Metareview -- Dark Sector (360, PS3)

by Justin McElroy { Mar 26th 2008 at 10:05AM }

When the first next-gen game ever announced doesn't get released until a few years into that generation's life cycle, it's pretty much impossible for it to be "worth the wait." But Dark Sector seems to be doing a valiant job of at least being "worth the shelf space," as it's garnered restrained praise from several outlets.

1UP (75/100):"When it all comes together and you're ducking in and out of cover while shooting and throwing the Glaive at groups of enemies, it's a lot of fun, and the visual spark and A.I./pacing/combat polish make it worth playing. Don't head in expecting a game that overachieves or pushes too many boundaries, but don't lower your expectations too much either."
Game Informer (75/100): "As negative as I have been, I still feel that Dark Sector is worth checking out. The glaive is something that every action nut has to wrap his or her hands around. Like the BFG or the cerebral bore, you'll remember this weapon forever. Sadly, you'll remember the weapon more than the game itself."
IGN (77/100): "All of this -- the powers, the glaive and the guns -- combines to make you feel empowered in Dark Sector. Usually you start a game as a super-agent and chortle as you're easily killed or dealt with. In Dark Sector, the difficulty ramps up as you get your powers and learn the ropes. Right out of the gate, you feel like you're this kick ass operative."

Gallery: Dark Sector (360)

Tags: d3, dark-sector, metareview

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 10:09AM

got $10 off from amazon since I order from them a lot. Been looking forward to this game for a while now.

SAGExSDX @ Mar 26th 2008 10:29AM

how'd you get $10 off? it's listed as $60 when i look at amazon

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 10:50AM

received an email from amazon, and followed the link. They gave me a number to punch in for the promotion.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 26th 2008 10:19AM

*sings*

Lad: How much would you pay for my game, sir? Perhaps 60 bills, sir?
Me: Maybe a dollar or sooooooo
Lad: Then how 'bout 50 with shipping? Save on the shipping?
Me: You've still a long way to goooo
Lad: Well soon it will be down to thirty, though I'll feel a bit dirty...
Me: You're getting closer than before...
Lad: Fine then, and now it is 20, now don't you want me?
Me: Here's your money, you whore...

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 26th 2008 4:21PM

Really? Voted down? So I'm the only guy here who enjoys musicals enough to use them as a burn?

NATO_Duke @ Mar 26th 2008 10:25AM

That gets dropped into the rental list.

Jack (SFC: 4983 4617 3409) @ Mar 26th 2008 11:32AM

Agreed.

miyamotofreak @ Mar 26th 2008 10:30AM

1UP gave Dark Sector a B not a 75/100

Justin McElroy @ Mar 26th 2008 10:41AM

We converted it (well, Metacritic did and we adopted their number) to make it easier to compare.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Mar 26th 2008 10:50AM

Now why would you do something so stupid? ; )

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 10:52AM

And I thought a B was an 80%.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 26th 2008 10:56AM

Maybe in your fancy American school system what with your roofs that don't leak acid and squirrels which don't threaten the lives of playground explorers....

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 11:08AM

NOOOO. So I'm not an A student. More like a metacritic B- :(

Microswirl @ Mar 26th 2008 1:09PM

A "B" on 1up's scale is more like a 66%

There are 13 possible values: A+ (100) through F (0).
That means the difference, for example, between a B+ and a B is roughly 7.69 points.

Metacritic shouldn't be using 1up's scoring system because the are converting it wrong.

rv @ Mar 26th 2008 4:03PM

Thats a good curve...

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 10:55AM

As someone who has purchased action and horror video games at Amazon.com, you might be interested in saving $10 on your pre-order of Dark Sector for PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. Use code -------------- to get the "Dark Sector" pre-order instant rebate savings when you purchase the game before March 25, 2008, and enter the code at checkout--each claim code is unique and can't be shared.

You'll also get an exclusive digital download of the "Dark Sector Zero" comic book along with your pre-order--a link will be placed in the Download section of Your Media Library after you place your order.

Loki_d20 @ Mar 26th 2008 4:08PM

Lucky you, then. I have purchased more than 40 games from Amazon.com in the last six months alone and I've never gotten anything like that.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 26th 2008 10:58AM

I'm trading Army of Two in for this today after work. I think it should be better than that game for sure. To me it seems like they are giving this game low scores for no MAJOR reason. =/ Ahh whatever they gave Assassins Creed bad reviews and I love that game.

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 11:06AM

I hear ya. Its as if they are purposely looking to give the game low scores. Not every game needs to redefine the genre (cough cough Halo3)

The review should state. Theres nothing wrong with the game, but since its not hyped up the ass we can only give in mediocre reviews. G4tv gave it the same review as Jericho. WTF. that game is broken!

John McPoop @ Mar 26th 2008 4:40PM

@FenixKnight

At first I was hesitant about even purchasing Army Of Two. However, after buying the game and playing through it with a friend online I have to say the game is incredible. I actually prefer the controls in AO2 opposed to Gears Of War. Mainly the cover fire mechanic and the intelligence of your AI partner when playing singlr player. If you got downed in the Gears single player campaign you were as good as dead because your AI team mate was so stupid he would never revive you.

I love the way you are not stuck to a wall in AO2 but you can still cover fire. In Gears you are literaly stuck to the wall when using the cover fire mechanic. I do have some complaints with AO2 mainly:

1.No Melee button- It works sometimes to use the trigger but usually it does not do the job. I believe the B button was unmapped and would make a perfect melee button.

2.Co-Op sniping is a nice thought but it is for all effects essentially useless.

3. Mask's- They need a larger variety of mask's and each mask should have a specific attribut tied to it IMO as opposed to 10 mask's that all cost $10,000 and do nothing extra.

4.Multiplayer- The online multiplayer component is pretty fun but you should be able to take equipment unlocked in campaign mode online with you as opposed to the current monetary set-up. Also, it should be an option to play 4 vs 4 as in 8 teams total instead of just 2 vs 2 teams. I do enjoy the multiplayer though mainly because it is so unique.

4. Sprint- They need a sprint button instead of just being able to sprint during rage mode.

I do think they got a lot right with the game like the graphics (amazing!), cover fire mechanic, AI, story mode was a little short but very fun and rewarding (except the last boss he is super cheap to beat). I had much more fun playing through the campaign mode of this than I did Gears Of War. The Gears multiplayer is a more fun but I liked the team mechanic of this game. All in all its a damn fun game especially with a buddy and other than a few things they made a near perfect 3rd person buddy shooter. An update or two and some new content (new multiplayer modes) would make this game have a lot of replayability.

I give it an 82/100....

As for Dark Sector- I think it looks pretty fun but I would prefer to buy the Viking game personaly. From what I have read its a Gears clone + a projectile. Thats not a bad thing but I have plenty of 3rd person shooters to play for now (Club, AO2 & gears). I will certainly pick Dark Sector up eventually but for now I am holding up for the best 3rd person game of all time... MGS 4.... I have to tighten up because I just bought my 2nd house and just got word that my Fiance is preggers with my first child (other 2 are step children so you know what I mean. I love them like they are mine but they did not come from me). So from here on out I am going to be more frugal with my money in reference to games especially with the 6 I bought after we got our tax return.... I might trade in SSBB though for Crisis Core...If you have a PSP you need to do yourself a favor and get God Of War Chains Of Olympus... best handheld game E-V-E-R

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 26th 2008 8:55PM

Mcpoop, yeah you summed up Ao2 pretty well. Either way right now as we speak Im playing Dark Sector and Im really enjoying it. Its pretty awesome and its meeting my expectations more than Ao2 did. You should definatly check this game out.

muddyhelmit @ Mar 26th 2008 10:59AM

just filler until GTA IV

Brian Jarrett @ Mar 26th 2008 9:35PM

GTA is just filler until FF13.

mkernan @ Mar 26th 2008 11:02AM

I think I'll stick to renting this one, looks and sounds good but not great. Need to save money for Mario Kart and GTA IV anyway.

Mike @ Mar 26th 2008 11:04AM

Rental fo' sho'

KilgoreTrout XL @ Mar 26th 2008 11:06AM

Sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. I'm a big "Krull" fan too, and have been wanted to play a game where you get to use something like that blade. Looking forward to it.

deaftly @ Mar 26th 2008 11:10AM

From the review i got from X-play last night, its basically a shitty gears of war, oh well i had high hopes for this one.

riggs @ Mar 26th 2008 11:15AM

not surprised tbh.

ViagraFiend @ Mar 26th 2008 11:27AM

http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a25c3921764a82d0117650a8aa6002d

ApolloIV @ Mar 26th 2008 11:53AM

What the fuck...

Justin McElroy @ Mar 26th 2008 12:53PM

That is so weird, I just watched that episode last night. Jeff GoldBluMan Group indeed.

Phranctoast @ Mar 26th 2008 11:33AM

Videos of the first three levels of the game are on IGN with developer commentary. Watch before you buy. I thought it looked great.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 26th 2008 12:06PM

The whole game looks awesome. MP could probably use a Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch with all Hadens, would be cool IMO. Like I said I dont care Im getting it for $30 with mah Ao2 trade.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 26th 2008 12:04PM

Well, it *has* to better than Army of Two. I swear, that game is godawful.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 26th 2008 12:13PM

Tell me about it that game is clunky as fudge. Controls frustrated me especially up close. They really need a patch for that game. Oh and the online is a lagfest. P2P my ass!!! HAS to be EA servers, just has to be. Theres no way its P2P.

TheOverlord#2 (will beat you with Toon Link!)(1461-5875-9923) @ Mar 26th 2008 7:18PM

X-Play gave a 2/5=40/100=F

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 26th 2008 8:59PM

Wow, Xplay can suck it for all I care they gave Army of Two a 4 out of 5 and that game is probably a 2. Now Dark Sector is a 4 out of 5 IMO. Im playing it right now and its really sweet IMO. Graphics, controls, music, weapons, etc all done really well. WHat are these reviewers smoking? How can they call it a Gears clone if the only thing similar is the cover system and running mechanics. Its worth a look, dont brush it off so quickly.