Just another night out on the town for The Darkness.
Beyond that, players will be able to dual-wield weapons while using both arms. Quad-wielding is what they're calling it, sadly, but we won't fault Digital Extremes for making up buzz-phrases.
Grabbing works in tandem with the slash. Estacado can grab an enemy and use the other arm to help split the adversary in half. The move is aptly referred to as "The Wishbone." Executions return and make an even bigger splash (of blood) with demon arm executions. Estacado can grab sneak up behind an enemy, coil him up with the grabbing arm, and burst through his back and chest for another vicious kill.
Another change in the game are the darklings. Rather than have a number of demon helpers, The Darkness 2 features one. "This is a much more personal story for Jackie," Carter tells me. The A.I. controlled ally exists to help Estacado destroy the opposition and to get the game's hero out of bad situations. In one instance, the Union Jack-wearing demon jumps on the back of an armed guard, snaps his neck, and gleefully hands Estacado the handgun.
Say hello to Jackie's little friend.
The game constantly flashes back to the room where Estacado is left nailed to the wall. The old man promises that if Estacado does not give up his power, the man will kill Estacado's Aunt Sarah. According to the legend, the individual who wields the Darkness can only willingly give it to another person. With his Aunt on the line, the old man assumes Estacado will give it up. He's wrong.
Jackie rips his hand out from one of the large nails, yanks out the other and quickly stabs one of the old man's goons in the face. Make no mistake, The Darkness 2 is ultra violent.
The Darkness 2 was a real surprise for me at GDC 2011. I went in slightly worried and walked out excited to see more. It's certainly one of the best games I've seen during this year's event. Hopefully, Digital Extremes can deliver in the final version of the game when it launches later this year for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.