Customer Reviews

Darksiders

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

When DARKSIDERS was first released (Jan 5th, 2010) I scoured Amazon reviews for several weeks to determine whether it would be worth my time and money. The most convincing opinion of the time was that of the 2-star review stating the game was repetitive, uninspired and derivative. As a fan of Zelda and God of War I decided to rent the game with my Gamefly giftcard. Once I had finished scrubbing off the tiremarks and cigarette burns from the disc, my hour long playthrough led me to believe the review was spot-on and I returned the game without looking back. I was under the impression that time-limit combo sequences, copy-cat gameplay and formulaic environmental design was all that lay ahead. After all, those were the defining points of the 2-star review. ....BUT, just like his Apocalyptic Oppressors, I had dealt War and his allies a huge injustice. One I wish to set straight.

Fast forward to nearly 16 months later and a price drop of $40. Darksiders came highly recommended by another Amazon reviewer with high rated marks and similar genre interests. After playing for two hours I found myself ENTRANCED by this game. My initial disinterest in the title was clearly from not giving it proper time to develop into its own. The first hour serves as a tutorial for the game. However, it is embedded into gameplay in such a way as to make you unaware that you are being taught how to play while still holding the metaphorical reins. The small attention to detail, down to instructional direction, is inspiring. This game is clearly NOT made by amateurs. This game consistently provided me with challenging puzzles, a powerful narrative framework, ambitious variety and dynamic visuals.

GAMEPLAY:

War has such a HUGE arsenal of moves and artifacts that the pause menu is initially daunting. The game provides a steady stream of equipment and features a remarkable method of mapping these buttons in a manageable way. Although the game includes a selection of Link's gadgetry, Darksiders spins the angle to embrace the aesthetic and physical facets of the end of days. War doesn't have a boomerang that makes enemies spin and light red. He has a Crossblade than saws into his enemies with visceral accuracy and sadistic destruction. Darksiders' greatest achievement is in weaving innumerable gameplay elements into a cohesive package within a single atmosphere. I found myself shooting blue/orange portals to direct soul power, grappling across chasms, using a visor (mask) to see into a different realm, soaring through dilapidated cities on the wings of a griffon, blasting cannons across rickety bridges, and charging my fiery horse Ruin against tower-sized beasts. Darksiders has an UNCANNY ability to mold various properties into the mythos of Armageddon. If I had never played the games from which it borrows, I could easily have believed Darksiders pioneered the use of each and every relic.

The game took me 15 hours to complete, but would have taken me a few more to find all of the unlockable pieces of armor and upgrades. Different upgrade tokens can be assigned to different weapons and a multitude of combinations can be used to defeat enemies on your own terms. Do you want to play like Devil May Cry? - Use a powerful sword uppercut to lift the enemy into the sky and reign down bullets with your gun. Do you want to play like God of War? - Use your gauntlet to smash a horde of enemies and create a swirling vortex of souls with your Scythe to decimate their numbers. Start a combo by blowing the Earthcaller horn to stun some demons and club them with your home-run crushing Chaos Eater sword swing. Every combo has smooth camera work and stunning animation to augment War's abilities. You have near limitless control to play in the manner you prefer.

The Watcher (voiced by Mark Hamill) is a demon sent by the "Council" to keep War from disobeying his initial task. Holding "select" will call him forth to provide hints or direction for missions. This, in tandem with an excellent map and fast-travel Serpent Hole system, keep your progression constant while allowing you to backtrack at any point to collect new items. From the controls to the weapon and gameplay variety, everything in Darksiders is masterfully crafted and deeply engaging.

CHARACTERS:

War is a brilliant characterization of the Judeo-Christian horseman. He stands with impunity at the feet of Heaven and Hell's armies, ready to defend his honor and uphold his code despite the obstacles and cautions foretold by others. Despite drawing from religious mythos, I personally enjoy the creation of a character who can appeal to gamers from a plethora of religions and cultures. Rather than embody orthodox Christian overtones, War is an idealization of the solitary hero: resilient, adapting, discerning and powerful. War's voice acting is superb and does a phenomenal job of conveying defiance in the face of much larger enemies. To great effect, these enemies and allies also perpetuate a believable world caught in a supernatural struggle. Samael speaks with unearthly distinction and visuals that almost seem to draw ash and brimstone through your screen and into your living room. The Destroyer seethes deceptive charm like a proverbial serpent to waylay the gullible. Slitha bargains with cynical distress and convincing intonation. There are no characters within Darksiders that feel out of place or forcefully acted. Every enemy or ally speaks with sincerity and savvy. Every design is original, detailed and enigmatic.

SOUND AND VISUALS:

From Voice Acting to Music and Sound Effects, all of the sound in Darksiders is Top-Notch. The merchant Vulgrim impatiently clacks his skeletal hands for the Horseman's purchases with the same clarity as War's horse rising with gusto from the fiery ground. There are a multitude of locations which feature the same comic book style art, vividly bright visuals and bold design. From ashen deserts, crumbling highways, and lush valleys to decaying fortresses and cobwebbed dungeons, Darksiders moves beyond its subject material to visualize a colorful world typically represented with greys and reds. If you are inclined to like the stylistic nature of this game, everything is a visual treat. I had not previously been a fan of Joe Madureira, but this game easily won me over. Enemy and boss variety, environmental structures, and weapon/artifact models blend seamlessly into the surroundings.

A FEW MINOR QUIRKS:

Despite all of my glowing points,... the game has a few very small annoyances. Many of the upgradeable tokens feature similar attributes, and some will only work effectively when applied to certain weapons. A larger variety and the ability to map them to all weapons equally would have made them more appealing.

Minor weapon artifacts (Crossblade/Mercy Revolver/Earthcaller) will probably see less action in battle when exploring since you must have navigational artifacts (Portal gun/ Abyssal Grappling Chain/Mask of Shadows) assigned and selected to move about the terrain. Ultimately, this will cause you to rely more on the "true" secondary weapons (Scythe/Tremor Gauntlet) rather than constantly pausing to switch out gear in the menu. Having some artifacts automatically triggered when you aimed at certain points (Like Metroid Prime) may have been the better choice for grappling, using portals, or activating switches with the Crossblade. The grappling hook also only works in a straight line (meaning you cannot use it to reach some locations more easily once you have found the artifact).

Several sections also have reoccurring moments where enemies respawn and doors are locked, forcing you to combat them all. These are not terrible, but some seem to have been placed to extend game time in certain locations.

The flight sequence (similar to Panzer Dragoon) does not allow you to invert the cursor for shooting, which makes it difficult for people who are used to inverted controls.

These are very minor issues in relation to the final package.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, I cannot wait to play the next installment of this game. Darksiders was crafted by a team of highly skilled developers, clearly with the gamer in mind. If you judge this game based on the merits of an hour long tutorial (as I originally did), you are doing yourself a GREAT disservice. I recently replayed Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 2 and God of War 3. I can tell you this game is absolutely not a cookie-cutter representation of any one of those games. Although I enjoy playing all of them, I actually like the tone and atmosphere of this game slightly more. Moreover, the ending of this game is immensely superior to all three of those games. The last time I remember playing a game and feeling the end was worth my invested time was Uncharted 2.

DARKSIDERS is a fantastic package and comes highly recommended by a converted 2-star believer. (8.8/10)

Yes, I really mean it when I say that this game is actually better than God of War. In fact I am an avid gamer and have played hundreds of different games and completed them ever since I have been a small child. Darksiders is one of the best games that I have ever played. If you are an action adventure roleplaying fan then you will love this game that is a perfect mix of God of War, World of Warcraft, and Zelda. This title somehow flies under the radar as being one of PS3's most popular games...I don't know why. Maybe because of the subject matter...it definitely is meant for a more mature audience. Anyways, pick up this game. I guarantee you will love it. War is the man! I cannot wait for Darksiders 2! \m/

I love God of War and this game is very close in style. It is a button masher at times, with a mix of puzzles and some big end bosses. The graphics are nice and the colors very good. The voice acting is solid and the storyline is interesting. No one else has seemed to mention, but I found the game to be very hard at times. I needed to look at the walk through a number of times to figure out certain puzzles. Some of the end bosses I still couldn't beat even looking at a walkthrough. Thank goodness for friends. I was playing on the easy level, I can't imagine how hard it would have been for me on the harder levels. I liked the game, but I just wish easy level had been easy.

First off, I'd been highly anticipating this game ever since Joe Mad! stopped Battle Chasers and began doing game design work. After he released some early concept art, I was hooked. After watching some of the interviews with those responsible for Darksiders, their love for classic games and their boasts of bringing all those old-time standards up to date, I was salivating. I really wanted to like this game and I picked it up immediately when it was released to be promptly disappointed. For easy access, I'll break my review into Pro and Con sections.

Pros:

The game is not without its merits. For one, the graphics are topnotch. Someone compared them to WoW, which I can see from the standpoint that WoW and Darksiders rely on a relatively bulky, cartoonish / anime style. However, you can view screenshots and concept art on numerous sites and know exactly what you're going to get with Darksiders, it's Joe Mad! and his style is... well, bigger than life cartoonish / anime. However, WoW graphics look like they tried to achieve their cartoonish style via massive collections of kleenex boxes. It looks very polygon'ish and dated up close in my opinion. Darksiders does not suffer from this and is very smooth, very polished. If you liked Joe Mad!'s work or anime style in general, you'll like the graphics. It honestly looks and feels like you're playing an anime cartoon.

Along with the very stylized graphics, the sound is great. Little details make all the difference to me and they seem to have put a lot of effort into making every connection, every character, every moment of contact in game have its personalized sound. For instance, just shopping off Vulgrim and listening while his fingers *clack* together and he whispers under his breath, it definitely adds to the atmosphere in a very good way.

Unfortunately, that's about where the good ends for me.

Cons:

The game feels like 85% filler. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good "turn off your brain hack and slash" game. But, I'm not even talking about good filler where you expect to mow down legions of bad guys mindlessly. I'm talking mundane, glorified FedEx type puzzles and pointless linear landscape where the developers couldn't STOP talking about exploration. If later in the game you get to do a lot of exploration and cool stuff, then I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to play a 10/12 hour game for 3-5 hours to get into the good stuff. Clue to developers, at that point, you've LOST your audience.

To begin with, the opening is basically 45 - 60 minutes long. It's a combination of cutscenes and playing in essentially an invincible, original powerful War mode. It acts as a bit of a tutorial, but honestly, the controls are so easy it doesn't seem to warrant such a long, boring walk through. To me, the whole "invincible" mode is lazy and it turned me off to the game greatly. The cutscenes ran long and I found myself watching my game more than I was playing it, which seemed unnecessary considering the simplistic storyline. After a bit it seemed they were less interested in creating a playable game than they were showcasing Joe Mad!'s work.

Beyond the extremely lengthy, tedious opening you have a quest shortly after that consists of "Kill *INSERT NUMBER* of Enemies in *INSERT TIME*" and "Kill *INSERT NUMBER* of Enemies While in the Air". I'm sorry, but when I'm already bored and annoyed, the last thing I want to do is be TOLD and TIMED to kill enemies in a totally unimaginative manner. It's lazy and frankly, I think it demeans the player to do such a tedious, moronic task. On top of that, to put one so close to such a BORING intro was simply poor poor planning. I could forgive them if it was near the end when I was more engaged and detached from the horrible intro. But to me, it simply screamed, "We're out of ideas already... but hey, the game looks great right?"

Next, you're inside a Cathedral where you need to open a multitude of doors in a system of "puzzles" to gain access to the boss. However, they aren't really puzzles, they're FedEx quests where you essentially need to run to the opposite side of the stage to get a piece to run to the other opposite and then run to another opposite etc. for around an hour or two. It's all very linear and they try to make you think there's some thought involved with some pretty impressive looking areas, but there isn't. You just end up running for large amounts of time to do tedious, boring collecting. On top of that, while being totally and completely bored out of my mind, I'm thinking the entire time about why a giant boss needs such a convoluted locking system to guard itself from a foe. Not to mention the boss has WINGS... so you know, it's not like she couldn't just FLY away if she really didn't want to face someone. Most games make it so a locked door makes sense somewhat, but this to me was a ridiculous test of patience that pushed my suspension of disbelief to the breaking point... and I'm playing a game as War after the Apocalypse that I was excited about. To me, that's saying something.

Lastly, the controls are just as ridiculous as the amount of filler. For one, the block button is the same as the dash button. You have to not be moving the analog stick if you want to block, if you do touch it, you dash to the other side of the room. I don't know about you, but this is a huge inconvenience for me, especially when I'm wanting to block and then quickly move in a confined spot or with massive amounts of enemies. I like to know where I'm going and when. Another issue is that the combos go from mind-numbingly easy to absolutely ludicrously complicated. From tapping a button three times easy to hold every button on the controller after a jump and then move the analog stick forward then tap X while still holding everything. Obviously exaggerated, but seriously, I skipped upgrading my combos because I HATE it when a game turns into me pushing pause to A) Look up the ridiculously long or convoluted sequence or B) Make sure my fingers are in the right positions to execute. It destroys the experience and completely ruins what should be a seamless flow of the game for me.

TL;DR version. Graphics and sound are excellent. The game feels mainly like filler showcasing the graphics with ill-conceived controls.

At first this game feels like God of War, but soon you begin to take in all the sights, sounds and mechanics and suddenly your playing Ocarina of Time but modernized, with incredible and versatile combat. If you are a collector you could play this game for a good 15 hours, less if you're not interested in developing your weapons and getting trophies. The music is fantastic and in found I was actually interested in the story. Wonderful game - I highly recommend it, I never thought I'd like a game that had some much in common with GOW combat but this is a beautiful and fun game, buy it!

Darksiders is an excellent game that brings the formula of the Zelda franchise to the PS3 and Xbox 360. With a story inspired by the Book of Revelation, and a huge dash of poetic license, it builds a massive world full of colorful characters and unforgettable environments. If you are a fan of Link's adventures, then I recommend you pick up Darksiders and help the horseman War on his journey to clear his name and set things right.

I've been through a good, long kick in games right now where I prefer role-playing games of the likes of Dragon Age: Origins, Oblivion, and Fallout 3. As you know, all of these games require weighing the consequences of your actions and exploring expansive maps and going out of your way to pick up what may turn out to be a piddly upgrade. That, and you have to worry about the effects of ticking off Morrigan, blowing up Megaton, and killing one of the many annoying guys in Oblivion who won't give you a straight answer because your Persuasion isn't high enough.

In short, I was temporarily sick of it. I wanted to immerse myself in a good, old-fashioned hack-and-slash game. Bayonetta seemed a bit too fairy for me, so I picked up Darksiders at the Blockbuster in downtown Chicago and went home and stuck it in the machine. Sure, I've heard the arguments that it's too much like Zelda, the guy looks like he's a mismatched 75 warrior in World of Warcraft who's still leveling, and then the inevitable shrieks of "OMGZ GOW RIPOFF!"

Surprisingly, I was hooked.

From the second I started playing the game on Friday night to my last moment with the game on Monday night, I couldn't stop playing it or thinking about it. (Possible spoilers follow.) I, for one, rather found the story interesting--even though we have the bland references to "the Destroyer" and "the Creator" presumably to dissuade Mountain-Dew theological arguments in case some fanboys prefer one or the other side and therefore avoid the game. The hack-and-slash was just the variety I was looking for. There are air combat missions, mounted missions, and first-person-shooter missions. I felt a genuine sense of excited triumph when I downed the second boss and when I gained my horse back. Darksiders is a celebration of modern video games-it more or less has everything you could ask for with almost zero pretension. It knows what it is, and it knows what it isn't.

In addition, I found the puzzles to be challenging enough to be frustrating at times-especially since I was forcing myself to be on a time limit since games can only be out for five days. I especially found the puzzles with the portals to be uniquely challenging without a walkthrough-and apparently these provide some of the game's most "original" moments. As for the whole "God of War" thing--c'mon, it's a good way to help games evolve.

I played the game on normal mode, and it was a satisfying challenge for the time constraints. And while challenging at times, I wouldn't say Darksiders is particularly hard. Survival seems to mainly be a case of good timing rather than skill (although skill comes into play according to how you use your Dash ability), although I liked the "trials" that force you to learn how to use your special abilities. And if you have a spare Life Essence, you're pretty much set to go anyway. Essentially-on Normal mode, keep in mind-I would occasionally die once on an encounter or during the level and then get it right on the second try. The puzzles tear at your mind more than the actual fighting.

I love Darksiders, and I haven't had that much fun with a game in ages, but the fact remains that I finished the game in just over a weekend, complete with several significant breaks to take part in that thing we call Life. That said, I'm glad I decided to rent the game rather than buy it. And also, once I finished the last battle, I took the game out of the machine, put it in the Blockbuster case, and honestly felt no desire to open it again. Coming from a person who positively cringes at the thought of trading in beloved games such as Assassin's Creed II, this may say something about its longevity.