The Darksiders franchise isn’t dead. In fact, if the new gameplay of Darksiders 3 is anything to go by, the newest title is actually closer than we initially expected.
THQ Nordic released a short video showcasing the deadly Fury in action. She swings her whip with ease and elegance, lashing at enemies and flipping out of harm’s way at the last second. In terms of speed, she looks to fall somewhere between Darksiders 2‘s Death and the original game’s War. She can hit heavy and move lightly. Her shock of red hair flies behind her as she runs through the flaming environment around her, cutting down rickety skeletons and hulking armored giants alike.
Darksiders 2 released in 2012, before the closure of THQ. It was one of the properties that were almost left behind when all of the publisher’s assets were purchased and distributed. It is currently owned by THQ Nordic, a publisher that has made a point of amassing many of THQ’s franchises and breathing new life into them. Before the franchise was acquired, it was beginning to look like we would never see the four horsemen again, but our prayers have been answered.
The series has always been an amalgam of gameplay styles. The exploration and dungeon structure bears a lot of similarities to The Legend of Zelda, while the combat was closer to God of War with its brutal nature and quick-time finishers. Surprisingly, it all came together to form a series that has been working to forge its own identity ever since.
The first game took place on a ruined and transformed Earth after the end times have come early, with War being blamed for the whole ideal. The second game follows Death in the land of the dead as he tries to resurrect all of humanity in order to help clear War’s name. The plot of the third is still under wraps, but even the small amount of gameplay that has been shown hints at something grand on the horizon.
There is no release date slated for Darksiders 3, but it is scheduled to release sometime in 2018 for Xbox One, PS4, and Pc.
