Mythology and ancient lore have always been perfect backdrops for video games, especially the ones of action/adventure variety. Over the last couple weeks I got to complete the story of Darksiders twice, and what I walked away with was the thought that more entertainment experiences should approach this dreary storyline (Bayonetta will be). The basis of the game revolves around the four horsemen and one of the favorite general plots of all time, the apocalypse. I have always had a mini-obsession with the end of the world and all the stories, books, and movies that feed into that topic. Darksiders focuses on just one of the four horsemen, who goes by the name War and happens to be the most badass of all the riders. Players will take control of War and wield a number of unique weapons/powers, traverse multiple different locations, and attempt to destroy those who have wronged him in the epic battle between heaven and hell. The fact that this war between good and evil is going on around the main character results in some very interesting situations and difficult decisions that must be made as to which side to take-up arms with. At the end of the day this is not your average hack-and-slash game some may be expecting from a new development house, Darksiders is easily one of the best action-adventure titles on the Xbox 360.
Throughout the week –long gaming (see caffeine) fest it took me to complete Darksiders from start to finish I got to experience the great story writing kept it confusing as to which side was actually the “right” side and which one I should be cheering against. Because of this I found myself much more invested in the story then I every thought I would have become in a few hours of playtime. The only thing I knew for sure was that War was the one constant I needed to be supporting; and powering him up so he could defeat the “evil one” was my main goal. Without giving away much more of the story in Darksiders I do want to try and explain just how intricate the gameplay world is. As with other action/adventure games this one features a “hub” location where all other worlds (as well as some central characters) can be accessed. You come to this central locale very quickly and will come back to it many times throughout the journey that is Darksiders. The character development and voice acting coming out of Vigil Studios is top-notch, which helps give Darksiders that cinematic feel that all post-apocalyptic video games need to be successful. There are even a couple celebrity voiceovers in the title; because of the talented voices behind-the-scenes the characters spring to life, each one being more fun than the last.
The meat and potatoes of this game are the beat-em up action gameplay elements, which also happens to be the most enjoyable part of the game. Sting-attacks and combos are a very important part of how successful you are in the later levels; using different attacks/weapons for different enemies is a must. Darksiders also features some lite RPG elements, such as upgrading your gear with in-game currency and Zelda-like puzzles throughout the action. The final part of the trifecta is the adventure aspect, exploring the huge universe that the developers created are the only way to truly appreciate the overall experience. War’s main weapon of mass destruction is his sword, which will be by-your side and your best friend from the beginning of the first level to the final battle at the end. This powerhouse sword (Chaoseater) is controlled with the X button and the Y button controls your secondary weapon (I enjoyed using the scythe the most) – War will also have the ability to use a standard pistol with the trigger buttons (which is a bit weird for the setting), star-shaped boomerang, power-glove, and more that you will just have to experience to truly discover. Thankfully this aspect of the game is deep enough to keep fans of all genres happy, as the developers chose to make a more balanced video game than one that just focused on this genre or that genre.
This feature review continues on the next page, please click below to reveal our final words on one of the best action/adventure games on the Xbox 360.
