[Hawkmoon]

Darksiders by new developer Vigil Games is one incredible game. I have put about 6 hours into the game and so far it is one of the best games I have played in some time. To get it out the way first, yes, there are some technical problems, espcially the screen tearing which I find annoying. In addition, the first 2 hours of the game is not overly that impressive, but once you get beyond the starter areas the game comes into it's own and is fantastic.

The game itself is a cross breed of so many titles I have and loved in the past. Many call it a more adult Zelda, others call it a mix between Zelda and God of War, while others call it a complete mix of Ninja Gaiden/Zelda/God of War/Devil May Cry etc. The game has platforming like in adventure games, puzzles like in Zelda games, upgrading/buying weopons by collecting souls like Ninja Gaiden, fighting large screen sized bosses like God of War, RPG Elements like Ninja Gaiden/Zelda, unique weopons like grappling hooks etc like Zelda. Yeah, the game has alot going for it as far as giving players alot to do.

Visually, aside from the screen tearing, the game is gorgeous. In a big change from the normal browns, the game is colorfull, not as much as Kameo/Banjo, but close. There is alot of great artistic style in the game and alot, I mean alot of enviroments. Overall, I have been really impressed by the game and have been enjoying what I have played of it so far. There is going to be alot of going back to old areas as you achieve new tools/skills that will get you to areas that could not access before, and it has been a while since I played a game that had that mechanic.

I highly recommend the game and just don't judge it by the first hour or two..once you get into the main meat of the game, it really shines.

[Los Grak]

Sounds great. Thanks for the impressions, Hawkmoon.

[Vyse]

I'm enjoying it as well. I played last night for 2 hours or so. Like Hawk said, seems like a really nice blend of some great games with an original feel to it. After all of the sequels I have been playing, it's nice to have a new IP to mess around with. Looking forward to playing some more tonight.

This post has been edited by Vyse: 06 January 2010 - 01:38 PM

[Jellex]

Quick Impressions:

Zelda dungeons and puzzles combined with God of War combat.

Games did improve after the first couple hours, once I unlocked some new weapons and power ups.

A few hours later, patterns became clear and repetition set in.

I quit playing and returned my rental copy after this happened three times: Giant stone troll informs me that I can break an ancient curse, allowing the troll to get up and move out of my way, if only I'll backtrack a bit and perform some menial tasks.

Hello, I'm War. One of the four horseman of the fucking apocalypse. If I want to get around you, I'll find a way to do it and it won't involve me completing a bunch of menial tasks designed to help idiots learn how to play the game. Bad game designers, no cookies for you.

This post has been edited by Jellex: 10 February 2010 - 04:37 PM

[Vyse]

Jellex, you are becoming quite jaded. Not the best game in the world, but it held my interest until ME2 and BS2 got here. Tearing got much better once the patch hit. I am up to the last boss, but dropped for Mass Effect 2 (Best Game Ever!!!) Should get back into it soon.

[Jellex]

Guilty. If I feel like I'm not being allowed to make fair progress in a game, I begin to lose patience. It seems like those stone giants are there mainly to extend the time you spend in one area before moving on to the next. Instead of just bitching, I'll offer a solution: Take the stone giant out and his mini quests of the game. Replace it with a single "challenge room". A challenging challenge room with a pinch of fun and a dash of excitement. Maybe even throw something unexpected at the player. When the challenge is completed, the player earns a nice upgrade and the right to proceed to the next area right away. Progress is made. The game's premise is not questioned. Jellex is happy and continues playing.

These stone giants/obstacles probly aren't as bad as I've made them out to be, nor are they my only problem with the game. They were just the final straw that made me realize ... I should move on. I am interested in finishing the game someday, to see how the story plays out. But right now, I got other games that need playin' ...

In related news, the MSRP for Darksiders just dropped to $39.99.

[core238]

I picked this up for $40, with free shipping from Newegg a couple weeks ago. I had skipped over this one until the demo came out, and was so impressed with what I played in the demo, I order this game within the hour.

The Darksiders demo is quite meaty. The developers state it takes 90 minutes to beat, but I was so amazed by all the vistas in the demo, and discovering every little nook, cranny and chest, it took me more like 150 minutes to beat. Having beat the demo, I can see where you could beat it in about 90 minutes, however. No matter how you stack it, this demo is very meaty - I wish more demos were like this. And a shame this demo did not come out before the game released, or I (and likely millions of other people) would have purchased Darksiders on day one. I really had placed the game on the back burner, looking to get to it eventually, but after playing the demo, I purchased Darksiders immediately.

The game itself, feels a lot like what the Legend of Zelda would feel like, were it designed for adults. Matter of fact, I think if Zelda, God of War and Prince of Persia had a lovechild, then Darksiders would be it. Plus, there are RPG elements featured throughout. Enough so, that even though Darksiders is technically not an RPG, I could see where some gamers could confuse if for an action-RPG.

Reading over reviews, Darksiders is truly a gamers' game. Tons of fighting, puzzle solving, platforming and exploration. Plus what looks to be a pretty deep inventory system as well. As the game progresses, more and more gameplay elements and styles are added to War's (the game's protagonist) repertoire. Everything from a portal gun in the later levels, to entire sections of levels inspired by the Panzer Dragoon series (a series apparently loved by the devs at Vigil Games).

At one point two years ago, I was really excited about this game (I think I even started several threads about it). But I think with over a years worth of delays, and frankly with Q1 2010 having so many other awesome games seeing release, Darksiders got overlooked. And apparently, I am not the only gamer guilty of overlooking what looks to be a true gem of a game title.

Besides having a killer demo (which I still say, should have come out before the game released), there are two other incentives for purchasing Darksiders. The recent price drop; some retailers like Amazon and Newegg have this one for $39.99. The second incentive to pick this one up, is that publisher THQ is giving away free copies of Red Faction: Guerrilla, and a digital Darksiders art book (on DVD) to everyone who purchases Darksiders brand new (sorry, pre-owners). Depending on where you shop, Red Faction retails between $20 and $30, so this is a pretty good deal.

Red Faction: Guerrilla is one of those games from last summer, that I had meant to play, but events in my life pretty much kept me sidelined from too much gaming most of last year - so I missed on it then, but getting it for free now, makes up for that. Just have to find a way to squeeze playing it, into the rest of the spring 2010 gaming schedule.

At the end of the day, that's two brand new games and a bonus art book, for the price of one bargain bin game - can't go wrong there. That, much like the Cerberus Network DLC from Mass Effect 2, truly is the kind of incentive that I can get behind to purchase more games brand new, instead of pre-owned. I'm just hoping THQ will keep up the great incentive program when they release Metro 2033. I'm really looking forward to that game, and if I can get another free game in the process (likely Saints Row 2 or 50 Cent: Blood On the Sand), then I'm all for that. I wish more publishers would wake up and hand out incentives like that.

[whippingboy]

Blood on the sand is $9.99 at Frys fyi. Metro 2033 is $49 @ Amazon.

I agree w/ you completely on this game- played the demo and was SHOCKED at the quality. My problem? I hate backtracking- and this demo had more than my share of it. I felt it reminded me more of Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver games - but yeah, it's got a bigger inventory system closer to Zelda- but the gameplay/exploration I felt was a lot more like Kain/Reaver- and that's not a bad thing at all.

Sad it took so long to release the demo- they'll lose their ass on this title due to poor release timing alone IMHO. Dropping a title to $40 so soon usually makes gamers actually WAIT for the next drop- I'd say it'll go to $30 in less than 4months, $20 in 6- sadly.

[Los Grak]

.....Very disappointed at the price drop...