Darksiders II Critic Reviews

There's little to complain about with Darksiders II, in fact, I pretty much love everything about this game. I won't be surprised to see it end up on quite a few Game of the Year lists at the tail end of the year, which I'm sure you'll come to understand once you lay your hands on it.

It challenges you, it gives you room to breathe, but also a purpose and of course it´s fun for every minute of it, which is all that counts in the end. You don´t have to invent everything again to get that. Not, if you have mastered the craft like Vigil Games obviously has.

It absolutely trumps the first game, which in itself was a work of masterful art, and leaves me hoping we don't have to wait two years for the inevitable third game. One of the year's best releases by far.

Little pieces like a sprawling sidequest system, additional RPG-lite conversation trees, getting a "This is the story so far…" recap any time you click 'continue' from the main screen, the beautiful and incredibly-scaled heavily-varied environments, and the depth of the nuanced and familiar loot system all come together to support a fantastic storyline.

THQ and Vigil Games have taken the Darksiders franchise and released a sequel to the original that is such an incredible game it exceeds every expectation I had. From the production values to the size and scope of the game itself, you can't help but sit back and be amazed with what they have done here.

Darksiders II takes just about everything that was great in the first game and made it better, which is exactly what a proper sequel should do. Even switching to a new character could have spelled disaster, but instead Death casts his shadow to such a degree that you will be saying "War who?" before you even leave the Forge Lands.

Aside from the minor visual issues, there is little to criticize about Darksiders II. The game is packed with content, is visually striking and features some brilliant level design. It expands on the mythology of the franchise, giving players a world that is both bigger and better than the original.

Vast, sprawling, beautiful and infinitely playable, Darksiders II is the biggest and best surprise of 2012. So far. It will fill all the time between now and other big hitters.

The mix of ideas at play in Darksiders 2 could have turned out to be a disaster, but Vigil stitches it all together expertly. From the corrupted idyll of The Forge Lands, to the twilit expanses of The Land of the Dead, to the thin, broken line between Heaven and Hell, Death's grand adventure ranks among the best we've seen or will see in 2012.

Darksiders 2 is the kind of game gamers deserve. It cuts no unreasonable corners, it's not dumbed down, and it doesn't have a tacked-on multiplayer or co-op mode.

Improves upon its predecessor in almost every way. The combat is deep and satisfying, the exploration and loot elements are incredibly addictive, and the dungeons provide a near perfect amount of challenge and consistency to keep you playing to the end. If you're looking for an expansive adventure with an interesting story, massive world and robust combat, Death has come for you.

If you viewed the first Darksiders' borrowed gameplay beats as a potential sign of laziness from Vigil Studios, Darksiders 2 provides hearty evidence of a team with genuine skill and ambition. It doesn't always nail the pacing or polish, but Darksiders 2 adds so many valuable ideas to the series that a path to its future seems clear for the first time. For Darksiders, Death brings a much-needed spark of life.

With a unique protagonist, killer art style, savvy level design, and ferocious combat, there's little left for an action fan to want, while the role-playing elements have been enhanced to such a degree that the overall experience feels deeper and more compelling than before. If this game is not a success, then truly the world doesn't know what's good for it.

Combat is near perfect, puzzles are varied, and the world of Darksiders II is ready for the taking.

Darksiders II is a great adventure. It takes everything that was great in the original and made it better.

Is it a perfect game? No, not really, but it is well-crafted with obvious care and attention to detail, netting a smooth and enjoyable experience with just enough addictive qualities in the gameplay to keep one coming back for more.

The addition of loot – a dizzying array of weapons and armor with different damage, arcane, elemental, and bonus attributes – adds even more variety to an already deep and satisfying combat system.

Bigger, better, less reliant on established formulas, but manages to feel like a totally natural follow-up to the 2010 original. And it's exactly the game it should be, too. It's not War's chaotic, tightly-packed adventure. It's a lonelier, more barren trek through dead lands.

The RPG elements and advanced combo system immerse players into the game - letting them make Death into their own unique killing machine. Improved NPC interactions and side quests make this larger world feel not so bland and desolate. Darksiders II outshines its predecessor in almost every aspect.

Gameplay that constantly changes with each weapon you pick up and challenges galore, especially in the arena. The presentation is also top notch, a true sign of dedication from Joe "Mad" Maduriera and his team.