A LOOK BACK AT DARKSIDERS 2

So with the Upcoming release of Darksiders 3, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the previous instalments. While both games are certainly intriguing in their own right, it’s Darksiders 2 that fascinated me the most. When I first started playing it, I was sure it was going to be superior in every way to the first, the combat is faster and more weighty, there’s a real sense of wonder and exploration in the Forgeland and Deaths voice actor is so full of character and life compared to the rather tame War (something that was so ironic I feel like it had to be planned, in which case I have to give credit, making us wait two years just to say “oh that boring character was kind of clever in retrospect” is some sort of achievement) but for some reason I still feel like this game missed the mark. I don’t like Darksiders 2 as much as the first, and considering the stuff, I said before that might sound strange. Even I was taken aback as to why I liked the first one more, but I think I know why now. So let’s pull out the operation table and really cut into this game.

STORY (AND MISSION PROGRESSION):

Darksiders 2 story contains both improvements and downgrades when compared to Darksiders 1. There have been lots of complaints that the game doesn’t take place after Darksiders 1, and that’s fair, to be honest, the game did leave TO BE CONTINUED on it that would tickle anyone’s curiosity, but I kind of like that the game expands the LORE of other creatures like The Creators, Demons and Angels. The change of story does allow you to see some truly stunning set pieces.

What I don’t like is how missions are dealt with in this game. In Darksiders 1 the story for the most of it was simple. Kill 4 guardians and give their hearts for Samuel to eat so he can give you power-ups. It was good, it hyped up each boss sufficiently and killing an enemy for a power is tried and tested the way that works. In Darksiders 2 you hop about from person to person so much it’s ridiculous. There are five different maps in this game that require you to jump find your next mission and it’s a bit much. You kind of which they stayed focused on one area because the maps on these areas are already massive enough as it is (thank god for quick travel). You also get a tonne of missions from different people all with there own goals, and sometimes it can feel like your helping them with completely inconsequential things for no reason.

The worst mission was easily the Lord of Bones because that’s easily where you can pinpoint something is wrong with the story progression. So he wants me to find him three ghost guys and gives me a powerup that allows me to control them once I have beaten them. So after I beat the first one I go to the second one and he says “alright… I’ll join you… But first, you have to find me, three guys.” Um, what? Isn’t that what I’m already doing? Ok so he needs to find the souls because that his job, but couldn’t he find them himself? His role is to judge souls and he’s been waiting here for many years just for three souls despite probably judging billions of other souls in his life, not to mention he can fly and travel through walls so it should be an easy job for him get them anyway!

This is supposed to be a grand quest but half the time I’m just stuck doing errands for people. This is why Darksiders 1 is better with its story progression. In 1, you kill a boss and know in advance a rough idea of what’s next to do so you feel like you progressed. This feeling is also complimented with a power-up to further that feeling of progression. The Lord of Bones actively takes away your power up once you have helped him and replaces it with an inferior power-up (Although its more fun to work out puzzles with so, eh). Darksiders 1 may not be as rich in LORE as 2, but it is richer in progression.

GAMEPLAY:

Easily the biggest problem in this game was the handling of combat, especially when you consider that the combat handles really well and is fun to play. Confused? Allow me to explain. Before we go on, I’m reviewing this from the perspective of someone who used the Harbinger build. A thing I have to compliment about Darksiders is there are tons of ways you can play the game. Your experience could easily be different from how someone else plays, and it does open up a lot of replay value. You can use the Harbinger build which is more focused on close combat or the necromancer build which is more focused on summons and staying your distance or use mix of both. I chose Harbinger because I prefer games like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry.

Yes the combat is satisfying, there are pause combos with extra damage for though wanting to take the risk, charge moves can be used to stay in the air longer and the teleport slash can be used in to close in on enemies and go behind them (an especially fun move to pull off while enemies are in mid-attack as it moves you behind them allowing you to get free hits in). The most important thing in a Hack ‘n’ Slash is movement. Will I have time to pause to make this attack? Can this move keep me in the air longer? What’s the best way to close into an enemy? Darksiders 2 has all of these things down.

I’m not exactly the best at doing style videos but as YouTuber Poru shows you can get pretty creative with combos…

Unfortunately, the combat is bogged down with some odd creative decisions. First off, there so many brick enemies in this, enemies that stand there as if your elemental charged moves and blasts of undead magic are just a slight breeze. Nothing makes combat more unsatisfying than an enemy tanking your hits like nothing. I understand the need for enemies with invincibility frames, but enemies like Vergil from DMC3 and Rodans first form from Bayonetta 2 have proven enemies can still be hard without having invincibility all the goddamn time.

Tips: If you want to feel like your hits are actually doing something equip your weapon with electricity. It stuns enemies and gives the illusion of hit stun against stronger enemies

The second problem is the random loot. Some might like this, but, on the other hand, hate it! It is one of the WORST elements of this game in my opinion. Essentially, you are gifted different types of weapons with random attributes in this game, each weapon having its own move set with different damage numbers. Some might give more health, some might give fire damage and some will have different moves even if they’re similar to another weapon. So picture this, you have a perfect weapon because of its moves, it fills your criteria of a good weapon. Now you have to change it because by the latter half of the game enemies have such high HP that your weak little weapon doesn’t have the numbers. Now you have to switch to a weapon you don’t like using because while it’s not satisfying for you to use and has fewer movement options it’s got the bigger number. In Darksiders 1 you could use the executions to block enemies attacks because it had invincibility frames and could be used in creative ways to dodge enemies attacks. Now getting executions is based on chance depending on what weapon you have. Imagine if each execution had a different effect depending on the enemy. One execution could crowd control, or throw the opponent at other for more focused damage, this was an element of the first game they could have found some really cool improvements for but instead, we get RNG…

Darksiders 1 is a much more consistent experience than Darksiders 2. I could always rely on both weapons being just as useful when equally levelled up. This allows me to focus on just one weapon or multiple because I never have to worry about the weapons becoming useless, it gives me more choice as a gamer. If movement is important for a good Hack N Slash then having those options removed from you because the weapon that gave you toughs movement options doesn’t even tickle your enemy anymore and the only way you’re ever going to get that back is if you get lucky and find a similar weapon with high state is going to lead to players getting frustrated.

CONCLUSION:

Darksiders 2 is a good game. In areas where its better than Darksiders 1, it’s truly better than Darksiders 1. But to bring up a word I used perhaps to many times it’s not as consistent as the first. Theirs just too many odd design choices that hold this game back from being a truly great game. I do recommend buying it though because I want to see THQ Nordiac continue, and I want to see what they do next with this franchise. So if you’re a fan of Hack N Slashes with a little less depth than your DMC or Bayonetta then give it a go. Its a cheap game at the moment and theirs enough extra missions and collectables to make the price of admission worth it.