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When you’ve hit rock bottom it’s not exactly difficult to go up; after all it’s the only direction possible to travel. PDC World Championship Darts 2008 is hardly the strongest franchise in our books. For example, the PC version earned a measly 3/10 while the Wii version could only muster a two. Shoddy controls, boring gameplay and last gen graphics all combined to produce a seriously flawed game. The Xbox 360 version arrived on our desks hoping to sway our perceptions. Six months of extra development time can work wonders, but are the basics (i.e. a game about darts) what the underlying problem was all along? Third time lucky? Three times the charm? There’s only one way to find out and that’s by taking control of Phil Taylor and his darting buddies.

Exhibition, Party Games and Career are your gameplay choices. A roster of Darting pros your weapon. The instant action Exhibition mode / Party Games offer quick enjoyment, but the Career is where you’ll spend the majority of your ill-invested time. You can even play as one of the big-boys or create your own Darting hotshot. Name, hairstyle, name and a limited choice of clothing are the most important bits. Changing your eye colour or dart appearance has no effect whatsoever and you’ll fail to notice your choice when actually playing the game. You’re better off going with a pro to save time doddering about with character creation.

Once you’re digitally represented, you have a rudimentary calendar and the option to save. There’s also a stats screen detailing your averages, but unless you’re a darts veteran it’ll hold little interest. The game splits the competition into two types. Opens / Tournaments are your big events, a knockout event that’ll earn you big-bucks while Exhibitions are one off games that fill the space between Opens.

After all this setup, a brief loading screen occurs, a cut scene (worth skipping)ala wrestling where each player enters the arena with their relevant stats shown in TV form on the side and then the board. You’ll notice the characters look thereabouts like their real-life counterparts, but it’s nothing lifelike. You can tell they’re in a computer game due to some rough edges and stiff movement animation. They lack any sense of energy and often look like mindless zombies acting out set motion-capture patterns. The game definitely looks better than its Wii / PC counterparts, but then again it should do.

All this can be forgiven if it plays to an agreeable standard. We’re pleased to say that the Xbox 360’s control method (the use of two analogue sticks) is the best of the three we’ve tested. The Wii’s was the logical choice in terms of realism, but it was weighed down by poor execution while the PC’s mouse input felt tacky. To throw a dart you aim with the left analogue stick. You can zoom in on the board with the LB and zoom out with the RB. Once you’re in position, you pull back on the right analogue stick to charge a meter and flick gently forward to throw. You’re aiming to get it in the centre point on the power meter. It’s a bit like Golf, one for power and one for impact. Skewing the flick forward will cause the dart to fly at an angle and usually miss its intended target. A fairly steady hand is needed, but with fifteen minutes practice under your belt you’ll be hitting those one hundred and eighties.

The game throws in vibration and a heart beat sound effect when you’re close to winning. The cursor also shakes uncontrollably meaning you’ll have to land a perfect shot to void it of its troubles. It adds tension to an otherwise boring game. PDC World Championship Darts. It’s all in the name. You have to like darts. We use the term ‘like’ loosely; adore, obsessed, love are better descriptions. It’s hard enough sitting through one 5 game match, let alone a full year of championship. Enjoy darts? Then buy the Xbox 360 version. Otherwise spend your money elsewhere.

Score: 5/10

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