I've loved Darksiders since it was released on PS3, and the Warmastered edition is a good enough reason to pick it up if you missed the first go around. The textures are noticeably sharper and the mouse/keyboard controls have mostly been resolved. My biggest gripe would be that sound in cutscenes have suffered. Someone messed with the files too much and the voice acting is about all you can hear during the sequences. All other music and effects sound like they're under water.
As for the game itself not a lot has changed, but this is still an amazing game. Darksiders apes just about every other milestone in gaming. Most notably the combat from God of War and the exploration from Legend of Zelda. There's definite influence from Half Life 2 in the story telling department with the way the tower looms at you in the distance as you are inexorably drawn there. While the combat is meaty and adequate it never lives up to its inspiration. It gets a little tedious to do the same combos and watch the same kill animations over and again, but thankfully there are a lot of enemy types to cut through with different attack patterns and death animations for each. So while they're pretty one dimensional there is enough variety to keep things engaging. The bosses again draw influence from GoW and are over the top in design and style. With all the brutality War can muster he decimates angel and demon alike.
Darksiders doesn't do anything better than any of the games that helped create it, but it all comes together to form a cohesive package that feels genuine. It is lovingly crafted with fantastic art direction. This game may have been released in 2010, but thanks to its artistic style it holds up quite well. Everything is hand drawn from the character models down to the way water splashes when you run through it. Clever use of atmospheric and post processing effects make the world rich in detail and believability. Even the way tree branches shoot out at all angles feels intentional and fits in with this world. For a place that is war torn and apocalyptic this is a place that is verdant and alive. Joe Maduriera helped create the comic style for Darksiders, and with that kind of talent you know you're in for a visual treat.
The voice acting is good and the characters are memorable with the stand outs of Vulgrim, Ulthane, and Samael as the most charismatic. I love the bad guys as well as the good ones with all the shades of grey in between. These are characters motivated by personal issues more than good and evil, and you find yourself rooting for some despicably lovable villians throughout the story. The world is fleshed out with lore and culture they made specifically for this story. While the story arc they took in Darksiders 2 is a cliched mess, this game stands out with just enough information given to satisfy and enough mystery to be authentic.
Replaying this game made me realize just how much effort they put into all facets, and despite the minor sound and control greivances I have, I can't recommend this title enough. All though if you have played this before the Warmastered edition offers little incentive to return to the apocalypse. 8.5/10