The Darkness II for Xbox 360

THE DARKNESS II

RATING M for Mature

The Darkness II feels like an unworthy follow-up that's just a little too late. Jackie Estacado is back as a mob boss possessed by an ancient baddie known as the Darkness, which appears as snakelike tentacles jutting from his back.

After two years of keeping the Darkness at bay, an assassination attempt reanimates those light-averse supernatural forces residing within Jackie, who is still reeling from the shocking death of his girlfriend in the first game. The story by veteran comic-book writer Paul Jenkins is frustratingly uneven, and the single-player campaign is far too short.

The sequel switches up the Darkness' abilities, opting for a gory shoot-'em-up focus instead of open-ended sneakiness. With the two extra limbs, Jackie can use car doors as makeshift shields while wielding Uzis in both hands. They can also be used for bashing bad guys, creating ammo and slicing electrical wires.

The levels -- a subway, warehouse, mansion, carnival -- are cliched. The never-ending barrage of religious fanatics attacking Jackie is pretty boring. They're too easy to put down and come in just a few varieties.

We would have given an arm and a leg or two demonic arms for a Darkness sequel that combined the original's adventurous first-person game play with this second installment's ripped-from-the-comic-book style. But the hurried campaign and dumbed-down design of The Darkness II means we'll be keeping all of our limbs.

PLOT Crime drama meets supernatural horror

DETAILS Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $60

BOTTOM LINE Not worth embracing