As we've come to expect, the Xbox game is fully compliant with Xbox Live and supports up to 16 players going head-to-head in a variety of different online modes of play. The PS2 Darkwatch has two-player split screen co-op and deathmatch -- which I managed to test for a little bit with my fellow IGN bother, Ed. It was pretty cool, although I personally believe that the Xbox Live iteration of Darkwatch online will be vastly superior. Of course, Xbox code will run at 60 frames-per-second and with sport higher resolution textures and an overall better look.
But however you split it, Darkwatch remains a true single-player affair in terms of getting the most out of the game. Other levels that I got to check out included a brand new "buggy" vehicle mode which played in a similar fashion to Halo's warthog-inspired gameplay. Jericho is able to plough through grunts with no problem. Until the "kegger" mobs start to show up. These TNT suicide bombers need to be taken down with the twin gatling-guns stapled to the top of the buggies frame. It's real good fun to drive, shoot and blow crap up all at the same time. Again, there was a little framerate hit here and there but nothing too severe that impeded the flow of the game too badly.
I spent a good chunk of time bugging the guys at High Moon Studios about the game, the characters, the story and so on. I'm pretty excited about Darkwatch and I still believe as I did last year that this one has the potential to be a great competitor in the console FPS space. It's different enough to matter and the overall premise and themed components are just too cool to ignore. C'mon Jericho and the guys at High Moon -- y'all need to find a new publisher in the next couple of months, because if I have to wait much longer to get my hands on the final product, I may just start baying for blood. Bring on the death and destruction now!
