Joystiq impressions: Darksiders: Wrath of War (360/PS3)
by Zack Stern 
{ Apr 4th 2008 at 9:00PM }
"Wouldn't it be cool if we had a game where you ride around as one of the four horseman of the apocalypse, just beating the crap out of anything you encounter?" One gaming exec might say to another. The second might reply, "Sounds great. Let's make it an open world, kind of a GTA-meets-Left Behind-meets-Spawn. Also, let's give ourselves raises."
Darksiders looks like it'll pull off this eye-rolling premise with impressive style and genuine action. I wasn't given a chance to play, but after watching two live demos, I'm anticipating this early-2009 game.
Gallery: Darksiders
As War, you've been sent out to cause mayhem at the end of days. But someone had their finger too close to the apocalypse button, and everything was set into motion early. Oops. Can you do-over the end of humanity?
War gets framed, and you unravel the identity of the real apocalypse-instigator through this action game. The areas I saw conveyed this end-of-time feel, with ruins of modern cities inhabited by demons, angels, and other post-human creatures. One is full of ash -- presumably human remains -- spread out like desert sand. An epic cathedral dungeon includes a lava stream and fantastic lighting effects.
Graphics rarely sell an entire game for me, but this look perfectly matches the theme. Animation is also strong, with War lumbering along, swinging a sword, or racing on top of his horse, Ruin with hooves that glow red-hot.
War uses other weapons, too, taking human or angel-owned firepower. But he can pick up light posts and swing them like a bat, toss around car husks, or otherwise use ambient objects. Some RPG elements emerge, as you can buy new weapons and powers by trading in collected souls.
Multiplayer won't be a part of "the first game," a developer told me, and while he didn't commit to a series, this new title looks like it could kick one off. The action borrows from God of War, Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and other contemporaries, but the setting feels uniquely its own. This might be the first time I thought "franchise" sounded like something good.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Metacore @ Apr 4th 2008 9:19PM
Hmm, needs more deep crow... I'm sure that can be fixed.
LaughingTarget @ Apr 4th 2008 9:38PM
Nah, needs more cow bell.
Ryuukuro @ Apr 4th 2008 9:57PM
DarkSIDERS? I thought you wrote DarkSTALKERS. I was getting all excited and then I see this. Boo.
playwhutyalike @ Apr 4th 2008 10:17PM
Try turning THAT horse into glue. I fuckin' dare ya!
Gurei @ Apr 4th 2008 10:19PM
OK i like Ninja Gaiden combat and the GTA open world,and the story seems unique enough.
Im now officialy "tracking" these game,hopefuly when its released quality might be good and worth a pick.
sicsided @ Apr 4th 2008 10:41PM
action also looks like it borrows from Shadow of Colossus. Looks good though.
John McPoop @ Apr 4th 2008 11:39PM
How about a game where i can kill these evil villians ... This just sounds disturbing to me and not very fun ... I do not mind killing some baddies but I do not want to be responsible for killing everyone on the planet
t_m @ Apr 5th 2008 9:20AM
What kind of american are you??? Get with the program...
doc j @ Apr 5th 2008 2:28AM
Any news on if they still plan to give him that flowing red cape eventually?
Last I heard from this game (several, several months ago) they planned on giving him that cape (the Spawin influence) and just hadn't done it yet.
Hope it's still on the table and not just scrapped.
t_m @ Apr 5th 2008 9:19AM
What kind of american are you??? Get with the program...
t_m @ Apr 5th 2008 9:20AM
stupid reply system... sulking now.
t_m @ Apr 5th 2008 9:21AM
This game looks cool... I always thought the 4 horsemen were underused in fiction.
ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285) @ Apr 5th 2008 10:26AM
Sounds like it has a lot of promise. And that horse looks awesome.
Amir @ Apr 5th 2008 11:36AM
Dude, War looks total badass
darkeyez @ Apr 5th 2008 4:25PM
No mention of a platform for this game?
ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285) @ Apr 5th 2008 5:59PM
The tags on top of the post say PS3 and Xbox360.
rruss79 @ Apr 6th 2008 3:32AM
I also believe the screens are from the 360 build because another site has the same images and they state they are from the 360
GameraTheGreat @ Apr 7th 2008 1:34PM
I have been following Darksiders for nearly a year and barring a late entry to the 360 lineup (errrm something like Otogi 3- please let this happen Lord), this multiplat title might just be my most anticipated game for 08. I likes the hack n' slash....add to that the power of the Hulk? Now, if they would only create a hack n' slash multiplayer/co-op engine that actually worked......well then, I would be one very happy d-list movie monster....