Throwing the Smile
In this game, players are forbidden to smile, but trust us–giggling and laughing will abound.
HOW TO PLAY:

1. Players sit in a circle, making sure they can see everyone else. One player who is It starts the game by smiling widely, while all the other players are somber. It then uses his hand to wipe the smile off his face and throw it to another player who has to catch the smile with his hand and put it on.
2. This new It can then wipe off the smile to throw to someone else–though he will probably choose to mug wildly at everyone for a few minutes before relinquishing his happy role. Meanwhile, all other players must sit stone-faced. One smirk and they’re out.

TIPS: The youngest players are the least successful at winning this game (they simply can’t stop themselves from laughing), but they also tend to enjoy it the most.

War is also equipped with a killer oversized gauntlet, and you can crush a zombie’s skull into a splattering mess with the tap of a button. We also saw the giant shuriken-shaped “crossblade,” which you can use to target multiple enemies with, much like Zelda’s boomerang. Another advantage of the crossblade is that you can switch to another weapon, such as your sword, and dish out extra damage at the same time. We also got treated to a brand new weapon not seen before: the “redemption” grenade launcher. You initially prise it from the steaming corpse of an angelic being, but we’re told you also discover a demonic variant later on with different properties (we’ll have to wait to find out what they are). Due to the menacing firepower of such weapons as the grenade launcher, you will only be able to use them in certain areas. The most powerful weapon at War’s disposal, however, seems to be his “chaos form” ability. Transforming into his true form–a terrifying flaming demon beast–allows you to unleash some devastating melee damage in a short limited time period.

Chaos Form

The third and final meter in the screen’s top left corner is the Chaos Meter (not available at the start of a game). The red spiral gradually fills as you use the Chaoseater to fight enemies. The spiral takes the form of a demon and pulses red once the meter is full. This indicates that you can unleash War’s Chaos Form, an incredibly powerful version of War that’s immune to damage and can cut through most any enemy with just one or two slices.

Chaos Form lasts but a few short seconds, and you must use it sparingly. It’s your secret weapon to deal with enemies that might otherwise be too big for you to handle or too numerous to outlast. You move very slowly in Chaos Form, so make sure you are close to your enemies when you trigger it (Wrath Power + Use Gear buttons). Press the Sword Attack button to make your Chaos Form swing its fiery sword in a horizontal slashing motion, or press the Secondary Attack button to swing it in a downward overhand motion.

The remaining checks will require that the PS2 cover be removed. Follow these steps to safely and easily remove it.

Remove all the screw covers. (There should be 6 screw covers, 4 made of rubber (outer edges) and 2 made of plastic (in the middle), that need to be removed. You can use a small flat blade screwdriver for this. There should be 2-4 more screw covers on the outer side of the base, underneath the controller ports. The older model PS2’s have 4 screw covers, while the newer ones have only 2. Remove them all, and you should now have a total of 8-10 screws unveiled. Set the screw covers aside.

Use your knife to cut the warranty tape that is covering the seam between the back and the top cover. (By the power switch). Just trace the seam through the tape with the knife so that it will not be holding you back when you go to remove the top later. You can also just remove the tape completely if you want.

At first glance, it’s easy to compare Darksiders to God of War, Devil May Cry, and Bayonetta because all of the games mix a supernatural setting with over-the-top action-packed gameplay. The last of those is also due out in January, and both games feature a story where the forces of light battle the forces of darkness. While the premise might not be completely original, Darksiders manages to stand out of the pack with its role-playing-game-like progression system and a vivid, distinctive art style, thanks to creative director (and Marvel artist) Joe “Mad” Madureira. He presented an update of the game at a recent event in London, and we got a chance to see this promising apocalyptic action romp in greater detail.

THE DARKSIDERS COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS (Game of skill)

1. Information on how to enter and prizes forms part of these Conditions of Entry.
2. Entry is open to all Australian residents who visit www.kotaku.com.au during the promotional period. Employees and their immediate families of the Promoter and its agencies associated with this promotion are ineligible.
3. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process or who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Conditions of Entry.
4. No responsibility accepted for late, lost or misdirected entries.
5. The promotion commences 2.00pm AEDT on December 22, 2009 and closes at 11.59pm AEDT on January 06, 2010 (”the Promotional Period”). All entries must be received by 11.59pm AEDT on January 06, 2010. The promoter may in its absolute discretion end the promotion prior to the conclusion date.