Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2514 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,867 out of 2514
  2. Mixed: 224 out of 2514
  3. Negative: 423 out of 2514

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  1. Aquazi
    Oct 10, 2013
    9
    I consider myself being one of the kind of players that just feel bored after 30 minutes of a single player and just want to log to LoL/WoW/Dota or Counter Strike. I played most new games like Bioshock, Dishnored, Batman, ecc, but the real game I really enjoyed to play is Dark Souls. Why?
    Dark Souls is not an interactive movie with crap gameplay like Bioshock Infinite. It has no unique    I consider myself being one of the kind of players that just feel bored after 30 minutes of a single player and just want to log to LoL/WoW/Dota or Counter Strike. I played most new games like Bioshock, Dishnored, Batman, ecc, but the real game I really enjoyed to play is Dark Souls. Why?
    Dark Souls is not an interactive movie with crap gameplay like Bioshock Infinite. It has no unique pattern and approach with boring fights like Batman.
    In Dark Souls you really feel lost to yourself not knowing sometimes where or what to do, every direction you look from Firelink Shrine you are scared. It really took me long to finish the game, and trust me it was a very stressful accomplishment to make. I give the game 9 because the port sucks. Don't dare playing it without a joypad, better if you have a 360 one.    … Expand
  2. critickarlo
    Jun 3, 2013
    10
    This is one of the best RPG-games in the history of video gaming. The PC port is quite rough, but it still is really not as much as a problem as some peoples say. Download the free DSfix and enjoy.
  3. edknator
    Sep 9, 2013
    9
    This game is very atmospheric and challenging. People complaining about it just have to go and buy a controller to plug into their PC. It's only ~20$.
  4. LosingStreak
    Sep 11, 2013
    9
    Pretty much the exact same fantastic game as the console versions but FROM SOFT messed up the port with bad keyboard+mouse controls, and poor PC optimization. Nothing community mods couldn't fix though.
  5. Klotz
    Dec 21, 2017
    9
    Dark Souls is an unique gaming experience, and I'm glad I give it a second chance.
    I started playing it at release in 2012 but fast getting frustrated and bored after about 20 hours.
    With Dark Souls 2 close to release I decided to give it another try and what can I say? I love it now ! This time I was mutch more careful, I prepared myself for every encounter and take my time when I    Dark Souls is an unique gaming experience, and I'm glad I give it a second chance.
    I started playing it at release in 2012 but fast getting frustrated and bored after about 20 hours.
    With Dark Souls 2 close to release I decided to give it another try and what can I say? I love it now !
    This time I was mutch more careful, I prepared myself for every encounter and take my time when I arrived at a new area.
    In consequence of that I died a lot less what led to less frustration and less repetition.
    I think the main problem for a lot of gamer nowadays is that we not longer used to this kind of slow paced gameplay. Your decisions have always impact in the world of Dark Souls. The atmosphere and the level / enemy design is great, combat is challenging and the voice acting is out of this world.
    Would give probably a 9 but the terrible frame-rate issues cost DS a point (even with mods).    … Expand
  6. cwilder06
    Dec 2, 2013
    10
    I played this relatively recently so wanted to point out to readers that they should be mindful of the date of the user review. There have been very simple patches released that make this game easily playable on the PC with mouse and keyboard. It took a solid couple of hours adjusting to the controls but from there on out there was another 100 hours without any meaningful problems (cameraI played this relatively recently so wanted to point out to readers that they should be mindful of the date of the user review. There have been very simple patches released that make this game easily playable on the PC with mouse and keyboard. It took a solid couple of hours adjusting to the controls but from there on out there was another 100 hours without any meaningful problems (camera was fine, frame rate fine, resolution fine, etc.).

    That being said, as I am sure one can discern based upon the critical reception, the game is fantastic with one caveat, if you go into it expecting hand holding consistent with how most games have been made over the past decade it's something of a rude awakening. The game is difficult but not as awe inspiringly challenging as some would have you believe, rather it just has a steep learning curve. Once you figure out the fairly basic mechanics of how the game works where it punishes you and where it doesn't it's no more difficult than playing another game in it's "hard" mode. If you're like me, you'll appreciate the challenge.

    A complaint of mine has been that too many games you fly through the game without ever pausing to really take in the surroundings. Not so with Dark Souls in large part because the game forces you to proceed cautiously rushing into any area generally will mean a fairly quick demise. Overall though, your experience of the game hugely benefits because of this. And in terms of getting bang for your buck, pulling 60 hours out of your first playthrough is not an entirely unreasonable expectation depending on how thorough you choose to be.

    I will not go into the minutiae of the game itself other than to say it's the most fully realized and engrossing dark fantasy world available on the PC. The only other that comes close is the Witcher 2 (another game I would strongly recommend, though for different reasons). If you like action RPG's and don't mind a challenge, this is the ticket.    … Expand
  7. Thijnie
    Dec 11, 2013
    9
    It's a fine maybe even great game as long as you don't care to play with a controller which makes it way easier. Also the port to pc wasn't great but it is not even close to game breaking. It is hard and challenging everything you need in a game
  8. matt79
    Jan 27, 2015
    10
    Bad PC port, but this game is still good enough to deserve a 10. It has a brilliant plot, combat system, world and artistic design. Just please do not call it an RPG, as there are no plot altering decisions here.
  9. SilentBobVG
    May 23, 2015
    9
    First of all, before I can actually write a decent review of the game, I need to get the cons out of the way so I can move on to the pros. This is an absolutely horrific console port if you play it vanilla. Seriously one of the worst games (from a technical standpoint). And requires quite a bit of modding before it is in a playable state. Here's the main issues;

    1. 30fps frame lock    First of all, before I can actually write a decent review of the game, I need to get the cons out of the way so I can move on to the pros. This is an absolutely horrific console port if you play it vanilla. Seriously one of the worst games (from a technical standpoint). And requires quite a bit of modding before it is in a playable state. Here's the main issues;

    1. 30fps frame lock

    2. 720p resolution lock

    3. Horrid mouse and keyboard support (I wouldn't even use the word support here in all honesty)

    4. GFWL on launch (although that's thankfully been removed, and is now on Steamworks)

    5. The current Steamworks version of the game as quite a huge problem with the way the servers work, making it sometimes impossible to co-op with a friend.

    Thankfully most of this can be fixed by installing DsFIx and DSMFix, and tinkering around inside ini files.

    Alright, now that the quite hefty list of negative is out of the way I can talk about what I love about the game. And there is quite a lot;

    I have just over 100 hours in the Steam version of Dark souls, and hundreds more across the xbox and PS3 versions. I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that this is possibly one of my favourite games of the generation, and definitely earns a spot in my top 10 games of all time list. It's such a beautifully crafted game, in every single aspect. Playing through it for the first time provides you with a huge sense of awe. From the expansive world design, to the interconnecting areas, there's not a single bad thing I can say about the world design in this game.

    Every time you defeat and conquer an area boss, you feel more than a sense of accomplishment, it's euphoric. The constant feeling of wanting to continue to explore the deep and winding world leads you to never wanting to set your controller down (YOU'RE PLAYING WITH A CONTROLLER, RIGHT?).

    Of course, there is the element of the difficulty, but I feel people actually mistake involved gameplay mechanics with artificial difficulty. Dark Souls is not an inherently hard game, once you learn to master the parry and dodging mechanics, you'll be flying through the game in no time.

    I think what my absolute favourite part of this game is, is that you can play through the game dozens of times. Each time with a different playstyle, or weapon in miind, and your experience will be entirely different from the last. Not only that, but you still have the same feeling of wonder and enjoyment each time you beat the game.

    Typically, your first playthrough will come out to around 60-70 hours, if you're exploring all the areas. However, subsequent playthroughs can be cut down significantly in time, since you'll have a familiar understanding of the level design, enemy placement and the fastest routes to completing areas.

    From Software have created an unsung masterpiece in Dark Souls, and one I think a lot of people are fearful of playing because of the supposed difficulty or mechanics. I would strongly urge any and everyone to play this game though, for under £20 you will absolutely not regret it.

    TL;DR

    BUY THIS GAME    … Expand
  10. Swagalf
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    Dark Souls..
    First of all : Use a controller. And if you want to, use some mods.
    After that.. just enjoy. Enjoy, die, enjoy, die and enjoy again. You can go through the game without reading anything, without searching anything. And you'll play the ending cinematic , thinking : "What the **** happened there? This is the worst story ever blblblbl" and you know what? You'll still enjoy    Dark Souls..
    First of all : Use a controller. And if you want to, use some mods.
    After that.. just enjoy. Enjoy, die, enjoy, die and enjoy again.

    You can go through the game without reading anything, without searching anything. And you'll play the ending cinematic , thinking : "What the **** happened there? This is the worst story ever blblblbl" and you know what? You'll still enjoy the game.
    But.. you can explore everything and learn about one of the best story ever created in the history of video game. This game is simply beautiful, touching and incredibly deep. You'll have question, you won't understand everything and you'll make theory and search in the internet.. some people will have a different theory and you'll read.. read again, searching for more. And you'll discover the wonderful truth. You will never understand everything and be 100% sure. But you'll search again.
    This game is challenging, yeah. But it's fair. You can avoid 90% of it's difficulty by looking for clue or way to kill a boss.
    I don't recommend this game if you don't like a start without any clue about what's going on. I don't recommend this game if you need a game that hold your hand all way long.
    This game look at you and challenge you. You want to enjoy it ? You will have to deserve it before!

    You can think that this game hate you. And you will love it for that.
    But at some points, you'll understand that this game love you and all of the game community. And you will love it even more for that.

    This, is for me one of the best game ever.. if not the best game ever. This is an experience. This is an adventure. This is a tale. This is Dark Souls.    … Expand
  11. SuperSourSauce
    Nov 1, 2017
    10
    Remember Castlevania? It was like Dark Souls! Because it was so difficult for its time.

    And Battletoads? Ghosts 'n Goblins? Zelda 2? All those games were like Dark Souls! Because lord knows we can't have a conversation about ANY challenging game/game with swords and shields these days, without it somehow being compared to Dark Souls! Ocarina of Time may go down in history as    Remember Castlevania? It was like Dark Souls! Because it was so difficult for its time.

    And Battletoads? Ghosts 'n Goblins? Zelda 2? All those games were like Dark Souls!

    Because lord knows we can't have a conversation about ANY challenging game/game with swords and shields these days, without it somehow being compared to Dark Souls!

    Ocarina of Time may go down in history as being the best Dark Souls game, but all work and no Dark Souls makes Souls a Souls Souls.    … Expand
  12. cataplasia
    Sep 26, 2012
    9
    When I first got this game, I was so frustrated by the camera and the lack of easily understandable computer controls. For some reason I kept cracking at it and found the diamond underneath. The good points of the game are that it is punishing and the world usually presents you with multiple unbeatable situations. The reward of leveling up and hanging onto dear life when fighting largeWhen I first got this game, I was so frustrated by the camera and the lack of easily understandable computer controls. For some reason I kept cracking at it and found the diamond underneath. The good points of the game are that it is punishing and the world usually presents you with multiple unbeatable situations. The reward of leveling up and hanging onto dear life when fighting large bosses is a rush. The game provokes you on to the eventual victory achieved. The bad is the camera is shaky but you get used to it with the locking on feature. The controls were literally the hardest part of the game and take alot of online research to understand them. All and all a real masterpiece once you get by the orginal frustrations. And whatever you do not kill any of the talking npc's (especially weapon smiths) they DO NOT come back which can cripple your progress in the game.… Expand
  13. Matseb2611
    Jan 23, 2013
    10
    Dark Souls is a great, dark fantasy RPG. It is set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, where vile creatures are everywhere and nowhere is safe. The game's atmosphere is very intense, thanks to beautifully-crafted locations and dramatic music that usually plays during boss fights. The flow of the game is sort of semi-linear, meaning that more often than not there is a choice of severalDark Souls is a great, dark fantasy RPG. It is set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, where vile creatures are everywhere and nowhere is safe. The game's atmosphere is very intense, thanks to beautifully-crafted locations and dramatic music that usually plays during boss fights. The flow of the game is sort of semi-linear, meaning that more often than not there is a choice of several locations to do in your own order of preference and in many of those locations there are branching paths, often leading to shortcuts to the previous locations, hence saving you the time in case you wanted to go back. Now of course one of the most defining features of Dark Souls is its high difficulty. However, it is quite unlike most other challenging games out there. The way it is designed, dying is an important part of the game, and hence the words 'Prepare to Die' have to be taken seriously. The players should expect to die frequently, at which point the game simply continues and returns them back to the last bonfire (checkpoint) rested at with all enemies respawned. The trick is not about trying to avoid death altogether, but about picking yourself up and learning from your mistakes. It's a tactical game, because every enemy and every boss requires the right approach, and until you approach them with the correct mindset, they will keep beating you again and again. Admittedly sometimes it can be annoying having to walk big portions of the area to get back to the boss fight, but it is almost always well worth it. Dark Souls is not a button masher. It's not about how fast you can hit the attack button, but more about your timing, patience, concentration, and battle strategy. Its premise is quite simple really - persistence and determination pay off. Initially a lot of the areas and bosses seem impossible, but eventually any challenge can be beaten. There have been times I thought to myself … Expand
  14. Mastrolindo
    Apr 12, 2013
    10
    Here it is "Dark Souls Prepare to Die Edition". Well i've got to say the porting sucks. EXTREMELY. I had even some problem's with GFWL but then with some help of the forum i resolved it. I don't agree with the ones that say it sucks only because of the porting and they say you CANNOT mod the game... i did and is not so difficoult they just must be retarded what can i say D:. Talking aboutHere it is "Dark Souls Prepare to Die Edition". Well i've got to say the porting sucks. EXTREMELY. I had even some problem's with GFWL but then with some help of the forum i resolved it. I don't agree with the ones that say it sucks only because of the porting and they say you CANNOT mod the game... i did and is not so difficoult they just must be retarded what can i say D:. Talking about the game is just as it is on console only with a new area the Abyss and some new bosses like Artorias. So if you liked it on Console and you want it for PC for the new content or because you never played it feel free to buy it!!! Just install Durante DSfix and the bad porting by FROM SOFTWARE will be resolved! And probably you will not encounter the problem i had with GFWL … Expand
  15. Muan142
    Jan 5, 2013
    9
    Beautiful, addictive, reminds a little me of Gauntlet Dark Legacy back on the Gamecube. It's honestly not that difficult, especially if you make good use of the wiki. My only complaint is that it could use a more heroic soundtrack. I think they were going for a dark horror feel, and it is there but it's not whats enjoyably about the game. Something closer to Shadow of the Colossus'Beautiful, addictive, reminds a little me of Gauntlet Dark Legacy back on the Gamecube. It's honestly not that difficult, especially if you make good use of the wiki. My only complaint is that it could use a more heroic soundtrack. I think they were going for a dark horror feel, and it is there but it's not whats enjoyably about the game. Something closer to Shadow of the Colossus' soundtrack might have been more appropriate.… Expand
  16. Purrphect
    Feb 26, 2013
    10
    This is the single most important, and the best RPG ever made, IMO.
    you will not find a more Challeging game, i love how you have to figure everything out yourself, no guidelines, just pure use of your own mind, i love it!
    And the weapons and armors, OMFG i have never seen such cool looking weapons and armor in anygame before, daaaamn you can look so goddamn epic! (pardon my language).    This is the single most important, and the best RPG ever made, IMO.
    you will not find a more Challeging game, i love how you have to figure everything out yourself, no guidelines, just pure use of your own mind, i love it!

    And the weapons and armors, OMFG i have never seen such cool looking weapons and armor in anygame before, daaaamn you can look so goddamn epic! (pardon my language).

    if you haven't tried it yet, it's a must buy, it's hard, but it's worth it!

    and there is so many things to this game, that you'll have 200+H's fun!

    Best RPG Ever made Period!
    JUST BUY IT! you will never regret it!

    And the PC port aint that bad, if you just go to http://darksouls.nexusmods.com/ and download The Mouse fix mod, and DSfix. it will make this game look stunningly beautiful, more than on PS3 and Xbox 360    … Expand
  17. Raven25
    Jun 21, 2015
    10
    To all the whingers - get DSFix, HD Texture pack and a USB controller. You'll get better graphics than a console and same controls. 100% win. As for the game itself. Its brilliant and integrated. The combat system, lore and difficulty are perfect.
  18. xiaolinstyle
    Sep 27, 2013
    9
    This game is a *must* play for any action rpg fan. There is nothing else like it. PC port does present technical issues but they are easily dealt with. Do not attempt to play this without a controller, it is not designed for kb/m interaction.

    It is, however, one of the finest games of our generation.
  19. Holstsha
    Jul 27, 2013
    9
    I truly thought this game would blow, got on an amazing steam sale. Very creative, fun and evolving playstyle to this game, lots of fun. ONLY WATCH OUT! Buy a 360 controller for this, it is definitely needed. If you can put that aside it's quite a fantastic game.
  20. ChrisOzzie
    Jul 20, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls is an awful port, it forces me to use the Games For Windows Live client, and I’m *still* recommending it to you! If it wasn’t for the genius who created the DSfix mod, then I’d have passed this up and stuck with my PS3 copy of Dark Souls. With the DSfix, the PC adaptation of Dark Souls actually performs *better* than the console versions. You also don’t have to deal with theDark Souls is an awful port, it forces me to use the Games For Windows Live client, and I’m *still* recommending it to you! If it wasn’t for the genius who created the DSfix mod, then I’d have passed this up and stuck with my PS3 copy of Dark Souls. With the DSfix, the PC adaptation of Dark Souls actually performs *better* than the console versions. You also don’t have to deal with the PSN store or the Xbox Live Marketplace and instead get the incredible DLC for free, which by the way, is one of the best DLC experiences I’ve ever had. It features some of my favorite video game bosses and adds more epic music to an already epic soundtrack. The PC version of Dark Souls will initially give you a bad first impression, but after manually tweaking the config and installing DSfix, it’s actually the best choice between the other two versions of Dark Souls.

    What’s great about Dark Souls is that it features some of the most addicting gameplay and provides an incredibly fun challenge that’s punishing and difficult, but not unfair. In other words, you die from your own mistakes and not from a cheap glitch introduced by the game (with the exception of those stupid silver knight archers in Anor Londo). Another awesome aspect of the game is how there’s no safe haven from the hideous and twisted creatures of Dark Souls. You can take a quick breather at the bonfires you’ll stumble upon throughout your journey and meditate, but then you’re back alone in the dangerous world full of enemies looking to poison, assassinate and eat you. From Software also carries over the fantastic New Game feature to Dark Souls. This offers unlimited replay value and allows you to build an unstoppable juggernaut. Dark Souls has some incredibly memorable moments and features some of the best boss fights a video game has ever offered. Despite the annoying GFWL DRM and technical issues, all of these aggravations are fixable and ultimately doesn’t take anything away from Dark Souls’ phenomenal gaming experience.    … Expand
  21. Jason999
    Oct 25, 2013
    9
    This took me a long time to get the hang of. In fact, I left the game for about 3-4 months because I ended up playing something else. I came back to it and started getting better with the combat and learned with ample use of an online guide, how to complete sections of the game.

    It is frustrating, yet it's also meant to be that way. The thing is though, you will beat a particular    This took me a long time to get the hang of. In fact, I left the game for about 3-4 months because I ended up playing something else. I came back to it and started getting better with the combat and learned with ample use of an online guide, how to complete sections of the game.

    It is frustrating, yet it's also meant to be that way. The thing is though, you will beat a particular section, or boss. What I like the most is the absolute isolation you feel playing the game. The environmental effects or firelink shrine music really set the stage.

    There's a lot to this game, so be sure to make the most out of all the guides available on the internet. There's so much variety when it comes to weapons and armor, it really is an RPG lover's wetdream.
    Yes, the PC controls such without a well known mod.

    Yet, I ended up using an Xbox 360 controller (actually went out and bought one for this game) and it works great.    … Expand
  22. themrchook
    May 28, 2013
    9
    One of the best RPG's and outright best games I have ever played. A hard working modding community has really made this an extremely worthwhile port for the PC. I see a lot of complaints about the clumsy controls or the sloppy porting problems but these issues did not mar the remarkable quality of this game.
  23. KaZAamM
    Nov 21, 2012
    10
    Since I own both the PC and the PS3 versions of Dark Souls, I can say right off that the PC game is a bad port. The good news is that the game is easily modded to the point that the PC version is light years ahead of the console version. Its far clearer, richer and better to play on. There is even a mouse mod that allows you to control the mouse aspects to your specifications. In otherSince I own both the PC and the PS3 versions of Dark Souls, I can say right off that the PC game is a bad port. The good news is that the game is easily modded to the point that the PC version is light years ahead of the console version. Its far clearer, richer and better to play on. There is even a mouse mod that allows you to control the mouse aspects to your specifications. In other words, the mouse and keyboard system is perfect with the mod. Do a search for Dark Souls Nexus to find it.

    The other issue is of its difficulty. Its brutal. Enough said. Its meant to be difficult. Way difficult. But there is no game I know of that gives me more rage and elation than this game. When you die, you loose everything... everything is a gamble, every move has its risks, and the risk is high... This is RPG in its purest form. It requires you to plan, observe battle movements of enemies, choose areas that pose the least amount of risk and collect souls to level up. Retreat means survival and strengthening. Die, and you loose everything you worked for. Its rage inducing, but in the end, I died because I was at fault, not the game. When the risks are high, the exhilaration while being in a battle is beyond any game I have ever played. This game is not for the light hearted. Everywhere you go, there is a sense of dread. You know you can die so easily, but in order to survive, you must play smart. If you love a challenge, then this game is for you. I'm glad I bought the PC version of DS. With the mods, this game is now fixed for the PC and it looks fantastic! I have over 600 games on Steam and this is by far the best game I own. Just remember, when the game beats you down to a pulp, its all your fault. Not the game's. Learn from your mistakes and plan your attacks. This game deserves to be hailed as the best Action based RPG ever made.    … Expand
  24. MadclownJack
    Dec 12, 2012
    9
    IFirst of all, i'm aware this is a console port. But it's this gamer's honest opinion that therein lie its beauty. When i played with a gamepad, i sucked. More so than i thought possible. I broke a gamepad trying to get cope with the game's controls. I'm not proud of that. I deleted the game shortly after and forgot all about it. Then, i went through a handful of similar games only to beIFirst of all, i'm aware this is a console port. But it's this gamer's honest opinion that therein lie its beauty. When i played with a gamepad, i sucked. More so than i thought possible. I broke a gamepad trying to get cope with the game's controls. I'm not proud of that. I deleted the game shortly after and forgot all about it. Then, i went through a handful of similar games only to be disappointed by all of them. Something was missing. There still was my yearning for a challenging game. After that, i gave DS another shot. This time, i took upon myself to get accustomed to the keyboard mappings, because i had no gamepad. I think the controls are very accessible and PC friendly. They're not "Default" pc controls, but once you figure out which button does what, you'll find the game more relaxed and easy flowing. Hell, you can even map keys the way you like them. It took some time, roughly 8 hours of non-stop gameplay to see that the game CAN be a chore, but it's also rewarding. That tiny moment of success is worth hundreds, even thousands of "deaths". I'd also like to mention that i feel the game is really FAIR to a player that abides by it's rules. You don't lose items when you die and the souls you lose, you can reclaim if you're smart and determined enough. I just can't believe that i hated it because it make me use my brain! What the hell?! How dare it!? I never needed to think or analyze or even strategize to get through any other games. It was at that moment that i realized that games have been spoonfeeding me for years. That's why YOU will love this game as well. It has a feeling of those old arcade games like GnG. It has a SOUL, if you will. At times, it can be tiresome, it can also be demanding and unforgiving, but in the end, it's well worth the effort you put into it.… Expand
  25. Morte
    Dec 28, 2012
    10
    This is definitely a game for the patient. It is hard, but fair and requires that you LEARN from your mistakes, instead of running in and hoping for the best. The entire area is a potential advantage or disadvantage depending on how you use it, so it requires that you think about what you're going to do before you try to fight. It isn't for everyone, if you like hack and slash, run for theThis is definitely a game for the patient. It is hard, but fair and requires that you LEARN from your mistakes, instead of running in and hoping for the best. The entire area is a potential advantage or disadvantage depending on how you use it, so it requires that you think about what you're going to do before you try to fight. It isn't for everyone, if you like hack and slash, run for the hills, if you want a challenge, dish out the cash and buy Dark Souls. Personally, I like it, it has a good plot if you look for it and the challenge is unrivaled in modern games. I give it a 10 for the pve and pvp challenge.

    It is hard. It is challenging. It is fair. No boss is impossible, all bosses have weaknesses or strategies that work to take them down. All you need is a little patience.    … Expand
  26. JoeAdamsIV
    Nov 1, 2012
    10
    A truly unique gaming experience that will take you through all the motions. At times you will be extremely frustrated, at others, you will be extremely satisfied. This game requires you to switch things up, you can't go in guns blazing. It is very unforgiving, which makes progressing through it extremely satisfying. You will be taught to learn from your mistakes, and taught to take yourA truly unique gaming experience that will take you through all the motions. At times you will be extremely frustrated, at others, you will be extremely satisfied. This game requires you to switch things up, you can't go in guns blazing. It is very unforgiving, which makes progressing through it extremely satisfying. You will be taught to learn from your mistakes, and taught to take your time. 10x better than garbage being shoveled out by EA and Ubisoft. Definitely must buy this game.… Expand
  27. Garnog
    Feb 26, 2013
    9
    OK...I just got this game for the PC after months of indecision and reading mixed reviews. Ultimately, a bad case of boredom and Skyrim OD convinced me to pick it up. Well, wouldn't you know...this has become my current fave action/ rpg. The first thing I did (even before beginning the game) was to head on over to the Dark Souls Nexus and download the DSFix as well as a few other goodiesOK...I just got this game for the PC after months of indecision and reading mixed reviews. Ultimately, a bad case of boredom and Skyrim OD convinced me to pick it up. Well, wouldn't you know...this has become my current fave action/ rpg. The first thing I did (even before beginning the game) was to head on over to the Dark Souls Nexus and download the DSFix as well as a few other goodies like texture improvements, and some weapon re-skins. Holy crap, it looks and plays awesome! Not one crash (unlike Skyrim every few minutes) after hours of play; runs smoothly at 60fps and the graphic mods make it shine. I am amazed at those whiners who complain about it being a poor PC port; as a PC gamer you never heard of mods? That is why I play PC games more than my PS3...the ability to mod. Seriously, it only took a few minutes to download and install the fixes, and was it ever worth it. This game will kick your sorry butt, even from the beginning. There are often hints and tips from other players lying around the areas, but even if you know the exact method to beat a particular boss, YOU still have to DO IT. Make no mistake, this is a game that requires skill, timing and patience. If you lack any of these qualities, stay away. It can be brutally hard in spots, but never unfair; and when you finally do beat that annoying Black Knight and get his kickass sword it is a reason for celebration. At times, playing as a human I got pwned by another player invading my world. It might be advisable to stay Hollow until you've upgraded yourself, otherwise you might be making a long trek back to the site of your ignominious demise. Finally, a great looking intense action oriented game with a real challenge and lots of customization options. Playing Skyrim after this would be like going back to kindergarten. Praise the Sun!… Expand
  28. Aaragon
    Aug 27, 2013
    8
    Through game play, interesting narrative and story, Dark Souls has SO much to offer. The problems with the port however must be addressed first before I go into the actual review of the game...

    The port from consoles to PC was rushed, sloppy and almost unplayable (if at all). There is a strong recommendation to have a Xbox 360 controller before playing and it is mandatory that you have    Through game play, interesting narrative and story, Dark Souls has SO much to offer. The problems with the port however must be addressed first before I go into the actual review of the game...

    The port from consoles to PC was rushed, sloppy and almost unplayable (if at all). There is a strong recommendation to have a Xbox 360 controller before playing and it is mandatory that you have one.
    At first I recalled Super Meat Boy where even in the game they recommended you have a controller but I ended up beating that game with a keyboard (light and dark world). In Dark Souls however, I couldn't even clear some of the basic mobs running around at the start of the game.

    In regards to the graphics, I was ok with their quality, as my system never buffered or felt slowed down immensely by the game however a simple patch could have solved the issue but one was not provided...

    Another issue is with the "Prepare To Die" Content... This is almost impossible to find without external help. The exact details of unlocking it left me confused that I had to look it up through a guide. To me with so much of the game being great at letting you choose your own path, the exact conditions to get to the DLC are a bit ridiculous and will take some time and atmosphere out of the game while you look up how to get there.

    Lastly, this game does launch with "Games for Windows" which is it's own mess, but if you want to play the game offline you may lose your save until you re-establish connection. This is most frustrating since most aspects of the game are offline and if your internet connection drops you automatically quit the game and need to reconnect to keep playing (sometimes it works offline but that is rare).

    With THAT out of the way we can get to the actual game itself. I am rating an 8 because the pros do outweigh the cons only when you have a 360 controller. Bear in mind if that option was not available this game would easily be one of the worst I have ever played.

    The game is amazing. Not only is there an incredible back story to go with the game, but all of the bosses are foreshadowed at the start and are not just simply mobs you fight later.

    Game play is brutal and the developers want you to know that from the start. The mobs you encounter before the first boss are more or less training dummies, all preparing you for your first trial. This is already aberrational from normal game design because not only are you expected to handle any trial thrown at you, there must be an almost precise execution of this knowledge. That being said, this makes or breaks Dark Souls for you. I personally relish a challenge and killing a boss without feeling you "earned it" feels weak and causes you to either get bored with that game, or try to increase the difficulty on your own (AKA Veteran mode, using only a certain weapon etc...). In Dark Souls, while the challenges are great, overcoming them is the most rewarding aspect of the game.

    As far as the story goes, there is nearly no narrative in the game at all pointing you in a certain direction. This is a hit or a miss for most people and either the major strength or flaw for gamers. I loved this aspect of the game because I wasn't sent on a mission from someone else rather, I was choosing my path through the game and it was the initiative I took on that determined how successful I was. That being said, the lack of narrative doesn't make for an empty experience. There is good reason why you are not pointed in a direction and that is well... At the start of the game your character is nothing special. No legendary hero sleeping or warrior with hidden power. You are just another undead who decides to create your own destiny. If the game "crowned" you, the player, with anything more, then you would have no doubt Victory was assured. By not showering you in praise for just existing, the game gives the player a sense of humility which is not bad or degrading by any means.

    With all that being said, Dark souls is a masterpiece from start to end. By following the lore through the game when it is given to you (Not with cheap books but through your own discovery) at the end you will have a true appreciation about what you have been doing all along and even question yourself by saying "Why did I do what I just did?" and that is by far one of the greatest narratives a story can give is that of your own voice.

    So in summary, while there are obvious flaws in the PC port with almost no support at all, the game itself is not broken. If you enjoy a challenge apart from the mundane hack-and-slash games, Dark Souls is what you are looking for. If you only want a fun game to spend a few hours at however, I would say to look towards other games not because this game isn't for you, but because it was designed to have a different purpose.

    Hopefully this helps you decide whether or not to buy the game. I know it was worth it for me.    … Expand
  29. Barney99
    Nov 18, 2012
    10
    Great game, bad port. Issues can be mostly fixed with a community patch, and if you're willing to play with an Xbox or PS3 controller. Get it on sale if you're skeptical.
  30. Ib2deadly
    Dec 19, 2012
    10
    Best game I have played in years. Playing since release and still going strong. The overall immersion is very satisfying. The difficulty brings me back to the gaming challenges of my youth. I would recommend this game to anyone at any age. I originally pre ordered on PS3, I eventually purchased a the PC version on sale over at Steam. Look for it, buy it.
  31. slick_trick
    May 21, 2013
    10
    People are amazed by this game because it gives you the experience a role playing game should actually give you... something 95% of the PC RPGs are truly lacking. Whoever created this game should truly be commended. It is surprising that this game was first offered on the XBOX, being that it appears to be aimed towards an extremely mature audience. In anycase... there it is... thePeople are amazed by this game because it gives you the experience a role playing game should actually give you... something 95% of the PC RPGs are truly lacking. Whoever created this game should truly be commended. It is surprising that this game was first offered on the XBOX, being that it appears to be aimed towards an extremely mature audience. In anycase... there it is... the first actual RPG to be offered for the PC. If you wish to get a taste of what Dungeons and Dragons was truly about, try this game. And have some patience with it, the controls take some getting used to (360 gamepad highly recommended)… Expand
  32. strangermoon
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    all dark souls games dark souls 2 and dark souls 3 shows this gane far better and have complex map design others dont have es dark souls 2 lineer like game and start to end like game dark souls 3. pc score is not shows enough it was better than anything else execpt skyrim maybe. for many better than skyrim bcosue its more deep and you can be chracter you want. pc port was issues but withall dark souls games dark souls 2 and dark souls 3 shows this gane far better and have complex map design others dont have es dark souls 2 lineer like game and start to end like game dark souls 3. pc score is not shows enough it was better than anything else execpt skyrim maybe. for many better than skyrim bcosue its more deep and you can be chracter you want. pc port was issues but with easy mod it was better than consoles.… Expand
  33. Traumator
    Aug 2, 2013
    10
    Have to give this a 10 (the PC port doesn't deserve it) just for the bunch of 0 rating dumb morons and kids with a low enough IQ to not be able to play/figure out this game.

    A lot of people even complain about the game not having a story.... Dark Souls does not have a story... freaking HILARIOUS! It's the ultimate proof the definition of "PC gamers" is now DEAD. (srry guys we are a    Have to give this a 10 (the PC port doesn't deserve it) just for the bunch of 0 rating dumb morons and kids with a low enough IQ to not be able to play/figure out this game.

    A lot of people even complain about the game not having a story....
    Dark Souls does not have a story... freaking HILARIOUS!

    It's the ultimate proof the definition of "PC gamers" is now DEAD. (srry guys we are a minority and nearly extincted now) It's just a bunch of stupid sheep most of the time who need to be told where to go and what to do every freaking step of any game.

    PC games are rarely skill based nowadays compared to what they were even just 10 years ago.
    Are humans getting dumber?    … Expand
  34. p360assassin
    Nov 4, 2012
    9
    Now before you read this, I must say that this game is a HORRENDOUS port. Of course, every single problem can be fixed, every single one, except it won't show the keyboard and mouse controls. The only game that is a worse port is RE4.

    If you want to play this game, downloading the fan made patch is required, but its like 5kb, if your too lazy to DL it, then you won't like the pace of    Now before you read this, I must say that this game is a HORRENDOUS port. Of course, every single problem can be fixed, every single one, except it won't show the keyboard and mouse controls. The only game that is a worse port is RE4.

    If you want to play this game, downloading the fan made patch is required, but its like 5kb, if your too lazy to DL it, then you won't like the pace of Dark Souls anyhow. And NO, the keyboard and mouse controls are entirely playable if you rebind the menu button to esc (which you can do ingame) and activate the mouse fix that fixs the inverted mouse acceleration. There, game is fixed for PC, if you don't like the textures, theres a fix for that too. Now onto the game review. This game is magnificant. The game has amazingly good level design. Weapons are amazingly balanced and the only thing that is useless is ranged, (cept magic) but if ranged was powerful, it would likely make the game worse anyway (no way it could be fun in dark souls).

    The game is very rarely cheap, the only part of the game I would call cheap would be the two **** knight archers in Anor Londo. The game is extremely skill based BUT it also requires you to pay attention. Every single trap is predictable before hand (except the one in the tutorial level, that does very low damage and is designed to show you this game has enviromental traps). Even the infamous dragon on the bridge. The bridge is charred, there was a dragon earlier, and there is burned corpes all over the bridge, IT DOES WARN YOU.

    The game does not have great graphics, but its art style is amazing, every level looks different and unique. And is designed in very different ways. Blighttown is a small town built on the side of a giant underground cave, with a poisoness bog at the bottom. Anor Londo is a bright but empty (as in lonely, it has packed areas as well) city. Sens Fortress is a Indiana Jones style fort of deadly traps. The games framerate is bareable, if you can handle 30fps. Using my crappy gtx 240, I get only a few frame drops, with constant drops in Blighttown (which it is infamous for) and the rickety bridge into New Londo Ruins (which is covered in smoke effects, which explains the lag, theres no enemies here anyway, so it aint game breaking). The difficulty is perfect, relying on skill and tactics more then brute force. Yes, memory helps, but you can figure out what enemies attacks are before they even do it by what their tell (all enemies have tells) is on the attack, which often reveals it. The game also isn't unfairly hard at points, always challenging, but never dickish. Music is amazing, however often not playing. Only the main bonfire at firelink shrine and boss fights have music, but every boss fight has a unique song you will never here anyway else, and the final bosses song is so fantastic. It contrasts all other boss fight's music and is fantasticly well done. Voice acting is great, surprisingly since there is multiple grammar mistakes, but never in dialogue and never at an unreadable level. All characters are unique and have a purpose, and all seem slightly insane. (always with the laughing)

    PVP is a disappointment, not because of the system it uses, but because I'm Australian, its very hard to enter a session. After 25 hours of being human total, I got invaded once, and that was a hotspot I was in for many hours. Controls are precise, although the delay for sprinting is annoying. PC controls are entirely playable if you spend 5 minutes fine tuning it and downloading the mouse patch. 360 controls are reccomended however, even if the controls are entirely playable with KB&M (If you want proof they are playable, look at Rainicorn's old twitch series, where she beat the entire game and half at SL1 (which is VERY hard and requires lots of precision) all using mouse and keyboard with auto lock on broken (yeah, don't use it without gamepad).

    People say there is no story. DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. The game has a massive amount of lore, but its hidden, 99% of it is in item descriptions. But it is very very confusing and difficult to piece together. I wouldn't reccomend trying to figure out everything.

    All round the best action RPG I have ever played, blowing skyrim out of the water. And one of the best games I have ever played as well.    … Expand
  35. Messerschmitt
    Mar 31, 2015
    10
    Despite the broken port it's a MASTERPIECE. A game you'll be thinking about while working, learning, praying, eating, banging. Of course if you like difficult and rewarding games plus you have a gamepad.
  36. kanotsu
    Oct 28, 2012
    10
    at all the guys who give this game a "ZERO" cause of controlls. read a review and if u guys have an xbox 360 or ps3 than why u dont buy it for them? or use ur xbox controller or ps3 controller for ur pc? This Game never deserves a ZERO.
  37. Jooshua
    Jan 10, 2013
    9
    After playing more casual games this is total a breath of fresh air when compared to lesser rpg's (Skyrim comes to mind), Dark souls really rewards you for skill and intelligence and severely punishes you for stupidity. The combat is great and with a controller at least, the controls are good, while difficulty of the enemies only serves to add to the sense of satisfaction when you defeatAfter playing more casual games this is total a breath of fresh air when compared to lesser rpg's (Skyrim comes to mind), Dark souls really rewards you for skill and intelligence and severely punishes you for stupidity. The combat is great and with a controller at least, the controls are good, while difficulty of the enemies only serves to add to the sense of satisfaction when you defeat them. Overall a great game albeit with some PC porting issues but that's nothing mods can't fix.… Expand
  38. bjmarrler
    Jul 12, 2013
    9
    This is an EXCELLENT game after applying the DSFix mod. Why do I like it SO much? It's a hard game. You just can not start running and hacking and get anywhere at all. This game is just the perfect amount of hard to frustrate me, make me stop and think of how to beat this new boss or area. I may ponder that problem for a few hours to a few days, then try again. I LOVE that about this game.
  39. Glottris
    Oct 9, 2012
    10
    I'm playing with keyboard and mouse and original pc frame-rate and resolution. And this is one of the best games I have played for a long time!
    very engaging, graphics looks good ,just change the pc controls to what you like.

    I'm glad they did this port, never had any consoles.
    The game is great!
  40. baolong1478
    Oct 15, 2012
    9
    Although still get some issue like graphic (I set 1920*1080 but the game don't look better,poor controller and bad port version..but.........Great game!I spend over 100 hour to it.(my poor eng :))
  41. Dewour
    Oct 30, 2012
    10
    I won't tell how long I waited for this kind of game (I don't have Xbox/PS). Just want to say about "horrible" port: it works like a barrier that cut off whining players form the game.
  42. ShinoRagnar
    Nov 3, 2012
    10
    Dark Souls is imo the best game of all time so even if the PC version is lacking in some departments its still 10/10. I actually bought an Xbox360 just to play the original game, even though i hate playing on a gamepad. Just being able to play this on a PC is a huge deal.
  43. Veniathan
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    This game is simply awesome. And the people that dislike it have no idea that you can just fix the game by downloading one SINGLE mod.

    By downloading DSFix you can unlock the 30 fps cap, you can go above 720p. I run this game at 40 fps cap and 1080p It's perfect I love using the controler with this game, it feels natural. So I cannot complain about the keyboard issues. The    This game is simply awesome. And the people that dislike it have no idea that you can just fix the game by downloading one SINGLE mod.

    By downloading DSFix you can unlock the 30 fps cap, you can go above 720p. I run this game at 40 fps cap and 1080p

    It's perfect

    I love using the controler with this game, it feels natural. So I cannot complain about the keyboard issues.

    The story, the atmosphere, the gameplay of this game is absolutely amazing    … Expand
  44. DrinkingBob
    Dec 22, 2012
    10
    This is the best game ever made. The graphics are beautiful with the DSfix, the story is great. Yes the game is hard, but it is fun to play. Also the online component of the game is really fun and keeps you playing!
  45. ClownHawk
    Jan 28, 2013
    9
    I think after 200+ negative reviews which are almost all around the porting issues of the game, we should slow that down and talk about other parts of the game too. I cannot agree more that the PC port is rather a failure, however meanwhile it is absolutely unfair to forget how great this game is. I solved most of the porting issues by couple of patches and buying an XBOX controller. NeverI think after 200+ negative reviews which are almost all around the porting issues of the game, we should slow that down and talk about other parts of the game too. I cannot agree more that the PC port is rather a failure, however meanwhile it is absolutely unfair to forget how great this game is. I solved most of the porting issues by couple of patches and buying an XBOX controller. Never ever have I enjoyed a game so much, while being amazed and creeped out by it at the same time. The amount of depth and uniqueness you get from this game is not comparable to any other game. If anyone rates this game low just because this game is not similar to other games they played - well that's a sad perspective in my humble opinion. This game is worth all your time and money. get it and enjoy it!… Expand
  46. Dubstep
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.
    1/10 - I didn't die.    … Expand
  47. Artorias
    Dec 25, 2012
    10
    One of the best games i have every played.
    This are my main three agruments a good game should have:
    It has a great story (as time goes, you will get your answers :P ) , very good graphics (with a resolution fix mod but nvm) and good controlls with a xbox360/ ps3 controller (i have not tried out the keybord controlls yet). Plus the time effort is very minimum for setting up the mod and    One of the best games i have every played.
    This are my main three agruments a good game should have:
    It has a great story (as time goes, you will get your answers :P ) , very good graphics (with a resolution fix mod but nvm) and good controlls with a xbox360/ ps3 controller (i have not tried out the keybord controlls yet). Plus the time effort is very minimum for setting up the mod and the settings.
    Although the intro is telling you the most story plot, you need to talk with npcs for background informations, but enough spoilered :)
    To sum it up, DS PTDE is quite hard but after some time you learn it all and you will love it for sure.    … Expand
  48. spookychief
    Jan 10, 2013
    9
    I already had a 360 controller for my PC. Since the PC is my gaming platform of choice. I love that this uses the Xbox controller since i can enjoy the game on steam big picture sit on my couch and play the game on my TV. Now with that said graphically, i know this was From software's first PC game and they really didn't have a clue how to go about porting the game to the PC but they didI already had a 360 controller for my PC. Since the PC is my gaming platform of choice. I love that this uses the Xbox controller since i can enjoy the game on steam big picture sit on my couch and play the game on my TV. Now with that said graphically, i know this was From software's first PC game and they really didn't have a clue how to go about porting the game to the PC but they did a fantastic job i'd have to say, the game is easy to fix with a graphic mod. The graphic mod for all you PC gamers like me is a must have if you enjoy eye candy. The game is just so brilliant and exhilarating to play i'm writing this review with only 10 hours in the game and i'm highly addicted to it. I have not experienced any crashes at all the game runs flawlessly on my system 7950, x6 amd 3.2, and 8 gigs of ram @ 40 FPS+ which is great. Fun game pick it up mod the visuals and have fun!… Expand
  49. Sirus13
    Jan 15, 2013
    10
    I have got to say this game has single-handedly renewed my faith in gaming as a whole. I got into the game late because I refuse to play on consoles but it was well worth the wait. People are complaining about that it is a bad port and that's true but you can fix it with one mod, DSFix. Easy as hell to install and makes the game look better than both the PS3 and 360 version. The modI have got to say this game has single-handedly renewed my faith in gaming as a whole. I got into the game late because I refuse to play on consoles but it was well worth the wait. People are complaining about that it is a bad port and that's true but you can fix it with one mod, DSFix. Easy as hell to install and makes the game look better than both the PS3 and 360 version. The mod community knows what it's doing, plus Dark Souls 2 is getting a proper PC release. The KB+M controls are pretty broken but I think this is one of those games that is ACTUALLY better with a gamepad anyways. As with gameplay... well go read a different review cause I'd be here for days. This game is definitely in my tope 10.

    Oh, and go play Demons' Souls. It's just as good.    … Expand
  50. Anthony1010
    Jan 22, 2013
    9
    Let me start out by saying I am writing this review from perspective of someone who does research on things before I purchase them. I read that in order to properly enjoy this game, I would need a controller (which I have) and a graphics fix which I can download. (Which i did.) That being said I am reviewing this not as a port, but as the masterpiece that it is. In short, Dark Souls isLet me start out by saying I am writing this review from perspective of someone who does research on things before I purchase them. I read that in order to properly enjoy this game, I would need a controller (which I have) and a graphics fix which I can download. (Which i did.) That being said I am reviewing this not as a port, but as the masterpiece that it is. In short, Dark Souls is an excellent game. The lore, the weapons, the items, the environments, the enemies, the NPC's... everything about this game is well done. This is a difficult game to review simply because you need to play it to experience what it has to offer. If you're a fan of action games or RPG's, or if you just like a challenge, it would be a crime if you did not give this a shot.… Expand
  51. krnology
    Jan 29, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls on the PC has been one of the most enjoyable games I have played in a long time. I received it as a gift on steam and wasn't sure what to think when I first started to play. After more than 60 hours I think the game is rewarding, challenging, fun, frustrating, complicated, and deep. There are flaws, most with getting the game to run correctly. There are also various quarks hereDark Souls on the PC has been one of the most enjoyable games I have played in a long time. I received it as a gift on steam and wasn't sure what to think when I first started to play. After more than 60 hours I think the game is rewarding, challenging, fun, frustrating, complicated, and deep. There are flaws, most with getting the game to run correctly. There are also various quarks here and there. For example, very little direction is given. You have to learn what to do by your own wits as the game chooses not to provide any indication of where to go or what to do next. There is multiplayer that allows others to invade your world and try to kill you or even help you. There are also steep death penalties that will take your experience and force you to go back to your death spot to get it back. I had a good time with this game and think anyone choosing to play will find it a challenging and unique experience. I followed some advice I found on the steam forums and connected a controller and a few other community modifications (just put dark souls nexus into a search engine or check the steam forums). The add-ons are worthwhile since they help take Dark Souls from console graphics to modern PC graphics.… Expand
  52. NeverDie
    Feb 6, 2013
    10
    People who are giving this game 0 or 1 couse they don't have controler are stupid, and i think, they shouldn't be able to give a score, if they probably didn't play game. I'm giving this game 10, just having hope, that this will help rising that score. The game is good, have wonderfull world to explore and enemies to fight with. Boss battle are hard, like the rest of the game, and it'sPeople who are giving this game 0 or 1 couse they don't have controler are stupid, and i think, they shouldn't be able to give a score, if they probably didn't play game. I'm giving this game 10, just having hope, that this will help rising that score. The game is good, have wonderfull world to explore and enemies to fight with. Boss battle are hard, like the rest of the game, and it's fun, you enjoy it so much, that you coming back, and fighting the same boss for like 10th time, just to get your souls back. But there is one issue, that made me stop playing this game, so i need to get back to it in few day. That issue is that this game is on steam and game for windows live... so, if it's on steam, it should saves my progress on cloud, but it didn't, so when i installed the game and i haven't my saves i was pretty annoyed. But it didn't changed my opinion about this game. So i highly recommended that game for every one, that like rpg and have fun with hardly leveling his character.… Expand
  53. larme
    Feb 9, 2013
    9
    A poor port that is fortunately fixed by the community. Otherwise one of the best games I have ever played. Minus one point because of the mediocre out of box quality.
  54. Dartflght
    Jul 1, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing!!! For everyone whos to dumb to install the fanpatch for the graphics... what is wrong with you? Even if the graphics are not that good, the story is very nice and you have to do something to get background knowledge about your character. The connections in the world are just wow maybe you think im on drugs or something but if you run through the world and you findThis game is amazing!!! For everyone whos to dumb to install the fanpatch for the graphics... what is wrong with you? Even if the graphics are not that good, the story is very nice and you have to do something to get background knowledge about your character. The connections in the world are just wow maybe you think im on drugs or something but if you run through the world and you find these connections between the different locations thats just wow. The game is very challenging and if you think still think its too easy turn off the HUD and try it again. I also like the companions and npcs of the game with their great voice acting the way your decisions have a high impact on their behavior. But i dont want to spoil anything here.
    All in all the graphics are ok if you use the fanpatch (i really recommend downloading it)
    the AI is more then average but the story the characters and the challenge this game offers are just amazing.
    I have to give a 10 out of 10    … Expand
  55. owen445x
    Mar 21, 2013
    10
    I was getting so sick and tired of video games so dumbed down like Fable that I could murder everything in seconds. Finally a game where it sets the standards to the word difficulty. It doesn't care if you die and hate it and that is why I love it. I spent over 150 hours on the Xbox version and loved every minute of it. Some parts made me want to punch a baby right in the face because II was getting so sick and tired of video games so dumbed down like Fable that I could murder everything in seconds. Finally a game where it sets the standards to the word difficulty. It doesn't care if you die and hate it and that is why I love it. I spent over 150 hours on the Xbox version and loved every minute of it. Some parts made me want to punch a baby right in the face because I died and lost all my progress, but that was my fault for not being more careful. I say if you can beat this game, then you deserve to be called a gamer.… Expand
  56. xHarry777
    Feb 27, 2013
    9
    A terrible port can't ruin this masterpiece of a game. Being able to control every aspect of your character and game makes it one of the best RPGs out there.
  57. stitchmouth
    Mar 16, 2013
    9
    The game, when using a game pad and modded to unlock the proper video settings, runs absolutely beautifully. As a game overall, the DLC provides some new weapons and bosses which are amazingly fun fights. This would be a 10 except for the fact that the PC port was indeed terrible. Keep in mind that in Japan, PC gaming isn't a big thing, so developers don't often build for that. In thisThe game, when using a game pad and modded to unlock the proper video settings, runs absolutely beautifully. As a game overall, the DLC provides some new weapons and bosses which are amazingly fun fights. This would be a 10 except for the fact that the PC port was indeed terrible. Keep in mind that in Japan, PC gaming isn't a big thing, so developers don't often build for that. In this case, it definitely came back to bite them in the rump when they attempted their port.

    Some of the best and most precise controls of any game ever, beautiful visuals, amazing gameplay, and unique story told mostly through the description of in game items, makes this one for the ages.    … Expand
  58. Rockodss
    Feb 28, 2014
    10
    Do not listen to those ignorant saying it's a bad port... all you need is a patch you can easily copy/paste in your files. Repairs everything that needs to be repaired.

    This game is just pure absolute amazingness ... Don't take my word on it. read the reviews.
  59. coldasStone
    Apr 12, 2014
    10
    i worried before playing this game
    coz of i heard Dark Souls is so Difficult Game..
    and i played and felt
    yeah its so difficult so Hard~
    but Amazing Funny!
  60. sekko2
    Apr 10, 2013
    10
    Best game yet. I have over 400 hours of game play.Finished like 7-9 times. 40-70% pvp.Dark souls has really rewarding single player.Very unique multiplayer.Almost all places have their own enemies only 1-2 places have same enemies.Boss fights are soo epic and hard.
  61. RuedR5566
    Apr 27, 2013
    8
    this is a enjoyable game, although the story line is single, you can still make some choice, and some reaction with NPC. the fight in this game has a lot fun and to build ur character, such as upgrade state and chose equipmant.
  62. Senten
    Apr 30, 2013
    10
    It's been a long time since a RPG kept me that heavily.

    You awake as an undead in a dungeon cell, jailed to wait for the end of the world, as someone unknown throws the key to the cell's door in front of your feet. From now on you are alone in an hostile world and you have to figure out why you have been chosen to be freed from the Abyss. There is no story being narrated in Dark    It's been a long time since a RPG kept me that heavily.

    You awake as an undead in a dungeon cell, jailed to wait for the end of the world, as someone unknown throws the key to the cell's door in front of your feet. From now on you are alone in an hostile world and you have to figure out why you have been chosen to be freed from the Abyss.

    There is no story being narrated in Dark Souls. There might be people that miss it but in my humble opinion it is the way a real role playing game should be. You experience the story on your own, you write it yourself. And the world around you with all its creatures and humans is so authentic that you easily can imagine what might have happened to this damned landscape.

    Dark Souls is not a game for casual players, it offers a lot but claims even more and is really difficult. I know people that played the game some hours and threw it furiously shouting into the next corner. But on the other hand I also know people that loved exactly this challenge. And during about 90 hours of average playtime there is a lot to beat and even more in the New Game+, because there are contents that you can only reach in the second play-through.

    In Addition Dark Souls offers innovative online Coop- and PvP-Features that make the game worth playing it again and again.

    Pros:
    + Beautiful Design
    + very atmospheric
    + challenging difficulty (while staying fair)
    + Coop capability
    + varied and innovative PvP features
    + rewarding
    + there is a lot you can do wrong (decisions) but better in the next play-through

    Cons:
    - It is pretty hard to play coop with a specific friend if you do not know how the coop system works
    - there is no native 1080p resolution
    - a game-pad is definitely required

    Hint: There are patches made by the community that add features like 1080p resolution and coop-mode optimizations. Just search for "DSfix" and "DSCfix".

    Conclusion: Dark Souls is really a bad console port but such a good role playing game, so that those small issues are of no consequence for me, especially because they have been fixed by the community.

    I recommend this game to everyone, who loves challenging role-playing-games with a gloomy atmosphere and owns a game-pad.

    I rate it 10/10. It is just that good.    … Expand
  63. laggypancakes
    May 15, 2013
    10
    The port is far from perfect but the game is incredible. Mods really help this game shine (fps unlocking, remapping keys, textures etc).

    PvE: There are tons of different weapons/spells/armors and play styles to chose from, a healthy amount of upgrade options, and a constant fear of each enemy you face. The game requires patience, intelligence, and strategy from the player ranging    The port is far from perfect but the game is incredible. Mods really help this game shine (fps unlocking, remapping keys, textures etc).

    PvE:

    There are tons of different weapons/spells/armors and play styles to chose from, a healthy amount of upgrade options, and a constant fear of each enemy you face. The game requires patience, intelligence, and strategy from the player ranging from each trash mob pull to mini bosses to the actual bosses. Another great part for me was the fact that the game does 0 hand holding. You are dropped off into this world without a clue of what to do and very sparse clues of where to go- just like you would be if you were truly this character.

    Honestly though I think the best part of this game was how they handled player death. When you die all of your accumulated money/experience is dropped at the spot you died. There is a blood splatter on the floor and a great aura hovering over the spot. In order to restore your lost money/exp you must get back to that same spot without dying again. When you are successful you don't suffer at all- but when you aren't the game punishes you by making you "grind it out" on the trash mobs if you want it back. You always keep your items though which is nice.

    Another refreshing aspect was how they handled damage mitigation and potions. When you block damage you can block all of it if you have a solid shield or you can parry attacks with a lower weight shield (none of which can block %100 of damage so you have to choose your style). Now when you block damage it gets taken away from your endurance which regenerates very slowly while holding block. Attacking, dodging, and blocking all require a decent chunk of endurance so your timing and strategy need to be on point.

    The potion aspect was also pretty cool- you are vulnerable while drinking so again you have to time it right. In addition to that you get potion refills to X amount (as well as magic refills) at every "save point" which are spread pretty sparsely throughout the game. You can also spend some experience points (humanity really, not souls) to increase that amount of potions you get at a certain fire and eventually increase the max number of potions you can carry. Potions in this game are genuinely helpful and not game-breaking or useless like in a lot of games.

    PvP/Co-Op:

    PvP is pretty good in this game- I liked how when you allow Co-Op games you MUST also allow yourself to be invaded (pvp). The biggest problem with this is that there are "pvp specific" builds that will lower the overall level of invading players in almost a "twink" manner that seems to discourage building a well-rounded player for PvE.

    One great part about online play is that you can write and read messages from other players.

    The graphics aren't mind blowing but the art style is pretty well done. Nothing in the game really felt all that cheesy either to be honest.

    This game has some flaws no doubt but it's an absolutely incredible experience.    … Expand
  64. Mudomo
    May 3, 2013
    9
    *this review does not talk about the PC port, just the game itself*
    I would have given this game an 8 if not for how much time I poured into it. This is one of my favorite games ever. I would recommend this to anyone who is willing to take a challenge, and after that challenge is over have a very fun experience doing PvP and the like. The art direction in this game is top notch, and the    *this review does not talk about the PC port, just the game itself*
    I would have given this game an 8 if not for how much time I poured into it. This is one of my favorite games ever. I would recommend this to anyone who is willing to take a challenge, and after that challenge is over have a very fun experience doing PvP and the like. The art direction in this game is top notch, and the character design is just awesome. While the controls may be a bit clunky, they are easy to get used to and the combat system is very unique and fun. I also love the level design and how connected through shortcuts the certain areas are. Now I have to mention the bosses. While some bosses are at a perfect difficulty level (Capra Demon, Quelaag, Ornstein and Smough, The Four Kings), I was able to recollect around 7-8 that I consider MUCH too easy. These bosses can be beat on the first try if you understand the game, and are all around too damn easy. This game was close to a 10 but there are little flaws and then big ones such as the fluctuating difficulty which rounds it down to a 9. Still, a 9 is an amazing score and I would recommend this game to almost anyone.    … Expand
  65. tingham
    May 13, 2013
    9
    Probably the best RPG I've played in the last 5 years. The first thirty minutes or so I had this dreadful feeling that I'd just wasted thirty bones on a pile of rubbish. After sticking with it for a bit longer (and getting my first magical weapon) I'm completely hooked. Each battle feels like the consequences are dire; lack of rails means even the environment is an enemy to overcome. TheProbably the best RPG I've played in the last 5 years. The first thirty minutes or so I had this dreadful feeling that I'd just wasted thirty bones on a pile of rubbish. After sticking with it for a bit longer (and getting my first magical weapon) I'm completely hooked. Each battle feels like the consequences are dire; lack of rails means even the environment is an enemy to overcome. The game evokes the feeling of "old school" solo RPGs but presents in a very earnest and straightforward way the dismal lot of the undead.… Expand
  66. hodgesb
    Aug 4, 2013
    8
    I really enjoyed Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition. It offers challenging gameplay that made even small successes feel rewarding. Overall, this is a fantastic game and I look forward to Namco's future titles.

    In my case, playing with a keyboard and mouse was not effective, so make sure you have a controller handy before jumping in.
  67. JLK88
    Aug 21, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls was one hell of a game, a serious game. The graphics though slightly dated have a neat, unique touch to them that still stands out to this day. The atmosphere and setting of this game had a lot of care. This is not a typical hack n slash game where you can run in swords blazing and rip everything to shreds. This game required patience, tactical fighting, and timed blocking andDark Souls was one hell of a game, a serious game. The graphics though slightly dated have a neat, unique touch to them that still stands out to this day. The atmosphere and setting of this game had a lot of care. This is not a typical hack n slash game where you can run in swords blazing and rip everything to shreds. This game required patience, tactical fighting, and timed blocking and healing. Another thing I liked about this game was the magnitude of exploration required and the huge rewards for doing so. Exploration is key in this game. I guess I might as well share I loved the staggering amount of armor and weapons to be found.… Expand
  68. GoateusMaximus
    Jun 18, 2013
    9
    Baffled how Durante (creator of DsFix) was able to fix the port's resolution issues within a matter of hours post release. Among several other issues (crashes, clipping issues, framerate issues), this game simply CANNOT be played with a keyboard and mouse. Seriously, don't even attempt it. This is inexcusable, FromSoftware.

    In any case...I really wanted to play this game the way it    Baffled how Durante (creator of DsFix) was able to fix the port's resolution issues within a matter of hours post release. Among several other issues (crashes, clipping issues, framerate issues), this game simply CANNOT be played with a keyboard and mouse. Seriously, don't even attempt it. This is inexcusable, FromSoftware.

    In any case...I really wanted to play this game the way it should be played. So after a 3rd party simple patch and a small 15-dollar investment in a gamepad, I was set. Extremely challenging and gratifying. This game will test your diligence and nerve unlike any other. Seriously, this game will bring you to the brink of tears/smashing your controller on the floor. The learning curve on this game is treacherous, especially if you're playing through the game blind. I would highly recommend watching through boss tutorials, and save yourself some anguish...because there is still plenty to be had.    … Expand
  69. Irulane
    Jul 17, 2013
    10
    I played and finished this game long time ago, but stumbled upon it now and desided to leave a review, coz I don't think that user score is adecvate. Most port issues are fixed by fanmade patch. I don't know about controls as I played on gamepad but it sure as hell not so terrible to give this epic game a 0.
  70. eternalsnows
    Jul 6, 2013
    10
    Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is one of the greatest games ever made. The art design is spectacular, the gameplay absolutely flawlessly refined, and the fictional world perfectly realized. The amount of depth present here is just unprecedented in gaming. It's possible to play for hundreds of hours and never experience a moment of grind. The pace is perfect from beginning to end. IDark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is one of the greatest games ever made. The art design is spectacular, the gameplay absolutely flawlessly refined, and the fictional world perfectly realized. The amount of depth present here is just unprecedented in gaming. It's possible to play for hundreds of hours and never experience a moment of grind. The pace is perfect from beginning to end. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that Dark Souls is a masterpiece and everybody must play it.

    A couple of words about the PC port: yes, you NEED to have a 360 controller. Trying to use the keyboard and mouse is a waste of time. Secondly, you'll want to download the amazing DSfix that a fan put together. It will give you access to higher resolutions, better graphical fidelity and other must have tweaks. With a controller and DSfix all issues with the port are resolved and you'll end up having the ideal Dark Souls experience.    … Expand
  71. terhub
    Jul 21, 2013
    10
    Jeu tout bonnement excellent! Je le conseille a tout les vrai gamers de MMORPG. Il a une durée de vie interminable tellement qu'il est excellent. Je l'ai recommencer une dizaine de fois ce jeu.
  72. NestLols
    Jul 25, 2013
    10
    okay, so I played this game every day for almost a year on PS3, now it's on PC, and the straight port is the same amazing game, only now with more content. How can anyone complain about this? My only minor gripe is that there are a lot fewer players on PC to co-op and PvP with.... and this game was designed to be played with a controller. So play it with a controller. You don't play carokay, so I played this game every day for almost a year on PS3, now it's on PC, and the straight port is the same amazing game, only now with more content. How can anyone complain about this? My only minor gripe is that there are a lot fewer players on PC to co-op and PvP with.... and this game was designed to be played with a controller. So play it with a controller. You don't play car racing games with m+k, and neither should you play this game with m+k.… Expand
  73. Rendomg
    Jul 26, 2013
    8
    This game is interesting. There's a lot to do in it and the gameplay is good.
    HOWEVER, there's a few things you must know before playing on PC:
    1) You need an Xbox Live account Windows Live account. 2) This game has a lot of stuff that, if you don't get help (Friends, Wiki's, etc.) you might have a hard time figuring out where to go. 3) And the 3rd one I can think of which is a big    This game is interesting. There's a lot to do in it and the gameplay is good.
    HOWEVER, there's a few things you must know before playing on PC:
    1) You need an Xbox Live account Windows Live account.
    2) This game has a lot of stuff that, if you don't get help (Friends, Wiki's, etc.) you might have a hard time figuring out where to go.
    3) And the 3rd one I can think of which is a big one, you'll need an Xbox 360 controller that works with PC. (GameStop sells them new and used for about 20-30 dollars, rather than Microsoft's Xbox 360 50-70 dollars)

    This game is hours of fun, only hindered by a few facts (at least in my opinion why I rated 8/10).
    -The Xbox controller being almost needed If you try the Keyboard and Mouse you'll find it very difficult to get anywhere, like me and many others have found out.
    -You cannot windowed full screen the game (which is a personal preference of mine)
    -The game is hard to figure out on your own if you don't have help. (Again, not for everyone but for most, but that's also what makes it such a good game)
    -Xbox Live Membership required to connect to online (at least I think, it wouldn't let me play online without it. However, you can play solo, so if you don't want to be with others, you're okay to do that as well)

    That's cons of this game. Some of these cons is also what makes the game as good as it is, in my opinion.

    The gameplay itself is fun, you have to block, dodge, avoid things, etc. to survive, and there's almost always something to improve on which is a turn on for me, in terms of games.

    Dialogue is good as well, a small detail which I think is neat, is if an NPC is wearing a helmet their voice will be muffled, rather than an NPC's voice who doesn't have a helmet will be normal.

    Graphics are fantastic, definitely something worth noting if you look for good graphics in games.

    Sounds are also something to note, wonderful sounds when attacking, blocking, parrying, backstabbing, all that kinda stuff. Music fits the atmosphere very well in most places.

    So all in all, it's an amazing game, worth the money if you're okay with hard games, don't mind dying a lot, and are willing to go out and spot the ~30 dollars for a controller. The story line is wonderful, and there's so many things you can do with it, and a lot of side stories that you can do for fun.

    Highly recommend 8/10    … Expand
  74. Zarathustraa
    Jul 26, 2013
    10
    Great game. The port has some issues with occasional frame lock ups, but this is nothing more than the typical slow down found in a lot of games when a lot is going on on screen. Some people complain about a lack of settings for keyboard and mouse, not a valid claim at all. In this day they should have a controller for their pc, the game is designed for a controller, and many other pcGreat game. The port has some issues with occasional frame lock ups, but this is nothing more than the typical slow down found in a lot of games when a lot is going on on screen. Some people complain about a lack of settings for keyboard and mouse, not a valid claim at all. In this day they should have a controller for their pc, the game is designed for a controller, and many other pc ports need a control to play adequately. You'll have fun.… Expand
  75. Dudraug
    Apr 2, 2019
    10
    This game has changed my video game preference. Just 10/10. Perfect level design, lore, music. Sif.. Prepare to cry...
  76. Scamdor
    Jul 29, 2013
    10
    To all the people saying this is a terrible console port. It is. From Software had little to no experience with PC games. But the community wanted Dark Souls on PC. So they gave us it. There are mods to fix the terrible keyboard mapping, to increase the FPS e.t.c. But even the fact that this is just a console game on PC doesn't mean that it's horrific enough to get a 0! The story, weapons,To all the people saying this is a terrible console port. It is. From Software had little to no experience with PC games. But the community wanted Dark Souls on PC. So they gave us it. There are mods to fix the terrible keyboard mapping, to increase the FPS e.t.c. But even the fact that this is just a console game on PC doesn't mean that it's horrific enough to get a 0! The story, weapons, game mechanics (aside from the multiplayer with no voice chat) and pretty much everything else is top-notch! The community is great too, unlike most other games where multiplayer can be such a core concept. Obviously the game could be better, but so could every other game! So instead of about graphics, do something productive and get dsfix. One of the main reasons you should buy this version over that of the console's is Mods. Having Gaben's face on a shield is hilarious. But sorry, you were too busy about this game on Metacritic to install dsfix, so your game looks like it is played on a 360. Most people who gave it 0 are probably saying "This isn't Skyrim. Why can't I change the difficulty so I one-hit everything? This game deserves a 0. Because I'm a hardcore fan of RPGs, as long as they have a casual difficulty."… Expand
  77. Makemon
    Jul 29, 2013
    10
    I made an account to get to review this game. The game feels like its a perfect combination of games like Vagrant Story, Ninja Gaiden and Shadow of the Colossus in a sense that it has deep RPG elements, nice and rewarding difficulty depending on player skill and strategies, and the atmosphere and design of the world is simply perfect and beautiful. Highly recommend this game to everyone.
  78. solaris132
    Aug 23, 2013
    10
    This page is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. The casuals giving this game a 1 4 need to get their mouth off of CoD's and start playing games where it doesn't treat you like a child.

    Some make this game sounds like it's hard. The others make it sound like it will strangle you with your own intestines and paint the city with your blood. Both of those are true. While    This page is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. The casuals giving this game a 1 4 need to get their mouth off of CoD's and start playing games where it doesn't treat you like a child.

    Some make this game sounds like it's hard. The others make it sound like it will strangle you with your own intestines and paint the city with your blood. Both of those are true. While this is a crappy port, all you need to fix it is a controller. If you plan to play this game with a mouse and keyboard you're smoking something nasty.    … Expand
  79. youleean
    Aug 11, 2013
    10
    First things first. This Game is awesome. Many people say that it's too hard. It's not. It's just harder than other games these days. If you beat an enemy that kicked your ass about five times you feel so good. And i never had that feelings the last few years. And if it's "too" hard for you. There are sooooo many wikis' and tips in the internet. So give it a try. BUT if you don't want toFirst things first. This Game is awesome. Many people say that it's too hard. It's not. It's just harder than other games these days. If you beat an enemy that kicked your ass about five times you feel so good. And i never had that feelings the last few years. And if it's "too" hard for you. There are sooooo many wikis' and tips in the internet. So give it a try. BUT if you don't want to mod your PC version, buy one of the console versions! And you have to use a gamepad.… Expand
  80. Sboriky
    Sep 11, 2013
    8
    The porting on PC is just awful, but with the right fixes made by the community, the game is very enjoyable.

    The combat mechanics are great, and the background story and the atmosphere are awesome. The main story is not that good, but as I said, the settings and the events behind our adventure are very detailed. Everyone should buy this masterpiece. It's an unique action RPG, full of    The porting on PC is just awful, but with the right fixes made by the community, the game is very enjoyable.

    The combat mechanics are great, and the background story and the atmosphere are awesome. The main story is not that good, but as I said, the settings and the events behind our adventure are very detailed.

    Everyone should buy this masterpiece. It's an unique action RPG, full of details and things to discover. Dark Souls is potentially an endless game... just prepare yourself to die an infinite amount of times!    … Expand
  81. seva16
    Aug 25, 2013
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. For players PC without a joystick to play better not to even look in the direction of this game. But if you did have started to play without a joystick then get even more hardcore.
  82. Wheid
    Oct 7, 2013
    9
    no me e terminado el juego pero, lo que llevo me a dado una muy buena impresión de este, me dificulta mucho jugarlo por que lo juego en pc, los controles son algo incómodos, la optimizacion en pc es nula pero a parte de todo eso me sigue pareciendo un juego de culto.
  83. Samtheman53
    Feb 26, 2014
    9
    Not as challenging as some make it out to be, but more so than most other modern games. With a mod and a controller this is a truly gripping, immersive game with alot of re playability.
  84. Andremax
    Sep 10, 2018
    9
    Thin line between hate and love is broken in Dark Souls. Game can frustrate and makes all players get full of hate with its extremely difficult bosses, but once defeated, after many tentative, the accomplished duty's sensation is rewarding, just like classic games. Forget about beautiful graphics (although scenarios being immense and breathtaking, principally looking far where you wereThin line between hate and love is broken in Dark Souls. Game can frustrate and makes all players get full of hate with its extremely difficult bosses, but once defeated, after many tentative, the accomplished duty's sensation is rewarding, just like classic games. Forget about beautiful graphics (although scenarios being immense and breathtaking, principally looking far where you were after progressing, but it aren't focus in game), lack of story, playablilty (enhanced in PC's version), Dark Souls goal is beyond it. It's a game focused in holding stubborn and persistent players. if you want to be introduced in 1st Dark Souls game, start in this version and with a gamepad.… Expand
  85. Avalord
    Jun 19, 2014
    10
    Yes, you get killed a lot. But though I'm easily frustrated, in this game that doesn't stop me from coming back. You have 10 slots and classes play remarkably different, weapons feel different too. But what noone mentioned this game has certainly the best level design I ever experienced. So I really recommend it. And if you play use a game controller. As a PC player I always avoided them.Yes, you get killed a lot. But though I'm easily frustrated, in this game that doesn't stop me from coming back. You have 10 slots and classes play remarkably different, weapons feel different too. But what noone mentioned this game has certainly the best level design I ever experienced. So I really recommend it. And if you play use a game controller. As a PC player I always avoided them. But it is the your natural weapon of choice in this game and amazingly...it works!… Expand
  86. Idiocracy
    Oct 8, 2013
    8
    MOD MOD MOD AND GAMEPAD IT UP!!!! Yes this port is pure trash, but thanks to our loving DS community, there's plenty of texture and UI mods that resurrect this perfect game from its portdeath, besides the MODS MAKE IT LOOK EYEGASMIC, so I'm enjoying the game even more than I did on the console!!!
  87. Jadetiger
    Oct 16, 2013
    8
    Brutally difficult and challenging, which makes for a massochistic pleasure for hardcore gamers. As noted in some other reviews, there are some sloppy aspects to the pc port. I played with a gamepad, so may have noticed this less than others. Not for the weak of heart!
  88. Ruiner87
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    A genuinely amazing game. From the incredibly lonely and crushing atmosphere, the amazing soundtrack that ranges from subtle to bombastic, to the satisfying combat and fantastic sense of accomplishment that the game offers - Dark Souls has it all. This is perhaps the most important game of the 7th generation of consoles.
  89. Lenneth
    Oct 28, 2013
    10
    Originally created for the xbox and hastily ported to the pc. But you know what? Who cares. Bad controls? Get a damn controller. Too difficult and not used to the lack of spoon feeding? Step up your game or off. Dark souls isn't your average rpg, oh no. It will kill you. ALOT. And unless you're persistent and quick to learn and observant. you will die and die and die and die and die someOriginally created for the xbox and hastily ported to the pc. But you know what? Who cares. Bad controls? Get a damn controller. Too difficult and not used to the lack of spoon feeding? Step up your game or off. Dark souls isn't your average rpg, oh no. It will kill you. ALOT. And unless you're persistent and quick to learn and observant. you will die and die and die and die and die some more. Tons of content and lore for the player who wants to dig deeper. Finished this with only the keyboard, have over 700 hours in gameplay.… Expand
  90. turlocs
    Nov 5, 2013
    10
    This is one of my all time fav games i couldnt belive the shear content depth and fun into the game fighting these bosses with the new game takes some skill and thats why i love this game it takes skill not luck besides bed of cahos if i were to say one bad thing about the game it would be the pc controll's they are terrible but that does not make this a bad game the mods and wonder ofThis is one of my all time fav games i couldnt belive the shear content depth and fun into the game fighting these bosses with the new game takes some skill and thats why i love this game it takes skill not luck besides bed of cahos if i were to say one bad thing about the game it would be the pc controll's they are terrible but that does not make this a bad game the mods and wonder of the community with the pc is great and you can just plug in an xbox controller awsome game 10/10 not for noobs … Expand
  91. SupaChigga
    Nov 18, 2013
    10
    Single Player/Multi Player (2/2)

    (If the single player is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no multplayer) (If the multiplayer is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no single player) Gameplay (2/2) Visuals/Story (2/2) (If the visuals are better than the story, review this section as if it had no story) (If the story is    Single Player/Multi Player (2/2)

    (If the single player is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no multplayer) (If the multiplayer is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no single player)

    Gameplay (2/2)

    Visuals/Story (2/2)

    (If the visuals are better than the story, review this section as if it had no story) (If the story is better than the visuals, review this section as if the visuals didn’t matter)

    Accessibility/Longevity (2/2)

    (Review this section only on Accessibility if the game has no longevity) (Review this section only on longevity if the game isn’t accessible)

    Pricing (2/2)

    Wildcard (0)

    This is a guideline for how to properly review games. Many reviewers like to get a “feel” for a game, and arbitrarily give a game a score that they believe it deserves. This results in wildly different scores between different reviewers, and vastly different scores between similar games. This guideline addresses these problems and scores games fairly and consistently. This guideline also gives scores that are usually similar to the metacritic score.

    The review score is based out of 10 points. There are no “half” or 0.5 increments. It is impossible to have a score above 10 or below 0. The review score will change as the game gets new dlc, drops in price, or if more secrets are found through the game increasing its appeal.

    The scoring is split into 6 sections. The first five sections can add a possible 2 points to the final score. The first 5 sections are Single Player/Multi Player, Gameplay, Visuals/Story, Accessibility/Longevity, and Pricing.

    Notice that 3 of these sections have two parts. These particular sections will be scored based on the stronger part of the game of the two. For example, if a game has a lousy single player campaign, but an excellent multiplayer component, that section will be based solely on the multiplayer as if the single player did not exist. This allows games to be based on their own merits, as many unnecessary features are shoehorned into video games by publishers to reach a “feature quota”. Games that excel in both areas of a section don’t receive should be noted in the written review, but cannot increase the score past 2 in that section. However, it can be taken into account in the final section

    The final section can add 1, add 0, or subtract 1 to the final score. This final section is the “wildcard” section. This section is for how the reviewer “feels” about the game, but limits this only to this section, rather than the entire 10 point review. This section can include any positive or negative point that was not covered in the previous 5 sections.    … Expand
  92. TheMightyClark
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    Be wary for those who venture on this path. Prepare to Die. More than just words on the cover. These words serve as a foreshadowing warning. Yes, this game is fun. Yes, this game is horrible. It is a challenge. Get it and try your patience and sanity. It's not for everyone, only elite gamers.
  93. huss2215
    Nov 14, 2013
    8
    Refer to my previous Dark Souls review on 360 if interested. Prepare to die edition is a horrible port to the PC, it looks like an emulator running. The game never seems to work when trying to summon, or be summoned, their PVP system never worked for me, and invading seems to work the best yet there are many hackers. Besides that, I really enjoy the expansion which lasts about 3 extraRefer to my previous Dark Souls review on 360 if interested. Prepare to die edition is a horrible port to the PC, it looks like an emulator running. The game never seems to work when trying to summon, or be summoned, their PVP system never worked for me, and invading seems to work the best yet there are many hackers. Besides that, I really enjoy the expansion which lasts about 3 extra hours long, 3 new bosses, 1 can be missed. Newer spells, 1 which is overpowered, newer items, and weapons that can be forged from new boss souls. The story is interesting, but never really dives the player deep into it. You see a younger Wolf Sif, but you may miss the story behind it, and may need to resort to the Wiki to find out the details.
    Overall Score: 8.0 out of 10.    … Expand
  94. Powerfulenemy
    Nov 16, 2013
    10
    Dark Souls is a challenging action rpg and is enthralling...Every area you enter is an adventure. The story is told through the actions of npcs and given in tidbits through item descriptions and locations. Although not the most effective method of story telling it lends itself to excellent replay. As you complete the game you can't help, but feeling it is not the end; there is more. YouDark Souls is a challenging action rpg and is enthralling...Every area you enter is an adventure. The story is told through the actions of npcs and given in tidbits through item descriptions and locations. Although not the most effective method of story telling it lends itself to excellent replay. As you complete the game you can't help, but feeling it is not the end; there is more. You need to explore and read and listen to the dialog to find new things, new secrets new characters.
    It is like a 3d Castlevania packed with hidden secrets, weapons and short cuts. The large world is very interconnected and rife with spectacular view points allowing you to overlook the areas above and below. Areas you have been to are now off in the distance as a reminder of just how far you have come. Praise the sun!!

    In spite of the minor issues with the port and bad mouse and keyboard controls its still the best rpg ever made. If you limit yourself to mouse and keyboard only then this probably isn't the game for you, but for everyone else that has the ability to learn and adapt to new challenges this a great game.    … Expand
  95. raiseralex21
    Dec 4, 2013
    9
    Hace mucho no jugaba algo tan difícil y la historia me gusto mucho, aunque creo que podrían mejorar el apartado gráfico.

    Espero que la saga siga mejorando con los moustros y la historia.
  96. lolplayer117
    Jan 5, 2017
    9
    Great Game, Bad Port, Use Mods

    I recommend the better tree/foliage, lave, and ui/text mods. Also the one that allows high resolution and fullscreen borderless. I usually don't use controllers but it's absolutely necessary for Dark Souls. You will need to google. A lot. And you'll probably have to look at a guide at least a couple times. Maybe even watch some videos on how to beat    Great Game, Bad Port, Use Mods

    I recommend the better tree/foliage, lave, and ui/text mods. Also the one that allows high resolution and fullscreen borderless.

    I usually don't use controllers but it's absolutely necessary for Dark Souls.

    You will need to google. A lot. And you'll probably have to look at a guide at least a couple times. Maybe even watch some videos on how to beat the harder bosses. But it's worth it. This game will change how you view video games and kind of ruin less deep / mechanically interesting RPGs for you. Game has god-tier level design--everything, and I mean everything, is connected, yet each area has a very unique feel. Awesome monster designs. Terrifying music, although I wish it played more often than just boss fights.    … Expand
  97. sdspeedy
    Feb 1, 2014
    10
    First off, it must be said that the fixes found on Dark Souls Nexus are a Must. You are able to up the frame rate, add on better textures, and it fixes frame drops. Now, it is a very, very hard game, but if you have the patience or are willing to develop some patience, this game is very rewarding. BEST game I have ever played, sooo good.
  98. pet-wussy
    Mar 24, 2014
    10
    Prepare to die edition? more like "prepare your anus for Moby dick edition". Where can i start explaining how bad this game is? Oh i know, lets start with the random basketball mecnahnics... why were they added to this golf game? secondly, everyone is an idiot except for me and Squilliam fancy pants. finally, the whole world can suck my mars bar with there massive fish lips you stupidPrepare to die edition? more like "prepare your anus for Moby dick edition". Where can i start explaining how bad this game is? Oh i know, lets start with the random basketball mecnahnics... why were they added to this golf game? secondly, everyone is an idiot except for me and Squilliam fancy pants. finally, the whole world can suck my mars bar with there massive fish lips you stupid nostril hairs.… Expand
  99. Pr8Dator
    Mar 21, 2014
    10
    First game I ever give a 10/10 to so far on metacritic! This game triumphs in so many areas:

    1. RPG... you do feel like you are playing a character and NPC reponses to you are so varied and customized to your situation that you really feel like you are talking to real people! Even though you never spoke in the game, how the NPCs react to you truly feels like you are having a    First game I ever give a 10/10 to so far on metacritic! This game triumphs in so many areas:

    1. RPG... you do feel like you are playing a character and NPC reponses to you are so varied and customized to your situation that you really feel like you are talking to real people! Even though you never spoke in the game, how the NPCs react to you truly feels like you are having a conversation without the need for any conversation choices!

    2. Graphics... dark and gloomy design along with the music to bring out the mood of despair and desperation... the occassional appearance of other online player's spook truly made the world feel real and alive with horror. This is the first time I feel so engrossed in a game world... the feeling of this world is the complete opposite to the feeling of Divinity series.

    3. Combat... lumberous and frustrating at first but once you get used to it, its extremely realistic to real life combat. I find myself respecting and actually circling for opportunities to attack a simple zombie when I would have graciously rushed hordes of them in other games. The enemies are not generic models that does basically the same things. Every enemy and their variations have their unique combat characteristics and sometimes throw moves that will surprise you!

    4. Replayability... yes, this is one game that makes you replay a certain area tens or even hundreds of times by dying and resurrecting at a bon fire. This may feel frustrating at first but the fact that everytime you go back to the bon fire, you are actually getting better and stronger makes it very satisfying.

    All in all, I am surprised by how awesome this game is and I wonder why I hadn't played it before even though I bought it at a discount a long time ago! MUST TRY!    … Expand
  100. Tittus
    Mar 4, 2014
    10
    Probably the best game I've played in my Xbox 360, and it's now in PC.

    The port has some problems but you have to understand first where did it come from. This game wasn't meant to be never in a PC, but fans loved it so much that they started a collection of signatures just to have it on PC. So From Software heard the people and took the step. Even so, the "technical problems" are so    Probably the best game I've played in my Xbox 360, and it's now in PC.

    The port has some problems but you have to understand first where did it come from. This game wasn't meant to be never in a PC, but fans loved it so much that they started a collection of signatures just to have it on PC. So From Software heard the people and took the step. Even so, the "technical problems" are so small compared with the greatness of this game, that you should be ignoring them soon when you feel inmersed in Lordran. But yes, you better use a X360 or PS3 controller like.

    This game needs some learning, it's full of mysteries, has infinite possibilities for your character, every weapon has a unique design and move set, and when you combine that with all the spells, armors and other items... well, then you are hooked forever. Because this game is already thrilling, challenging, has one of the very bests scene design I ever seen and it's full of art design and dark stories the first time you play it. But after that, and when you start to fully understand the whole game mechanics, you want more and more. It's a game that you can complete 3, 4... 7 times and you will eventually come back for more. It has an unique multiplayer system and if you enjoy the solo game, you will find that the emotion of being invaded by players, or hunting others in their worlds as a dark spectre adds a lot to the already exciting game wich is Dark Souls.

    I won't say that this is a very difficult game and it's only meant for some players, because that is not true. The game is fair, the game needs some learning process, and once you go through it (and when you are going through it) you enjoy the game more and more. This game just has a bit of "old school" philosophy, and I'm pretty sure that I could name an infinite number of much more difficult and cruel games... it's just that it would be much more easier to pick those games from the early 00s, 90s or 80s maybe. We got used to be guided, and if we are not we can even get frustrated.

    Personally. I love this game so much and I hate it somehow. I love it because of all its greatness. And I hate it because after this game I just compare any other game I play with Dark Souls. And that makes me go back to play it.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best PC Game of 2012
10
#10 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
20
#20 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 1 out of 42
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 6, 2013
    72
    The irony is that the PC version could have been much better than the PS3/360 ones, with higher resolutions to make the textures look better, a cornucopia of mods and/or an active (in theory at least) community. But FROM ruined it all (with the assistance of Games for Windows Live). It’s a shame really, if we at least had just a decent port (or a better infrastructure for a less appalling multiplayer mode), Dark Souls could have been one of the best RPG for the PC. [November 2012]
  2. GameFocus
    Nov 19, 2012
    80
    Not often do you see a game that is equally rewarding as it is frustrating; and it's not because the game is unfair.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 29, 2012
    80
    Dark Souls returns the hardcore elements back to action RPGs – heavy focus on uncompromising fight mechanics and absolute freedom in hero profiling. The price of this game is not for everyone. [Oct 2012]
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