2010 looks to be a year filled with hack and slash games that will be oozing blood and guts. Darksiders steps in as the first offering for the year, but will it make an impact and show the other hack and slashers how its done? We’re about to find out.
Kicking off with a jaw-dropping cutscene, Darksiders boasts an interesting and unique storyline. Players will take control of War; one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The once peaceful balance that existed between the three kingdoms of heaven, earth and hell has been broken, and it is up to War to discover the reason behind these events and restore the balance once again. The story is incredibly immersive and it’s backed up by some great voice acting by the likes of Mark Hamill and Liam O’Brien.
At the heart of Darksiders lies a 3rd person hack and slash adventure. You’ll have to make your way through hordes of angels and demons (no, it has nothing to do with the book) who are out to get you. You’ll also encounter boss fights along the way which are great moments that heighten the already intense action. There are also a handful of puzzles to overcome, but unfortunately they’re no brainers and you’ll whizz right past them.
Darksiders also has some great weapons and abilities that you’ll unlock as you progress. War’s Chaos Eater sword is an incredible weapon that you kick the adventure off with. Yes, its powerful and ten feet tall and yes, we would love one. There are also a number of divine and demonic weapons that you’ll be able to use along the way, but these don’t come cheap. Souls of the dead will become your currency and you’ll need to collect as many as possible in order to upgrade your weapons and abilities.
To add some variation to the pretty standard gameplay, players will come across some flying segments, as well as being able to ride on horseback to deal out even more damage to your hellish and heavenly foes. There are also a number of collectibles to discover which will grant you more life and wrath (which is your ability to use your powers). These are scattered across the world which adds some exploration into the mix.
Graphically, Darksiders is no ugly looking demon and it boasts some solid visuals. The stylized comic-book character design and animation is very well executed, leaving War and his wide variety of enemies looking spectacular. Level design is phenomenal and you’ll find yourself in some pretty gorgeous and highly detailed environments which really create a great atmosphere.
When it comes to judgement day, Darksiders is a great hack and slash game. It has a superb storyline, some fun gameplay and it looks great too. The campaign will take you a while over ten hours, and while it may not offer anything groundbreaking or unique, it’s another great title to start to 2010.
[starreviewmulti id=1 tpl=20]
