Game review: Darksiders II

By Dave Cook
Published on 26/08/2012 12:56

After War – one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse – stands accused of bringing about the apocalypse early, his brother in arms Death must seek out the tree of life to clear his name.

Set in a dark, mythical realm, players travel the lavish open world, venture into a wide range of dungeons teeming with puzzles and enemies, and help restore balance to the domain.

Death is equipped with an arsenal of scythe and heavy weapon attacks, as well as necromancy abilities with which he can summon ghouls to aid him in battle. Players will level up by defeating foes and earn new skills and weapons along the way.

Darksiders II recalls the Legend of Zelda series and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver in their clever design and increasingly fiendish puzzles. You can spend hours roaming each area in search of trinkets, chests and other loot to help aid your quest.

In terms of content, Vigil has pumped Darksiders II full of things to see and do. By collecting new gear you uncover more of the map, gradually pushing back its borders as you go.

It’s easy to get lost in this vivid world, consumed by the desire to explore and collect all the game has to offer. As such, it offers outstanding value. Seek it out.

• £44.99, PC/PS3/Xbox 36