When the original Darksiders released a couple of years ago, it opened up a new franchise for THQ, and also opened the door for comic book mastermind Joe Maduriera, who guided his development team at Vigil Studios into new waters for an action/adventure game. The result? Quite a refreshing one, actually, and the ending left the door open for possible sequels. This summer, we’ll get a taste of just what the development team has in mind with the long-awaited Darksiders II. But if you’re expecting War to come back and clean house, you may be in for some mild disappointment. This time around, a new Horseman steps into the fray, and it’s none other than the fabled Grim Reaper himself, Death. But don’t go expecting a morbid character in a robe, waiting to wave his hand at some unfortunate soul. Nope, Death is far more visceral this time around, and he’s taking matters into his own hands while War is being judged for his role in the apocalypse that has left the world crushed and destroyed.
Rather than watch judgment unfold on his brother, Death sets out on his own journey, seeking answers in the underworld and traversing through the Abyss, making his own little deals and encountering numerous enemies who will stop at nothing to get in his way. Luckily, Death doesn’t just have a rusty old scythe to depend on – he has a whole freakin’ arsenal at his disposal, along with a mighty, fiery steed that will take him where he needs to go. THQ recently invited us up to a press event in San Francisco, where they showed off some brief gameplay footage and discussed, in great detail, the importance of Death’s role in the game, even bringing in a historical speaker to go into further detail about his place in history. But, of course, we were more excited to see the gameplay footage. While what THQ showed us was clearly hands-off, it did give us an idea of the combat we can expect in Darksiders II. Death definitely has traits that are similar to not only War, but also Dante from the Devil May Cry series. Let’s explain. Instead of using a throwing star-like weapon as War did, Death instead uses a pistol. But unlike Dante, it packs more of a punch when it comes to hitting targets, probably due to the ammunition that Death is using.
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Also, Death utilizes what’s known as a “grip” maneuver. This is usable not only for working around platforms and reaching points just outside of reach of regular hands, but also for obtaining enemies from a distance so you can do more damage right away. These, along with gun attacks, can be used for up-close melee moves, creating a fluid combat style along the same lines that War had in the first game. But Death has a style all his own, and you’ll discover it over the course of the game with his array of weapons. See, Death cannot only grip one huge weapon to turn enemies into mushy piles, but he can also dual wield. We couldn’t get enough of his twin scythes, for instance, as they sliced enemies to ribbons and worked seamlessly along with his other abilities. His big hammer attacks are also quite useful, especially against larger enemies that take more of a beating than the smaller ones. And being able to finish off an enemy with a simple button press, rather than rely on quick-time event sequences that most developers lean too heavily on these days, is a welcome relief. Not to mention entertaining to watch.
Where the original Darksiders had some slick level design pertaining to a freshly nuclearized world, Darksiders II actually expands, taking Death into the depths of the underworld and other murky parts of the universe. Vigil Studios has already promised that the sequel will have massive new areas to explore, as well as bigger and badder bosses to take on. In fact, they refer to them as Noss, or Not a Boss, when it comes to their immenseness. Though we only caught a glimpse of one or two in action, we’re sure to see even more prime examples in the coming months, as we’re expecting to go hands-on with the game soon. Still, the level we did see was quite impressive, taking place in an underground temple with lava flowing throughout. Vigil hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to creating menacing environments, not to mention the creeps lurking throughout. There was plenty of fighting to go about, and all of Death’s actions are seamlessly captured through fluid animation. Watching his scythes fly around like lightning was a truly awe-inspiring sight – and that’s just a hint of the weapons work he’s capable of. The enemies looked great too, whether they were trying to tear Death apart or falling to pieces by his hand.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to hear too much of the game’s audio. The environmental effects, from what we did catch, were excellent, mainly when it came to the bubbling lava and the screeching creatures. The music should definitely be something worth hearing, with lots of moody pieces playing throughout your journey. And, of course, Michael Wincott will provide plenty of gusto-laden voicework as Death, and hopefully a few others should join the ride. Here’s crossing those fingers that Mark Hamill returns to some capacity. We would’ve liked to try out Darksiders II for ourselves, but THQ definitely gave us plenty to see and do during our time in San Francisco, and we can’t thank them enough for it. (The replica Death mask we got is pretty badass, too, especially hanging over a desk.) They gave us an idea of what to expect from Vigil’s long-awaited sequel, and the bold new approach with a more visceral horseman. Now it’s just a matter of time before we can dish out a little Death for ourselves. Fortunately, the wait isn’t too great, as Death is set for his excursion this summer. Bring it on.
