Dark Angel is based on the TV show created by Acedemy Award winning James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee that was shown on FOX. I haven't seen it on TV recently so I'm guessing they cancelled it or the season is over. Anyways, the story of this Dark Angel game is this: You play the character known as Max (played by Jessica Alba on the TV show) who is a genetically enhanced soldier trying to reclaim her manipulated past and avoid capture by - I - Corp., the "company" behind all the mayhem. The story takes place in post-apocalyptic Seattle, complete with destroyed cities and cops at every corner.
The gameplay in Dark Angel is solid. You can run, jump, kick, punch, grab and throw, and perform up to 50 different attacks. Throughout the game you might be attacked by as many as 6 bad guys, some with guns. But it isn't that hard to beat them down to the ground as long as you smash down the buttons. You dont even have to know what your doing, a good button smash will most likely pull off some kick-ass combo. While this may be a good thing for some, like gaming newbies, its a bad thing for the gamers who enjoy Dead or Alive 3 or Virtua Fighter! This takes away depth from the fighting. While you fight, you build up your Rage meter which allows Max to perform Matrix style (why must everyone copy The Matrix!?) combos.
The visual side of things in Dark Angel are normal for today's standards. Dark Angel for Xbox wasn't made specifically for the Xbox so it suffers from 'port' syndrome. Levels are nicely detailed with plenty going on in the background. Characters are modeled nicely and are animated realisticly. The cut-scenes are nicely done and help move the story along. Max resembles Jessica Alba and the voice acting animation (the moving lips) is nicely done.
The sound in Dark Angel is given a boost with the fact that Jessica Alba along with other cast members actually recorded the voice overs for the game, something that should be done on all games based on movies or shows! The music is a mix of rock and techno that come in at just the right time. Its typical game music. The sound effects are nice but not spectacular. Enough to be enjoyed, not enough to be remembered.
Overall, Dark Angel is game that could have been great but ends up being another "lets cash in on the license" game. Its not a bad game and its not a great game. After you beat it, there is nothing to do but to beat it again. Its an average game like most of the other games that are released. Rent it, don't buy it unless you are a Dark Angel freak.
Report Card:
Gameplay: 6
Graphics: 6
Audio: 5
Replay Value: 5 Overall: 5 out of 10
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