Let's be honest; after Edge magazine's impressive 10-out-of-10 review, the action game everyone's really looking forward to post-Christmas is Sega's lady bruiser, Bayonetta (read our Bayonetta hands-on). But after getting our hands on a near-final version of Darksiders, we're convinced it still has something to offer that you won't find in the brunette starlet's hair-woven cat suit.
Darksiders, like most games these days, is set in a near-future Earth when an apocalypse has torn the world apart. Unlike Fallout 3 and Borderlands though, this apocalypse involves giant, skyscraper-stomping demons and you lobbing yellow taxi cabs at angels' faces.
You play as War, one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse who's obviously billed as the next videogame hardnut after Kratos and Ninja Gaiden's Ryu. He's got a massive sword, a moody, shadowed face and a whole Mortal Kombat game's worth of violent finishing moves.
Off the bat though it's clear that combat isn't the main appeal of Darksiders; mashing the X button to swing your sword at various evil critters, before executing a violent and collectable orb-spewing killing move with B is very familiar to anyone who's ever played a Devil May Cry or God of War game - and, dear we say it, a bit generic.
Play beyond the epic but predictable opening scene - which has the armies of Heaven and Earth spilling over to a bustling human metropolis - and you'll discover more under it's burly surface. Zelda-style adventure elements, a pretty art-style and relatively meaty plot come together to form a fairly appealing action package that's not the "me too" we were expecting.
War's objective is, after illegally turning up on Earth to give everyone a good kicking, to break the "seven seals" on Earth which will allow him to summon his three brothers and punish the invading forces of Heaven and Hell in a more acceptable fashion.
This of course involves slicing up all kinds of gruesome demon bosses and angelic generals, and thanks to some decent voice and visual work there are plenty of colourful characters with whom to get acquainted.
Visually, as we've already mentioned, Darksiders is a really distinct and colourful offering, which is no surprise considering that comic book artist Joe Madureira is responsible for much of the graphical vision for the game.
In just the opening hour you'll battle through a destroyed Earth city, the burning caverns of hell and the contrasting Dracula-inspired architecture of a cathedral, where the demonic Bat Queen is awaiting your arrival.
One highlight of the game's opening comes from another comic book favourite; Jedi-gone-voice actor Mark Hamill who provides the voice of 'The Watcher', a brilliantly-acted demonic prison guard who's been given the dog leash at the end of War's neck.
Visuals however aren't the only thing propping up the game's combat mechanics. Though on the surface billed as an out-and-out action game there's actually a wholesome adventure game deep at its core, with plenty of Metroid and Zelda references throughout the opening hours.
Boss battles reward you with all manor of items and abilities. One early boss fight gifts War the Shadowflight ability; a pair of demonic wings the Horseman can use to hover and glide over hot air. In true Zelda fashion you're gently introduced to your new ability through a section of action-puzzles, gliding above canyons with the aid of large heat flumes to reach your next destination.
These adventure elements are what will truly set Darksiders apart from the crowd - and we count more weapons, equipment and abilities in the game's menus than even the average Metroid game has to offer.
One further ability we know of is War's horse (you can't be a Horseman without one, apparently), whom you can call at will and use to mow down baddies with flaming abandon.
If, like we're hoping and the game's rich inventory menus suggest, the later sections of the game introduce similarly interesting items and abilities (and not just bigger swords) Darksiders could turn out to be a genuinely decent action adventure romp. Whether or not that'll be enough to pull our hearts and minds away from Bayonetta is a different matter entirely.
I thought I was going to pass immediately on this as it did appear to be a GOW/DMC style game but I did read a preview elsewhere last night saying how much more there is to this title. I am now looking forward to reading more previews/reviews etc to see how the game does play in its final build.
This game sounds far more promising than I had cautiously hoped for. While others may be drooling over "Bayonetta" - and to be fair that game does look good, IMO - I suspect there will be far more meat on the bone with "Darksiders" in regards to plot which is my personal holy grail in gaming (that and a nice view/good amount of eye candy doesn't hurt either).
I will be picking this game up providing a slew of consistently mediocre reviews don't suddenly drop from the sky like angry Hell demons on a rampage. "Bayonetta" will be picked up at a later date methinks. On a side-note: I don't really like the thought of playing a wicked/evil witch. Sure, the "bad guy" role can certainly have appeal yet it has to be done very carefully in order for me to personally feel comfortable getting behind such a protagonist.
Like the rest of you guys, I wasn't sure about this one myself, writing it off as yet another GOW/DMC clone. I'm not a big fan of the genre, although I did really enjoy Heavenly Sword, so I'm not even that interested in Bayonetta.
Hearing about this one with puzzles and upgrades as well as button-mashing combat definitely got my attention.
I was sold from day 1 with the concept idea, joe mad on as creative art director and with a talented studio. Unfortunetly I don't own a ps3 so this is one of those games that will be on my list in the distant future. Hope it does have good reply value.
I was sold from day 1 with the concept idea, joe mad on as creative art director and with a talented studio. Unfortunetly I don't own a ps3 so this is one of those games that will be on my list in the distant future. Hope it does have good reply value.
It's not a PS3 exclusive or are you waiting to buy a new machine?
I'm a PC gamer and pretty much tied up with the games on PC atm. Plus i don't have a HDTV but my "22 monitr is capable of supporting HD for the PS3. Can't afford the PS3 atm thats all lol.
Out of the 3 contendors to Kratos's throne this was always the dark horse.
Saw a Dev diary a while back on Gametrailers and they had Mark Hammil doing the voice for one of the characters and I was pretty much hooked from there.
Weve had a demo of Bayonetta, Dantes Inferno comes at the end of the month, it would be great if THQ could release one for this Game but I this will be a Day 1 pick up for me. Ticks all the right boxes!
This game sounds far more promising than I had cautiously hoped for. While others may be drooling over "Bayonetta" - and to be fair that game does look good, IMO - I suspect there will be far more meat on the bone with "Darksiders" in regards to plot which is my personal holy grail in gaming (that and a nice view/good amount of eye candy doesn't hurt either).
I will be picking this game up providing a slew of consistently mediocre reviews don't suddenly drop from the sky like angry Hell demons on a rampage. "Bayonetta" will be picked up at a later date methinks. On a side-note: I don't really like the thought of playing a wicked/evil witch. Sure, the "bad guy" role can certainly have appeal yet it has to be done very carefully in order for me to personlly feel comfortable getting behind such a protagonist.
This game sounds far more promising than I had cautiously hoped for. While others may be drooling over "Bayonetta" - and to be fair that game does look good, IMO - I suspect there will be far more meat on the bone with "Darksiders" in regards to plot which is my personal holy grail in gaming (that and a nice view/good amount of eye candy doesn't hurt either).
I will be picking this game up providing a slew of consistently mediocre reviews don't suddenly drop from the sky like angry Hell demons on a rampage. "Bayonetta" will be picked up at a later date methinks. On a side-note: I don't really like the thought of playing a wicked/evil witch. Sure, the "bad guy" role can certainly have appeal yet it has to be done very carefully in order for me to personlly feel comfortable getting behind such a protagonist.
This game sounds far more promising than I had cautiously hoped for. While others may be drooling over "Bayonetta" - and to be fair that game does look good, IMO - I suspect there will be far more meat on the bone with "Darksiders" in regards to plot which is my personal holy grail in gaming (that and a nice view/good amount of eye candy doesn't hurt either).
I will be picking this game up providing a slew of consistently mediocre reviews don't suddenly drop from the sky like angry Hell demons on a rampage. "Bayonetta" will be picked up at a later date methinks. On a side-note: I don't really like the thought of playing a wicked/evil witch. Sure, the "bad guy" role can certainly have appeal yet it has to be done very carefully in order for me to personlly feel comfortable getting behind such a protagonist.
Sounding better and better the more I read about it! Can't wait.
also thought the demo of Bayonetta was pretty awesome- bonkers- but awesome. That gal's got a lot of character there and the fighting was as smooth as silk.
And yet for all the madness it's the ridiculous length of her legs that annoys me... Hmmm...
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