Darksiders to get new playable demo

By Ellie Gibson Published 16 February, 2010

Try out the game for a whole 90 minutes.

THQ has announced that a big fat playable demo is on the way for Darksiders, the action adventure game already available for PS3 and Xbox 360.

The demo will feature the entire first dungeon encounter from the game, Twilight Cathedral. Expect dozens of puzzles and pieces of equipment to discover, along with boss battles against demon Jailer and bat-winged type Tiamat.

THQ reckons it will take "the average player" around 90 minutes to complete the demo. It will be released via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network on 25th February.

"We are really pumped to be bringing a playable demo for Darksiders to Xbox 360 and PlayStation3," said Vigil Games bossman David Adams.

"We really wanted to give gamers a true idea of the variety of gameplay that the game offers and so rather than just making a standard 20-minute demo version of the first few levels, we decided to give away this massive level and reveal the true essence of the game.”

For those who aren't familiar, Darksiders is all about extreme weapons, massive destruction, big old demons and general ructions between Heaven and Hell. It scored a most fine 8/10 on Eurogamer - read our review to find out why the demo will be well worth a look.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • danathjo #1 2 years ago

    wow, that's a nice chunk of a demo!

  • spookyzombie #2 2 years ago

    Too late for a demo now. Better games have materialised.

  • danathjo #3 2 years ago

    True but when it starts to float around the £17.99 and under price...

  • Skire #4 2 years ago

    Sounds good, definitely will give it a shot.

    Although the whole post-release demo idea really puts me off.

  • Hunam #5 2 years ago

    Sweet, look forward to seeing if this game is worth it's salt.

  • VibratingDonkey #6 2 years ago

    That's awfully nice of them. Unfortunately I still won't be able to afford Darksiders what with the 14814 other games of Q1. Maybe in June or something.

  • kinky_mong #7 2 years ago

    That dungeon was the point where I really started to enjoy the game so it is a very shrewd move of them to make the demo the whole dungeon.

    Just as well they didn't make the intro the demo as it got a lot of bad feedback (although I really didn't mind it).

  • Brodie #8 2 years ago

    @Skire

    "Although the whole post-release demo idea really puts me off. "

    Why? You STILL don't have to buy it, and at least they're offering you the chance to try a huge chunk before you buy it.

    Games just don't disappear after release, they are still available to buy, so it surely makes sense to encourage further gamers to try and perhaps purchase. A demo before release day is welcome, but not always possible, and if you can''t buy a game based on solid reviews and HAVE to play a demo, then a post-release one is no different than a pre-release one. And it saves you money in the long run, cos you can pick it up cheaper having enjoyed a late demo, rather than rushing out to buy it on release day at full price.

    :/

    Colour me confused.

  • Malek86 #9 2 years ago

    Remember the shareware version of Quake? It was a whole episode, out of four total, and also included all the deathmatch levels. Best demo ever. Nowadays, demos always last less than half a hour. Kudos to these guys for breaking the mold.

  • spookyzombie #10 2 years ago

    'Too late for a demo now. Better games have materialised.'

    Wow. We got some Darksiders fanboys in? Getting a negative mark for a true commment.

  • FladgeMangle #11 2 years ago

    This is very good news, I've been keen to play this game for a while.

    One question, can you save your progress and continue in the full game?

    I'm not sure I'd want to re-play 90 minutes of the opening act twice.

  • DUFFKING #12 2 years ago

    Spooky, can you not see how utterly stupid that comment was simply by looking at people who said 'I'll give this a go'? You know, perhaps even read the first comment on the page

    You might have had a small point if everyone had typed 'no, fuck that.'

    Darksiders is a good game. Too slow to start but finds it stride after the first dungeon and becomes a lot of fun.

  • spookyzombie #13 2 years ago

    I have got a point. It may well be a fantastic title, but I've spent my money on other games now. If a demo had of come out earlier I may have purchased Darksiders instead. The demo is too late (for me at least).

  • DUFFKING #14 2 years ago

    Sure, but playing the demo could still convince you to pick it up when it's cheaper (which presumably won't be long).

  • feistycheese #15 2 years ago

    spookyzombie

    'Getting a negative mark for a true commment.'

    -----------------------------------

    Just because its your opinion doesn't make it true. That and the fact you have nothing constructive to say is why you got negged.

    And yes, there are some great games out there at the moment, and that includes Darksiders (which I have just finished).

    A demo like this might be enough for people who have a lot of playing time on their hands to purchase it as well as those other games, or wait until a quieter period further into the year to purchase it.

  • TRUTH #16 2 years ago

    I actually enjoyed this more then I though I would - preferred it more then Zelda (i sort of like Zelda but the theme just don't appeal to me now); Darksiders may have a few faults but it does have some good moments!

    Adventure, puzzles, hack and slash (recommended to play on highest difficulty level), and good length...a game for those who grew up and miss those rpg/action/adventures from Snes/PS1 & 2 days: Legacy Of Kain, Zelda, Castevania. Meroid, Tomb Raider...This game may not have new ideas (as many games don't) but it blends and uses them well.

    More adventure games are needed!
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/10 @ 18:07

  • Markusdragon #17 2 years ago

    Yikes, that's a pretty big chunk of time to sink only to have the effort disappear into the aether and have to complete all over again if we actually buy the product. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but yeesh!

  • spookyzombie #18 2 years ago

    @DUFFKING. A lot of people might now wait and pick it up second hand, meaning that Vigil Games and THQ make nothing.

    @feistycheese. Better games as in ME2 and Bioshock 2 which get better average scores on game sites and in magazines.

    Anyhow. I've obviously been annoying so I'll get my coat.

  • Ninja_Tino #19 2 years ago

    Spooky, you're talking as if Darksiders is now a last-gen game. Must you only buy games that are brand spanking new?

  • Widge #20 2 years ago

    Now this is something I'd like to play before deciding to get or not.

  • Seabeast #21 2 years ago

    Fantastic news, i hope this brings in more sales for Vigil as this game deserves it.

    One of the best games I have ever played, a complete game with tons of variety. 20 hours of gaming bliss.

    10x better than Dante's Inferno or Bayonetta ( unless you are a teenager that gets turned on by it ofc) which I thought had great combat but nothing else to it.
    Edited by 1 at 16/02/10 @ 19:20

  • octavedoctor #22 2 years ago

    or

    'Zero Punctuation was really mean... please give us a go!'

  • PlugMonkey #23 2 years ago

    Excellent. I've been waiting for a demo of this, and I do like it when devs give me a PROPER demo. It massively increases the likelihood of me getting hooked and heading out to buy it.

    "'Zero Punctuation was really mean... please give us a go!' "

    Zero Punctuation is really mean about everything. That's why it's:

    a) Really funny for the first few that you watch.
    and
    b) Really boring from thereon in.

    I can't believe there is a single person who watches it who actually lets it colour their decision whether or not to purchase. That's effectively deciding to ignore every single game he reviews.

  • WinterSnowblind #24 2 years ago

    I find Zero Punctuation to be hilarious..

    But you definitely shouldn't be using it to judge games you're thinking about buying. He picks apart every single flaw in a game and tends to greatly exagerate them. Even if this demo was released because of his review, it only goes to show they have faith in their game, and know when people actually play it they'll enjoy it.

    The problem is people like Yahtzee who were quick to label it as a God of War clone, when it's actually far more like Zelda. This will let more people see that.

  • MiY4MOTO #25 2 years ago

    A great idea for a demo. The game had the weakest of openings, and one that almost made me regret my pre-order.

    ...until you get into the game proper and it reveals it's actually closer to Soul Reaver than 'Prototype'. (Note: Prototype is just what it made me think of when I first played it... it's nothing like it. Honest!)

    Darksiders = one of the finest games this generation.

    It's a game that knows it's audience and recognizes what works well in a game. It draws it's design inspirations from many sources and other games all of which are the best of the best. Apart from the weak opening I'd struggle to fault it. I even finshed it twice... back to back.

    If you've not tried it then it would be a crime to miss this demo. A great move from Vigil and here's hoping for a well funded, not rushed sequel.

  • captainrentboy #26 2 years ago

    I loved this game!! Rather strangely even though the area they're giving you in this demo is one of the first 'dungeons' you'll go through, I found it the most confusing to get around and got lost quite a few times, yet from there onwards I had no problems at all with the level layouts :/
    Anyway like another poster above stated, I found this to be more Zelda-esque than God Of War. And it was only towards the very end with the Portal like sections (Went on for a bit too long for my liking) that I began getting a bit anoyed with it, but up until then it was absolutely fantastic. Can't wait for the sequel.

  • sarcasmoidosis #27 2 years ago

    I had my eye on this, the demo might actually make me buy it. Having completed ME2, Bioshock2 and recompleted Fallout 3, I'm running out of games.

  • siro #28 2 years ago

    While such a big demo is nice and all, I wonder if you will be able to save and play on if you buy the full game. Because, if not, playing the demo would actually put me off buying the game.

  • Deckard1 #29 2 years ago

    enjoyed the game to a point, but it really started to drag towards the end. I keep meaning to finish it, but everytime I put it on I just can't be arsed. Dunno I normally go for games like this, but I just lost interest.

  • Seabeast #30 2 years ago

    Siro

    You won't be able to save as this section of the game is probably 1-2 hours into the game already, so you will miss the start of the 'story' so I highly doubt they will allow a save feature.

    I would suggest anyone who loves gaming gets this fantastic game, but dont judge it on the first hour or two, because it kind of gives off a false reading, like one of the other posters said.

    Bring on Darksiders 2!

  • Vyggo #31 2 years ago

    Man, I can't read. I thought it was already up based on this news, to be disappointed when I didn't see it on Live.

  • muscleblade #32 2 years ago

    I have the game unopened on the shelf. Starting it as soon as im done with AVP, Bioshock 2 and Dantes Inferno.
    Might take awhile.

  • man.the.king #33 2 years ago

    Really really good game - they combined winning aspects from a lot of superlative games and fused them (mostly) seamlessly in one hugely enjoyable game.

  • man.the.king #34 2 years ago

    @FladgeMangle

    "One question, can you save your progress and continue in the full game?

    I'm not sure I'd want to re-play 90 minutes of the opening act twice."

    If the demo is culled from the "Twilight Cathedral" section, then that is not the opening act. It's a long game, and the Twilight Cathedral starts somewhere around the 2.5 or 3 hour mark (of course, depending upon your speed, this might be sooner or later).

  • man.the.king #35 2 years ago

    @kinky_mong

    "Just as well they didn't make the intro the demo as it got a lot of bad feedback (although I really didn't mind it). "

    Agreed. I thought the intro was pretty poor myself - it wasn't until War is allowed to go back to ruined Earth that the game really starts.

  • sesskie #36 2 years ago

    @Spookyzombie

    "Too late for a demo now. Better games have materialised. "

    Dunno about that, after playing Bioshock2, I find Darksiders a better experience overall. Bioshock2 wasted mytime with a bolt on expansion to the original that wasnt worth investing 10 hours into. At least Darksiders offered me a twist on the Zelda experience. What other "better" games have materialised? The underwhelming AvP? The overhyped Dantes Inferno? The only better "new game" that comes to mind is Mass Effect 2, but I dont think PS3 gamers will be able to enjoy that anytime soon. :p

  • DiamondIce #37 2 years ago

    This is great news. I held off because of ME2 (and hoping for a quickish price drop), so a playable demo will go a long way to helping me to decide if the game is for me.

    The game isn't old enough to write off the demo because it's time has 'come and gone'!

  • erp #38 2 years ago

    This is excellent news. I was really looking forward to this game but then was put off by some lacklustre reviews - at least to the point where I figured I'd wait until it was cheaper - so it'll be great to give it a try for myself.

    I echo some peoples' concerns about having to potentially play the same 1.5hr section twice, although if that section's good enough then it shouldn't be too much of a chore.

  • octavedoctor #39 2 years ago

    I hasten to add I don't seriously use Zero Punctuation as a guide... I just love watching games get mauled... even the good ones.
    Tho I heartily agreed with his Saints Row 2 review.. heh.

  • Darren #40 2 years ago

    Hmmm... generous demo, saves me buying the game then! :)

  • neems #41 2 years ago

    Apparently most developers / publishers are desperate to get Zero Punctuated. They know that nobody really takes it seriously as a review, but it is fantastic advertising.

    Edited for sounding like a gimp.



    Edited by 1 at 17/02/10 @ 11:35

  • Hexagon #42 2 years ago

    Oh. My. Gawd. I cannot wait, both for the demo and the additional sales it will bring for this game. May it succeed.

  • man.the.king #43 2 years ago

    @Darren

    "Hmmm... generous demo, saves me buying the game then! :) "

    The game is quite long, at least 15 hrs (for average gamers, afaik) - so that even a 1.5 hour demo shouldn't take away much from the entire game. I would recommend giving the game a chance as it is really good (except for the first 15 minutes).