The Fox network may have pulled the plug on James Cameron’s dark futuristic tale of fugitive, genetically enhanced soldiers, but apparently the game must go on. Radical has done an admirable job re-creating the future noir setting of post pulse-Seattle, and the sparse techno soundtrack does emulate the show’s spirit. Fans of the series will be glad to hear Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly reprising their roles as genetic super girl Max and rich, computer savvy activist Logan, respectively. Logan’s Eyes Only informational network helps guide Max through the multitude of traps and sentries that keep her from her goals. Logan will often advise stealth on a mission, but a girl’s got to kick a little butt if she wants that all-important pass key (or lighter or C4…). Game logic is where Dark Angel truly falls short. Max can leap seven feet in the air to grab certain ladders, but she can’t jump onto the much shorter dumpsters that litter the scenery or climb over a knee-high fence. Dark Angel’s real strength shows in its enjoyable hand-to-hand combat. Max’s rage meter powers her up for some high-powered moves—one thrown enemy can take down two more waiting to attack. As a straight beat-em-up, Dark Angel would be an enjoyable but shallow game, so a well-conceived stealth element could deepen the gameplay. Unfortunately, the stealth elements fall tragically short of well conceived—it’s more along the lines of comically maddening. Dark Angel isn’t a bad game, but it’s not a really good game either—it’s caught somewhere in between, struggling for a clear identity.
