For the video game industry, 2013 hasn't been off to a particularly great start thus far. The issue of video game violence is once again being examined and scrutinized after the horrendous events of Sandy Hook last year, and a recognizable name in the industry, THQ (Toy Head Quarters for anyone who wondered what it stood for) has been dissolved. Nearly all of its intellectual properties have been sold off to other third-party publishers in an effort to help consolidate THQ's bankruptcy. Whatever your opinions may be of THQ, it is generally agreed that they did possess a number of promising franchises. Among them Saint's Row, the WWE games, Metro and Homefront. As of this writing, many of THQ's backlog have established new homes within the likes of Electronic Arts, Sega, Ubisoft, and Take-Two (to name a few). Yet, as of now, only one franchise failed to find a home. And it's one that I have a deep fondness of; a little known apocalyptic adventure known as Darksiders.
When I first bought Darksiders on my 360, I was drawn to how it indirectly references the Zelda games. Such a claim has been stated on numerous occasions and, when you play the game for yourself, you'll come to understand why. Puzzle solving, exploration, complex dungeons that require specific tools and items to navigate and intense combat round out the package. I wouldn't go so far as call it a Zelda-clone because while it shares many similarities, it possesses a identity all its own in a blood-soaked, apocalyptic, extraordinarily-violent atmosphere. Following up on Darksiders, Darksiders 2 expanded on the original with a bigger world, a protagonist that swelled of pure awesomeness on every level, an addictive loot system, side questing and more depth. It also took an interesting story approach by taking place during the original game when War was going through his struggles -- through the perspective of Death and how he fought to clear his brother's name. Yes, the story was quite outlandish, but damned if it doesn't make for a good excuse to kick some serious ass.
Darksiders was one of those games that did things a little differently with a formula that has already been done (more or less), and showed a great deal of promise in becoming its own successful franchise for THQ. Unfortunately, as THQ teetered on the brink of collapse, the future of Vigil Games and the Darksiders series fell into uncertainty. When THQ was finally dissolved earlier this month, no other third-party publisher expressed enough interest in giving it a new home, snapping up Saint's Row and the WWE franchise as they were proven money makers. Darksiders enjoyed moderate success, but it ultimately did not convince potential takers. As a result, Vigil Games was disbanded---many of its team going on to other development houses (like Crytek). This is truly a shame, because the Vigil team possessed more than enough potential to be a valuable asset for any company outside of THQ, and it wouldn't have mattered if they made a Darksiders game or not.
Interestingly enough, there is some hope on the horizon for Darksiders, and it's from a surprising source. Platinum Games, developers of Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising and the upcoming Wonderful 101, has gone on record inquiring about obtaining the IP and using their own development team to possibly craft a third project. Whether or not Darksiders under a Japanese development team would be as good as its Vigil-produced forebearers would depend solely on how much they really care about and respect the source material to please long-time fans and possibly draw in newcomers. Of course, God forbid if they consider rebooting it.
Although nothing's been confirmed yet, at least there may be a second chance----a second coming if you will---of a franchise that, for the time being and like the dilemma War faced with Earth in the original Darksiders, has died way before its time.
1 Like Wasn't a huge fan of Darksiders myself, just wasn't my thing at first glance. Then decided to play it for myself well the demo anyway, and it wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe it was the combat the character design but it just wasn't hitting home for me.
1 Like Let's face it. Darksiders REALLY is just a Zelda clone. Dress it up however you like, it's still a clone.
1 Like It's a shame that such a well-regarded game didn't find a home. At least Sony Santa Monica hired on a lot of the Vigil team. But it will be a shame if this franchise doesn't get a second shot.
1 Like Since Crytek used Vigil employees to open a US studio based in Austin, Texas, and they said they explicitly wouldn't be working on a new Darksiders game, maybe they will sell the rights to Platinum.
I felt the same as you did about Darksiders on 360, and I played it upon release until finish (before the screentearing issue was patched) based on GS interviews with Joe "Mad" (and mentions of Zelda, mixed with my expectations) alone. It was the 1st game since GTA4 that had me truly so excited where I couldn't sleep (& had dreams about the game when I did). I have part 2, but have yet to play it because of my backlog & a busy work schedule, but a 3rd game would be a game I'd certainly be interested enough to buy it on launch. Great write-up, bud.
1 Like platinum games...seriously, damn not that I mind wether Japan gets suddenely intrested but , don't really really want it to fall under their hands , man going out my way saying this..couldn't 343 industries take a shot at it ???
1 Like Dark Siders one of the best game of its time ! Wish Vigil games wasnt disbanded and THQ not dissolved ! :'(
1 Like Homefront is a promising franchise, HAHAHAHAHAH That was the worst $50 I ever spent. I have never regretted a game purchase as much as that one.
1 Like Regards Darksiders2 - were the 'supposed' framerate/screen tearing issues a problem for you?
1 Like @digi-demon Not really. They fixed it in the original game, and it isn't as noticeable in Darksiders 2.
1 Like @Asagea_888 @digi-demon Thanks - may pick up DS2 if the price drops to sub £15 :-)
2 Like I'd be slightly upset if Darksiders never returned, but not really. I own both. The first game was mostly good, the second just okay. Both were underwhelming, especially if you've played games like God of War. The endings to both games were just not good. It had good ambition, it was unique, it just didn't produce the way it should have. Articuno's take is fairly accurate. So if it never comes back, oh well.
1 Like idk, Darksiders seems on and off for me, unlike devil may cry 3 on PS2, which give great impact to my gaming moment
2 Like Very well written. The Darksiders franchise is a huge passion of mine also. If Platinum games takes it over it better not make a PS exclusive game. As I am an Xbox owner that would kill more then hearing that the game will never surface again.
2 Like I love darksiders also, i'm only halfway through the second one but i loved the first one. i would hate to these game ruined.
1 Like Darksiders + Platinum games can only lead to one thing : pure awesomeness , hopefuly they get it.Both Darksiders were awesome and thus far I thoroughly enjoyed every Platinum games game , mainly Bayonetta.Still need to play the last DLC for DS 2 , I have it but the lack of challenge or new features keeps procrastinating it.
1 Like Agree,
Almost everything worked and drawed you into the world. It had decent characters, good voice work, great art, fun combat, interesting puzzels, fluid platforming, a quality story and rounded everything up with light RPG mechanics and an actually addicting loot system where you could make your own possessed weapons. The one problem for though was the glitch and bug checking or lack of....... I have heard numerous stories of players unable to finish the game due to a bug or glich and myself was forced to restart almost half way into the game. Although, from then I played very slow and looked at a guide I always had a sinking fear that my game was going to become "broken" because some odd thing happend.
We already know how well they can take other gameplay mechanics from different sources but now that could do this and at the same time add in their own to make the game feel more organic. I would love to see all 4 horsemen playable in the next game. They could make each a very different class from Death and War. A ranged, stealth type character who uses nature and pets could be very cool. As well as "a whip wielding" character who used disease and death magic. Sounds a little similar to Death but they could tweak it so the character feels different enough. I think what I am trying to say is it would be a real shame if someone did not take this IP and make the third game it deserves.
2 Like I am surprised that it hasn't been picked up. I know it wasn't the biggest selling game out there but if Metro 2033 can get a buyer then this surely can. The crazy world of game development.
1 Like @-INKling- Not only crazy, but also pretty cutthroat and downright cruel sometimes :(
3 Like 2 of my all time favorite games ever. First one was great. Like a mash-up of God of War and Prince of Persia. Some Zelda style questing with lots of awesome bloody action and new abilities to unlock. Darksiders 2 was everything the first game was with more polish. The combat was more fluid, the loot system was great, the world was bigger and was actually 4 worlds together, and finally the new abilities were cool. The world they created is just so awesome. I love the art direction they had going. I was also interested in the other 2 riders. One of them used guns and would have been cool to fight with. The the other was a woman that used a whip covered in razors, if I remember correctly. That means there could've been potential for 2 more games with each other rider as main character. Possibly a 5th game to tie everything together with all 4 riders as playable characters. It's a crying shame that this was not bought up first.
1 Like The first Darksiders was a pretty good game once it got going, even though I didn't like the ending where I had to go back through the lands to get those weapons, but overall very promising and I looked forward to the sequel. The second game... I just don't know what happened. There was so much hype for it and it looked cool but ultimately to me was a shadow of the first game. A friend had the collectors edition with the the book and all and I was very impressed by the professionalism and hard work put in, but they missed the mark. Large empty sections where not much happened, repetitive dungeons, unfocused sprawling levels, bad story. I was quite shocked at how it didn't live up to the first one. One thing did strike me though was the fantastic art design, like the first one superb, epitomized by the twin beasts that take you to the dead lords and the giant golum you fight at the end of the first hub - pure awesomeness!
I was a little surprised when no one picked Vigil up, not because Darksiders 2 wasn't a good game but because of the obvious (perhaps not well used) talent there was in Vigil just waiting to be put on the straight and narrow. Sad. I hope the team gets picked up by other companies, even though I was disappointed by Darksiders2 they deserve better. Good luck to them all.
@JustPlainLucas Good stuff indeed! I only wished other companies would have seen that to save them from disbandment. Vigil's awesome -- they were shuttered way too soon.
3 Like I've been playing Darksiders 1 on the PC and every part of the game from the way the map displays, the menus, the combat the controls...it is all very tight. It's like they looked at every other game out there and took what worked and then filed it to a sharpened point. And therein also lies the games' greatest weakness; it brilliantly pulls together borrowed elements, but the ones of its own (it's world, characters and lore) aren't all that compelling.
It's a great game in every sense of the word if you were to go down a checklist (as the developers seem to have done developing it) but the game has no powerful identity of its own (and the brand suffers as a result). I suppose you could say it lacks a soul, or something along those lines, because that's what it feels like. Brilliant and yet at the same time...empty.
@Articuno76 It's about the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's supposed to be brilliant and yet empty.
1 Like Last year when looking for a new game to play I checked Darksiders and gave it a thought but then I decided it was not my kind of game.
1 Like I, like others, of the series really do hope that the Darksiders series continues. But I know that when a series gets a new developer things change, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst. But when Halo went to 343, it turned out really well. Hope the same is true for Darksiders.
2 Like RIP THQ.I had a great time playing a lot of their games,so I will definitely miss them around.Sad to see a company(PC lover) that has been around since the NES days fade away :( I enjoyed Darksiders series. I can't believe Homefront found new publisher but no-one purchased Darksiders and Vigil games,this is beyond absurd. Well fate of Darksiders is still in limbo,it was the best IP among all the others.No one bought Darksiders! That is shocking as hell.Platinum games expressed interest in the series(rumour),there is hope yet.
6 Like Darksiders 1 and 2 are really good games. It's a shame they did not sell well, I will never understand why. I really do hope more come and are not changed much. The play and feel of the games are really well done.
1 Like I'm going to miss THQ and I am one who never knew what it stood for.
one of my early PC faves was a THQ game - Hot Wheels Velocity X.
there were quite a few they had out that I got to play with the kids also
not that I didn't enjoy Cars and Finding Nemo:P
@iowastate I always thought Toy Head Quarters seemed a little silly for a company that didn't even makes toys---much less produce games for adults XD Their very first game was Home Alone on the Game Boy. I want you to forget that game existed.
Their games for kids were pretty fun actually :)
@pokecharm You'll get to it :) In the meantime, you'd better keep your eyes on the Metal Gear Rising prize. I'm on the fence as to whether I should pick it up, too ;)
@Asagea_888 I've already pre-ordered the CE version of it...why I need the lamp, I couldn't say...
2 Like That is a shame, the first Darksiders was one of my favourite games of this generation, although I have to go against the grain and say that D2 was, for me at least, not quite as good as it's predecessor due to the shoe-horned RPG elements and pointless side quests which made the game feel a bit bloated and unfocused. Even so, I was really looking forward to seeing where Vigil would take the series next. Hearing that a Japanese developer might be taking it over doesn't fill me with hope. It seems unlikely that they would preserve the existing style, and as someone who finds J-games generally off-putting I would honestly rather the series end now than see it Japan-ified.
@JangoF-76 Pretty much the way I felt too. Seeing them miss out at being bought was puzzling and a bit sad. I hope the guys don't lose heart and continue on with other companies. I'm sure they'll do well if they do.
@JangoF-76 If Platinum Games does decide to buy the IP, I hope they don't screw it up. If they're going to invest in Darksiders, they need an obvious amount of respect for the franchise and maintain its consistenty, though they are free to put in their own ideas if they want---so long as it doesn't gum the works and alienate fans. It's always tricky. Platinum Games makes great games, but Darksiders is a game all its own. I'll curse them forever more if they reboot it -- you can bet on that!
1 Like I enjoyed the first game but failed to pick up the second one for a variety of reasons. However I felt that this was a franchise with promise and I hope that it doesn't wither away.
3 Like Yeah, I want more Darksiders! It's a great game. I got it as part of the Humble THQ Bundle, and I had a lot of fun playing it.
