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Crytek USA, Vigil devs aim to get the band back together with new studio
David Adams, formerly of Darksiders series development studio Vigil Games, has formed a new studio: Gunfire Games. It is a studio comprised of seven team members from Crytek USA, which itself was formed entirely from ex-Vigil staff in the wake of the THQ closure and auction. In other words, in the span of 18 months, Adams has gone from Vigil employee to Crytek employee to founder of his own studio. Adams told Polygon that the decision to leave Crytek was due in part to financial issues which recently hit the company - issues that Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli says were not as bad as you may think - but also due to the fact that people were abandoning Crytek's ship, many of whom Adams wanted to keep working with. "It really was the team," Adams said. "When you make a game, one of the most important elements of that is the people you work with. You could get 12 of the best developers in the world and put them into a room and they may not make a good game." Adams also said that he "jumped" at joining Crytek, which in hindsight may not have been the best decision. "Having gone through this a second time, the first time we jumped on the first deal that sounded good; this time, we feel a little more confident in our abilities," said Gunfire studio director Matt Guzenda. "We walked away from them, not the other way around." Adams and Guzenda told Polygon they're working to bring more of the original Vigil team together, and are knocking around ideas for what they want to do next, which Adams expressed could include more Darksiders games, should IP owner Nordic Games give their support. In the meantime, Crytek USA has been relieved of their development on Hunt: Horrors of the Gilded Age. [Image: Gunfire Games]
Crytek co-op monster-blasting game Hunt switches studios
Homefront: The Revolution won't be the only Crytek game changing hands, the German publisher/developer studio has revealed. Following up on today's news that the Homefront IP had shifted to publisher Deep Silver, Crytek has announced that work on Hunt: Horrors of the Gilded Age will move from Crytek's Austin studio to its Frankfurt location. "Crytek will retain a presence in Austin, with several staff members maintaining the CRYENGINE support team to assist North American licensees," Crytek said in a statement. "Employees who are not set to be part of that support team will be invited to apply for new positions at Crytek in Germany." You may remember Crytek USA as the team comprised of staff from Vigil, the development studio behind the Darksiders games. That property now rests with Nordic, who are still figuring out what to do with it ever since buying it in the wake of the THQ auction last year. [Image: Crytek]
Darksiders 2 reappears on European Wii U eShop
After nearly a year's absence, Nordic Games brought Darksiders 2 back to the European Wii U eShop. The game was removed from the eShop at the end of March 2013 following the back catalog auction of THQ's properties, the result of the publisher's closure. Nordic Games spent $4.9 million to acquire the Darksiders series from THQ, and said in June 2013 that it wanted to find a developer for the series and do right by it. Darksiders 2 was a day-one launch title for Wii U that included off-screen play and DLC on the disc from the game's PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. [Image: Nordic Games]
Crytek declares intent to acquire Darksiders IP in April's THQ auction
Crytek USA Corp. CEO David Adams revealed his company will bid on the Darksiders IP when it's auctioned next month. Posting on Twitter, Adams said the property "belongs at home with its creators," referring to himself and the other 35 ex-Vigil employees at the recently-formed Crytek USA studio. Darksiders creator Vigil was shuttered by now defunct publisher THQ.Ryan Stefanelli, Crytek USA principal designer and Vigil co-founder, furthered Adams' comments. Talking to Destructoid, Stefanelli said, "When the Darksiders IP goes up for auction, Crytek will be bidding for it. Not much more to say since the rest is left up to courts and legal shenanigans, but we're all excited at the prospect."The IP, which comprises the two Darksiders games, goes up for sale on April 1 in THQ's back catalog auction, with bidding ending on April 15. Other properties in the impending auction include Homeworld and Red Faction.
Crytek USA to be headed by former Vigil boss
Crysis developer Crytek has formed Crytek USA Corp. in Austin, Texas. Crytek notes the Austin studio is its ninth worldwide and will be headed by former Vigil general manager David Adams, who'll oversee a team of "35 experienced developers."Gamasutra asked Crytek if the new Austin studio was basically a purchase of defunct publisher THQ's shuttered Vigil Games, but Crytek informed the outlet it was "more like a new start for [the team at Vigil]."Vestiges of Vigil aren't the only thing Crytek picked up out of the THQ bankruptcy, purchasing the rights to Homefront for a half-million.Update: IGN has confirmed all 35 employees are former Vigil staff. [Image: Kushal Bose via Shutterstock]
Vigil Games Lead Combat Designer stands up, says goodbye
Vigil Games Lead Combat Designer Ben Cureton and the rest of the Vigil staff cleaned out the office today, after Vigil was left untouched at THQ's auction. Vigil was shuttered, and as per THQ's letter to employees, everyone working there was laid off. In a post on NeoGAF, Cureton compared the scene in the office to a silent warzone."The walls look bare," he wrote. "It's quiet. The seats are empty."Vigil Games, the studio behind Darksiders 2, was working on something called Crawler, a project we first heard about in THQ's December bankruptcy filing. After two months working on Crawler, Cureton was convinced that it would blow people's minds."I knew, without a shadow of the doubt, that the project we were working on (Codenamed: Crawler) was going to blow people away. In fact, it did blow people away. We did, in two months, what many companies haven't done in a year. The pride of knowing that no one was doing anything like us was so satisfying, it kept us coming to work and giving 100 percent every single day, even through the dark times."Today was one of those dark times. Cureton was taken aback when he didn't find Vigil's name on the list of purchased properties."Maybe you can imagine what it feels like when you read the list of who bought what only to discover your name is not on the list," he said. "Why? Did we do something wrong? Were we not good enough? Were we not worth 'anything?' Imagine that."In the end, Cureton thanked fans of the Darksiders series and promised to continue making games, having already worked in the industry 20 years."In closing, I can only say thank you to the fans of Vigil games," Cureton said. "Your support means more than you can imagine. Your feedback (both positive and negative) gave us long-lasting insight that we will all take with us, wherever we may go. You are the reason we made Darksiders 1 and 2... and you are the reason we will continue to make games."And with that... my seat is empty."
Everything Darksiders for $13.19 on Amazon
No, "Everything Darksiders" isn't the name of a new apocalypse-themed cookbook from THQ, although that would be pretty sweet. What we're saying, if you'd listen for five minutes, is that Darksiders, Darksiders 2 and 11 pieces of Darksiders 2 DLC can all be purchased from Amazon as a Darksiders Franchise Pack for $13.19.There is a catch of course, which is that the pack is A) download only and 2) PC only, so anyone without Windows and some phat pipes is in for a struggle. For everyone else though, this sale could at least facilitate an ironic way to ride out Friday's end of the world.
Darksiders 2 statue brings Death and Despair into your living space
State of the Art Toys is preparing to let loose Death and his steed Despair on the collectibles world. A $249.99 statue of both Darksiders 2 characters is available for pre-order right now, with the first shipments expected to go out in mid-February.High intensity LEDs are built into Despair, lighting up his mane, hooves and tail. Death rides atop Despair with his scythes in hand, ready to reap the souls of all your other collectibles should they get out of line. What? That movie Toy Story was a documentary, you guys – your toys are alive and move when you're not looking.%Gallery-173141%
Darksiders 2 'The Demon Lord Belial' DLC revealed, available tomorrow
Darksiders 2 will suddenly summon "The Demon Lord Belial" as downloadable content this week. Death seeks out the last remnants of humanity and faces off against the Demon Lord Belial in this DLC, which is included for those with a "Darksiders 2: Season Pass."The Demon Lord Belial is $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points) and rides onto PS3, Xbox 360 and PC tomorrow, December 4. It'll cross the pond December 6 for Europeans with PS3s. Speaking of THQ, remember that you can currently pay what you want for a whole mess of games from the publisher in the Humble THQ Bundle.
Darksiders 2 Wii U review: Scythe quest
For Wii U re-releases of existing games, we're republishing our original reviews with added evaluation of the new material. Keep track of all of Joystiq's Wii U launch coverage on the Wii U hub page! Death may be deficient when it comes to charisma and skin tone, but he boasts one of the biggest adventures of the year in Darksiders 2. The Wii U version of the grim reaper's star vehicle is as roomy as a hearse and comes packing nearly all of the game's DLC right out of its new blue box.The Wii U revision isn't too ambitious in utilizing Nintendo's new hardware, though this also spares us from obnoxious mechanisms that don't do justice to the game's original design. Pairing different weapons, powers and protective outerwear with Death's taut physique is a simple time saver on the Wii U's GamePad, and it's a great deal faster than the sluggish menu that shipped with the other versions. You can, of course, keep the original menu and play exclusively on the TV or your handheld screen.There's some graphical tearing on the smaller screen, but otherwise Darksiders 2 comes close to technical parity with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. There appears to be more shadow pop-in within the larger areas, but the framerate holds up just as well (which is to say, it doesn't always hold up when fighting gets frantic). Attacks feel responsive through the game pad – the light click of the right shoulder button works especially well for Death's graceful dodge – and they all work through the Pro controller if you prefer. The face-button commands are not remapped, however, leading to considerable travel time for your right thumb between jumping on B and manipulating the camera via the right stick.Other Darksiders detritus ends up on the Wiipad too: you jolt the controller to spur on your undead equine transportation (that's the thesaurus result on "zombie horse"), and you tilt it to roll around the impractical, spherical keys that tend to litter ancient temples. Neither of these are preferable to doing it the old-fashioned way, so it's just as well they're optional control methods.The best addition to Darksiders 2 on Wii U is the inclusion of post-release content, offered separately on other systems. You can start using some bonus high-level weapons and armor once you exceed level 5, while "Argul's Tomb," a bonus campaign that can be accessed from the main menu, offers extra traversal puzzles involving portals and Death's ghostly grappling hook.The overall game doesn't get the polish on Wii U that it needed on other platforms back in August, but it remains a majestic blend of melee combat, puzzle solving and exploration. And if you squint, it's the best Steven Tyler game since Revolution X!%Gallery-166856%
Darksiders 2, Kingdoms of Amalur, EndWar all coming to PSN Nov. 20
Prepare to get your brutality, fantasy, and strategy on, as Darksiders 2, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and Tom Clancy's EndWar are all arriving on PlayStation Network November 20. This week's PlayStation Blogcast confirmed the trio of PS3 digital releases.Darksiders 2 recently got its second downloadable content pack, Abyssal Forge. Developer Vigil Games claims the DLC has some of the toughest enemies in the game. But, as the saying goes, Death laughs in the faces of a game's toughest enemies, or something. According to the podcast, the PSN version of Darksiders 2 includes a pass to the game's Crucible arena, and the official soundtrack.Eccentric shoot-em-up Sine Mora lands on PSN next week too, for PS3 and Vita. Grinding onto Vita via PSN is Jet Set Radio, free for PS Plus users until the end of the year. Clan of Champions and the fifth episode of The Walking Dead will be available online for PS3.
Darksiders 2 for PC 66% off on Amazon, Steam
Death is here to chop Darksiders 2 prices by 66 percent for PC. Both Steam and Amazon currently have deals on the apocalyptic action game, dropping the regular $50 price to $17. The deal runs for the next day and a half of Steam, the Amazon sale doesn't say when its time is up.Despite Darksiders 2 selling 1.4 million copies since launch, THQ CEO Brian Farrell said the game sold "below our expectations." The publisher is currently hanging on to life by a thread.%Gallery-162548%
Darksiders 2 Abyssal Forge DLC engineers October 30 release date
Darksiders 2 is getting its second chunky piece of DLC in time for Halloween, with Abyssal Forge available to download on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC on October 30. Except if you're playing on PS3 in Europe, in which case you'll have to wait one day longer, until Halloween itself. Abyssal Forge is priced higher than Argul's Tomb, coming in at $9.99 or 800 MSP.Vigil Games further detailed the DLC today, which features a new swampy area called Shadow Lands. It includes two new dungeons, along with new enemies and unique loot. Vigil claims Abyssal Forge features "the hardest enemies and puzzles yet."It'll also spotlight the meaty-looking dude in the above picture. He's an outcast known as the Mad Smith who's been wasting his years away by building an army, probably with that giant thingamabob he's holding. We expect he'll find another use for it when you meet him in Shadow Lands.
Darksiders 2 creative director Joe Madureira leaves Vigil Games
Vigil Games founder and creative director Joe Madureira has left the company. The news comes via a tweet, in which Madureira bids farewell to Vigil, thanks publisher THQ and refers to the Darksiders franchise as a "career highlight." In a message on his Facebook fan page, Madureira notes, "I could not be more proud of what we achieved, or the awesome people who helped build up this studio." He adds that Vigil is "in very good hands, so expect only awesomeness down the road."Madureira plans to reveal "the Next Big Thing" soon. In the meantime, the well-known artist is focusing on his other job, namely "banging out a bunch of comics."Vigil's most recent game, Darksiders 2, topped the NPD sales chart for August, selling 247,000 copies. Only time will tell what Madureira's departure means for Vigil – and possibly for publisher THQ, which has a lot riding on the success of Darksiders 2.
Darksiders 2 first DLC, Argul's Tomb, comes for Death on September 25
Argul's Tomb, the ice-based DLC for Darksiders 2, is set to launch on September 25 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, for $7 (560 Microsoft Points).Argul's Tomb comes free with the Limited Edition of Darksiders 2, including anyone who pre-ordered the game. It will come packaged with the Wii U version of Darksiders 2 when that console hits in the US on November 18.
Darksiders 2 DLC 'Argul's Tomb' has hell frozen over
Argul's Tomb, the first piece of DLC for Darksiders 2, is set to launch "in the next few weeks," a reveal video from IGN shows. Argul's Tomb is free for those who pre-ordered Darksiders 2, and it will be included in the Wii U version on launch day.Argul's Tomb is a far-away realm that hides legendary items and weapons within its icy, frozen confines, and has two new dungeons and one open area for an on-rails shooter.
NPD: Darksiders 2 sold 247K copies in August
Darksiders 2 brought Death to top of the NPD charts for the month of August, having launched on August 14 in North America. In close to two weeks – the cut-off for NPD's August period was August 25 – the Vigil Games sequel managed to move 247,000 copies at retail, GI.biz reports. This figure doesn't account for international sales or Steam, and is perhaps a muted victory in a month that saw software sales go down year-over-year.A lot is riding on Darksiders 2, the first major release under newly appointed THQ president Jason Rubin. It's undoubtedly setting the tone for his THQ, which he hopes will get back to prosperity by focusing on games with the highest potential for success. This move has seen THQ drop Guillermo Del Toro's Insane and roll Saints Row 3's Dominatrix DLC into a full sequel.
Metareview: Darksiders 2
Darksiders 2 is a patchwork of the best in the third-person beat-em-up action genre and that's what makes it comforting. We said in our review that "you're not required to forgive the game's faults," but it does spend more time on the good side than bad. Here's what others thought about their trip with Death. Game Informer (90/100): "One of the most polished aspects of the game is environment traversal. Death can run along walls and leap between pillars much like the Prince of Persia. These platforming-like sequences add an element of verticality to exploration, and are used extensively to unearth hidden areas. The overworld is filled with them (including numerous bonus areas and bosses). A handy fast travel ability makes backtracking painless affair." Gamespot (85/100): "Bigger doesn't mean better, of course, but this isn't a "more of the same, just bigger" kind of sequel. The game uses its expansive geography to cultivate a poetic tempo in which your intellectual triumphs are rewarded with the immediate pleasures of fleet-footed platforming and demonic brutality. In Darksiders 2, Death is not an end, but rather, a portal to a memorable saga of snarling brutes and stolen souls. " GiantBomb (4/5): "The adventure has its rough spots and the technical issues are disappointing, but these are relatively small issues in the grand scheme of things. Darksiders 2 is an exciting and lengthy adventure with interesting characters and a host of items and features that make its mix of combat and puzzle-solving very attractive. It's better if you also played the original game, but even if you didn't, Darksiders 2 is definitely worth looking at." IGN (75/100): "Despite its problems, I was compelled onward in my quest with Death because Darksiders 2 is simply a fun game. The RPG elements and to-the-point action all make for some solid gaming, glitches and all. It's a shame so many glaring issues hold such an ambitious endeavor back from the greatness its developers were clearly aiming for. Still, if you love action adventure games, it's certainly worth checking out - but don't expect it to rival the masterpieces it will inevitably call to mind."%Gallery-162548%
Death comes for many bosses in Darksiders 2
Big and small, fat and skinny – it doesn't matter who you are, Death eventually comes for us all. Even if you're an 80-foot tall demon thing with a tentacle mouth and biceps that would put Hulk Hogan to shame, Death will soon come knocking in Darksiders 2.THQ sent out a bunch of videos showing just that, giving us a taste of a few of the boss encounters awaiting in Vigil's latest. Above is a quick primer on combat; after the break, five different videos providing a sneak peek at different boss battles.
Darksiders 2 review: Scythe quest
Darksiders 2 elicits forgiveness in its weakest moments. There's a lingering sting to every stumble, and a constant yearning for just a bit more polish here and there, but the game's tremendous vision and heartening sense of adventure give it an unbreakable foundation.The tone of Darksiders 2 is captured best in its opening shot, of a lone horseman carving through snow and inhospitable cliffs toward an immense fortress. His destination seems to teeter impossibly on a sliver of mountain, and the elegant score (care of Assassin's Creed composer Jesper Kyd) suggests this peak is but the beginning of a long, taxing ascent. Darksiders 2 is utterly devoted to the quest.Astride the horse is capital-D Death, depicted here as a pale bruiser rocking raven hair, a spooky mask, and other skull-based attire that should guarantee him a secondary career in someone's theatrical heavy metal band. Death vows to dabble in irony and resurrect humanity, thereby aiding brother (and fellow equine enthusiast) War, who is unjustly blamed for triggering the apocalypse just a wee bit early. And like War did in Darksiders, Death completes his task by invading dungeons, slaying beasts, solving puzzles and running epic errands.%Gallery-162548%
