Dark Sector – PS3 – Preview

Occasionally
a game comes along, in demo mode, that is just so tantalizing as to make the
gaming enthusiast want to run forward, grab the controls from the one
demonstrating the game and have a go.

Dark Sector
was one of those games. Demonstrated at a D3Publisher event in San Francisco, in
some ways the game – from Digital Extremes – follows a tried-and-true
third-person action course through its 15 or so hours of gameplay.

There are
interiors full of pop-out monsters and enemies, minor puzzles that must be
reasoned out, exterior skulking and gun battles … you know, the stuff that makes
up a good title. But where Dark Sector detours is the concept department and is
graphically stunning.

The story
follows Hayden Tenno, a CIA cleaner – the type of guy that is sent into certain
situations to clean up other people’s messes and then disappears without a
trace. Hayden’s specialty is biological disasters. He is sent into an Eastern
European country (reminiscent of a Soviet satellite nation) to clean up the
mess, but this time around things go slightly awry. Whatever was the problem has
infected Hayden. His right arm is no longer human, but is instead some sort of
metal, complete with a clawed hand. Attached, or bound, to the hand is a
glaive-type throwing device, with three bladed arms, that has a boomerang
quality … he throws it, it does damage or whatever he intends it to do (more on
that in a moment) and then returns to his metal hand.


Dark Sector screenshots

The
environments are somewhat destructible and because of that, Hayden’s bound
weapon can do more damage. For example, you may see a fire in an outdoor
setting. Soldiers are behind another barrier firing at you, but that barrier
looks like it might be flammable. You throw the weapon into the fire, it comes
back burning and holding the flame, then you throw it at the soldiers. The
result? … well, you get it.

The game
uses rag-doll physics and the hero (the game’s “design pillar is the evolution
of a superhero,” albeit a very dark and gritty tale) can make use of cover to
survey his surroundings. Taking the game to the next level of next-gen gaming
means that Digital Extremes has done away with a health meter. Instead, the game
becomes more of a visual experience. When you start getting low on health, the
screen starts to go red. If you are disoriented by gas, the game’s visuals
reflect that with a color skew and multiple images. All in all, it is an
impressive effect – as are the dynamic lighting scenes.


Dark Sector screenshots

At one point
in the demo, Hayden is working through a building. One wall has windows that
have had slats nailed over them. The lighting from outside cuts through the
slats to provide bars of light that wrap around Hayden as he makes his way
across the floor. Stunning realistic effects add to the drama and the immersion.

The game
also uses regular world weapons and Hayden can slot/carry three into a scenario,
adding to the tactical elements of the story.

Still about
a year away from release, many things were not addressed during the demonstration,
but regardless, Dark Sector is – at this point – an amazing looking title that
should bear the standard of ‘next-gen gaming’ very well.