Boring.
Let me start this review off by saying that I went into this game with extremely high expectations, considering this is the next game made by Starbreeze, developers of the incredible Chronicles of Riddick. Maybe I expected too much from this game because of how much I enjoyed Riddick, but even without any preconceived ideas or expectations this game still fails to deliever a satisfying experience.
The game starts off with a bang, the introduction is epic and gets you pumped for an intense experience that just isn't there. The graphics are nice looking, and the game has some really neat ideas. For example during each cut scene Jackie (the main character) narrates what he is thinking/feeling. It is probably the coolest part of the game. You will also find a few really cool, original moments in the game that make it stand out, stuff you have never seen in a game before. For example, you watch Jackie kill himself through his eyes during the first half of the game. I don't want to give away any more of the cool moments though, because they are the only enjoyment you will probably get out of this game.
The main problem this game has is the way it attempts to have an open world, while still being very linear. Riddick somehow pulled this off successfully, but in The Darkness you will find yourself wondering about the almost completely empty NYC trying to figure out where to go next. It is really, really boring. To make matters worse the actual gunplay in the game feels really weak. The guns basically auto aim to the enemies face and the controls feel really lose. When all of this comes together it’s just not fun. Some of the darkness powers are cool at first, and eating hearts stays satisfying throughout the game. But looking at the game as a whole, all of the little things don't make it any less boring.
If you really enjoyed Riddick, buy this with caution. It might be worth it if you can get it for $10 just so you can experience some of the really cool moments, but be prepared to spend 90% of the time wishing it would hurry up and end.
