Regardless of what mode the player is currently fighting enemies in, they need weapons to do so, and in their arsenal are human weapons, Watcher weapons, as well as powerful weapons designed by Tesla himself. Headshots count, but depending on the foe may not be the only weak points to exploit. Even with his access to all manner of exotic weapons, Will’s best weapon against boss-type enemies is his brain as they usually require the systematic dismantling of weaknesses while dodging their defenses. Boss fights are a very engaging affair, with Will scurrying around the exterior of an incredibly large enemy unit like a monkey before coaxing the operator out to deliver the coup de grace.

Though the game is in pre-alpha status right now it has a respectable engine and overall presentation. Will’s movements are fluid and detailed, with animations that show his relative inexperience with flying a jet pack while still keeping the controls tight so as to not frustrate the player. The game captures the look of an action adventure movie quite well, mixing a bright and vibrant color palette as Will flies above a water-filled canyon with the gusto of explosions and the discharges of various alien weaponry. Bells and whistles not necessary to fully enjoy the game such as SixAxis and PhysX support will make it into the game, though the SixAxis support will be relegated more towards garnishes here and there and not used for flight controls or the like.

Dark Void is a fresh IP for Capcom, and in our experience with it at the media event, it shows promise. However, with as much development as there is remaining and with as short as the presentation area was, it remains to be seen how the final gameplay mix turns out. Though Will is a capable marksman in the odd corridor shootout, he is much more at home in the skies, beating the snot out of sinfully ugly aliens and tossing them out of the skies. Ideally, Dark Void will eschew that crutch and really embrace the jet pack, and from what we have seen so far Capcom seems to be on the right track.

Questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you .