PDC World Championship Darts 2008 Review (Xbox 360)

Playing darts is usually the sort of thing that is either done in real life, or demoted to mini game status in video games. However, Oxygen Games have decided to make a full game out of it, and they’ve done it well. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really matter how well you can replicate the game of darts on the Xbox 360, it’s never going to be more fun than the real thing, which some would argue is a little bit tedious anyway.

Visually, World Championship Darts holds up very well, particularly when compared to its previous generation counterparts. Players like Phil “The Power” Taylor are rendered very realistically, and the whole PDC setup is authentically drawn with the announcer shouting “one hundred and eighty” and the like. It’s not going to blow you away – the modelling on players’ arms leaves a lot to be desired (and you’ll be seeing a lot of their flabby elbows), and the animation is a little shoddy. But like we said, it’s a huge improvement on previous games, and a worthwhile graphical update at least.

Gameplay wise, again, it holds up well. You throw your darts using the two analogue sticks, with the left stick used to set up your shot by moving a small circle target into the area of the dartboard you’d like to aim for. Then, pulling back on the right stick charges up your shot power and finally flicking the stick forwards will actually throw your dart, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. First, you have to get your power bar in the sweet spot, flicking the right stick forward just at the right moment, and you also have to flick the stick as straight as possible, with any inaccuracy to the left or right causing your dart to launch in that direction. It’s a brilliant control system that makes throwing virtual darts almost as challenging as throwing real darts – almost.

There are loads of game modes to get involved in, with different tournaments and the like as well as simple exhibition games, and if you’ve got a few friends round, there’s a party game mode where you can play classics such as round the clock and a load of others we’ve never heard of. It’s definitely a game that will please fans of darts. But that’s the problem – it really isn’t going to appeal to anyone who isn’t into darts. It just isn’t that interesting in the long run. After the first few games you’ll be left wanting more, and World Championship Darts will probably go back on the shelf. From a technical point of view, it’s a well executed product, but an unnecessary one for all but the fans. Perhaps if they could incorporate more pub games…

Rating: (Scoring policy)

By Jonny Robson

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Tags: Oxygen Games, PDC World Championship Darts 2008

2 Comments to PDC World Championship Darts 2008 Review (Xbox 360)

1. 

   180 on the Speccy remains the only good darts game and even that was far too easy. Not a past-time that translates well to gaming at all.
Blucey on October 29th, 2008
2. 

   Played the demoand hated it, it is so ugly. Sega Touch darts onthe Ds works, and 180 on the speccy,but the rest..

   even the darts mini game on gta4 is far more fun than this,and since everybody probably has that
Rick on October 30th, 2008

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