The sequel to the popular brutal shooter The Darkness tells the story of new adventures of the cold-blooded mercenary Jackie Estacado, who has risen to become the head of a mafia clan after the events of the first game. Now, Jackie Estacado faces a gangster group known as the "Brotherhood," which wants to obtain the Darkness. The Darkness itself holds the soul of Jackie's girlfriend and clearly does not want to fall into the greedy hands of the Brotherhood... The Darkness II will also allow players to control terrifying creations of darkness and brutally eliminate enemies.
One of the main distinguishing features of the sequel, most noticeable, is the "cell-shading" technology used in the game, which will make the visuals more resemble a comic book's two-dimensional drawing (like in the MMORPG Champions Online or the shooter Borderlands) at the expense of graphic realism.
Another very strong point of The Darkness II is its stunning storyline. It is a true first-class twisted drama, set in two worlds - modern New York and a psychiatric hospital. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and keeps the player in suspense until the final credits.
However, due to the good story, the developers decided to cut back on the gameplay. Yes, the brutality and control of the Darkness are still there, but the game has become somewhat... less dynamic, even though it supposedly features a sea of special effects and interesting design ideas like purchasing skills that enhance and expand the main character's "dark" abilities, as well as searching for artifacts that will tell their own stories and grant precious ability points. Jackie Estacado is incredibly formidable when in darkness, but as soon as he steps into the light, he can quickly receive a hefty dose of lead. Thus, for most of the game, one has to "poke around" in corners and shoot enemies from the darkness while simultaneously tearing apart particularly bothersome subjects with enormous worm-like tentacles. The control of the Darkness, the powerful force trapped within Jackie and controlling him, is implemented much weaker than in the first part. Firearms take precedence in lethality, and throwing objects at enemies and tearing them to pieces is much less effective, especially against powerful groups of enemies that slice through the darkness with bright searchlights and shoot in all directions.
Undoubtedly, The Darkness II is quite a decent shooter that will appeal to a large circle of players. It features super abilities, a sea of violence, a worthy storyline, stylish graphics, a plethora of design ideas, and excellent gameplay, although it falls short compared to the first installment.