Darksiders II is an action-adventure video game developed by Vigil Games and published by THQ. The game takes its inspiration from the apocalypse, with the player taking the role of War, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
In third-person perspective, the player engages in combat, puzzles and exploration. The world is divided into separate locations, with many areas at first initially inaccessible until War regains many of his lost weapons and abilities. The centre of the world, The Scalding Gallow, acts as a hub where War is given new objectives and paths to further unlock new areas.
Each contains a series of linear and non-linear paths, many of which require large sections of platforming, climbing and swimming along environment-based puzzles that impair progress and require the use of newly-gained abilities. He fights mainly against angels and demons, and has a unique way to kill each particular type of enemy, usually tearing themapart painfully.
Although War is initially limited to the use of his two-handed sword Chaoseater, he will obtain other weapons through the course of gameplay. Projectile weapons such as a revolver and a boomerang-style throwing blade can also be used later in the game. A number of objects littered throughout the environment can also be used as weapons and projectiles. Eventually, War gains the ability to summon a fiery horse that provides faster movement and more powerful attacks in open areas.
Along with weapon-based ones, War can use an array of magic-based attacks that are both offensive and defensive in nature,with the amount of wrath available determined through a separate meter below the health bar.
Another special attack is the ability to temporarily transform into War’s Chaos Form, which makes him large and resistant to damage. This form is unlocked after sufficient progress in the game is made, and can be activated once War’s Chaos meter is completely filled via combat with enemies.
When enemies are close to defeat, War can perform an elaborate and violent finishing move at the press of the indicated button on screen, instantly killing the foe.
Some of the larger foes can be briefly ridden and steered into other enemies before being finished off. War eventually encounters large boss opponents that are giant in size and deal heavy damage.
Upon defeat, different enemies expel souls that provide different benefits. There are three types of souls throughout the world of Darksiders: green souls that fill the health bar, yellow souls that fill the Wrath meter, and blue souls that are the game’s form of currency used to purchasecombo attacks, wrath abilities, power-ups, and potions. Additionally, souls of each colour can be obtained by opening chests found throughout the world.
Darksiders has been met with mostly positive reviews and the game hasnow sold more than one million units worldwide.
Jesmond Darmanin is a technology enthusiast who has his own blog at www.itnewsblog.com.