THQ’s DARKSIDERS II and Square Enix’s SLEEPING DOGS could quite possibility be two of the best games of 2012. With both out on August  14th, the titles take players into dark universes full of addictive gameplay. Read on for FANGORIA’s reviews on these horrifying new titles!

DARKSIDERS II

Publisher THQ and developer Vigil Games' sequel DARKSIDERS II runs parallel to the events from the first game, though you couldn't tell by gauging the two games side by side. DARKSIDERS II goes far beyond the limitations of the first to create something that is completely its own and a major step forward for the franchise. In the game, you play as Death, exploring the different planes of existence including the light and darks worlds and Earth. You’ll have a variety of combination attacks and arcane spells to vanquish your foes, get the loot and avenge your brother War for a crime he didn't commit.

Certain of his brother's innocence—War is accused of jumpstarting the apocalypse prematurely—Death begins seeking out those who would aid him in his cause. Your travels will take you on an adventure to different realms of existence and will require a number of favors from those Death has befriended in the past and those he has yet learned to trust. The game's gripping narrative is far superior to the previous entry, with a world that is nearly twice the size of the original and is full of more interactive NPCs that not only give Death additional missions, but assist in battle, as well.

DARKSIDERS II is primarily an action title, meaning you’ll have to learn to mix-and-match both light and heavy attacks to chain together combinations that will devastate your opponents. One of the game's huge improvements is the loot system that allows you to find plenty of new weapons and equipment as you explore. Not only do these weapons offer different attributes, but they also change Death's appearance dramatically to match his current equipment. You'll find better loot later in the game, and special Possessed Weapons can be found, and be fed weaker weapons to level up accordingly. In addition, Death himself will gain experience points throughout, which can be leveled to earn additional skills from the game's two skill trees; Harbinger, which is essentially your melee combat skills, and Necromancer, which contains most of the magical spells in the game. Of course, everyone knows Death rides a pale horse, so Despair is available as your trusty steed to help travel the world of DARKSIDERS II.

The DARKSIDERS presentation has been completely overhauled since the previous game, and it really shows in a good way. The sequel manages to look far superior from a graphical standpoint, and a tweaked control scheme allows for greater control of Death, both in and out of combat. Sound design here is top quality as well, with a cinematic voiceover and a soundtrack from BAFTA award-winning composer Jesper Kyd that certainly contends for best of the year. Kyd captures the world of DARKSIDERS II perfectly, with his excellent overworld songs, as well as intense battle themes. Even with such a magnificent presentation, DARKSIDERS II's soundtrack stands out as a blueprint for what a great score can mean for a next generation title.

DARKSIDERS II was a long time coming, but well worth the wait. The game features a massive storyline that is a cut above its predecessor, and most other titles for that matter. Players will want to experience the title more than once in order to see all the game has to offer, and the all new Crucible arena mode will have you occupied for hours at a time as you attempt to defeat an increasingly difficult wave of enemies until you've completed all 100 challenges. DARKSIDERS II is the total package.

SLEEPING DOGS

What began as TRUE CRIME: HONG KONG for publisher Activision was later repurchased by Square Enix and developed under its new name SLEEPING DOGS. This, as it turns out, was a great decision. SLEEPING DOGS has quickly gained momentum this year, easily becoming one of the most anticipated titles of the year; apparently the premiere open-world experience. By taking a fantastic hand-to-hand combat system, a running and climbing system somewhat similar to ASSASSIN'S CREED and adding gameplay elements from other sandbox games like GRAND THEFT AUTO and SAINTS ROW, SLEEPING DOGS is a hodgepodge of many a great titles that produces an experience that manages to be as good as any game released this year.

SLEEPING DOGS is an open-world cop drama set within the Hong Kong underground. You play through the game as detective Wei Shen who has gone deep undercover to take down a dangerous group of Triads. The game often presents conflicting moral decisions that straddle the line of doing what’s right, and performing dreadful deeds for the greater good. It's this type of storytelling that makes SLEEPING DOGS such a thrill. It’s always interesting to see how the environment of the game reacts to dialogue and the array of events you’ll find yourself involved in. Hong Kong is a living, breathing world in SLEEPING DOGS, and there are plenty of things to do and see in the massive city, from cock fighting to karaoke.

In staying true to the open-world rulebook, Wei can do nearly anything you can think of with little consequence. Stealing cars and driving at high speeds through the crowded city of Hong Kong can be a blast—you can even find speed boats to take the action to the open water. Of course, you'll have a large arsenal of weapons that can be used to put down your foes, but SLEEPING DOGS allows you to experience the gunplay in slow motion for more cinematic and tactical scenarios. One big difference in gameplay is the ability to easily run, jump and climb your way through the world and around other people. This opens up the game's ability to feature some pretty awesome parkour-heavy chases through city streets and buildings.

The hand-to-hand combat will remind many of Rocksteady's BATMAN video game series. You'll mix light and heavy attacks, all while dodging incoming blows at the appropriate times, to land painful counters on your unsuspecting foes. SLEEPING DOGS doesn't hold back on the brutality or gore here, either. Many of the game's environments have interactive objects that can be used to take out your opponents, permanently.

SLEEPING DOGS is a great looking game, full of violence, gore and explosions. Many of the missions in the game are memorable and may even have you playing through the again, just to relive some of the most exciting moments. SLEEPING DOGS features a phenomenal voice cast that stars Will Yun Lee (DIE ANOTHER DAY, TOTAL RECALL) as Wei Shen, and a host of other great actors (such as ZOMBIELAND's Emma Stone). Since you'll spend so much time driving around the city, SLEEPING DOGS comes packed with plenty of solid cruising music, as well.

SLEEPING DOGS is a wonderful title that will most likely be considered for game of the year, just as Rockstar's RED DEAD REDEMPTION was for its incredible contributions to the genre. The game combines many great game mechanics all into one package, and the end result is just as good, or better, than the sum of its parts. SLEEPING DOGS is a wild ride from start to finish. With so many optional quests and mini-games that need to be completed, the game has tremendous replay value that few other titles can muster. Similar titles in the genre are going to have a tough time putting this dog to sleep, so go pick up SLEEPING DOGS today to experience all this great game has to offer.

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