Darksiders 3's Keepers of the Void DLC adds some new puzzle gameplay to the action of the core game, but doesn't quite leave a lasting impression.
Although it tried awfully hard, Darksiders 3 didn't quite leave the impression of the first two games in the series. Darksiders 3 is still a fun action adventure romp, but it wasn’t really the follow-up that fans had been waiting for. Since the launch of Darksiders 3 last year, Gunfire Games has turned to DLC to try and build upon the core game to improve its stature and add a bit of variety, and the latest attempt to do this is Keepers of the Void.
Darksiders 3 players will be more than familiar with Vulgrim, the ever-untrustworthy demon that pops up throughout the series. In Keepers of the Void, Vulgrim tasks Fury with heading into the Serpent Holes to clear them out, promising that it will be worth her while to do so. With that, the Horseman of the Apocalypse can then take a detour from the grueling task of putting down the Seven Deadly Sins.
Keepers of the Void is a diversion from more than a story perspective. When it comes to its gameplay, the DLC mixes it up from the main game by offering up something a little bit different. Whereas the core game of Darksiders 3 is extremely combat-focused, complete with plenty of boss fights, Keepers of the Void mixes things up with puzzle elements.
The basic premise of Keepers of the Void is simple. Fury has to head into the Serpent Holes, beat up a bunch of enemies with all the wrath of the most furious of the Horsemen, and solve a fair few puzzles to progress into the inevitable boss fight. The puzzles are likely to be the main focus here, with Fury using her various Hollow powers to clear them.
These puzzles are initially quite engaging, acting as a worthwhile novelty that was lacking from the majority of the core game. However, there’s not too much variation within the puzzles themselves, meaning that they do grow old fast. Keepers of the Void doesn’t outstay its welcome, as a relatively short DLC pack that players can hop in and hop out of, but nonetheless some might get tired of the puzzles on offer.
This latest Darksiders 3 DLC pack does deliver when it comes to the boss fights. At the end of each stage there’s a golem to defeat, and once again here these battles are a lot of fun. It's worth pointing out that they’re not quite at the same level as those in Darksiders 3’s main game, though, as they lack a bit in variety and personality in comparison to those very different Seven Deadly Sins.
Another change from the core game is the design of the Serpent Holes themselves, although mileage may vary in terms of how successful these tweaks are. The core game is full of color and life, albeit sometimes of the putrid kind, with only the underground, crypt-like elements feeling particularly dark. The Serpent Holes take on an almost Diablo 3 bent, feeling shady and clinical in nature. It's a nice mix-up from the main game, although some may miss the vibrancy of the overworld.
Something worth pointing out for long-term Darksiders fans is that this DLC is the only way for players to get the Abyssal Armor. This iconic armor set has appeared in the rest of the series as a top tier set of gear, but this time around it is hidden behind DLC. This is an unfortunate sign of the times, but even so it feels a bit disappointing that this is the means to get the series' trademark armor.
All in all, then, Keepers of the Void offers up a bit of a change-up from the main game. If you missed puzzle elements in Darksiders 3 then this is for you, with a bit of a mix-up both from a gameplay and artistic perspective. However, it's not without its flaws itself, with the puzzles getting a bit "same-y" and the boss battles missing out on the visual versatility of the core Darksiders 3 experience.
Darksiders 3: Keepers of the Void is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Screen Rant was provided with a PS4 download code for the purposes of this review.