If someone threw Epic Games' masterful Xbox 360 hit Gears of War into a blender along with the schmaltzy but likable 1983 science fiction movie Krull, Dark Sector would probably be the result. This game follows the same action-packed approach as Gears, right down to the dashing mechanics and the ability to dispatch groups of enemies while hiding behind cover. Although a lack of multiplayer options and a believable story keep it from reaching Gears' glorious heights, Sector is still a marvelous achievement for the London-based Digital Extremes.

In the main story mode, you control Hayden Tenno, an undercover CIA man sent into a former section of the Soviet Union to assassinate a traitor by the name of Mezner, who's gotten a hold of some serious biological weaponry that could destroy the human race. Unfortunately, Tenno finds himself ambushed by a strange alien figure that infects him with the virus. However, this works towards Tenno's benefit, as he gains access to a powerful five-bladed boomerang known as the Glaive. He can throw it around like a Frisbee, opening inaccessible doors and chopping down enemies like trees. It's a moderately weak story, but not quite as bad as other B-movie material.

As the game progresses, the Glaive's usage expands. At first, it's just a normal throwing weapon, but over the course of the game it evolves in a number of ways. At one point, Tenno can set the Glaive on fire, creating an explosive effect once it strikes an enemy or an object. It also becomes a retrieval device, activating switches and picking up weapons and other useful items. Its best ability, though, comes when Tenno gains direct control over the Glaive's movement. He can twist it back and forth in slow motion, striking enemies with utmost precision. This is definitely one of the cooler abilities in the game, as you can turn a soldier into a gushy mess. For normal weapon traditionalists, you can pick up rocket launchers, handguns and shotguns throughout each level, although you'll have to put the Glaive away to do so. Our advice is to go with the shotgun; it's awesomely effective.

"That's what you get for calling me Colwyn!"

If there is one complaint about the combat, it would have to be with the melee attacks. While some of the finishers provide some grisly fun, the collision detection is somewhat spotty. At times, a soldier will stand in front of you and the swipe you take at him with your Glaive doesn't register. This leaves you wide open for a counter-attack, which could mean serious trouble if there's more than one bad guy around. It's not a severe issue, but still a slightly bothersome one.

Visually, Dark Sector almost mirrors Gears of War. The effects look outstanding, such as the warping on-screen from the pouring rain, the dark and dingy stage design and excellent usage of lighting. The screen's colors also turn inside out on occasion, going ultraviolet to give Hayden a better sense of where areas are hiding. The only thing lacking in the graphic department is the enemy design. While some of the larger enemies look great, others follow a generic soldier appearance. As far as audio goes, the game features terrific ambient music, reasonable dialogue (listen for The A-Team's Dwight Schultz, aka "Murdock", give his all as Mezner) and above-average special effects. In addition, hearing the Glaive whisk through the air is sweet.

The single-player mode lasts over 10 exhaustive missions. From there, Dark Sector doesn't really provide much to do. The game supports two multiplayer modes through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, Infection and Epidemic. Infection is a "one man versus the rest" mode, with one player controlling Hayden and the rest controlling soldiers to hunt him down. Epidemic is a more team-based effort, with two Haydens and teams of soldiers fighting it out. These two modes are fun, but they're short in comparison to stronger multiplayer efforts from other games, including Gears of War.

Nevertheless, Digital Extremes has come a long way from its Xbox shooter Pariah. Dark Sector is a decidedly deeper game. Although it doesn't have the best multiplayer and needs a more believable story, it still has the right balance of sharp, original gameplay and modest production values to feed action gamers adequately. Besides, it's great to finally see someone throw around a Glaive without sounding like the geeky Colwyn from Krull.

Related Links

Dark Sector Xbox 360 Game Guide

Dark Sector PlayStation 3 Game Guide

D3 Publisher

Our Final ScoreGood

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