Darksiders

by THQ

• 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.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001D7T2VC
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 6.7 x 0.6 inches ; 4.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: January 5, 2010
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,511 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #22 in Video Games > PlayStation 3 > Games > Role-Playing
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PLAYSTATION 3

Amazon.com

Darksiders is a third-person, single player action/adventure game inspired by the characters, themes and mythology of the apocalypse and the battle of Armageddon described by the Book of Revelation. But this modern interpretation is not your run of the mill Sunday school stroll through the New Testament. In the game players take on the role of "War," one of the dread Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But things are not as they were. Devastating weapons arsenal. View larger. Upgradable abilities. View larger. Enemies from heaven & hell. View larger. Fight & explore atop your mount. View larger. Once the unstoppable and just wielder of divine retribution, War is now reduced in stature and cast out amongst the ruined lands of the Earth that he himself devastated. All that remains is the search for the truth behind his betrayal and the survival of its consequences. The Story Deceived by the forces of evil into prematurely bringing about the end of the world, War - the first Horseman of the Apocalypse - stands accused of breaking the sacred law by inciting a war between heaven and hell. Dishonored and stripped of his powers, War must return to Earth to search for the truth and punish those responsible. But there is no clear definition of good and evil in this tale. Hunted by a vengeful group of angels, War must take on the forces of Hell, forge uneasy alliances with the very demons he hunts, and journey across the ravaged remains of the Earth on his quest for vindication. But the answers he seeks will reveal a deep conspiracy in which War will find, and have to resign himself to the reality that although once the hand of God, he is just a pawn in the eternal battle between heaven and hell. Gameplay A mix of exploration and fast-paced action gameplay, Darksiders is based on nonlinear play situations. That means that as War slowly regains his previous powers of destruction and carnage in order to continue his search for the origins and reasons for his betrayal, players will be able to backtrack to areas and scenarios that they may have left unexplored upon first discovery. Almost all areas of the game can be explored and some of the things players will find as they do so are treasure chests, health chests, and bonus life points, etc. The ability to go back and explore areas is important, especially as the game progresses and War finds himself up against enemies whose defeat require special skills and/or weaponry. As for combat gameplay, Darksiders features a variety of weapons--including blades and firearms--that can be used in combo moves or in single strikes. Some of these can be charged up for quick, but devastating attacks on enemies and all can be arranged on your controller's D-pad for easy and preferred access. Additional gameplay elements include the ability/necessity to fight from the back of your mount, Ruin, and the collection of the souls in the form of glowing orbs that fall to the ground as enemies are dispatched. The latter can be used to level up War with new items and abilities. Varied Characters and Environments Although players take on the imposing role or War, Darksiders also contains a wide variety of equally intriguing and sometimes frightening characters. These include: an assortment of vengeful angels; demons, such as "the Jailer" whose body is made up of the remains of countless cadavers; a bestiary of wicked and vile creatures created to bolster the armies of hell on Earth; and Ruin, the trusty steed of War. Gameplay environments players will experience are equally varied, and include areas both underground and on the surface, that call to mind both familiar, if ruined modern urban environments, as well as ones seemingly pulled from the nightmarish scenes of the biblical apocalypse. Key Features Apocalyptic Power of War - Unleash the wrath of War, combining brutal attacks and supernatural abilities to decimate all who stand in your way. Extreme Arsenal - Wield a devastating arsenal of angelic, demonic, and Earthly weapons, and blaze a trail of destruction atop Ruin, War's fiery phantom steed. Epic Quest - Battle across the wastelands and demon-infested dungeons of the decimated Earth in your quest for vengeance and redemption. Character Progression - Uncover powerful ancient relics, upgrade your weapons, unlock new abilities, and customize your gameplay style. Battle Heaven and Hell - Battle against all who stand in your way—from war-weary angelic forces to hell's hideous demon hordes. Weapons and Gear - Darksiders features an extensive arsenal and inventory of weapons and gear. Varied Play Environments - Players will fight through varied environments, including those above and underground, and modern and nightmarishly mythical in design. PlayStation Network - Although a single player game, Darksiders features PlayStation Network Trophy support and other features to heighten the gameplay experience.

Product Description

Cinematic Gameplay Experience ¿ Harnessing the power of next-generation console systems, Darksiders: Wrath of War will immerse players in a rich cinematic gameplay experience ¿ featuring beautiful graphics, detailed special effects, cinematic lighting and an epic musical score that compliments the in-game action.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare for War January 6, 2010

By Murphys Law

Platform for Display:PLAYSTATION 3

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

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. 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 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 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 better as it progresses...in fact, though you'll have fun during the first 45 - 60 minutes of the game, it is the weakest portion of the game overall. 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.

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.

45 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Epic Game, Beautifully Executed January 5, 2010

By Michael J. Marziale

Platform for Display:PLAYSTATION 3

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

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.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!!! Fun game play with NO studying January 6, 2010

By T. Reid

Platform for Display:PLAYSTATION 3

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

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.