An operation worth taking if you can get past a few flaws
About a good three or four hours into the game, the story shifts from your typical WWII for the game's main focus...ready? You realize that two members of your unit are actually werewolves and that you're fighting against vampire Nazis and the paranormal. But don't think this is a shooter, it's actually a strategy RPG with a strange twist, one that may cause some to laugh and others to become intrigued by the story as you follow Wolf Pack's battle against the Nazis' paranormal threats. OD does have some flaws and the most noticeable one is the graphics, they're similar to old Xbox/PS2 games, but despite not being the photo-realistic powerhouses like Gears and Call of Duty 4, they're decent enough to pass, albeit barely. The second is the camera, but give the time I played this game, the camera isn't as bad as many put it out to be, maybe the angles when the characters take action are bad, but they're not as annoying as many say.
The other is the difficulty, a little leveling up should solve that, though some of the requirements to complete the missions may seem unfair, one mission asks that not a single member of Wolf Pack dies, sounds unfair, but this is where using your head comes into play. This is where the game actually brings its shining points, the interface is easy to learn and those familiar with Fire Emblem will understand the grid-based system, each character can move a certain amount of distance and depending on which character, you can move farther, plus the cover commands add more fun to the game as you either set up ambushes or attack while covering, using this is crucial to victory in OD.
The magic spells here are in the form of military spirit, each skill is linked to a member of your squad. One character is the sniper character, her attack is sniper rain and is perfect for keeping those Nazis at bay, two members of Wolf Pack can turn into werewolves and they have greater movement range and use stronger attacks, but knowing when to use it is all about using your head.
The game, like most RPGs, is filled with character development and that's another of OD's finer points, each character with their own history and during the game, you learn more and more about them, ultimately caring if they die and not just the character is packing the heat you need or the man who can revive your allies.
Audio in the game isn't game of the year material, but decent, the voice acting for the main characters aren't as bad as some claim, though many voice actors/actresses may be familiar from previous Atlus projects. the music isn't the epic, somber stuff from war games, it's generic but sometimes a little catchy and for the weapons and explosions add to the battle, but don't expect uber-macho sounding guns and explosions.
Overall, Operation Darkness is addicting but has this unfinished aura about it, though after playing four missions you'll be going for more afterwards, that is if you can overcome the flaws and see the game's finer points. If you're a fan of Strategy RPGs or someone who is willing to give a badly reviewed game a chance to shine, than Operation Darkness may suit your needs and desires.