IGN: Darksiders Review

What is Darksiders? Think God of War meets The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and you'll have a pretty good idea of what it's like. Though it's not as good as either of those games, when you're taking elements from some of the best around, you're doing something right, and Vigil Games built in plenty of gameplay systems that fans of those titles, particularly the Legend of Zelda, should find familiar and enjoyable.

[OGharryjoysticks]

Hopefully it does well because it seems really well made. The opening cutscene is one of the better cutscenes I've seen. But once that cutscene was over and you got to the game there was a tremendous drop-off in visuals. But it still has that comic book charm :)

[Lifendz]

and ONLY because there are too many good games coming out in the next couple of weeks. I'm already looking at upwards of 200 bucks for the four games I really want and then I'm probably at that same amount for the Fall releases. 7.8 is about what I expected this to get. The 9's the game received were really surprising. I do want to play it for myself so I'll probably pick it up as a rental. Unless any of you have played it and would strongly recommended it to a guy that loves single player games.

[Darkfiber]

It's called CG. It's not gameplay graphics so it's not a drop off in visuals. Jesus...

And yeah, this game is way better than Bayonetta. I love how people complain that this game does nothing new, but Uncharted 2 did nothing new either and it gets like perfect 10s and game of the year with no complaints that it does nothing new. Same with Modern Warfare 2, it does nothing new either. Who cares if it does nothing new? That's not a valid complaint.

[kewlkat007]

See I said I was getting it but I did not play a DEMO.

[joydestroy]

been waiting for this review all day

[BRG9000]

The games that get high scores despite doing nothing new are the ones that execute perfectly on the existing ideas and really refine them. Both UC2 and MW2 got great reviews despite not treading new ground because they are some of the best ever games of their respective genres.

I think people look at it backwards when they complain about this. A game that is just good, not great, can get a pass and earn high reviews anyway if it is innovative. If it is not innovative, it needs to be fantastic to get high review scores. It sounds like Darksiders is not innovative, but it doesn't have the amazing execution to distract from that, which is what UC2 and MW2 have.

[Chris399]

and the means by which they weigh the attributes of a particular game.

Why does one game (let's use Bayonetta, as it was released the same day), which admittedly borrows from the book of a relatively popular franchise (DMC), which is even MADE by the franchises' creator get showered with accolades for it's crisp take and originality?

That's what I don't get. Why is it alright for some games to copy/ draw inspiration from, whereas others can not? And why are there such varied opinions in reviews from the same sites, once this standard has been set? It makes no sense.

If you say it is alright for "X" game to pull from different franchises, lack originality, etc., yet STILL award it a perfect or near perfect score, because it does it so well or is so fun or whatever: you should apply the same logic to the reviews that follow. Or what you said in the first review, in any review really, has no meaning or weight as it is disregarded - or referenced - on a whim.

I'm rambling, and this game (Darksiders) is really fun and well made. That's my review.

[Rainstorm81]

Also In my opinion Darksiders is better than Bayonetta. To me reviewers are mad that Darksiders challenges Zeldas throne. It seems more and more these reviews are done by fanboys. Ive played through Darksiders and it is fun and addictive. Bayonetta's combat system is great but that is the number one stand out of that game the Music is absolutly HORRID and the story is dry. 7.8??? It deserves the 9 IGN's overseas counterparts gave it. They said the combat isnt deep well for an Action RPG it has the deepest combat system ive seen. Zelda's combat isnt good what so ever yet it churns out 9-10 everytime. I guess Dante;s Inferno will get a 7.5 huh?? Yea Right more like a 10. then GOW3 will get a 8.5 for not doing anything new. Word to the wise gamers dont trust reviewers play the games yourself.

@Below

I have Darksiders and Bayonetta on 360 and Darksiders is still better as a matter of fact, I dont think anyone mentioned PS3 or 360 it looks like you need to exit to the right. sad delusional "non-gamers"

[happyface]

wow, this is the game that sony fans are saying is better than Bayonetta?

LOL @ sad delusional ppl

[Raf1k1]

The video reviewer said "Thankfully there are no quictime events in the game. It's about time we started doing away with those." (2:07)
I hope this guy doesn't review Heavy Rain.

edit: @happyface, do you really think Sony fans (who have the option of buying Bayonetta, Darksiders and GoW3) are really that fussed about the not so great port of Bayonetta? The demo ran pretty well IMO and I doubt the longer load time or little extra screen tear will ruin the game.

[ABizzel1]

Well the other IGN's gave the game 9.0/10 (IGN AU) and 8.9/10 (IGN UK). So my guess is that IGN US is the odd ball out. Every review I've read so far says the same thing it's Zelda meets God of War with a Portal gun, but it's not as good as those games. So my guess is the game is a solid 8.5/10. Good game, with minor problems.

As far as sells go it's going to really hurt them by not having a demo, because no one is sure of how this game is going to be, and releasing a demo after the game releases will be to late, because by then the 2010 gaming storm is going to hit. And with Bayonetta getting all this praise and hype (some deserved some not), it's hard for Darksiders not to get overshadowed. They should have came out fall of 2009.

[Unicron]

"I guess Dante;s Inferno will get a 7.5 huh?? Yea Right more like a 10. then GOW3 will get a 8.5 for not doing anything new. "

I see this happening without a shadow of a doubt.

[DatNJDom81]

360 fanatics are clinging on to Bayonetta, and other multiplats, so much? Seem to me that God Of War 3 is making them really really insecure. You insecure people do know that PS3 owners can play all 3 right? Honestly, I could care less about Bayonetta, but that doesn't make it a bad game. I know it will have its fans and it will sell. But it is pretty pathetic how they cling on to it. Doesnt 360 have better games coming out in 2010? Last time I checked it did.

[Baka-akaB]

I think he is annoyed by QTE in Action games , not stuff like Heavy Rain .

And quite frankly i'm tired of those too . I give it a pass when the game is awesome in spite of that , like God of War and uncharted . And GoW tries hard to still keep it really interractive , instead of just adding button presses to cutscenes .

But quite frankly in miss the day when gameplay was actual gameplay , not impressive stuff we wish were possible in game but cant so we add buttons .

But yeah i expect some hypocrisy and bashing when GoW3 and heavy rain get released . Then suddnly a game that is actually fine with it will be not interactive enough for their taste . And "gow3 wont be innovative enough" , as if they ever actually welcomed and rewarded originality .

[SilentNegotiator]

The only problem is that the puzzles looked slow and too simple, from what we saw in the ''live demo'' on IGN.

[4Sh0w]

I dont really see what the fuss is about between this game and Bayonetta. I read most reviews of Bayonetta and a few of Darksiders and in both cases it seemed like the reviewers justified why they scored it as they did. This particular IGN review site seems to favor Bayonetta over Darksiders, so what? If you've played both and you think he's wrong, great good for you.

I think we are looking too hard for answers that are really simple, you can nitpick even the greatest games reviews and say "Why didnt he criticize this game for "this" reason and you'd be no closer to the truth sense your whole questioning already implies that he should have criticized the game for having "this" flaw in the first place. I cant believe how the obvious truth that he did NOT feel that "this" games flaws were on par escapes people who follow gaming reviews so much. Now on the other side of the coin, might be because he is bias and therefore willing to overlook similiar flaws and not score both games accordingly, but I see no justification for that assumption and just because you disagree doesnt make him wrong.

[cyberwaffles]

"I guess Dante;s Inferno will get a 7.5 huh?? Yea Right more like a 10. then GOW3 will get a 8.5 for not doing anything new. "

lol how ironic that would be, but i'm sure GOW3 will be recognized for it's excellency. trust me, the series is going to end with a bang and there are going to be some big surprises. that GOW3 demo was nothing, Santa Monica wants us to underestimate the game thinking it's going to be just another GOW game remade into HD graphics, but it will be far from that. can not wait for it.

[Rainstorm81]

GOW3 will live up to its hype, but this gen reviews have been soooo inconsistent nothing really surprises me anymore.

I tend to say things about reviews because there are countless people(i know more than a few) that take review scores into consideration when buying a game. Darksiders is a good start for a franchise and after beating the game i am hoping for a sequel. We know that wont happen if the game doesnt perform well. Reviewers compairing the gameplay of Darksiders to GoW is just ignorant they play nothing alike. Even Devil May Cry when Bayonetta is much more like DMC than Darksiders could ever be. 7.8 isnt a horrible score but the game deserves better as IGN AU and IGN UK showed.

Shane Satterfield said " A game like Uncharted 2 would never get more than a 9.3 from GT." Really?! Its on everyones short list for GotY. As i continue to say reviewers need to get thier heads out of thier azzes and rate games unbiased.

[silvacrest]

decent review i guess

i dont like the QTE bash though, if done right it just adds to great gameplay, head rip anyone? and im sure heavy rain will bring the goods

[MGSR THE HD VERSION]

i'm picking up both bayonetta and darksiders, but i can tell you this....they really don't feel the same.

darksiders is a lot slower for one, and you can't take your opponent's weapons away and use them. also both have a different definition of how an execution move is executed. (compare them yourself if you like.)

you know.....it's amazing how no ps3 gamer has even bashed this game on it's characters looking twice more bigger and fatter than the bulkiest ones in gaming history. i'm all for the art style but i know ps3 gamers have had a history of making such complaints on "steroid abuse" to other titles....in which case those characters are a whole lot thinner.

[APOFISBORICUA]

They gave Bayonetta a 9.5 and this game a 7.8 because it blends GOW and Zelda? Draw me impressed. I have been playing it and I also finished Bayonetta ( a 7 hours game that anyone who scored it more than 8.5 is really delusional) in my opinion this game is wayy more fun and better than Bayonetta. Ive been playing the 360 version and yes this game has faulty graphics but its an amazing game. This game desnt deserve less than a 9 in my book. IGN and the media in general did it again. Overhyping one game to death and finding the same fault they pass in another one.

PEACE AND GAMING!!!!!

[Blaze929]

What is REALLY the point of not giving those extra .2 points? Like REALLY IGN...come on now. 7.8? Just give it a damn 8 - not that your opinions matter like they used to.

[Lifendz]

of grading in incriments of .5? I agree that withholding the .02 is kinda crazy but isn't the entire review process arbitrary as all heck?

[bacon13]

I agree with above posts. IGN US as been going down hill for quite some time now. Their editorial and previews are boring and lackluster. Their "fun" and quirky articles are anything but entertaining. And their reviews never really seem to hit the "mark" anymore. Time to pack it up IGN, nobody likes you anymore.

[BeaArthur]

It's just one persons opinion, although a little below what the average scores for this game are I don't think it was a bad review. There is something to be said for lacking originality.

[bacon13]

Hey Guys! Remember this awful excuse for a game that I remember letting my friends throw away after we beat it. Lets see what IGN reviewed it!

http://xbox360.ign.com/obje...

[va_bank]

I stopped reading IGN because I hate the new website layout. But now that you mentioned it, I do find that they've had a bunch of lopsided reviews.

[BRG9000]

Well I haven't played K&L, but if IGN's review of 7.0, or "Decent," for it is too high why did you even play through the whole game? You must have thought it was at least worth completing.

[cmrbe]

IGN can give this game a 0 for all i care but i will still buy it.

[BeaArthur]

So if this was the worst game in recorded history you would still buy it?

[Raf1k1]

I think you missed his point.

[BeaArthur]

No I didn't miss the point I was just pointing out that his comment is a little on the extreme side.

[Pennywise]

I am sure his point was IGN holds no credibility with him.

[BeaArthur]

Possibly, but still on the extreme side.

[Raf1k1]

I didn't think it was all that extreme. To me all it shows is that in his opinion IGN reviews have lost all credibility which makes me wonder as to why he's still bothered by the score they gave it.

[cmrbe]

Its not just IGN. Personally review scores mean nothing to me. They never have weighted in games i buy. Weather they gave it a 10 or 0 it never does come into consideration when i buy games.

Dyansty Worirors for example always gets low scores but i love them to bit's. Why?. Because i like the concept. I love being a 1 man army that completely oblibrates in style the opposing forces thousands of troops. Darksiders for example has a very cool concept as well. This is the frist game that you will play as War and you will be battling both angels and demons.

I have gamed for more than 25 years now. Back in the Atari days before gaming got to where it is now most of us only had the cover to go by to choose games lol. Then it was concepts like saving the princess, saving the world from evil with a cool super power etc etc. These were way before reviews were around. Even now i still don't rely on them. I always trust my instinct as i know best what i will like and what i will not like.

[Fishy Fingers]

I'm getting linked to the UK site, I assume that's because I'm in the UK, they were a little more generous, handing the game 8.9 and the AU site, 9.0.

Seem's a solid title, not my thing, but hopefully people dont start throwing their toys around over 7-9 scores, its still great.

[BeaArthur]

I opted for Bayonetta. I will probably pick this one up down the road during a dry stretch.

[Raf1k1]

There doesn't seem like there's going to be much of a dry stretch this year. A lot of great games to look forward to.

edit: I can see why you went for Bayonetta. I didn't think the demo was all that great at first but I gave it another go and played it to the end which is when I changed my mind about it. The boss battles are pretty fresh and I'll most likely pick it up at some point.

[BeaArthur]

That's funny, I had the exact same experience. The first time I didn't think much of it but after trying it a second time I got much more into it. After all the reviews I decided this was the better option of the two. If Darksiders had released a demo maybe I would have gone with it.

[mrmikew2018]

IGN is a joke when it comes to reviewing games. And it doesn't stop there, they're hypocrites. There is various sites that review both titles for the PS3 and Xbox 360 and the 360 suffers from frame rate dips and screen tearing, but yet both titles score the same? We all know what happen if it was the PS3, but hey it's IGN, what can we do?

[BeaArthur]

Dude, don't bring your fanboy rhetoric in here. There are plenty of games where both the 360 and PS3 version differ in favor of one or the other. The only time there are two reviews is when they are substantially different.

[Ryo-Hazuki]

I had bayonetta for like 2 weeks (BB broke the street date) and I traded it in to pick up Darksiders today. IMO Darksiders appears to be the better game. As you go further into bayonetta it just turns into the same old room to room fighting for pretty much the entire game. I also want to add that the voice acting is very top notch on Darksiders.

[Hakimy]

I had a feeling that this game wasn't going to be as big as some people might hoped for.But then again maybe it's just ign so let's wait for more reviews from other big sites.if they agree on the same thing,then I guess we should skip this if some of us are skeptical about this game.

[BubbleSystemSuck]

Why 7 is bad?

Under 5 is bad...

7 is Very Good

8 Es Excelente
9 Incredeble
10 Eye popping

[Rainstorm81]

This game deserved a 8.5 - 9

[mrmikew2018]

Reviews from any big name site cannot be trusted anymore. There's entirely to much favoritism towards one system over the other and when that happens, we end up getting a lot bias reviews.

[bujasem_89]

i expected a score that was along those numbers , guess ill just wait for GOW3 and heavy rain

[Trebius]

FOR PS3 OWNERS
---------------

DANTE'S INFERNO = RENTAL
BAYONETTA = RENTAL
GOW3 = DAY 1 PURCHASE

360 OWNERS
---------------

BAYONETTA = DAY 1 (cause they have no games)

DANTE'S INFERNO = DAY 1 (cause they convinced themselves it's the same as Gow3)

GOW3 = NEVER (cause you dont get to play all 3)

[The Iron Sheik]

Bots won't buy Bayonetta. Its not a shooter, It's Japanese, and there is no multiplayer.

[Cartesian3D]

main character looks exactly like ARTHAS in warcraft 3:TFT

[Baka-akaB]

it's because the art is by joe madureira , with a manga-ish inspired comics style .
So it's a bit similar to what you can see in War3 and wow designs , but not a rip off , MAdureira has been using that style forever at Marvel and image comics , and sold millions of them with it ... i believe even before any warcraft .

[juggulator]

Dont let IGN fool you. Darksiders is a sleeper hit. I have it and Bayonetta on PS3 and both are great games.Darksiders is nothing like GOW and he must have been highly medicated to come up with Zelda as a partial comparision.

[Baka-akaB]

Well the zelda part is certain and admitted by the creators .
Gow also feature a bit of zelda gameplay , and virgil games isnt hiding a bit of gow lineage neither . They'd actually find the comparision to both flattering .

Besides apparently judging by dmc4 and bayonetta with are of a completely different style , every action games is now being compared with or without any reasons to GoW .

[mrmikew2018]

I fail see how that was a fanboy comment when I'm stating facts. There has only been handful of titles that IGN had deducted points from the Xbox 360 version of a multi-platform title. Personally I think it's retarded, but since it became second nature for IGN, why not do it when it's the other way around?

[BeaArthur]

What facts did you state and what proof did you provide? As I said, for most duel platform games one is inevitably slightly better than the other but not necessarily enough to warrant two different scores. What, would you knock it down .02 because of sligthly smoother graphics? There is no need because that point was referenced in the review, there is no point in making an entirely new review for small differences. And it was a fanboy comment because you are complaining about unfair treatment for the PS3.

[thief]

Evidently, the 360 version is much weaker in this game, with screen tearing and slowdowns, so why not do the same thing they did for Bayonetta PS3 and deduct scores?

Fact: weaker performance on PS3 in case of Orange box and Bayonetta was hyped out of proportion, even though both games are perfectly playable on PS3
Fact: 360 version was significantly inferior in Dragon's age and this game, and yet this was downplayed
Fact: you say that minor differences should be ignored - yet sites like Eurogamer run regular features where they nitpick PS3 versions of games on minor performance gaps that are not even noticeable.

There is a media bias against the PS3, especially on sites like EDGE and Eurogamer. If you choose to deny that, dont accuse others of being fanboys

[dragunrising]

I own the 360 version of Dragon Age and can say that it is very solid. You would have made your point if in fact the PS3 version had a better framerate and less screen tear. Alas, it doesn't. I will take better performance over better textures any day. Regardless, the PC version is vastly superior to either console port.

Regarding Darksiders, I picked up the PS3 version as the performance AND graphics seem to be better. If you have the option, pick up the superior version.

[byeGollum]

wtf is a 7.8? just score the damn thing an 8/10 and call it a day geez .. funny how his score is almost way off the uk and aussy score.. ahh well ..I can't wait to ride on ruin ^^

[mrmikew2018]

I'm sorry bro, but IGN is not reliable site anymore.

[ipe]

paused playing game

darksiders > bayonetta ,overall better package IMO

[Mo0eY]

Mooey's list of what to do when a game comes out:

Anything above 9.0, buy.

Anything from 7.5 to 8.9, rent and see if you like it.

Anything below 7.5, check to see if it isn't Eurolamer, GameTrailers, or Destructoid. (Or Edge - forgot about them as rucky pointed out)

If it's not, then don't even bother. If it is, add them to your block list, and move on to IGN, Giant Bomb, Joystiq, or Ars Technica.

[rucky]

"Anything below 7.5, check to see if it isn't Eurolamer, GameTrailers, or Destructoid."

You forget Edge

[FwanK]

Is it just me or Gamespot is gaining more credibility?

[mrmikew2018]

Sigh.....I'm trying my best not to make this into a argument, but you fail realize the point I'm trying to make. If IGN or any other site is going to deduct points from one version over the other because of various issues, it should go both ways. If you need proof, IGN deducted .01 points from the 360 version of Mirror's Edge because the graphics was not as sharp as the PS3. If you go on IGN right now you can find a handful of PS3 multi titles that were deducted points for various reasons. But when it's the way around...... you know what f@$k it, think what you want.

[BeaArthur]

Well there you go you have contradicted your original point about the PS3's unfair treatment. I know what point you were making it was just an unfounded one. As proven by your statement here. The PS3 does not receive unfair treatment.

[Unicron]

No?

Uncharted 2. A "non-innovative sequel" blah blah WILL NEVER score higher than a 9.3 according to a totally unnecessary "rebuttal" editorial. Not a week later, MW2 scores higher.

Bias exists in the media. Right now it favors the 360. Doesn't make them 360 fanboys however, just makes the media inconsistent and hellbent on pleasing the majority. Hence why review scores are stupid, arbitrary, and rather useless. Yet people cling to them like doctrine. Kinda sad.

[Bigpappy]

@Unicron. I am not getting your point. How exactly is rating MW2 higer than UC2 bias towards 360? Isn't that game on PS3 also?

[blackblades]

IGN suck's don't listen to them they gave it a 7.8 while everyone else gave it 9/10 8/10 4.5/5. IGN is the only one to give it a score under 8.

[Agheil]

this game deserves atleast an 8.5

[chrisulloa]

lol, okay Mr. Professional Game Reviewer.

[liquidgravity]

I see so many people bithchin and throwin their own scores around...its funny. I never go by scores on sites, their have been so many titles that have been givin low scores but i played anyways and ended up lovin them more then some of the games that get the high ratings. Its all about what type of gamer you are and what ya like. I've played about 4 hours into the game now and I LOVE IT. Love'em or hate'em, people are so stupid.

[TANUKI]

Oh god.. I actually forgot about this game. Holy... my wallet is just gasping for air.

I can't even afford Dante's Inferno and some of my pre-orders now :S

[4Sh0w]

Your comment is a perfect illustration of whats wrong with this site. You hold your own opinion as a matter of "fact" for others and whats worst is you got agree's. Nothing you said was a "fact", lets start with your "fact" about Orange Box, which was a terrible example to use btw, since it was one of the early ports on the ps3 that almost everybody including many ps3 owners on this very site thought was a poor port compared to the 360 version, thus most reviews had a obligation to note it in their reveiws for their readers, I personally dont see that as "over hyping" the discrepency on the reviewers part. The "fact" that I see the situation differently completely makes the premise of your statement, anything but a "fact". Now if you would have said xbox fanboys used the discrepency to overhype one consoles superiority over the other that is most likely the truth. I wont bother to pick apart your other facts, because I know for a "fact" that I have read tons of multiplat reviews where either the 360 version was overall slightly better or slightly worse or both had different pro's & cons but ultimately the games were so close they were rated the same, so again your "FACTS" are not facts, they are your emotional feelings demanding to be accepted as a fact. You could possibly be a great lawyer or a terrible lawyer, just depends on whether you were pretending to state "facts" or if you really believed they were. I'll let you decide which one would be the "great" lawyer, either way a *bad "theif" will likely need a great lawyer sooner or later :)

btw, my bad sometimes this site wont let me reply directly under other memberss comments as I intended.

[XIIIWARRIOR41]

For IGN to post such a lame score only proves to me how full of doo-doo they really are. Anyone that listens to them has got to be a noob. I'm glad I listened to myself and purchased it and I can't be happier. For the reviewer to say that it's a good idea to not have sequences "Mini battles" only goes to show IGN sucks at reviewing. I don't get it, they give Bayonetta a score over 9 and yet it borrows some styles from Devil May Cry & say nothing bad about the similarities. Do yourself a favor, BUY THIS GAME! I like Bayonetta but this game is a must!

[Aleusia]

IGN is not a credible gaming site anymore, they featured a video of some guy bashing Final Fantasy and its fans in a pretty harsh way that didn't seem very sarcastic at all.

Wishy washy bullsh!t from IGN, nothing more.

[SDF Repellent]

Both are great games.

Whatever happen to self review.

So Bayonetta(X360) with an avg score of 93 on Meta and Darksiders avg in the upper 80s and you said Bayonetta doesn't deserve the accolades it is getting?

If you think Darksiders is better than Bayonetta, OK, great, I respect that. But I love them both as I play and buy games based on my personal taste and not another person's opinion..that is just retarded.

[StarCSR]

How can anyone even compare Bayonetta with this? What's next: comparing puzzle games with fighters?

[hatchimatchi]

Seriously, i don't understand why n4g has been overrun with people accusing gow3/DI/Bayonetta/Darksiders copying someone or the other.

Freaking play the games for what they are, good lord.

Bayonetta is NOTHING like god of war and Darksiders is NOTHING like bayonetta.

Both games are awesome and GOW3 and DI will be awesome too. The only people who will miss out are the ones who are too busy trying to justify why their favorite game is better than the others.

Here's a solution, get a job and rent the games or buy them. Stop trying to convince yourself that certain games suck just because you can't afford all of them.