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I just don't pay MSRP for games unless:
1) I have failed my willpower check and convinced myself I need something that I don't really need AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
2) The preorder incentives really are something impressive.
3) The game will have a small print run and may become hard to find.
I generally try to avoid case #1 since it means I have fallen victim to marketing, and one generally tries to cultivate as much resistance to marketing as possible. I try to buy new games, but I try to buy new games for about $10-$30 when Best Buy, Target, Amazon, et al. are clearing inventory. They're just as good then as when they're brand new.
1) I have failed my willpower check and convinced myself I need something that I don't really need AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
2) The preorder incentives really are something impressive.
3) The game will have a small print run and may become hard to find.
I generally try to avoid case #1 since it means I have fallen victim to marketing, and one generally tries to cultivate as much resistance to marketing as possible. I try to buy new games, but I try to buy new games for about $10-$30 when Best Buy, Target, Amazon, et al. are clearing inventory. They're just as good then as when they're brand new.
I'm not buying this game at full price. It's almost no different from the first, aside from more polish.
OH NO I didn't spend 60 USD on a series that apes much better games and has the writing and art direction of a junior high comics enthusiast from the nineties... I feel so _guilty_ now. This should have sold more than Windwaker, gamers suck. Boo Hoo.
"And this is why developers need to take a step back and make games that dont cost so much. Seriously, tone the graphics down some and spend less. The game will still be fun. When you need 2 million units to break even, there is a problem.
In the PS2 era games could break even with selling much much less. Hell alot of Japanese games can sell 100,000 and still make money, and most of those are still damn good."
It's almost funny that a couple of years ago we were saying the same thing about the Japanese industry been a bloated mess and that the west could do no wrong. Now it's almost the other way around with even Square Enix and Capcom saying they are making money with FFXIIIx2 and Dragons Dogma, While so many western pubs are underperforming with their blockbuster IPs and everyone wants to jump ship to f2p.
In the PS2 era games could break even with selling much much less. Hell alot of Japanese games can sell 100,000 and still make money, and most of those are still damn good."
It's almost funny that a couple of years ago we were saying the same thing about the Japanese industry been a bloated mess and that the west could do no wrong. Now it's almost the other way around with even Square Enix and Capcom saying they are making money with FFXIIIx2 and Dragons Dogma, While so many western pubs are underperforming with their blockbuster IPs and everyone wants to jump ship to f2p.
Despite it being a poor port, is it possible more people were buying on PC this time around? Those sales are nebulous since Steam doesn't release sales numbers.
I've heard good things about the game, but honestly...Darksiders wasn't that good a game, and even though I've heard that they fixed some of the more annoying issues from the first game...I'm still not going to go out and buy it. I've got Borderlands 2 preordered, I've got Spec Ops: The Line in the post after buying it on discount, and I've Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition on route too...which was also discounted...so honestly, that'll tide me over for a long-ass while. I can't say that I'm going to spring full-price on an interesting looking game, but a game that is from a series I'm not crazy about.
While it's not super niche, it doesn't have the same standings as some other titles, the first one was kind of bland to be honest, but if it needs two million sales to start making a profit? That's fucking insane, and a vast overestimation of what the series could potentially do. I don't know how they managed to put the series in a corner like this, but it's not our fault collectively for their money woes, we make the choices of what games to get, some people need it now, some people want it discounted, and while it may be well worth the price, there's no demo available that I've seen and that screams lack of confidence in the product. Sleeping Dogs had a demo, and I'm interested in it because of that, there's no excuse in this day and age, especially given the economic climate, for a lack of any prior demo of a game, most importantly when it comes to such polarising games like the Darksiders series.
While it's not super niche, it doesn't have the same standings as some other titles, the first one was kind of bland to be honest, but if it needs two million sales to start making a profit? That's fucking insane, and a vast overestimation of what the series could potentially do. I don't know how they managed to put the series in a corner like this, but it's not our fault collectively for their money woes, we make the choices of what games to get, some people need it now, some people want it discounted, and while it may be well worth the price, there's no demo available that I've seen and that screams lack of confidence in the product. Sleeping Dogs had a demo, and I'm interested in it because of that, there's no excuse in this day and age, especially given the economic climate, for a lack of any prior demo of a game, most importantly when it comes to such polarising games like the Darksiders series.
Hopefully they could at least finish the story with a 3rd and final game. It may not be for everyone but a lot of good effort was put into it...maybe it'll be another victim of the industry.
Over-budgeted. Whether that's a problem with Vigil or THQ marketing... I'm leaning towards marketing because they grossly overestimated the impact of an ad campaign featuring a heavy metal enthusiast in a skull mask.
I just finished it. Good game, but 1 was and is better. I just wish they had gone with the ending of the original, it was badass. ending of 2 is just "meh"
I agree with patcher when he says we should give the game another month, august isn't a good month to release games, I believe it should of been released on September 11th.
The game was bloody brilliant, except for the pretty bad and seemingly rushed ending. I'd recommend it to everyone, and I got the PC version. It's an absolute gem of a game, and I'm disappointed it didn't sell as well as it should have.
I didn't like the loot system and some of the quests but still loved the game. I want THQ to survive, I want Darksiders 3 to exist and Saints Row 4 too.
What was there over all budget?? What were their expectations during such a difficult economic period, in basically the world really? Maybe it might be best to not spend $50 or whatever million on your game budgets during economic crises?
I'll gladly accept anyone else's PS3 copy if they didn't like this game.. Being unemployed I was unable to get this day one like I wanted. I tried hard to win that Darksiders competition you guys had.. I guess I will sit this out until I get a job.. tho I really wish I could support it just to prove that they need to be making more games.
Also why no demo on PS3 yet? this was the same with darksiders which never came out as a demo..
Also why no demo on PS3 yet? this was the same with darksiders which never came out as a demo..
I bought it day one. It's better than many other releases this year but if I had to put it in a list it would be in the fifth or sixth slot. The story could be better but Death's voice acting, overall excellent dungeon design, and a focus on exploration rather than combat makes this a winner that should at the very least be demoed by the gaming community.
I don't know. Honestly something about this game just isn't doing it for me. Darksiders was this awesome blend of Zelda, Devil May Cry, and Prince of Persia. Darksiders II put a greater emphasis on the Prince of Persia aspects and added in some random WoW-style loot and for whatever reason I feel like it is now less enjoyable.
Frankly I find the loot system to be completely arbitrary. I don't feel like it's really helping, and after you get one Posessed Weapon, it's hard to justify dropping it for anything less than another Posessed Weapon. So every chest you open is just another 1 or 2 crap items you don't care about. That makes the joy of opening chests disappear pretty quickly and turns them into just another god damned collectible (as if this game doesn't have enough already).
I did just get to the Earth part and I'm kind of liking it more. But as it stands now, Darksiders II just doesn't do it for me like Darksiders did.
Frankly I find the loot system to be completely arbitrary. I don't feel like it's really helping, and after you get one Posessed Weapon, it's hard to justify dropping it for anything less than another Posessed Weapon. So every chest you open is just another 1 or 2 crap items you don't care about. That makes the joy of opening chests disappear pretty quickly and turns them into just another god damned collectible (as if this game doesn't have enough already).
I did just get to the Earth part and I'm kind of liking it more. But as it stands now, Darksiders II just doesn't do it for me like Darksiders did.
I didn't buy it because the PC port was half-assed (not as much as the Dark Souls port though). Took my money and bought Sleeping Dogs instead. Fix the PC issues and I'll gladly get a copy, till then I'll be waiting for a sale on Amazon or Steam.
@NeoShinGundam- Admit it. The only reason that you had trouble reconciling their divergent opinions is because they both are British immigrants.
People born in the same country have rights to dissimilar opinions,you should know!
People born in the same country have rights to dissimilar opinions,you should know!
I've been holding out for Borderlands 2 and I'm willing to wait to see what DLC support it gets and hopefully snag a GOTY version sometime down the line. Until then, I patiently await for Borderlands 2.
I love this game! I strongly recommend it to all Zelda, God of War and dungeon crawler fans. I will it admit it is not the most polished game, or most original but I love the world! Not to mention the art style is also great! The gameplay is awesome and the voice acting is also very good which might surprise some people. I enjoyed the first one and I'm enjoying this one (about 50% completed, 12 Hours in). Pick it up! I didn't regret it and I don't think you will either.
RIP THQ
You will be missed. Sort of. Mostly I'm just gonna feel bad for everyone who's gonna lose their jobs.
You will be missed. Sort of. Mostly I'm just gonna feel bad for everyone who's gonna lose their jobs.
REALLY hope this warrants another sequel.
I decided I was getting this just a few days before the game launched. I already had Sleeping Dogs pre-ordered (Another amazing game.) and was hesitant to pick up another game, despite having loved the first Darksiders. Then I realized that this game needed sales, and if I was fortunate enough to have money to spend on such things, I would spend it.
I actually just beat the game today, and it was really fantastic. Definitely deserving of it's positive reviews, and DEFINITELY deserving a sequel. I really want to play as that gunfighter horseman. I think it's Strife?
I decided I was getting this just a few days before the game launched. I already had Sleeping Dogs pre-ordered (Another amazing game.) and was hesitant to pick up another game, despite having loved the first Darksiders. Then I realized that this game needed sales, and if I was fortunate enough to have money to spend on such things, I would spend it.
I actually just beat the game today, and it was really fantastic. Definitely deserving of it's positive reviews, and DEFINITELY deserving a sequel. I really want to play as that gunfighter horseman. I think it's Strife?
Expecting 2.5+ million copies sold for a sequel to a niche action game was stupid to begin with. If there was ever a point in time when THQ pinned all its hopes to Darksiders 2, they're fucked.
2 million to break even sounds quite insane. 250k in the US first month, probably another 250k in Europe, other regions will not add much to the total. So 500k first month. Probably can reach 800k ltd if it has some decent leg.
I remember Bayonetta sold between 1 and 2 million copies worldwide(and it sold like 300k in Japan alone, which Darksiders 2 can never do.), that is pretty much the best a 3D action game without big name value can do...
I remember Bayonetta sold between 1 and 2 million copies worldwide(and it sold like 300k in Japan alone, which Darksiders 2 can never do.), that is pretty much the best a 3D action game without big name value can do...
Guys, buy the game. HUGE improvement over the first one, which i thought was mediocre at best.
Combat is so fluid, and the loot system is pretty sweet.
Combat is so fluid, and the loot system is pretty sweet.
Sigh. I did my part. Currently 30hrs and enjoying it immensely, I cannot express how much I am loving this game. The world Vigil has created is amazingly slick, vivid and very very cool. The original was one of my favorite games so the sequel was a no-brainer, however this industry is disgusting. When it comes to game like DSII and Sleeping Dogs I instantly day one, because I refuse to live in a world where the industry is creatively bankrupt. I swear to God if Sleeping Dogs bombs and Vigil never gets to make Darksiders III not to mention CoD sells some outrageous numbers. I am done with this stagnant industry.
To be honest, i brought it and didn't like it. :( It's because it feels like every system works against itself. The talent system is too shallow for someone interesting in talents, the weapon system doesn't have enough choice compared to the first game (granted, at least i feel all the weapons work) and i just don't care about the worthless story that never bothered to sit down for 5 minutes and make me give a damn. *shrugs* If it vanishes, i personally don't care.
Sleeping Dogs is better and deserves to sell better.
Darksiders II is pretty awesome, but the game goes to shit when... SPOILERS!!!!
you go to earth. It turns into shitty shooter shit with bland environments, and it all lasts way too long.
In addition, the framerate often takes a dump and there are numerous glitches throughout.
Darksiders II is pretty awesome, but the game goes to shit when... SPOILERS!!!!
you go to earth. It turns into shitty shooter shit with bland environments, and it all lasts way too long.
In addition, the framerate often takes a dump and there are numerous glitches throughout.
Bought it day 1 but kinda regret it.
There are just too many game-breaking bugs. I had my main quest break after 10 hours in, and I don't even know if the upcoming patch will fix it. The frame rate also turns into a slideshow at times, which is terrible for an action game where timing is of the essence.
It's like Skyrim all over again (only with less stuff to keep me distracted from what's broken). Darksiders 2 just doesn't feel like a finished product.
There are just too many game-breaking bugs. I had my main quest break after 10 hours in, and I don't even know if the upcoming patch will fix it. The frame rate also turns into a slideshow at times, which is terrible for an action game where timing is of the essence.
It's like Skyrim all over again (only with less stuff to keep me distracted from what's broken). Darksiders 2 just doesn't feel like a finished product.
Luckily for me I have not encountered any game breaking bugs. Knocks on wood, don't have a problem with the frame rate, nor did I have a problem with the frame rate in Lords of Shadow, I can only expect so much out of 7 year old hardware. Ps3 gamer here, and this game is vastly more engaging than Skyrim. Opinions, how do they work.
after the game ending glitch of the first one near the end with the elevators and the company's response "to just start over" i avoided this game which is a bummer because i enjoyed the first one up to the glitch. Plus games are just so expensive anymore, its hard for me to justify spending $60 dollars for a new game with an average playing time of 12 to 15 hours and thats why i love gamefly but when the new consoles come out i may have to give up console gaming and rely on steam sales to pick up older games.
Only about half as good as the first one. So, naturally, I'm not surprised that it isn't selling very well. No huge fan of the first, and I mean NO huge fan of the first, was asking for this Darksiders 2. It wasn't Darksiders. It was a totally different game with Darksiders name slapped on it. Darksiders was a mature Zelda, and it was fantastic.
In the first, the dungeons were all varied and extremely well designed. Not one single dungeon felt the same as any that came before it. Every 5 seconds you were getting some new awesome gear to use. In every dungeon there was some new mechanic. And the boss battles, of which there were many, were well designed and great fun. The whole game was polished, varied, and a ton of fun from start to finish.
Darksiders 2 lost all of this. First of all, it somehow looks worse than the first. Graphics took a serious hit. Then, all of the dungeons look the same. You will not be able to tell the difference from the first dungeon you visit and the last. They all use the same exact assets. Add on to that the fact that the variety took a massive hit, you don't get nearly as much gear/gadgets, and there are only 10% of the boss battles. What you end up with is less of a game.
They literally watered down or removed everything I, and all the fans I know, loved from the first. The gorgeous graphics were gone. The extremely varied dungeons were gone. The varied gameplay was watered down. The boss battles were almost completely removed. What we were left with was a completely different game. It felt like Darksiders lite. Sure, it was 30 hours long, but you are doing the same thing the whole time.
The only time anything felt different was when you finally got the portal ability, and then they used it for an hour dungeon and got rid of it. I was so letdown by this. And the fact that they didn't continue War's story, and instead chose to punch gamers in the nuts by completely ignoring the awesome cliff hanger from the last game. Imagine if Halo 3 started and instead of following through with the cliffhanger from Halo 2, you were instead playing as someone completely different.
It's ok to change things up, but not when you ended the last fucking game in a fucking cliffhanger you fucking cock teases! I am adding Darksiders 2 on to my most disappointing games of all time list, right up there with Majora's Mask and Mass Effect 2. This could have been an amazing franchise. Instead, you took an amazing game and took away everything that made it great, and added loot to make up for it.
Who the hell was in charge of making these decisions? Fire that person...No, don't fire them, that's harsh, but at least make them wear a dunce cap for a few months to pay for their sins. I don't think I've ever been more letdown by a game in my 25 years of gaming. I'm not the type of gamer that gets angry as soon as anything from his favorite franchise is changed, but it is when everything is changed I am more likely to dislike the game.
An example of good changes? Modern Warfare, A Link to the Past, Resident Evil 4. These are games that took the great mechanics people loved and improved all of them, while adding other great mechanics. Darksiders 2 didn't do that. It removed great mechanics and replaced them with nothing, only watered down fantasy garbage. Dear God, what a letdown.
In the first, the dungeons were all varied and extremely well designed. Not one single dungeon felt the same as any that came before it. Every 5 seconds you were getting some new awesome gear to use. In every dungeon there was some new mechanic. And the boss battles, of which there were many, were well designed and great fun. The whole game was polished, varied, and a ton of fun from start to finish.
Darksiders 2 lost all of this. First of all, it somehow looks worse than the first. Graphics took a serious hit. Then, all of the dungeons look the same. You will not be able to tell the difference from the first dungeon you visit and the last. They all use the same exact assets. Add on to that the fact that the variety took a massive hit, you don't get nearly as much gear/gadgets, and there are only 10% of the boss battles. What you end up with is less of a game.
They literally watered down or removed everything I, and all the fans I know, loved from the first. The gorgeous graphics were gone. The extremely varied dungeons were gone. The varied gameplay was watered down. The boss battles were almost completely removed. What we were left with was a completely different game. It felt like Darksiders lite. Sure, it was 30 hours long, but you are doing the same thing the whole time.
The only time anything felt different was when you finally got the portal ability, and then they used it for an hour dungeon and got rid of it. I was so letdown by this. And the fact that they didn't continue War's story, and instead chose to punch gamers in the nuts by completely ignoring the awesome cliff hanger from the last game. Imagine if Halo 3 started and instead of following through with the cliffhanger from Halo 2, you were instead playing as someone completely different.
It's ok to change things up, but not when you ended the last fucking game in a fucking cliffhanger you fucking cock teases! I am adding Darksiders 2 on to my most disappointing games of all time list, right up there with Majora's Mask and Mass Effect 2. This could have been an amazing franchise. Instead, you took an amazing game and took away everything that made it great, and added loot to make up for it.
Who the hell was in charge of making these decisions? Fire that person...No, don't fire them, that's harsh, but at least make them wear a dunce cap for a few months to pay for their sins. I don't think I've ever been more letdown by a game in my 25 years of gaming. I'm not the type of gamer that gets angry as soon as anything from his favorite franchise is changed, but it is when everything is changed I am more likely to dislike the game.
An example of good changes? Modern Warfare, A Link to the Past, Resident Evil 4. These are games that took the great mechanics people loved and improved all of them, while adding other great mechanics. Darksiders 2 didn't do that. It removed great mechanics and replaced them with nothing, only watered down fantasy garbage. Dear God, what a letdown.
@EKGProd
Majora's Mask and Mass Effect 2 were part of your 'most disappointing games of all time' list?
Your opinion is null and void to me. MM is the crown of 3D Zelda's and ME2 is the hands-down best ME game (and also one of my favorite games ever).
The reason I mention this is that UNTIL you said that I was almost agreeing with you on everything. I don't think Darksiders "cliffhanger" ending was a cliffhanger though. The story of the first game was neatly wrapped up and they were free to go anywhere they wanted with a 2nd game unlike Halo 2 and God of War 2 (I refuse to play H3 and GoW3 for this reason btw). Darksiders just left you wanting more where as Darksiders 2 (as far as I've gotten through it which isnt very far, only about 6 hours in) is apparently a prequel from what I've gathered? Maybe?
Anyway, MM and ME2, two games that are freakin' FANTASTIC.
Majora's Mask and Mass Effect 2 were part of your 'most disappointing games of all time' list?
Your opinion is null and void to me. MM is the crown of 3D Zelda's and ME2 is the hands-down best ME game (and also one of my favorite games ever).
The reason I mention this is that UNTIL you said that I was almost agreeing with you on everything. I don't think Darksiders "cliffhanger" ending was a cliffhanger though. The story of the first game was neatly wrapped up and they were free to go anywhere they wanted with a 2nd game unlike Halo 2 and God of War 2 (I refuse to play H3 and GoW3 for this reason btw). Darksiders just left you wanting more where as Darksiders 2 (as far as I've gotten through it which isnt very far, only about 6 hours in) is apparently a prequel from what I've gathered? Maybe?
Anyway, MM and ME2, two games that are freakin' FANTASTIC.
I surely hope that the guys break even but I don't think you can say that a game deserves to be bought, that part is dictated buy the consumers, so either it wasn't good enough of just not what people wanted atm, if the latter thq should have realized this and lessened the scope and marketing for the game. The poor pc port might have helped these low numbers too
How much did THQ pay you to say Darksiders 2 was good, Jim? Everyone knows that the puzzles are get boring as fuck. The combat is too easy on normal and too broken on apocalyptic. I had to force myself to get through to the ending of the game because I was interested in the story. Then you find out one teeny little thing you couldn't already assume. AND THAT'S IT. It really wasn't that good. The first one was way better. I hope they get enough money to do DS3, but not make it shit.
@EKGProd what are you talking about? I just got done in some underground maze I stumbled upon in The Sentinels Gaze, and the "dungeons" aren't watered down at all. New mechanics constantly get introduced and they are blended with the other skills you acquired along the way. Exactly like Darksiders 1. The bosses so far haven't been as memorable except for the Guardian, but I think its due to the combat engine being so rough, despite them adding more option. Something is still very off with the combat, which is my only complaint. I started on Apocalyptic and it was a rough ride until I started getting some half-decent loot and I had to respec atleast 10 times, but so far so good. I'm 40hrs in and I'm heading back to Thane because I beat The Giant Spider, and the graphics are still amazing in this game. The crazy architecture, the vistas, the other worldly elements. I don't know if its better than DS1 as yet, but its not far behind. Still a fantastic game. Its still very Zelda-ish, but different this time.
Could it be a lot to do with not only a lacklustre PC port, but the well-documented game-breaking bugs and system crashes on consoles?
I'm a British gamer, but I cancelled my pre-order of this game when I discovered that within a week, Americans were flooding the forums with complaints of game breaking glitches. On the day the patch was released, I bought the game only to discover later that the patch only solved half of the most drastic problems. So now it's sitting on my desk, looking shiny and brand new and delicious, and I won't play any further than the first dungeon for fear of the game breaking down on me and ruining my save games.
What I've played is excellent, but developers need to realise that with the internet, 'isolated' cases don't remain isolated for long, and when you release a game as glitched as this one, people are going to know about it.
I'm a British gamer, but I cancelled my pre-order of this game when I discovered that within a week, Americans were flooding the forums with complaints of game breaking glitches. On the day the patch was released, I bought the game only to discover later that the patch only solved half of the most drastic problems. So now it's sitting on my desk, looking shiny and brand new and delicious, and I won't play any further than the first dungeon for fear of the game breaking down on me and ruining my save games.
What I've played is excellent, but developers need to realise that with the internet, 'isolated' cases don't remain isolated for long, and when you release a game as glitched as this one, people are going to know about it.
Releasing on THE SAME DAY as Sleeping Dogs = bad idea.
I'm definitely going to buy it, but I cannot afford Sleeping Dogs, Guild WArs 2 a couple of weeks later, AND Darksiders 2 all within the same time frame. One of them had to wait.
I'm definitely going to buy it, but I cannot afford Sleeping Dogs, Guild WArs 2 a couple of weeks later, AND Darksiders 2 all within the same time frame. One of them had to wait.
I can't feel too bad about a game like this not selling like hotcakes. I don't personally care for it's design choices based on the number three, needless RPG elements making a game even more tacky and grind-y, and the "Lord Deathkill" type of character bull crap one would expect out of the Liefeld-obsessed 1990s comic industry that this game took direct inspiration from.
I bought the game at a midnight release, so I did my part. I do want it to sell well... oh so well. The game is amazing.
I didnt buy this game because the last game in the series crashed 4 times for me and I fell through the stairs to get my sword at the beginning of the game. Every review, even Jim's flawless review mentioned that there are still bugs in the game which to me says that they didnt see crashes as something worth fixing
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