Grave Gamer News & Views — the darkness II

Rumor – the invisible force said to actually power the internet – has it that this console generation is coming to a close.  If this truly is the last year of this triumphant generation, a generation that began as any other (with pretty graphics and prettier promises) but evolved into a full blown fusion of home media and dedicated gaming, then it’s all the more important to reflect on the virtual adventures 2012 gave us.

We laughed, we cried, we cried even harder trying to slog through Halo 4 on Legendary…2012 was the culmination of six years of advancement, where devs’ were past their growing pains fumbling with new technology and knew how to fully utilize the tools at their disposal.   2012 was a year in which we reaped the benefits tenfold through the sheer amount of excellent games rapid-fired onto store shelves (or, more realistically, Steam shelves.  Yeah.  Steam shelves).

It’s been years since I’ve visited Starbreeze’s original adaptation of The Darkness.  Far removed from my time with it, I still hold its single-player narrative up and above as one of my favorite campaigns to have played through this console generation.

The Darkness II (PC/PS3/Xbox 360)

Shame on us, lest we forget the return of The Darkness.  It isn’t being met with the same warm embrace the original garnered, but if you’re dry on shooters this month, you can do worse than the ultra-violent story of a mobster that misses his girlfriend (and tears people’s hearts out with his demon tentacles…real by the numbers storytelling, you know?).

Yup, The Darkness II Demo Is Up

Demos are free, friends.  Just gotta spend your time downloading them.  It’s unsightly business, waiting for things you want, but the world has contingencies for these terrible pauses in life.  Might I suggest a book?  Or a brisk stroll through the neighborho–Nevermind, you know as well as I do that you can just play another game while you wait.  You’re clever, you.

Expect some impressions on the demo once it’s done taking its sweet time.