You know us – it’s not in our nature to start with quotes direct from press releases, but this one’s a goodie and pretty indicative to boot. “Experience the godlike power of WAR” it says – exactly the opening gambit to use when not wishing to suffer unfavourable comparisons to a certain Sony-developed action title. Coincidentally, the document also contains all the letters necessary to spell both Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. If you look closely there’s a rather weak conspiracy in there somewhere…

All apt enough observations of course, as those two titles are brought to mind by Darksiders very quickly. With the right attitude, this is no bad thing at all and you’re hardly going to be without a devastating attack or two to help you on your way. The inspiration here comes from the biblical horsemen of the apocalypse. While Death was a little to the point, Famine too weak, Pestilence simply too disgusting, War proved the perfect choice as central protagonist, tasked with retrieving the powers that once allowed him to rob the world of all peace. How? By beating things up, of course!

Events will be split slightly in favour of puzzle elements over action, the latter of which will be set in an open-world environment which expands as your powers slowly return to their former glory. Three environments have been shown to an eager public so far – the first a post-apocalyptic cityscape full of crumbling neo-classical architecture and bathed in the dust thrown by a thousand demons. The second took the shape of a desert formed amidst the former pillars, vast and partially obscured from view by a giant sandstorm. Worse still, a wormlike creature reminiscent of Dune roams the terrain, waiting to rise up from below and reduce War to merely a light snack. Luckily, his trusty steed, Ruin, will prevent such an atrocity from occurring any time soon. Able to be called upon at any point, his stallion can even be mounted in mid-air, generally galloping around thereafter allowing War to brandish and fire a machine gun, just one of a repertoire of weapons largely filled with swords taller than he is. This may be a slight twist on the source material but oh well.

There’s definitely a Shadow Of The Colossus vibe to proceedings, as swooping cameras keep both your ride and towering opponent in view at all times. Spectacular climaxes are promised too – the worm in question nicely finished by a rising slash lengthways from tip to mouth. This isn’t really surprising though in a game which featured grunt character designs so strong they turned into bosses – at least that’s what Vigil assures us. Another example of this chased War through the city, in fact, taking the form of a giant orange humanoid beast. Essentially unarmed, he was forced to dodge discarded taxis, lampposts and other street furniture, simply lobbing them back in the fiend’s direction in order to score the kill. True, the actual killing blow came through chopping both its arms off with a massive sword and stabbing it through the chest, but the intention is there. Aside from all this mindless violence, there will be puzzle-filled dungeons over an hour long to break things up nicely. As soon as we’re allowed access to the pad, we’ll know if concept matches (multiple) execution.

Dave Shaw