Darksiders Video Roundup

By Tom Bramwell Published 16 December, 2009

Most of level one, two massive fights and a big puzzle.

It's not the end of the world, but it is the end of the year, which seems like a good opportunity to contemplate Darksiders' fictional end of the world, since it kicks off on 8th January with the game's release on PS3 and Xbox 360.

We've had the good fortune to play around with a finished version of the game recently and with a little help from one of THQ's better players we're able to bring you a selection of videos from various sections of the game where someone who knows what the buttons does is guiding the action.

As you'll see, these are taken from near the start, near the middle and even near the end, but we've been careful to remove any and all story spoilers, and you should also bear in mind that Vigil's action-adventure is a pretty large game - so for all the things you will get to see in the videos below, there are plenty more of equal or better quality that you won't experience until the game's out.

So is it any good? We'll let you know in our review closer to release. Check out our most recent Darksiders hands-on preview for a chunky overview, and look out for more videos highlighting other sections of the game once we get back from our holidays in January.

World 1-1

Just past the wicked opening cinematic, and clipped to avoid key story revelations, this is a meaty chunk of the opening level, before War is stripped of many of his powers.

Upper stories

In this video, War has to transport a bomb from the bottom of a level right the way to a top using a range of abilities in order to open a particular door and make progress.

Crab at it

In this video, everyone's favourite horseman takes on a giant enemy crab, and goes upside its head with a massive wagon.

Hammer time

A bit later in the game, War runs into this chap, who puts up a mean fight with a big hammer, but ought to be watching his back instead. Some interesting use of the game's portal gun (yep) evident in this one.

For more videos of Darksiders in action, check out the PS3 and Xbox 360 gamepages.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • erp #1 2 years ago

    Oooooooooooh just review it already!! I really want this to be good.

  • penhalion #2 2 years ago

    Looks remarkably er repetitive.....

  • Lord_Gremlin #3 2 years ago

    When I first saw this game, I thought graphics were shit and combat was boring. But now I'm buying it day one along with Dante's Inferno and GoW3.
    They really improved it over time. Combat looks great now.

  • Rich72 #4 2 years ago

    mmm just watched the videos and this has dropped straight off my radar to be honest. Looks very boring and long winded.

  • Lemming81 #5 2 years ago

    Finally preordered this today, but I've been anticipating it for a whie now. I'm sure it'll be great even if it's just Zelda in an emo skin.

  • mattigan #6 2 years ago

    That crab boss dragged on a bit

  • Dizzy #7 2 years ago

    Not sure about this with Bayonette so close, will await review.

  • DarkOni #8 2 years ago

    Looks like Darksiders will have the same puzzling and exploring pace as Zelda combined with faster DMC styled combat. If the Story is any good, this will be a day one purchase for me.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 17:32

  • jimboton #9 2 years ago

    so glad a Zelda/Soul reaver type game has finally been made. Day one purchase, yes indeed :D

  • penhalion #10 2 years ago

    How are people comparing the puzzle elements and game play to Zelda?

    I looked at all of the gameplay videos and aside from the fact that both use a sword. There is no comparison. A zelda battle consists of a few creatures and measured swordplay i.e. you can't simply go in swinging as the creatures will 9/10 block the attacks. In Darksiders you just button mash out combos. If anything, this is more GOW or Devil May Cry than anything else.

    It's like one person compares it (wrongly) to Zelda and then the sheep come pouring out of the pens to quote that person without a shred of either evidence or logic.

  • riz23 #11 2 years ago

    I need a review on this. I've heard all the hyperbole but it looks a bit dodge in those videos.

  • DarkOni #12 2 years ago

    1. No one here compared Darksiders Combat to tLoZ's only to God of War and Devil May Cry

    2.Look at the second video and remember Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask and tell me again that the puzzles are not Zelda'esque

  • Machetazo #13 2 years ago

    @ penhalion - there's a hub world, with dungeons that open up from it, (often) containing puzzles. There's a horse that can be used to cut journey time in the overworld, that the lead character can fire off weapons to attack from. There are a selection of weapons that have uses both in general combat, but also aid level traversal and exploration in the dungeons. From what I've seen, the narrative takes a more dominant place of importance in proceedings, than something far more action-driven, like God of War.

  • Eis #14 2 years ago

    @penhalion You missed the reasons for the Zelda comparisons completely. The overall structure of the game and how you progress through it (acquiring abilities via items like Link) are why it is compared to a Zelda adventure. You also get a horse.

    The person you claim wrongly likened it to Zelda without evidence or logic is Joe Madureira, the game's creative director.

  • TRUTH #15 2 years ago

    9/10 360 Xboxgamer, 10/10 Play Magazine (PS3) - it's described as a adventure/puzzle action - with rpg.

  • Lemming81 #16 2 years ago

    "How are people comparing the puzzle elements and game play to Zelda? "

    1. It has a large world map with parts acessed by finding new and interesting weapons/ways to open them up.

    2. Alot of these weapons are obtained doing dungeons and then killing bosses.

    3. It has a sword, a horse and a hookshot.

    4. And crucially, the developers have openly talked about the fact it's heavily influenced by games like LotZ.
    Edited by 4 at 16/12/09 @ 18:28

  • WinterSnowblind #17 2 years ago

    @penhalion
    Unfortunately many of the videos and marketing in general seem to be focusing on the combat and hack and slash elements of the game, but the core concept was to make an old school adventure game, similar to Metroid, Zelda or Castlevania.

    This game wasn't on my radar at all until very recently, but I'm really hoping it turns out to be good. I'd really love to see more games returning to more of the adventure aspect rather than just trying to be like God of War.

  • butler` #18 2 years ago

    looks kinda poo at a glance

  • newell123 #19 2 years ago

    watched the first 20 seconds, thought it was prototype 2, kinda agree with some of the people here...the arena combat basically looks much better in bayonetta and even devil may cry 4. the visual cues given to the player and the interface in general lacked a bit of oomph. the transforming dragon bit was cool though! I think the game will hinge on how creative the puzzles are. something which prototype lacked.

  • Waldo #20 2 years ago

    Not that I have any intentions of buying it, as its from EA.

    EA hasn't bought THQ yet.

  • figaro7 #21 2 years ago

    Just looked at the release list down under and it comes out the same day as bayonetta, decisions decisions!

  • Quint2020 #22 2 years ago

    This looks excellent, the exploration and platforming elements echo games like Zelda and Soul Reaver, that alone would have been enough for me to get excited about this one but with the edition of the awesome art style (courtesy of the incredibly influential Joe Madureira) as well as the deep God of War style combat system I genuinely believe this is a (very) early contender for GOTY.

  • mattigan #23 2 years ago

    Isn't there only about 2/3 enemy types in Zelda that have the ability to block the sword? Hardly 9/10 LoZ was always a button masher (combat wise) for me.

  • beatwolf #24 2 years ago

    whats up with the audio on these videos? its unwatchable with sound on because of the crackle and overall low sound quality!

  • WinterSnowblind #25 2 years ago

    @wile_coyote
    Come on.. is this 1999?

    EA have taken a lot of steps towards becoming a much more respectable publisher and have put a lot of effort into creating original IP's. If you want to bash a publisher for doing nothing but recycling bad games, it's Activision these days.

  • trip919 #26 2 years ago

    Looks like dog shit. Not feeling this at all. Prove me wrong game.

  • TheRankinator #27 2 years ago

    Was very interested after reading a bit about the game,, but dungeon design looked a bit uninspired to be honest, will probably wait for a few review scores and a cheaper price!

  • muscleblade #28 2 years ago

    "9/10 360 Xboxgamer, 10/10 Play Magazine (PS3)"

    These two usually hand out very high scores. Especially for exclusive reviews. I predict a 80-85 average wich is very good but not stellar.

  • dbranchevans #29 2 years ago

    Have to say got down to the third video and got a little bored, think Bayonetta had much more impressive 'smack-em-up' moves but as other people have pointed out Darksiders developers have continously said its much more of an adventure game so still have high hopes for it...

  • muscleblade #30 2 years ago

    Bayonetta is the better game i believe but i might get them both depending on how Darksiders do critically.

    Their obviously quite different games, but they happen to have the same release date so a comparison is highly appropriate.

  • byakuya83 #31 2 years ago

    This doesn't have the same fantasy appeal as Zelda, the dungeon elements look good but the dull urban landspaces and lifeless city streets aren't very interesting. Zelda doesn't usually feature a hub as such either, it has a large landscape with varied regions. True, it does have self-contained dungeons and areas only accessible when certain abilities are obtained. There was definite similarities but this doesn't have the same charm as Zelda.