Darksiders
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 Prepare for War |
| Review Date: January 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Gamer, Atlanta, GA United States |
| I picked up 'Darksiders' on it's release date (yesterday) and while I have not yet completed it, I wanted to drop in a quick review so others would have something to consider before parting with your hard-earned cash. In case you know nothing about the game, the basic premise is that you play as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Seems War answered the call that the seventh seal had been broken but was then accused of starting the Apocalypse himself. The law of the Council was violated and in an effort to clear his name, War is permitted to return to figure out exactly what happened. You first start the game with quite a few powers but of course, you will lose them soon enough and have to start rebuilding as War works to clear his name and discover the truth. The plot isn't exactly stellar but it's unique enough to keep your interest and at least seems to have a point.
Now onto the appearance of the game: The graphics take full advantage of the PS3 with bright colors and less of a washed out look that seems to be prevalent in many action games. The voice work is top notch and the same is true of the musical score and general sound effects. The characters look interesting and unique and you'll see everything from demons, zombies and angels. War himself looks nice and has very fluid movement. He looks heavy and sounds that way when he moves...which isn't to say that the movements are awkward or clumsy, just solid. He doesn't flit around like the Prince of Persia...I mean come on, he's War. If you're expecting a 'God of War' type game there are similarities to be sure however the mechanics of 'Darksiders' are not quite as sophisticated. You could play as a button masher though there are combos to master which will improve your score and playing experience. The finishing moves found in the 'GOW' games (you know when the circle button appears and then you press the various button or joystick combos as they appear on the screen) are primarily reduced to a circle icon and once you press the button, War mostly just handles things by himself. I don't really feel this detracts from the game to be honest. The game controls are easy to learn and intuitive. You collect souls which can be used as currency, wrath points or health. You level up and obtain more abilities that are tied to your weapon, combo moves, health, etc. War's weapon is one big a$$ sword to be sure and he handles it like a champ. As you progress on your journey, you will achieve more and more weapon abilities and skills which really add to the game playing experience overall. The atmosphere of the game is first rate. The developers obviously dedicated a great deal of time and attention to the details and it really paid off. Cars, buildings, creatures, all of it, look realistic, (well as realistic as a freaky demon can look). The game gets increasingly better as it progresses...in fact, though you'll have a blast during the first 45 - 60 minutes of the game, it is probably the weakest portion at least in my experience so far. As you move through the game, the areas, enemies, your weapons and abilities get bigger and better. The story line keeps things moving and you want to see what comes next. There are quite a few puzzles as you move through the game, most are simple though a few can be frustrating. Again, I have not yet finished this game but so far, I have to say I am quite pleased with it and feel it is definitely worth the purchase and is one of the better PS3 games I've played. I've yet to find any glitches or issues in the PS3 version. If you like action-adventure games with puzzle elements, you are probably going to like this one as well. |
| Epic Game, Beautifully Executed |
| Review Date: January 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Michael J. Marziale, Dayton, OH |
| Overview:
Graphics: A+ Gameplay: A+ Mechanics and Controls: A Storyline: A+ Artwork / Visual Design: A Originality: B (original story, familiar mechanics) Fun Factor: A+ This game is gorgeous, simple as that. The developers have taken the time to create a visually stunning world and a fluid gaming experience, but that's just the beginning. The storyline is very unique and definitely keeps you interested. All of the game mechanics are well handled, with nothing feeling labored, repetitive, or unnecessary. If I have criticism, it is a minor one. This game was clearly built off of God of War's engine, with similar controls, combat styles, leveling systems, etc. At least in my opinion, however, that is a minor issue. I'm a huge God of War fan, and I see no problem with the way the build was handled. While the game may show a large amount of mechanical similarity to God of War, that is really where the comparison ends. Darksiders drops you into a post apocalyptic nightmare of a world that is an amazingly organic blend of Heaven, Hell, and the modern world. The game contains many beautifully designed levels that have you running down city streets one moment, and fighting in a Hell spawned cesspool the next, with one flowing beautifully into the other. Character and monster design leave nothing to be desired either, with wonderfully detailed nightmares and angelic warriors coming at you from all sides. This game definitely has the eye candy taken care of. As far as the mechanics go, as I said, think God of War and you've pretty well got the idea. You're going to collect souls in order to level up. You'll learn new skills, get new toys, and those toys will need to be leveled as well. You'll run around unique, artistic maps solving complex puzzles. Combat is largely combo based versus multiple opponents, with multiple weapons to choose from. One of the amusing additions to combat is the ability to use just about anything in the environment as an improvised weapon. Street signs, street lamps, cars, you can use them all as either projectiles or beating implements. When the boss fights come up, you'll be working to beat them down to a context specific cut scene finale. If you enjoyed the GoW's gameplay style, you'll feel right at home here. And honestly, there is something to be said for that. The familiar mechanics mean that there's no time wasted figuring out how the game works, and more time spent actually playing the game. Finally and most importantly, the storyline. Darksiders is the story of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War is summoned by the start of the Apocalypse, and comes to Earth to complete his task, but finds himself the only Horseman to do so. Turns out, somebody started the party early, and War ends up taking the blame. In a bid to clear his name and earn back his power, War returns to Earth to track down those responsible. I'm a big mythology buff, and this concept really intrigued me. No one had really attempted to tackle the Four Horsemen before, despite with well known, widespread nature of the story, and it is rich with possibilities. While I won't include any spoilers here, trust me when I say that you won't be disappointed by how they handle it and what they do with the material. If you have an interest in mythology, this is a game you will want to play. Bottom line, I really don't have any criticisms of this game. I've been looking forward to it for some time, and it has fulfilled its potential completely. I have no doubt that we can look forward to sequels down the road, and I look forward to them. This is a masterfully crafted game, beautifully designed, and a pleasure to play. Do yourself a favor and buy it. |
| Finally!!!! Fun game play with NO studying |
| Review Date: January 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: T. Reid, NJ |
| Looking for something to hold you over before God Of War 3? Look no further. This game delivers it. Straight hack/slash action with what is turning out to be a really good story that has me captivated to know what will happen next. It pretty much uses the God Of War combat style but so what. I LOVE this format. No spending hours learning how to play. Just put it in the PS3 and start playing. My kind of game. If you like God Of War and Devil May Cry type games then this game is for you. Good old fashion game play with great graphics and you can go anywhere. You will have fun going berserk with War. Is there anything better? Not to me. War screamed to the Charred Council, "I answered the call". Answer his an PLAY THIS GAME.
Update 2/6/10: Just beat this game. Story is great. War shall return along with his brothers for revenge. GREAT GAME!!!!!!! Update 3/22/2010: Listen people this is the (God Of War) fighting format but so what. (God Of War) is the (Soul Reaver) fighting format, concepts and so on. People act like God Of War started it all. IT DIDN'T. Still great game. |
- Use War's extreme arsenal of angelic and demonic weapons to Unleash War's fury on enemies, and use virtually anything within your environment as a weapon (lamp posts, cars, buses...)
- Experience the God-like Power of War, Horseman of the Apocalypse: a combination of brutal attacks, supernatural abilities and seamless traversal that delivers intense action combat and adventure.
- Open World Exploration allows player to discover hidden secrets as you explore the vast terrain of a ruined Overworld, and ward off relentless enemies.
- As a Horseman of the Apocalypse use the services of your phantom steed Ruin as you blaze a trail through enemies and across devastated environments.
- Graphic novel art style by Joe Madureira (X-Men, Battle Chasers, The Ultimates) highlights a unique visual art style and original storyline.
