Darksiders

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Darksiders
Darksiders Logo.png
Genre(s) Hack and slash, action-adventure
Developer(s) Vigil Games (2010–2012)
Gunfire Games (2015–present)
Airship Syndicate (2019)
Publisher(s) THQ (2010–2012)
THQ Nordic (2015–present)
Creator(s)
Platform(s)
First release Darksiders
January 5, 2010
Latest release Darksiders Genesis
December 5, 2019

Darksiders is a hack and slash action-adventure video game franchise created by Vigil Games, now developed by Gunfire Games, which consists of some of the original members of Vigil. The series is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, where mankind faces near-extinction and angels fight a losing battle against the demon hordes for control over the world. Among them are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the last of the Nephilim who are tasked to bring balance to the universe.

Contents

Games

Release timeline
2010 Darksiders
2011
2012 Darksiders II
2013
2014
2015Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition
2016Darksiders: Warmastered Edition
2017
2018 Darksiders III
2019 Darksiders Genesis

Darksiders (2010)

The first installment in the franchise, Darksiders was released in 2010 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows. Originally set in a modern-day Earth, a war breaks out between Heaven and Hell. War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, finds himself on Earth in the midst of the battle. After War is killed in the battle, the Charred Council blame him for destroying the balance and starting the apocalypse. War vows to find the one truly responsible, so he is sent back to Earth, where 100 years have passed, in his search to find them.

An enhanced version, titled Darksiders: Warmastered Edition, published by Nordic Games, was released on November 22, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, on November 29 for Microsoft Windows, and on May 23, 2017, for Wii U. [1] It was released on Nintendo Switch on April 2, 2019. [2]

Darksiders II (2012)

The second installment in the franchise set parallel with the first game, Darksiders II was released in 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Xbox 360, this time with the protagonist as Death, the second of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Believing his brother War is innocent in his crimes, Death sets out to erase the crime War was blamed for as well as to try to resurrect mankind.

An enhanced version, titled Darksiders II: The Deathinitive Edition, was released on October 27, 2015, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and on November 5 for Microsoft Windows. A Nintendo Switch version was released on September 26, 2019. It was published by Nordic Games, who had acquired the rights to the Darksiders franchise following the bankruptcy of THQ.

Darksiders III (2018)

The third installment in the franchise and parallel sequel to its predecessors, Darksiders III was released on November 27, 2018, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It was later released on September 30, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch. The player takes on the role of Fury, the third of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Again set parallel with the first two games, Fury is sent on a quest to recapture all of the escaped Seven Deadly Sins, but soon discovers that her mission is a snipe hunt engineered to remove her alongside all of mankind from interfering with a much wider web of intrigue perpetrated on all sides. [3]

Darksiders Genesis (2019)

A spin-off prequel of the main series, Darksiders Genesis is a top-down action game which follows the fourth and final horseman, Strife, who, alongside his brother War, is called upon to save mankind from certain destruction at the hands of Lucifer. The game was released on Microsoft Windows and Stadia on December 5, 2019. It was subsequently released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on February 14, 2020. Unlike the main series games, Genesis is developed by Airship Syndicate, who previously developed Battle Chasers: Nightwar , and comprises some of the original developers of Vigil Games. [4]

Untitled Darksiders game (TBA)

At THQ Nordic Showcase 2024, Gunfire Games and THQ Nordic revealed that a new Darksiders game was in development. [5]

Gameplay

The Darksiders games feature an action role-playing hack and slash style of gameplay. Players take control of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, from a third-person perspective, each of which characters offer unique play styles and equipment. In the first game, War's method of fighting is using a two-handed signature sword named Chaoseater, though throughout the game the player can equip various other items including a Scythe and a revolver. In Darksiders II , Death uses two scythes as his signature weapon, and in Darksiders III , Fury uses a whip and magic to tear down her enemies.

All Darksiders games generally have similar gameplay, as featuring an open world for the players to explore and a variety of puzzles to solve. Players can find chests that contain souls of the dead, which they can use to purchase a variety of items. The game has an emphasis on boss fights, where players need to learn their weak point in order to do vast amounts of damage. Players can also explore the open world by using the protagonists' own horses, War's being named Ruin, Death's being named Despair and Fury's being named Rampage.

Sometimes the series own gameplay format is compared to Bayonetta . [6] [7] [8]

Darksiders creator Joe Madureira expressed interest in a possible comic book series and film adaptation for the series. Madureira had been reportedly working on a screenplay, which he intended to sell its rights to a Hollywood studio. [9] A prequel novel set before the events of Darksiders and Darksiders II titled Darksiders: The Abomination Vault was released in 2012. [10] It was followed by a digital-first prequel comic series, titled Darksiders II: Death's Door, later the same year. [11]

Hunt: Showdown was originally intended to be a spiritual successor to Darksiders.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Madureira</span> Comic book artist and video game developer

Joe Madureira, often called Joe Mad, is an American comic book artist and game developer, best known for his work on Darksiders, Marvel Comics' Uncanny X-Men and his creator-owned comic book Battle Chasers. He is the founder of video game development companies Vigil Games and Airship Syndicate.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vigil Games</span> American game development company

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<i>Darksiders</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Darksiders is an hack and slash action-adventure video game developed by Vigil Games and published by THQ. The game's inspiration is from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with the player taking the role of the horseman War. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on January 5, 2010, in North America, January 7 in Australia, January 8 in Europe, and March 18 in Japan. The Microsoft Windows version was released in North America and Australia on September 23, and in Europe on September 24. A parallel sequel, Darksiders II, was released on August 14, 2012.

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<i>Darksiders II</i> 2012 video game

Darksiders II is an action role-playing hack and slash video game developed by Vigil Games and published by THQ. It is the sequel to Darksiders and was released in August 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and as a launch title for Wii U upon the console's North American and PAL regions release in November of the same year. The story follows the efforts of player character Death to clear the name of his brother, War, who stands accused of wiping out humanity. On a total budget of $50 million, it was one of the most expensive video games to develop of all time.

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<i>Darksiders Genesis</i> 2019 action role-playing video game

Darksiders Genesis is a top-down hack and slash action role-playing video game developed by American studio Airship Syndicate and published by THQ Nordic. The game was released for Stadia and Windows on 5 December 2019, and was released on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 14 February 2020. It is considered a spin-off prequel game in the Darksiders series and introduces the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Strife, as the protagonist. Strife can also team up with his brother, War. Upon release, the game received positive reviews, with many reviewers praising the combat.

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References

  1. ↑ "Gamereactor Sverige". www.gamereactor.se. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (January 31, 2019). "Darksiders: Warmastered Edition Launches Physically On Switch In April, Will Retail For $30". Nintendo Life . Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ↑ Pearce, Alanah (May 2, 2017). "Darksiders 3 Announced - IGN First". IGN . IGN Entertainment . Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  4. ↑ McCaffrey, Ryan (June 6, 2019). "Darksiders Genesis Announced – E3 2019".
  5. ↑ Romano, Sal (August 2, 2024). "New Darksiders game in development". Gematsu. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Could Bayonetta Upstage the Competition?". December 4, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Switch Port Report: Darksiders feels dated in all the right ways". April 2, 2019.
  8. ↑ "10 Hack and Slash Games like Bayonetta 3". Screen Rant . November 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ Garratt, Patrick (January 5, 2010). "Hollywood interested in Darksiders, confirms Madureira". VG247.
  10. ↑ Marmell, Ari (July 24, 2012). Darksiders: The Abomination Vault. Del Rey – via Amazon.
  11. ↑ Kreisberg, Andrew (December 19, 2012). "Darksiders II: Death's Door". Dark Horse – via Dark Horse Comics.
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