Quite frankly I’m surprised that
it took this long for someone to make this game. Why’s that you say, Mike?
Please enlighten us with your impressive array of useless information that for
some reason you feel inclined to spread forth. Well all right then kiddies,
sit down by the fire and let me tell you a yarn of a tale that’s many years in
the making…
In 1997 Monolith Games made a
game affectionately known as "Blood" for the PC. In Blood, you played a man
who worshipped the wrong dark god and got killed for it only to rise in the
body of a disgruntled corpse of a gunfighter and battle the minions of said
dark god. Honestly, this game struck such a chord with me that I consider it
amongst my top five all-time favorite games. Just the fact that it was a Wild
West game, but with zombies and monsters coming after you … awesome, just
awesome.
Then in 2001, Capcom made the
so-good-I-can’t-stop-playing game Onimusha for the PS2. This time though, you
were a masterless Samurai who discovers that Demons are planning on taking
over the world. Yet another of my all-time favorite games and it too had the
appeal of a ninja/swordsman game but with zombies and monsters coming after
you … again, awesome.
Why did these two seemingly
different games have such an effect on me. Because they both take place in a
very factual periods of human history. Blood in the American West and Onimusha
during a very famous battle in Japanese history (the plain of Okehazama). So I
guess you could say I think it’s just cool to see these games that kind
of bend their respective genre’s by throwing in all these weird creatures and
fictitious weaponry.
Here, hold my buckshot.
Can you tell where I’m going with
this? In Darkwatch you play an outlaw who’s bungled attempt at robbing a train
has unleashed a once captive vampire names Lazarus. In a perverted form of
thank you Lazarus bites you on the neck. From there you join a secret society
that’s been charged with staving off all things evil while slowly turning into
a vampire and since turning into a full-blooded vampire is the last thing you
want, your No. 1 priority is giving Lazarus a dirt nap.
It’s a first-person shooter for
goodness sake, and on the PS2, and I’d be buggered if I didn’t tell you that
it handles like a dream. The folks at Highmoon Studios definitely wanted to
make a smooth controlling game and they did. Both analog sticks are used in
unison and they are good and tight. The game has an auto-aim feature to help
you out a bit, but it’s unobtrusive to the game play. And because the
developers must have wanted to have some realistic physics, you can only carry
two guns at once. Never mind that you develop a type of night vision and can
jump 30 feet in the air, dagnabbit, you can only carry two weapons at once.
Throughout the course of the game, you run into these little scenarios that
prompt you to make a decision based on good or evil. Depending on how you
consistently answer, you will begin harnessing either dark or light powers.
Both have their benefits and the fact that you must make these choices gives
the game some replay value.
Hey buddy, you got something in your eye.
I like the moody dark graphics
that are featured. Since you are slowly becoming a vampire, the games missions
typically take place in dark places and during the night (although there is
some nifty situations that develop). The monsters are pretty cool and it helps
to have a quality TV because otherwise you won’t see the little touches that
make this game cool. Things like missing lower jawbones on the reanimated
skeletons. The Indian brave feather poking out of a zombie who’s trying to
scalp you or the tapeworm-like mouth on the fat monstrosity that spews bile at
you. The game has some rather scary images so you can bet I only played this
one when my boys went to bed.
While you adventure through the
game the Darkwatch will begin assigning you missions, the voice acting isn’t
too bad and I thought that the subtle accents of the characters were pretty
much spot-on, but since this is a Capcom game, and they are most famous for
the horrible voice acting of the Resident Evil games, you can expect a few
groaners or otherwise not appropriate-for-the-situation comments. And I don’t
mean not appropriate in a vulgar way, I mean not appropriate in a ‘no one
would say that if this was really happening’ kind of way. The cowboy music was
pretty cool though and I doubt anyone who plays this title won’t recognize
some of the audio tracks.
Try the new South Beach Cage Diet, it
really helps the pounds come off.
For as cool as this game is and
for as much fun I have been having playing it, there is a downside. Here’s a
hint kiddies, there is always a downside to every game. The truly awesome
high-scoring games’ downside is usually very small and miniscule, but they all
have a downside.
And Darkwatch’s downside it the
story behind it, and the world in which it takes place. With a little more
dialogue, and a little more spit and polish (story-wise), Darkwatch could be
another HALO or Half-Life, but since the back-story really leaves you wanting,
you may feel a little bit slighted; I know I did. You don’t realize how much
you really miss and want a strong story moving things forward. Sure, the
action switches from traditional FPS to horseback riding and even
vehicle driving, but that one key element is a solid, engrossing plot line.
Too often I felt as if I was just running and gunning, never getting to that
meat and potatoes conclusion.
|
Review Scoring Details for Darkwatch |
Gameplay: 8.5
Sweet controls and varying action
scenes. I love those 19th century gattling guns and the evil-looking blades on
the hilt of every weapon, perfect for eye-gouging the undead.
Graphics: 8.2
Dark, just what you would expect
from a game called "Darkwatch." But who am I to judge, the game practically
begs you to play late at night with the lights off so you can become fully
immersed in the shady world of evil incarnate. Neat little touches add to the
game’s value.
Sound: 7.9
Better-than-average voice acting,
I wanted more of a Snake Plisskin/Clint Eastwood type voice out of our hero
Jericho Cross, but nope. Love the western themed music, bring on the saloon
girls!
The women sound hot, because they
are.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Playing on the games normal
setting of cowboy is a challenge, playing on the Deadeye difficulty mode is
downright impossible. My 10-gallon hat’s off to anyone who can beat this game
on the Deadeye setting.
Concept: 8.8
Did you read the beginning of this
review, this game is right up my alley. It takes place in the Arizona Frontier
in 1886, and there’s monsters everywhere. It’s as flipping cool as the other
side of the pillow.
Multiplayer: 7.0
Yowch! No where near as good as
the Xbox’s multiplayer, must be because you can’t go online and play, it’s
only split-screen two-player.
Overall: 8.0
This game should have been a
9.0! But weak plot pacing and that feeling that something is
missing kept it from being so. Still, it is a ton of fun to play and still
sitting in my console. Yes, I believe it’s worth purchasing, but remember what
I told you. Good luck, cowpoke.
