Operation Darkness (xbox360: 2008): Reviews

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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Operation Darkness


7.6

based on 22 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Official Website

Enter an alternate WWII-era world where history and fantasy collide. Leading an army of ruthless officers and unearthly creatures, Adolf Hitler marches through Europe, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. With his powers on the rise and his armies on the move, it falls on you and your team of elite soldiers to cut deep into the heart of the Third Reich and strike a fatal blow to Hitler's ever-growing legion of evil. Lead the Offensive. Brave dozens of missions, confront supernatural creatures, and discover mystical powers as you progress through a sweeping campaign of drama and mystery. A Strategy-RPG with an Emphasis on Tactics. With a vast arsenal of historical weapons and a large team of specialized characters at their disposal, players will have to consider every variable as they plan their method of attack – using the environment to your advantage is imperative. High-definition visuals, fully-voiced dialogue, and in-game cutscenes deliver a true next-generation experience. [Atlus USA]

PUBLISHER:	Atlus USA
DEVELOPER:	Success
GENRE(S):	Turn-Based Strategy
PLAYERS:	4
ESRB RATING:	M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE:	June 24, 2008

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GameCritics

The audacious premise is incredibly fun all the way through, and right up until just before the last few missions the gameplay more than holds up its end. It's too bad the game gets so frustratingly difficult right at the end.

Wired

So while it falls short of greatness, Operation Darkness can content itself with being merely a fun game with an amazing premise.

Cheat Code Central

Strategy-RPG fans will ignore the game's shortcomings and find much to praise, but this isn't a game that's going to rope in those who aren't already fans of the particular genre.

RPG Fan

Operation Darkness isn't so bad as to be unplayable, but it gives no motivation for the completion of more than a few hours of play.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

It innovates from the usual set of strategy titles in so many areas without falling flat on its face, and it’s a meaty title besides.

GameFocus

Very poor camera.

Worth Playing

Operation Darkness isn't a bad game at all. It has its issues, but they don't ruin the experience — with the possible exception of the absolutely shameful graphics. The problem is that it doesn't really rise about mediocre.

Gamervision

I can overlook the average graphics, the camera mechanics, and even the sub-par voice-acting. What I can’t accept is that the story, which was supposed to be the most interesting part of the game, is just plain boring.

GameSpot

This strategic RPG is ugly and frustrating--but it can also be a lot of fun.

GotNext

Operation Darkness isn't going to keep the poetic part of your mind captivated, but the strategist in you could get addicted.

Gaming Target

In the end what we’re left with is this: a game that has plenty of unfulfilled potential with a taste of what could have been.

GameSpy

It's not quite as engrossing a turn-based strategy experience as Final Fantasy Tactics, but its unique setting kept my interest long enough for me to discover the fun that lay beneath the unpleasant exterior.

Planet Xbox 360

Thanks to its great concept and terrible execution, Operation Darkness is the very definition of a guilty pleasure game.

1UP

So while Operation Darkness could've lit up strategy nuts, the completely awful camera and primitive PlayStation 2-quality graphics drain the life out of it. Even online co-op, the one unique feature that actually justifies Darkness' place on the 360, is about as fun as waiting to get your blood drawn.

Games Radar

The lousy last-gen graphics murder what compelling plot there is.

GameZone

Operation Darkness takes an intriguing idea, but ruins it with some awful gameplay.

GameShark

Playing Operation Darkness is like being in love with a deadbeat. You can see the silver lining and you want to make it work, but it’s a downward spiral of concessions and empty promises and the next thing you know you’re living in a trailer and he’s hocking your jewelry for strippers.

ZTGameDomain

Between the horrific camera and the absolutely infuriating battle deaths it is a wonder that this game was ever allowed to be put on the shelves.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

If you can handle inelegant controls, graphics, and story, and a text-heavy menu system, this might hold some appeal. Otherwise, avoid it like lycanthropy. [July 2008, p.81]

IGN

Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong.

Gaming Age

It's a very disappointing game in nearly every aspect.

Official Xbox Magazine

No quantity of vamires, werewolves, and undead zombies can salvage its dreadfully tedious gameplay. [July 2008, p.70]

The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Joe T. gave it a10:
At first glance this game seems very boring, being a turn-based WWII based shooter. However, as I played it I enjoyed the clever strategy element as well as the great variety of characters. Customizing your team well is critical for your success. Some areas of the game are rather difficult and will require good thinking and preparation. The story is an interesting twist on the classic WWII story. With enough twists and turns many will find it entertaining, especially the fantasy, or war-game fans. In the end this game is a well made strategy combat game that has enough story to back up its gameplay.

John C. gave it a9:
decent game, controls take getting used to. Not many offerings on the strat RPG front so this one gets a 9 just for taking a stab at it.

Walter D. gave it a9:
It's got its faults, sure (horrible camera angle), but it IS a well written SRPG, of which the 360 has very few. Worth my $60.

Scott H. gave it a9:
In my 25 yrs of playing games this is the one game where the critics have completely missed the boat. The camera is only SLIGHTlY annoying and the graphics are poor but man this game is fun. Check the few critics at the top. They are bang on.

Eric P. gave it a1:
Awful, graphics are PS-One at best, the concept is poorly implemented, the voice acting is laughable, the item system is stupid and the camera is completely broken. In the words of IGN, this is truly an Epic Failure.

Luke L gave it a9:
I don't see why a game should be condemned just because the game doesn't have great graphics, or a camera is slightly buggy. I bought this game the first day it came out and have been loving it since. I decided to see what other people gave this game, thinking that it would be in the 6 range just because of the graphics and such, but when I look it up I see 2.5s and 4s. I mean strat RPG's aren't everyone's cup of tea, but just because it's on a next-gen console doesn't mean it has to be top of the line or anything. I think critics have been spoiled playing with the latest and greatest that they are throwing everything else away before they even had a chance to prove their worth.

Mert A. gave it a3:
I played the demo, and it was a horrible disappointment. I am always looking for a good turn-based strategy game on the console, so I was sad that this game was so bad. Even if the graphics are forgivable, the infuriatingly bad camera, controls, and interface make the game unplayable. Do yourself a favor and go play Advance Wars, Culdcept Saga, or the new FF Tactics instead.