Dark Souls

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2451 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,188 out of 2451
  2. Mixed: 103 out of 2451
  3. Negative: 160 out of 2451
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  1. LOTHRIC
    Aug 8, 2020
    10
    DARK SOULS لعبة كانت لعبة أسطورية بمعنى الكلمة ومن أفضل الألعاب في التاريخ بلا نقاش وأعطتنا تجربة خارقة بقصة عظيمة وزعماء خالدين بقتال مبدع وموسيقى كانت هي الأفضل في عالم الالعاب
  2. Glaceon_Hit
    Aug 5, 2020
    7
    I love this game. Great story that nobody understand but Vaatividya explains you very well. Choosing different classes and so many weapons and armors makes the game play over and over again. The bosses are uniques and brilliants. From Software is the best company in my opinion that could create these masterpiece by Miyazaki.
    But I must to talk about some bad things:
    -Start: When i    I love this game. Great story that nobody understand but Vaatividya explains you very well. Choosing different classes and so many weapons and armors makes the game play over and over again. The bosses are uniques and brilliants. From Software is the best company in my opinion that could create these masterpiece by Miyazaki.
    But I must to talk about some bad things:
    -Start: When i finished the tutorial (dying 50 times). You start in the Fire Shine where there are 2-4 npcs if you look around. One of them tells you where to go, but it is very difficult to understand it. So i went to the wrong way(New Londo) dying 30 times to understand that it was the wrong way. Ok so lets go to this way(catacombs). Again wrong. So much time wasted because there is not an arrow pointing where to go.
    -Dead game: First game i knew some secrets passages thanks to some guides. You need the guides to know where to go. So i went to Big Hole when i should went to the other direction (Quelaag). Then going down and down i though i was going to find Fire Shine somehow, wrong. Also damned by a disgusting frog i understand that i couldnt go back because there are not way to climb. And it is not the only time that happen. When i went to tomb of giants wihtout going to Anor Londo it happened again, the same problem. Horrible experience delete that games because of that dead game.
    -Infested city: I though wow my video card cant work with this zone. But that wasnt the problem. The zone has poor frames in the game. Everyone says this is the worst place of all the game.
    -PvP: It has more good things that bad things. For casuals summoning a phantom is the best way to beat a zone with more fun. But the thing that starting the game a Giant Dad can invade you is the worst thing you can experience.
    -Bosses: The tutorial Bosses is cool, but the thing that he is going to be a boss 2 more times with the same moves is very boring. And some bosses like chaos bed, Gwyn or Pinwheel are jokes. Disappointing.
    Anyway the game is good but the sequels are better.    … Expand
  3. LiirThropp
    Jul 30, 2020
    9
    I keep coming back to it. Kind of clunky mechanics when compared to the third installment, but retains a huge replayability value.
  4. TotallyANerd
    Jul 29, 2020
    10
    An amazing game that has shaped my taste for games, now I'm only hyped for FromSoftware games. It amy be a curse, but damn are they good. I think this is objectively the best game in the series, though I do admit that I get some more fun out of the third installment of the series.
  5. Kiomarv
    Jul 17, 2020
    10
    Навсегда в сердце первый Dark souls! Великолепная игра во всех аспектах
  6. Sus1216
    Jul 16, 2020
    9
    Uno de los descubrimientos más importantes para mi en los videojuegos. El primer Dark Souls es una joya. A pesar de que la historia no se cuenta de una forma narrativa, la vas descubriendo a través de diálogos con los personajes del mundo y los diferentes objetos. La idea básica la sabes, eres un hueco que tiene una misión: avivar la llama del mundo que se está apagando, si no el mundo seUno de los descubrimientos más importantes para mi en los videojuegos. El primer Dark Souls es una joya. A pesar de que la historia no se cuenta de una forma narrativa, la vas descubriendo a través de diálogos con los personajes del mundo y los diferentes objetos. La idea básica la sabes, eres un hueco que tiene una misión: avivar la llama del mundo que se está apagando, si no el mundo se sumirá en la oscuridad. Podemos personalizar a nuestro personaje con un editor sencillo y elegir una clase. A partir de aquí es avanzar por los escenarios eliminando enemigos y consiguiendo sus almas para así subir de nivel. Conforme vayamos subiendo de nivel, podremos llevar ciertas magias o armas más potentes y pesadas. Los enemigos te pueden aniquilar en un par de golpes si no tenemos cuidado. A esto hay que sumarle el plataformeo en algunas zonas y, por supuesto, los jefes que ponen al jugador en un aprieto por su exigencia. Dark Souls es un juego exigente que requiere habilidad por parte del jugador. Dado que es el primero de los tres Souls, se nota lo lento y ortopédico que es manejar a nuestro personaje. A nivel visual y artístico, los personajes, enemigos y escenarios son muy buenos y a día de hoy, recuerdo perfectamente los escenarios. Se te quedan en la mente. Son inolvidables. A nivel gráfico es un juego de la anterior generación por lo que no es nada del otro mundo. Si te gustan los desafíos, no lo dudes. Juégalo.… Expand
  7. Subject98
    Jul 16, 2020
    10
    Dark Souls is... does Dark Souls really need an introduction at this point? Most people, myself included, eat sh** and die for the first dozen or so hours and then fall in love with it. So go play it and DIE!
  8. Bixtonaut
    Jul 10, 2020
    10
    i hated this game when I first played it. It was clunky, hard, unforgiving and my miserable gameplay wasn't helping. Then around halfway through the game I had mastered the game mechanics and beat the second hardest boss in the game with ease. Now looking back at my first playthrough it was magical. The most magical in fact. My advice for this game is to get it with a friend and play iti hated this game when I first played it. It was clunky, hard, unforgiving and my miserable gameplay wasn't helping. Then around halfway through the game I had mastered the game mechanics and beat the second hardest boss in the game with ease. Now looking back at my first playthrough it was magical. The most magical in fact. My advice for this game is to get it with a friend and play it simultaneously and to take your time with the game mechanics. The game itself isnt hard nor unfair. Its the game mechanics and the lack of constant tutorials in the game itself that make it seem difficult.… Expand
  9. benjivm
    Jul 1, 2020
    10
    Is Dark Souls the best game made so far? Yes. It is. Does this review contain enough information? Yes. It does.
  10. KnightArtorias7
    Jun 30, 2020
    10
    una obra maestra y un juego unico en la historia de los videojuegos. con una narrativa tan espectacular, un combate inigualable y una atmósfera deprimente con una banda sonora hermosa.
  11. Guo56
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    The other best game other than Demon’s Souls, this game (even with blight town) is basically the perfect fantasy game.
  12. MoonBaseBR
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    The best game that I ever played, I love every part of this game and I will definitely play for a long time
  13. Exomorphy
    Jun 25, 2020
    10
    If games are art then Dark Souls is an artwork
    Gameplay 10/10
    World Design 10/11
    Story 10/10
    Boss Fight 10/10
  14. Grandall1985
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    Miglior gioco di sempre, nonché il migliore dei souls. Gli unici difetti tecnici grossi che aveva sono stati successivamente corretti con la remaster.
  15. tantotonto
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    Decidí jugar sabiendo que seria un reto, pero no pensé que cambiaria mi manera de ver los juegos y por consiguiente mi vida. Simplemente Excepcional.
  16. LudexGundyr
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un juego original para el año en que se lanzó, una propuesta de historia tanto en desarrollo como en creatividad muy buena. Un juego revolucionario, e influyente en posteriores juegos.… Expand
  17. Sleuth
    Jun 19, 2020
    0
    Enemies are always fought the same way: Dodge, hit enemy twice. Rins, repeat. it's genuinely bad. Level design is mostly corridors without verticality or interactivity. Shortcuts are nothing special, every game has those; Tomb Raider, Zelda, Metroid.
  18. XxAlbertoBuzzxX
    Jun 2, 2020
    9
    Dark souls
    ................................................................
  19. Stolow
    May 25, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls is a truly iconic game that needs no introduction. Apart from one... IT'S HARD, IT'S REALLY REALLY HARD. Now, I played Bloodborne and Sekiro before I bought this one so I did not think it could be too difficult, just a fun challenge. Nope, it kicked my ass but that does lead into the single criticism I have.

    Accessibility is extremely important for getting more people to    Dark Souls is a truly iconic game that needs no introduction. Apart from one... IT'S HARD, IT'S REALLY REALLY HARD. Now, I played Bloodborne and Sekiro before I bought this one so I did not think it could be too difficult, just a fun challenge. Nope, it kicked my ass but that does lead into the single criticism I have.

    Accessibility is extremely important for getting more people to experience the game. I adore difficult games, that's the main reason I bought it. But, the game does seem to blur the line between: Actual Difficulty that is possible on the first go if your reflexes are quick, (those parts include Ornstein and Smough, Priscilla and Sen's Fortress.) and random crap you couldn't see coming from a mile away, (those parts being Tomb of the giants, Bed of Chaos and Gravelord Nito). It does make the game quite frustrating at times and it isn't always your fault. But, overtime you accept this and end up surviving anything the game throws at you. But what's good about Dark Souls? EVERYTHING ELSE!

    The music is almost non-existent and only in a few areas which makes those moments with it way more effective. The final boss has my favourite music in a video game at the moment.

    The visuals are mysterious and have a really dis-heartening atmosphere which stirs up a lot of emotion within the player. The character designs are mostly great but it does have some moments when the visuals do not look pretty at all like in the Centipede Demon fight and some characters have some odd lighting in certain areas but I shall pass it over as the game is almost a decade old.

    The lore of the game is something I don't really go out of my way to find, but I have done research on each of the character's story lines and it is unbelievable that they achieved this all with game play. Just like in Bloodborne.

    The level and boss design is a mixed bag. It is awful at worst but perfect at its best. There isn't a lot I think I can say about this section. I find it a very difficult to talk about them without spoiling what's in them.

    Finally, the game play itself. It's really fun. The combat is solid with some nice little tweaks such as being able to parry and use magic. It can be really fun with invading other people's worlds ,which is okay, to practice before fighting a boss.

    An RPG focuses on story but finds it hard to not sacrifice the game in play. Dark Souls beats this by a long shot and really should be experienced by anyone looking for a good challenge. Just be prepared and praise the sun.    … Expand
  20. Nameless2131
    Apr 27, 2020
    10
    best game ever created
    no game can give u so much joy than dark souls after beating it
  21. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Apr 26, 2020
    9
    This spinoff of the PS3 exclusive "Demon's Souls" is a hardcore RPG that will kill you 1000 + times. It's certainly not for the casual gamer, but for those who like a serious challenge. The game rewards patience and practice. Each enemy poses a serious threat as they can eviscerate the player in just a few seconds. Your guard must always be up as combat is based on defensive stances. YouThis spinoff of the PS3 exclusive "Demon's Souls" is a hardcore RPG that will kill you 1000 + times. It's certainly not for the casual gamer, but for those who like a serious challenge. The game rewards patience and practice. Each enemy poses a serious threat as they can eviscerate the player in just a few seconds. Your guard must always be up as combat is based on defensive stances. You must learn enemy attack patterns and time your own moves just right. There are several strategies to memorize and upgrades you must make before you get into the groove. Presentation-wise, the game is solid with superb level design and good graphics. The game opens with a "Lord of the Rings"-esque cutscene before setting you on a long tough journey without much story. "Dark Souls" is not for the easily frustrated. Repetition is what this game is about. You'll have to learn again and again, but once you get into the groove, things will seem possible. It may not be for everyone, but if you like dungeon crawlers or high fantasy novels, you'll love this. I would rate it with a 9.1 out of 10.… Expand
  22. RayneMoonfire
    Apr 26, 2020
    10
    Perfect game, one of the very best of 2011 and PS3, this game needs more love.
  23. Patrick73
    Mar 31, 2020
    10
    Capolavoro senza tempo. Capostipite di un genere. Uno dei migliori videogiochi per level design, game design e lore mai creati. Dark souls è l'opera summa di Miyazaki e From Software
  24. Dingytheman
    Feb 6, 2020
    10
    In Dark Souls nothing feels random, it is obvious developers put a lot of effort and planned out the areas beforehand. Item placement, enemies and shortcuts work together to provide a challenging yet fair and rewarding experience. Basically following the path introduced by Demon's Souls and expanding upon it.

    Traversing the game world feels like a journey, there is no warping from the    In Dark Souls nothing feels random, it is obvious developers put a lot of effort and planned out the areas beforehand. Item placement, enemies and shortcuts work together to provide a challenging yet fair and rewarding experience. Basically following the path introduced by Demon's Souls and expanding upon it.

    Traversing the game world feels like a journey, there is no warping from the start but the clever area design and mechanics that allow you to level up, repair and upgrade weapons at a bonfire, ensure that you won't need to backtrack to other areas most of the time.
    Interaction with other players range from subtle messages left around the game world that can either help or deceive, to co-op to pvp matches where you can duel or use a variety of items to trick your opponent.
    PvP is far from perfect and the game also sees a somewhat significant drop in quality in the last couple areas and bosses but it doesn't detract too much from the overall experience. It's one of the best games to come out in years.    … Expand
  25. Ryuail
    Feb 1, 2020
    10
    This game is the Dark Souls of FromSoftware titles.

    Jokes aside, Dark Souls is the absolute pinnacle of the zenith of environmental storytelling. Nothing even comes close, not even its own sequels.
  26. Camparini
    Jan 11, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls 1 é, antes de qualquer coisa, revolucionário. Criou um novo de gênero de jogo (o dos ''Soulslike"), e não apela pra dificuldades pífias para atrair todo tipo de público pra sua obra. Não, Dark Souls é uma obra onde você se adapta ao jogo, e não o jogo a você, e isso por si só já o faz distante de vários outros grandes jogos que, apesar de grandes obras, não inovam, apenasDark Souls 1 é, antes de qualquer coisa, revolucionário. Criou um novo de gênero de jogo (o dos ''Soulslike"), e não apela pra dificuldades pífias para atrair todo tipo de público pra sua obra. Não, Dark Souls é uma obra onde você se adapta ao jogo, e não o jogo a você, e isso por si só já o faz distante de vários outros grandes jogos que, apesar de grandes obras, não inovam, apenas expandem, não desafiam e não testam seus limites. A arte é incrível e a história é contada nas entrelinhas, mas a lore é rica e é bem explorada ao longo da franquia. É um dos 3 jogos da década passada, ao meu ver, pelo seu caráter inovador e pela bravura de testar os limites dos seus jogadores.… Expand
  27. VTL
    Jan 5, 2020
    10
    Obra maestra perfeccion de un gran juego y creador de un genero... No hay mas Dark Souls religion.
  28. AlvaroK95
    Jan 2, 2020
    8
    Un esencial de ps3 y digno sucesor del padre de la saga "Souls", aunque se reciclen ciertas ideas y mecánicas.
  29. Trbaan
    Dec 30, 2019
    10
    the best game i ever play in my life a masterpiece , work of art , i can't believe this game exists
  30. Zetastein
    Dec 25, 2019
    10
    Dark Souls[b] is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai Games. A spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls, the game is the second instalment in the Souls series. Dark Souls takes place in the fictional kingdom of Lordran, where players assume the role of a cursed undead character who begins a pilgrimage to discover the fate ofDark Souls[b] is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai Games. A spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls, the game is the second instalment in the Souls series. Dark Souls takes place in the fictional kingdom of Lordran, where players assume the role of a cursed undead character who begins a pilgrimage to discover the fate of their kind. A port for Microsoft Windows was released in August 2012, which featured additional content not seen in the original PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. In October 2012, the new content was made downloadable for consoles, under the subtitle Artorias of the Abyss.… Expand
  31. vargasnetto
    Dec 20, 2019
    10
    The biggest and the best masterpiece of the modern age. No more. All the characters, the bosses, the history, all in this game, absolutely, are incredible.
  32. loserkid182
    Dec 11, 2019
    9
    Es una autentica maravilla hecha videojuego. Todo lo que pueda decir es poco, el juego envejece super bien, tiene una construcción de escenarios espectacular, unos personajes muy carismáticos y bien construidos, un Lore a libre interpretación brutal y la jugabilidad un 10.
  33. Kiatzu
    Dec 10, 2019
    10
    One of the most frustating and rewarding games ever made. Based on Demon Souls this game built it's own genre. Git gud.
  34. BruzzGT
    Nov 10, 2019
    10
    Probably one of the best games of all time if not the actual best. But definitely a perfect example of a videogame like art, because everything that Dark Souls want to say to you (wich is so much and so deep), it does trough the gameplay, trough the only thing that separate videogames of any other form of art; interactivity. Not trough a cinematographic cinematic that does not allow you,Probably one of the best games of all time if not the actual best. But definitely a perfect example of a videogame like art, because everything that Dark Souls want to say to you (wich is so much and so deep), it does trough the gameplay, trough the only thing that separate videogames of any other form of art; interactivity. Not trough a cinematographic cinematic that does not allow you, the player, to participate, or trough literature like notes or books that teach you the lore.… Expand
  35. MurphyBrandon
    Sep 18, 2019
    9
    Over 100 hours of playtime in Dark Souls. The level design and map design still amaze me when I think about it. The boss battles will always be iconic. So many aspects of this game are classic. Firelink Shrine, O&S, the music, Gwyn, Artorias. I'm not giving this game a perfect score because the hit detection is broken. Arrows hit invisible walls where there shouldn't be anything. EnemiesOver 100 hours of playtime in Dark Souls. The level design and map design still amaze me when I think about it. The boss battles will always be iconic. So many aspects of this game are classic. Firelink Shrine, O&S, the music, Gwyn, Artorias. I'm not giving this game a perfect score because the hit detection is broken. Arrows hit invisible walls where there shouldn't be anything. Enemies hit you through solid walls. That part is just broken.… Expand
  36. rocco30
    Sep 13, 2019
    10
    Dark Souls is a MASTERPIECE. It's dark, twisted, beautiful, incredibly imaginative and a true challenge.
  37. DrDjango
    Sep 13, 2019
    10
    the soulsborne games are maybe the best in the gaming history. i love all of them, beginning with demons souls... changed my complete gaming hobby.
  38. dantah
    Sep 12, 2019
    10
    Its beautiful, its brutal, its fun, its unforgiving, its satisfying, its everything you can desire from a game. Dark Souls deserves all the praise it gets.
  39. Zankyouo
    Sep 3, 2019
    9
    Dark souls es fantástico tanto a nivel mecánico como narrativo. Con un combate exquisito y profundo a la par que difícil, haciendo que una vez logres el desafío impuesto, la sensación de victoria sea inigualable.

    Es un videojuego en el que la inmersión la jamás se perderá gracias a su diseño de mecánicas, haciendo que hasta la muerte, sea diegetico dentro del mundo en el que se    Dark souls es fantástico tanto a nivel mecánico como narrativo. Con un combate exquisito y profundo a la par que difícil, haciendo que una vez logres el desafío impuesto, la sensación de victoria sea inigualable.

    Es un videojuego en el que la inmersión la jamás se perderá gracias a su diseño de mecánicas, haciendo que hasta la muerte, sea diegetico dentro del mundo en el que se desarrolla.

    Sí tenéis la oportunidad de comprarlo, hacerlo, ya que se que con un poquito de paciencia, os enamororara    … Expand
  40. DrUrbieta
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Lo recomiendo, hasta el sol de hoy es una de las mayores experiencias que puedes tener con un videojuego, desafiante, difícil y tenso son unas de las palabras con las que se podrían definir a Dark souls, pero para bien ya que cuando mueres no se siente injusto sientes que fue tu culpa y vuelves y vuelves a intentar hasta conseguirlo y te da la mayor satisfacción que un juego te puede darLo recomiendo, hasta el sol de hoy es una de las mayores experiencias que puedes tener con un videojuego, desafiante, difícil y tenso son unas de las palabras con las que se podrían definir a Dark souls, pero para bien ya que cuando mueres no se siente injusto sientes que fue tu culpa y vuelves y vuelves a intentar hasta conseguirlo y te da la mayor satisfacción que un juego te puede dar hoy en dia.
    si tiene bugs, glichts pero esta en tu mano deteriorar tu experienciaaprovechandolos, pero lo recomiendo mucho un juego de 10    … Expand
  41. theonlyone21
    May 15, 2019
    10
    what a masterpiece 10/10. the story and gameplay is so good even though it wasnt as hard as people say it is cuz you can find a really good sword early it was a fun experience
  42. ATGod12
    May 6, 2019
    10
    For me this game was to be yet another masterpiece by From. I experienced Bloodborne first, craved more and jumped straight into the Prepare to die edition.

    Absolutely amazing game. Though arguably very demanding, both of perseverance and patience, this demand itself will also be the source of the greatest sense of victory for the player when the jarring challenges of the game are    For me this game was to be yet another masterpiece by From. I experienced Bloodborne first, craved more and jumped straight into the Prepare to die edition.

    Absolutely amazing game. Though arguably very demanding, both of perseverance and patience, this demand itself will also be the source of the greatest sense of victory for the player when the jarring challenges of the game are finally defeated.

    The fact that From also choose to flesh out and mystify the fictional setting in such a profoundly masterful way, is just all the more empowering for the game experience as a whole.

    Dark Souls is not for everyone, but if you allow yourself to fall in love, you will find a universe of unending enticement.    … Expand
  43. Rb420
    Mar 29, 2019
    0
    Game lacks the shine of bloodborne and I played this after so it’s very jarring expiernce
  44. nsroehl
    Feb 15, 2019
    9
    Loved the game. Like all the Dark Souls games, this has an amazing world to explore with plenty of fun and challenging bosses. Some technical glitches and certain areas hold this game back from getting a 10 in my opinion. Everyone complains about Blight Town, but they are right to complain about it. That area can be incredibly frustrating.
  45. PrinceWolf
    Feb 4, 2019
    10
    PREGI
    - Mondo dark fantasy medievale che porta a volerne fino all'ultima briciola.
    - Level design maestoso che collega intelligentemente tutta la mappa di gioco e permette infiniti approcci all'avventura. - Profondità clamorosa di meccaniche e pieno di segreti di ogni tipologia. - Lore e narrazione indiretta incredibilmente affascinanti. - Il DLC regala boss fights stupende e una zona    PREGI
    - Mondo dark fantasy medievale che porta a volerne fino all'ultima briciola.
    - Level design maestoso che collega intelligentemente tutta la mappa di gioco e permette infiniti approcci all'avventura.
    - Profondità clamorosa di meccaniche e pieno di segreti di ogni tipologia.
    - Lore e narrazione indiretta incredibilmente affascinanti.
    - Il DLC regala boss fights stupende e una zona PvP dedicata capace di aumentare vertiginosamente le già altissime ore di gioco.

    DIFETTI
    - In alcune occasioni la troppa mancanza di informazioni è eccessiva per un concept così vasto, ma in generale l’atmosfera di gioco ne guadagna assai.    … Expand
  46. Onask
    Jan 6, 2019
    10
    Dark Souls es sin duda una de las mayores obras magnas de la séptima generación de consolas y que ha asentado las bases de numerosos títulos posteriores, así como un propio género en si mismo (el género Souls). Y eso es indiscutible.

    Si bien su predecesor, Demon's Souls, no he tenido aún el momento de jugarlo y es el padre del resto de entregas de la saga, Dark Souls llevó al máximo    Dark Souls es sin duda una de las mayores obras magnas de la séptima generación de consolas y que ha asentado las bases de numerosos títulos posteriores, así como un propio género en si mismo (el género Souls). Y eso es indiscutible.

    Si bien su predecesor, Demon's Souls, no he tenido aún el momento de jugarlo y es el padre del resto de entregas de la saga, Dark Souls llevó al máximo exponente el depurado sistema de combate, los mundos e historias y personajes que Miyazaki creó para este título.

    ¿Es Dark Souls perfecto? No, no hay ningún juego que se pueda considerar perfecto a ojos de todos, pero sí es increíblemente redondo. Desde el soberbio diseño de niveles (para quitarse el sombrero), pasando por la banda sonora, el diseño de personajes, entornos y lore, y llegando al sistema de combate. Dark Souls es mágico, es innovador y es cautivador.

    Obviamente he tenido ciertos fallos técnicos, especialmente con el gameplay (un señor atravesando una pared y una columna desde un nivel inferior en diagonal y aún así conectando su golpe con mi cuerpo ¿?), una tasa de fotogramas que según que zona baja hasta las profundidades más oscuras, ciertas texturas son un poco meh, la lava de la zona de Izalith perdida es muy mejorable... etc.

    Pero en el contexto global, todos estos fallos quedan eclipsados por lo mencionado previamente. La satisfacción a la hora de jugar, de explorar cada rincón y de vencer a enemigos que creías imposibles es sumamente gratificante.

    Dark Souls ha dejado su huella en la historia de los videojuegos. Tendrá fallos, pero no son motivos de peso como para quitarle mérito a una obra tan redonda, que ha creado las bases de un género propio y que en un futuro, su fórmula sería intentada copiar hasta la saciedad, fallando en el camino.

    Sin duda tengo ganas de jugar a Dark Souls II y Dark Souls III, quizás me atreva con Demon's Souls en un futuro y espero con ansias Sekiro: Sadows Die Twice. Parece ser que todo lo que toca Miyazaki es oro de momento (Dark Souls y Bloodborne).

    Imprescindible si te consideras un jugón.    … Expand
  47. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    Legendary game, play it, this game changed my life for good, all I have for this game is LOVE.
  48. Mogoalex
    Nov 15, 2018
    9
    Aparte de ser el mejor juego para iniciarse en la saga, no por el lore, si no por la curva de dificultad progresiva. Este es un juego que te hará ver el mundo de forma distinta una vez acabado.
  49. Underscore--
    Nov 2, 2018
    9
    Amaizing combant and in game mechanisims plus a deep a rich story and wolrld but has multipul broken section in game
  50. 6oni
    Oct 14, 2018
    9
    dr r a lots of agresiv creturs but u r d unic who steal nd dstroy d scenario nd dis autorepairs making u out of d game xprienc, u r inmortal nd can farm infnitly so d game s no hard s tedious nd boring,artificial dficulty nd duration etc.. but wiz al dis s stil one of best games wiz personality gud dsign nd moments dat u dont forget
  51. okayokay
    Oct 10, 2018
    9
    rrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaadddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllll
  52. lazy_davey
    Aug 31, 2018
    0
    I felt no extra sense of achievement from killing the bosses or fighting through several sets of the same enemies repeatedly to do so. All it did was steal my time! I don't like this level of pressure in a game either, it's no fun - and guess what - I play games for fun!

    Also I hate the lag in the controls, intentionally programed in or not it's something else I hate about the game. Not    I felt no extra sense of achievement from killing the bosses or fighting through several sets of the same enemies repeatedly to do so. All it did was steal my time! I don't like this level of pressure in a game either, it's no fun - and guess what - I play games for fun!

    Also I hate the lag in the controls, intentionally programed in or not it's something else I hate about the game. Not to mention lag stabbing and invading a*#@holes messing up my escapism time. Precious time I put aside to enjoy myself! (I soon learned you could turn that off fortunately!)

    I play games from easy to hard mode, normally giving up on some section half way though hard mode and trading the game in once I feel I've had my level of ability challenged enough. Not having the ability to choose that level is another thing I hate and pure laziness on behalf of the developers!

    So in closing then, f*#k Dark Souls and the elitist c#*@s that continue to play and praise it!

    If you want a better time, try the often overlooked Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom.    … Expand
  53. Gugul
    Aug 1, 2018
    10
    A thing that annoys me, is that in Rotten Tomatoes the critics are understanding a movie for what it is, but in metacritic things are different because all of the critics talk about how good a game is, not its artistical value and that is what i want to do today

    Dark Souls high points are how it estructurates its story, its onirical and almost like a poem The God who saw its world    A thing that annoys me, is that in Rotten Tomatoes the critics are understanding a movie for what it is, but in metacritic things are different because all of the critics talk about how good a game is, not its artistical value and that is what i want to do today

    Dark Souls high points are how it estructurates its story, its onirical and almost like a poem
    The God who saw its world crumbling to dark and sacrifice himself for everyone around him
    Whose Sons betrayed him and the one that didnt was a shame for not being a warrior of Sunlight but a Blade of the Dark Moon
    Who took its own army and sent them into a mission of forlorn hope because he was afraid of going himself
    Who backstabbed its friends when they needed because he didnt needed them anymore
    Of course i can keep going, but Dark Souls isnt about the story of Lost Izalith or New Londo, Dark Souls is a mere almost perfect narrative/combat driven videogame (but its story isnt spit out in front of you, like almost all the games, is hidden in its items, enemys and map) that the only flaw it has (to me) is its bugs (hella lot of them)    … Expand
  54. Schism78
    Jul 24, 2018
    10
    Excellent game with an excellent difficulty. Definitely not for casual because it forces you to take it seriously. It's funny how many people hate it just because this game surpasses them
    Everything here is remarkable. The music, the design of levels, the mechanics, the environment, a very interesting lore.
    It has a very unconventional multiplayer, which sometimes makes your life easier,    Excellent game with an excellent difficulty. Definitely not for casual because it forces you to take it seriously. It's funny how many people hate it just because this game surpasses them
    Everything here is remarkable. The music, the design of levels, the mechanics, the environment, a very interesting lore.
    It has a very unconventional multiplayer, which sometimes makes your life easier, other times it makes it impossible, but it is totally optional.
    Everyone should play it at least once, it's a masterpiece.    … Expand
  55. ViniciusBrito
    Jun 30, 2018
    10
    Dark Souls is a game from 2011 that recently had his remastered version. This game is simply amazing, the world building was phenomenal. The story is about a war that existed between dragons and Lords that are liked to the first flame that is totally connected with life and death, and you need to keep going with the situation, choosing a final with your taste. A lot of the story is told byDark Souls is a game from 2011 that recently had his remastered version. This game is simply amazing, the world building was phenomenal. The story is about a war that existed between dragons and Lords that are liked to the first flame that is totally connected with life and death, and you need to keep going with the situation, choosing a final with your taste. A lot of the story is told by the npc's, some are told by secret places, scrolls and stuff, there is many and many npc's, some are reliable, and everything are told by the point of view of the npc, wich can make them say wrong things. The story is very interpretative, and each one will have a different perspective. A lot of npc's have a quest, and some of them are just remarkable, memorable, emotional and full of actions with nice dialogues.
    They build dark souls in a way that the whole world is connected in a style that is gorgeous, you advance around the place, far away of a checkpoin, wich is a bonfair, and further then you find a door that was locked before or a elevator that brings you right back to that bonfire, and it happens all the time, a lot of shortcuts that when you get to it, are so nice.
    The diversity of places is another highpoint of this game, it have a lot of different ambiences that are very carefully done with very little details that really makes the difference, the scenarios go from lava, forests, kingdoms, ice places.. and all of these are great and very different from the other one, it's unique. All the enemies that we may find in those places are different as well, some of them coincide but a lot make sense and in every place there is some enemies that are just there, are all very well done.
    The bosses are another great aspect of the game, they all look dope, some are dragons, some knights, magicians, it does varies a lot, all it's most likely that you will die for the most of them some times until you figure their move set and star predicting and figuring how to not get damaged, wich is the most functional way to defeat it, and that it's very nice.
    There is a very big variation of weapons to use, it have heavy weapons, fast ones, long range, magical, and in all of these there are a lot o choose and test. It enables you to complete the game more than one time in a completely different way, how a character that use magic and swords play it is completely different, and that replay thing in this game is magnificent. Not just weapons, but the suit sets that are in the game are also very interesting, there is a lot of them, you can choose one from the most style one or the one with better stats, or that will give you some extra abillity, will boost some aspect.
    The multiplayer of this game is very creative and different, you have a sign that you acquire during in the game, it is a sign, there is 2 of them, the yellow and the red one, the yellow is for co op and the red is for pvp. Putting your sign in some place will make that sign appear in other worlds from other players, and it will show up for them some time, they may summon you, and then you will be there until the boss of the are got beaten or you die, then you will go back to your world with some extra souls and humanity. Humanity have a important aspect both in story and in gameplay, to summon players or get invaded you need to use a humanity to not be a hollow anymore. In the lore, there are the cursed ones, that never dies, becoming a hollow, in hollow stage the person is weakened, and the humanities make them become humans again, and because of that some people got mad because the necessitie of power.
    The gamplay is wonderful, the gain and lost of xp are the souls, that also work as coins to buy stuff, the combat and moves are stiff, making some hard time when fighting someone, the camera isn't all bad, but in close quarters it can make a hard time as well. The administration of stamina is essential if you want to keep it up with the game. There gestures that you learn from npc's, that can be a way of "chat" in the multiplayer. There is no map and no pause, wich is pretty good. Many traps are trying to get you, there is the possibilite to write things in the ground for other players to read, giving advices, fakes or reals.
    There is convenants in the game as well, with characters that adore some god or lord, those characters will be able to give you something, while you pass level with them, and for do it so you will need the covenant items, wich are gain with pvp in the covenant or drop. If you betray the covenant you will be haunted, by pve and pvp by people from the covenant.
    The soundtrack is phenomenal it doesn't just illustrate the moment, but also put some epic tone in it, it is at least giant.
    The lore is an unbelievable thing for this game, it almos doesn't have cutscenes, but if you can get the right informantions in the game, you shall see how great and big it is.
    This is definely one of the best games that i have ever played.    … Expand
  56. Killua1997
    Jun 13, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Through all the countless RPGs I've played throughout the years, I always find myself revisiting Dark Souls every few months are so. The replay value of this game is astonishing, and it's no surprise; the well-designed areas, the cathartic boss battles: everything is crafted to perfection.

    When I first started the game, I sucked. It took me hours to kill some of the beginning bosses, and I would find myself making it mid-way through a level only to end up dying. There were times I'd slam my controller in rage or even leave the game for a day or two to cool off. However, there was always that draw to come back and try again, and I never got bored no matter how many times I had to repeat a level. And when I finally did succeed against a boss or in making it to a new location, the sense of catharsis was unreal and made me want more.

    As mentioned prior, I think Dark Souls shines through its unique, well-crafted areas and (for the most part) diverse and challenging bosses. I won't lie and say there are a few questionable design choices (the Anor Londo archers are pretty much universally hated), and there is the occasional pushover boss (Bed of Chaos being the prime example). However, I can't say any game doesn't have a flaw or two, and for the most part these flaws do not take away from the 99% of things Dark Souls gets right.

    The interconnected world of Dark Souls is a joy to explore, and you feel a sense of accomplishment (and intrigue) when you finish exploring an area only to find it connects to some area you had already visited towards the beginning of the game; moreover, it allows for an ease of transport between current areas and already-explored areas. Each area is also vastly different from the last; one moment, you'll be climbing up castle-like ruins in an attempt to ring a bell, and the next you'll be traversing into poisonous depths containing mutant insects and humanoids in an attempt to ring another bell. Dark Souls has one of the most interesting, compelling worlds I've ever seen.

    Going onto my final point, the bosses, an aspect of gaming Dark Souls is (in)famous for. Most Dark Souls bosses are hard. Very hard. For a newcomer, maybe even downright impossible. I've known people who have quit the game because of certain bosses, and I think it's a darn shame because I also know people (myself included) who kept trying and beat those same bosses and were able to fall in love with this game as a result. I think Dark Souls' very identity comes from its difficulty and that this is what allows it to shine in the RPG world, but it's a given that this might not appeal for everyone. If you're someone who loves a challenge and won't give up if an obstacle presents itself, I think Dark Souls might very well have the potential to become one of the best videogames you've ever played.    … Expand
  57. DKR
    Jun 10, 2018
    5
    Since my review is cut in half and I have no fkn clue as to how, I'll keep it short.

    Its like this: you spawn, fight enemies, instadeath. you spawn, fight enemies, boss 2 shots you. You spawn, fight enemies, ur R1 locks up, instadeath. You spawn, fight enemies, high lvl player invades and 1shots you. You spawn, fight enemies, instadeath. You spawn, fight enemies, get to boss, your    Since my review is cut in half and I have no fkn clue as to how, I'll keep it short.

    Its like this: you spawn, fight enemies, instadeath. you spawn, fight enemies, boss 2 shots you. You spawn, fight enemies, ur R1 locks up, instadeath. You spawn, fight enemies, high lvl player invades and 1shots you. You spawn, fight enemies, instadeath. You spawn, fight enemies, get to boss, your pixel-perfect-required roll/parry fails in the FPS drop, instadeath. You spawn, turn human hoping to invite some coop/NPC help, fight enemies, make it to summon, high lvl player invades and backstabs you...from 30ft away while you have him locked on, instadeath. You spawn, fight enemies, R1 locks up, instadeath. You spawn, fight enemies, make it to boss, abuse a cheap tactic, win boss, and next spawn point, and repeat. The game actively encourages you to abuse the ever living f* s* out of any exploit you can just to reverse the numerous unfair deaths. it's so tedious and time consuming your passion to finish it will fizzle out, and you'll grow weary of the tantalizing torture.

    ...mostly bc the ps3 port is dogsh. There's a reason streamers play the xbox version.    … Expand
  58. susej79
    Jun 5, 2018
    4
    This game forces you to try same thing again and again...quite sadistic. And I hate labyrinth too. The enemy pattern is quite boring too. Only too much difficulty. I don't think this game is fun. overrated game.
  59. xrarara
    May 5, 2018
    3
    difficulty is based off horrible mechanics. story's cool, everything else is awful. Would never play this game again.
  60. TARKUSironBLACK
    Mar 22, 2018
    9
    dark souls tem sido por anos o game que mais joguei ele me traz 1 misto de frustaçao e sentimentos de satisfaçao e a consepçao maxima do faça por merecer e aprenda com seus erros qualquer jogo tenta nos pássar a sensaçao de que e nos que estamos jogando e nao assistindo poren em dark souls vc simplesmente nao avança se nao nao aprender da forma mais bruta e crua que vc nao e 1 deus nao edark souls tem sido por anos o game que mais joguei ele me traz 1 misto de frustaçao e sentimentos de satisfaçao e a consepçao maxima do faça por merecer e aprenda com seus erros qualquer jogo tenta nos pássar a sensaçao de que e nos que estamos jogando e nao assistindo poren em dark souls vc simplesmente nao avança se nao nao aprender da forma mais bruta e crua que vc nao e 1 deus nao e invencia que vc nunca estara a salvo que vc deve andar com cuidado e evoluir vc e nao seu personagem pois mesmo no lv maximo 1 discuido e vc vera die na sua tela enfim e 1 jogo que desafia sua perseverança e vontade de chegar ao fim so os forte sobreviven e os casuais jamais saberao o sabor de vencer 1 artorias ou 1 manus com 10 de hp apos 30 mortes seguidas.… Expand
  61. HaterOfHaters
    Mar 21, 2018
    9
    I had never broken a game with my own hands, there is always a first time :)
    Wonderful hateful game that will pass to history
  62. SasukeFuumetsu
    Mar 21, 2018
    10
    Esse jogo é o clímax da série Souls, de longe o melhor Dark Souls de todos. É o mais completo, bem trabalhado e bonito (mesmo não tendo os melhores gráficos), esse é um jogo que todos os fãs da From Software deve jogar.
  63. egoBorder
    Feb 20, 2018
    10
    This game is a classic and a masterpiece. Not flawless, unfortunately, and not by far either. But despite its flaws, and its age, the game still has plenty to offer that no one (including this game's developers) has yet been able to recreate.
  64. Narrow7788
    Feb 5, 2018
    10
    one of the greatest games ever made IT,S NOT PERFECT BUT if you get good and are able to get through, i know this game has been out for a while but wait it's being remastered and soon it will be perfect A MUST PLAY GAME.
  65. darkkunglao789
    Jan 21, 2018
    10
    perfect game
    there is 2 games that really influenced me
    1.legend of zelda ocarina of time 2.dark souls the way that from software designed the game is perfect.i like how different location squeezed in one map with a special complexity that makes it the game that it never will be repeat. fighting system is based on zelda series fighting system but better,more efficient and harder. a    perfect game
    there is 2 games that really influenced me
    1.legend of zelda ocarina of time
    2.dark souls
    the way that from software designed the game is perfect.i like how different location squeezed in one map with a special complexity that makes it the game that it never will be repeat.
    fighting system is based on zelda series fighting system but better,more efficient and harder.
    a little problem in animations but its not professional that we decide to add it as a problem.
    good visual effects and acceptable graphic.
    amazing weapons and souls instead of money or exp.
    i recommend this game for pro gamers    … Expand
  66. UncleEd
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    OK, this one took a very long time to beat. But not necessarily gameplay time wise (about 105 hours). It took a long time (more than 6 months) because it was too depressing to keep playing for long hours. Before writing about my impressions, I want to make it clear that I am a Demon's Souls fan. Demon's Souls is in my opinion, the best PS3 game ever made. It took me to a different world,OK, this one took a very long time to beat. But not necessarily gameplay time wise (about 105 hours). It took a long time (more than 6 months) because it was too depressing to keep playing for long hours. Before writing about my impressions, I want to make it clear that I am a Demon's Souls fan. Demon's Souls is in my opinion, the best PS3 game ever made. It took me to a different world, gave me a unique gameplay experience, made me feel very awkward emotions. It was fantastic. So according to almost everyone's opinion, Dark Souls is the better game in every sense. Not for me, it is not. Let me tell you why...

    First of all Demon's Souls was the amazing game that no one played. Dark Souls is the amazing game that everyone played. So it is perfectly understandable that the newcomers had a unique experience with Dark Souls which they simply cannot forget. I think it is like how everyone's favorite MMORPG tends to be the first one they have played. So Demon's Souls/Dark Souls series gives you that feeling. It punches you in the face and tells you there is nothing like it out there. True.

    My main problem with Dark Souls -in comparison to the first game- was the photographic memory requirement. The level designs are genius and are all connected to each other in a remarkable open world labyrinthine fashion. Imagine something like ICO but much more complex. However, if you don't have a photographic memory, you will forget. You will not remember the shortcut to a specific level. You will try to get there using the 10 times longer route just because you totally forgot about the shortcut. To overcome this, you will consult walkthroughs and gameplay videos (there are basically 1000s of videos on youtube showing how to get from X to Y. Talking about walkthroughs, this is not a game where they are supplementary. Walkthroughs are absolutely necessary to beat Dark Souls. In order to understand how to benefit from your weapon, you will have to check the different upgrade path outcomes of many different players... And how they worked/did not work on a specific boss.

    The second thing I liked less was the emotional perfection of the bosses. The game is really improved in the sense of boss combats since cheating your way out of a boss fight is usually not very possible in Dark Souls. However, in Demon's Souls, I remember fighting bosses with a lot of empathy. Demon's Souls made me feel I am a horrible person for swinging my sword. Whereas in Dark Souls, I was more aware that this was a video game and did not really care about who I am killing.

    I am not going to talk about all the good things about Dark Souls, which you can find in any review you read. But you should at least know that there are things this series simply perfected. It is the only game series in which backstabbing an enemy makes you feel like you are holding the knife in your hand and really stuck it into someone's back. There is a great deal of realism in terms of how you move and fight. You are really holding the shield on your left hand and the sword on the right. The game lore is pretty good, if you pay attention to details. Everything is designed to make you feel in that hopeless depressing environment. All the NPCs are hopeless. You are hopeless. The environment, NPCs, player, music are all in perfect harmony of enormous hopelessness.

    Do I recommend Dark Souls? Hell yes! But it is not a perfect game. I did not enjoy the entire over a 100 hours I have spent on it with a mixed feeling of depression, masochism and satisfaction. I did not enjoy playing it simultaneously checking a youtube gameplay video. But it is a great game nonetheless and highly recommended.    … Expand
  67. Willmoy
    Nov 5, 2017
    5
    Dark Souls is a good game. I won't even try to argue otherwise. However, unless you like repetitive grind and a very archaic plot, I cannot recommend the game. The game is very niche and beyond the average gamer's skill level, frankly. I played the game until level 40, and just became tired of trying to reach any coherent plot.

    It's just not something I would recommend to the typical gamer.
  68. thomaddox4
    Sep 21, 2017
    10
    Ignore everyone talking about difficulty. That isn't the point of Dark Souls, and people overhype the difficulty tremendously. Dark Souls is a challenging game that you must adapt to and be careful and patient with, nothing more.

    That said, the game itself is a masterpiece. It isn't weak in any area: story is presented in the form of lore that you uncover for yourself and can ignore if    Ignore everyone talking about difficulty. That isn't the point of Dark Souls, and people overhype the difficulty tremendously. Dark Souls is a challenging game that you must adapt to and be careful and patient with, nothing more.

    That said, the game itself is a masterpiece. It isn't weak in any area: story is presented in the form of lore that you uncover for yourself and can ignore if you want to, atmosphere is absolutely incredible with incredible sound design and immsersion, music is great and graphics hold up just fine even today, combat is fun even if it isn't 100% polished, and most significant of all is the world design. Dark Souls has the world design of a metroidvania, with shortcuts to unlock and a highly interconnected world that blows your mind as you explore and uncover it. And believe me, you will want to explore every inch of it. The world design, originality of lore, and atmosphere is what sets this game apart from all the others in the series, and what makes it by far the best ARPG FromSoft has ever made, and one of the best and most influential games ever made.    … Expand
  69. Steide56
    Aug 28, 2017
    10
    Decidedly the best game I have ever played. Only thing that comes even close is Breath of the Wild. Not only is the gameplay the most addicting thing I have ever played but the game has such a unique melancholic atmosphere and way of telling its story through gameplay and environments, which makes itself a MUST play for everyone who consideres himself a fan of good video games. My hat isDecidedly the best game I have ever played. Only thing that comes even close is Breath of the Wild. Not only is the gameplay the most addicting thing I have ever played but the game has such a unique melancholic atmosphere and way of telling its story through gameplay and environments, which makes itself a MUST play for everyone who consideres himself a fan of good video games. My hat is of to this amazing game… Expand
  70. Hackattaque
    Aug 23, 2017
    8
    Dark Souls is what you might get if you crossed Shadow of the Colossus with the very first 8-bit Legend of Zelda. It's a wilfully obscure, challenging game that explains nothing and throws you into a hostile adventure world populated with memorable bosses, unforgiving enemies and kooky allies. It's hard to really capture how crazy this approach seemed in 2011, even after predecessorDark Souls is what you might get if you crossed Shadow of the Colossus with the very first 8-bit Legend of Zelda. It's a wilfully obscure, challenging game that explains nothing and throws you into a hostile adventure world populated with memorable bosses, unforgiving enemies and kooky allies. It's hard to really capture how crazy this approach seemed in 2011, even after predecessor Demon's Souls. This game basically made it acceptable for big-budget titles to punish, alienate and confuse players.

    Once you get over the initial difficulty hump, Dark Souls gets two big things absolutely spot-on: Its world and its combat. The environments ooze with atmosphere, from medieval castles and churches to forests and swamps, and they all connect through clever shortcuts, ladders and secret passages. The combat is meaty, slow and highly strategic, forcing the player to make every sword swipe count and to carefully study the enemy's moves. This is not an open world game where you roam free with few consequences. It's terrifying.

    Where Dark Souls is less successful is pacing. With very little story or character interaction, it can be sometimes frustrating and boring to run through the same areas several times to level up or to try and beat a troublesome enemy. Some parts will feel exciting and challenging, others tedious and cheap. The final act of the game is a real low point, with the designers peppering overly big, sparse areas with duplicated enemies and bosses. The 75-hour campaign could have been easily cut to 50.

    it's the boss battles that ultimately steal the show. You'll fight giant gargoyles on the roof of a church; a sword-wielding wolf guarding a moonlit tomb; ghostly kings in a pitch-black abyss with no floor. When you finally beat such screen-filling baddies after several attempts, it's an intoxicating feeling. The peak of the whole game is the fight at the sumptuous and deadly sky palace of Anor Londo, which pits you against a giant hammer-wielding executioner and his lightning-quick companion. Nothing after that comes close.

    Dark Souls is a unique and unforgettable experience. It should be played. But it's not perfect. There are lows with the highs, so be prepared before you step into the fog.    … Expand
  71. WardenofSilence
    Jul 3, 2017
    8
    I want to say I could not beat this game my first couple of runs. This changed when I played and beat Bloodborne, which presented a new outlook on how to approach the game. By now, many probably know about the difficulty of the series. While this is true, the other part of what makes this game good is how it teaches the player to handle that difficulty.

    Dark Souls, in most cases, has    I want to say I could not beat this game my first couple of runs. This changed when I played and beat Bloodborne, which presented a new outlook on how to approach the game. By now, many probably know about the difficulty of the series. While this is true, the other part of what makes this game good is how it teaches the player to handle that difficulty.

    Dark Souls, in most cases, has some excellent level design. Enemies are often placed in great spots to make the player think about the current situation. The areas often loop around each other to make a world that feels truly connected. Music fits perfectly with each are as well. Traps exist, but many times are placed where the player can notice them, have time to react, or don't outright kill you. The environment is one that clues the player in and provides them with tools to succeed in encounters. The environment also plays extremely well with the healing system in Dark Souls.

    Bonfires are placed throughout the world, and let you heal, as well as level up, and provides other things as you unlock them (enemies also re spawn after using them). You also return to Bonfires when you die, specifically the last Bonfire you rested at. Estus Flasks heal you by a certain amount, and refill every time you rest at a Bonfire. As you progress though an area, your Estus represents how long you can explore before needing to go back and refill. At first, you might lose a lot of health early on, but as you start to memorize attack patterns and the layout of the map, you can go further and further until your Estus remains at full.

    You have various weapons to pick from, along with powerful magical abilities. Each leads to different combat styles. Combat in this game is great. Your attacks have weight to them, so you have to plan out when it is best to attack, keeping in mind the slight delay in each attack. You have a stamina bar, which depletes with every attack you make, every attack you block, when you sprint, and when you roll. You need to look at you stamina wisely to make sure you have enough to block/dodge an enemy attack, but also need to make sure you don't exert yourself and end up being open to damage.

    Enemies are varied and are properly designed. Most of the time, you encounter enemies in a one on one environment, allowing you to learn attack patterns without worry of getting overwhelmed. You aren't usually put in a situation where you need to fight multiple enemies all at once. The Bosses of the series are quite famous. Bosses are non re spawning enemies that you usually fight one on one. They are often much larger than you and hit very hard. However, like all enemies, they have patterns that you can memorize and learn to exploit.

    The key to leveling up is Souls. You can collect souls by defeating enemies and using certain items. Souls allow you to level up your character, buy items, and improve your equipment (provided you have the required materials). Upon level up, the number of souls needed to level up again increase. Of course, the number of souls dropped by enemies also increases. When you die, you lose all of your souls, as well as any Humanity you have (more on this later). However, if you are able to reach the spot where you died, you can find your Souls again. Dying before collecting your souls will make them disappear forever, so players need to be careful.

    Humanity is a special type of item. Your character is an Undead, and typically in a hollowed state, but by using a Humanity, you are able to become Human. This changes things in a few ways. First, you are able to summon NPCs for some boss fights, as well as other players should you see their summon signs (you can also do this). At the same time, other player can invade, and attempt to kill you (which you can also do). If you die, you become hollow again.

    Most of this have been about how the game functions and not about the story or lore. Dark Souls is not filled with characters that drive the story. For the most part, you simply go to different areas and kill things. However, the lore of the world is surprisingly deep, just not on the forefront of the game.Listening to NPCs and reading item descriptions can tell you about the world.

    Now, this game does have faults. While the game typically has good level design, many of the later areas feel unfinished in some cases. People often say the game is always fair, which is not true. While the game is mostly fair, some cases are truly unfair and are just poorly designed. Hit boxes and awkward camera angels do exist. At one point, the game even breaks one of it's own rules (breaking lore and gameplay at the same time), and unless a player knows about a part before hand, they can lose out on all of their souls and humanity.

    In all, Dark Souls is an excellent game. It makes you think better as a gamer, and has one of the best combat systems I have every played, coupled with seller level design makes this game a real gem. 87/100    … Expand
  72. Zerox_Undead
    Jun 25, 2017
    9
    I absolutely adore this game, It is hands down one of the most thrilling games to experience. So If you haven't played this gem of a game, I implore you to go out and buy a copy of this game.

    That being said although I enjoy this game to the ends of the earth. I cannot give it a 10/10 that is just lying to myself and to everyone else. This game has its fair share of problems for    I absolutely adore this game, It is hands down one of the most thrilling games to experience. So If you haven't played this gem of a game, I implore you to go out and buy a copy of this game.

    That being said although I enjoy this game to the ends of the earth. I cannot give it a 10/10 that is just lying to myself and to everyone else. This game has its fair share of problems for example.

    - Blighttown/ Lower Anor Londo frame rate issues
    - The constant clipping of enemies through pillars and or walls
    - Some gimmicky fights that really have no place being in this game (ie. Bed of Chaos)
    - And trying to connect to other people online is practically impossible.

    But it being one of my favorite games with all these issues should show you why this game is a must have. So when you do go pick up a copy all I can say is, "Prepare to Die."    … Expand
  73. trevor1981
    Apr 19, 2017
    10
    This game is good and so challenging. I can't believe I played it for the first time only in 2017 after playing the other Dark Souls. For all those Dark Souls fans who have only PS4, therefore can't play the first Dark Souls. Buy an old console. This game is perfect.
  74. IAmPaperworkDan
    Apr 1, 2017
    8
    This review comes from someone who's first experience of a Souls game was Bloodborne and I'm sorry to all the purists out there but Dark Souls just doesn't hold up to the modern entries of the franchise. Controversial intros aside, this game is by no means bad, it's just not as refined it's successors. I absolutely loved Bloodborne and Dark Souls III, and I very quickly grew to love DarkThis review comes from someone who's first experience of a Souls game was Bloodborne and I'm sorry to all the purists out there but Dark Souls just doesn't hold up to the modern entries of the franchise. Controversial intros aside, this game is by no means bad, it's just not as refined it's successors. I absolutely loved Bloodborne and Dark Souls III, and I very quickly grew to love Dark Souls as well, but it did have some hurdles along the way.

    This may well come across as arrogant but I have never found the Souls franchise to be difficult. I picked up the GOTY edition of Bloodborne in a sale and within just one week had unlocked all the of the games trophies. Soon after I picked up Dark Souls III on release and similarly completed everything the game had to offer without much difficulty. With these two games under my belt I figured picking up Dark Souls would be a piece of cake, even after a few Souls-free months, and sure enough I walked all over the games opening without a problem. It's from here on that things started to change. A positive remark is the game opens up immediately. I spent at least an hour struggling through the Catacombs getting my arse handed to me by respawning skeletons, wondering why an enemy so early on in the game was such a huge threat. Eventually I figured I had probably missed something and headed back to Firelink Shrine to explore some more. Sure enough my initial route was just one of three possible choices and I was already impressed. From here on though is where I started to get annoyed with the combat. Everything is just a little bit clunky in comparison to the experience I'd fallen in love with through Bloodborne. Dodging often sends you in the wrong direction, enemy attacks hit when they quite clearly should've missed and getting stuck on the environment was all too common. I'm perfectly happy for the game to kill me over and over if my performance is to blame, but failing due to poor game design is just frustrating. At the time of writing this review however, I'm approaching the end of the game and I've completed adjusted. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have even commented on it had I not played any of the later games in the franchise.

    Overall, Dark Souls is fantastic. Some aspects of the game completely outshine it's successors and the rest are a solid basis that the later instalments have built upon over the years. I would personally recommend starting with Bloodborne and then returning to this game afterwards but no matter where you choose to start the franchise is utterly outstanding. Once you fall in love with any one of them you'll be hooked.    … Expand
  75. OneLifeLeft
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    Few games have tested my patience, focus, and willpower, to the point of psychological despair.

    Fewer games have done all this, only then to unexpectedly reward me with far more elation, than I had ever anticipated. Dark Souls did not simply entertain me in my idle time. It forced me to examine my human potential for perseverance. And it gave me the strength to rise above my    Few games have tested my patience, focus, and willpower, to the point of psychological despair.

    Fewer games have done all this, only then to unexpectedly reward me with far more elation, than I had ever anticipated.

    Dark Souls did not simply entertain me in my idle time.

    It forced me to examine my human potential for perseverance.
    And it gave me the strength to rise above my mental limitations.    … Expand
  76. Markain
    Mar 6, 2017
    8
    Cool Game, but very hard and confusing. I often got lost in the mazelike castle. The story is very mystic and ittakes a while until you get behind it.
  77. DreamEaglr
    Mar 1, 2017
    8
    Одна из лучших игр, в которые я играл. На первое место тут отведён геймпей, и геймплей здесь просто шедеврален.
    Вся игра построена на том, чтобы игрок учился на своих ошибках, запоминал как двигаются и сражаются враги от обычных до боссов.
    Также невозможно не сказать про дизайн тех же врагов, боссов и локаций: Игра Японская, а они всегда делали самые великолепные и удивительные дизайны    Одна из лучших игр, в которые я играл. На первое место тут отведён геймпей, и геймплей здесь просто шедеврален.
    Вся игра построена на том, чтобы игрок учился на своих ошибках, запоминал как двигаются и сражаются враги от обычных до боссов.
    Также невозможно не сказать про дизайн тех же врагов, боссов и локаций:
    Игра Японская, а они всегда делали самые великолепные и удивительные дизайны в играх.
    Большинство локаций связаны между собой, пройдя немного по новой локации вы можете иногда видеть старые.
    Графика в игре отличная для 2011 года.
    Музыка выше всяких похвал, хотя до Demon's souls не дотягивает.    … Expand
  78. Biopunk
    Feb 2, 2017
    10
    Dark souls is a complete triumph in almost every way. Games like this really push what is possible to do with the medium. As a form of entertainment,as a form of art and as a form of competition. This game is structured like a 3D metroidvania game,with a combat system that Zelda dreamed of having,art direction of a gorgeous fantasy horror,spot-on sound design and storytelling that couldDark souls is a complete triumph in almost every way. Games like this really push what is possible to do with the medium. As a form of entertainment,as a form of art and as a form of competition. This game is structured like a 3D metroidvania game,with a combat system that Zelda dreamed of having,art direction of a gorgeous fantasy horror,spot-on sound design and storytelling that could only function in a video game.There's a lot of lore to be told through the environment and item descriptions,which fit the game's ''dying world'' setting perfectly. The atmosphere is spot-on as well,giving you this constant sense of loneliness that makes the few characters you meet through your journey feel that much warmer and more lovable. Some of the characters you meet are either evil or on the brink of insanity,giving you a sense that this world is not the one to take prisoners. This is just one example of how Dark Souls' gameplay fits the story and atmosphere. It is deliberately slow-paced,forcing you to step into combat slowly and carefully and watching out for traps every time you enter a new area. The combat is very similar to Zelda,except not as dumbed down. There's no mandatory waiting,no items that you absolutely must use to defeat an enemy,just your weapon,your skill and your enemy. When they're holding up a shield,you can kick them,you can push them off a cliff,you can walk to their back,there's so many options.And all of them are presented organically,with no hand-holding whatsoever. The levelling system is also organic,with you having to spend souls(which are basically money) to level up one stat each level. There's no classes,the growth and focus of your character is completely unrestricted. All of this talk of freedom may make this game sound like it doesn't provide much of a challenge,but it absolutely does. We all know the game is hard,but it's not too hard,and the save/checkpoint system never feels like it's out to dick you over.Also,there's no arbitrary backtracking over huge empty maps. You get a fast travel system later in the game and the world is filled to the brim with detail,rather than being just a big blob of nothingness designed only to show off technology(coughubisoftcough)
    Finally,there's multiplayer,which works like this:You can summon another player into your game and you can either duel or go on a co-op prowl. You,of course,need good internet connection or the hit detection will be completely **** But when it works,it works like nothing else you've ever seen.
    This is,what I believe,to be the best game of all time.Go play it.    … Expand
  79. HolloWolfy
    Jan 21, 2017
    10
    This game is really great and its almost feels bad becuz the graphics are really feels kind of outdated, But the gameplay is really great and it have those realy satisfying fluid controls and the "lock" mechanic really adds more fun,And the Soundtrack is really cool and awesome and even memorable,speaking of memorable have i mentioned the bosses?!,the bosses are ABSOLOUTELY PERFECTThis game is really great and its almost feels bad becuz the graphics are really feels kind of outdated, But the gameplay is really great and it have those realy satisfying fluid controls and the "lock" mechanic really adds more fun,And the Soundtrack is really cool and awesome and even memorable,speaking of memorable have i mentioned the bosses?!,the bosses are ABSOLOUTELY PERFECT DESIGNED and memorabel and every boss fight is really addicting BUT hard but thats wath gives the game its special charm And even every boss have his own soundtrack, and have i mentioned the environments?! OH MY FRICKING GOD! The environments are really memorable and sooo unique and great and every SINGLE place have its own creatures Wich are Soo well designed and memorable With terrifieng noises and Really pain in the A'S Abilitys...WATH IM TRYING TO SAY IS BUY THE GODDAMN GAME!....Or buy dark souls 2 or 3 they are so much better XD… Expand
  80. Mustrik
    Dec 19, 2016
    10
    A Masterpiece. Replaying it in 2016 and still surprise me. All details, storyline, animations, it's astonishing. Another From Software great game that deserves to be played even by the people who skip it in 2011.
  81. JuanLuisGG14
    Nov 19, 2016
    9
    Awesome game
    Atmosphere here may turn you down at first: it's really punishing.
    Level design is masterful and mechanics feel really fresh.
    However, i can't give this game a 10 cause of technical problems and poor level design near the end of the game
    For the first half of the game it's a 10/10
    At last it can be a 6/10
    Average: 9/10
  82. Ishi123
    Oct 27, 2016
    10
    My experience with Dark Souls was a difficult one, for sure, as I'm sure it was for many an Undead. My first run through the game took me months to complete. I suffered through the beginning levels, unsure and afraid of what may lie ahead. I died over and over and over again. I put the game down many times, and actually took a hammer to the disc at one point. But in the end, I endured, andMy experience with Dark Souls was a difficult one, for sure, as I'm sure it was for many an Undead. My first run through the game took me months to complete. I suffered through the beginning levels, unsure and afraid of what may lie ahead. I died over and over and over again. I put the game down many times, and actually took a hammer to the disc at one point. But in the end, I endured, and once the game began to open up and I began to hone my skills, that's when Dark Souls took me in and truly made me realize what it was. You hear how it's "hard but fair" all the time, or how it's "rewarding" when you topple a hard boss or obstacle, and that is absolutely true. It feels good to overcome the challenges that this game provides, which are genuinely hard. Not artificially hard, like some other games would replace difficulty with. The game is about honing your skills. It's about learning the enemies and environments. It's about knowing what works and what doesn't. It's about sticking to your guns in the face of defeat to move in at the last moment and claim victory over the odds that seemed so impossible several runs ago. It's a game about being a tiny, helpless thing in the ruins of a once mighty world, piecing together what remains of the shattered world you find yourself captive in. It's about choices. It's about conviction. It's about choosing a path and walking it, no matter where it may take you and no matter how hard the journey may be.

    Dark Souls is a fascinating journey, that, if you can make it past that beginning hurdle, will absorb you and trap you in a world where your only recourse is to just keep going. Don't stop. Just keep going. The path you've chosen is one you must travel no matter what may lie ahead. Should the whole world turn against you, your only choice is to just keep going. And when you reach your destination, you will look back on the trials and challenges you had overcome, and you will feel very small, but at the same time, VERY powerful. The kind of power that lies in your conviction; your determination. The power to endure and suffer through the darkest of times and the greatest of adversities. The power that says that you will not go quietly; that if you are to go down, you will go down fighting to the last, until your sword is shattered and your vision is blurry. And then you'll fight some more after that.

    Dark Souls is one of those games that can make you think. It's a game that can indeed change a person, should they let it, and show them that there will always be challenges, many great and powerful ones, but none of them are insurmountable.    … Expand
  83. Pasifull
    Sep 21, 2016
    9
    Dark soul's problems - of which there are many - get washed away in the torrent of euphoria that comes with each victory, whether minor or major. An excellent game that should be of no interest to most gamers, but the core it's designed to engage with won't be able to look at other games in the same way again.
  84. Mankiniman
    Sep 14, 2016
    10
    Yes, I know. You either love it, hate it, or haven't tried it. If you belong to the latter group, here's what the game is: A battle. It is not relaxing, and it is not for those who give up because they can't beat every boss on their first try. Dark Souls is a masterpiece of a videogame, both in its gameplay, its way of telling a story and it's overall form. It is not just a game where youYes, I know. You either love it, hate it, or haven't tried it. If you belong to the latter group, here's what the game is: A battle. It is not relaxing, and it is not for those who give up because they can't beat every boss on their first try. Dark Souls is a masterpiece of a videogame, both in its gameplay, its way of telling a story and it's overall form. It is not just a game where you sometimes talk and sometimes fight, it's a game where you see things that are wierd or out of place somewhere, and then later see something else out of place somewhere else, but find a connection. It's a game where you look for the overall themes in buildings and the items you find certain places. this game really is a masterpiece in its rightful genre, no less, and it is worth a play.… Expand
  85. XxJoseManuelxX
    Aug 25, 2016
    9
    Dark Souls is an action role-playing video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai. A spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls.

    + Good Gameplay
    + Epic Bosses Fights
    + Online
  86. Frostheos
    Aug 11, 2016
    10
    This game is a full masterpiece. Not just one of the best games of the year, but one of the best games of all time. With a breath-taking story and background lore, a punishing yet rewarding combat system and overall, a lore that will make you not want to kill your enemy. I'm not exaggerating when I'm saying that Dark Souls' lore and writing is actually better than lot of books and movies.This game is a full masterpiece. Not just one of the best games of the year, but one of the best games of all time. With a breath-taking story and background lore, a punishing yet rewarding combat system and overall, a lore that will make you not want to kill your enemy. I'm not exaggerating when I'm saying that Dark Souls' lore and writing is actually better than lot of books and movies. Definitely an audiovisual masterpiece.… Expand
  87. SnowDay
    Aug 9, 2016
    10
    Prepare to die. Prepare to cry. Lose yourslef in lore that rivals an MMORPG, dungeon exploration that is reminiscent of Metroid Prime, and boss battles that feel like you challenged God himself.
  88. HopelessVoice
    Jun 2, 2016
    10
    I'll give it a 10 although it isn't even my favorite in the Souls-series. It's really a great game and if you haven't played it I suggest you do so asap. The vertical level design is out of this world, as the game develops a V-shape of progression where the player starts at a sort of crossroads and then begins his haunting descent into the underworld, only to rise back again, now wiser ofI'll give it a 10 although it isn't even my favorite in the Souls-series. It's really a great game and if you haven't played it I suggest you do so asap. The vertical level design is out of this world, as the game develops a V-shape of progression where the player starts at a sort of crossroads and then begins his haunting descent into the underworld, only to rise back again, now wiser of things to come and stronger than ever. The dark medieval setting is intriguing and the bosses are probably the hardest and most interesting ones to fight in the whole franchise. There's no doubt that this will go down as one of the best games of its decade.… Expand
  89. amateurcritic2
    May 30, 2016
    10
    i played a lot of demons souls and i did not expect the sequel to be better let alone this much better. I already gave demons souls a 10 and i would give this 11 if icould its genuinely one of the best games ever. Its is like demons souls in its narative it very mysterious and hard and thats the games appeal but that makes it only for certain people but once your into it its veryi played a lot of demons souls and i did not expect the sequel to be better let alone this much better. I already gave demons souls a 10 and i would give this 11 if icould its genuinely one of the best games ever. Its is like demons souls in its narative it very mysterious and hard and thats the games appeal but that makes it only for certain people but once your into it its very addictive. It does the same as demons souls errors with not so fun sections of the game but much less often.… Expand
  90. Grottenolm-84
    May 11, 2016
    10
    It's as if this game was made for me personally. It's just so unique. Everything is fascinating about this strange world and their ihabitants. Every aspect and game mechanic fits perfectly together. The atmosphere is just awesome like you have never experienced one. A great mix out of nordic mythology and medieval times. The gameplay is perfect and demands much concentration but is at theIt's as if this game was made for me personally. It's just so unique. Everything is fascinating about this strange world and their ihabitants. Every aspect and game mechanic fits perfectly together. The atmosphere is just awesome like you have never experienced one. A great mix out of nordic mythology and medieval times. The gameplay is perfect and demands much concentration but is at the same time so rewarding. This game is so full of dedication and creativity that you just have to experience it for yourself. Don't reduce this game to it's difficulty, like so many seem to do. It's an important part of the Dark Souls - Experience but it's only one aspect of this unique piece of art. For me it's definitely among of my all time favorites on the same level as Ocarina of Time was twenty Years ago.… Expand
  91. Rumblefish
    May 9, 2016
    10
    A turning point in the history of the modern RPG. Unparalleled atmosphere, character, environment, diversity and brutality. Simply put, one of the very greatest games that has ever been made on any platform.
  92. John-Doe
    May 1, 2016
    9
    The first in the dark souls series and arguably the best one because of its amazing visuals, fantastic soundtrack, amazing areas, great NPCs and heart beating mind blasting kicking your ass gameplay. The wide, expansive and interconnected world will cause you to explore every nook and cranny, and take note: what ever you look at in the world, most likely you can go there. Weapons lists andThe first in the dark souls series and arguably the best one because of its amazing visuals, fantastic soundtrack, amazing areas, great NPCs and heart beating mind blasting kicking your ass gameplay. The wide, expansive and interconnected world will cause you to explore every nook and cranny, and take note: what ever you look at in the world, most likely you can go there. Weapons lists and design are great although demon souls had a better line up. Boss fights are 5 times harder than demon souls and you will most likely break your controllers but gain 5 times the satisfaction for when you beat that piece of s***! If you have problems beating a boss you can call for backup, other people playing the game can be called to help you to beat the boss to lay the ultimate beatdown on the boss or vice versa. If this is your first souls game then you are in for a treat but be warned that in order to truly enjoy what this game has to offer you must first get past the learning curve. CASUAL GAMERS BEWARE… Expand
  93. starburns
    Apr 22, 2016
    10
    Dark souls is gaming nirvana. The game is exactly what i would want from my perfect game. Not only the great combat, flowing level design, challenging but fair difficulty, and totally immersive environments, but the cultural impact this game has had on society is staggering. Giant dad, praise the sun and git gud all spawned from this game.

    This is a game that comes along once in a    Dark souls is gaming nirvana. The game is exactly what i would want from my perfect game. Not only the great combat, flowing level design, challenging but fair difficulty, and totally immersive environments, but the cultural impact this game has had on society is staggering. Giant dad, praise the sun and git gud all spawned from this game.

    This is a game that comes along once in a decade. The magical feeling you get from playing this game for the first time, overcoming your first hard boss and the rush of adrenaline that comes afterwards, and finally piecing together that one part of the of lore you never quite understood, all come together to form this wonderful masterpiece of gaming and a definite milestone for anyone who wishing to be considered a hard-core gamer.    … Expand
  94. DARKSOULSLOVER
    Apr 14, 2016
    10
    What an amazing game, wonderful landscapes, hard enemies, hardcore bosses.
    But is an unfair game, you should take care of your character if you want save all your souls.
  95. HMolinet
    Mar 24, 2016
    10
    There is only one thing about this game: it is unforgiven. A must have, one that will define your type of gamer forever. And DLC adds a lot of story, difficult battles and great places to visit. PVP? Well one of the best systems ever created.
  96. fijiboy
    Mar 22, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. dark souls is incredible. It is a challenging game that will make you question why you are even playing it at times, but if you put the effort in to get through it, there are no other series out there as rewarding as the souls series. a lot of people love this game for its challenging and rewarding gameplay, but for me one of the biggest appeals for me is the cryptic visual storytelling that can be either a hit or miss for some players. If you take the time to look deeply at the themes of this game and how it is discovered through level design, music and item descriptions instead of dialogue, you may find this game to be an artistic statement on determination, loss, depression, desperation, and how all these themes some how become feelings that player will feel many times throughout the game, and truly makes this game a masterpiece. the only thing I have a problem with is some portions of the game are just straight up ridiculous and are simply there to really frustrate you( walking across a very narrow bridge while big nights shoot dragon slaying arrows at you to knock you off while they block your path on an even narrower ledge) and no longer feels fair. there are a couple situations like that in the game that keeps it being a 10 for me, but is still a masterpiece, a flawed masterpiece.… Expand
  97. GatoVillano
    Feb 19, 2016
    2
    Nice graphics (1 pt), bosses are original (1pt), clumsy controls (-1pt), awful awful caracter apperence (-1pt), no real story (-1pt), weird symbols instead of actual words we could understand in the weapon status (-1pt), fights that are basically ''all or nothing'', you do the fight perfectly or you get killed by1 shot or 2 shots (-1pt), almost no ingame information of where you areNice graphics (1 pt), bosses are original (1pt), clumsy controls (-1pt), awful awful caracter apperence (-1pt), no real story (-1pt), weird symbols instead of actual words we could understand in the weapon status (-1pt), fights that are basically ''all or nothing'', you do the fight perfectly or you get killed by1 shot or 2 shots (-1pt), almost no ingame information of where you are suppose to go or what you are supposed to do (-1pt), you lose all your progress when you die, and you die a lot, so you have to redo EVERYTHING again and again (-1pt), their is no pause button (-1pt)… Expand
  98. Nintolerance
    Nov 28, 2015
    10
    This game is truly exceptional. Characters, enviroments, levels, art, music and voice acting are great, but tied together with a weighty and hard-hitting combat system where positioning and timing are everything.

    The game's approach to story and multiplayer are innovative (and since copied), adding to the rich atmosphere of a world on the edge of collapse while offering glimpses of the    This game is truly exceptional. Characters, enviroments, levels, art, music and voice acting are great, but tied together with a weighty and hard-hitting combat system where positioning and timing are everything.

    The game's approach to story and multiplayer are innovative (and since copied), adding to the rich atmosphere of a world on the edge of collapse while offering glimpses of the world beyond each individual stage.

    Since release the PVP metagame has made Dark Souls a tough nut to crack online, but it's still an exceptional singleplayer experience and provides some fun and strategic PVP as well if you're willing to learn.

    Without a doubt, my favourite game of all time.    … Expand
  99. DarthLawyer
    Nov 14, 2015
    2
    This game is the anti-Skyrim. For me, good RPG's involve exploring beautiful worlds and interacting with them. Dark Souls trades those in for repeatedly trudging through boring, ugly stairwells, fighting the same respawning enemies over and over.

    Skyrim is admittedly easy since you can save at any time, but I'd rather enjoy a game than be angry at the game 99% of the time and then    This game is the anti-Skyrim. For me, good RPG's involve exploring beautiful worlds and interacting with them. Dark Souls trades those in for repeatedly trudging through boring, ugly stairwells, fighting the same respawning enemies over and over.

    Skyrim is admittedly easy since you can save at any time, but I'd rather enjoy a game than be angry at the game 99% of the time and then finally be relieved I beat some boss after 50 tries and several attempts at backtracking to grind souls to level up. When you reach a boss and die, you shouldn't have to re-kill all the enemies you beat over the last 15 minutes to get back to the boss.

    The camera is unforgivably bad. There are boss battles where you are instantly killed because you are in a tiny room and can't see what's going on, or you drop off a cliff because you can't see it.

    Dark Souls really feels like an unfinished game. I'm not a graphics snob, but this game looks like a PS2 game. There is a lot of empty space and minimal interactivity. There are a lot of game mechanics and item systems that are never explained. But since the game constantly saves, your whole game is f'ed if you improve or sell the wrong item--or accidentally attack a blacksmith or other NPC when fighting something else.

    If the only thing you care about is a challenge, then this is the game for you. The only positive thing I can say about the game is that it I appreciated the inter-connectivity of the level design.    … Expand
  100. Jellybean15
    Nov 13, 2015
    9
    Dark Souls is truly a unique experience. Releasing amongst a demographic of gamers who are used to playing games with little difficulty and little consequence for your failure, Dark Souls goes against the grain by not just making the player face tough obstacles and challenging gameplay, but also by punishing them every time they die or make a mistake. It takes you on a journey of pain butDark Souls is truly a unique experience. Releasing amongst a demographic of gamers who are used to playing games with little difficulty and little consequence for your failure, Dark Souls goes against the grain by not just making the player face tough obstacles and challenging gameplay, but also by punishing them every time they die or make a mistake. It takes you on a journey of pain but also great empowerment whenever you overcome its obstacles, and it’s certainly an experience I’ll never forget.

    Dark Souls gameplay is hack and slash in its nature, but it doesn’t bode well to play it like one. In a game where getting hit three times by a standard enemy can kill you, Dark Souls is less about fast paced reactionary gameplay and more methodical planned out strategy. Scanning your enemy for an opening, striking when the time is right, learning how many hits he’ll take, how he reacts and finding out how to react to his counter is all key.

    So many factors go into effecting your strategy as well. How resistant is your shield to physical and magical damage? Is it effective enough, or should you roll out of the way? Is the armor you're wearing light enough to allow me to dodge quickly but also strong enough to protect me? In Dark Souls unforgiving world, sometimes the only way of knowing if you’re strategy works or if you’re progressing is to go out into the world and see if you survive. In fact, in an area of three different branching paths, the only real way to find out which way is the correct way is to see which one doesn’t kill you within the first 60 seconds.

    But, when you do die, Dark Souls is not afraid to let you know that you messed up. Killing enemies grants you souls which acts as both your experience points and your currency for buying items and weapons. Die, and you’ll have to travel back to your dead body to retrieve the souls you lost. Die before that happens, and they’re gone forever.

    What makes Dark Souls so different is the game’s very own checkpoint system. Checkpoints are linked directly to fireplaces, which are your safe havens from your enemies. What I’m glad to see is that unlike Demon’s Souls checkpoint system of opening up shortcuts, Dark Souls’ fireplace system is so much more consistent. I never found an area where there was not a fireplace within two minutes running distance of another one, and often times, levels are smartly designed to incorporate shortcuts or opening paths previously locked off to you to make some fireplaces more accessible from multiple areas, and that’s the beauty of Dark Souls level design. Most of Dark Souls feels like one big cohesive level of multiple paths and areas, and by the end of it, you’ll easily have the whole map laid out in your head.

    However, Dark Souls is not without its caveats. Even things that seem purely beneficial usually have some draw back. Even fireplaces, which do keep you safe from enemies and refill your healing flask, also revive all of the common enemies. It’s not a game that will hold your hand. For example, you can go around and try to find weapons, but you’ll soon discover the only real way to make a truly descent weapon is to find one that fits your play style and find a blacksmith to improve it using found or bought materials. Most of the time, the only way to proceed in Dark Souls is to truly pay attention to its environment, what it tells you, and you must adapt.

    Overall, Dark Souls has it all. Challenge, unique gameplay, awesome boss fights, and smart enemy and level design which compels you to push forward despite your frustrations. So is the game perfect? No, it isn’t. Dark Souls does have its flaws that its fan base is all too quick to ignore. For example, one of the biggest annoyances is the lack of a pause feature. I understand Dark Souls intentions of removing this feature, but there were a few times during play, I had to get up immediately and walk out. A couple of those times I was in the middle of a battle and died as a result. From Software needs to realize that real life does get in the way of gaming sometimes, so a pause button is a must.

    The other real complaint I have is the game’s promise of being challenging but fair, and I do applaud From Software for accomplishing that feature most of the game. I’d say 95 percent of the deaths were my fault, but there was the occasional cheap hit or badly designed level piece that got me killed unfairly. The lock on for example, causes a lot of camera issues when up against walls or low ceilings, and makes seeing your enemies difficult. They’re rare occasions, but they do happen.

    However, any complaints I have don't dampen the experience and I did really enjoy Dark Souls. However I do conclude that it is not a game for everyone. It has its audience, and if you’re not into this kind of game and its particular style, that’s perfectly fine, but I – and a lot of other people – will remember Dark Souls for quite a long time as a really special game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PS3 Game of 2011
6
#6 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
4
#4 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 54
  3. Negative: 0 out of 54
  1. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 6, 2012
    80
    It would be foolish of us to pretend that Dark Souls is a game for everyone. It's perfect at what it does, but a big part of what it does is make you suffer for your mistakes. It is a harsh, uncompromising task master and you will have to work to win its approval, because it certainly won't work to win yours. [Dec 2011, p74]
  2. RPGamer
    Jan 5, 2012
    90
    At the end of the day Dark Souls succeeds in producing a game that is both incredibly challenging and fair.
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  3. Gamer Limit
    Nov 29, 2011
    85
    All in all, Dark Souls is a more difficult, but less enjoyable (and less accessible) Demon's Souls.
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