List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $12.56
Today's Bonus: 37% Off
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.
Click Here to Read More Reviews >>
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.
Read Best Reviews of Darksiders Here
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/
0 comments:
Post a Comment