Darksiders III review: Don't sleep on this relentlessly engaging, macabre action RPG

One of the most popular franchises that publisher THQ had was Darksiders, a fantasy action role-playing game (RPG) series that put you lot into the boots of a Horseman of the Apocalypse. The terminal game in the series before now was Darksiders Ii, which was met with some solid praise from both critics and fans alike. With people praising the game for its mechanics, artistic direction, and for the lovably dry out and sarcastic protagonist, Expiry, information technology looked as if Darksiders was on the path to fame.

Sadly, this was not to be. In 2022, THQ filed for bankruptcy, and the Darksiders intellectual property was sold to Nordic Games. Fans held onto promise for a new game, just as the years went past without any news of i, there was business concern that the series was existence abandoned. Thankfully, though, this was not the example.

In 2022, Darksiders III was announced, and Nordic Games (now known as THQ Nordic) worked with developer Gunfire Games, a studio made upwardly of people that worked on the previous two Darksiders games, to bring information technology to life. Now, Darksiders III has arrived — simply is it good enough to revive the franchise's name and bring it back from the depths? I believe information technology is. Here's why.

A return to glory

Darksiders 3

Embrace your fury

Darksiders III is a fantastic action RPG held dorsum only by some technical problems and some occasional gameplay flaws.

About this review

This review was conducted on a Windows ten PC equipped with an Intel i7-8700K processor, an NVIDIA GeForce 1050Ti graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, using a review re-create of the game provided to Windows Central.

You'll love Darksiders III's story, gameplay, and visuals

As with the previous titles in the series, Darksiders III is gear up on a mail service-apocalyptic version of Earth in which the armies of Heaven and Hell eternally fight 1 some other. This conflict nearly destroyed humanity equally a consequence, and as humanity struggles to survive, the powerful Seven Deadly Sins plan to wipe them out permanently. The Charred Quango, a powerful court that maintains the rest between mortals and immortals alike sends yous, Fury — one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — to finish them.

The plot of Darksiders 3 isn't deep, but its cast of characters is phenomenal.

This is essentially the entirety of the plot, and while in that location isn't that much depth to it, it'due south good plenty. The real meat of the script lies with the characters. Fury, similar Death in Darksiders II, is witty, sarcastic, and dry as a os. Yet, she's as well rash and speaks before thinking, giving her a unique touch that makes her dialogue a treat to hear. In addition, the Seven Mortiferous Sins are a fantastic bunch. Each of their personalities and appearances perfectly represents the sin that they're named after. For example, Sloth takes the form of a terribly obese and lazy grasshopper, while Wrath is a bloodthirsty vicious encased caput-to-toe in peppery armor plating.

There are plenty of minor characters likewise, and each one is written and vox acted with great endeavour and intendance. In Darksiders 3, the characters are the story.

In terms of gameplay, Darksiders III is a deviation from the wide-open world pattern of its predecessor. Instead, the world resembles something you would observe in a Dark Souls game: a series of linear environments connected past a network of different pathways. Aside from starting and quitting the game, there aren't any loading screens in Darksiders Three at all, and that alone helps everything feel more immersive and fluid equally you lot traverse the lairs of the Seven Deadly Sins. Choosing to explore off the browbeaten path will reward you with valuable items that y'all can use to upgrade your weapons with.

Speaking of weapons, Fury utilizes a razor-sharp metal whip in combat, slicing and dicing foes in true hack-and-slash fashion. Yet, unlike Darksiders II, in that location's a bigger emphasis on timing here — simply mashing the attack button won't get you far. Death was fast and agile, diving into the fray with scythes flying. Fury, though, uses heavier, wider attacks that crave yous to hit foes after dodging their attacks or spotting an opening in their baby-sit.

In addition, once they're unlocked, Fury can transform into one of four unlike magical forms at volition. These forms give her special powers and weapons in combat, as well as skills that can be used exterior of combat to solve puzzles. For case, her Flame form lets her utilise peppery double blades and safely wade through lava, while the Lightning form gives her an electrified spear and the ability to bladder like Tempest from the X-Men. These forms add a ton of depth to the gameplay feel and using them to discover secrets hidden in the world is a blast.

Visually, Darksiders III is a gorgeous game with a stylized, colorful artistic management that stays true to the serial' roots. Each environment in the game world feels unique and cute in a strange way — fifty-fifty the Bonelands, toxic wastelands filled with zombified angels, have a amuse to them. In full, there are 7 of these locations, ane for each Deadly Sin.

Everything, from the earth to the creatures within it, is beautifully brought to life.

The characters and the enemies are also fantastic. Beyond the Seven Mortiferous Sins, the diverse hostile mobs that y'all come across in each location ooze creativity. Lanky lizard warriors, egg-laying crustaceans, gigantic spiders, and demons from Hell are only a fraction of the things that you'll be slashing at with your whip.

Yous'll dislike Darksiders III's framerate and gameplay flaws

Every bit beautiful as Darksiders Three is, it'southward marred by the fact that framerate consistently struggles whenever there's a lot happening on-screen. Thankfully, this isn't as well common, just there are instances where you get swarmed by a dozen or then foes. Trying to time your dodges and attacks in this scenario is already difficult enough without the framerate taking a dip, so having to debate with that equally well is annoying. Using Fury'due south Havoc ultimate power (pictured above) in detail is guaranteed to cause this, every bit your attacks while using it are filled with flashy special effects.

In that location are some issues with the combat as well. While for the most part, it's amazing, it'southward not perfect. Some of the encounters in the globe experience a bit cheap with how some foes will deadfall you lot around corners and score complimentary hits, and sometimes hit detection feels off — both for yous and your opponents. This can pb to times where an important assail of yours that should have landed does not, or an enemy gets a hitting on a swing that you're positive you dodged.

It'south unfortunate to see Darksiders III carelessness some of the 2nd game's RPG systems.

Another thing that bummed me out with Darksiders 3 was the absence of armor loot. In Darksiders II, Death could find pieces of armor in the world that improved his defenses and gave him special traits, but none of that is present in Darksiders 3. In its identify is a organization where you tin can requite weapons enchantments that change how they perform in combat, but this doesn't have the same level of depth. There is a tab on the inventory screen for armor, but I went through the unabridged game without finding whatever. This could signal that at least some form of cosmetic armor types will come in a future DLC, just in my opinion, it should have been in the game at launch.

Should you buy Darksiders Iii?

Despite the issues that drag downwardly Darksiders III, it'southward withal an excellent hack-and-slash action RPG that is more than worth the $60 purchase. Combat is challenging and fun, the game world is richly detailed and full of secrets, and the creative presentation is naught short of phenomenal. Darksiders III is definitely a game that y'all should pick upward, and the Darksiders franchise is definitely here to stay.

Pros:

Fantastic character writing.
Fluid, challenging gainsay.
Incredibly detailed game world.
Breathtaking art direction.

Cons:

Disappointing framerate problems.
Some cheap combat encounters.
Less focus on RPG loot.

A return to glory

Darksiders III

Darksiders III is a fantastic activeness RPG held back merely by some technical problems and some occasional gameplay flaws.

Darksiders Iii releases on November 27, 2022 on Xbox Ane, PS4, and PC via Steam.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Minecraft Preview can now be downloaded and played on Windows

New ways to test

Minecraft Preview tin now exist downloaded and played on Windows

On Monday, Mojang Studios announced Minecraft Preview, a new Minecraft game that will let players test upcoming changes and updates earlier they release. Minecraft Preview will eventually supercede the current Minecraft: Bedrock Edition beta programme.

Ultimate control

Here are the best steering wheels for Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 features all-encompassing and improved back up for simulation steering wheels. To get the nigh out of this open up-world racing game, consider one of the best racing steering wheels available for Forza Horizon 5.