When it was announced a long while back before the anticipated release of the Xbox 360 or before gamers would get a glance at the PlayStation 3, Dark Sector looked like the type of game that would grab you by the throat just to get your attention. Of course, the trailer we saw was short but it looked mysterious and boy did it get this girl interested. So, now with the Xbox 360 and PS3 neatly tucked in our homes, Dark Sector makes its debut.

 
“Ok! Ok! I take it back! My Little Pony wasn’t just for girls! Happy now?”

Dark Sector’s beginning is somewhat misleading. Aboard a freighter heading to the Russian shores of Lasria, an intruder makes a rather frightening discovery that results in him screaming in horror. We flashback in the mid-1990s as an operative (named Hayden Tenno) dressed up in a black stealth suit that would do Splinter Cell’s Sam Fisher proud enters a gulag in Lasria under company orders to bring down a target that is a threat to national security. The first level actually plays like a stealth/action spy game but what was aboard the ship that frightened the intruder in the opening cinematic. It turns out that a biological weapon was released and people have been infected and, when the chapter ends, so, too, does Hayden.

When Hayden awakens, he finds one of his arms ravaged by the infection and suddenly it attracts one seriously cool weapon ... a glaive. Not just any glaive but a bladed instrument of awesomeness that decapitates enemies as well as picks up items and brings it back to you. It’s like the campy 1980s Australian (or was it New Zealand) action flick Krull with the exception that the glaive in that movie couldn’t pick up shotguns and sub-machine guns. Later in the game, Hayden can even learn to control the direction of his glaive as well as use it as a melee weapon

Hayden’s mutated arm and glaive is what sets this game apart from other action games. What began as an action-packed spy game turns into a survival-horror game with a heavy dose of shoot-’em-up action. Another original feature is the fact that most weapons have a timed self-destruct mechanism that destroys weapons you pick up and use. This actually makes things a lot interesting seeing as you’re forced to pick up a variety of weapons without favoring one in specific. In the end, it’s the glaive you’ll be turning to every time since it’s not only just a weapon but it is also used to open magnetically sealed doors.

 
“Steve, tell me the truth. Does this Hazmat suit make my butt look big?”

While you’ll be facing a number of armed guards, there are also some mutated freaks that are like vicious zombies as well as a massive colossus that tears through an area early in the game. Unfortunately, Dark Sector can get considerably repetitive and killing off the same types of guards over and over again gets very old towards the end of the game. Sure, there are boss battles but these are easy to figure out and not as challenging as they should be considering each boss’ power. Even the game’s storytelling is a bit on the weak side.

Luckily for us, though, the PS3 controls are great. You’ll be pulling off cool (yet limited) finishing moves with your melee attacks and aiming is a breeze. Later in the game you can visit the Black Market that sells weapon upgrades so you can add more firepower to guns and controlling the glaive using the SIXAXIS tilting technology is a blast. Sadly, going for cover is not as great as in other games and this is bad considering the fact that the enemy knows how to aim their weapons.

Aside from the main story mode, Dark Sector contains an online multiplayer mode. It’s not as deep or as involving as other games in the genre but gamers will certainly appreciate them. The two game match types feature Hayden versus armed guards. In Infection mode, one player assumes the role of a fully powered Hayden while the remaining players assume the role of Hazmat troopers attempting to hunt down and eliminate Hayden. Finally, there’s Epidemic mode where two teams - each with a Hayden character - battle it out to eliminate the other team’s Hayden. The cool part is that the game runs smoothly online and up to 10 players can play.

 
“Man, this rocket launcher from Wal-Mart does work!”

Dark Sector is also a very good-looking game despite a few graphical blemishes. The character models look really good and Hayden is a real cutie even with the infected arm that looks almost metallic. There are even some great visual effects in the game and I must say that the PS3 does water and flames beautifully. Even the backgrounds really stand out although, at many times, the game blurs the backgrounds for unnecessary reasons. There’s also very little blood in the game despite some gruesome decapitations.

The game’s sound is also a delight especially since there is a really good soundtrack and some stellar voice acting in the game. The actors do a good job of bringing each character to life but it’s the enemies that tend to repeat themselves too much. Even their cries of pain get mighty repetitive really quickly. At least the sound effects are good and listening to the glaive rip into bad guys is a real plus.

There’s a lot to like about Dark Sector for the PlayStation 3 and it’s actually fun enough to see through to the very end but it is far from perfect. That being said, those who don’t mind a weak story or some repetitive combat will get a kick out of the game’s awesome glaive weapon or the intense moments that pop ever so often to show off the game’s true colors. It’s not a next-generation instant classic but this one is fun enough to be the ultimate weekend rental ... or purchase if you want to fulfill that long overdue Krull fantasy on a regular basis.

Gameplay: 7.5
Hayden can duck, shoot and throw a mean bladed weapon with the best of them and the PS3 controls do justice to the simple gameplay basics. The story itself won’t hold you captive but the chapters do have plenty “Whoa, did you see that?” moments.

Graphics: 8.5
Hayden is not just a pretty face since his mutated arm reflects dancing flames and sunlight nicely enough. The game does show some great PS3-quality visuals at times and in others just blur them away. Still, there are some solid lighting and visual effects.

Sound: 8.5
I wish the bad guys had more to say and the death screams - although wickedly cool - feel more like looped sound clips. There’s also a really good original score that plays throughout the game’s cut scenes and the voice acting is top notch.

Difficulty: Medium
The guards know how to handle their guns and can make short work of you if you don’t go for cover. There are some nasty mutants that move pretty quickly and that huge colossus that shows up early is trouble. Still, most boss battles are very easy to beat, which is a real disappointment.

Concept: 7.5
Dark Sector is what you get if you cross Splinter Cell with a light dash of Resident Evil 4 and any game featuring dismemberment by bladed weapon. The game’s story is slim on details so it’s the action that steals the show. There’s a multiplayer mode and it’s just Ok.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Two game mode types are what you’ll get in the game’s online multiplayer mode. Up to 10 players can take each another on in Infection or Epidemic and the modes are actually fun for a very short time. You can also set up a System Link match as well.

Overall: 7.5
Dark Sector is one of those action games that could have been better but is still a blast to play anyway despite its shortcomings. It’s a fun thrill ride that plays up the action well and throws you head first into some truly spectacular moments. Then again, weak boss battles and repetitive gameplay simply hold back what could have been an unforgettable action gem.