Good morning, people. First off, let me just say a few words about our belated Bastion review. There are a few reasons why I decided to post it. One of the reasons is that everyone seems to be talking about it, even though it got released last summer. Another reason is welcoming our new freelance reviewer, who's probably gonna be recognized by most of you who visit AT regularly.

Anyway, on an unrelated note, I tried the PC demo for The Darkness II last night and have only just gathered my thoughts on it. For an action game, The Darkness II seems to encompasses a lot of the cool things that help keep the gameplay dynamic and fresh. There are tons of ways to take down enemies and the main character (Jackie Estacado) can also use a wide range of objects in the environment as weapons. As an alternative, he can also rip out stuff like car doors to use as a shield against enemy bullets. Combining the snake-like dark powers with dual-wielding firearms allows Jackie to fend off foes in numerous ways. The darkish ambiance and cell-shaded-flavored graphics makes for a superb setting for this type of game.

There is, however, one major beef that could potentially ruin the experience for me when the final version arrives. The demo seems to center around action and constant carnage, which has been executed brilliantly. Still, there's one important aspect missing here. The first game gave you a chance to explore the city to some extent, throwing a bit of freedom and exploration into the mix. This added to the immersion and it kind of made The Darkness stand out in a gaming scene crowded with generic action games. The Darkness II doesn't convey one bit of that feeling, which, in my book, is a bad sign that the gameplay was watered down and made more action-oriented.