Operation Darkness Critic Reviews

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Very poor camera.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong.