It’s arduous to consider, as I sit all the way down to sort this on a baking scorching August morning, that the topic of at present’s Wanting Again was launched 10 years in the past – approach again in 2012. It barely appears a blink of an eye fixed since I used to be taking part in Darksiders II on my Xbox 360, and but, right here we’re, a decade on and two {hardware} generations later, nonetheless fascinated with the sport.
The first Darksiders got here from out of nowhere and blew me away with its mixture of exploration and fight, so when Darksiders II launched, that includes the prospect to manage Demise himself, properly, wild horses couldn’t have stored me away. So include me again to 2012, when gasoline costs had been manageable and the world didn’t seem like going to hell in a handcart, as we Look Again to Darksiders II.
Doing my analysis for this recreation there are a few fascinating information that crop up. The primary is that, at a funds of $50 million, this was not an inexpensive growth course of. One other reality is that this was a launch title for the model new (on the time) Nintendo Wii U, however I can’t think about attempting to play this recreation on that large controller.
Now, as I stated, the primary Darksiders was an actual breath of contemporary air, and the character of Conflict was nice as properly; each to play as and by way of the lore of the sport. In Darksiders II, the occasions play out in parallel to the primary recreation. Whereas Conflict is accused of bringing concerning the finish of Humanity, Demise, who is totally satisfied of his brother’s innocence, units out to show it by erasing all proof of a criminal offense. He plans to do that by bringing Humanity again from the useless. If Demise himself can’t do that, who can? What follows is a large recreation throughout numerous totally different worlds, together with Heaven and Hell, and a collection of fights, not solely towards large bosses, but additionally towards more and more highly effective run of the mill enemies. Can Demise succeed and convey Humanity again to life, or has he bitten off greater than he can chew? Nicely, no spoilers right here, I counsel you go and play it.
Darksiders II had a really properly designed look, very similar to its predecessor, and Demise specifically was wanting character, with a cranium masks clamped over his face to convey him in step with the well-known look of the Grim Reaper. He had a horse, fittingly known as Despair, and with the dimensions of a number of the areas, having a horse to hurry up the journey made issues so much simpler. Add in horse-based fight, with Demise with the ability to use firearms from the seat atop Despair, and the tempo of the fight was proper up there with the very best of the style.
The soundtrack was nice as properly, with totally voiced cutscenes serving to to set the scene very properly. With the voice performing being on level, immersion was just about assured. Swinging scythes, booming firearms and roaring monsters accomplished the soundscape, and it fitted the sport completely. All in all, there have been no issues with the way in which the sport was introduced. Even at present, the unique recreation stands up, however the remastered Darksiders II: Deathinitive Version, other than being one of many worst puns ever, seems to be even higher when it harnesses the facility of the newer generations of console.
Nonetheless, a recreation can look nearly as good because it likes, but when the gameplay isn’t as much as a lot, then it isn’t going to be any enjoyable. Fortunately, Darksiders II delivered.
As has develop into customary with these video games, it’s roughly divided into two halves: one half is the fight, together with some epic boss fights, and the opposite is the various platforming/exploring/drawback fixing aspect of the sport.
Taking a look at fight first, Demise had two units of melee weapons, along with his firearm to select from. His principal default weapons had been twin scythes (what else was Demise going to make use of, in all equity?), and he additionally carries a backup weapon. These are both sluggish and highly effective, like hammers, maces or axes, or quick however weak, like bladed gauntlets. As you progress via the sport, you’ll be able to study new combos from numerous coach characters dotted concerning the place, and shortly you’ll be an enemy mincing machine. Once more, as you undergo the varied dungeons and defeat enemies, you’ll come throughout totally different weapons and armour that Demise can equip, which give him elevated stats if you’re fortunate; getting your self suitably tooled up earlier than the tip of the sport virtually turns into a mission in its personal proper.
The boss fights are all very diverse too, though the one which sticks in my thoughts, even in any case this time, is the primary main boss, once we needed to defeat a large Corrupted Guardian statue; a really thrilling multi-stage combat, seeing Demise scaling the boss at numerous phases and progressively knocking it all the way down to measurement.
The opposite half of Darksiders II is simply as a lot enjoyable, simply wanting concerning the place, looking for the varied collectible gadgets, getting in fights and attempting to earn sufficient expertise to stage up, discover new gear and so forth. The puzzles had been additionally sufficient to maintain the previous gray matter ticking over, with there not at all times being an apparent path to observe – a specific amount of lateral considering was required. Gaining new talents was key to this, with issues just like the grappling hook improve (it does have a flowery title, however that’s mainly what it’s) being helpful, alongside different talents similar to Voidwalker that will help you progress. Usually, in true Metroidvania model, you’d discover the factor that it is advisable defeat the boss simply earlier than the boss itself, after which revisiting earlier areas with new talents would see new areas open up. Apart from the preventing, there was a variety of recreation to go at.
I totally loved each my stints with Darksiders II, each in authentic format after which within the remaster. Admittedly, it isn’t fairly as compelling as the primary Darksiders, which was a recreation I couldn’t put down till I beat it, however the sequel greater than stood up. In actual fact, and possibly barely controversially, I believe the Darksiders franchise has really bought worse because the collection continued: Darksiders II was worse than the unique, and Darksiders 3 was worse nonetheless.
With it being out there with all of the DLC within the Deathinitive Version, there may be nonetheless a case to play Darksiders II at present – you’ll discover it on the Xbox Retailer in authentic kind or through that Deathinitive Version, playable on Xbox One and Xbox Sequence X|S. However what about you guys on the market? Did you play this recreation on both of its releases, or do you propose to play sooner or later? Tell us within the feedback.
