Darksiders

Even the iffy controls and eccentric camera cant quite undo the fun of Darksiders potty plot and joyful combat.

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"Darksiders is a single-player open world fantasy game with an intriguing story, featuring War, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse. Despite perfect game mechanics, graphics, and music, the game has bugs, lacking optimization, and requires grinding. Accused of starting a war between Heaven and Hell, War seeks to clear his name and restore order in a ravaged Earth."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,975 reviews

story616 positive mentions

stability67 negative mentions

Unique blend of hack and slash combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Immersive storyline with engaging characters and voice acting, including Mark Hamill as the Watcher.
Visually striking art style that combines dark themes with colorful designs.

Numerous bugs and crashes, particularly related to achievements not unlocking properly.
Controls can be clunky and are better suited for a controller rather than keyboard and mouse.
Repetitive gameplay with tedious puzzles that can detract from the overall experience.

story
1,034 mentions
60 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of Darksiders is widely praised for its engaging narrative centered around War, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, as he seeks to uncover the truth behind the premature apocalypse. While some players find the plot predictable or cliché, many appreciate its depth, character development, and the incorporation of biblical themes, which create a rich and immersive experience. Overall, the combination of a compelling storyline, strong voice acting, and atmospheric visuals contributes to its status as a memorable action-adventure title.
- “The game's dark and atmospheric art style, combined with its epic storyline, creates a truly immersive experience.”
- “What starts as a simple redemption quest leads you to uncover a much more intricate plot that I did not see coming.”
- “Darksiders is a unique story with excellent presentation.”
- “The story is very poor if there even is an excuse for a story.”
- “The poorly thought out, illogical storyline, fanfic-grade script and entirely uncompelling characters manage to make even war between heaven and hell boring.”
- “The story was a ridiculous butchery of a mythos with every word of dialogue just mind numbing in how desperately it tried to be over-the-top-epic.”
gameplay
538 mentions
43 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Darksiders is a blend of mechanics borrowed from iconic franchises like The Legend of Zelda and God of War, featuring exploration, puzzle-solving, and hack-and-slash combat. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and the introduction of new mechanics throughout the game, some criticize it for being repetitive and lacking originality. Overall, the gameplay is generally well-received for its fluidity and satisfying progression, despite occasional technical issues and a linear structure.
- “Darksiders offers an exhilarating gameplay mix that effortlessly melds intense combat, intricate puzzles, and satisfying exploration.”
- “The gameplay is excellent, featuring a combat system that is simple enough to take full advantage of, yet done well enough that every blow feels impactful.”
- “The gameplay draws from the Zelda and Soul Reaver games, and throws in elements of God of War, Prince of Persia, and even Portal.”
- “The overall feel of the game was extremely console-like, and the developers put zero effort into optimizing any of the gameplay elements for the PC platform.”
- “The most baffling aspect of Darksiders to me is how they clearly took some inspiration from God of War's fast-paced combo-driven hack and slash gameplay… and yet weapons don’t really combo into each other well at all in my experience, leaving you with 2-4 hit chains of attacks with a single weapon being the only reliable way to attack.”
- “Despite having an interesting premise and some above-average gameplay, Darksiders has simply not aged well.”
graphics
408 mentions
50 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of Darksiders are often praised for their striking and atmospheric art style, which combines comic book aesthetics with a dark, post-apocalyptic setting. While some reviews note that the visuals show their age, particularly in the original version, the remastered edition offers improved graphics and smoother performance. Overall, the game's unique art direction and vibrant environments contribute to an engaging experience, despite some criticisms regarding limited graphical options and occasional glitches.
- “The game's dark and atmospheric art style, combined with its epic storyline, creates a truly immersive experience.”
- “The entire game is one massive world that is so vibrant and filled with bright and unique colors and themes; you can't help but be amazed by the living art style that the game has to offer.”
- “The graphics are superb even and way better than Skyrim in all aspects, and should have outsold it.”
- “The graphics are dated obviously, but the game doesn't really suffer for it as the style and atmosphere are still very much engaging and nice to look at.”
- “The graphics are cartoonish and just about worthy of the Xbox 360 (not a compliment), the gameplay is formulaic and platformy reminiscent of a PlayStation 2 game.”
- “The area graphics (anything that is not a character) are bland and boring (and look quite dated, really).”
music
111 mentions
52 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in Darksiders is generally praised for its ability to enhance the game's immersive experience, with many reviewers highlighting its orchestral quality and emotional depth that complements the gameplay. However, some players noted a lack of variety and memorability in the soundtrack, leading to moments of repetitiveness. Overall, while the music is well-crafted and fits the game's apocalyptic theme, opinions vary on its impact and memorability throughout the experience.
- “The music complements the mood of each moment, infusing layers of emotion and excitement.”
- “The soundtrack lends itself well to the world, and the voice acting is phenomenal.”
- “The music fits extremely well with a game where you play as the apocalyptic horseman War himself.”
- “Darksiders 1 is awesome 10/10 even for the year 2022 still looks good and replayable, but -1 point for the lack of music; not really sure why, but the entirety of the game is deprived of any music.”
- “The music and in-game music gets irritating really soon and there is no major change in this field till the game ends.”
- “The zelda-like dungeons, progression, and exploration are the highlight of the game; however, there is no music to accompany you while you are doing these things, which makes things feel a little empty, dour, and less enjoyable.”
stability
70 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and performance issues, particularly with achievements and cutscenes. While some players experienced minimal problems, many found the game to be buggy enough to hinder progress and enjoyment, especially on certain hardware configurations. Overall, the game is described as fun but marred by stability issues that can frustrate players.
- “The game runs great for the most part.”
- “Other than that, the game runs great.”
- “I crashed once the entire time playing this game, so it's nearly bug-free.”
- “It runs very slow, glitches and stutters constantly, and I am constantly finding yet another glitchy roadblock whenever I get a new item.”
- “The game crashes and freezes on occasion, and some permanent issues can rarely tarnish your saves.”
- “Darksiders is a novel idea that has too many glaring bugs and glitches that weigh it down.”
grinding
49 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a significant drawback, often describing it as tedious and repetitive. Many reviews highlight that while the combat and puzzles can be enjoyable, they frequently become exhausting due to excessive backtracking, slow movement, and overly complex mechanics, particularly in the later stages of the game. Despite these frustrations, some players still appreciate the game's overall experience if they can tolerate the grinding elements.
- “Achievements are a bit tedious: running in a circle for 3 hours was unnecessary.”
- “The last third or so of the game is painfully tedious, pretty much ruins the whole thing.”
- “Unfortunately, the last quarter of the game does its best to ruin all that, with the final dungeon stealing shamelessly from Portal - yes, you are given a portal gun for no apparent reason - and still managing to be a tedious slog with pointlessly long elevators, the same rooms and corridors repeated, and a boss that's far easier than any that have come before.”
atmosphere
34 mentions
74 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Darksiders is widely praised for its dark, immersive art style and engaging world design, effectively complementing the epic storyline and intense combat. While some reviews note dated graphics, the overall ambiance, sound design, and creature design contribute to a captivating experience that many players find compelling. However, a few critiques mention that the protagonist's serious demeanor can detract from the potential richness of the atmosphere.
- “The game's dark and atmospheric art style, combined with its epic storyline, creates a truly immersive experience.”
- “Great atmosphere, fun combat, very creative puzzles, and some of the best creature design ever.”
- “The story is great and the atmosphere of the whole hell vs heaven conflict is a killer!”
- “What makes it worse is that the content of this game, a war between heaven and hell, virtually demands a dark and gritty atmosphere.”
- “No atmosphere whatsoever...”
- “Atmosphere: 4/10”
optimization
33 mentions
18 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
39 % negative mentions
The optimization of Darksiders has received mixed reviews, with many praising its smooth performance across various platforms and improved visuals in the warmastered edition. However, players have reported issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and poor controls for mouse and keyboard, indicating that the game may not be fully optimized for PC. While some users experienced seamless gameplay, others noted significant performance problems, particularly with AMD video cards and during cutscenes.
- “Performance and optimization: Darksiders performs seamlessly across various platforms, reflecting meticulous performance and optimization efforts.”
- “Developers' dedication to optimization ensures players can fully engage with the game's world without encountering technical hindrances.”
- “It has great visuals, is wonderfully optimized (though PC options are limiting), and has very well-realized lore.”
- “The story and gameplay are fun, but FPS in cutscenes is choppy, there are minor concerns about performance on AMD video cards (lmao, GeForce forever!), and the game freezes if you open Steam overlay way too many times for its taste.”
- “Unless you like running your games in Windows 98 compatibility mode, with new high-tech features like crashing on loading screens, stuttering into oblivion, and zero support.”
- “I know it's not a spec issue because there are other games that blow this one away in terms of hardware requirements, so I believe it's simply poor optimization.”
replayability
29 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, "Darksiders" offers moderate replayability, with some players appreciating the chance to master combat mechanics and explore collectibles, while others criticize its linearity and lack of multiplayer options. The game is noted for its engaging storyline and action sequences, but many reviews highlight repetitive gameplay and limited content as factors that diminish its replay value. While some players find it worth revisiting, others suggest looking for games with more extensive replayability.
- “Though Darksiders may lack the replayability of expansive open-world titles, it provides ample reasons to revisit its world.”
- “Additionally, the joy of mastering combat mechanics and reliving epic moments contributes to the game's replay value.”
- “Fantastic game with high replay value - storyline, side quests, and action sequences are spot on.”
- “Darksiders may lack the replayability of expansive open-world titles, but it provides ample reasons to revisit its world.”
- “You won't be surprised by the dynamics of the game's world, unfortunately: everything is scripted and highly invariable between saves, so there isn't a lot of replay value to be found in the world design.”
- “Weaknesses: mild instability, consolitis, limited replay value (almost everything is linear, scripted, and invariable), occasional issues with movement mechanics.”
character development
20 mentions
40 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and integration of skills and weapons, enhanced by unique character designs that bring individuality to the vibrant world. While the character designs are generally regarded as exceptional, some critiques mention a cartoonish quality, yet the overall aesthetic is celebrated for its comic book influence and visual appeal. The combination of strong storytelling, engaging combat, and distinctive character design contributes to a rich gaming experience, setting a solid foundation for potential sequels.
- “Character development is well thought out, skills and murder weapons are enhanced in the process, which are supplemented by techniques from a local vulgrim merchant.”
- “The story, character design, combat, and voice acting for this game are really top notch, and getting deluxe editions of both games for less than $10 was a steal.”
- “The identity of the game comes from its world, art style, and character designs, rather than from novelly implemented elements or gimmicks.”
- “What you get is a fairly linear action title mixing hack & slash action sequences with environmental (and/or ability-based) puzzles and backtracking for powerups (and at the end, for a bunch of plot tokens) rather typical for its metroidvania roots and character design closely based on Joe Madureira's art style.”
- “Some people say that War's character design could've been a lot better, and while I agree, I don't think it's that abysmal.”
- “The basic, low-risk design of a 3D Zelda game is here combined with cartoony 'blood and guts' violence and character design that probably wouldn't offend my own mother.”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with witty dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter, particularly through the character of the watcher. Players appreciate the game's self-aware tone, which juxtaposes serious themes with over-the-top, goofy elements, creating a unique and entertaining experience. While some aspects may feel derivative, the humor adds a refreshing layer that enhances the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “Also in-game was the moment that made me laugh, it's the moment in dialogue after we killed the second boss.”
- “The whole presentation in this game is super hilarious on how serious it presents itself while looking overall rather goofy or too over-the-top cliché.”
- “Hilarious dialogue and voice acting, thanks to the super cheesy gravelly voices and serious business attitude of the characters.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its complex narrative, well-developed characters, and a poignant soundtrack that resonates with players. However, technical issues such as frequent crashes and a flawed auto-save system detract from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling heartbroken and frustrated.
- “The narrative's complexity is magnified by well-rounded characters and thought-provoking dialogues, bestowing a layer of depth and emotional resonance.”
- “[*][b]soundtrack[/b]: very emotional soundtrack.”
- “It's quite heart-breaking.”