DARKSIDERS III
Fury, it’s vice to see you
When you meet a boss who brags about wiping his bum on angels’ wings it’s clear this is the same Darksiders you’ve come to love. The series’ six-year hiatus hasn’t put a dent in the brash and colourful take on angels and demons waging war on an apocalyptic Earth, with the Four Horsemen caught in the middle. War kicked off the series, and Death undertook an epic journey across multiple open worlds to prove his brother innocent. Fury’s story is simpler: sent to Earth by the Charred Council to hunt the escaped Seven Deadly Sins, her quest should bring balance to the universe. Given the long gap between games it’s a thankfully straightto-the-bone quest, but one with enough twists to excite fans as well as usher in newcomers.
GRAND DESIGN
With one massive map that links together, turning back around and in on itself through secret routes and hidden loot-laden chambers, Darksiders III distils what makes the series so compelling. Time and again your internal voice will mutter “Wonder where this leads?” as yet another hidden trail reveals itself.
You progress by tracking and killing each Deadly Sin, not simply because another one is ticked off Fury’s blood-smudged to-do list but because with every Sin slain comes a new weapon or gadget, called a Hollow, that affect how Fury interacts with her world. For example, the fiery Chains Of Scorn gives Fury a higher jump and enables her to burn though obstacles; she can float with the electrically charged Lance Of Scorn; and break rocks with the Mallet Of Scorn.
You’re forced forwards but there’s a satisfying feeling that comes with retreading past areas to rediscover onceconcealed chambers. Doing so rewards you with Demonic or Angelic artefacts, which are used to upgrade your weapons and their embedded enhancements, or Shards used to buff Fury’s powers – giving her extra strength, health, and Arcane power. It’s a simple circle: the more you explore, the more powerful Fury can get, making life easier when facing off against the forces of both Heaven and Hell.
Combat is solid, if largely unoriginal. Fury’s chain whip is bolstered by the Hollow subweapons, which all have their own combos to learn. However, you’ll need to master perfectlytimed dodges using u – time slows, allowing Fury to deliver a powerful counter-attack. It works well, even against multiple enemies. It can come unstuck in the close confines of corridors, often meaning you need to usher enemies – a mix of giant insects and angelic zombies – into open spaces to avoid being pinned.
“IT’S A CIRCLE: THE MORE YOU EXPLORE, THE MORE POWERFUL FURY CAN GET.”