This article was originally published as a user blog post on Game Informer.
Tuesday marked the release of Vigil Games’ latest video game: Darksiders II. Even though some people held the original game in contempt for “copying” Legend of Zelda and God of War, many others praised it for its solid gameplay, uniquely vivid art style, and replay value. I’m in the latter camp when it comes to Darksiders, which is why I would give it a rating of 8/10. I played through it this summer, enjoyed it, and would easily recommend it to anyone. This is why I’ve already bought the sequel. From what I read and saw prior to the release date, it has better and more polished graphics, new twists and additions to the tight gameplay of the original game, and a breathtaking world with plenty of side missions and quests. All of these things are experienced in the shoes of Death, and his mission is focused on clearing his brother’s name, War, for a crime he never committed. So, are you planning on picking up DS2? If you’re still a bit skeptical, I’ve put together a list of reasons that will hopefully compel you to play it.
1. You don’t have to play the first game.
What worries some people (including myself) is that you need to check out the first game(s) in a series to understand the story and get a good idea of what the next one will be like. This isn’t the case with DS2. Albeit playing the first game is fun and informational, the sequel provides a general overview of the lore of Darksiders that will catch you up to speed.
“Hey, Death here for my new game, Darksiders II! Buy it today…or I’m gonna pull a Grim Reaper on you.”
2. Everything has been improved.
You wouldn’t believe what Vigil Games has learned from Darksiders to make the sequel even better. When I mean everything is better…well, I mean it. Remember what I said earlier about the gameplay being refined and better, the graphics being polished to beauty, and the breadth of the game’s content being meaningful and fun? These are things I heard in previews and demos. Now that I’m about three hours into the game, I can tell you that all of this is absolutely true. I’m blown away by what I’m seeing so far. I love that I can find and buy all sorts of armor, weaponry, and relics for Death to improve his stats. It’s pleasantly surprising that I can interact with all the characters and ask them questions that reveal more about the story or can trigger new quests (which reminds me of Skyrim!). I find myself marveling at the otherworldly, yet still fascinating environments that surround me. I could pontificate on more of the game’s details, but I’ll go ahead and leave you with one more thing. Yes, DS2 heavily borrows gameplay concepts from Legend of Zelda and God of War. However, this isn’t a bad thing. I think these concepts combine together to create a very fun game, and Vigil Games managed to pull it off. Some things may not be entirely original, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be awesome.
An example of the incredible world you journey throughout.
3. You’re getting your money’s worth.
I know I’ve touched on this a couple of times already, but it can’t be stated enough. It’s easy to be on edge when it comes to buying a $60 single player game in this day and age. That’s why content is such a big deal when it comes to gamers. We look for multiplayer, co-op, and other reasons to justify an expensive purchase that can hit us right in the wallet. There’s no reason to worry when it comes to DS2. Sure, you could finish the story in (guessing here) 20 hours, but there’s so much more to do than just that. You could end up spending 30-40 hours with this game if you dig into it!
Speak softly and carry an obscenely large scythes. Oh, and have fun!
4. Darksiders III depends on this game’s sales.
After playing only three hours of DS2, I’d love to see a third one in the future. Vigil Games’ love for this series is very evident in the amount of detail that has gone into it. The improvements and new ideas they’ve added to DS2 only solidify their goal to do their best for the fans. That’s why I’m anxious that this game won’t sell well enough due to the controversy of the first game and the overall “on-the-fence” feel many people have about DS2. If you have this feeling, I think you should go ahead and jump off the fence. DS2 is such a great game! I highly doubt you’ll have a bad experience. But, if you’re still too skeptical, you could wait for it to go on sale. It’ll be a steal by then! 😉
You wouldn’t want the “death” of Darksiders to happen, would you? I really hope it doesn’t “die out.” Heh…okay, I’m done.
I hope that I’ve given you some tempting reasons to go out and give DS2 a try. If you’ve got any questions about the game from a guy that owns it, I’d be happy to answer them for you in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
