Darksiders Genesis (NSP, XCI) ROM + v1.0.3 Update

Darksiders Genesis is a top-down hack-and-slash action role-playing video game developed by American studio Airship Syndicate and published by THQ Nordic. The game was released for Stadia and Windows on 5 December 2019 and was released on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 14 February 2020.

It is considered a spin-off prequel game in the Darksiders series and introduces the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Strife, as the protagonist. Strife can also team up with his brother, War. Upon release, the game received positive reviews, with many reviewers praising the combat.

This game is an action-packed adventure that relentlessly carves its path through the depths of Hell, weapons blazing and swords slashing. Genesis grants players an initial glimpse into the realm of DARKSIDERS before the events of the original game.

Additionally, it unveils the arrival of the fourth and final horseman, STRIFE, while introducing the franchise’s first-ever cooperative gameplay experience. Embark on an extraordinary journey through the expansive realm of Darksiders and unleash chaos alongside a companion in the thrilling two-player cooperative mode.

GAMEPLAY

Played from a top-down perspective, the game allows players to switch between Strife and War at any time. Strife uses his pistols, Mercy and Redemption while War uses his sword, Chaos Eater. Alternatively, two players can play the game in a co-op mode with each player taking the role of one of the characters. Once the player has killed enough enemies, they are allowed to use burst abilities which allow them to take down enemies quicker. The game currency is souls which can be earned by killing enemies that will spawn before the player. Platforming elements similar to previous games make a return and certain gameplay mechanics such as bombs are present too.

PLOT

After the Four Horsemen have attacked and decimated the Nephilim in Eden, they are summoned by the Charred Council. The Council suspects that the demon king Lucifer is planning something with Samael to upset the Balance and orders War and Strife to investigate. After invading Samael’s keep, they find it under attack from another Master of Hell, albeit a lesser one: Moloch. Samael informs them that he is not in league with Lucifer and the current attack on him is the result of that. Before he can say anything else, Moloch attacks and Samael teleports the Horsemen to the Void to find and talk to his associate.

The Horsemen travel through the Void and find Vulgrim to be the associate Samael spoke of. Vulgrim informs them that he can help track down Lucifer but he needs several artifacts. After collecting the required artifacts Vulgrim informs them that Lucifer has paid a visit to Mammon, another Master of Hell.  Samael arrives at this point and suggests that the Horsemen find Mammon and make him talk about Lucifer. They find Mammon with several relics and weapons from Eden. After killing him, the Horsemen return to Vulgrim and Samael where they learn that Lucifer has opened a path to Eden, bringing its sacred water and turning it into poison.

The demon Belial is in charge of this operation. After stopping the operation, they confront and defeat Belial but spare him. After the Horsemen leave, Lucifer arrives and punishes him. The Horsemen learn that Dagon, the Drowned King is also helping Lucifer as the latter has offered Eden to him. Meanwhile, they meet Abaddon, the guardian angel of Eden. He informs them that Lucifer is spreading corruption and asks them to help him cleanse Eden. Afterward, the Horsemen track down and kill Dagon. They return to the Void and Samael advises them to destroy the source of Moloch’s power before they attack him. They do so and together with Samael, they attack and kill Moloch.

However, before his death, Moloch tells them that Lucifer’s plan is complete and Samael knows about it. After returning to the Void, Samael tells the Horsemen that Lucifer had asked for the souls of the Masters of Hell after their death in exchange for their services. Samael also tells them that Lilith is plotting with Lucifer as well and together they have made an artifact called the “Animus” which is fueled by the souls of the Masters of Heaven and Hell who had accepted Lucifer’s offer. This artifact is used on Earth to corrupt mankind, turning them into the volatile and self-destructive species they grow to become later on.

The Horsemen go to Earth to find mankind living in sin and realize that they have helped Lucifer achieve his goal.  Lucifer talks to them through a human child and tells the Horsemen that the corruption of humankind is spreading and cannot be stopped. Afterwards, they return to the Charred Council which declares that humankind needs to be watched as a Third Kingdom. They then forge the Seven Seals as a treaty to uphold the balance between Heaven and Hell: three of them coming from the demonic planes three more coming from the angelic keeps and one from the Council itself. They declare whoever breaks the treaty shall suffer the wrath of the Horsemen, setting the stage for future games.