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. lockie507
    Sep 25, 2013
    0
    This is by far the worst port I have ever seen. they have not even bothered to remove the Xbox controller promps when playing on a keyboard.

    Also the Camera is very jittery and unpredictable, also why oh why would they leave the standard mouse pointer to be seen permanently in the game....

    Please don't waste your money on this.
  2. wyzeguyy
    Sep 22, 2013
    10
    Best game I have ever played. I love the difficulty, and that amazing feeling of reward after getting through a tough section/boss. On top of that for only spending about 20 bucks at the time I got almost 100 hours of game play on my first play through! The only thing that is a potential downside with an easy fix is that you need to download a 3rd party file to fix some of the FPS issues,Best game I have ever played. I love the difficulty, and that amazing feeling of reward after getting through a tough section/boss. On top of that for only spending about 20 bucks at the time I got almost 100 hours of game play on my first play through! The only thing that is a potential downside with an easy fix is that you need to download a 3rd party file to fix some of the FPS issues, and I would highly recommend you have a game pad.… Expand
  3. ArchMage
    Sep 19, 2013
    10
    Let me clear things up for the people that are complaining, dark souls was not made for the PC originally and was ported from the console version, people are complaining about the graphics, well you own a computer, take 2 minutes out of your time and download and install DSfix and boom, lovely graphics, 60fps which you can lock if you want, it's not meant to be played with a mouse andLet me clear things up for the people that are complaining, dark souls was not made for the PC originally and was ported from the console version, people are complaining about the graphics, well you own a computer, take 2 minutes out of your time and download and install DSfix and boom, lovely graphics, 60fps which you can lock if you want, it's not meant to be played with a mouse and keyboard because once again, it's a console port and it was made by FromSoftware for people who wished to have it on PC, quite a while after the console version was released. Now for the game itself, the gameplay mechanics are wonderful and the game is deep and challenging, people give it a bad rep because they have no patience and are used to the linear hack and slash two hit kills gameplay they get from other sword and shield games (the type that take about 2 hours to complete), the story is incredibly deep and is purposely shrouded in mystery in order for the player to discover it and see the depth and journey for himself instead of handing it out on a silver platter. It's a masterpiece of a game, unrivaled by any other RPG to date.… Expand
  4. Trigonometry
    Sep 16, 2013
    5
    When it comes to dark souls, I am conflicted having played both the console and PC Port. I'll start now, saying that the PC Port receives a 5/10 without any mods, 6/10 properly modded while the console version gets a 7/10 because it's multiplayer isn't compromised by Games for Windows Live. Take this score as objectively as possible, because my subjective opinion is that I absolutely loveWhen it comes to dark souls, I am conflicted having played both the console and PC Port. I'll start now, saying that the PC Port receives a 5/10 without any mods, 6/10 properly modded while the console version gets a 7/10 because it's multiplayer isn't compromised by Games for Windows Live. Take this score as objectively as possible, because my subjective opinion is that I absolutely love this game and if I graded this score based on my subjective opinion, I'd grade it a 10.

    Dark souls is a gritty dungeon crawler that has become famous due to it's difficulty with a slightly more open world than it's predecessor Demon Souls. Unlike Boletaria, Lordran is plagued with the undead who have started to appear as the fires within the Kiln of the First Flame start to die out.

    Gameplay: Dark souls follows the same formula as Demon Souls when it comes to gameplay. It's an 'hack and slash' adventure RPG with a lot of strategic depth. Fights require you to think and time your attacks precisely whilst monitoring your stamina use. Stamina is used for attacking, blocking, dodging and running making it incredibly important. Weapons and armor all have their pros and cons, but although there are weapon and armor stats there is also a metagame involved. There is no 'best weapon of the game' like in some other RPGs as a weapon is only useful if you can use it well. In PVP this is seen quite clearly. Armor might be effective, but you might want to use light armor to be more mobile and able to dodge, or invest in Endurance so you get more carrying capacity and are able to use Medium armor as if it were light armor. If you don't know how to move in the set of armor you're using, it's also not going to do much which makes the game very skill based which is a very good thing.
    It's also here however that the game takes a blow from it's poorly executed PC Port. I'm certain that many PC gamers are thankful that From Software ported the game to PC, but the PC controls are absolutely horrible making the game impossible to play without a gamepad unless one gets mods to fix them like the DSFix and the DS Mouse Fix. I know some people who don't have gamepads, and were greatly aggravated claiming the game was unplayable until they finally got the mods.

    Multiplayer is the heart and soul of the game, you don't experience it fully if you're not playing online. Players leave messages giving you hints about dangers ahead or luring you to your death, bloostains tell you how others have died, if you're not Hollowed, a state that you start at untill you sacrifice Humanity to reverse it and regain if you die, you can summon players from their game world to help you complete the level, but you can also be invaded by other players or worse. Unlike Demon souls where there was just an axis between good and evil, in Dark Souls factions were introduced into the game with plenty of different multiplayer interactions, Gravelords will infect your world with powerful monsters until you find their signs for instance which is many a New Game player's woe. If you get it to work that is. Games for Windows Live is absolutely broken and I'm sure From Software only used it because they didn't know what they were getting into. Because it doens't work, players have brought upon themselves ways of fixing this by modding the game, but making it only possible for players in their friends list to invade them, with large groups like /vg/ having a player list so people can have others to interact with but also further isolating the community. Without the mod, you're likely not to invade anyone not to mention the amount of people who just play the game as Hollow to not be invaded, completely removing multiplayer from the picture due to it's horrible implementation.

    The story is very interesting but also very vague, but I say this in a good way. Most of the things you'll discover will be through speculation and item descriptions, with Lordran itself being an amazing setting filled with different scenarios. From the decadent Undead Parish, it's sewers and putrid blight town, to the Demon Ruins below the earth filled with Lava, to the city of the 'Gods' Anor Londo and the new DLC areas which include the Abyss.

    However, when looking at it objectively, this game is an improvement Demon Souls but some of it has been stripped and streamlined. There is no longer 'mana', magic has charges which makes it very easy for a character to pick it up. In fact, with Pyromancy, one only needs attunement to get more spells and an improved pyromancy flame to be effective (As well as skill to use them). In Demon Souls, you needed intelligence to improve your mana and spell uses. As a Faith character, you needed to invest in inteligence anyway for mana as well as faith for your spells to be effective and to have more spell slots. There are too many checkpoints, making the game a lot easier than it's predecessor. It's still a game you can spend a lot of time on and worth your money.    … Expand
  5. 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.
  6. 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
  7. 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$.
  8. tech-noir
    Sep 5, 2013
    7
    As one the worst ports I've ever played, it also suffers from poor storytelling and an unforgiving difficulty. The battle mechanics are very good, while boss fights are the highlights of the game. It can be tedious sometimes, but it is an overall enjoyable experience that requires patience and dedication.
  9. Kydos
    Sep 1, 2013
    10
    Forget about playing with keyboard and mouse, you just have to accept with this one that it's designed to be played with a controller. Once you get over that little stumbling block, then you're in for a world of wonder. There's not much I can say that hasn't been said but I will say it all again anyway because this game is something else in today's market. It takes today's crop ofForget about playing with keyboard and mouse, you just have to accept with this one that it's designed to be played with a controller. Once you get over that little stumbling block, then you're in for a world of wonder. There's not much I can say that hasn't been said but I will say it all again anyway because this game is something else in today's market. It takes today's crop of hand-holding games and throws that philosophy out the window. Games like the Fable series and the later Elder Scrolls series (IV and V) offer no real challenge. The Fable games are quite fun (the first one anyway) but you breeze through them in mere hours and can easily complete them without dying. I gave up on Skyrim after it became just a routine of blasting through dungeon after dungeon like the unstoppable destroyer you so easily become. You know a game is doing something wrong when a dragon appears in the sky and all you do is roll your eyes thinking "another nuisance." With Dark Souls you start sweating when you see something as big as a dragon appear because the game is difficult. The first time you run through this game everything is more difficult than it should be and the reason is because you are liable to die at any time. The first enemies you kill when you first get a weapon can still challenge you hours into the game if you're not careful. Yes you can cut through them like butter at that stage but you still need to maintain concentration and take them out efficiently because even a bunch of lowly Hollows can take you down quickly if you let them swarm you. The beautiful thing about this is when you're exploring a new area and haven't a clue where you are, everything terrifies you because everything can kill you. And when your health bar is at about two thirds and you're unable to heal, have no idea where the next "checkpoint" is and you're carrying a whole lot of souls that you so desperately don't want to lose but you don't know what's waiting around the next corner, then you will start to feel your blood rush and I don't know about you but a game hasn't made me feel like that in a long long time. One of the neatest things about this game is the shortcut system built into the world. With limited loading screens the game does well in immersing you into the experience but the clever shortcuts prevent endless trekking around and also serve as a slight reward in that you are spared from going through some of the tougher parts of the game more than once as you can cut out the bulk of journey. Of course the shortcuts themselves are kind of cheesy in that they're usually just doors that only open from one side for some reason or elevators that have to be activated from the top first before they work properly but the way the world is all interconnected gives a nice feel to the game. Of course the world is quite huge and later the teleport system can be deemed almost necessary if not as immersive as the shortcut system. The story of the game is best judged as an accumulation of all the subplots rather than just the main quest line. That being said this game has some fantastic lore which you have to tease out bit by bit through item descriptions and sparse NPC dialogue but I've spent a lot of time just reading up on the different NPC's and their backgrounds as you'll find nearly everyone in Dark Souls has a very interesting story. What I like about this is that while you're clearly the strongest dude around and the so-called "main character," not everything revolves around you and some NPC's couldn't care less about who you are. Again it adds to the immersion that everyone has their own agenda and aren't just waiting around doing nothing until you come along to do some mundane task for them so they can get on with their lives. Nothing breaks immersion like the almighty Dragonborn having to make house calls because some dame has got a problem with some rats. I should point out in conclusion that the Elder Scrolls and Fable series have their own merits and I am a fan of them, but Dark Souls offers an entirely different and even though this word is always used rewarding experience. It is not, as some claim, difficult for the sake of being difficult. It is difficult for the sake of being real. It is one of the best experiences in gaming that's out there and you'd be doing yourself a favour if you picked it up, even if you only make it to Blighttown.… Expand
  10. ALkasyn
    Sep 1, 2013
    4
    A friend suggested I buy this game because it is challenging and a good throwback to how games used to be. Well, I can agree that the game is indeed difficult, but unfortunately it is the dumb kind of difficulty, where the enemies just 2 shoot you. Normal creeps also have the ability to instagib you with an animated attack, even if you are at full health. The story is pretty muchA friend suggested I buy this game because it is challenging and a good throwback to how games used to be. Well, I can agree that the game is indeed difficult, but unfortunately it is the dumb kind of difficulty, where the enemies just 2 shoot you. Normal creeps also have the ability to instagib you with an animated attack, even if you are at full health. The story is pretty much non-existent, you are never told anything helpful as there is no tutorial/practice level and you learn the tactics for a particular boss by dying to them, respawning and running to them again. You don't really know where to go or what do to apart from a general idea of "ringing two bells". The NPCs don't tell you anything more useful than that. Top it off with PKers invading your world even though their level is twice as high as you and the fact that to understand anything of the game-play the Covenants, the Invasions, the Phantoms, Bosses etc. you have to browse the Wiki. Oh, and the abysmal respawn system where you have to run back to where you died to pick up your experience points before finding a shortcut this might take up to 15 minutes to reach your body the monsters have all respawned, too. All in all, a disappointment, and the only redeeming factor for me is that I bought it on a Steam sale. If you do play this game, do it on a controller, not the keyboard+mouse as the port sucks.… Expand
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. Orctownorc
    Aug 22, 2013
    5
    The opening cinematics hint at a truly remarkable game. The rave reviews of fans are encouraging. However my PC version of this game remains unplayable for two key reasons: (1) Games For Windows Live. Why in the seven hells, did they have to append this horrible DRM on the game? This refuses to log in, refuses to allow saves in game, and refuses to even allow the game to be quit out ofThe opening cinematics hint at a truly remarkable game. The rave reviews of fans are encouraging. However my PC version of this game remains unplayable for two key reasons: (1) Games For Windows Live. Why in the seven hells, did they have to append this horrible DRM on the game? This refuses to log in, refuses to allow saves in game, and refuses to even allow the game to be quit out of without alt F4! (2) The controls are even worse than you heard. From Software chose the most ridiculous keys they could think of for their key mapping. "Buy a controller?" Hell, WHY! This is clearly a console game. As PC software it clearly earns 0/10. I suggest those who want to enjoy it do so on console.

    THE GROT REVIEW CRITERIA: After a long time writing reviews like an anus, think its time to set a few bad habits straight: Stop insulting designers. Show some respect for the design process and getting games in circulation. Hence (1) No Red scores. (2) Game scores as follows: Bad Game 5/10. Poor Game 6/10. Mediocre Game: 7/10. Good Game 8/10. Great game 9/10. Stella Game 10/10. To get 10/10 it must be a game that can be (theoretically) play-able for 1000+ hours. Not only great but near endless fun. Games may be bad or poor but making them should earn respect. Thus even the worst POS will still be a 5/10. 0/10 no longer exists in my vocabulary. Yellow is the new red. For the sake of accountability: you can reply if needed: Orctowngrot: Tim Rawlins: timtimjp@yahoo.com    … Expand
  15. Eitr
    Aug 12, 2013
    0
    Garbage port. Key bindings are the worst and the game wont even tell you which key because it only displays controller buttons. After finally getting it to go full screen and controller hooked up, gameplay was still buggy and the camera was awful. At one point an enemy had killed me at a bonfire, but when I respawned he still had agro on me again (and again). To make this worse, the gameGarbage port. Key bindings are the worst and the game wont even tell you which key because it only displays controller buttons. After finally getting it to go full screen and controller hooked up, gameplay was still buggy and the camera was awful. At one point an enemy had killed me at a bonfire, but when I respawned he still had agro on me again (and again). To make this worse, the game does not pause at all when entering any menu so I had to kite the enemy around before he killed me just to be able to exit the game. I can understand not pausing during pvp but this was in offline mode. Tutorial is practically non existent and expects you to just guess what the mechanics of the game are half the time. Little notes written on the ground where it's usually too late to respond to the situation after trying to read them does not suffice for helping new people get into the game.… Expand
  16. BasilZero
    Aug 12, 2013
    10
    Dark Souls Prepare to Die Edition is an amazing game and possibly one of the most hardest games ever made. You will enjoy the storyline/lore, the simple yet complex gameplay, the unforgiving difficulty, the epic music and the hilarious engine that the game runs on. With the addition of a New Game+ and multiplayer feature, the replay value for this game is simply one of the best seen in aDark Souls Prepare to Die Edition is an amazing game and possibly one of the most hardest games ever made. You will enjoy the storyline/lore, the simple yet complex gameplay, the unforgiving difficulty, the epic music and the hilarious engine that the game runs on. With the addition of a New Game+ and multiplayer feature, the replay value for this game is simply one of the best seen in a RPG and to top it off you have a reasonable amount of hours that can be placed in the game and it comes with a famous composer's music that will bring more than likely more than nostalgia to some players. The amount you can do with your character, changing their play style, fighting style and amongst other things will keep you coming back again and again especially with a addicting PVP experience.… Expand
  17. Walrob
    Aug 11, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls is an incredible RPG. There's not much more to say about it, the better way of understand is playing it. I must advise, you gonna DIE! A LOT! But, in the end, you gonna love it, 'cause it's a very, very challenging game. I have to say, the PC version is not that good, because of the graphics' issue, the excessively high pc requirements for a good performance in the game and theDark Souls is an incredible RPG. There's not much more to say about it, the better way of understand is playing it. I must advise, you gonna DIE! A LOT! But, in the end, you gonna love it, 'cause it's a very, very challenging game. I have to say, the PC version is not that good, because of the graphics' issue, the excessively high pc requirements for a good performance in the game and the difficult itself. This, if I don't say the bad keyboards/mouse controls. But, even this way, the game is amazing. The gameplay is perfect, the enemies are perfect, the battle-system is quite good. And, as you can see, and as I said, there's not much to say about the game, but there's a lot to play. So, let's prepare ourselves, and let's go die!!… Expand
  18. 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
  19. PloppySon
    Aug 9, 2013
    0
    I saw this game in a Steam sale for £4.99. After a bit of research I downloaded the fixes in advance and noted that I should use a gamepad already have a 360 for windows pad so all was well. I bought and downloaded Dark Souls on Steam, applied the fix and followed the instructions in the Steam forums about switching off Anti Aliasing and Motion Blur game worked fine and with the pad iI saw this game in a Steam sale for £4.99. After a bit of research I downloaded the fixes in advance and noted that I should use a gamepad already have a 360 for windows pad so all was well. I bought and downloaded Dark Souls on Steam, applied the fix and followed the instructions in the Steam forums about switching off Anti Aliasing and Motion Blur game worked fine and with the pad i had no control issues either so it was a good start.

    You start the game fighting really easy monsters then a tough boss monster, after a few attempts I beat him then moved on to the next area 1st problem I had no idea where i was going and ended up fighting high level skeletons right away and took about an hour killing just a few and dying A LOT!

    Then I accidentally found the right way to go and the game got better as monsters we weaker and it seemed enjoyable for a few hours. Combat is very very unforgiving and you'll die trying to do simple moves that look like they will work but don't leaving you frustrated for most of the game.

    Once you upgrade your weapons and armour/items the game gets much easier and you just have to learn enemy attack patterns and so on all sounds fair but you have a lot of fights where you will be cheated out of a victory by glitches and other things that just waste your time. you respawn when you die and have to run back to where you died to get your xp back if you die trying to get it you'll lose your xp (Yes that's right, dying lots before you get to a bonfire/checkpoint/save means you can't level up).

    I could go on and explain every last detail about this game but it seems like it should be a classic but bad design flaws in the combat and instant death traps etc leave you wondering why you bother and certain class builds seem to be a requirement for every boss battle pick light/agile/caster or die.

    Most of the low scores here relate to the bad port but I just got bored of playing this game got to the DLC content and by that point still hadn't got to any part of the game that was exciting or cool.

    Very overrated by Fan-boys. I tried really hard to like this game and kept playing just to see if it got better and all it did was show how overhyped the game is.

    Who knows, you might like this game and give it 10/10

    If you like the quicktime events in Resident Evil 4 and being killed for not doing exactly what the game wants you to do at the exact time then this is the game for you.    … Expand
  20. bobbysnobby
    Aug 6, 2013
    9
    Potentially the best game in the last 5 years and rivals the massive titles launched 2007/2008. Most people will be put off on the difficulty of the game but its actually not as hard as people make out, its normally user error that leads to deaths, or people being unwilling to try things and fail. The animations are extremely fluid and weapons have weight and operate fundamentallyPotentially the best game in the last 5 years and rivals the massive titles launched 2007/2008. Most people will be put off on the difficulty of the game but its actually not as hard as people make out, its normally user error that leads to deaths, or people being unwilling to try things and fail. The animations are extremely fluid and weapons have weight and operate fundamentally different leading to varied combat for different user preferences. This game takes a lot of common sense, situational awareness, and a little trial and error. Its a massive story which is filled with depth and ambiguity which is the point of an RPG its not to spoon feed us a story and make us use waist high cover to grind through 20 hours of game play. This is a world, a hostile world, a world filled with love and hate and the story is no different, if you are not willing to take risks or meet the game half way you will have a terrible experience, however, if you do then I promise that this would be one of the only games in your collection you will pick up months and years from now. If you want to button mash and kill everything like a unkillable god then this is not really the game for you, if you like games where you can be in a half-stupor and clear everything this is not the game for your. This is a game for people who like/love a challenge, a rich story which you need to put a lot of work forward to understand. Its for people who like combat which is more "realistic" you approach fights like a human being rather than a video game character, you value your shield more than your sword, you need to find their weaknesses, you need to use your strengths. If next week people were required to reduce every game they own to just 3 titles and those are the only video games they could play, Dark souls would make my list. Having said all of that there are some negatives I personally dont find them very bad but they definitely hold it back from a "perfect" score. Firstly you need a gamepad I wouldn't presume to recommend one in particular, but mouse and keyboard are (to put it kindly) clunky. And many users have a Low resolution problem, which can be fixed very easily using a number of methods.

    Its a tough game, its unforgiving, it may not have the narrative break through of Bioshock, the atmosphere of Shadow of the Colossus, or the game play breakthrough of Super Mario Brothers but this is a game which deserves to be talked about in the same circles as those greats. What it does well it does in spades, and I as a long term gamer for the better half of my life, really respect it when a game is willing to treat me like a thinking adult, and makes me work for something. The struggle bears amazing fruit in this astounding title which will leave you pondering your choices, and what effect they will have on the world. I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  21. OmnipotentGamer
    Aug 5, 2013
    4
    An excellent game hidden beneath layers of GFWL and horrid technical issues. I honestly could not recommend the game unless you own a gamepad for your PC the controls on KBM are that bad. Also DS FIX is MANDATORY for full enjoyment IMO.
  22. 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.
  23. TheXand
    Aug 3, 2013
    0
    Gave it a 0 for not having any story or characters to speak of. Very shallow game and the only thing it has going for it is the fact that it's got a reputation for being "very hard" which to me speaks volumes about it's lack of balance more than anything. Give this one a miss and play Devil May Cry instead.
  24. Un0va
    Aug 3, 2013
    9
    While I did have major gripes about the PC version earlier they proved to be easily fixed with DSfix. Even with the problems this port has I still feel it deserves the highest praise just because the game is so incredible. The two warnings I have are that the game is very bad at explaining itself I didn't know what poise was, for example, a major facet of the game, and you have to look itWhile I did have major gripes about the PC version earlier they proved to be easily fixed with DSfix. Even with the problems this port has I still feel it deserves the highest praise just because the game is so incredible. The two warnings I have are that the game is very bad at explaining itself I didn't know what poise was, for example, a major facet of the game, and you have to look it up to learn. The other is that it exists to fill a very specific niche. If it fills that for you, then there is no finer game this generation. The game is a game of skill, not luck while it is renowned for its difficulty once you learn the ins and outs of combat it quickly becomes much better, though still challenging. For a game ported straight from consoles it looks wonderful. The boss battles are tense and exciting and will often destroy you, but even then are still fun. with the flaws it has I feel that it excels at everything it does and deserves incredible praise. I could go on about how incredible Dark Souls is, but the basis is, you should play this game. It deserves it and so do you.… Expand
  25. 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
  26. Mortensus
    Aug 1, 2013
    4
    An horrible port from console to pc, unplayable as it with mouse & keyboard, you have to run through lot of tweaks to make it playable (provided by users!), for me the game don't worth the time spent to make it run properly...
  27. Osmium
    Jul 30, 2013
    0
    The game itself is simply fantastic, a legend among videogamers. The atmosphere is always tense, the difficulty level is horrendous you need a lot of patience and will die very often in this game. But this is exactly what makes progressing in this game so rewarding. Great action RPG, though recommendable to hardcore gamers only.
    But: The PC version which I am rating here is by far the    The game itself is simply fantastic, a legend among videogamers. The atmosphere is always tense, the difficulty level is horrendous you need a lot of patience and will die very often in this game. But this is exactly what makes progressing in this game so rewarding. Great action RPG, though recommendable to hardcore gamers only.
    But: The PC version which I am rating here is by far the worst console port ever to defile my hard drive. Graphics are horrible, controls (with mouse and keyboard) are beyond broken, other technical issues (games crashes to desktop, freezes, inexplicable FPS drops) are taking away the rest of the fun. No effort whatsoever has been put into this console port, it is disgusting and a disgrace to the devs. I would recommend anyone interested in this title to get it on the console, not for PC.    … Expand
  28. 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.
  29. 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
  30. Gzhindra
    Jul 28, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls is hard but Dark Souls is highly rewarding. It is long and it is deep, full of lore and secret and there is something to be said of this game’s atmosphere too: Dark and warm at the same time. It has also a lot of replayability. I could praise this game forever.

    The fighting systems appear simple at first but when you start to dig it has a depth few games have. The character    Dark Souls is hard but Dark Souls is highly rewarding. It is long and it is deep, full of lore and secret and there is something to be said of this game’s atmosphere too: Dark and warm at the same time. It has also a lot of replayability. I could praise this game forever.

    The fighting systems appear simple at first but when you start to dig it has a depth few games have. The character development is also outstanding. Everything has its use and it change the way you play along with the tone of weapons that have their original move sets.

    It is a bless that this game came to the PC.

    The resolution is locked in the vanilla version but you can mod it in 5 min and after that the experience is perfect. The 30 fps limit is not a problem with this kind of game if your computer can keep it constant.    … Expand
  31. 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.
  32. 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
  33. 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
  34. 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
  35. zmaint
    Jul 22, 2013
    0
    Another console port. No keyboard support, you have to use an Xbox controller. Graphics are low res Xbox crap.

    Good news: I paid $2.49 on a Steam sale.
    Bad news: I wasted $2.49 on a complete and utter steaming pile of crap.
  36. 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.
  37. m0rb
    Jul 21, 2013
    1
    seriously, I cannot understand the fanboys!

    yes, the game can be great at times, I liked many NPC, the artstyle and the story, sure. OF COURSE, everybody knew it would be a port... (that's what fanboys keep saying) only problem: there is ports and there is ports! meaning, better and worse ports this game is of the latter kind, it is "the WORST"! yeah, it's from a small developer    seriously, I cannot understand the fanboys!

    yes, the game can be great at times, I liked many NPC, the artstyle and the story, sure.
    OF COURSE, everybody knew it would be a port... (that's what fanboys keep saying) only problem: there is ports and there is ports!
    meaning, better and worse ports this game is of the latter kind, it is "the WORST"!

    yeah, it's from a small developer and they didn't have money or manpowert to make it better.... says the fanboy.
    **** is what I say! keyboard mouse implementation isn't exactly rocket sience; higher resoultion textures aren't either! the fact that it took only days, hefore a FAN made a high-res pack is all you have to know.

    this port is a pure money-grab! I wish they wouldn't have ported this title so extremely lazy and sloppy!

    It is a straight YOU!" to all PC gamers, an acceptable port would have taken ZERO more money and probably 2-4 days more.    … Expand
  38. 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
  39. MrFunsocks
    Jul 20, 2013
    0
    Worst purchase ever. Terrible controls, for mouse or keyboard. The joypad controls aren't rebindable, and the default bindings are atrocious. I spent about an hour messing with it before I started using JoyToKey to try and remap my controller. Just got fed up. Maybe it's good, but the intro (even aside from controller issues) shows some tired graphics, incomprehensible story setup, andWorst purchase ever. Terrible controls, for mouse or keyboard. The joypad controls aren't rebindable, and the default bindings are atrocious. I spent about an hour messing with it before I started using JoyToKey to try and remap my controller. Just got fed up. Maybe it's good, but the intro (even aside from controller issues) shows some tired graphics, incomprehensible story setup, and incredibly bland gameplay, along with a basically nonexistent tutorial. Maybe it gets better later, I don't know, but I'm not going to fight the game for another hour just to find out.… Expand
  40. Soeverein
    Jul 20, 2013
    0
    Dark Souls was a good game, and I loved it when I played the original edition on my console a while ago. This is one of the sloppiest PC ports ever done though, in effect making the game nearly unplayable.
  41. fnhostyle
    Jul 18, 2013
    1
    First of all ...I wrote this review jokingly... it doesn't really read that way tho.. anyway,.. read on....

    If I were explaining the worth of this game to a friend... the descrption would contain, at minimum, several million swear words.....drowning out all comprehensible information. I will say these words.... .....console game... bad port....... ....terrible graphics........rip    First of all ...I wrote this review jokingly... it doesn't really read that way tho.. anyway,.. read on....

    If I were explaining the worth of this game to a friend... the descrption would contain, at minimum, several million swear words.....drowning out all comprehensible information.

    I will say these words.... .....console game... bad port....... ....terrible graphics........rip off .swear word...... refund different swear word.. bad port... (again).. nonsensical half finished swearword..etc

    Although I'm unfortunate enough to have purchased a 360 controller, I tried this tittle first time around using (what I prefer)...a keyboard and mouse setup.... the result talking to myself out loud about the lack of mouse pole rate adjustment or smoothing.... (without even knowing what I'm really talking about)....then the lack of being able to re-assign mouse buttons, screen refresh rate maximum at 60hz making my eyes sore being used to 120hz, the windows mouse cursor being stuck on the screen...and moving although not utilizable end result... me hitting alt F4.

    Player control, using the mouse and keyboard, is set up as if the character were a car or vehicle ....to explain better......Rather than turning both the character and camera as one unit with the mouse... the people that ported this title only linked the mouse to camera movement so as you walk.....turning is accomplished only via keyboard... leaving the camera behind to continue looking at a wall .....so constantly repositioning the camera view point using the mouse is necessary ...which is difficult considering the attack left or right hand and light attack left or right hand and block left or right hand is all controlled back on the keyboard by the mouse hand... and getting used to the fact that facing the enemy with the mouse will not ensure you faced your character at the enemy, with turning by tapping the turn keys to line the character and target up...or auto lock on target.. only accomplish-able really when the camera is also adjusted.....makes things difficult..... and all these complications might be overlook-able....to some people....for instance the people who did the port...., but making the matter worse the mouse is not calibrated correctly for widescreen use so up and down is more sensitive than left and right ruining the normal sense of balance that exists in basically every other game...and therefore the feeling of control or what little that may have remained from the 10 different mouse sensitivity adjustment settings the user may have try'd to settle upon.

    Keyboard assignments are so bad that the "end" key is used in place of the "esc" key to bring up the main menu..

    So anyway I restarted the game.....and After sitting through 15 different non skip-able splash screens again, I tried it out with the 360 controller... a lot better... I then find out that not even the buttons on the 360 controller are re-assignable... which leaves me with only swearing as re-course, once again, about how crap this game is..... at the same time the games for windows live menu is popping up over the game nonstop as I try every button on the controller looking for a "lock onto target" button ...or something else actually handy....and then once more after finding the difficulty of even the first boss creature damn near impossible....I give up.

    Thanks Good Game host Bajo for explaining about how great a game this is so great in fact ...he's playing it a second time through....apparently....
    I now...unfortunately.. have to re-evaluate any future usefulness of the aforementioned persons opinions.. lol

    I think this game may have been designed for 11 year olds...to be fair..... by 11 year olds... smart ones tho..... I'm sure..

    Value=$7.60    … Expand
  42. HighwayUK
    Jul 17, 2013
    5
    With so many people going on about how it's the best RPG ever.... I knowing it was a piss poor PC port on release, I ignored the game until today's steam sale, all I can say is this game is a utter pile of the graphics look like a playstation 2 game, the menus are clunky, and while the game handled ok on my gamepad... the mods that fix the graphic just dont work for me. WASTED £4.99 andWith so many people going on about how it's the best RPG ever.... I knowing it was a piss poor PC port on release, I ignored the game until today's steam sale, all I can say is this game is a utter pile of the graphics look like a playstation 2 game, the menus are clunky, and while the game handled ok on my gamepad... the mods that fix the graphic just dont work for me. WASTED £4.99 and feel like I was robbed blind by all the bull****ting on here that said it was good.… Expand
  43. 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.
  44. Pomornik
    Jul 17, 2013
    1
    I heard alot about this game, some people even said it's their favorite game of all time.
    So naturally i had to try it. And let me just tell you, this is literally the worst i have ever played.
    Graphics (1/10) PREPARE TO PUKE Some games releases 10 years ago had superior visuals to this turd. I'ts muddy, colorless, blurry, low contrast, not to mention low resolution. If you don't    I heard alot about this game, some people even said it's their favorite game of all time.
    So naturally i had to try it. And let me just tell you, this is literally the worst i have ever played.

    Graphics (1/10) PREPARE TO PUKE
    Some games releases 10 years ago had superior visuals to this turd.
    I'ts muddy, colorless, blurry, low contrast, not to mention low resolution.
    If you don't plan to play on a TV at a huge distance, you might be kinda fine?
    But if you try to play it on a 1920x1080 screen, you will have a bad time.

    Performance (1/10) PREPARE TO LAG!
    Worst optimized game ever, i run skyrim and kingdoms of amalur at smooth 60 fps and these are not the best optimized games either, but with FAR superior graphics. And yet here, despite the 30 fps cap, my fps is usually around 20. What a joke.

    Gameplay (1/10)
    Prepare to Die, yeah no kidding. This is one of the games where error margin is very tight. Basically you will have to replay the same part of the game until you get it right, one mistake or two, and you're back to the checkpoint. That's alot like Hotline Miami, but that game had insanely fun and fast combat, also you didn't want to kill yourself when you screw up, because you lose nothing, except several seconds of your life Here combat is slow, clunky and boring, mostly due to terrible controls (even with a controller its still pretty bad). And you will die often, but checkpoints are far between, also dying causes permanent penalties, so every time you die you get so frustrated you'll want to really die, or just stop playing this game.

    On the bright side there is an awesome enemy variety, no wait, you just fight zombies all the times. Bummer.

    Voice Acting (1/10)
    Theres not much of dialogues here, and that's for the best, since the voice acting and writing for this game is just pathetic. Also no lipsync at all, people talk to you through their ass i suppose.

    On a side note, i had to start a game over again, because i accidentally attacked some NPC, and he (wait for it) KILLED ME, THEN KEPT GANKING ME WHILE I RESPAWN... OVER AND OVER AGAIN. There was a genius behind game design here i tell you.

    Final Rating (1/10) There are many factors that determines if a game is good or not. Audiovisuals, fun gameplay, good story... this is lousy in every of these aspects. Basically the only thing it goes for is a challenge. But dying and failing over and over isn't fun. Especially in a ugly, choppy, clunky and boring mess of a game. That's just my opinion, some people like this game, but i say they are insane.
    And stuff like graphics and performance are NOT subjective, in those terms this game really deserves a (1/10), so people who rate this game 10 or even 9, are full of sh1t.

    Here are games that you will enjoy more than this turd:
    Skyrim, Kingdoms of Amalur, Two Worlds II, Witcher 2, Darksiders II    … Expand
  45. Discerning
    Jul 14, 2013
    0
    Steaming pile of Microsoft LIVE and controller-needed Horribly executed port, as so many others have alluded to. Play it on your console if you have one, or just avoid it like the Microsoft-ruined plague it is.
  46. zrrz
    Jul 14, 2013
    0
    Trash. Input made by a retarded donkey. Kicked me to the start menu because of "frames problem," when it was running perfectly. Would have been decent if Devs put 10 minutes into making it a PC game.
  47. 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.
  48. KeyserSose815
    Jul 12, 2013
    3
    What a dreadful console port!! Stay away. I cannot quite comment how good or bad this game would be in the long run, I gave up playing it quite rapidly. The controls are awkward, it's near impossible to use a keyboard and mouse, the gtaphics stuck at 720p standard, despite 1080p being offered (the textures are too low res). The framerate is cappedat 30 (often dips below that, despiteWhat a dreadful console port!! Stay away. I cannot quite comment how good or bad this game would be in the long run, I gave up playing it quite rapidly. The controls are awkward, it's near impossible to use a keyboard and mouse, the gtaphics stuck at 720p standard, despite 1080p being offered (the textures are too low res). The framerate is cappedat 30 (often dips below that, despite largely exceeding specs). Also the camera angles are annoying, you keep dying from stuff you could not see coming (Oh, cool, a giant boulder. I'll remember that the next 75 times I come here). The information messages during loading screens aren't readable because the loading aren't long enough. The voice acting is cringingly poor (the grunting when you take damage sounds like German p*rn) and generally speaking, there isn't much of a story to this game, at least not from the outset. I regret my £5.… Expand
  49. TCoop888
    Jul 11, 2013
    2
    This game is good on the basic merits of a game but suffers do to bad porting.any possible enjoyment has been removed from this game by the necessity of using windows live and an xbox controller. This by far the worst pc port of a game i have ever encountered, i had heard about it but to experience the sloppy, inconsistent and at some point just plain idiotic transfer of this game isThis game is good on the basic merits of a game but suffers do to bad porting.any possible enjoyment has been removed from this game by the necessity of using windows live and an xbox controller. This by far the worst pc port of a game i have ever encountered, i had heard about it but to experience the sloppy, inconsistent and at some point just plain idiotic transfer of this game is indescribable. the greatest insult came from the message that said an xbox controller (30$ new by the way) was "strongly recommended". this is a lie. it is flat out required that you have a controller to enjoy this game. The basic control scheme looks as if a child designed it, and not only this but the game is incompatible with any of my other 3 controllers. and i am not willing to pay extra to play a game i already bought. The wors of it was the camera controls, you have the choice of using the j i k and l keys which interferes with combat to no end. or using the mouse which even on my computers lowest setting is more sensitive than a fresh chemical burn. i will not bore you with the graphical issues you have most likely already heard of as these were patched with a mod very quickly (although the fact that a single modder was able to accomplish this in a few hours and the entirety of the from software staff was unable to raises some questions) but this game is just plain insulting to pc players and is essentially a way of the company saying that we don't matter. I do not claim to know what they were thinking but i can say that they have lost me as a customer. i was lucky enough to purchase this game during a steam sale so i did not loose much money, but i can honestly say this game was not worth the 7 dollars i payed. It would have been better spend wadding up into a ball and throwing it at the back of the CEOs head.… Expand
  50. Noughtshayde
    Jul 6, 2013
    7
    Despite the fact that the developers made it hard to play the game using just the keyboard, the port was not too difficult to manage. The gameplay was still great, and despite there being a lot of lag due to my graphics card not being the best in the world, I managed to do fine without using a gamepad. The controls might seem impossible for those not used to classic keyboard controls, butDespite the fact that the developers made it hard to play the game using just the keyboard, the port was not too difficult to manage. The gameplay was still great, and despite there being a lot of lag due to my graphics card not being the best in the world, I managed to do fine without using a gamepad. The controls might seem impossible for those not used to classic keyboard controls, but for keyboard users, it is not too much of a leap to make. Overall, not the best port I have seen, but definitely not the worst, either.… Expand
  51. 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
  52. 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
  53. Rennn
    Jun 25, 2013
    10
    I'll keep this short, since it's a simple breakdown.

    The game is amazing. It's possibly the most immersive and fluid gem of our generation. Combat is excellent, the art style is sublime, and the story that exists is told through clever hints that allow the player to discover the world on their own, without being spoon-fed. Dark Souls is one of the best games of all time. Having said    I'll keep this short, since it's a simple breakdown.

    The game is amazing. It's possibly the most immersive and fluid gem of our generation. Combat is excellent, the art style is sublime, and the story that exists is told through clever hints that allow the player to discover the world on their own, without being spoon-fed. Dark Souls is one of the best games of all time.

    Having said that, the PC port is just horrible. Optimization is okay, but unreliable at times. Beyond that, mouse and keyboard controls are totally inane, and the resolution is capped at 720p. HOWEVER, there's a simple mod called DSfix that uncaps the framerate and fixes most of the other issues as well. It's a completely essential mod that turns Dark Souls from a bad port into a pretty decent port.

    Here's the summary:
    If you plan on using DSfix, get this game for the PC now. It's an epic experience and it comes bundled with amazing DLC.
    If you absolutely will not use DSfix for some reason, you're better off saving yourself the trouble and getting a console version.    … Expand
  54. sephirotheu
    Jun 23, 2013
    3
    Awkward camera angles make this a pain to play. Also 1/3 of this game is in a place called Blightown which has constant frame rate problems and definitely not something i would recommend to others play it.
  55. 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
  56. Snadiwchhhh
    Jun 13, 2013
    3
    The game earns high scores by its hardness. But even after many years, game on PC is horrible: controls, camera, lock on, movements, FPS, bugs, lags, graphics of games created in 2002, horrible in-game menu, no explain of controls, everything is shown as xbox controls, horrible combo controls and many other cons. Even game without them is average, im not saying on hardness, but whyThe game earns high scores by its hardness. But even after many years, game on PC is horrible: controls, camera, lock on, movements, FPS, bugs, lags, graphics of games created in 2002, horrible in-game menu, no explain of controls, everything is shown as xbox controls, horrible combo controls and many other cons. Even game without them is average, im not saying on hardness, but why demons are so easy to kill (hide behind the tree while demon swings with his weapon and then attack, or go above the beast and jump on his head to kill him) and why mini bosses kill you with one hit or 2 bites of huge rat will poison you for 2 minutes, what is fatal for your hero. Game is saying that you can do whatever you want and go where you want, but its lies. Because going wrong way you will meet enemies who kill you with one hit. Games biggest enemies are not demons or bosses, but lags and optimization of the game. Hope that sequel will fix all these cons.… Expand
  57. Garland
    Jun 9, 2013
    9
    Decent game. the whole PVP system is a bit poor due to lag factors but all in all its a good challenging game. Graphics,plot, animations, characters...pretty nicely made. only real downside is the invasion things. people back-stab you from 30 meters in front of you.
  58. niclong
    Jun 7, 2013
    10
    My all time favorite game. Get this game. The game play is great and majority of the kinks in the game can be fixed with mods. Can't wait for Dark Souls 2!!!
  59. 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.
  60. 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.
  61. Nekh
    May 23, 2013
    1
    This had to be one of the worst ports ever, the textures was terrible and the controls were beyond a nightmare. They didn't even bother to remove the console buttons. Press 'A' to read and so on, and 'A' was on 'Q' well in till you got to the menus then it was enter. Controlling the camera with the mouse was jerky and flung about every which way. I hope playing this game with a consoleThis had to be one of the worst ports ever, the textures was terrible and the controls were beyond a nightmare. They didn't even bother to remove the console buttons. Press 'A' to read and so on, and 'A' was on 'Q' well in till you got to the menus then it was enter. Controlling the camera with the mouse was jerky and flung about every which way. I hope playing this game with a console controller is better because keyboard and mouse was just awful.… Expand
  62. 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
  63. legomyhobo
    May 19, 2013
    10
    You can adjust to the console port and use it fine. It's pretty similar to most games...use key is q or e. It's all convenient. Graphics are fine and I didn't even notice the frame rate cap. While the story is distant to modern reality and there's no dramatic damsel in distress, the idea of going around in a vibrant wasteland appeals to me more.

    The targeting system is obnoxious and    You can adjust to the console port and use it fine. It's pretty similar to most games...use key is q or e. It's all convenient. Graphics are fine and I didn't even notice the frame rate cap. While the story is distant to modern reality and there's no dramatic damsel in distress, the idea of going around in a vibrant wasteland appeals to me more.

    The targeting system is obnoxious and aiming bows is too difficult with a mouse, but thanks to the games flexibility, I just took different approaches so it wouldn't matter much.

    This game took me over 50 hours for my first playthrough. There's lots of content I missed, the visuals and scenery is awesome. The enemies are satisfying to kill and by the end of the game, I feel like I've grown in my level of patience, approach to challenging problems, and ability to appreciate difficulty as healthy rather than hindrance.    … Expand
  64. Andrew_Paterson
    May 18, 2013
    2
    Sometimes I wonder why I haven't learned to read meta critic user reviews BEFORE buying a game.

    Dark Souls is probably an awesome game provided you're not playing the shoddy PC port. But I'm getting ahead of myself and before I start ranting about how terrible the game-play is I must walk you through the issues in trying to get to game-play. Firstly there was the wait for the Steam key    Sometimes I wonder why I haven't learned to read meta critic user reviews BEFORE buying a game.

    Dark Souls is probably an awesome game provided you're not playing the shoddy PC port. But I'm getting ahead of myself and before I start ranting about how terrible the game-play is I must walk you through the issues in trying to get to game-play. Firstly there was the wait for the Steam key it took about a week to acquire which is long in the digital age but livable. Then I had endless issues with Windows Live. I have windows live installed and working for other games but for Dark Souls it crashed and/or battled to sign in. Sadly you need Windows Live to save. I sorted Windows Live out and finally got into the game. Or thought I had: I got bogged down in the awful, awful character creation interface and then got stuck watching a long unskippable cinematic followed immediately by another long unskippable cinematic.

    I finally get to play but have very little good will left after the preceding mess. And then I discover that the controls are broken. A keyboard and mouse are not recommend and can't be used anyway as the mouse sensitivity on it's lowest setting will see a tiny bump swing the character through ninety degrees. An XBox controller (which is recommended) doesn't work because the button configurations are mangled and can't be re-configured. A genuine XBox controller on a genuine windows operating system (Win 7) and somehow the Dark Souls developers got the button mappings wrong.

    This game is broken.

    I finally quit in frustration. Or tried to. Because the controls are mangled there was no way to get back to a menu to save and quit; I had kill the process instead. Now every time I launch the game it chastises me for not closing it correctly.

    After installing various fan patches I got the game to a playable (and decently looking) state and unfortunately discovered that after all the effort I'd gone through the game play is terrible.

    The premise is that Dark Souls is unforgiving and will kill you again and again until you play cautiously which is awesome. I've been looking for a challenging game for years.

    The reality is the game killed me again and again as the camera seldom points anywhere useful and I stepped off ledges I couldn't see. Or the character locks onto an enemy far behind him and stops me from blocking an enemy immediately in-front. A stabbed in the back instant kill.

    Absolutely nothing about Dark Souls is good or even working.    … Expand
  65. 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
  66. 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
  67. nJoe
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Giving this game a 10 is, for me, dependant on the following three conditions:

    1. Use a gamepad (xbox 360, ps3 controlers are fine). The game does not play well with keyboard and mouse but fantastically with a gamepad. 2. Install dsfix for resolutions beyond 720p and fram rates above 30 fps. This will make the game look quite beautiful. Through this fix you can also disable depth of    Giving this game a 10 is, for me, dependant on the following three conditions:

    1. Use a gamepad (xbox 360, ps3 controlers are fine). The game does not play well with keyboard and mouse but fantastically with a gamepad.

    2. Install dsfix for resolutions beyond 720p and fram rates above 30 fps. This will make the game look quite beautiful. Through this fix you can also disable depth of field, which makes the game look much crisper. (There are excellent instructions included with the fix.)

    3. Install dscfix to improve your pve and pvp experience. Unfortunately the game uses peer-to-peer connections through Games of Windows Live for multiplayer and sometimes it can be very hard to establish connections. With this fix, you can easily connect to anyone with whom you are friends on GfWL.

    Some would argue that a game should be perfect "out of the box", but in this case the developer From Software had a very limited budget with which to port the game to the PC. Hence the lacking graphics features, for instance. Installing the mods is very easy though and it lets you enjoy the game to its fullest. As a gamer I don't mind doing my part to maximize my experience with a game.

    Story
    The game is very sparse in what it lets you know, but you can draw conclusions along the way and there are clues that will let you piece together some of the many curious things you see and hear during your travels through Lordaeron. Should you want to read them, there are excellent online articles that explain the story in detail. There is quite a bit of drama going on, both in the present and in the past.

    Graphics
    Out of the box, the game looks blurry and the frame rate is capped at 30 fps. You can fix this though with the above mentioned mod, dsfix, and once you have, it looks fantastic. All the armor and equipment is extremely well designed with amazing attention to detail. The enivironments are cleverly crafted with excellent atmosphere. At times you will dread even taking a single step forward.

    Sound
    The sound is rather minimalistic, but in a fitting way. Heavier armor makes noise when you run or roll, weapons sound realistic when they hit enemies, shields, walls etc. There is not a lot of music, as the environments speak a lot for themselves, but the boss battles.. well, you'll see.

    Gameplay
    PVE: The game is about knowing what you're up against and a certain amount of skill. So expect a stiff challenge early on. The level design is great because it allows you to explore the world in a non-linear fashion. You may wander off in a direction that sets up against brutal enemies and that is usually a sign that perhaps you should go elsewhere for the time being. There are, however, hints in the game as to where you should go, albeit in loose terms.

    Bosses are well designed for the most part and some of them are very difficult initially. It can take a while to nail down a boss fight, but stay with it because eventually you will figure out what you need to do.

    There is plenty of gear and spells to be had by finding secret places, and getting there is a lot more rewarding if you managed it yourself by way of exploration. One awesome aspect of Dark Souls is the many different paths you can take with your character's development. Do you like to wield fast rapiers, long spears, huge two-handed weapons, or perhaps fist weapons? You can specialize in whatever you like and upgrade your favorite weapons along numerous paths such as lightning, magic, faith, occult, fire and chaos. Then there's magic as well, two different schools (three, kind of, with the expansion which is included in the pc version). Armor comes in tons of variations as well and in the end not too many characters in Dark Souls will ever look the same. Some even follow guides to outfit their characters like favorite characters from other games, such as Castlevania. There is no limit to the amount of awesome builds and ideas you can come up with, and this becomes even more intriguing PVP.

    PVP and Co-op: This is where the game gets really interesting after a while. Initially it can be very annoying, however, as you can get invaded and killed by fellow players. The good thing is you can summon others to help you and you can let them summon you into their playthroughs. Is a boss giving you all you can handle and more? Summon a friendly phantom, bow to it when it appears and go to town on the boss! There will come a time when you realize what areas are prone to invasion and you might even linger there for some good duels. Depending on how you built your character, you will fare well or badly versus certain builds. It's a bit of rock-paper-scissor, but your skill will go a long way and since you can have multiple weapons, shields and spells equipped to change around, you will have a fair bit of flexibility.There is a lot more to PVP and co-operation in Dark Souls but I'll let you find out the rest for yourself.

    There is no space for rounding this off properly. So, GLFH!     … Expand
  68. 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
  69. 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
  70. Maxwanko
    Apr 27, 2013
    0
    This PC Port is a crime. Unplayable. I spent hours trying to get this game to work after purchasing it on Steam. I downloaded mods from the community. It remained a clunky piece of junk, and the partial controller support did nothing to help the play experience. Screen resolution was not modifiable. I'm sure the console versions are great, but if the game is not playable, it is a zero.
  71. 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.
  72. Potitoman
    Apr 25, 2013
    7
    Too much game!
    This game is easy to pick up but demands time, patience and diligence to master.
    The combat system is amazing. Simple but immensely deep and satisfying. Even the lowest ranking enemies will cut you to bits if you rush in or lose concentration. The world or Lordran is beautiful in a dark way. It's history and lore revealed only to those who seek it. The problem is that    Too much game!
    This game is easy to pick up but demands time, patience and diligence to master.
    The combat system is amazing. Simple but immensely deep and satisfying. Even the lowest ranking enemies will cut you to bits if you rush in or lose concentration.
    The world or Lordran is beautiful in a dark way. It's history and lore revealed only to those who seek it.

    The problem is that this game really does demand too much of you. If I were a teenager with nothing better to do, I would score this a 9 or 10, but as a married man that works and has two kids, this is too much. I don't have the time to go back and fight the same boss for the fifth time just to have my behind handed over to me.
    As a game, it's great. It is addictive as anything and very satisfying, but it does cross that line from being a game to feeling almost like a commitment. Too much for me.    … Expand
  73. Gabcd
    Apr 19, 2013
    4
    Horrible controller integration. Lots of user made fixes (that you have to figure out).

    Once you get to play the game, it doesn't look interesting enough to make you want to play.

    I'm sure this game is a lot of fun to most(some) people, but I am willing to uninstall this game without having played more than the couple minutes it takes to get past the first "boss".

    A waste of money to me.
  74. kbl1983
    Apr 16, 2013
    0
    The Bad
    1. Terrible port
    2. Stressful for beginners 3. Can get PKed while online 4.Wheres a map?? 5. Poor character creation 6. NEED XBOX CONTROLLER TO EVEN PLAY! 7. Almost unplayable with keyboard and mouse "headache" 8. Tough as hell so cant rush through and will be chased down 9. YOU WILL DIE ALOT or "Prepare To Die" so not a stress free game The Good..... 1. Was able to    The Bad
    1. Terrible port
    2. Stressful for beginners
    3. Can get PKed while online
    4.Wheres a map??
    5. Poor character creation
    6. NEED XBOX CONTROLLER TO EVEN PLAY!
    7. Almost unplayable with keyboard and mouse "headache"
    8. Tough as hell so cant rush through and will be chased down
    9. YOU WILL DIE ALOT or "Prepare To Die" so not a stress free game

    The Good.....
    1. Was able to make it playable with some download fixes    … Expand
  75. 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
  76. bob13bob
    Apr 10, 2013
    10
    There are issues to this port. Google: steam dark souls tweak. It will lead you to a guide which fixes many of hte problems. my graphics improved greatly, and fps improved greatly.

    Been gaming since chrono trigger on the Snes. In terms of best single player game, this ties with chrono trigger. In terms of best gameplay in a single player game, this is it. The game is hard, and    There are issues to this port. Google: steam dark souls tweak. It will lead you to a guide which fixes many of hte problems. my graphics improved greatly, and fps improved greatly.

    Been gaming since chrono trigger on the Snes. In terms of best single player game, this ties with chrono trigger. In terms of best gameplay in a single player game, this is it. The game is hard, and you learn by dying. And it's awesome. You have to pay attention to every fight, or you can die to the smallest creature. The combat is challenging. For the first time, I feel like I'm actually exploring. There is no map, so you have to pay attention to your surroundings.

    This is the first single player game I've send more then twenty hours playing in years. Others may be pretty, but theyare boring.    … Expand
  77. 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.
  78. BladeStrike
    Apr 7, 2013
    6
    Simply put it is overrated. It can be challenging but there are plenty of harder games out there that have difficulty settings. This games difficulty is over-exaggerated greatly. Having played this myself I have to assume it only gained popularity because its not "mainstream". Fight the power, kids..!

    Its not a bad game though, just overrated, and my score of 7 suits it perfectly. I    Simply put it is overrated. It can be challenging but there are plenty of harder games out there that have difficulty settings. This games difficulty is over-exaggerated greatly. Having played this myself I have to assume it only gained popularity because its not "mainstream". Fight the power, kids..!

    Its not a bad game though, just overrated, and my score of 7 suits it perfectly. I didn't have any real problems with this port either.    … Expand
  79. madgoblin
    Mar 31, 2013
    10
    This game is an amazing game. Really, it is. It puts you into a world of endless impending doom, which is great for getting into the game. The game gives a tough challenge, and even though the game gets slightly bad in design near the end of the game, it still gives you a great atmosphere and a great experience, with heaps of re-playability.

    Don't be scared of the difficulty, and don't    This game is an amazing game. Really, it is. It puts you into a world of endless impending doom, which is great for getting into the game. The game gives a tough challenge, and even though the game gets slightly bad in design near the end of the game, it still gives you a great atmosphere and a great experience, with heaps of re-playability.

    Don't be scared of the difficulty, and don't be scared of the PC port. You can easily either download a mod or just play it, it will only hinder the experience slightly. The game also has great graphics, with good textures and some very good models, with detail in every inch of the environment.

    Even though the console port is sloppy, it really doesn't hinder the experience much. Play this game, and love it.    … Expand
  80. darkballz_pl
    Mar 31, 2013
    10
    Poor console port but the best RPG so far. This is how the RPG should be made, dark and bleak, however the controls can be pain in the ass. In some areas fight is really hard but yet enjoyable. Definitely challenging and absolute must-have for an RPG player.
  81. thangar
    Mar 30, 2013
    5
    I really want to like this game, I really do. I've played it before on a PS3, looked pretty neat, a couple days later, I saw it on sale at steam, and I make the poor decision to buy it.
    It's a good game, but PC port is just awful. Actually, it's worst than awful: It's just freakin' bad.
    Poor controllers, it's bad even with a XBOX360 Controller, I have no idea how they managed to do this.    I really want to like this game, I really do. I've played it before on a PS3, looked pretty neat, a couple days later, I saw it on sale at steam, and I make the poor decision to buy it.
    It's a good game, but PC port is just awful. Actually, it's worst than awful: It's just freakin' bad.
    Poor controllers, it's bad even with a XBOX360 Controller, I have no idea how they managed to do this. Poor Resident-Evil-4-graphics, you can't even change the most basic graphic options, just resolution and antialising. Dumb controls: you have to surf through menus with the awful xbox360 controller D-pad (or should I say circle-pad?), and finally GFWL. Seriously? It's 2013 and still using GFWL?
    Don't buy this, spend your money in a better and well-made game.    … Expand
  82. Kaniya
    Mar 30, 2013
    9
    I really appreciate how namco bandai answered to that petition signed by pc gamers for the release of this game on this platform. They respected what people demanded and its really respectable to us as well. Dark Souls is a different kind of game where DEATH is part of the gamelpay. You die, you get punished, but u will get better. Dark Souls is a game where players choses their characterI really appreciate how namco bandai answered to that petition signed by pc gamers for the release of this game on this platform. They respected what people demanded and its really respectable to us as well. Dark Souls is a different kind of game where DEATH is part of the gamelpay. You die, you get punished, but u will get better. Dark Souls is a game where players choses their character based on the pre-defined classes and roll into a dark world which every corner of it holds a secret. Dark Souls its a semi open world and for you in order to finish the story must kill every boss in the game. you kill enemeis and gain souls, use souls to upgrade, use the BOSS souls to make weapon, Loot for better armor, try different weaposn and examine the enemies weak points, die and experiements till you learn the mechanism of the game thats the general formula. The world has a lot to explore and it might take you quiet long time to discover its secrets and you might still miss some of it :D this ediiton for the PC is packed with the DLC where the games takes place in another town. So actually you have a longer playthrough than the normal console version. the game roughly takes about 30-50 hours to complete for the first time. Gameplay is really awesome but its needs patience also so if you thing DARK SOULS is a hack and slash game do not go for it at all sadly graphics arent that much to hold up well with other PC titles, the resulations have problems and its just a scale up from 720 and its not a real 1080 if you want to run it on 1080. FPS is more smoother than the console version but its still a 30 FPS locked and sometimes it falls below but it doest hurts the gameplay that much. You also need a xbox controller to enjoy the game finally this game is an awesome experiece where you will feel the joy of victory,… Expand
  83. Giggerbar
    Mar 28, 2013
    9
    Dark souls: a game released in 2012 and still going strong with its iron fist

    This game will take your dignity and push you down in the dirt much like your ex girlfriend but you’ll always come crawling back to it later to see if she’s getting any nicer...Any way back to the game.... With today’s fast paced gaming experiences with all its insta health regen systems and chest high    Dark souls: a game released in 2012 and still going strong with its iron fist

    This game will take your dignity and push you down in the dirt much like your ex girlfriend but you’ll always come crawling back to it later to see if she’s getting any nicer...Any way back to the game....

    With today’s fast paced gaming experiences with all its insta health regen systems and chest high walls, I feel that every self proclaimed gamer should take this game as an initiation to be allowed onto the online world of gaming so we wouldn’t end up with the screaming spoilt youth of today who need a good smack in the face...And so here we have Dark souls- Dark souls is a grand example of how games should be nowadays, this game really isn’t afraid to take out its iron fist and ram you senselessly for being reckless, unprepared or just generally stupid. You’ll always have to adjust your load out to effectively suit your environment and enemies alike, which is what you really want but still you may want to lube up that cavity of yours... Overall the scenery looks pretty; the controls work for the most part although the camera can be finicky at times so you may want to swap out your Texet for an analogue controller; It has plenty of areas to explore and with me being 98 hours in and still needing to kill 2 more bosses it is well worth the £15.00 I paid for it; although you will cuss shout and scream you will not be able to keep your hands off of it for it doesn’t ease up with its tight iron fist... 9/10 would bang Christopher Gillard
    P.s it can only run at a maximum of 30FPS which takes getting use to...    … Expand
  84. newprophet
    Mar 27, 2013
    10
    Great game greats people!!!! horror best rpg game. The best game-play I've played. The first game is sunk into the soul. Look forward to Dark Souls 2.
  85. Yutoh
    Mar 26, 2013
    10
    Plug in a controller, install the DSfix mod to play the game at 60fps, and enjoy this game as it was meant to be played. The Dark Souls/Demon's Souls games are some of my favorite games of all time. The challenge is very rewarding. The story isn't spoon-fed to the player like most other games out there. Instead, the player needs to be observant, investigate by talking to npcs, and look atPlug in a controller, install the DSfix mod to play the game at 60fps, and enjoy this game as it was meant to be played. The Dark Souls/Demon's Souls games are some of my favorite games of all time. The challenge is very rewarding. The story isn't spoon-fed to the player like most other games out there. Instead, the player needs to be observant, investigate by talking to npcs, and look at item descriptions to uncover the many gems about the Dark Souls world. I have played this game on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. I will say the PC version is the best if you go through the 5 minutes of work to polish this game by installing dsfix. Make sure you read the readme before installing the mod! The only flaw this game has is the networking. It can be very difficult to connect to your friends worlds, but once you connect to them once, it is a lot easier to connect again.… Expand
  86. Xanthor
    Mar 22, 2013
    0
    With most PC console ports I am willing to see past the problems and try to enjoy the game. But this game is horrendous. The resolution is awful (even running 1920x1080). Never heard of camera smoothing? Then, several keys just won't bind. Finally, after painfully setting up the controls, attacking the undead creatures will result in hitting air to the left or right.

    Well, Bandai,    With most PC console ports I am willing to see past the problems and try to enjoy the game. But this game is horrendous. The resolution is awful (even running 1920x1080). Never heard of camera smoothing? Then, several keys just won't bind. Finally, after painfully setting up the controls, attacking the undead creatures will result in hitting air to the left or right.

    Well, Bandai, enjoying the easy money? How about completely redesigning the PC port and RESPECT one third of your customer base for a change? It could be a great game, but the port makes it a complete waste. By the way, there are more publishers that could (should) set the same example.    … Expand
  87. 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
  88. 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
  89. AthanasiosT
    Mar 9, 2013
    1
    I really really tried to play this one. but when I play a PC game, I want to be able to play it as it's meant for PC. Meaning that this is a really bad console conversion. Mouse and keyboard have just decorative roles, even though I downloaded two extra moddings (1 for game and 1 for mouse controls). Framerate is awful and if you insist on using mouse control, the frames just hop like aI really really tried to play this one. but when I play a PC game, I want to be able to play it as it's meant for PC. Meaning that this is a really bad console conversion. Mouse and keyboard have just decorative roles, even though I downloaded two extra moddings (1 for game and 1 for mouse controls). Framerate is awful and if you insist on using mouse control, the frames just hop like a frog. Too bad, because the game seemed very-very good....… Expand
  90. Primax
    Mar 3, 2013
    0
    Quite literally the worse console port I have ever encountered. Not only is the port quality terrible, the game forces you to use the god awful Games For Windows Live. I deeply regret buying this on steam and will be refunding it.
  91. 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.
  92. 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
  93. 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
  94. not_good
    Feb 24, 2013
    4
    I kept hearing about how much better this game was than Skyrim, but at least you can play that This is the most pathetic port I've played in a long time, the graphics are stretched and look terrible, the controls... oh god the controls.If you need to download 'fixes' to get this game working properly they done up. End of story.
  95. LewisWells93
    Feb 19, 2013
    9
    I bought the PC port of this game (Purely because it was £20 cheaper). I can see where people are coming from when they dislike the transfer over (Instructions given in 360 format) also the game is horrific to play with a mouse and keyboard! With a controller however the game plays just as well as the console version does. This was my first jump into the 'Souls' universe and whilst theI bought the PC port of this game (Purely because it was £20 cheaper). I can see where people are coming from when they dislike the transfer over (Instructions given in 360 format) also the game is horrific to play with a mouse and keyboard! With a controller however the game plays just as well as the console version does. This was my first jump into the 'Souls' universe and whilst the 'Prepare to die' caption made me worry, I think it was for the right reason. This games difficulty is unforgiving. Period. People may hate, or like this. I am one of those who was slowly turned throughout my experiences, you might ask why? Dying over and over again to begin with was a frustrating experience but then I soon learned that this game was not meant to be rushed. You have to take the time to check for traps, blindspots, shortcuts etc and the game will reward you accordingly (Bonfire, items etc). A game being difficult does not make a game bad, people have grown up in an age of Call of duty/Mindless action games where all you need to do is run and gun. I find the brutal difficulty very refreshing and it gives me a great sense of accomplishment when I manage to kill off a tough boss or get through a hard area! To the actual game mechanics itself... At full resolution this game looks beautiful, I could not tell the difference between the PS3 and PC version, so I have no qualms about graphics! I enjoy RPG's anyway, but to those new to it, I think its a nice simple levelling system which just requires you to do a bit of reading to see what will benefit and what wont help. The flexibility of the system also allows you to create your own unique character to suit your style of play! The only issue I would take up with this game are the online features. Good the majority of the time however some things do ruin it for example the invasions of other players to your world can leave you at a great disadvantage (Especially against hackers who have the best equipment right at the start), it can leave you feeling rather done over if your new to the game, also Windows live has a wonderful tendency to not allow you to summon players or will just disconnect itself.

    Apart from those online issues, I think the game is wonderful, like I mentioned due to its refreshingly difficult gameplay and it's classic RPG elements. If your not afraid of a challenge I would highly suggest giving the game a go!    … Expand
  96. drachehexe
    Feb 12, 2013
    4
    I can't believe the gaming industry took this game seriously. This game is pure garbage. The graphics and models look 10 years old, the textures are among the wort I have seen in current generation game. And no wonder it's the hardest game to play, the controller setup is the worst. It's the most unintuitive controller scheme there ever has been and you can't change the controllerI can't believe the gaming industry took this game seriously. This game is pure garbage. The graphics and models look 10 years old, the textures are among the wort I have seen in current generation game. And no wonder it's the hardest game to play, the controller setup is the worst. It's the most unintuitive controller scheme there ever has been and you can't change the controller settings. The interface is also unintuitive and not very user friendly having to take several steps just to swap gear. Also, you left stick doesn't work in the menus, forcing you to use the dd-pad to navigate menus which is unintuitive as well and just plain stupid. This game is full full of bad design from top to bottom. I regret even buying this game at a discount. It sucks and it it sucks really bad.… Expand
  97. 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.
  98. 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
  99. Widden
    Jan 31, 2013
    0
    Rubbish. It's an extremely shoddy console port, nothing else. Steer well clear of it to save your sanity. No proper mouse and keyboard handling, low-resolution textures, un-skippable movies; the lot!

    Does not worth a penny.
  100. 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
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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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