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The Darkness II

A dark, violent comic book given light and heart. a ripping yarn that tears along as fast as you can tear through bodies.
The Darkness II Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
90% User Score Based on 8,952 reviews
Critic Score 78%Based on 5 reviews

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The Darkness II Game Cover

About

The Darkness II is a single player and multiplayer open world shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Digital Extremes and was released on February 8, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"The Darkness II" is a first-person shooter game that follows the story of Jackie Estacado, the Don of the Franchetti crime family, who is cursed by the ancient and powerful force known as the Darkness. Players must master Jackie's supernatural abilities to combat the Darkness's nemesis, the Brotherhood, while exploring the criminal underworld. With a unique quad-wielding system, players can utilizes guns and Darkness powers simultaneously for a thrilling and immersive gaming experience.

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The Darkness II screenshot
The Darkness II screenshot
The Darkness II screenshot
The Darkness II screenshot
The Darkness II screenshot
The Darkness II screenshot
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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,952 reviews
story2.3k positive mentions
stability119 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with emotional depth, exploring themes of loss and redemption.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics with the ability to use both firearms and supernatural powers simultaneously, creating a dynamic combat experience.
  • Stylized cel-shaded graphics that have aged well, providing a distinct visual identity.
  • Short campaign length, typically around 5-6 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Linear level design that limits exploration and can feel repetitive.
  • Technical issues such as bugs and glitches, particularly related to frame rates and certain gameplay mechanics.
  • story
    4,971 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The Darkness II" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, following protagonist Jackie Estacado as he grapples with loss and the supernatural powers of the Darkness. While the game is relatively short, typically taking around 5-8 hours to complete, players appreciate its compelling character development and the intertwining of personal and violent themes. However, many reviews express disappointment over the abrupt ending and cliffhanger, leaving players yearning for a sequel to fully resolve the story.

    • “The story is intense and tragic, a rollercoaster ride between madness and guilt.”
    • “It has charm, unique artistic design, a soul-tingling soundtrack, visceral melee animations, and some of the most emotional writing I've ever seen in a game, as well as heartfelt side missions to add to that further.”
    • “The story is surprisingly layered for a shooter, exploring themes of trauma, grief, power, and identity.”
    • “The story is mostly linear, and the choices offered except at the end do not change the direction.”
    • “The story is surprisingly predictable and lacks depth, making it somewhat boring.”
    • “The story ends on a cliffhanger, which is a major letdown, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete.”
  • gameplay
    2,258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Darkness II" is widely praised for its unique mechanics, particularly the quad-wielding system that allows players to use both firearms and demonic tentacles simultaneously, creating a dynamic and visceral combat experience. While the game features a linear structure and can become repetitive, the combination of fast-paced action, engaging story, and innovative use of light and darkness mechanics keeps players entertained throughout its relatively short campaign. Overall, the gameplay is considered a standout aspect, making it a must-play for fans of first-person shooters.

    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and intense, with players using a variety of weapons and supernatural powers to take on enemies.”
    • “The dual-wielding gunplay paired with the demonic 'quad-wielding' mechanic creates a brutal, creative combat loop.”
    • “The gameplay is where 'The Darkness II' truly shines, offering a unique blend of fast-paced gunplay and dark powers.”
    • “30 minutes of gameplay followed by 20 minutes of forced walking chat and unskippable cutscenes.”
    • “The gameplay turned into a poor man's Bioshock with blurry mess lenses and distracting effects.”
    • “The gameplay is kinda boring and it keeps playing some creepy track that is 20 seconds long or so on repeat throughout every level and it is just a pointless bloodbath with some annoying voice telling me to avoid the light all the time.”
  • graphics
    1,507 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Darkness II" have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique cel-shaded art style that evokes a comic book aesthetic, reminiscent of titles like "Borderlands." While some players appreciate the vibrant visuals and how they complement the game's dark themes, others feel the graphics appear dated and less impactful compared to the more realistic style of its predecessor. Overall, the game's stylized graphics are seen as a defining feature that helps maintain its appeal, despite some technical glitches and a departure from the original's gritty atmosphere.

    • “The darkness II is a visceral, narrative-driven first-person shooter that stands out for its bold commitment to comic book aesthetics, supernatural combat mechanics, and emotionally charged storytelling.”
    • “The cel-shaded graphics give the game a distinctive look that feels like a living comic book, which perfectly suits the game's dark and violent tone.”
    • “The graphics are still nice if you can appreciate the cell-shaded styling.”
    • “The graphics are the cartoony hit or miss desaturated hues that usually stand the test of time, but in this instance they look too desaturated and dated compared to other games that have used the technique like Bioshock or Space Marine 1.”
    • “The first thing to note are the overly cartoony graphics that somehow look worse than the ones in the first game that aimed more for realism.”
    • “The graphics are okay except the characters have flat textures, robotic animations, and simple models.”
  • music
    239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the gameplay, particularly during intense moments. While some players enjoyed the nostalgic inclusion of well-known licensed tracks, others found the original score to be forgettable or generic. Overall, the sound design and voice acting were highlighted as strong points, contributing to a compelling audio experience, though opinions varied on the memorability of the soundtrack itself.

    • “What brings me to one of my favorite things, the sound design and music, both of which manage to blend technical precision with carefully crafted artistic direction.”
    • “What surprised me as well was the sheer number of well-known songs scattered throughout the game, appearing in the most unexpected moments and triggering waves of nostalgia.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack perfectly underscores the game’s ominous and action-packed moments.”
    • “The music is dull and just here to fill the void.”
    • “The soundtrack is completely forgettable and generic, and the ambient sound design is extremely lacking.”
    • “The music is not building a brutalizing feeling; it doesn't make us want to murder more.”
  • humor
    234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark and crude comedy with engaging dialogue and memorable characters. Players appreciate the witty one-liners, particularly from the sidekick darkling, whose antics and irreverent humor add levity to the otherwise grim narrative. Overall, the game successfully balances its violent themes with a playful tone, making for a uniquely entertaining experience.

    • “The cel-shaded art style makes it feel like you’re playing a living graphic novel, complete with gory executions that are equal parts brutal and hilarious.”
    • “Jackie’s internal struggles and interactions with his demonic minions (particularly the darklings) provide some great moments of dark humor and personality.”
    • “The star of the show is the incredible voice acting; the game is genuinely quite funny as all the mafia guys say some horrendous things.”
    • “To top off the shit sandwich, they decided an unfunny quipping British darkling that farts and pisses was a worthwhile addition to the game.”
    • “You are also accompanied by a revolting creature that just provides unfunny toilet humor and goads you into more violence.”
    • “The tasteless, unfunny sidekick that bothers you throughout the entire story caused me to want to refund the game.”
  • atmosphere
    216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a combination of cinematic sound design, compelling voice acting, and a unique art style that blends comic book aesthetics with gritty realism. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of ambient music and sound effects to maintain tension and engagement throughout the gameplay, although some express disappointment with the sequel's shift to a more cartoonish style that detracts from the original's haunting atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating world that resonates with players, making it a standout experience in terms of atmosphere.

    • “But even beyond the action-packed sequences filled with cinematic sound, the game maintains its dark tone through a thoughtful mix of ambient layers, atmospheric sounds, and ethereal notes that keep the tension and immersion alive throughout.”
    • “The game's visuals and atmosphere are brilliantly haunting, with a dark, almost noir-like aesthetic that matches the grim tone of the story.”
    • “The combination of gritty urban environments and supernatural elements creates a dark, atmospheric world that pulls you in.”
    • “The Darkness II is a massive step down from its predecessor, taking everything that made the first game unique and stripping it away in favor of a bland, uninspired shooter that fails to capture the tone, depth, or atmosphere of the original.”
    • “Going from a dark, gritty, greyish atmosphere with true dark levels to a bright, colorful comic book vibe with Bethesda night lighting is the saddest thing I've ever seen.”
    • “The atmosphere is largely absent from this game unfortunately, despite offering a mythos that could easily be exploited for spine-tingling vibes.”
  • replayability
    180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting that it offers decent value through features like New Game+ and cooperative missions, which allow for different character experiences and skill upgrades. However, many reviewers highlight the short campaign length (typically around 4-8 hours) and repetitive gameplay as significant drawbacks, leading to a general consensus that while there are options for replay, they may not be compelling enough for all players. Overall, the game has moderate replayability, particularly for achievement hunters and those interested in exploring different character builds.

    • “Fun game, fun shooter, runs great, looks great, the voice acting is great as I felt like everyone that provided their voice for this game had a lot of fun doing so. The game is somewhat short, but does have some replayability with new game+ and the vendetta mode.”
    • “The co-op vendettas mode adds replayability, offering unique characters and their own stories that complement the main game.”
    • “So much replay value with the new game+ and other game mode vendettas with 4 other playable characters with a campaign running parallel to the main story.”
    • “It’s a relatively short game—most players will complete it in six to eight hours—and the lack of replay value beyond a few cooperative missions and alternate powers means it doesn’t offer much post-credits content.”
    • “However, the short campaign and repetitive levels can make the game feel a bit lackluster, and the lack of replay value may be a turnoff for some players.”
    • “The game is short and has very little replay value.”
  • emotional
    166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "The Darkness II" is highlighted by its deeply engaging narrative, which explores themes of grief, love, and inner turmoil through the protagonist, Jackie Estacado. Players are drawn into a heart-wrenching story marked by poignant moments, particularly regarding Jackie's relationship with his deceased girlfriend, Jenny, and his struggle against the darkness within him. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth compared to its predecessor, many reviews praise the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its writing, voice acting, and visual storytelling, making it a memorable emotional experience amidst its action-packed gameplay.

    • “It has charm, unique artistic design, a soul-tingling soundtrack, visceral melee animations, and some of the most emotional writing I've ever seen in a game, as well as heartfelt side missions to add to that further.”
    • “The relationship between the main protagonist, Jackie Estacado, and Jenny is the emotional core of the game, and it’s portrayed with such depth and poignancy that it draws you into Jackie's troubled world.”
    • “Jackie's struggles to not let the darkness overwhelm him and remain a semi-decent person define The Darkness 2 and make its story impressively emotional.”
    • “A bug with a boring story that they overdo with the drama.”
    • “Who cares about this boring story? Skip the cutscenes, just let those tentacles feed!”
    • “Fun gameplay, you are overpowered most of the time, but the story is boring.”
  • stability
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting frequent glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as invisible walls and graphical issues. While some users experienced minimal problems and found the game enjoyable, others faced significant technical difficulties, including crashes and unplayable conditions on certain platforms, particularly Mac. Overall, while the game runs well on modern systems, players should be prepared for a potentially buggy experience.

    • “From a technical perspective, the game holds up; it still runs great on modern machines and it looks and sounds good.”
    • “This game is a flawless console port and it runs great.”
    • “It runs great on low spec machines or high-end laptop graphic cards (I'm using 650m running high on 1440p).”
    • “Honestly, it's a very enjoyable game marred only by the invisible wall glitches you will encounter in a couple of places.”
    • “Game play is buggy and full of glitches; expect to restart a level often.”
    • “It's a pity, as it seemed like a rather fun game, but until (or if) this bug gets fixed, I wouldn't waste my time trying to play through the yellow fog or any of the other numerous glitches this game seems to offer.”
  • optimization
    91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with many players reporting stable frame rates and smooth performance, even on lower-end systems. However, some users experienced occasional stuttering and performance issues, particularly on specific hardware configurations like Mac. While the game runs well on modern PCs, there are mixed feelings about its optimization for older systems and the controls, which some found less suited for PC play.

    • “The game is well optimized and easily playable with a controller.”
    • “Amazing optimization for low-spec PCs.”
    • “No issues to report, framerate is stable and there is no stuttering or abnormal resource usage.”
    • “Meanwhile, newer unoptimized games struggle to hit 60 fps without stuttering.”
    • “The optimization was horrible, not even stable 30fps, with very shoddy controls.”
    • “Playing on a Mac with certain specs is impossible because the game is poorly optimized and renders textures improperly, creating a yellow film over the majority of the gameplay.”
  • grinding
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While the initial gameplay is engaging, many reviewers note that it becomes tedious and repetitive, especially in the latter half, with some mechanics feeling overused and frustrating. However, the game is generally considered to have minimal grinding for achievements, making it more accessible for players who want to enjoy the story without excessive effort.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “The first half of the game is really fun, but once you hit the halfway point, it becomes tedious and plain unfair at parts.”
    • “The enemies the game switches to somewhere around the midpoint make the fights grow really tedious and stupid, especially with the game finding every possible way through lights to get rid of the abilities you spent the whole time upgrading.”
    • “Gameplay starts off okay but quickly becomes tedious, and there's at least one awful quick-time event.”
  • character development
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and authenticity, particularly in the portrayal of Jackie and his relationships, enhanced by strong voice acting. However, some characters feel underdeveloped, lacking the same level of complexity, and the pacing occasionally hinders deeper exploration. Overall, while the game excels in character design and storytelling, it struggles with consistency in character development across the cast.

    • “Engaging character development: the game further develops Jackie as a character, providing insights into his past and his relationships with others in his life.”
    • “The voice acting and character development are top-notch, adding depth and authenticity to the experience.”
    • “Impactful story full of varying emotion with a surprising amount of character development that actually makes you care about what's going on.”
    • “The pacing keeps the story engaging, but the brevity leaves little room for deeper exploration or character development, and the ending feels slightly rushed.”
    • “You also get to pick from 4 new characters but these feel 2-dimensional at best – they get no character development apart from a few voice lines and feel (and play) like a discount version of Jackie – they only have one of Jackie's main abilities from the game.”
    • “+ character development, beyond the protagonist is mostly one-dimensional.”
  • monetization
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with users expressing frustration over intrusive advertising practices, such as loud ads at startup and a reliance on outdated mechanics reminiscent of early 2010s shooters. While some appreciate the inclusion of microtransactions for a good cause, others criticize the pacing and the forced use of ads, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, there are concerns about the game's marketing strategy, with some feeling it lacks sufficient promotion to reach a wider audience.

    • “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
    • “Pacing isn't as good though and it's got some cringe early 2010s console shooter game mechanics (super slow running speed to justify the world's shortest sprinting timer, useless ads because every game had to have ads back in 2012).”
    • “Some of the ads that show up when starting the game blast out their sound (and I mean blast).”
    • “I wasn't a fan of the ending and how it was very obviously an advertisement for a third game, which I don't even know if it's a thing at this moment.”
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78%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
8h Average play time
6h Main story
15h Completionist
5-8h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 81 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Darkness II is a open world shooter game with horror theme.

The Darkness II is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS, Xbox One and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 15 hours to finish. On average players spend around 8 hours playing The Darkness II.

The Darkness II was released on February 8, 2012.

The Darkness II was developed by Digital Extremes.

The Darkness II has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Darkness II is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Wolfenstein: The New Order, Ryse: Son of Rome, Call of Juarez Gunslinger, Shadow Warrior 2, BioShock Infinite and others.