The Darkness II... Demo(n) / Full Game.

[hollywooda]

Well the demo was out today, I wasn't sure what to expect, I enjoyed the first game but that was with Starbreeze and had some unique gaming mechanics.
But now there is a very different looking sequel, under a new developer, and from playing the demo I gotta say for me, this is
looking awesome.
I had my reservation about the cartoony graphics, but considering this is a comic book adaptation, it fit in nicely, plus its probably the
best looking cell shaded game I've ever seen, I think the visuals are superb.

Gameplay wise the violence is ramped up to 11 and that's not a bad thing here, this is a game that requires over the top visuals, its part and parcel of the games make up.

But unless this gets some terrible reviews, I'm all over this.

[Palerider_GB]

I had my reservation about the cartoony graphics, but considering this is a comic book adaptation, it fit in nicely, plus its probably the
best looking cell shaded game I've ever seen, I think the visuals are superb.

The cell shaded graphics didn't detract from Borderlands at all so it's not a concern for me. That said, I never played the first game so I don't have any preconceptions about it.

Is it worth picking up the first game for a quick play through before getting stuck into this one?

[hollywooda]

I had my reservation about the cartoony graphics, but considering this is a comic book adaptation, it fit in nicely, plus its probably the
best looking cell shaded game I've ever seen, I think the visuals are superb.

The cell shaded graphics didn't detract from Borderlands at all so it's not a concern for me. That said, I never played the first game so I don't have any preconceptions about it.

Is it worth picking up the first game for a quick play through before getting stuck into this one?

You can probably get it dirt cheap now, and its worth a play through, put it this way you wouldn't be doing a "Marb" if you did.

[Palerider_GB]

I had my reservation about the cartoony graphics, but considering this is a comic book adaptation, it fit in nicely, plus its probably the
best looking cell shaded game I've ever seen, I think the visuals are superb.

The cell shaded graphics didn't detract from Borderlands at all so it's not a concern for me. That said, I never played the first game so I don't have any preconceptions about it.

Is it worth picking up the first game for a quick play through before getting stuck into this one?

You can probably get it dirt cheap now, and its worth a play through, put it this way you wouldn't be doing a "Marb" if you did.

I have absolutely no intentions of ever squandering a single penny on the disastrous, diabolical dung-heap Duke Nukem...

[ClownTrousers]

Demo's pretty decent, if a little stop/start.

[Eli Vance]

Still not started the first one. But I'll give this a go later.

[Bob]

The first game is well worth a look. Not to excited about a sequel and don't have much time for demos at the mo.

[ClownTrousers]

The first game is well worth a look. Not to excited about a sequel and don't have much time for demos at the mo.

It's got a nice art style the sequel. Too many cutscenes in the demo, but assume that is because it is the tutorial level.

[Dante3000]

All of the things I like about the first one hardly appear in TD2. It's gone for pure comic book action thrills over the original's moody, slow pacing.

[conkerconquer]

Finally got round to playing this and have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by how good it plays. They have done a great job of smoothing everything out and making it a bit more intuitive with the controls quickly becoming more instinctual. The gunplay feels good as does the power of the darkness and none of it seems over powered, there's no denying you're still vulnerable. There also seems to be a roster of unlockable abilities which seems to promise a good chunk of depth.

So it's annoying then seeing how well they nailed the gameplay only for every other aspect of the game to turn out as a disappointment. The new cel shaded visuals are the main complaint, transforming something that was dark, gloomy and macabre with an atmosphere that was both creepy and tense into a cartoonish other world with bright neon colours and animated visuals that should be disturbing but instead end up borderline hilarious. It's a change that was wholly needless and I'll never quite understand the logic behind it.
Then there's the damage to the story and character. Jackie Estecado following the events of the first game should now be a depressed broken man...instead we find him in the first ten minutes to be chatting up two women without hesitation. Not to mention the dialogue written for him (not helped by the change of voice actor either which has sent us from a soft spoken Jackie to average gruff dude #7) makes him seem more like Marcus Fenix than the intelligent hitman from the first game as he spouts more "fucks" than any other word.
Story wise, I remain unsold. The whole flashback thing seems unnessecary and used solely so they can bring the plot forward to a bit that's shocking (though completely undone by the silly visuals) and I'm not sure how much potential it's got, nor if the new dev's are inclined to continue Jackie's thematic journey at all. It also seems awfully over the top with seemingly half of the city getting blown up by a hundred men in the space of twenty minutes.

So this demo has left a bitter taste in my mouth. It's got some seriously improved game play yet seemingly destroys what was actually so engaging about the original game. Totally agree with Dante on this one.

It's screwed anyway, Mass Effect 3 is too soon.

[Johnny Shoulder]

I see Pretty Boy has been up to hold tricks again....

[Dante3000]

Spot on Conker. Exactly what I was thinking but couldn't be bothered typing.

[conkerconquer]

I'm the elaborate sort

[Eli Vance]

Loved the demo. It's quirky and looks lots of fun.

[hollywooda]

Agreed, 2012 is looking busy already.. and expensive!.