To my bemusement, the rallying cry of every God of War fan could not have compensated for the evident issues involved with Darksiders II.
I made a fervid effort to sit down and take in every aspect of the title on my down time from classes and the like and found that the game just didn’t pull me in the same way that the first title in the series did. For one, it is quite evident from the get-go that you are playing the sequel to the series’ initial installment. How evident? A bit too much I might say.
The game is, of course, lending itself to the God-of-War, hack-and-slash style of combat which has found a formidably sized audience for the past several years. However, aside from a greater emphasis on potions, tonics, spells and the like, Darksiders II ceases to be anything more than a slight rendition on the tried-and-true formula.
It would not do Darksiders II justice to call it a clone of the original for the team over at Vigil Games included a few additions that may bring fans back for more. Of these additions, it should be duly noted that the title highlights the travails of a character by the name of Death (go figure) who, being one of the four horsemen, must engage in combat with a variety of demons in order to…
The ending of the previous sentence needs not be finished due to the fact that it has been seen, witnessed, and heard in a variety of mediums in popular culture for many, many years. In short, the title borrows much from the original, improves on a number of game mechanics, while still bringing the same linear, overly-reproduced story arch to the table which inevitably contributes to Darksiders II’s descent into insipidity.
However, here is Darksiders’ saving grace: it possesses that intrinsically pursued element that many refer to as ‘fun’.
Ah, yes… fun. A term that, at times, becomes ill and oft forgotten amidst the plethora of garbage that may find itself on home consoles during the summer months. Darksiders finds itself at the very edge of that lifeless chasm that is somewhere in-between the end of summer and the release of Madden (otherwise known as fall).
In this release window, the team over at Vigil may find themselves catering to an audience of individuals who are looking for something to do as they prepare to head over to college and the release of the aforementioned video game behemoth. In doing so, Darksiders II may not be the title that consumers are looking for at this point in time due to the nature of the game. Specifically, its simplistic emphasis on hammering down on your [input method of choice] to cause [Character A] to attack [Enemy B] with the goal of one day retrieving [Item C] in spite of [Entity D]‘s constant efforts at suppressing [Character A]‘s efforts. A lot to take in with one breath, huh?
All in all, the title is indeed enjoyable – if only for a while. Darksiders II will indeed pull you in initially if you are a newcomer to the series; however, veterans of the genre and series alike may find their attention wandering within the first couple of hours of play. Conclusively, if you find titles such as Darksiders II incredibly enjoyable despite their limited focus and scope then find your nearest retailer and drop the $50 dollars needed to enjoy such a title today.
