Introduction
Basic information
Developer: Airship Syndicate
Full name: Darksiders Genesis
Release date: 2019
Released on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Cross play: no
Genre: Hack and Slash, Role-playing game
Additional information: If you want to get the full story you will need to have played the other Darksiders games. Otherwise, the story might be confusing for you.
Initial thoughts
My wife and I are both fan of the Darksiders story, and gameplay. While we were playing this game together, we were both playing another Darksiders game! Yep, three games at one time, that is usual for us. My wife and I were genuinely interested in how the co-op would work in this game. She really wanted to play as Strife, and War is my favorite. The decision on who plays who was decided in a flash. Time to fuck up some demons!
Story and setting
Plot overview
Darksiders Genesis serves as a prequel and sets some events in stone for the other games. This story is all about how the seals that are such a big deal in the other Darksiders game came to be. If you have not read the comics, you might still be a bit lost on what is going on. War and Strife are sent on a mission to stop Lucifer and his evil schemes.
World building and immersion
The cutscenes are done as if you are in a comic book. The immersion is done greatly and appreciates the other games. Sameal and Vulgrim help a great deal in setting the immersion and building the world. These demons basically just choose the winning team and profit. There are many places to visit, but most of them are in hell, making the world, or rather hell, very big.
Character development
This is the beginning of seeing how Strife and War serve the council. If you have played the other games, you can see how much development they have made. War is a lot calmer in the later games, here is much more of a hothead since this takes place shortly after the Nephilim have been slaughtered.
Emotional impact
This game is not big on emotions, we are dealing with two killers here. If they have to slaughter hundreds of people, they easily do so without muttering a word. The voice acting does help a lot in this regard as War and Strife as brothers have some emotional moments and feel that something is wrong with the council, and the balance they serve. Which is important for later games.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 9.5
I think the story is excellent and handles all aspects properly. It ties in perfectly with the other three Darksiders games. Strife is someone who rather helps from the shadow. Now, we just need a fifth game to give the story that was built upon this game a proper end.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
We have played this game fully in co-op mode. I heavily recommend you do this to get the most out of this game. It has local co-op, one plays as War, and the other as Strife. War is a tanky character who can also deal some damage. But Strife is the true damage per second king despite being a bit squashy. Strife can use different elements while shooting and even shoot laser beams. War can ground pound and rip demons apart.
Both of these characters have important skills for which you will need to backtrack to previous levels. You will also find soul cores that you can slot into your skill tree. Gathering more souls will increase your power. Next to that, there is health and wrath upgrades. You go into the levels from a hub, and these levels are usually small worlds that have a lot of loot to gather, but to see the loot, you need to first find the map. Some upgrades are hidden behind puzzles.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty starts out nice, a good warm up. It does not take long before the demons are wiping the floor with you. This is the moment to start grinding and backtrack. Each time a difficulty spike hits you, the game expects you to gather new soul cores or find health upgrades. After doing this and coming back, you will wipe the floor with them. The bosses are on a whole other level, they are tough and challenging to take down. Especially the final boss, and the optional boss.
Pacing of the game
The pacing of the game, along with the story is actually perfect. Each time something heavy happens, the game gives you some time to just scroll through a level and wipe the floor. Or it allows you to backtrack to find currency to buy upgrades or new combos.
Innovation and uniqueness
While not innovative or unique in itself, the game does not try to be something it is not. It very well knows what it is, a hack and slash with RPG elements, and it does so perfectly.
Controls and user interface
The controls and abilities which come back in other games are smooth. Except for the void portal bomb, it is insanely difficult to aim this thing, but it not really the controls. This is due to the fucked up camera which we will go over in the graphics section. The user interface is a bit cramped due to having two players on screen but we both were not bothered by it.
Microtransactions
Microtransactions available: No
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 8.
Most of it was smooth sailing, but that camera, damn.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics are dark and gloomy, lots of blood flying everywhere. Limbs being ripped off, all in all, a jolly good time! There was one major problem, the camera. Seeing where you are aiming, or jumping to is hard to do with the fixed camera. But the cutscenes are great. Text and subtitles are not synced properly, and there are some minor typos. But the quality is very good.
Technical performances
A few frame drops or stutters, which can also be seen in the video we made. A few crashes occurred but nothing too major or game breaking.
Environment and design uniqueness
I have to give a lot of props for the environment and design uniqueness. Yes, plenty of enemies from other games come back, with a bit of different style. But you explore the realms of hell and all of them are different. Along with the paradise of Eden, I think it fits perfectly with the other games, which is important to me.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 7.
While I would have loved to give it a better rating, the camera detracts those points.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtracks were perfect and tense. It did a wonderful job of setting the scene, creating the ambiance that you are in a hostile environment. For each level, there is a soundtrack that accompanies it. It never got old and we both loved the soundtracks in this game.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are as crisp as they could be. Whacking demons never gets old, their screams are also fun when you throw them into the abyss.
Voice Acting
I love the voice acting of Strife and War. The way they interact feels genuine as two brothers who have lost a lot. Their true power is in kept in check by the Council which they will talk about with emotion, never does it sound hollow. The demons and angels also have great voice acting.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 9.5
The developers did an amazing job in the sound and music section!
Multiplayer components
Online gameplay experience
Not applicable.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
There is a lot of content to play in this game. Not only do you have sixteen levels to explore, with some of them being bosses. The hub also holds content, for this you need to do quests and complete achievements. Or find all the trickster doors to challenge Sir Killington. There is also apocalypse mode after you beat the game, but normal already tends to be on the difficult side.
Extra Content
There is the arena which can played for extra content. However, both my wife and I disliked how they handled the arena system, you need to complete each challenge to get to the next one. But the points you gather do not stack with each challenge, and you also need to grind a lot to be able to complete the later challenges.
Replay value
There is a lot of replay value by going back to the older levels and grinding or collecting all loot. You can also replay the game at a higher difficulty. All in all, the replay value is pretty high.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Darksiders Genesis with an 8.
If you start to play this game, get ready to invest a lot of time!
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
While Darksiders Genesis delivers an engaging and enjoyable experience, there are a few areas where improvements could enhance the gameplay. Firstly, addressing the camera issues would significantly improve the playability, especially during combat and platforming sections. A more dynamic or player-controlled camera could alleviate the frustrations of aiming and navigation. Secondly, refining the aiming mechanics for the void portal bomb would help in reducing the difficulty spikes caused by imprecise controls. Lastly, synchronizing text and subtitles properly in cutscenes would polish the narrative presentation, making the story more immersive.
The developers have done a commendable job in crafting a prequel that ties in seamlessly with the rest of the Darksiders series. The co-op mode is a standout feature, allowing us to experience the game together in a new and exciting way. The character dynamics between War and Strife are well-executed, and the voice acting brings their relationship to life. The art direction and sound design effectively create a dark, immersive world that fans of the series will appreciate. However, addressing the technical hiccups and enhancing the user interface for co-op play would elevate the game’s quality further.
Comparisons
Darksiders Genesis diverges from the traditional third-person perspective of its predecessors, adopting a top-down, hack-and-slash approach akin to games like Diablo. This shift in gameplay style offers a fresh take on the series while maintaining the core elements that almost everyone loves, such as intricate combat and deep lore. Unlike the single-character focus in previous entries, Darksiders Genesis emphasizes the cooperative play between War and Strife, adding a new layer of strategy and camaraderie. While the fixed camera and certain control mechanics pose challenges, the game retains the franchise’s signature dark aesthetic and intense action.
In comparison to other hack-and-slash RPGs like Diablo III and Torchlight II, Darksiders Genesis holds its own with its unique blend of action and story-driven gameplay. While it may not have the same level of polish in terms of camera control and some gameplay mechanics, it stands out with its strong narrative connections to the Darksiders universe and the distinct personalities of its protagonists. The cooperative gameplay is a highlight, offering a different experience compared to the more solo-focused nature of its genre counterparts. The level design, filled with puzzles and hidden loot, provides a satisfying mix of exploration and combat, making it a worthy contender in the hack-and-slash RPG space.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
I am going to be very simple for my personal experiences with this game. I simply loved playing through this game with my wife, we laughed and had a lot of fun despite the stupid camera. But man, those difficulty spikes!
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Darksiders Genesis, I give it a personal rating of 8.5.
An amazingly fun game to play in co-op!
Last words
Pros
- The local co-op mode allows players to team up as War and Strife
- The game serves as a prequel, seamlessly integrating into the broader Darksiders lore
- War and Strife's dynamic is well-executed
- he game's art style, cutscenes, and sound design create a rich, immersive experience
- High-quality soundtracks and voice acting add depth and emotion to the gameplay
- With sixteen levels, additional content in the hub, and an apocalypse mode, the game offers substantial replayability
- While staying true to its hack-and-slash roots, Darksiders Genesis introduces unique gameplay elements
- The game includes engaging puzzles that add variety to the gameplay
- Players can explore diverse locations, from different realms of hell to the paradise of Eden
- The game features challenging and well-designed boss battles that require strategic planning and skill
- The central hub offers a place to access levels, upgrade abilities, and engage in side quests
- The skill tree and soul core system allow for extensive character customization and progression
- The dialogue between War and Strife often includes humorous exchanges, adding a lighter tone to the otherwise dark and intense narrative
Cons
- The fixed camera can be frustrating, making it difficult to aim and navigate
- Certain mechanics, such as aiming the void portal bomb are cumbersome
- Cutscene text and subtitles are not always synchronized properly
- The UI can feel cramped when playing in co-op mode
- The arena challenges are seen as grindy and not well-designed
- The game features significant difficulty spikes that may require grinding and backtracking
All in all, a very good game that has downsides, but also many upsides! Well, you’re down in hell, so you are downside. If you are looking for a fun local co-op experience, I recommend that you play this game!
Final Rating
8.4
Please let me know what you think of Darksiders Genesis in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
If you liked reading this review, maybe you would like to share this review with your friends.
My friend wanted this game to playing. I couldn’t get it yet. But i will. Otherwise i hate camera issues on game too.
Camera issues often rear its ugly head.
Fixed cameras are usually a problem, but looks like a fun game with good mechanics.
“The” from first con is missing the T
It is indeed a fun game!
I gotta say, that is quite a let down. I know (although never played) Darksiders II and III, and they look cool. This one just looks like a mobile game… But, well, I know some people like those (I think Diablo plays that way?), just really not my type.
Why did you think it looked like a mobile game?
The style of play is completely different from the previous games in the series. In fact, I need to do the 2nd one. I don’t know if this one will be as good, but I really like the idea of co-op play.
The idea of co-op is awesome. But nothing can beat Darksiders 2 in the Franchise, yes, a review is going to be aired, someday.
I like that the lore of the games is in sync.
Some typos:
Start of 4th pros missing a T.
“All in all, a very good came” -> came should be game.
Fixed the typos, did you realize I typed this when I was tired? Yes, the lore is great!
I always wanted to try out darksiders. Could not find the time yet though :-/
Maybe it is time to find the time.
This looks like a good game, but probably little worse than Darksiders 3. Anyway, I’ll still try in the future.
Darksiders 3 is more of a letdown than you know. Yes, a review is bound to happen sooner or later.
I see co-op, I like, plus it looks like you guys enjoyed this one a lot, given it got 8.4! I’ll have to get this on my list and ask my brother to play it with me. 😀 The only thing I would wish is for the online co-op, because, like you mentioned, a split screen can be cumbersome in today’s gaming, unless it’s on some wide screen (TV).
By the way, wouldn’t you cover co-op components in the “Multiplayer” section? I know that multi player is usually reserved for versus modes (PvP), but it’s still more than one player, and it deserves the description of how was it to play it together, for all players involved (if you did it in co-op).
Looks like the game has online co-op tag on Steam…?
Involving a co-op section is a good idea. We never touched online multiplayer since we played local split screen. If co-op is in another game, I will cover the co-op section.
Good review! I really liked how Strife was done.
Can’t wait for more Strife action in Darksiders 4.
First come to my mind is darksiders genesis.I finished darksiders and I would continue my adventure in darksiders 2. Darksiders genesis and review are awesome!
Darksiders 4 will be coming soon!
I played this game with my cousin in Coop. It was fun for some hours but somehow we never finished it and switched to an other game quite fast. But I is a solid game. I liked it. We had a quite similiar experience as you described in the review.