Very little is lost in this effective, if non-extra laden, action game.
Along with traditional weaponry, Death is also able to use a couple of other abilities. A gun can be pulled out for distance attacking, though its effect isn't as good as a scythe down the middle of the skull; and Death can also grapple onto objects and enemies using a sickly glowing hand. Finally, on some occasions, Death can all upon Despair, his faithful steed, to get across open landscapes much more quickly.
It's a shame the GamePad wasn't used more for a game such as this, like drawing up special attacks or things like that, but the gameplay as a whole remains mostly intact, and that's probably the way fans would've wanted it. Attacking with Death feels quite natural, no matter which of his tools of the trade you're using, and you can lock onto enemies with a simple press of the shoulder button. You can also play with the Pro Controller, though, honestly, the GamePad feels just fine for a game such as this. The GamePad display is equally impressive, if a little lacking in features. Not the end of the world, at least the game plays well.
As far as graphics go, Darksiders II is a strong performer, but not without its problems. I don't know what it is, but several of these Wii U launch titles have a slight issue with frame rate, skipping a beat on occasion or slowing down the pace noticeably over other versions. This version of the game suffers a very slight bit from skipped frames and slower speed in some cases, particularly well lit interior areas. As a whole, though, it still looks quite good, between Death's menacing stance (and inability to show his face – it's covered by a mask) and the luscious environments you'll run through. The outdoor ones are particularly impressive.
Something should also be said about the audio, as it's still top notch. Jesper Kyd's soundtrack continues to be remarkable, with its beautiful tones and haunting melodies. The sound effects are meaty, especially when scythes start digging in to enemies. SHINK SHINK! Finally, the voice acting is just as top caliber as the first game. Sure, we lost Mark Hamill this time around, but in his place, we have Michael Wincott, who is the ideal choice for Death. Growling but far from being over-the-top menacing, he's perfect for the role.
