
    Jul 4, 2013
    8
    Wow this game was way better than I thought it was gonna be especially for buying it used at GameStop for only $6. The best thing about the game is it story involving the main character Jackie and the being he's fighting against the Darkness. For a game that came out in 2007 the graphics are decent and the gameplay is pretty good as well. Also the fact that you can watch whole tvWow this game was way better than I thought it was gonna be especially for buying it used at GameStop for only $6. The best thing about the game is it story involving the main character Jackie and the being he's fighting against the Darkness. For a game that came out in 2007 the graphics are decent and the gameplay is pretty good as well. Also the fact that you can watch whole tv episodes and old cartoons on the TVs in the game was a really nice touch and have never seen anything like that in a video game. So if you own an Xbox 360 this is a must own game for only $6.… Expand
  15. bird_b85
    Jun 20, 2013
    10
    One of my all time favorite games. This game all about the story line. It sucks you in and holds you there. Makes you fall in love and makes you HATE every enemy you come accrossed. I never yell at my TV so much as I killed groups of bad guys. Plus make sure you write down phone numbers you find. You will want to call them all.
  16. Mrtheownageman
    Aug 8, 2012
    9
    One of the best games I know. Great storyline and great gameplay it also has an amazing sountrack that has made me find out about great artists. If you are going to buy this game BUY IT, it will be the best thing that will happen to you
  17. Welterweight426
    Jul 2, 2012
    8
    A great story. However, the gameplay is kinda meh. The targeting system seemed a little awkward to me. I liked using the darkness powers but it was kinda awkward with those too. I loved the story and the voice acting was top notch. I don't like metal music but I felt that the soundtrack was really good. I felt energized when I played it. Either way, a good game.
  18. happyslug
    Apr 8, 2012
    9
    Sick of same old FPS? Then get this 5 years old game. Great graphics. Great story. A nice change in this often stale genre. The AI is a bit mixed. Sometimes the enemy will peak out from behind cars etc. Then will just walk by a dead body. Sometimes the controls can be slightly clunky. But all of this can be forgiven as the game is such a great overall experience. And I picked it up forSick of same old FPS? Then get this 5 years old game. Great graphics. Great story. A nice change in this often stale genre. The AI is a bit mixed. Sometimes the enemy will peak out from behind cars etc. Then will just walk by a dead body. Sometimes the controls can be slightly clunky. But all of this can be forgiven as the game is such a great overall experience. And I picked it up for £5. Absolute bargain.… Expand
  19. SpunkyMonkey
    Nov 21, 2011
    9
    First of all, it's gonna have to be a pretty bad game that can mess up a combination of trigger happy Mafioso style bloodlust and demonic evil-bound carnage. Thankfully this game far from messes it up and instead pulls it off and pulls it off in style! Itâ
  20. JHango
    Aug 24, 2011
    10
    This is my favorite fps game. great graphics, very good story. Some bugs but the game is great. Waitng to se sequel!!
  21. ArkonBlade
    Oct 22, 2010
    8
    a intresting game with a really good story for a FPS game . this game was kind of a suprise to me . i really liked the powers you get and they are very useful and fun to wach in use. playing a villian i thought was a nice touch out to take down your uncle for trying to kill you. the graphics are very well done the story grabs you nicely . the gun play is a mixed bag the up close anda intresting game with a really good story for a FPS game . this game was kind of a suprise to me . i really liked the powers you get and they are very useful and fun to wach in use. playing a villian i thought was a nice touch out to take down your uncle for trying to kill you. the graphics are very well done the story grabs you nicely . the gun play is a mixed bag the up close and personal kills look great but range shooting is very iffy .the online is a giant mess and should never be played it was very tacked on . i would have liked to see a sequel to this game.… Expand
  22. DickS
    Jan 13, 2010
    9
    The excellent story makes up for virtually all the clunkiness of the engine. Defiantly one of my top two favorite games. Starbreeze has a nice engine that delivers realistic game play but it needs a MAJOR upgrade to compete with todays games and fix the unrefinement that bogs the game down.
  23. JohnT.
    Oct 29, 2008
    9
    Excellent game - definitely a lot of 'wow' moments, and memorable experiences. There are occasional minor hiccups, but this game really exceeded any and all expectations I had for it. Number one tip - adjust the controls and sensitivity. There's pretty good customization available for these, and with a few tweaks you can sort the sluggishness out of movement and combat, and Excellent game - definitely a lot of 'wow' moments, and memorable experiences. There are occasional minor hiccups, but this game really exceeded any and all expectations I had for it. Number one tip - adjust the controls and sensitivity. There's pretty good customization available for these, and with a few tweaks you can sort the sluggishness out of movement and combat, and get focused on enjoying the game.… Expand
  24. IainF.
    Jul 28, 2008
    10
    THIS GAME IS AMAZING. The graphics are sublime and realistic, and above that the gameplay is phenomenal. There are loads of guns at your disposal, and creatures to kill our enemies with in the most gruesome ays imaginable. The gore is amazing, and the thought of introducing The Darkness, demon heads out of your back that have demonic powers, was original and brilliant. And don't get THIS GAME IS AMAZING. The graphics are sublime and realistic, and above that the gameplay is phenomenal. There are loads of guns at your disposal, and creatures to kill our enemies with in the most gruesome ays imaginable. The gore is amazing, and the thought of introducing The Darkness, demon heads out of your back that have demonic powers, was original and brilliant. And don't get me started about the story, which is enthralling and moving.… Expand
  25. AndyP.
    Dec 27, 2007
    9
    Superbly produced game with excellent graphics. Do not believe the reviews that claim next to no optional quests, there are tons! Also working out what is required for and actually achieving the achievements is great fun in itself. Highly recommended.
  26. JeffA.
    Dec 10, 2007
    8
    This game is one of a kind. It's storyline is one of the best to come out for this platform, although slightly confusing at first. The graphics are first rate. Long gone are the boxy characters of old FPS and this game pushes the envelope when it comes to character detail. Graphics and storyline aside, there is something immensly satisfying about eating someone's heart or This game is one of a kind. It's storyline is one of the best to come out for this platform, although slightly confusing at first. The graphics are first rate. Long gone are the boxy characters of old FPS and this game pushes the envelope when it comes to character detail. Graphics and storyline aside, there is something immensly satisfying about eating someone's heart or impaleing them and flinging their body across the screen. Although the world is somewhat small, there are various side quests to keep you occupied as you revisit old areas of the game. And the macabre aura the game puts off is excellet. It keeps your attention through the entire game. And all of the extra content is for the most part, worth picking up. Now the bad points. The game is very empty of reactive NPCs. Meaning all of the bystanders that should be filling the streets simply are not there. Sometimes there are lulls in between plot points that leave you feeling frustrated from having to go back and forth between the same small areas. And it would have been nice to have more diverse weaponry. Grenade launchers and such. Explosives. Things of that nature. Your special darkness powers keep the main guns slightly underpowered. Other then a few blemishes, this game is a great one to pick up. It's definately a game ill tell others to pick up, because hey, we all have a dark side to us, do we not?… Expand
  27. RobertN.
    Sep 10, 2007
    9
    Thought this game was great. The action is repetitive and you'll likely not play it again once finished, but for the 30-40 hours it lasts, it was a blast. Graphics and sound were great and the story was good as well. The streets are kind of deserted and it gets kind of depressing wandering the streets at night all by yourself, but once the action starts, it's fun trying to Thought this game was great. The action is repetitive and you'll likely not play it again once finished, but for the 30-40 hours it lasts, it was a blast. Graphics and sound were great and the story was good as well. The streets are kind of deserted and it gets kind of depressing wandering the streets at night all by yourself, but once the action starts, it's fun trying to decide which hours you'll use, given the conditions. All in all, an enjoyable game and one of the best released this summer. Come Fall there'll be better slternatives to this, but over the summer it was fun.… Expand
  28. Daz
    Aug 22, 2007
    9
    Don't be too nitpicky this is a great game! The story is obviously its strongest point, it feels like the story all comes together at the end, the graphic bar GoW are the best i've seen on the 360, gritty realistic but added with the macabre style of the darkness worlds ( THE HILLS!) make the atmosphere excellent too. The aiming is alittle annoying but nothing bad, and once you Don't be too nitpicky this is a great game! The story is obviously its strongest point, it feels like the story all comes together at the end, the graphic bar GoW are the best i've seen on the 360, gritty realistic but added with the macabre style of the darkness worlds ( THE HILLS!) make the atmosphere excellent too. The aiming is alittle annoying but nothing bad, and once you get the black hole you could say it makes pretty much all otehr powers obselete, in most ways, it kills,breaks lights and knocks away scenery. Good game.… Expand
  29. PatrickS.
    Aug 8, 2007
    9
    Good story, kept alive with the graphics and unique game play. Lots of fun, and the only thing keeping it form a 10 is the multiplayer and, at times graphics seem slightly lower quality than they could be. Overall a great game, everyone should at least try.
  30. AlexanderL.
    Aug 3, 2007
    8
    Really polished, but the controls take getting used to and the general experience of the game is less than other FPS's on the market.
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Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
14
#14 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
31
#31 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 63 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 63
  3. Negative: 1 out of 63
  1. DailyGame
    65
    The back-and-forth structure is tedious, and the narrative needed to be much more fleshed-out. Too bad great loading-screen treatments can't make up for overall shortcomings.
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  2. The New York Times
    86
    Part of The Darkness’s charm is its wealth of extravagant, often irrelevant detail.
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  3. ZTGD
    85
    A fantastic game with an engaging story that only manages to slip up towards the end. The unforgiving amounts of violence are enjoyable and the demonic powers more than make up for its lack of innovation in the gunplay department.
    Read full review
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