Darksiders 2 review/rant/vent

[Jandau]

It's a great game.

The plot is simple and straightforward, but at the same time I can get behind the protagonist's motivations and goals (save his brother and resurrect humanity). There isn't much more to the plot, but the banter between Death and the various NPCs is quite enjoyable.

The visual style is interesting, with plenty of color in the right places, stylized characters and creatures and an overall over-the-top aesthetic. I'm fucking sick and tired of people calling every fantasy game with stylized visuals a "WoW ripoff". Seriously, WoW hardly invented the style, it was around a loooong time before Blizzard was ever founded.

Gameplay is fun, the platforming is enjoyable, combat is fast and satisfying, puzzles progress nicely towards more complicated. In the second half of the game I had to stop and think, but never did it feel like the game was being unfair (well, except for the burning elevator sequence).

The RPG elements (leveling, loot) is an extra layer that doesn't detract anything from the game. Sure, not that much depth there, but it still provides options on how to approach the combat (Execute build, Crit build, Tank build, Elemental build, Spellcaster build, etc.).

The soundtrack is brilliant. I haven't heard music this good in a game in a while. Especially the slower songs, perfectly haunting and melancholy.

Finally, the game gets bonus points for reminding me of Soul Reaver, which I adore. Heck, Death even resembles Raziel a fair bit in overall look and movements.

All in all, an awesome game. I loved the first Darksiders and the sequel takes everything I liked about that game, ramps it up and adds a bunch of new stuff. Now if you'll excuse me, I got some angels to kill...

 

[Loop Stricken]

I suspect I made the right choice, buying the console version of a console game. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

 

[Lunar Templar]

that's nice, buying it today anyway.

also, the 'WoW rip off' line kinda invalidates your argument, stylization like this has been around longer the world of failcraft

 

[Swyftstar]

I was so looking forward to this, I was counting down the hours until launch, but Vigil studios just took my hopes and dreams, grinded it into a pulp, mixed it with pig meat and squeezed it into sausages ready to be sold at the next Oktoberfest in Germany, to feed the great, drunken, unwashed masses.

Do I have to go to Germany to get one of those sausages, because they sound delicious? Also, do I have to be drunken and unwashed? I don't really have a problem with either, I am just asking for clarification.

 

[The Human Torch]

I was so looking forward to this, I was counting down the hours until launch, but Vigil studios just took my hopes and dreams, grinded it into a pulp, mixed it with pig meat and squeezed it into sausages ready to be sold at the next Oktoberfest in Germany, to feed the great, drunken, unwashed masses.

Do I have to go to Germany to get one of those sausages, because they sound delicious? Also, do I have to be drunken and unwashed? I don't really have a problem with either, I am just asking for clarification.

I am pretty sure that when you are drunken and unwashed, you won't stand out of the crowd during an Oktoberfest. In fact, people would be surprised if you are actually hygienic and sober.

 

[The Human Torch]

Come on, singleplayer WoW?

Huh? The games are nothing alike. If you describe the way that the inventory works, sure you can say it's singleplayer WoW. But in practice, and actually playing is totally different. You barely talked about the gameplay at all here, which is the most important part of a hack and slash game.

They are nothing like alike, but you can't deny that there is a WoW/Diablo 3 inspiration when it comes to the loot and level system.

Heck, I just used WoW because that's the most well-known and obvious example. You can throw almost any MMO and click&slash dungeon as an example, Darksiders is just known for taking certain elements from different games and throwing them together.

 

[The Human Torch]

Opinions. I like the new loot system, especially the whole deal about possessed weapons that you can level up. It's fine if you don't though

Like I said, my original post is a personal rant of my view of the game. It's one big opinion. If you enjoy this kind of loot system, good for you, I mean it. It's just not for me.

 

[The Human Torch]

that's nice, buying it today anyway.

also, the 'WoW rip off' line kinda invalidates your argument, stylization like this has been around longer the world of failcraft

It's the biggest MMO out there, that uses a similar loot system, it was the most obvious example. I know that there are older games out there with similar loot systems.
Feel free to fill in your own preference. Diablo 3 works, Torchlight as well, Star Wars: The Old Republic...take a pick!

 

[The Human Torch]

You base an argument about the story of a game sucking because you didn't get massive plot points spoon fed to you in the first half hour of the game? Come on man, grow up. Every single one of those plot points is explained over the course of the game.

The point you make about the equipment is valid, if you wanted a game that has no challenge, you can't start the game as the destroyer of worlds, where is the fun in that? The addition of equipment makes it possible for players to tool Death to their play style (sorta).

I've been playing on console and had no issues with the camera in combat, maybe its a PC port issue (they do happen quite a lot).

I was enjoying the game until two things happened, the first thing, I picked up a secondary attack itme from a boss fight that just breaks the game. Achidna's fangs I think they are called, basically they give a % of damage dealt back as health, breaks combat totally, boss fights are still mildly challenging, until they send a mob of grunts at you and you refill your health with them. The second thing was the game introducing time travel. That's me done for a good while with this game.

Like the first game, I'll return to it when I get bored enough.

I did not get tired of the story because nothing is explained in the first 15 minutes, I got frustrated because I didn't know what the hell was going on. I am perfectly capable of sitting a movie or game out and seeing how a story unfolds itself.

It's just that it didn't make any sense to me. I missed reasons and explanations. Maybe I am just too thick to get the story, maybe I missed a cut-scene, I don't know. All I know is that I was sitting behind my computer, going: "WHAT IS GOING ON?!".

 

[The Human Torch]

The only reason I can see for the WoW comparison is the art style, which is ridiculous. At least people could semi-justify the comparison with Kingdoms of Amalur, this is stretching big time.

Also, yeah, the story takes backseat to everything else, but the story didn't exactly carry the first game either.

I didn't compare it to WoW for the art-style, but for the item and talenttree system. Now, before you start, I know that there are other games out there with a similar system, WoW is just the biggest and obvious example out there.

And I love the art-style, Joe Madureira is one of my all-time favorite artists, I have almost all of the comics he drew, from X-Men to Battle Chasers to the Avenging Spiderman. Although my enjoyment of that was slightly lessened by the low res textures, but that's what you get with poor PC ports.

I hope that Transformers: Fall of Cybertron will be a better port or I am never buying a console-port again, ever.

 

[The Human Torch]

Come on, singleplayer WoW?

Huh? The games are nothing alike. If you describe the way that the inventory works, sure you can say it's singleplayer WoW. But in practice, and actually playing is totally different. You barely talked about the gameplay at all here, which is the most important part of a hack and slash game.

Because he would rather have no context to mindless going from point A to point B killing things. Any perceived "work" that gamers might think their doing is GRINDY and LIKE WOW. We're in the age of instant gratification where games like Call of Duty are popular because KILLSTREAKKKKKKZKZKZKZZZK!!!!111 Obviously this game has a bit too many RPG elements and his patience isn't long enough to enjoy the game.

Also OP, why are you trying to make logical sense of the plot elements? Resurrect humanity? ITS GODS AND DEMONS WITH MYTHICAL POWERS. ITS THE 4 HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE. Of course there are going to be magical macguffins in a high fantasy mythos! The derp is strong in you.

What are you talking about? Where did I say that I wanted to have no context and a mindless grind from A to B? Darksiders 1 and 2 are mindless grinds from A to B!
It's you and a few million faceless thugs and some random bosses that are in your way. Go grind your way through them. That is perfectly fine, a proper story, mixed with some decent cut-scenes break up this monotonous grind and make it a pleasurable experience.

I am not hating the combat, I loved how smooth and fluent the combat of Darksiders 2 is. What I don't like is loot drops and item upgrades, because I do not think that it fits with a game like this. Buying new abilities and combo's is enough, I am not a fan of item-vendors in a God of War type game.
Maybe you do, but it's just not for me.

Darksiders 1 didn't have a loot system, and that worked fine for me.

And I would like some logical sense in my story. Just because it's a fantasy story doesn't mean that things can't make sense. Darksiders 1 made sense. Someone started a war between heaven and hell and put the blame on War, he then goes out to prove his innocence. THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT IS LOGICAL.

The derp is not strong with me, but the judgemental is strong with you.

 

[The Human Torch]

human torch, the game isnt for you.

i am loving the game alot. the points about the plot you mention are explain at the start and serve as backstory. later you will understand it better.

it isnt the same game as 1. the have said that a thousand times already. if you dident bother to read posts about the game then its your fault. the changed alot and i am still in the middel about what was good and what is bad.

i have to give you the camera problem but you can focus on a enemy it helps.

all in all i have to say its your own fault you dont like it. there isnt anything in the game the haven't told you before it launched.

I try to limit my exposure prior to a launch, because gaming websites and developers have a tendency to throw half the game out there on the internet in the form of Let's Plays and interviews and trailers. I do not like seeing so many spoilers.

Hence, I did not know about the loot system.

Guess that it was foolish of me to believe that this game would be similar to part 1. Hey, a man can dream.

 

[Lunar Templar]

that's nice, buying it today anyway.

also, the 'WoW rip off' line kinda invalidates your argument, stylization like this has been around longer the world of failcraft

It's the biggest MMO out there, that uses a similar loot system, it was the most obvious example. I know that there are older games out there with similar loot systems.
Feel free to fill in your own preference. Diablo 3 works, Torchlight as well, Star Wars: The Old Republic...take a pick!

note:as i'm typing this, the game is installing

but >.> WoW sucks ... and D3 is rather, boring .... and ToR is 'WoW in space' pretty much, Torchlight is ok though.

anyway, i already KNOW about the 'flaws'. sub par textures? don't care, not a graphics whore so it looks fine to me. story? played the first one, which wasn't exactly stellar in terms of story ether, but it was engaging enough to keep me with it to the end. crappy PC port? yup, know about it, Total Bisket informed me.

do i care any of the above? no. from every thing i've seen and heard its a legitimately good game, marred by some issues, one of which got a guy fired already. so i see no reason to hate on it just yet.

i mean i had at first totally written Darksiders 1 off as a God of War clone, i forget what changed my mind about it, but I'm glad it did, best 'Zelda' game of this generation i say

 

[Burrito With Legs]

It sounds like you're trying to be Zero Punctuation.

 

[ZeoAssassin]

I didn't compare it to WoW for the art-style, but for the item and talenttree system. Now, before you start, I know that there are other games out there with a similar system, WoW is just the biggest and obvious example out there.

And I love the art-style, Joe Madureira is one of my all-time favorite artists, I have almost all of the comics he drew, from X-Men to Battle Chasers to the Avenging Spiderman. Although my enjoyment of that was slightly lessened by the low res textures, but that's what you get with poor PC ports.

I hope that Transformers: Fall of Cybertron will be a better port or I am never buying a console-port again, ever.

other games...as in pretty much EVERY RPG? Dragon Age, The Elder Scrolls Series, Mass Effect, KOTOR, etc etc etc. Granted not every RPG has it but for 90% its kinda a staple of the genre.

I mean you don't like it then you don't like it but most people that enjoy RPGs enjoy talent and gear swapping and pondering. This is hardly anything exclusive to WoW or Diablo. I don't have to grind the same boss multiple times to get the item i want, hell there's a mini-game (the Crucible) that directly rewards me with great gear if i don't suck too much.

Yeah its a mediocre port at best but thats why God invented patching =p

 

[The Human Torch]

that's nice, buying it today anyway.

also, the 'WoW rip off' line kinda invalidates your argument, stylization like this has been around longer the world of failcraft

It's the biggest MMO out there, that uses a similar loot system, it was the most obvious example. I know that there are older games out there with similar loot systems.
Feel free to fill in your own preference. Diablo 3 works, Torchlight as well, Star Wars: The Old Republic...take a pick!

note:as i'm typing this, the game is installing

but >.> WoW sucks ... and D3 is rather, boring .... and ToR is 'WoW in space' pretty much, Torchlight is ok though.

anyway, i already KNOW about the 'flaws'. sub par textures? don't care, not a graphics whore so it looks fine to me. story? played the first one, which wasn't exactly stellar in terms of story ether, but it was engaging enough to keep me with it to the end. crappy PC port? yup, know about it, Total Bisket informed me.

do i care any of the above? no. from every thing i've seen and heard its a legitimately good game, marred by some issues, one of which got a guy fired already. so i see no reason to hate on it just yet.

i mean i had at first totally written Darksiders 1 off as a God of War clone, i forget what changed my mind about it, but I'm glad it did, best 'Zelda' game of this generation i say

Well, I didn't refer to WoW, Diablo 3, Torchlight, SWTOR and Torchlight for the level of their quality, but for using a loot system that Darksiders 2 has adopted. I am sure there are tons of other examples out there, but I just went for one of the more obvious ones.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

I have problems with controls and certain gripping issues otherwise I love it, the music is absolutely amazing. Graphics are better than in the first one, larger maps/plots.

However the difficulties of the different areas are all whack. The bosses are a real let down compared to the first game(the first and the third boss almost did my head in), the second one never got me below 90% health.

 

[The Human Torch]

It sounds like you're trying to be Zero Punctuation.

There were people capable of hyperboling before Zero Punctuation started. And I think that I have Yahtzee beat by a couple of +bitter points.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Come on, singleplayer WoW?

Huh? The games are nothing alike. If you describe the way that the inventory works, sure you can say it's singleplayer WoW. But in practice, and actually playing is totally different. You barely talked about the gameplay at all here, which is the most important part of a hack and slash game.

Because he would rather have no context to mindless going from point A to point B killing things. Any perceived "work" that gamers might think their doing is GRINDY and LIKE WOW. We're in the age of instant gratification where games like Call of Duty are popular because KILLSTREAKKKKKKZKZKZKZZZK!!!!111 Obviously this game has a bit too many RPG elements and his patience isn't long enough to enjoy the game.

Also OP, why are you trying to make logical sense of the plot elements? Resurrect humanity? ITS GODS AND DEMONS WITH MYTHICAL POWERS. ITS THE 4 HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE. Of course there are going to be magical macguffins in a high fantasy mythos! The derp is strong in you.

I don't think the first part of your post is entirely fair (the second part is though). Having not picked up the game yet I don't know how valid the comparison to WoW is, but I do get his gripe with skill trees and fetch quests seeming to be in fucking everything these days regardless of whether or not it really adds anything just because they've proven to be successful mechanics. Sometimes you do just want to be able to get all the skills without having to pick and choose, or having to do everyone else's busy work to earn it; and calling someone juvenile and stupid for just wanting an uncompromising experience every now and again rather than shoehorned in RPG elements that only add the illusion of depth and make no thematic sense is, well, juvenile and stupid. Why should a character like Death start off at novice level and then grow? He's the very embodiment of slaughter across all plains of existence for Christ's sake, he shouldn't need to prove his worth to anybody.

I like RPG's and RPG elements, I also like the occasional fetch quest grind. However, iff to many things have RPG elements and fetch quests just for the sake of it, or just because the developers needed to pad out the play time, rather than them actually making thematic sense, then they just become token and boring. There's nothing wrong with just wanting to kill shit once in a while, especially if you're supposed to be playing as fucking Death!

 

[Finbark]

You could try a naked run if you don't like the whole gear thing
The camera does take some getting used to, but once you do get used to it you'll find yourself switching targets and priorities like it's second nature.
And yes, the story elements you complained about are explained later in the game.
Plus, the developers DID make it clear that this game would play like an ARPG. If you were as hyped about this game as you said you were, why didn't you bother to research it a little...? (EDIT: After reading some of OP's responses I understand why he didn't want to be exposed to the game before release... still.)
I enjoyed the game quite a bit, and yes I can admit it has its flaws, but they are flaws that are easy to look over. I really don't mind that the game rips off game mechanics that have worked in other games.
My favorite parts about the game are the art direction and soundtrack, so I guess if you didn't like one or either of those you wouldn't enjoy the game much as it is.