Dark Angel (video game)

For the 2001 fantasy video game, see Dark Angel: Vampire Apocalypse.
Dark Angel
Developer(s) Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s) Sierra Entertainment
Distributor(s) Fox Interactive
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release date(s)
  • NA November 22, 2002
  • EU February 21, 2003
Genre(s) Beat 'em up
Mode(s) Single-player

Dark Angel is a beat 'em up video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Sierra Entertainment. It is based on the television series Dark Angel and was announced at the E3 Expo in May 2002, shortly after the TV series was cancelled. The game follows an original storyline, with players controlling Max Guevera as she attempts to find her sister and other escapees from the government facility Manticore. It was released on Playstation 2 and Xbox in November 2002.

The game was met with average to negative reviews. It was frequently criticized for its unoriginality, repetition and certain gameplay issues, though received some praise for its graphics, storyline and voice acting. Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly reprise their roles from the series voicing Max Guevera and Logan Cale respectively.

Gameplay

Dark Angel is a single-player beat 'em up game played from a third person view. Players take control of Max Guevara, a genetically-enhanced super soldier. Max attacks enemies using various punches, kicks and throws, and can also utilise the environment to perform actions suck as kick flipping off a wall then attacking an enemy from behind. Max can also perform moves like back flips and side twirls to evade enemies. Levels involve Max fighting enemies while following a fairly straightforward path to the level's exit. Occasionally Max may have to interact with the environment to advance past a point, such as by placing an explosive on a door, though what is required to progress through the level is clearly highlighted to the player.[1] Max receives communications from Logan Cale during most levels, offering her advice on how to reach objectives.[2]

In addition to the fighting mode, Dark Angel also presents stealth mode sequences during some levels. During stealth mode Max can distract enemies by making noise or perform stealth kills by creeping up to them. If Max is spotted during stealth mode a timer is activated and extra enemies begin to attack her. If Max has not reached the exit or killed the enemies when the timer has run out, the level must be restarted.[2] Boss enemies are present in some levels.[1][3]

Plot

Dark Angel follows an original storyline that takes place after the destruction of the Manticore headquarters at the beginning of the TV series' second season. Seattle has been placed on a curfew as the I Corporation, who are developing their own genetically-enhanced super soldiers, round up the escapees from Manticore. They have identified Max as an excellent genetic sample and are focused on capturing her, setting up blockades and military posts in all sectors. Conversely, Max wants break in to I Corporation, to find her sister Beka and more information about her own past. Other missions in the game focus on Max helping her friend and ally Logan Cale fight government corruption, the continued fight against Manticore, and locating her other siblings.

Development and release

Dark Angel was announced in May 2002 at the E3 Expo, shortly after the TV series was cancelled. It was announced the game would feature the likeness of characters from the show as well as the voices of the Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly, reprising their roles of Max Guevera and Logan Cale respectively. The game was to "give consumers a chance to virtually play as Max in her next adventure to find her sister and fellow genetically engineered escapees."[4] It was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Sierra Entertainment and was released in North America on November 22, 2002.[1] Due to the cancellation of the TV series, Radical Entertainment slashed the game's budget during development.[5][6]

The game contains an exclusive photo gallery of Jessica Alba, cast interviews and other bonus features.[7] A trailer for the video game was included in the season one DVD of the Dark Angel TV series.[8][9]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS2) 52.95%[10]
(Xbox) 49.63%[11]
Metacritic(PS2) 48/100[12]
(Xbox) 47/100[13]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame[1]
EGM6/10[14]
Game Informer5.25/10[15]
GamePro[16]
Game RevolutionD+[17]
GameSpot3.8/10[2]
GameSpy[18]
GameZone(PS2) 5.1/10[19]
(Xbox) 5/10[20]
IGN(PS2) 4/10[21]
(Xbox) 3.9/10[3]
OPM (US)[22]
OXM4.5/10[23]

The game was met with mixed to negative reception upon release. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 52.95% and 48 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version,[10][12] and 49.63% and 47 out of 100 for the Xbox version.[11][13] The game was frequently criticized for its unoriginality, repetition[19][18] and problems with its 'stealth mode', though received some praise for its graphics and voice acting,[16][1] as well as its story and setting.[2][17]

Brett Todd from GameSpot gave the game 3.8 out of 10. He criticised the stealth mode, noting many blind spots and problems with the camera angles and concluding "Overall, sneaking around involves more pure chance than skill. The only mark in your favor here is dumb AI that frequently allows you to take out soldiers in plain view of their comrades."[2] Scott Alan Marriott from Allgame gave the game 2½ out of 5. Marriott highlighted controls, camera angles and "above average" graphics as the games strongpoints, though lamented the game's repetitive nature, "inconsistent level design and challenge" and lack of two-player support.[1] Miss Spell from GamePro gave the game 3 out of 5, praising the graphics, voice acting and hand-to-hand combat. However the games stealth mode was described as "comically maddening", and logical errors such as Max's ability to jump seven feet high though inability to climb over a knee high fence were also discussed. The review concluded it "isn't a bad game, but it's not a really good game either, it's caught somewhere in between, struggling for a clear identity."[16]

Duke Ferris from Game Revolution gave the game a 'D+', stating "It's not that Dark Angel is brutally awful or full of bugs ... it's that it lacks any originality whatsoever. It's a boring, repetitive cookie-cutter game straight from the Nabisco ovens. You've eaten this cookie many times before; and if you're old enough, the first time it was called Streets of Rage."[17] Zach Meston from GameSpy gave the game 2 out of 5. Criticising the game's ease and lack of strategy, Metson stated "the 'puzzles' in Dark Angel [are] of the collect-a-keycard-here-and-open-a-door-there variety, but they don't count because the game handholds you through them, even displaying each item you need to use in the location you need to use it.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marriott, Scott Alan. "Dark Angel (Xbox) - Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Todd, Brett (January 3, 2003). "Dark Angel Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Perry, Douglass C. (November 20, 2002). "Dark Angel (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ Walker, Trey (May 21, 2002). "E3 2002: Dark Angel announced". GameSpot. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ Lachel, Cyril (March 7, 2012). "Quick! Don't Make the Terra Nova Game!". Defunct Games. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ Groenendijk, Ferry (March 31, 2008). "James Cameron’s Dark Angel game review (PS2)". Video Games Blogger. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Dark Angel on Xbox and PS2". GameZone. December 10, 2002. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  8. ↑ Tyner, Adam (May 2, 2003). "Dark Angel – The Complete First Season". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2003.
  9. ↑ "Dark Angel: Season One (2000–2001)". DVD Compare. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Dark Angel for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Dark Angel for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Dark Angel for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Dark Angel for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Dark Angel (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (164): 147. February 2003.
  15. ↑ Leeper, Justin (January 2003). "Dark Angel (PS2)". Game Informer (117): 96. Archived from the original on May 13, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 Miss Spell (December 30, 2002). "Dark Angel for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005.
  17. 1 2 3 Ferris, Duke (January 2003). "Dark Angel Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  18. 1 2 3 Meston, Zach (December 7, 2002). "GameSpy: Dark Angel (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 27, 2005.
  19. 1 2 Knutson, Michael (December 8, 2002). "Dark Angel - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  20. ↑ Romano, Natalie (December 7, 2002). "Dark Angel - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  21. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 19, 2002). "Dark Angel (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Dark Angel". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 104. February 2003.
  23. ↑ "Dark Angel". Official Xbox Magazine: 70. February 2003.

External links

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