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Darksiders

Review by David Jenkins – We really hope this new policy of releasing proper games in January works out.

This would've been instantly trampled if released during the Christmas rush, but now hopefully it will have the opportunity to find an audience.

It's not an instant classic like Bayonetta, and despite the lack of a license it's not what you'd call original, but it is still a lot of fun.

As the debut game from new studio Vigil Games this is a cracking first effort.

The company was co-founded by comic book artist Joe Madureira, who we admit we've never heard of but whose influence is obvious in both the artwork and the enjoyably silly plot.

In a peculiar spin on Christian mythology you play War, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, who's been tricked into ending the world early.

In the game's universe a truce between heaven and hell is brokered by a third party, to whom the horsemen are loyal.

Made a scapegoat for the premature apocalypse-ation you end up touring a destroyed Earth in what is essentially a straight mix of Zelda and God Of War.

You start the game with nothing but a sword and end it with everything from a grappling hook to a portal gun, giant glaive and an Epona stand-in.

Although there is technically a large open world environment for you to explore, in practise all the various sections feel fairly disconnected.

Although the structure follows the overworld/dungeon template of Zelda, progression is very linear.

Even so the Metroidvania rule book is followed to the letter with plenty of areas remaining inaccessible until you come back with the right tool or move.

The combat enjoys a similarly generous set of options as you find or buy more moves and weapons at a dizzying pace.

Each melee weapon can earn experience and has its own small sub-set of unlockable combos plus you can add passive effects to boost its power.

Magic spells - of the giant spikes exploding from the ground variety - are similarly diverse with your favourite ones easily assigned to the D-pad.

There's actually even more variety to the game than this, including a Panzer Dragoon style on-the-rails shooter, but it becomes clear that the endless parade of extra features are not to add substance but to act as distractions.

Despite the shock and awe of battle, including some enjoyably gory finishing moves, the combat is overly simplistic.

Compared to Bayonetta, or even God Of War, it feels very one-dimensional.

The dungeon levels and overworld exploration also pale next to their inspiration, with the game even going as far as stealing the bomb plants and boomerang puzzles from Zelda.

It's a Frankenstein creation then, but a thoroughly enjoyable one helped by the colourful and detailed graphics.

At the end of the day (or world) being competent but unoriginal is usually better than the reverse.

IN SHORT: The offspring of Zelda and God Of War can't hold a candle to its parents but it's good fun nonetheless.

PROS: A near endless array of weapons, items, magic and combos all contained in a large and varied game world.

CONS: Almost everything has been seen somewhere else before and often with more depth. Lots of screen tearing.

SCORE: 7/10

gamingeek said:

That's because your mind is too pre-occupied thinking about Burger Time.

Burger Time? Woohoo!!!

gamingeek said:

Natal: New promo video Releases Winter 2010 - Are you excited?

R U?

no

bugsonglass said:

Ravenprose said:

gamingeek said:

Natal: New promo video Releases Winter 2010 - Are you excited?

R U?

no

no

 Yee..hell no

Iga_Bobovic said:

bugsonglass said:

Ravenprose said:

gamingeek said:

Natal: New promo video Releases Winter 2010 - Are you excited?

R U?

no

no

Yee..hell no

Sorta.

After Capcom's French boss let slip that the company are concentrating on PS3 and Xbox 360, Capcom Europe has released a statement confirming its commitment to making multi-format games.

"Further to comments made in a recent article on French website Gamekult, Capcom would like to confirm its commitment as a multi-platform developer and publisher of interactive software," reads the statement.

As we reported yesterday, Antoine Seux - Capcom's French chief - moaned to Gamekult about developing games for Wii on the back of poor sales of Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles.

F off.

robio said:

gamingeek said:

Natal: New promo video Releases Winter 2010 - Are you excited?

R U?

I'm much more excited about an upcoming trip to the bathroom I'll be taking in about 5 minutes.

You're already feeling it knocking the back door huh?

SteelAttack said:

robio said:

gamingeek said:

Natal: New promo video Releases Winter 2010 - Are you excited?

R U?

I'm much more excited about an upcoming trip to the bathroom I'll be taking in about 5 minutes.

You're already feeling it knocking the back door huh?

 GG is jealous!

He hates free shitters, that can shit anytime they feel the need.

robio said:

gamingeek said:

After Capcom's French boss let slip that the company are concentrating on PS3 and Xbox 360, Capcom Europe has released a statement confirming its commitment to making multi-format games.

"Further to comments made in a recent article on French website Gamekult, Capcom would like to confirm its commitment as a multi-platform developer and publisher of interactive software," reads the statement.

As we reported yesterday, Antoine Seux - Capcom's French chief - moaned to Gamekult about developing games for Wii on the back of poor sales of Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles.

F off.

If all Capcom is going to give the Wii is games like Spyborgs and light gun games then fuck em.  Seriously.  I'm thrilled that we'll be getting TvC and will pick it up day one.  If that game tanks, then fine stop developing for the Wii. But if they insist on bitching about games that no one wants failing to sell then they can just take a leap.

TvC did not sell that well in Japan, so what makes you think it will sell well in the West? The Tatsunoko brand is much stronger in Japan than in the West.