Darksiders

[Tiko7523]

Re: Darksiders

more reviews:

Playstation Official Magazine AU 01/01/10 Review 8 out of 10

The Gamers Temple 12/29/09 Review 98 out of 100
In another nod to the Zelda series, Darksiders' boss fights will leave your jaw on the ground. There are about a half-dozen major bosses to tangle with, and each is a unique, creative experience. Some require the use of a new weapon, others bring the environments into play and one in particular takes place entirely on horseback. Darksiders' bosses are destined to be placed on pedestals as some of the best of all time.

As if a God of War/Zelda hybrid wasn't enough to lure you in, you can be assured that there is a lot more to enjoy. War's guns are, at different times and with different weapons, reminiscent of both Halo 3 and Devil May Cry; the "get item, backtrack and open new paths" borrows from Metroid and Castlevania; the on-rails shooting segment is a lot like Panzer Dragoon; and there are a few more I won't spoil. The best part of constantly switching up the gameplay is the fact that you'll never be doing one thing for very long, so if you get bored or don't care for a segment; you know something new is right around the corner. I imagine some will take issue with how blatantly Darksiders copies from other games, but if the developers were going to use mechanics from other titles, you couldn't ask for a better lineup from which to steal, could you?

When viewed as a whole, it is clear that Darksiders was made by skilled developers who truly love video games. If there ever was a game that could be all things to all people and tastes, Darksiders is it. There isn't a single aspect found in this title that is anything less than *********, and even with a crowded spring release schedule including the likes of Bayonetta and God of War III, Darksiders is more than deserving of your gaming dollars. There is no such thing as a perfect video game, but Darksiders is about as close to one as you'll ever play.http://www.gamerstemple.com/vg/games.../005416r01.asp

http://www.gamerankings.com/browse.html?search=darksiders&numrev=3&site=

[aukevin]

Re: Darksiders

I'm still getting this game pretty soon after release.

[Flawless]

Re: Darksiders

IGN UK Review - 8.9

It's this level polish and creative assuredness that really make Darksiders such a delight in the end. It's bold and recklessly inventive in ways that games rarely are these days, and virtually ever aspect of Darksiders shines with quality, making for an experience that, while not exactly original, still feels fresh, satisfying and, above all else, enjoyable. It's far from the soulless fighter THQ's marketing would have you believe and the deft mix of combat, platforming and puzzle-solving makes for an action adventure that genuinely does feel like an epic endeavour. It's a genre too few developers try their hand at these days and one that's rarely done well. Despite some flaws, Darksiders is an expertly designed, frequently dazzling spectacle - and if it really is the first in a series as Vigil suggests, we're genuinely looking forward to seeing more.

IGN AU Review - 9.0

Darksiders has been a long time coming, but the wait has been worth it – this is a great action RPG. Solid, ever-evolving combat meets solid, ever-evolving puzzles in some really evocative environments. There are a few clumsy or lacklustre moments – the flying sequence is dull, for instance, and this isn’t in any way a revolutionary game, but it is good fun and it is well-designed. A bit more challenge – both in combat and in puzzles – would have been appreciated (action veterans may want to consider playing on 'Apocalyptic' over 'Normal' difficulty), but in all Darksiders is more than worth your time and money.

Game Informer Review - 8.5

It’s not that playing as a horseman of the apocalypse (the sword-wielding War) is an empowering experience (he gnashes his teeth, communicates almost solely through threats, yet ends up being a transparent “who needs backstory?” guide through the end of days). Darksiders’ allure comes from the homage it pays to Zelda and God of War. Upstart developer Vigil Games does nothing to disguise the fact that both aforementioned games are channeled to the fullest extent.

Second Opinion - 7.75

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Darksiders is flattering the hell out of the last few years’ biggest hits. Zelda’s dungeon-oriented structure, God of War’s combat, and even a portal gun (?!) all figure prominently into Darksiders’ formula. While originality may not be a specialty of the grim horseman War, I am impressed at Vigil Games’ ability to weave so many disparate concepts together. Some of the puzzles are fiendishly clever, and the pacing strikes a decent balance between exploration and action. Unfortunately, repetitive objectives detract from the thrill of discovery, making some sections feel needlessly bloated. Issues with the camera and sluggish dodge/block mechanics interrupt the fluidity of combat, though War generally feels like a ruthless force for vengeance. This sense of godly empowerment is the game’s greatest strength, but in its effort to adapt and execute ideas from other series, Darksiders fails to establish an identity of its own.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Darksiders

more reviews:





http://www.gamerankings.com/browse.h...numrev=3&site=

Now this review makes better sense of the gameplay. I am back to probably checking this one out.

[LBzrule]

Re: Darksiders

I'll be getting it. Was expecting like a 7. something in a review and thus far it has exceeding that in the reviews posted.

[Tiko7523]

Re: Darksiders

i just ordered this off toys r us.com

it was in the list of games that are buy 1 get 1 half off deal

cant wait seems really good !

got this and dante inferno the special ps3 edition i couldnt resisit ... bioshock 2 is on the list too damn it so many games lol

[Tiko7523]

Re: Darksiders

getting so excited for this game....

[Admiral50]

Re: Darksiders

Damn, guess I have to buy another game :P

Anything that is compared to Zelda and God of War and looks like WoW art style deserves a look and those reviews are positive.

[Flawless]

Re: Darksiders

Eurogamer Review - 8

It's the puzzle and exploration side of Darksiders that continually elevate it, however - in the exciting secret rooms that confer souls, maps, artefacts and components of the elusive Abyssal Armour; in the elaborate, dungeon-wide puzzles that draw from every extremity of your growing inventory of tools; and above all in the growing sense that if you're missing something then it must be right in front of you, and not something obtuse that you will resent when you eventually discover it.

The only slight criticism is that it's difficult to keep track of areas that you will need to return to with a new tool, and once the game is over your inability to quickly identify areas with secrets still to reveal may put you off the job of revisiting them for remaining treats - something that feels like a letdown in light of Arkham Asylum in particular.

Still, while on the surface of it Darksiders feels like a game with a lot of good ideas but only a few of its own, where even a brief flying section on an angelic mount owes rather a lot to Panzer Dragoon, overall the silly old story and wonderful art style give terrific heft to the universe, and the clockwork of the puzzles and game systems are precision-engineered in a manner that you come to trust implicitly. It may be a game of betrayal and redemption, but you won't feel hard done by if you choose to begin 2010 in its company.

[budsticky]

Re: Darksiders

This game sneaked up on me. I knew nothing about it. I happened upon it when I went on Metacritic to look at something else and just curiously looked at it since it was near the top of the list as a new release. From reading the reviews it sounds like everything I like in a game. I've never played God of War, but I love Zelda games. They are some of the few games that I actually put in the hours to finish. Looks like that little trip over to Metacritic just cost me 60 bucks.

I wonder if this is going to be one of those sleeper titles that is really excellent which ends up selling poorly. The timing of the release right after the holidays and the seemingly obscurity under which it is being released makes me think so. All anybody is talking about is Bayonetta. I even had to go to the second page of this forum to find it, and it is releasing tomorrow.

Either way, the reviews sound great and it sounds like my kind of game..so count me in.

[Flawless]

Re: Darksiders

Kotaku Review

Loved

• Demon Killer: Fairly early in the game, you gain the ability to transform into what is essentially a giant Balrog. And you can do this once every five minutes or so. Sure, it makes the game too easy as you progress, but when you can click your fingers and turn into a 20-foot flaming monster which can crush enemies at will, I simply do not care.

• Mark Hamill: Mark Hamill is in the game. It's not his finest role, but hey, it's still nice hearing the guy, especially since he's playing Darksiders' version of Ocarina of Time's Navi.

• Finish Him: Darksiders includes a neat feature whereby enemies close to death (say, they've got 1/3 of their strength left) can be wiped out instantly with a single button press. What's more, those enemies are lit up with an icon indicating this. When you're in the midst of a battle against 5-8 bad guys, it's a big help, as it lets you plan your course through the carnage and deal with enemies one by one.

• The Future's So Bright... - I'll get to my grievances with the game's art style later, but one thing that doesn't disappoint is Darksider's colour. Despite being a post-apocalyptic title, the game pops with colour, from War's bright red tunic to lush green and blue water levels to swirling yellow deserts. Even the bad guys are dripping with aqua blues and bright greens. Sure makes a pleasant change from the browns, greys and more browns you'd expect from a game like this.

• It's Dangerous To Go Alone. Take This. It's a genuine surprise to see that, in some cases, Darksiders actually manages to succeed in feeling like a Zelda game. After a slow, combat-heavy opening you'll soon encounter large dungeons full of puzzles, then go about unlocking new weapons to unlock new puzzles and defeat new enemies/bosses. Just goes to show that, at least in terms of mechanics, the Zelda formula isn't as hard to copy as you'd have imagined.

Hated

• Mad Indeed: Much was made of the involvement of comic book star Joe Madureira as the game's creative director. Pity, because Darksiders is a creative mess. Its bulging, ridiculous characters are like something built to appeal to 16 year-old boys from the 1990's, the story is left untended for most of the game and Darksiders' worlds and opponents are so mired in cliché that at times you wonder whether the game's secretly deriding every fantasy game that's come before it.

• Ratchet & Clunk: For some reason, there are platforming areas in this game. There really shouldn't be. War's movements are far too cumbersome and "clunky" for wall-running and flying... foxing, meaning some obstacles and areas are far more difficult to traverse than they ought to be. This is also the best spot to complain about the "demonic growth", which is the only substance War can climb in the game. You see, despite the fact the protagonist has metal claw fingers and is a horseman of the apocalypse, he can't climb rocks, or walls, or trees. All he can climb is conveniently-located "demonic growth". Sigh.

• Hope You Like Fighting: While Darksiders gets the Zelda formula right in some instances, in others, it falls short. In Zelda, the mechanics are only half the fun; the rest comes from exploration, interaction with NPCs and side-quests. Darksiders has mostly... fighting, meaning your only compulsion to advance through the game's sprawling levels is the promise of more combat.

• Screen Tear: I played the game on 360, and experienced the worst screen tear effects I've seen since Saints Row. Which, coincidentally, was also published by THQ. It's tolerable most of the time, but in some areas it's almost unbearable.

[Admiral50]

Re: Darksiders

I think I've gone from buying both Darksiders and Bayonetta on PS3 to not buying either.

Bayonetta obviously sucks nuts on PS3 so that's a no brainer but Darksiders seems a couple years too late. I've read a couple average reviews but most of them (based on the many gameplay clips I've seen) appear much too generous.

I doubt IGN and Gamespot will give Darksiders more than 8.5.

It seems clunky, repetitive, not unique or original and the screen tearing and graphics in general are disappointing.

Wish there was a demo.

[Pokes]

Re: Darksiders

I think I've gone from buying both Darksiders and Bayonetta on PS3 to not buying either.

Bayonetta obviously sucks nuts on PS3 so that's a no brainer but Darksiders seems a couple years too late. I've read a couple average reviews but most of them (based on the many gameplay clips I've seen) appear much too generous.

I doubt IGN and Gamespot will give Darksiders more than 8.5.

It seems clunky, repetitive, not unique or original and the screen tearing and graphics in general are disappointing.

Wish there was a demo.

I bet you end it getting it anyway.

[Admiral50]

Re: Darksiders

The old me would have (with my impulse buying and huge list of bought but unplayed games) but not any more.

[Flawless]

Re: Darksiders

IGN Review - 7.8

Just as War is on a quest to alter how he's perceived, it seems Darksiders itself is on a quest for its own identity. It draws heavily from mechanics established in the 3D Legend of Zelda games and mixes in a forgiving combat system along with elements from a host of other popular titles. It's a goulash of collection mechanics, exploration, and combat we've all seen before, but to Vigil's credit all these elements are adeptly combined in the same product and executed well overall. While the game world could have been developed more, the boss fights leave a lot to be desired, and more interesting things could have been done with the combat and puzzles, the game as it stands is still thoroughly entertaining. If it's successful and a sequel is eventually produced, it'd be great to see a game filled with terrors wielding powers of unknowable strength take a few more risks and step into territory less well-traveled. In the meantime, we should just enjoy the solid puzzle and combat mechanics Vigil is offering, as well as the opportunity to stomp demons as a Horseman of the Apocalypse.