Top Cow announces Darkness sequel in the works [update]

by Justin McElroy { Jul 27th 2009 at 1:32PM }

Here's a great indicator of how slowly the wheels can occasionally turn. During Top Cow Productions' Comic-Con panel, head of the comic publisher, Marc Silvestri, was finally able to announce that a follow-up to The Darkness (based on the Top Cow IP) was in the works. We're not surprised if the news has a familiar ring to it: The company hinted at a sequel during the 2008 NYCC ... 15 months ago.

In more immediate news, the company announced that the original game would soon be added to the greatest hits value line-up on PS3 and Xbox for $29.99. If you haven't already checked it out, it's an interesting recommendation, if only to prepare yourself for the sequel that may finally be coming.

Update: According to comments made to VG247, original developer Starbreeze will not be returning for the sequel.

Tags: 2k-games, fps, the-darkness, the-darkness-2, top-cow

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Jul 27th 2009 1:36PM

I knew it! It was just a matter of time!

Psycho2 @ Jul 27th 2009 1:38PM

This is great news!! The first one was really good.

Cj @ Jul 27th 2009 1:40PM

Nice. Mike Patton better return!

baby sea tuna @ Jul 27th 2009 1:56PM

You want it all, CJ, but you can't have it.

whylekat @ Jul 27th 2009 4:50PM

Amazing that's their only popular radio "hit" and it's all about eating vagina-box. Mike Patton's a genious!

Jonathan @ Jul 27th 2009 1:41PM

only $30?! isnt the original like 8 bucks at gamestop? i got mine new for $12 at movie gallery :p

I Al2x I @ Jul 27th 2009 2:12PM

Yep, working at BestBuy one of my coworkers said he wanted to get it, we carry it for $19.99 new in our "bargain bin", I told him to go to Gamestop and he picked it up for $7.99 used.

Twist @ Jul 27th 2009 2:57PM

Heck I got it for free when I bought Bioshock (I love Amazon sometimes).

Eric @ Jul 27th 2009 1:44PM

I loved this game it was so awesome.

whylekat @ Jul 27th 2009 1:53PM

Yeah until I beat it 3 times on Hard and the stupid achievement never unlocked!! ugh!

Eric @ Jul 27th 2009 2:05PM

Yeah i agree a real final battle would be nice. But what a great story this game had. Also could you imagine the tech for this game now. with all of it being physic based now and the black holes sucking in the enemy's. It's going to be awesome.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jul 27th 2009 3:59PM

I Imagine something like Force Unleashed would be nice for the black holes.

baby sea tuna @ Jul 27th 2009 1:45PM

Awesome. The Darkness and Prototype are 2 of the most sadistically fun games I've ever played. Eating your enemies hearts is a gameplay mechanic that never gets old.

That said, how about a real final battle this time around? Talk about anticlimactic...

Duke @ Jul 27th 2009 2:44PM

I can't remember how it ended at all. That's pretty sad.

Markez @ Jul 27th 2009 2:58PM

I'm not a huge FPS guy, but The Darkness is my favorite FPS that I can remember in recent memory.

Yeah, the end was kinda silly with no real boss battle. But at the same time, given what happened in the end, how can they possibly make a sequel?

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jul 27th 2009 3:37PM

Ah. It's been too long, and I forgot how it ends. *Search search* Ah, here's the plot for any interested parties (obviously a spoiler):
[Saria magic link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Darkness_%28video_game%29#Plot]MAGIC![/SML]

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jul 27th 2009 3:38PM

Wow. What a failed attempt at a joke. I'm sorry. It won't happen again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Darkness_%28video_game%29#Plot

BoringK @ Jul 27th 2009 1:45PM

It's $20 new at Target. Was tempted to pick it up last week during the 50% off sale but I didn't really dig the demo.

Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Jul 27th 2009 1:46PM

Um... Is it XBox exclusive? I don't see a "Playstation" tag on it?!...

Nigeria @ Jul 27th 2009 1:50PM

That's real unexpected. I always felt I was the only one that played that game.

As long as they avoid another march through the trenches then I'll be on board for a sequel. And bring back Jenny somehow - no, actually, don't. Or do. I'm not sure.

Leroy_Octopus @ Jul 27th 2009 1:50PM

Give me the cool powers sooner and I'm sold.

whylekat @ Jul 27th 2009 1:55PM

But just think, if they did... You'd never use the guns. Like at all.

Faceman @ Jul 27th 2009 1:54PM

lil late on the greatest hits nod eh?

Jason B. @ Jul 27th 2009 1:55PM

Why is there only an Xbox tag?

Jason B. @ Jul 27th 2009 1:56PM

I didn't mean tag, but the icon on the top.

Billop @ Jul 27th 2009 2:00PM

Ooo awesome. Mike patten better return. he made the game 100x Cooler

*In Weird Voice* "Why are you doing this to yourself Jacky? I Only wanted to Helllp"

marauder30 @ Jul 27th 2009 2:02PM

The first game had it's moments, but ultimately I was turned off by the wtf WWII place segments and a fair degree of frustration controlling the snake things. Whatever the hell they were.

I paid $60 and never even finished the damn game. I'm glad I don't blow my wad on every little thing that looks cool these days.

Neuromancer @ Jul 27th 2009 3:38PM

I think it was WW1 not WW2. Just sayin. There was like a 30 year time difference.

CitizenErased @ Jul 27th 2009 2:00PM

The neighborhood ice cream truck driver is selling it for $15 and for $10 if you buy a sundae and nachos.

George McBain @ Jul 27th 2009 2:01PM

Thanks for making my Monday! Sauesome ... I am so happy I can puke rainbows. Rainbows!

AsherR @ Jul 27th 2009 2:03PM

I got a trade of the comic series that was put together for the game's release.
I hope they really explore more of the story, which reminds me that I should check out more of the comics as well as the other comics in the universe (like Witchblade).

Glad to see so many many fans of the game!

Vcize @ Jul 27th 2009 2:05PM

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I still contend that this game did a better job than any of getting you emotionally attached to a character (Jenny), and then had the most emotionally charged cutscene of any game I've ever seen.

If you haven't seen it yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1KTnoi2Kxg

Pure awesome.

Eric @ Jul 27th 2009 2:10PM

Agreed I was in utter shock when that happened.

deaftly @ Jul 27th 2009 2:15PM

Yea that and that scene from Lost Odyssey were pretty intense

bluetev @ Jul 27th 2009 4:31PM

hmmm..better developed than that other scene in ff7 you reckon?

Vcize @ Jul 27th 2009 4:35PM

Indeed, I reckon.

N3M3515 @ Jul 28th 2009 2:44AM

I remember playing The Darkness at a barbecue with lot of people not really paying attention to me playing. But when that particular scene came up, everybody was instantly enthralled by it.

When you play through the story up to that point, it is very fucking intense.

Jerk Face @ Jul 27th 2009 2:07PM

This was a game that, to me, had a few great things going for it; surrounded by a ton of shitty gameplay. It's a shooter where the shooting sucks. That's the bottom line. The multiplayer was pointless and terrible, terrible, terrible.

That said, the story was really unique and interesting; and the scene with Jackie chilling with his girlfriend on the couch was one of the most powerful moments in gaming. I felt something that I had never been given by a game before; and that deserves praise.

But ultimately, I couldn't get through it. The gameplay was just too rough around the edges to get through to the end of the story. It seems to be a reoccuring theme with Starbreeze games; in general. A cool setting combined with a few neat mechanics and ruined by a sub-par game build around it. The Riddick games come to mind.

burgerbat @ Jul 27th 2009 2:36PM

I agree. The game mechanics were extremely crappy. Couldn't get through the game either. But it was crazy when he popped that girl.

Or Is It Alton Brown? @ Jul 27th 2009 2:09PM

Angelus and the Witchblade need to be in it.

AsherR @ Jul 27th 2009 2:33PM

I absolutely agree!
Though I am curious as how they would incorporate it. The game has a more realistic feel than the comic (although I haven't really read a lot of the comic), with the armor Jackie has.
But yeah, I would love to see them in it as well.

Imran @ Jul 27th 2009 2:21PM

I paid $13 for this at Circuit City over a year ago.

UDGuy @ Jul 27th 2009 2:28PM

Please make it single player only. The multiplayer is not needed. The single player on the first was very fun and would play the sequel.

Neuromancer @ Jul 27th 2009 3:37PM

I agree, problem is a lot of game reviewers still complain if a game has no multiplayer. It's idiotic but they do. I remember a few years ago I read an IGN review where the guy specifically said that he would have given this game another point (out of ten) if it had multiplayer. That's about the time I stopped listening to IGN.

silver DewSky @ Jul 27th 2009 2:30PM

Cool news. I just finished the first one not too long ago.

Flankenstein @ Jul 27th 2009 2:31PM

I didn't really like the first one. It had some really cool bits, mostly story stuff, but the gameplay didn't really grab me. I think it's kind of odd that they're making a sequel, assuming that it didn't sell very well. I think even less people would buy a sequel than the OG Darkness.