Darksiders Genesis

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 45
  3. Negative: 7 out of 45
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  1. nusco
    Dec 26, 2020
    7
    Darksiders Genesis is a prequel to the popular franchise. Compared to other games in the series, it introduces two major changes: an isometric perspective, and a tight focus on cooperative gameplay.

    Pros: - Great co-op: I played through this game with my sister over the Internet, and it was a blast. The two main characters have very different abilities, and you can even switch roles    Darksiders Genesis is a prequel to the popular franchise. Compared to other games in the series, it introduces two major changes: an isometric perspective, and a tight focus on cooperative gameplay.

    Pros:
    - Great co-op: I played through this game with my sister over the Internet, and it was a blast. The two main characters have very different abilities, and you can even switch roles when you want to.
    - Good mix of genres: The game has plenty of combat encounters, but also enough platforming and puzzles to break the pace.
    - Exploration aplenty: If you're the completionist type, you'll enjoy combing the levels for the dozens of different powerups that are hidden everywhere.

    Cons:
    - Quite buggy: We found new bugs every time we played, including a few that forced us to restart the game. We lost count of how many times we got stuck in the scenery.
    - Uneven difficulty: On the default difficulty, combat can be challenging early on. By the last few levels, however, even major bosses have become pushovers.
    - Frustrating perspective: The camera view is good for co-op, but it makes for some frustrating platforming, and forces you to squint to see stuff on the Switch's screen.    … Expand
  2. pmasterfunk
    Oct 24, 2020
    7
    I was a big Darksiders fan, I enjoyed the first game enough to get all trophies, and enjoyed the second one quite a bit as well. I didn't enjoy number 3 very much, and though Genesis is a lot more fun to play, ultimately it doesn't do quite enough for me to come back to it.

    I've always and still like the aesthetics of Darksiders, and I think Genesis does pretty well in this regard. It's    I was a big Darksiders fan, I enjoyed the first game enough to get all trophies, and enjoyed the second one quite a bit as well. I didn't enjoy number 3 very much, and though Genesis is a lot more fun to play, ultimately it doesn't do quite enough for me to come back to it.

    I've always and still like the aesthetics of Darksiders, and I think Genesis does pretty well in this regard. It's not the most graphically demanding game out there (especially the Switch version), but I think the strong art direction overcomes the "low-spec" aspects. If there's one thing I dislike about the presentation it's the distant camera, but that decision has much more to do with the gameplay than graphics. However I feel like the level of detail in the character models is lost, and when the camera occasionally zooms in during boss-ending scenes, it's possible to tell there was effort put into the details, which seems like a waste to me. The framerate seems locked at 30FPS on Switch, and there is some pretty heavy slowdown in a few areas, but it didn't bother me that much.

    Gameplay-wise, it plays pretty smoothly, and whatever frustration Darksiders 3 produced in me is long gone. Admittedly the game is pretty easy on normal, but I don't think the challenge of higher difficulties would feel as unfair as D3 did. War and Strife play similarly enough that one is never going to feel completely foreign to the other, but at the same time I wished they played a bit more differently. The action is fun, and the powerups and wrath skills are pretty well balanced. All around the gameplay is quite good, but it's not strong enough for me to come back for just that.

    Story-wise, Genesis doesn't do anything for me. It's fun getting to know Strife, and the interplay between him and War is actually pretty good, but they have very little agency. They're constantly being thrown around on random missions by external forces, and each chapter is episodic and mostly unrelated. There isn't much of an overarching theme, there isn't much character development, there aren't any real big reveals about what's going on in the 'big picture'. Meh.

    Apart from that, I don't have too much to say. The game is a bit buggy (not as bad as D3, but similar to Battle Chasers (another Airship Syndicate title)), but nothing game breaking. Sound design was unoffensive, voice acting is good. I'm not sure if Strife and Dis being coded black is a genuine effort to add "diversity" or tokenism. Strife talking like he's from the inner-city to Thor-wannabe War is a funny contrast, but it seems diegetically off.

    I haven't played with a partner, only single player, and I imagine a 2 player game being a lot of fun.

    So, is it worth it for you? Hard to say. I'm not sure it's a must play for even Darksiders fans, even though it's a decent game. If you want to play it, and want the best performance, I'd say go with a different platform, but if convenience is king, the Switch version is more than functional enough to be considered.    … Expand
  3. StrikerXL
    Feb 16, 2020
    5
    I bought the game physically for 34,99 euro and it’s just ok. If you are expecting the quality of the first remastered game in combination with some Diablo 3 gameplay, you’re in for a disappointing experience!

    The gameplay lacks depth and you don’t feel your making any impact when slaying monster and demons. Shooting and melee attacks just feel hollow. Boss fights are just boring. The    I bought the game physically for 34,99 euro and it’s just ok. If you are expecting the quality of the first remastered game in combination with some Diablo 3 gameplay, you’re in for a disappointing experience!

    The gameplay lacks depth and you don’t feel your making any impact when slaying monster and demons. Shooting and melee attacks just feel hollow. Boss fights are just boring.

    The level are cosmetically big and only extend the playtime. Also the map is really cumbersome and the interface just plain boring the too look at!

    The overall look and feel of the game is mediocre/dull. The game graphics on the Switch are just passable. The voice-acting is well done and the cutscenes have refined comic-book feel to it.

    My advice spend your money on something else!    … Expand
  4. Kacek1996
    Aug 20, 2022
    7
    Fun game, if you do like hack and slash type of games it is a good choice for you. They did a great job with isometric graphics. I preferred to play as Strife over playing as War, but their interactions were one of the pros about the game. Graphics and the humour were the things I liked a lot, but there were some bugs and I had like two instances of my game crushing down. I liked it, butFun game, if you do like hack and slash type of games it is a good choice for you. They did a great job with isometric graphics. I preferred to play as Strife over playing as War, but their interactions were one of the pros about the game. Graphics and the humour were the things I liked a lot, but there were some bugs and I had like two instances of my game crushing down. I liked it, but it's not a game I would play a second playthrough of. As a person, who haven't played anything from the Darksiders series, I liked it quite a bit.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Nintendo Insider
    May 6, 2020
    70
    Darksiders Genesis is a pretty decent hack-and-slash adventure that takes the series in an interesting new direction. While my experience with the game rarely left me jaw-dropped, I nonetheless had an entertaining time slashing away at demons and finally getting to play as the fourth and final horseman.
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  2. FNintendo
    Apr 2, 2020
    70
    With its fun and engaging combat, a healthy mix between hack and slash and RPG elements and an enjoyable rapport between the two protagonists, Darksiders Genesis might be the most fun chapter in the series so far. Despite a sub-par performance on the Nintendo Switch screen and a not very functional map that could be more helpful, this is a game that will most certainly marvel any fan of the genre and which deserves an opportunity by every other Switch player too.
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  3. Universo Nintendo
    Mar 5, 2020
    90
    Darksiders Genesis is an awesome introduction to the franchise, with a fluid gameplay, well-drawn stages, great replayability, awesome soundtrack and voice acting that help to build characters full of personality. It has a few flaws but they aren't enough to hinder the gaming experience.
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