Darksiders: Wrath of War Review
Ok, so you know that Darksiders has an interesting story, eye-popping graphics and a competent soundtrack with some great voice acting. All that stuff is great, but what makes this title a must have is the gameplay. It's easiest to put it like this - if you've enjoyed any shooter, action/adventure or action RPG in the past 10 years or so, Darksiders has something that's right up your alley. The game begins with combat seemingly lifted right from the God of War series, so we'll start there. War and his enormous sword, the Chaoseater, have no problem ripping through waves of enemies with a brutality that would make even Kratos proud. Even the action button kills (circle in this case; different for 360 version) make an appearance here, as does a Chaos form, which transforms War into a gigantic destructive fire demon, also a nod toward God Of War's powered up transformation. As fun and rewarding as the game is in the opening scenes, combat becomes even more fun as you progress. Constantly introduced new and upgraded weapons, combos and enemies assure that you'll never get bored with the game's fighting. But guess what � the combat isn't even the best part of the game.
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The Zelda-inspired dungeons and puzzle solving somehow manage to eclipse the enormously entertaining battles with clever layouts, obstacles and item usage. None of the puzzles will stump you for very long, but they are challenging enough to be entertaining (things get a bit tougher toward the game's end, but there aren't more than one or two puzzles that take more than a minute or two to solve). And considering the massive size of each of these dungeons, there are a lot of problems to solve in your journey to each boss. The best of these challenges are the ones that involve some weapon or item found in that particular dungeon. For example, the first temple holds the Crossblade, which is all but identical to Link's boomerang. It can be used in combat, but mostly it is utilized (in that dungeon anyway) to open new paths by lighting torches and exploding crystal barriers. Other tools include a powered-up glove that breaks barriers, the ability to stop time temporarily, a grappling hook and a horn that not only opens new paths, but also stuns enemies and gives you a few seconds to regroup. Each item or skill you pick up has some purpose, and part of the fun is seeing how each will be used. I never thought a game could out-dungeon the Zelda series, but Darksiders comes very, very close.
In another nod to the Zelda series, Darksiders' boss fights will leave your jaw on the ground. There are about a half-dozen major bosses to tangle with, and each is a unique, creative experience. Some require the use of a new weapon, others bring the environments into play and one in particular takes place entirely on horseback. Darksiders' bosses are destined to be placed on pedestals as some of the best of all time.
As if a God of War/Zelda hybrid wasn't enough to lure you in, you can be assured that there is a lot more to enjoy. War's guns are, at different times and with different weapons, reminiscent of both Halo 3 and Devil May Cry; the "get item, backtrack and open new paths" borrows from Metroid and Castlevania; the on-rails shooting segment is a lot like Panzer Dragoon; and there are a few more I won't spoil. The best part of constantly switching up the gameplay is the fact that you'll never be doing one thing for very long, so if you get bored or don't care for a segment; you know something new is right around the corner. I imagine some will take issue with how blatantly Darksiders copies from other games, but if the developers were going to use mechanics from other titles, you couldn't ask for a better lineup from which to steal, could you?
When viewed as a whole, it is clear that Darksiders was made by skilled developers who truly love video games. If there ever was a game that could be all things to all people and tastes, Darksiders is it. There isn't a single aspect found in this title that is anything less than exemplary, and even with a crowded spring release schedule including the likes of Bayonetta and God of War III, Darksiders is more than deserving of your gaming dollars. There is no such thing as a perfect video game, but Darksiders is about as close to one as you'll ever play.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
98%.
Final Rating: 98% - There is no such thing as a perfect video game, but Darksiders is about as close to one as you'll ever play.
Note: A review code for this game was provided by the publisher.