Dark Sector is a third person action adventure title starring CIA operative Hayden Tenno. In the game, part of Russia has become infected with a virus and Hayden is sent in to clean things up. Unfortunately Hayden actually becomes infected with the virus. In the process Tenno gains several powers, with the most powerful power being the ability to control a glaive, a three bladed disk that can be thrown at enemies and items. Using the glaive is remarkably simple, all you have to do is aim the glaive and then use the right trigger to "fire it". As players progress through the game the glaive can be upgraded. Elements such as fire can also be collected by the glaive and then used against an enemy. The glaive really is what sets Dark Sector apart from your typical third person adventure title, but this doesn't mean there is any shortage of fire power, with weapons such as grenade launches, shotguns and assault rifles all featuring in the game. Players will be keen to start off with the glaive, but the game actually begins with a peculiar black and white prologue, with Tenno having to rely on his trusty pistol.
The glaive really does make Dark Sector a unique title
So, what about the violence? Is it beyond a MA15+ level? Well, there is a bit of violence in the game. First off Tenno can pull off a melee attack using the circle button. After punching or kicking an enemy to near death there are finisher moves and by pressing the circle button again Tenno can perform a finishing move, which is generally a quick neck snap, nothing too over the top. After killing an enemy you can also keep kicking them while they're on the ground, lifeless. Where Dark Sector slipped up, according to the OFLC report, is in the dismemberment and decapitation of enemies. In Dark Sector it is possible to use the glaive or a firearm to decapitate an enemy and this action is met with a lot of blood coming out of the enemy's head, but decapitating an enemy isn't as simple as it seems. It requires skill to actually shoot the enemy in the head and there are plenty of titles on the Australian market now which allow players to decapitate their enemies when aiming correctly.
Dark Sector is also quite detailed when it comes to dismemberment of limbs. For example, if you use the glaive and aim towards your enemy's arm then their arm will come off if you hit the right spot, but accomplishing this does require a decent aim and when there are plenty of enemies coming at you it isn't easy to just aim at a specific spot on the body. While we aren't the OFLC and we aren't trained in classification, the violence in Dark Sector seems to be the equivalent of violence found in other MA15+ titles. There are lots of titles on the market now rated MA15+ and plenty which feature decapitation, enemies screaming and finishes, we're not entirely sure what makes Dark Sector so different.
This is not an enemy we like the look of.
There are a few problems we encountered with Dark Sector that we hope are rectified prior to its international release. First off, enemies seem to have a large resistance to bullets. Normally when you shoot an enemy three or four times (no we're not really talking from experience here...) they'll go down, at least in most other games. In Dark Sector we found ourselves firing at enemies six, seven times before they'd die. Secondly, the camera also has a nasty habit of getting in the way for too often, which can make even the simplest task (such as shooting down a helicopter) a difficult problem.
Dark Sector looks like it is shaping up to be a solid third person adventure title. There are a few issues with the game such as the camera and super strong AI, but the glaive really does make for an interesting, unique experience. We think the game isn't as violent as other titles on the market, so it is a shame that the title has currently been refused classification. We'll keep you updated on D3's plans with the title in the coming weeks. But, as one of the very first RC'd titles that isn't dreadful, it's a shame that gamers in Australia may miss out on playing the title.
), most other titles are fine (Ubisoft titles are always region free in my experience).
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