ErikaSzabo
- edited
Back in 2010, Vigil Games was a budding company ready to release their first major game, Darksiders. Commonly regarded as The Legend of Zelda meets God of War, this action-adventure offered all the exploration and puzzles you could ever imagine, all while immersing you in its dark, dismal atmosphere. It may have lacked some originality, but it offered a satisfying blend of both game elements. The followup, Darksiders II, takes a bold new direction, incorporating plenty of new gameplay changes to the mix while offering everything you loved about its predecessor.
Darksiders II takes place shortly after War allegedly brought forth the apocalyptic End War in the first game. Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen embarks on a quest to restore mankind, and redeem his brother War's name. Of course, there's far worse in store, with the Apocalypse being the least of anyone's worries.
Right from the get go, you'll begin to notice several changes in gameplay, particularly the feel of combat. Death is much more agile in comparison to his bigger, slower brother War, so expect plenty of swift combat (while evade isn't always the easiest to handle when surrounded by enemies, it will soon become your best friend). Sometimes combat will be a little too overwhelming because of the sheer amount of enemies you will encounter as you progress, but that's hardly a fault.
Darksiders II also features an in-depth skill tree, offering you more freedom in the skills you choose each time you level up. The skill tree is split into two sections, Harbinger and Necromancer, with each offering their own unique set of skills. Harbinger focuses more on Death's strength and agility while Necromancer allows you to summon minions and absorb health. It's up to you which side of the skill tree to focus on, but a fine balance between the two is key depending on who you're up against. No matter what skills you decide on, rest assure you'll have a unique combination.
If you're curious to see the skill tree for yourself, you can check it out below:
Unlike the original Darksiders, you'll also get to pick up loot after enemy encounters. There are plenty of different weapons, armor, talismans and items to choose from, as well as the very rare possessed weapons. Possessed weapons are a fun new addition considering the endless amount of equipment you'll accumulate throughout the game. Instead of dropping or selling your old equipment, you can sacrifice them to your possessed weapon which will learn new abilities and become more powerful the more you sacrifice. You may be losing money in the process, but you could potentially find yourself wielding an immensely powerful weapon.
If you're interested in rare equipment, but looking for an alternative you can also check out The Crucible, a 100-level battle arena. The Crucible is an intense new mode where every successful level is more challenging than the next. After every fifth level is defeated, you are offered the chance to reap the rewards and quit or continue on for even greater treasures. This is one of your only opportunities to get some of the most rare and powerful equipment in the game, but here’s the catch, if you’re killed before collecting an award, you’re back to square one.
Another feature to check out are the Serpent Tomes, an in-game mailing system. That might seem strange at first, but for such an item-driven game this system is all too fitting. By using the Tomes you can send messages to your friends playing and trade up to four items in each email. Just keep in mind once you trade an item it's gone forever unless you find another or someone trades one back to you.
So enough about the comabat system and loot, let's talk about the game's atmosphere. For one, it's massive. Darksiders II may offer a fairly linear experience, but the expansive world will lead to several hours of exploring every nook and cranny. It may seem daunting at first, but the sense of accomplishment you'll feel from it is pretty surprising. Factor in the game's astonishing design and voice direction and you've got yourself quite an experience ahead of you.
Dungeons are just as enjoyable with their ranged puzzles and dangerous enemies. Because the world is already so aesthetically dark, dungeons won't feel quite as menacing, but they'll still leave you wanting more. The same can be said about boss battles, which are entertaining in their own unique way. While I didn't find either puzzles or boss battles to be terribly difficult, there will be more than a few times where you'll have to step back and strategize your next move. Darksiders II is by no means a difficult game (unless you plan on playing on Hard Mode), but it will offer you a bit of a challenge.
Considering the success of Darksiders, Vigil Games probably didn't need to make many changes to create an equally successful game, but the fact that they took that risk and expanded upon it is something worth admiring. Darksiders II isn't groundbreaking, but its simple, yet in-depth combat system, beautifully stylized art and compelling puzzles proves it to be one of the most fun and entertaining action-adventures you'll play this year.
If you haven't gotten your copy of Darksiders II, what are you waiting for? Check it out at Future Shop below:
Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen, embarks upon a quest to restore mankind, and redeem his brother's name. Along the way, the Horseman discovers that there are far worse things than an earthly Apocalypse, and that an ancient grudge may threaten all of Creation. Become the terrifying force which everything fears but nothing can escape. Death Lives in Darksiders II.
Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen, embarks upon a quest to restore mankind, and redeem his brother's name. Along the way, the Horseman discovers that there are far worse things than an earthly Apocalypse, and that an ancient grudge may threaten all of Creation. Become the terrifying force which everything fears but nothing can escape. Death Lives in Darksiders II.
Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen, embarks upon a quest to restore mankind, and redeem his brother's name. Along the way, the Horseman discovers that there are far worse things than an earthly Apocalypse, and that an ancient grudge may threaten all of Creation. Become the terrifying force which everything fears but nothing can escape. Death Lives in Darksiders II.
