Time for my thoughts on the latest game I've been playing: Dark Messiah has received some harsh criticism (like most games, except for WoW and Halo), Dark Messiah's biggest failing is mostly a lack of polish. There are some code problems which cause the game to freeze occasionally during saves and during loading screens. The game itself however is interesting to explore, with an emphasis on finding "secret areas" (some more secret than others). Game play could do with less incentive to kick people into objects, especially when it takes more than three kicks to get someone onto the conveniently placed spike rack. Although spikes are an instant kill, it's a little bit annoying when your kicks only move the enemy two feet. However the kick mechanic itself is a good idea, especially when it sends the enemy flying off a cliff. There are also other mechanics based on using your environment against enemies, break supports, send giant chandeliers swinging around and throw barrels to kill or distract opponents. You can get creative with how people will meet their untimely end. Story is as expected for an action game, characters are somewhat shallow, the villain is suitably evil in both manner and dress, the girl is a possible love interest (kinda) and models are recycled for side characters, who die most of the time. It's certainly not the most original story, but it keeps things moving along and you jumping around exploring dungeons, cities and caves.

There are a few versions of the ending for Dark Messiah, depending on choices made but the end sequence is very short and somewhat ambiguous. The ending would have been more interesting with a “and this is what happened after” segment during the credits. Although there is a good and bad ending there's surprisingly little incentive to be good, the only person who's been helpful throughout the game is a demon woman inside your head. Offering hints and later on a more powerful demonic form. Yet there's the option to purge yourself in a magic pool of your helpful friend, but with very little incentive to do so. There is of course Leanna, your human love interest, who mostly sends you off to do errands for her and needs rescuing from time to time. She doesn't exactly inspire you to give up your demonic self. Options are of course always good, but a bit of balance in how compelling all good vs all evil is nice. The story also falls into the usual idea that humans = good and demons = bad, and undead are worse, with little middle ground. Overall Dark Messiah is interesting and worth playing, it isn't so long it outstays its welcome, has a few interesting areas to poke around and amusing ways to kill things. Give it a try if you like fantasy adventures.