Darksiders Genesis introduces players to Strife, the fourth and final Horseman of the Apocalypse. The game is set before the events of Darksiders 1 and for the first time in the franchise’s history, introduces Co-Op gameplay mechanics. Does the game deliver on its expectations though? Is it really a “Diablo clone” as it was often called by gamers in the lead up to release? Let’s find out.
In Darksiders Genesis, players will take on the role of either Strife or War. Playing as Strife, you’ll have access to a range of gun attacks whereas if you choose to play as War, you’ll make use of sword attacks. There’s a light attack and a heavy attack and players will unlock different types of enhancements and other abilities to make use of in battle.
At its core, Darksiders Genesis is still a Darksiders game. All that’s changed this time around is the fact that Airship Syndicate and THQ Nordic have opted for an angled top-down view akin to titles such as Diablo 3 and Torchlight 2. Players will hack and slash their way through levels and there are multiple platforming segments to get through as well. There is no loot system like Diablo though so if you were expecting that, you’ll be sorely disappointed. With that said, we much prefer the current system which keeps the gameplay simple but extremely fun throughout.
Players will use their abilities to progress further and will often encounter tough boss enemies. Both War and Strife can be upgraded with more combat abilities and items as you progress through the game and unlock resources for them to spend back at a hub world that’s also later unlocked.
War and Strife both play extremely differently. Strife takes a ranged approach to combat most of the time with rapid firing handguns and a more powerful charged attack dedicated to his heavy attack button. Fire enough bullets into an enemy and Strife will enter a super-powered state where his guns fire faster and his charged attack does more damage. Strife can also perform melee attacks and these are fast-paced dagger swipes and slashes. War, on the other hand, is the heavy hitter of the team and swings his Chaoseater around in much the same way as he does in Darksiders 1. In fact, War even has some of the same combos from Darksiders 1 including the attack where he spins his sword and becomes a ripsaw of death. Fans of the franchise will definitely enjoy seeing this in action.
The story of Darksiders Genesis is pretty straightforward. There’s enough content here to keep you entertained for a solid 10 hours, if not more, and the game ticks all the right boxes at the expense of losing some of the more serious undertones from the original game. The writing seems to have drifted into a trope-filled action slash fest with Strife being a bit of a joker while War has become even more sombre and serious than ever before. The juxtaposition works for the first few hours but eventually becomes a tad stale and cliche. Nevertheless, the story is still entertaining and series veterans will enjoy the fact that there are returning characters that pop up and that the voice acting has remained the same throughout. Attacks and abilities sound just as good as they look too thankfully.
The game despite being short does feature some replayability thanks to the hidden collectables found in each chapter. The soundtrack used in the game is great and there’s a particular track that plays during battles which just gets your adrenaline pumping. Props to the sound design team for getting everything right throughout.
The level design and artistic direction are superb and while there are some bugs and glitches in the game right now, such as being able to get stuck on the scenery and along walls sometimes, the game runs buttery smooth and looks amazing. Each location has an aesthetic that fits the Darksiders franchise and is a feast for the eyes. The map used in-game is a bit of a let down since it doesn’t actively track your exact position on the map. This means it’s easy to get lost but if you pay enough attention to your surroundings, it shouldn’t be too much an issue.
Overall, Darksiders Genesis is a solid entry in the Darksiders franchise of games. It sticks to the tried and trusted action-adventure formula from Darksiders 1 but changes things up enough to keep players entertained. The co-op mechanics are great from the get-go and players will surely have a great time playing through the entire game with a buddy at their side. Solo players will also have lots of fun and this is a title that comes highly recommended from us, especially since it’s priced so well right now. If you have an action-adventure itch that needs scratching, definitely pick up Darksiders Genesis.
The Switch version has some roughness around the edges with dips in FPS, but other than that the game is still just as good and fun to play.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, Xbox One, PC
Developers: Airship Syndicate, Airship Syndicate Entertainment, Inc
Darksiders Genesis was reviewed on PC and Nintendo Switch
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Darksiders Genesis
From the dawn of creation, the council has maintained the Balance across existence. Carrying out their orders are the Horsemen, Nephilim (powerful beings spawned from the unnatural union of angels and demons) who have pledged themselves to the Council and been granted immense power. However, this power came at a tragic cost: the Horsemen were ordered to use their newfound strength to wipe out the rest of their kind. What followed was a bloody battle on Eden where the Horsemen, obeying the will of the Council, annihilated the Nephilim.
Product Currency: GBP
Product Price: 23.99
Product In Stock: SoldOut
4.5
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