Since the release of The Darkness in 2007, Jackie Estacado and his comic book world have seen some significant alterations. Digital Extremes have taken over development duties from Starbreeze Studios, a move that paves the way for something a little bit different. Moving away from the monochrome nature of its first outing, this sequel ushers in a feeling of chaotic beauty, mixing endless massacre with vibrant visuals, amounting to some of the most addictive gameplay we've seen in quite a while.Set two years after the events of the original, Jackie is immediately thrust back into a world of conflict. A date with two lovely ladies is turned into a murder scene, as it becomes obvious that the power of the darkness is highly valued by a mysterious organisation. Escaping the restaurant, Jackie retreats. From this moment, his battle begins once more. Riddled with this overpowering demon, it doesn't take long before you're back in goon smoking territory.No, that is not a big purple dildoWhile plenty of changes are implemented throughout this sequel, the most obvious is undoubtedly the visual style.

The Darkness II is a dumb shooter that's three times as clever as it looks. So too is Jackie's murderous repertoire three times as extensive as that of other shooters.

Digital Extremes have confidently asserted a cel-shaded look that mimics the comic, and it's a complete contrast to the grit of the first game. The use of colour works admirably, distinguishing this title away from its predecessor and making it instantly recognisable in its own right.

The palette is rich and full of life, each location offering a gorgeously styled depiction of the world Top Cow Productions first unleashed in 1996. In fact, this vibrancy is actually rather intelligent, lending itself as a vital tool in the game's most satisfying element: its combat.Now, the premise of quad-wielding combat sounds amazing, but many developers would overcomplicate it. Thankfully, Digital Extremes are having nothing of the sort. Allowing you to control two demon arms whilst dual-wielding weapons works spectacularly well. Quite simply, aiming and firing your weapon is exactly the same as any FPS, with the left trigger zooming in, and the right trigger doing the business. Each demon arm has a specific use, allowing you to slaughter foes in a devastatingly quick time. With a press of RB, the right stick controls the right arm, mimicking any push via a limb-splitting slice or flick into the air.

This leaves the left arm to mop up anything that's left behind, as it chomps hearts away from corpses, and grabs anyone who's made themselves available for an execution. More on those in a minute.With four avenues of destruction, The Darkness II quickly outlines itself as one of the most fun games this generation. Plenty of enemies fill the screen, and it's amazing how they can be wiped out within seconds.

As bullets fly, it's often easy to forget you're being sandwiched by two unique weapons. If things get up close and personal, a few whips with the right arm and even the most hardened of enemies will be left on the floor. If you want to get a head start on your enemy, scenery can be utilised to your advantage. Chairs, car doors, plant pots, many things can be launched with the power of the left arm, often ending in gruesome results. Impaling someone through the skull with a snooker cue never gets old, and will have you chortling with a sadistic manner.Four execution styles aid your combat, providing extra boosts such as shields and ammo during the heat of battle.

Each execution is completely over-the-top as blood paints the floor by the bucket load. Taking a few seconds to step back from the action allows you to see the carnage caused, as limbs and mangled bodies litter the floor. There's always a simple solution to combat: if someone doesn't fall under a barrage of bullets, the arms will provide a telling strike. This does make the game remarkably easy throughout, as the developers intend on making you feel the advancing power of the darkness at every single encounter. The enemy tries to even things up by utilising the light against Jackie, but ultimately, it possesses very little threat.The light is more dangerous than most opponents. Getting rid of it should be your main priorityMobsters were so 2007, and they don't make much of an appearance against Jackie this year.

Instead, a Brotherhood hunt the darkness, looking to trap its essence for themselves. This essentially provides the main boss for the game, in the form of Brotherhood leader Victor. Encounters with him aren't particularly enthralling, and don't do the character justice. You'll fight him on a number of occasions, but don't expect anything other than a rinse and repeat task of shooting him X amount of times.Away from the combat, plenty of other decisions have been made to ensure this is a totally unique trip into Jackie's universe. The developers have done away with the open world aspect of the first title, instead focusing on a linear tale that places an importance on plot. You wont be taking trips on the subway, exploring New York or watching full television programmes, it simply doesn't happen here.

Instead, a confusing narrative is woven around Jackie's personal demons; namely the loss of Jenny and his inability to control the darkness itself. Only one darkling aids your quest this time round, and yes, his name is Nobby. He's a delight to have around, draped in his union jack and often providing X-rated quips that will be familiar to any British person who plays the game. In some respects, Nobby should be seen as a sexier Geri Haliwell.This is a story that whisks you to the confines of a mental asylum on many occasions, begging the question of what is real and what isn't. Much of the level design is uninspired, and echoes of Dark Sector, also from Digital Extremes.

While graveyards and parking lots still look beautiful, they're not the most entertaining place to bust some heads. That said, an excellent sequence takes place in an abandoned carnival, and once the main villain of the game shows himself, set-pieces appear often. Themes of isolation, death and revenge play a big part, as Jackie struggles to get things clear in his head. Ironically, this will do the same for you, as the narrative never quite makes as much sense as it wants to. There's even a hint towards Nazism throughout, as Victor takes on the look of Hitler, while a patient named Adolf speaks complete rubbish in the asylum. This is definitely one that deserves its 18+ certificate.Although The Darkness II is immensely fun, it's rather short.

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Many players will complete it in two sittings, and there isn't much to go back for. The entire campaign can be replayed with all your advanced abilities in tact, making the game even easier from the outset. Two endings are on offer, one of which provides an extra level and interesting set-up for the next title. The other, well, is completely terrible and a massive let-down. Luckily you can replay any mission at any point, meaning both can be experienced within quick succession of one another.Words cannot describe how fun this isThose wanting multiplayer will be pleased for a short while, but the Vendetta and Hit List modes don't add much to the title.

Both allow 4 players to take part in mini-missions, none of which have much connection to the main story. Hit List, as you would expect, forces you into a small arena to eliminate an individual who is wanted by your Mafia buddies. Unoriginal, uninspiring, and to be honest, it never outshines the single-player.

Okay, the gunplay is just as tight, but each missions feel like they've been scraped up from the Left 4 Dead waste bin.Platform Played: Xbox 360. THE DARKNESS II VERDICTAs ever, the lure of The Darkness is very much in tact. It’s pleasing to see a title that opts to set itself apart from its older brother, and it’ll definitely be remembered for doing so. This is a different experience to the original, but one fans will love from start to finish. Despite its short-length, bland level design and forgettable bosses, The Darkness II is a thoroughly entertaining blast from start to finish. Who knew dismembering hordes of enemies would be such a guilty pleasure?

It was a hell of a time to be a metalhead in the ‘80s. The Satanic Panic-era of history remains one of the most interesting times in history for this writer and it’s always great to see films touch upon a time when you could get tried and convicted for murder based on what you wear and/or listen to; when churches would show their youth groups news pieces on Satanic rituals and read books like Joanna Michaelsen’s Like Lambs to the Slaughter (which caused parents to ban things like The Smurfs and so on). It was a wild time and Marc Meyers’ We Summon the Darkness plays into that scare, giving viewers a story following a group of metalheads having to fight off some fanatically deranged murders.What makes We Summon the Darkness work so well, is its ability to make its viewer think they’re watching one thing, while slyly setting up twists that you don’t see coming; it has such a knack for pulling the proverbial run from under your feet. When we first meet the trio of metal heads on their way to a show, we assume we’re getting a film that will soon find our protagonist trio (played by True Detective & Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D’s Alexandra Daddario, Mr. Mercedes’s Maddie Hasson and Beautiful Boy’s Amy Forsyth) soon running from Satanic killers. And assuming we’re getting that setup, the film almost doesn’t work for a little bit.

The characters come off disingenuous in ways and while that might feel like a hindrance, when the trio decides to throw a post-concert hangout with a trio of male hesher counterparts, the film does a bait and switch that is unexpected and makes the iffy first few minutes make complete sense, right when the film hits the ground running.Alan Trezza’s script is full of left turns, which makes this cat and mouse take on Satanic metalheads, blind faith and misconceptions a lot of fun. Daddario, Hasson and Forsyth are entertaining as hell to watch, playing up their roles and shutting down the always frustrating “Well, what was YOUR first metal show” challenges thrown their way by the male trio played by Austin Swift, Logan Miller and Keean Johnson. An early game of showing who’s a true metal fan is one of the film’s highlights, because let’s face it, we’ve all had a-holes try to challenge us when it comes to horror and those people are always excruciating to deal with. That scene in particular really shines, because it allows you as a viewer to assume you’re watching a trio of metal head gatekeepers stalking our trio, but the film soon decides to say, “I bet you didn’t see THAT coming,” and heads into an unexpectedly dark area, the tone shifting into an unsettling, heavy at times approach that is not only a shock, but a welcomed one.We Summon the Darkness is at its best, when it does head into those dark, shocking areas, but the issues with film lie in the mood shifts it has from time to time.

The comedy works and the intense, cat and mouse, take on blind faith also works well. But while some films are able to shift seamlessly from one to another, this one feel s almost jaunting at times. It succeeds in its darker moments and the humor is a bit distracting, but not enough to completely pull you out of the Manson murders-like aesthetic that the film’s second half does so well. Every cast member is aces in this one and though Swift isn’t given as much to work with as the rest of the cast, the actor is one of the many highlights of the great casting of the film.

It’s a wild ride, full of unexpected twists and if you say you guessed them in advance, you’re wrong. Maybe not, but like I said, there’s always one asshole trying to tell you what you will or will not know and I figured I’d be that person for one sentence of this review.