Darksiders: Warmastered Edition was a well-executed port of the 2010 action game. Originally conceived by Joe Madureira, known for his work on the comic Battle Chasers, the game’s distinctive art style sets it apart from contemporaries. Combining elements of hack-and-slash (God of War), platforming (Prince of Persia), and exploration (The Legend of Zelda), Darksiders quickly gained a cult following. Darksiders II would follow suit with several rereleases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch known as Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition. It never had the same care put into it as Darksiders: Warmastered Edition, was held back by bugs on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases, and has a lower frame rate on Nintendo Switch. Can a new port on PlayStation 5 finally make Darksiders II all that it was meant to be?
The original Darksiders was a popular game that combined elements from various successful titles. Its unique visual style, influenced by a veteran comic book artist, contributed to its appeal. However, the sequel, Darksiders II, sought to improve upon the original in several ways.
The original title featured War, a disgraced horseman who had prematurely initiated the apocalypse. War’s character design was distinctive, but the game struggled with balancing his heavy attacks and overall sense of scale. In Darksiders II, Death takes the lead, embarking on a parallel quest to clear War’s name. This story mirrors the plot of the first Darksiders, but with a different protagonist. Death’s journey will take him through diverse environments, including expansive themed fields and various dungeons.
The control and issues present in the original game persist on PlayStation 5. While some improvements have been made to enhance playability compared to the Xbox One release, certain mechanics, such as dodge canceling and special attack input, remain challenging. The requirement to hold the left bumper to access special attack prompts can be awkward, especially given the proximity of the lock-on button and dodge input. Additionally, the game may not always accurately register certain attack commands, even for purchased abilities. These minor control adjustments significantly impact the overall combat experience.
The art direction of Darksiders II presents a mixed aesthetic. Environments and colour usage demonstrate inspired design, while character designs often appear overwrought with excessive detail and anatomical inconsistencies. This can hinder enemy identification, particularly during aggressive encounters. Despite animation, discerning an enemy’s front or back can be challenging, and attack intentions may be ambiguous. Simpler monsters like large lizards and undead are more visually comprehensible with clear attack cues. Construct enemies and smaller creatures in large groups can be visually frustrating. The loot system can lead to overpowered equipment, reducing difficulty, too. Boss fights, however, often incorporate puzzle elements as seen in a Zelda game, offering a more engaging experience beyond the standard combat.
The PlayStation 5 version of Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition is set to run at 60 frames per second no matter what, and displays 4K resolution, delivering it beautifully. In prior releases, narrow passages that would stream large new areas would hitch. In this conversion, the game runs perfectly fluid at all times and the new lighting system smooths out the jagged shadows to look natural and convincing.
The plot of Darksiders II is similar to the first entry, focusing on a quest to clear War’s name. However, the series is primarily appreciated for its action-RPG mechanics, dungeons, and visually impressive characters and weapons. This sequel excels in its dungeon exploration and puzzle design. While the vastness of the areas can sometimes be hindered by Death’s slow movement speed, the intricate layouts and architectural details make for a significant portion of the gameplay.
As progress is made, Death acquires new abilities that enhance his exploration and problem-solving capabilities. The dungeon themes, reminiscent of the Zelda series, and the introduction of a “dark world” in the later stages, further contribute to the immersive experience. Although Darksiders II may not offer groundbreaking originality, it demonstrates a commendable level of effort and attention to detail.
The narrative and its presentation are overly dramatic and lack depth. The voice acting, particularly for the main character, elevates the material. Michael Wincott’s performance as Death is superior to the overall quality of the game, but his character fails to evoke a sense of true mortality. As the story progresses, Death’s character becomes generic and lacks physical presence. The horse, a potentially integral aspect of Death’s character, is underutilised and offers little more than faster movement. Overall, Death is a more charismatic figure than War, with a sense of humour and well-delivered dialogue by a talented actor.
The performance and visual polish of Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition have been greatly improved on PlayStation 5 compared to previous versions. Sound bugs have been fixed, and the overall presentation is more refined. The boss fights and dungeon design are highlights, and will please fans of Zelda or Okami.
This is a lengthy action game, taking over 20 hours to complete the main story and an additional 10-20 hours to finish all side content, including DLC from the season pass. With New Game Plus, battle arenas, and the ability to max out Death’s abilities, it may take a significant amount of time to experience everything Darksiders II has to offer.
