Darksiders 2 Death Strikes Cinematic Trailer

If the name Darksiders rings more than a few bells for you, there's no need to stress why the upcoming sequel is worth keeping an eye on. In case the first outing managed to slip under your radar, now is as good a time as any to start looking forward to Darksiders 2. Death and destruction are on full display in the newest cinematic trailer for the game, the first of a two-part CG killfest known as 'Death Strikes.'

The title is a fitting one, as can be seen within the first few moments of the cinematic. With the main character of Darksiders 2 switching from War to Death, some fans may have been concerned that the ties formed in the first game might be jeopardized. However, the team at Vigil Games has already explained why the change was made and it's abundantly clear that all of the Four Horsemen are equally skilled in maiming and dismembering.

With the original Darksiders largely compared to the dungeon-crawling RPGs of old like The Legend of Zelda, and those parallels certainly don't hold where content or combat is concerned. With action more befitting a Dragon Age title or God of War the first half of the 'Death Strikes' trailer gets the point home: this hero lives up to his name.

The following trailer courtesy of IGN is unquestionably M-Rated, in the best way possible:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MmX7fxXaR0#!

Whether taking on demons or larger enemies - known as Constructs - Death looks prepared to deal out damage in even more savage and brutal ways than his predecessor. This may be just a cinematic trailer, but the importance of the fiction behind Darksiders 2 can't be understated. The development team already has a novel set to launch alongside the game telling a story that predates the events of the first game, and these cinematic trailers are going to go a long way in attracting broader audiences who may have passed up the first Darksiders.

It's no secret that THQ is betting big on Darksiders 2 to be a financial hit, and darkening the tone and action will undoubtedly help them. With a release set for this June, launching a gory and intelligent action title into a relatively vacant market could ultimately make or break sales numbers. From our early looks at the game itself, we're certainly hoping that more gamers sacrifice sunshine for scything this summer.

Darksiders 2 will be released on June 26, 2012 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. We'll keep you updated when 'Death Strikes Part 2' drops, and find out how Death will manage to take down that colossal foe.

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