Darksiders Updated Hands-On Impressions

We play around with some new weapons and ride a fiery mount in our latest hands-on.

It was at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo that we last saw War, the Horseman of the Apocalypse who has wrongfully taken the fall for the utter destruction of the world in THQ's upcoming action adventure game Darksiders. Back then, we saw War reclaim his fiery steed, Ruin, after an epic arena battle and were quite impressed at the brutal chaos the burly War could wreak. It has been all quiet on the Darksiders front--until now, that is, with THQ showing off an updated build of the game at the Tokyo Game Show. We managed to get some brawling time with Darksiders just before TGS opens to see just how the game is progressing.

What's New: What's being shown on the TGS floor isn't anything new in terms of playable levels, but THQ did allow us to play around with a few previously unrevealed weapons during our behind-closed-doors session. The combat style in Darksiders will be familiar to anyone who has spent time with games like Devil May Cry, with War able to switch between melee and ranged weapons in smooth succession. As well as the Magnum-like gun dubbed Mercy, War will eventually get to play around with ranged weapons, such as the Abyssal Chain and the Cross Blade. The Abyssal Chain can shoot out and grab smaller enemies and can also allow War to latch on to bigger foes and quickly close the gap (think hook shot a la Zelda). The Cross Blade looks like a large, glowing cross that can be charged before being thrown by holding down the ranged weapon button. THQ reps also told us there are plenty more weapons yet to be unveiled.

What's Different: We've seen War battle astride his horse, Ruin, before, but this time we managed to get hands-on ourselves to experience just how it feels to have a blazing horse as a best friend. While riding Ruin, War seems practically impervious to lower-level enemies, with the Horseman plowing through these troops with ease. We're told, however, that larger enemies will still be able to knock War off Ruin.

What's The Same: The combat mixed with light exploration and puzzle solving we've experienced before with Darksiders is alive and well with this latest build. Combat is still smooth, and we'll have to wait and see what the combat/puzzle mix will be in the final game.

What Impression The Game Made This Time: Darksiders' combat, striking art design, and flashy violence have impressed us before, and this latest hands-on hasn't changed our minds. We'll have more on Darksiders as it gets closer to its January 2010 release date, so keep it locked to GameSpot for more information.

32 Comments

  • Spriggan89

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 3:27 pm PT

    I just love the embodiment of successful ideas in the game. It is not as hellish as Dante's Inferno, but still hellish enough to believe in the end of days. Not as Japany as DMC, but has some ridiculously fun touch similar to Jap-design. Not as brutal and specifically bloody as hell as GoW, but still has a guy with infamous weapons, no remorse and some serious attitude. I like the epic pseudo-bible type of story. I just love the idea of an open world with some puzzles and areas to explore, because the dull "go in, kill, go on" structure is getting on my nerves. And of course, War. He is one raging bastard! And he is not some kind of a half-demon or god-slayer. He is the fething thing, he is war in all of its measures. Sure his unnatural bulk may seems a little too much, but than again the whole style of the game is kind of bulky. Reminds me of World of Warcraft in some ways... Really am looking forward for this. Looks like I may become a fanboy, and that's not good.

  • Sagrannus

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 4:02 am PT

    ok this is slightly OT...but...Dualmask? ur having a go at hooded heroes..yet...unless my eyesight has suddenly failed...ur avatar is a hooded character wearing a mask...thats about as hooded as u can get...

  • Dualmask

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 10:18 am PT

    I'm really not fond of the main character's design (what's with all the hooded heroes...AC, Prototype and now this...and he looks like a tank) but the game looks great. Given that Zelda was its inspiration in some ways, I'm eager to see how it turns out.

    From the looks of things, I see myself renting this, beating it and returning it, but if it's lengthy enough and its secrets worth unearthing, it might turn to a buy.

  • xolivierx

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 10:48 am PT

    The game looks amazing. The only down is the main character is too big and looks like it came out of Gears of War. What's the point of creating a character made out of steroids that looks like it's too big to even walk. I would have hope for a serious game, and not an ''arcade game''. I hope this game will handle like Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver and NOT like Gears of War.

    Can't wait till it comes out though

  • luwelui

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 7:48 pm PT

    The art work looks amazing and hope it'll be good. JoeMad is an awesome artist and linking that he's moving that to the Video Game world.

  • Sov_of_Forums

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 4:23 pm PT

    Are you guys kiding me? The story sounds awesome... War is framed for starting the bloody Apocalypse ahead of time and is stripped of his powers, now hes out for revenge on the one who set him up... this is a dream come true for english and movie nerds everywere! LoZ, DMC and God of War were great games because of the style of gameplay they chose... another game using a similar style can only be great...

  • psychomonkey712

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 5:53 pm PT

    Everyone saying its eaither DMC, zelda or god of war ripoff(everybody always chooses one and insists its ripping off that one game) its got the whole open world/dungeon/item aspect of devil with the badassness and kick-ass fighting like god of war and DMC so really In my opinion you really cant go wrong seeing those are three of the most enjoyable games of all time(at least I think so) I expect the story to be pretty badass too although not so much original

  • samswet

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 6:04 pm PT

    I am so excited for this! Bring on the Apocolypse!

  • ThePurpleBubble

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 10:00 am PT

    @BLACKWINGS17 "Blizzard was probably fans of his comics, so WoW is actually Joe Mad style."

    I recall reading in an interview that that is, indeed, the case.

    On-topic:I'm really looking forward to Darksiders...
    Stylized graphics (yes people, will complain that they aren't realistic enough... forget them.)
    LoZ/DmC-esque combat.
    A fairly interesting story.

    Only thing I'm hoping is that it won't follow the same path as LoZ - use an item in the dungeon you get it in, and perhaps the last dungeon as well, but besides that, you'll never even look at it.

  • rayfonseca

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 6:25 am PT

    Feels like there's nothing new about this game. The character design is far exaggerated, and while the gameplay may satisfy, the story seems dull.

  • BLACKWINGS17

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 6:25 am PT

    Joe Mad was doin' this style long before WoW was, you people should seriously do your homework. He was drawing X-Men comics before their first Warcraft game even came out. Blizzard was probably fans of his comics, so WoW is actually Joe Mad style.

    This is the game I'm anticipating more than than any other game's arrival, I cannot wait for this game.

  • Ghostquote44

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 5:49 am PT

    This game looks amazing, I mean it, but I won't be able to play it because my stupid parents think that the rating system is everything! "Oh no! This game has exploding heads! You can't play that" And yet they bought me Resident Evil 5. Hmmm, what great logic!

  • Witchsight

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 5:32 am PT

    I dont really dig the WoW art style.

    Yeah, i said it.

  • EvanDeWickeD

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 5:18 am PT

    :B

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 4:05 am PT

    This game looks epic. Can't wait.

  • mitsios

    Posted Sep 24, 2009 3:17 am PT

    i cant wait....i cant wait come on come on..release it..:p

  • Brettsky128

    Posted Sep 23, 2009 8:18 pm PT

    I probably won't get it day 1, but if the reviews are decent I might pick it up, it definitely looks interesting, especially comparing it to Zelda. Hoping the game is big and deep, expecting it not to be so my hopes don't get shattered.

  • skyydragonn

    Posted Sep 23, 2009 7:39 pm PT

    so its basically DMC what 5, 6 now?

    Sorry but I've never been a fan of the DMC series despite lovng similar style games in the past. If this comes off as a DMC clone I think i'll pass.

  • ratosian

    Posted Sep 23, 2009 6:29 pm PT

    that not really bad

  • brian_13un

    Posted Sep 23, 2009 5:22 pm PT

    Really great looking forward to this one

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