The Video Game Review: Darkwatch
Darkwatch is a first-person shooter that’s really trying to buck the genre and give gamers something new. You play Jericho Cross, an old West outlaw who gets caught up in some serious supernatural shit. Jericho inadvertently joins the Darkwatch, a secret society bent on protecting the world from bad craziness. He’s then forced to fight demons and skeletons while trying to take down Lazarus, the vampire king. It’s kind of a Red Dead Revolver meets Legacy of Cain sort of thing... in a good way.
After attempting to rob a train, Jericho accidentally releases Lazarus, who in turn bites Jericho causing him to develop vampire abilities and a taste for blood. Throughout the game you make decisions setting you down the path of good or evil. These choices not only affect the new powers you get but also dictate the outcome of the game. When you come across a wounded damsel for example, you either set her soul free or feast on it. Picking the unrighteous path is always more fun and makes for a much gorier cut scene.
The gameplay can get a little tedious and the controls are so sensitive it’s next to impossible to get off a quick headshot at whatever creeper is attacking you. The graphics are impressive for an upstart studio but what really distinguishes this game is the plot. Who doesn’t want to be a badass, one-eyed gunslinger laying waste to vampires and ghouls with a six-shooter in each hand? Any time I felt stifled by the levels or bored with the onslaught of skeleton after skeleton I just reminded myself that purging the Wild West of hell’s denizens is just plain cool.
Best Feature: The shotgun with an axe for the stock makes decapitation easy and fun.
Worst Feature: Controls are too sensitive and the skeletons too plentiful.
Weirdest Feature: Jericho’s vague resemblance to Nick Cave.
After attempting to rob a train, Jericho accidentally releases Lazarus, who in turn bites Jericho causing him to develop vampire abilities and a taste for blood. Throughout the game you make decisions setting you down the path of good or evil. These choices not only affect the new powers you get but also dictate the outcome of the game. When you come across a wounded damsel for example, you either set her soul free or feast on it. Picking the unrighteous path is always more fun and makes for a much gorier cut scene.
The gameplay can get a little tedious and the controls are so sensitive it’s next to impossible to get off a quick headshot at whatever creeper is attacking you. The graphics are impressive for an upstart studio but what really distinguishes this game is the plot. Who doesn’t want to be a badass, one-eyed gunslinger laying waste to vampires and ghouls with a six-shooter in each hand? Any time I felt stifled by the levels or bored with the onslaught of skeleton after skeleton I just reminded myself that purging the Wild West of hell’s denizens is just plain cool.
Best Feature: The shotgun with an axe for the stock makes decapitation easy and fun.
Worst Feature: Controls are too sensitive and the skeletons too plentiful.
Weirdest Feature: Jericho’s vague resemblance to Nick Cave.
