Death is kind of a downer, you know?

When I'm actually playing Darksiders II, it feels pretty good: the controls are tight, and the world (at least, the parts with things in them) is fun to roam around in. The problem is that, when I'm not playing it - which is almost all the time - I feel almost no compulsion to return.

The game's hooks seem weak. I don't care about the story. The dungeons (thus far) aren't exciting, ditto for the world map. Combat feels repetitive. And the equipment system is kind of shallow. Really, when I think about it, what's most appealing about Darksiders II is its presentation: gorgeous graphics, superb art, and an incredibly moody soundtrack. I like "being" in the game's world, but not really any of the things I'm doing in it.

While it's unquestionable that Death's adventure is a mechanical and technical improvement over his brother's, I've yet to encounter an item, dungeon puzzle, or narrative element that really wows me. I'll try to find one, at least for a little while longer.

Progress: Somewhere in "The Drenchfort" (really?).