When a developer throws out a term like ‘pre-alpha’, it is usually a subtle way of saying, ‘be gentle, and don’t judge what you are about to see too harshly.’ But when I was able to spend some time with gaming’s most unexpected FPS sequel at this year's PAX East (though it seems that the recently announced Prey 2 might have claim to this award), The Darkness II set a new standard for early-development titles.
The Darkness II begins with an ominous figure nailing protoganist Jackie Estacado to what appears to be a crucifix while a device slowly siphons the Darkness from him. As the Darkness cannot be taken against his will, the figure hints at using any means necessary to extract the demonic entity from his undeserving body. The scene then flashes back to a typical night out for Jackie. Having climbed the Mafioso ranks to the title of Don, Jackie prepares to enjoy a satisfying meal with two lovely women at a local restaurant. It is here where all hell breaks loose and a hail of gun fire leaves Jackie deeply wounded and unable to walk. As he is dragged across the floor, complete with an unnerving streak of blood trailing behind him, Jackie is asked to ward off his assailants and the demo relinquishes control to the player from there.
Jackie’s hellish abilities set The Darkness apart from most entries in the FPS genre and thankfully with The Darkness II, the insatiable, demonic arms once again take center stage with a force to be reckoned with. That being sad, it was difficult to enjoy the demo’s earlier moments; playing as wounded Jackie being dragged through a bullet-ridden restaurant was anything but exhilarating. It did however remind of how well The Darkness’ gunplay handled – better than most FPS titles on the market.  It also offered a chance to appreciate the title’s updated graphics. In what looks like a grittier take on Borderlands, The Darkness II has been made to resemble a graphic novel come to life.  If this is what 2K Games is referring to as pre-alpha, I cannot even begin to imagine the level of graphical polish and refinement that awaits the finished product.
After a few minutes of exchanging gunfire with his determined attackers, our mobster-made-don is caught in an explosion that pulls him even closer to death. This is when the Darkness that resides with him is awakened and heals Jackie of his otherwise fatal wounds. It’s at this point that I am given complete control of Jackie.  Given that The Darkness II’s control scheme demands considerable use of both bumper and trigger buttons along with the analog sticks, one of my greatest concerns was that the gameplay mechanics would feel a tad cluttered. But Jackie’s demon arms are not only easy to settle into, the things are also incredibly fun to use.
The left demonic arm acts is grabbier than its counterpart, and is used to snatch up all sorts of moveable objects including parking meters, car doors and fan blades – all of which can be used to Jackie’s advantage. Take the parking meter for example; it can be used to skewer multiple enemies and impale them halfway across the screen directly into the wall behind them. Car doors can be held as a makeshift shield to protect Jackie from incoming gunfire. And fan blades can be used to split thugs in half, showing off their hot, red insides.  But when you are not using the environment to satiate your bloodlust, the left arm can be used to grab enemies to perform brutal one-hit execution moves. These moves vary based on which part of the body the Darkness grabs hold of. Snatching an unsuspecting jabroni by the torso allows the demon arm to perform an execution similar to that of an anaconda snake; the tentacle wraps itself around the panicked enemy and squeezes tightly. And just before it crushes the life out of them, it punctures their back and bursts forth from their chest in a shower of blood; Sigourney Weaver would be so proud.
The right arm however, is more atune with the Darkness’ behavior in the first game. Not to be entirely outdone by ole lefty, the right arm’s slash mechanics feature better control as you can actually choose the direction of its melee attack using the right analog stick. While I admittedly enjoyed the left arms versatility and ultra-violent attitude, the right arm’s swift melee strikes help bring a sense of harmony to Darkness II’s gameplay and compliment the ensuing carnage perfectly. It also helps that the right arm is capable of slashing enemies completely in half once they have taken enough damage. And a clear view into the insides of your downed opponent never grows old.
The demo ended with an appearance by the Darkling, Jackie's comical demon companion.  The little guy arrived just in time to save Don Estacado from certain death – hey, even the Darkness has its limits.  It was great to see the feisty demon do what he does best, pouncing on an unsuspecting enemy and ripping them to shreds.  While his appearance was brief, 2K Games promised a larger role for the Darkling this time around.  And considering that The Darkness is known for its engaging narrative, I honestly cannot wait to see what sort of drama will unfold in The Darkness II.
At such an early stage, The Darkness II is shaping up to be one hell of an FPS. The controls did take a few minutes to get used to but besides that, it was a strong showing that left me wanting more. With the gameplay, story-telling, and voice acting to back it up (God bless you, Mike Patton), this graphic shooter looks to steal the hearts of FPS enthusiasts around the world – that is to devour them of course.
Post contributed by Andreas Asimakis. Questions for the author? Send an email to andreas@gamesabyss.com. Follow him on Twitter: @pantsguy.