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Darksiders (video game)

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Darksiders: Wrath of War
Developer(s)Vigil Games
Publisher(s)THQ
Designer(s)Haydn Dalton (lead designer)
Joe Madureira (creative director)
Composer(s)Cris Velasco
Mike Reagan
Scott Morton
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, OnLive, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows[3]
Release
List
  • Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
    Windows
Genre(s)Hack and slash, action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Darksiders, originally known with the subtitle Wrath of War, 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. The game was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January 5, 2010 in North America and January 8 in Europe. The PC version was released on September 23, 2010 for North America and September 24 for Europe.

Gameplay

Darksiders is a single-player action adventure in which the player takes control of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In third-person perspective, the player engages in combat, puzzles and exploration.[4] 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 center 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 that 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 them apart painfully.

War, riding his steed, Ruin.

Although War is initially limited to the use of War's two-handed sword, Chaoseater, he will obtain other weapons through the course of gameplay. Also, each weapon has different combinations of attack that can be obtained throughout the game. Along with combos, players are also encouraged to use countering moves, blocks and swift dodging that help against different enemies. Projectile weapons such as a revolver and a boomerang-style throwing blade can also be used in both combat and puzzles. A number of objects littered throughout the environment can also be used as weapons and projectiles. At a later point in the game, War gains the ability to summon a fiery horse that provides faster movement and much more powerful attacks in open areas. Along with weapon-based attacks, War can use an array of magic-based attacks, known as Wrath, 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 invulnerable and can cause heavy 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.[5]

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 themselves. War eventually encounters large boss opponents that are both giant in size and deal heavy damage, and are themselves puzzle-based battles requiring certain methods and weapons to defeat, and in some cases quick time button events to dodge or deal attacks.

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. These can be spent at "Vulgrim Locations" on things such as new combo attacks, wrath abilities, power-ups, and potions. There are also artifacts scattered throughout the world that can be exchanged for more blue souls, with bonuses for completing each set. Additionally, souls of each color can be obtained by opening chests found throughout the world. Other items that can be located include wrath core and lifestone fragments, whereupon collecting four, War's Wrath or Health, respectively, are permanently increased.

Characters

The player controls War, the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Along with the rest of the Horsemen, his sole duty is to be summoned to the Earth once the final battle begins. War is not aligned to either Heaven or Hell but instead serves to bring order by the rule of The Charred Council, whose purpose is to maintain the balance between the two forces. He maintains a strict code of honor and will battle any obstacle in his way.

Throughout the story, War is bound to and accompanied by The Watcher, a warden sent by the Charred Council to watch over and guide War on his journey. Because of his assigned role, he is actually skeptical and cynical towards War’s actions, much to War’s anger. War later employs the guidance of Samael, once a mighty and feared demon, now imprisoned, who himself seeks vengeance against the Destroyer, leader of the victorious forces on Earth. Many other characters become central to the overall plot, recurring at times. Among these is Uriel, leader of good after their first leader, Abaddon, was killed during a major battle; now stranded on Earth seeking vengeance against those she believes responsible. Another recurring character is Vulgrim: a demon merchant who provides gear and abilities for War in exchange for human souls. Finally there is Ulthane, or the Black Hammer, who first appears hostile towards War, but then the two quickly become friends; first after aiding War in getting into Griever's lair then making War's enchanted revolver and re-forging the Armageddon Blade for him. War is known as a power hungry warrior who will stop at nothing to gain revenge for being betrayed.

Voice cast

Plot

To preserve the balance between Heaven and Hell, a mediator group, The Charred Council, sends the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, to intervene and force a truce between the two kingdoms after countless centuries of war. Eons after the truce, The Council foresees that Man will be a major factor in the final apocalyptic battle; this would be marked by the breaking of the Seventh Seal.

In the present day, armies of demons and angels fall to earth and the final battle begins, the two forces destroying everything in their wake. In the midst of the chaos, War is summoned to Earth to bring order. Upon his confrontation with Abaddon, the general of Heaven's army, War discovers that the other Horsemen have not arrived and the Seventh Seal has not been broken.

Straga, a powerful demon, arises from the ground and kills Abaddon. War battles Straga and is defeated. He is saved from death and sent to The Charred Council, who accuse him of bringing about the Apocalypse prematurely. The Council sentences him to death, but War demands a chance to find the one responsible, and to restore balance. The Council agrees, on the condition that he is bound to one of their keepers, The Watcher, who has the power to kill War in the event that he strays away from his mission.

Upon returning to Earth, War discovers that he has been gone for a century. Led by The Destroyer, the forces of Hell were victorious in annihilating the armies of Heaven, save for a meagre resistance ('The Hellguard') led by the angel Uriel. All of humanity has either died or become zombies and the Earth is in ruins.

From the conniving demon merchant, Vulgrim, War finds out that the Black Tower is the lair of the Destroyer and is advised to seek out Samael, a once powerful demon lord, for assistance in getting into the Tower. Samael explains that there are four Chosen demons that protect the Black Tower, and he asks War to slay them and bring him their hearts in exchange for helping War gain access to the tower. On the way to slay the second guardian War meets Ulthane, one of the Old Ones, and befriends him after a confrontation and helping Ulthane defend his home from Uriel and the Hellguard. When War goes to slay the last guardian, Slithia, he learns from her that War is being used to restore Samael's former power and that the four guardian demons' true purpose was to contain Samael's strength. War brings Samael the Chosen's hearts as proof of their deaths and, upon receiving the final heart, Samael still holds true to his word and sends War to the Black Tower, remarking that they will meet again.

At the Tower, War encounters Azrael, the Angel of Death, who has been imprisoned there. Azrael confesses that he and Abaddon conspired to bring about the Apocalypse ahead of time, fearing to delay any longer would risk Heaven's defeat. However, the plan fell apart with the death of Abaddon. After hearing this, War decides that his bargain with the Charred Council is complete. The Watcher decides otherwise, telling him that the balance must be restored. War journeys to the heart of the Black Tower, where he confronts and slays Straga, thus avenging his previous defeat. Azrael, now freed, saves War as the Tower collapses due to Straga's death, and takes him to the remains of the Garden of Eden, which was long thought destroyed. There, he tells War that the Tree of Knowledge can reveal to him how he can defeat The Destroyer.

In Eden, War visits the Tree, which gives him a vision: after Abaddon was killed, he was taken to Hell and offered the choice by an unknown woman to serve in Heaven or rule in Hell. Abaddon chose the latter and was transformed into The Destroyer. He then found the Seventh Seal, which he now guards. The vision also predicts that The Destroyer plans to lay siege to Heaven; Uriel will lead the Hellguard against the Destroyer and be defeated. The Charred Council foresaw these events, and concluded that only the Horsemen could stop the conspirators, but knew that they would never lower themselves to become assassins, so they let the apocalypse start and summoned War so they could accuse him, knowing that he would do all in his power to clear his name. War also sees a vision of himself being taunted by The Watcher and then being stabbed through the back with a large and mystical sword. Azrael deduces that the sword in War's vision was the Armageddon Blade and gives War the task to find the shards of the blade and take them to Ulthane to reforge it.

War is confronted once more by Uriel, who challenges him to a fight to the death. War emerges victorious and chooses not to kill Uriel, despite the urging of The Watcher. War promises Uriel that her death will be at a time of his choosing and tells her the Destroyer's true identity. After War departs, Uriel, grief-stricken and enraged by this knowledge, leaves to prepare the Hellguard for battle.

Once War collects all of the sword fragments, he returns them to Ulthane so he can reforge the Blade. Meanwhile, Uriel and the Hellguard attack the Destroyer, and as predicted, they fail. In the battle's aftermath, War confronts the Destroyer and is given the option to join him. War refuses and battles the Destroyer, who reverts back to Abaddon when War destroys his demonic form with the Blade. War then duels with the angel, ultimately defeating and killing Abaddon.

War retrieves the Seventh Seal, but is stopped by The Watcher, who tortures War and steals the seal, knowing that War would turn against the council. As he is about to kill War, Uriel takes the Armageddon Blade and stabs War through the back, as the Tree of Knowledge foretold and fulfilling the death oath declared earlier. She then breaks the Seventh Seal, returning War to his full strength. Now free of The Watcher's control, War crushes his head and kills him.

Uriel tells War that because of his deeds, all debts have been repaid, but warns him that her duty will most likely require her to raise her blade against him. As War is about to depart, Uriel points out that the forces of Heaven and Hell will likely continue to hunt him, as will those loyal to the Charred Council. Asking him if he will wage this new war alone, War turns to her and remarks, "No. Not alone", holding the broken Seventh Seal, as three meteors plummet towards Earth, heralding the arrival of the remaining three Horsemen.

Demo

The March 2010 issue of Official Xbox Magazine came with a disk containing a demo of the game.

Reception

Darksiders has been met with a mostly positive critical reception. The game currently holds a score of 82 for PlayStation 3 and 83 for Xbox 360 on Metacritic. Critics had mentioned some screen tearing issues in the Xbox 360 version, though these have since been resolved.[18][17] Joystiq stated that Darksiders has sold over 1 million units worldwide, moving more units than its initial release date competitor, Bayonetta.[22]

GameZone's Dakota Grabowski gave the game a 8/10 on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, saying "THQ and Vigil Games did an outstanding job creating an intellectual property that has weight. The voice-acting is top-notch, the combat is exquisite, the replay value is high, and the world they have created is fascinating. Darksiders is a marvelous way to start out 2010."[23][24]

Gaming Evolution's Christian Higley gave the game a 9/10 on the Xbox 360, saying "Darksiders is the best Zelda game I've played in a while. Joe Mad's visual style is stunning and unique and the game itself is just downright fun. Darksiders shouldn't be missed."[25]

The game has been banned in the United Arab Emirates. The game was deemed to "contradict with the UAE's customs and traditions".[26]

Sequel

THQ creative director Luis Gigliotti revealed in an interview with GameAxis that Darksiders will be a franchise and that THQ is contemplating a sequel. The sequel may include a multiplayer component, as the other three horsemen will join War in the sequel.[27]

Joystiq has stated that a Darksiders sequel is planned for the fiscal year of 2012.[28]

An article on the Official Xbox Magazine website confirms that Darksiders 2 is expected to be released in 2012.[29]

Other media

The creator, Joe Madureira, is planning a comic book series and a possible film adaptation for the game.[30] Madureira is currently working on the screenplay[31] and can sell the rights to a Hollywood studio.[32]

THQ creative director Luis Gigliotti said he would like to see Bruce Willis as War in a movie adaptation because "he kicks ass."[33]

References

  1. ^ Orry, Tom (June 6, 2009). "Darksiders given Jan 1, 2010 release date". VideoGamer. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  2. ^ "Darksiders delay confirmed". New Game Network. June 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  3. ^ Robert Purchese (2010-03-30). "Darksiders on PC in June". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  4. ^ Meagan VanBurkleo (4 April 2008). "Darksiders: Wrath of War Preview Storms In". GameInformer.
  5. ^ Ryan Geddes (July 16, 2008). "E3 2008: Darksiders: Wrath of War Hands-on". IGN.
  6. ^ "Darksiders Review for the PS3,Xbox 360 from". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  7. ^ Tom Bramwell (2010-01-04). "Darksiders Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  8. ^ Onyett, Charles. "Darksiders Review - Xbox 360 Review - at IGN". Xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  9. ^ http://xbox360.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r33052.htm
  10. ^ http://ps3.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r33052.htm
  11. ^ "Darksiders, Darksiders Review, PS3 Reviews". Games Radar.com. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  12. ^ Kim, Tae K. (2010-01-05). "Darksiders Review from". GamePro. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  13. ^ Heppe, Abbie (2010-01-14). "Darksiders Review from". X-Play. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  14. ^ "Darksiders, Darksiders Review, Xbox 360 Reviews". Gaming Evolution. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  15. ^ Juba, Joe (2009-12-29). "Why Does The Apocalypse Feel So Familiar? - Darksiders - Xbox 360". GameInformer.com. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  16. ^ "Play Magazine Online:: Review - Darksiders". playmagazine.com. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  17. ^ a b "Darksiders (ps3) reviews at". Metacritic.com. 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  18. ^ a b "Darksiders (xbox360) reviews at". Metacritic.com. 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  19. ^ "Darksiders for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  20. ^ "Darksiders for Xbox 360". GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  21. ^ "Darksiders Review from". Games.bg. 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  22. ^ Darksiders rides into 1.2 million homes, THQ recovering financially
  23. ^ http://xbox360.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r33052.htm
  24. ^ http://ps3.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r33052.htm
  25. ^ http://gamingevolution.info/?id=9838
  26. ^ Barber, Tyler (2010-01-07). "Darksiders Banned in United Arab Emirates". GameSpy. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  27. ^ Zachary Chan (October 26, 2009). "Darksiders Developer Interview and Walkthrough". GameAxis.
  28. ^ Darksiders, Saint's Row sequels from THQ in fiscal 2012
  29. ^ Ryan, King. "E3 2010: Darksiders 2 confirmed". Official Xbox Magazine. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  30. ^ Darksiders Coming to the Big Screen?
  31. ^ Hollywood interested in Darksiders, confirms Madureira
  32. ^ 'Darksiders' Game Being Adapted for the Big Screen?
  33. ^ Grabowski, Dakota (February 4 2010). "Metro 2033 is storyline driven". GameZone. Retrieved February 9 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
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