Reincarnation.
By Marty Sliva
When IGN first reviewed Darksiders 2 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U back in 2012, we gave it score of 7.5, for “Good.” Here’s what we said then:
“Despite its problems, I was compelled onward in my quest with Death because Darksiders 2 is simply a fun game. The RPG elements and to-the-point action all make for some solid gaming, glitches and all. It’s a shame so many glaring issues hold such an ambitious endeavor back from the greatness its developers were clearly aiming for. Still, if you love action adventure games, it’s certainly worth checking out – but don’t expect it to rival the masterpieces it will inevitably call to mind.”
We want to hear it.
Three years after its initial release, developer Vigil’s dark, massive, Zelda-like is back on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition. This current-gen remaster takes all of the puzzles, exploration, and loot-crazy action of the original game, packs in a wealth of DLC, and improves the whole package while running at 1080p and 60fps, making it the best version of the game. That said, it’s not necessarily worth revisiting for those who’ve already completed Death’s journey.
Darksiders 2’s kitchen-sink approach to gameplay and mechanics mostly holds up well. The combat is still very much inspired by God of War’s light, heavy, and airborne attacks, and slashing my way through masses of creatures feels nice and responsive, especially with the upgrade to 60fps. The inclusion of all of the DLC is a nice bonus, even if most of it is just a handful of new weapons and armor to add to your pile of hundreds that you’ll gather throughout the loot-heavy adventure.
We want to hear it.
Traversing across the colorful world on horseback and grabbing dozens of quests from a slew of fantasy tropes creates an effective, if not entirely inspired flow that makes the adventure feel like a single-player MMORPG. While the visual improvements don’t change the fact that the story is pretty dumb and relies a bit too heavily on the teenage angst of Death and his brothers, the varied environments make exploration an enjoyable experience, especially when you get into any of the many fantastic dungeons.
Yes, the dungeons are clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda’s, but they unfold in interesting, satisfying ways. You solve smart puzzles that require paying attention to your surroundings, find keys through exploration, acquire a new weapon or tool that rewards you with a great sense of progression, then use that to ultimately slay a final boss. That being said, there’s little here to make me want to take a second dip in the 30-hour adventure, so the Deathinitive Edition caters more to people who missed out on the game back in 2012.
Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition brings the original’s diverse world, interesting dungeons, and great loot system to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Sure, the story is dull, and there aren’t a whole lot of original ideas at play here, but the vast expanse of the adventure should please anyone who missed out on it the first time around.
