Why is this? It’s simple: The PC version of the game is the best version of the game, hands-down. “The game looks better on the PCâ€, said Jay Fitzloff.
In the development build we played, the keyboard and mouse controls were not implemented yet, although I was reassured on multiple occasions by both Fitzloff and Cureton that the keyboard and mouse controls for PC are being tweaked specifically for PC gamers and are not tacked-on console controls.
On the question of graphics options, I was told by both Fitzloff and Everett that the PC version will have a fully tweakable config file as well as the standard in-game graphics options for various resolutions, settings, and options. However, if you want to get really deep, the config file will be there.
I never played God of War. I found Heavenly Sword boring and repetitive. I do admit to a sincere fondness for Legend of Zelda (a game that Darksiders II has been compared to a few times, to the annoyance of the developers), but I didn’t think I’d really love Darksiders II. I figured I’d like it. Well, I’ll go on the record as saying I love it. I want it on day one. I’ve got a solid 10 hours sunk into this game now and I’m hooked.
To make things even more interesting, there is a massive amount of content. On the scale of the game, the developers estimated that there will be 40-50 hours of gameplay in here. After playing through about 10 of that and not even feeling like I had started the game proper, I can believe that. The world map is massive and we only got to see a tiny part of it. The developers estimate that, even a Vigil employee doing a speed run would take about 20 hours to complete the game. “In a world filled with free-to-play games, we wanted to make sure that if you spend $60 on a game, you’re getting a $60 game.†said Fitzloff.
The game is shockingly deep. It’s far more than just a timing-based button-masher. There is a solid RPG element with character leveling, almost unlimited, procedurally-generated weapons (akin to Borderlands), armor, and other items. You can customize your build to a great degree. There are two major talent trees that open up a lot of character customization and playstyle preference options. The puzzling element is Zelda-quality (and when we compare Darksiders II to Legend of Zelda, that’s a compliment, guys!), the dungeons are massive, the environments are insanely huge (and gorgeous!), and the voice acting is really good.
The thing that struck me, a non fighter-gamer, the most however was this—the fighting is totally ****ing awesome. I noticed right away how chunky and visceral the weapon hits are. I learned to love the dodges, strafes, jumps, and blocks. I found myself saying things that fighting gamers say: “Yeah! Take it! Unnnhh! You like that? Bam!â€
While most of the game is straightforward (start at quest hub, go out into the world, fight mobs for loot and XP, go to some place, do a thing, figure out puzzles, fight mini-bosses and then a big dungeon boss, get stuff, etc.), there is another element I haven’t mentioned yet: the “puzzle-fightsâ€.Remember the game “Shadow of the Colossusâ€? Remember how many people said a sequel with modern graphics would be amazing? This is that sequel. There are bosses that are hundreds of times bigger than Death. You have to figure out how to scale them, find their weak points, do things, climb, jump, use your abilities and special weapons, and use the environment in the right combination to take them down. Taking down a massive behemoth that’s half a mile tall is tremendously satisfying.
A bloody brilliant article this one - Darksiders II and the triumphant return of PC gaming: Icrontic
That's it! I think I am going to ask my boss for a day off next week probably on a Saturday.
Vigil