Darksiders II is a multi-platform computer game that combines the genres of slasher and Action/RPG. The sequel was developed by the American studio Vigil Games, and the game is published by THQ (Vigil Games is a subsidiary of THQ). The publisher in Russia is the company "Buka." Darksiders II can be played on four main platforms: PC, Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. The project was released in mid-August 2012.
The game's plot continues to develop the theme of the apocalypse, laid out in the first Darksiders. The horseman named War, the hero of the previous game, angered the so-called Charred Council with his untimely arrival on Earth. For his misconduct, War was imprisoned in a terrible dungeon. The Council informed the remaining brothers (Fury, Death, and Strife) of their unwavering decision, but not all of the relatives agreed. The horseman Death opposed it, believing that War would never have started the Apocalypse without considering the Council's opinion. Ignoring the "higher authorities'" decision, he sets off to the so-called Nether Realm to rescue War from trouble.
Although Darksiders II seems to be a fairly ordinary slasher, it still differs from other projects of the same plan. The main difference is a more or less acceptable RPG system. The horseman Death (who is the protagonist of Darksiders II, if he can be called that) can learn new skills and special moves as he progresses through the game. It should be noted that in a quick run-through of the storyline, not even half of all the "skills" available in Darksiders II will be unlocked. To prevent this from happening, players should take on additional quests, which are then marked on the map. This is another small but pleasant deviation from the generally canonical hack and slash genre. In addition, it is worth mentioning that defeated enemies always drop various useful items, including armor and weapons. The necessary items can be equipped, while any junk can be sold at the nearest shop.
The game has become much more dynamic compared to the first Darksiders - the control of the hero has been simplified somewhat, and performing combo attacks no longer requires frantically pressing all buttons at once. Accordingly, the graphics have improved somewhat, although the console past of Darksiders II is distinctly traceable in the PC version. The game world has significantly increased in size, so it takes much longer to get from point A to point B - assuming movement is done on foot. However, Death has a steed (Despair), which allows for much faster travel. Nevertheless, the horse can only be summoned in strictly designated areas.
The developers' overall tendency towards gigantism is also reflected in the appearance of huge bosses - one can jump and run on them, and on particularly large monsters, it's even permitted to ride on horseback. Killing titans in Darksiders II is quite an engaging endeavor, although it is somewhat disappointing that their destruction always follows the same principle. It's a bit monotonous, but that's just a minor detail.