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. 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.
  2. Excedion
    Nov 4, 2011
    8
    Well, having never played Demon Souls the difficulty of Dark Soul's was initially a shock. However one of the main things I had heard about Demon Souls was that if you died it was through fault of your own, not thinking out something before you acted. There does seem to be quite a few times in Dark souls where this still holds true but there seems to be a bit of artificial difficulty inWell, having never played Demon Souls the difficulty of Dark Soul's was initially a shock. However one of the main things I had heard about Demon Souls was that if you died it was through fault of your own, not thinking out something before you acted. There does seem to be quite a few times in Dark souls where this still holds true but there seems to be a bit of artificial difficulty in this game such as One Hit AoE KOs purposely distancing bonfires far from certain points so the player will have to keep travelling things like that deliberately put in to frustrate the player and waste their time making the game longer and "harder". Overall though I found Dark soul's to be quite a fun game especially after killing a boss that has been kicking your ass over and over. There's something about Dark Soul's though, no matter how many times I got so angry and quit the game 10 minutes later I'd be back playing it determined it wasn't going to beat me. There are very very few games I've quit this much and came back to play. Aside from the odd moments in the game that seem to have been designed specifically to piss you off as much as possible dark souls is a great game with a lot of different play styles and great graphics. Although a lot of the story and dialogue seems to be lost unless you make an effort to patch it together yourself by talking to NPC's. I really enjoyed my time playing dark souls and will more than likely play it through several more times when i get the chance. A must buy for any one who likes a challenge.… Expand
  3. Andrewskyy
    Nov 10, 2011
    8
    Great game, it is very fun and challenging. I only gave it an 8 because the graphics engine is far from perfected. Water and stair steps significantly drop frame rates. There's also an infinite soul glitch that makes the game lose its value due to over powering your character. Luckily, the glitch is only possible if you KNOW what you're getting into. Another major turn off was that NewGreat game, it is very fun and challenging. I only gave it an 8 because the graphics engine is far from perfected. Water and stair steps significantly drop frame rates. There's also an infinite soul glitch that makes the game lose its value due to over powering your character. Luckily, the glitch is only possible if you KNOW what you're getting into. Another major turn off was that New Game+ lacked new items and souls. There are no "upgraded" loot, just the same loot as last play through. All and all its a GREAT game, but only worth about 100 hours of play.… Expand
  4. Benjii
    Nov 17, 2011
    8
    I completed this game and decided i should review it based on my opinion. having played demon souls i was aware of the level of difficulty prior and it did not let me down the fights were fun as you learn how enemies fight and the best tactic to counter them and take them down. The bosses were well designed apart from 3 the asylum boss stray demon and the fire version these seemed as theI completed this game and decided i should review it based on my opinion. having played demon souls i was aware of the level of difficulty prior and it did not let me down the fights were fun as you learn how enemies fight and the best tactic to counter them and take them down. The bosses were well designed apart from 3 the asylum boss stray demon and the fire version these seemed as the designers had run out of ideas and added the same boss with an increased difficulty and changed the design slightly. The gamepplay was brilliant i loved the feel of the different weapons and they felt like they had real weight to them and its the same with the armour which forced you to accomodate your gameplay to the choice of weapon and armour you used. another downside was i felt that some of the deaths that occur was cheap compared to demon souls, it was almost as if the game was making sure you perished. before people make the purcahse they should realise that some grinding is needed however it is possible to complete this game without leveling up it just takes alot of patience. After finishing this i tried to play skyrim which i cant get into as it just seems a little bit to easy and i am aware that you can raise difficulty levels, this game is currently my game of the year, and despite some flaws it is still a very good game, now just waiting for the patch to improve the co-op experience… Expand
  5. neoncritic
    May 17, 2012
    9
    From Software delivers another gloriously dark fantasy gem with Dark Souls. It may not be quite as impactful as Demon's Souls but this game is bigger and features a more accessible interface and outlook. Dark Souls also has more to offer on the multiplayer front, introducing Covenants you can join to help or hinder your fellow online adventurers. What remains the same is the punishingFrom Software delivers another gloriously dark fantasy gem with Dark Souls. It may not be quite as impactful as Demon's Souls but this game is bigger and features a more accessible interface and outlook. Dark Souls also has more to offer on the multiplayer front, introducing Covenants you can join to help or hinder your fellow online adventurers. What remains the same is the punishing difficulty, once again it is possible for any enemy to kill you if you let your guard down for even a second, regardless of character level. But with great challenge comes greater rewards and Dark Souls is immensely satisfying when you kill a huge boss, or save someone in co-op. A highly recommendable and engrossing world to explore and conquer in your own unique way.… Expand
  6. i_L_Gunnerz
    Apr 24, 2012
    10
    I found the Visuals to be a bit weak compared to games released in the same time, stuff breaks, blood flows & characters are shiny & detailed but that's about it. but all the other aspects of the game are very very good indeed. it's fun, challenging, satisfying & addictive
  7. RUST
    Jun 11, 2012
    7
    The unfortunate trend of sequel goes as follows; do exactly what you did in the first only do it in instalments and pad it out with features that will only serve to attract additional customers. Yes dear readers, the cold hard truth is that Dark Souls isn't anything near as gratifying or as enjoyable as its predecessor. Avoid the panic button however, since it is still quite easily one ofThe unfortunate trend of sequel goes as follows; do exactly what you did in the first only do it in instalments and pad it out with features that will only serve to attract additional customers. Yes dear readers, the cold hard truth is that Dark Souls isn't anything near as gratifying or as enjoyable as its predecessor. Avoid the panic button however, since it is still quite easily one of the best RPGs we will see for another few years. The co-op component has been tweaked unacceptability so, the difficultly of the previous game has been explored and then ultimately abandoned in favour of magical camp sites and replenish-able health potions and perhaps worse the developer has refused to take a single serious step forward with the core mechanics so beloved in the original. Still a great game, just a very unsatisfactory sequel.… Expand
  8. TravisguyRedux
    Mar 11, 2012
    8
    (8.5 if I could)
    This game is a perfect example of what developers need to aim for:
    -A difficult game that requires thinking. -Actions that have consequences that effect the rest of your play through. -Suspense and a lingering unknown of what's behind the next corner. -A sequel that doesn't **** all over the predecessor Dark Souls took these three points and executed it almost perfectly. I    (8.5 if I could)
    This game is a perfect example of what developers need to aim for:
    -A difficult game that requires thinking.
    -Actions that have consequences that effect the rest of your play through.
    -Suspense and a lingering unknown of what's behind the next corner.
    -A sequel that doesn't **** all over the predecessor Dark Souls took these three points and executed it almost perfectly. I have a few problems with the game though:
    -Lack of dialogue
    -Lack of story telling elements
    -FPS drops pretty often

    If you love tough and addicting game play with no true focus on story and characters, this is the game for you. Although, I would avoid this game if you are seeking a story telling adventure. Make sure to bookmark the Dark Souls Wiki, you're going to need it.    … Expand
  9. gigacorona
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    Dark souls is my personal game of 2011, superb combat, deeply immersive environments, singular online functionality more then outshine its sometimes inconsistent technicals. Exploration and challenging combat in this dark medieval setting is not to be missed.
  10. Beefycougar
    Mar 22, 2012
    9
    First to note, DO NOT GET THIS GAME IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR. This game is already established to be astoundingly difficult, and rightfully so, it can claim to be one of the most difficult games in modern era gaming. Someone who is looking for a good time, a good story or just to have fun will put this game down after just a few hours. The beginning of the game is like runningFirst to note, DO NOT GET THIS GAME IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR. This game is already established to be astoundingly difficult, and rightfully so, it can claim to be one of the most difficult games in modern era gaming. Someone who is looking for a good time, a good story or just to have fun will put this game down after just a few hours. The beginning of the game is like running into a brick wall, but after you get to the first bell ringing, the game begins to open up to become a much larger, much more enjoyable RPG. The combat is one of the most solid, fluid and challengingly simple battle systems I've seen on an action RPG. The careful micromanagement of your health, your stamina. And finding the right window to parry, block, attack and dodge is probably one of the most engaging things you could do. Every enemy is unique, and has their own little quirk that's key to taking them down as gracefully as possible. The bonfire system is a unique aspect, though also a somewhat frustrating one at the same time. Giving you checkpoints you head to so you could level up, and manage your items to prepare for the next step. Currency and experience is shared in a total pool listed under "souls" and while an interesting aspect. Time and time again you do need to see yourself grind to get a couple of your stats up high enough, if it's just to wear new and better weapons or equipment, get a new spell, or just get a small advantage against your adversaries. While more skillful players can progress while keeping grinding to a minimum. Less skilled players will be found doing this because it has less risk than going up against a powerful enemy, getting splattered on the ground somewhere and being forced to start over, going back to pick up the pieces of all your lost experience and coin.

    The graphics? They're pretty good for a modern game, but to call them great or even the best would mark me as a liar. The facial models are horrible. God awful. When you're making your character. You have to spend time shaping their face and it makes me cringe about how deep into the uncanny valley these models sink into. The environment is both varied yet slightly repetitive. The above ground segments and level design is just brilliant. Making it feel like you're going forward, yet when you find a new path, it leads to a familiar area. It feels extremely well planned and very well thought out. Though at other times you'll just wonder how big this giant sewer you're in actually is as you spend time in it for hours and hours on end. The enemies in the game are.. well how do I put it? They can beat your ass. Every single enemy can take you out in just a few good hits, even with you wearing solid armor. They never let up OR go easy on you. You'll need your A game at all times to even consider beating them every time. If you get lazy or tired, these enemies you fought before can get the best of you. Making you rather angry you died to something you've beaten before. The boss battles are obviously both the most exhilarating aspect of this game, when the epic music begins to swell as you behold your behemoth sized foe, tossing about in an ever lasting game of david vs goliath. You with your slingshot, taking every chance you have at dealing a solid hit. It's just pulse pounding once you get past the 2 or 3 times they end up crushing you like a bug. If you do extra well, you even get special items.

    PVP is just a blast to play sometimes. When someone invades your game and you spend minutes going toe to toe to see who is really best. Fighting off another person just made me smile in joy afterward. After hours of frustration for minutes of epic reward. This game is great but it still has a few flaws. It doesn't explain enough for people not familiar with this game type. The controls are slightly awkward to handle, and can be a bit clunky before you master them. It can piss you off at times with the fact it always has a brand spanking new way to piss you off. And because it clocks in at over 50 hours of you doing THE BARE MINIMUM during your first run. It can feel like you're making no progress for hours on end of repetitive combat. The plot is nonexistent, and made me disappointed they did not improve on the meat of the game, the force that drives you to set onward, a hope for progression and a feeling of closure that isn't there. Without the plot, it feels like there's no journey, just one big awesome dungeon crawl and the quest to find more loot. You'll find yourself here for hours as you try new and different characters, builds and equipment, so it has plenty of replay value on it as well.

    Now you are asking yourself, Should I buy this game? My question is, why shouldn't you? One day this game will be seen as a classic, because it should be. I love it even if it hates me.

    So yeah, go out there and get it if you found this review convincing!    … Expand
  11. ChrisF2112
    Jul 10, 2012
    9
    Dark Souls is a fantasticly deep, brilliantly designed game. It is difficult, but if you've played Demon's Souls you should have no problems as it is no more difficult. The clear best part of the game is the combat. The sheer depth of the combat in Dark Souls is incredible. Want to wear heavy armor and wield massive hammers and axes? They have that, but you'll be sacrificing speed andDark Souls is a fantasticly deep, brilliantly designed game. It is difficult, but if you've played Demon's Souls you should have no problems as it is no more difficult. The clear best part of the game is the combat. The sheer depth of the combat in Dark Souls is incredible. Want to wear heavy armor and wield massive hammers and axes? They have that, but you'll be sacrificing speed and mobility for it. How about an assassin who backstabs his foes into submission? You can do that to. The frame rate issues have been well documented, but they are in no means game breaking. I had them occur in area only, and only when fighting one enemy (Blightown, giant bug things). Everywhere else in the game ran flawlessly, and looked beautiful.… Expand
  12. javierich0
    May 17, 2012
    9
    This game is a lot of fun and it has a great combat system. The boss fights are epic, you will easily find yourself playing this for dozens of hours. On the other hand, the controls feel unresponsive at times and the game has some camera problems, specially during boss battles.
  13. Noollab
    Jun 18, 2012
    9
    My first (westernized) Japanese-published game, and I was completely blown away. After having accepted my fate of countless deaths due to clever traps, incredibly exciting bosses and monsters in general, I understood the world that is Dark Souls. This game will test you, and punish you for mistakes. You're going to be both laughing and crying as a result of the many, many deaths, but it'sMy first (westernized) Japanese-published game, and I was completely blown away. After having accepted my fate of countless deaths due to clever traps, incredibly exciting bosses and monsters in general, I understood the world that is Dark Souls. This game will test you, and punish you for mistakes. You're going to be both laughing and crying as a result of the many, many deaths, but it's all apart of the process.
    This game is really a gem, with choices that MATTER, being final and in many cases irreversible, and a multiplayer system that's completely different from what I was used to, but still fun and creative, allowing for both cooperative play and PvP.

    I bought this game purely because of the fact that it had been described as the "hardest video game" (or at least the spiritual successor to just that), and I have NOT been disappointed!

    I had to take one score-point off the perfect ten, because of the poor performance in Blight Town, which was a bit of an annoyance.    … Expand
  14. 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!
  15. 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.
  16. sacredbear
    Sep 10, 2014
    9
    This game is near flawless. Dark Souls tells you everything you need to know about it without saying a word. It is the definition of "show, not tell". Everything from the level design, to the enemies, item descriptions, boss appearances, gives you clues and tells you more about this universe. You can tell the makers of this game paid extremely close attention to everything that wentThis game is near flawless. Dark Souls tells you everything you need to know about it without saying a word. It is the definition of "show, not tell". Everything from the level design, to the enemies, item descriptions, boss appearances, gives you clues and tells you more about this universe. You can tell the makers of this game paid extremely close attention to everything that went into this game. The gameplay itself is very solid, and extremely rewarding. The game's sound design is possibly the best I have heard. I believe that anyone who comes with an open mind and invests some time and effort will find that is was well worthwhile.… Expand
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. 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
  31. 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
  32. 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
  33. 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.
  34. 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
  35. 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.
  36. 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.
  37. 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
  38. 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
  39. 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
  40. 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.
  41. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    Legendary game, play it, this game changed my life for good, all I have for this game is LOVE.
  42. rocco30
    Sep 13, 2019
    10
    Dark Souls is a MASTERPIECE. It's dark, twisted, beautiful, incredibly imaginative and a true challenge.
  43. 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
  44. 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
  45. Nameless2131
    Apr 27, 2020
    10
    best game ever created
    no game can give u so much joy than dark souls after beating it
  46. 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
  47. 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
  48. 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
  49. 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.
  50. 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
  51. 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
  52. 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
  53. 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
  54. RayneMoonfire
    Apr 26, 2020
    10
    Perfect game, one of the very best of 2011 and PS3, this game needs more love.
  55. 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.
  56. 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.
  57. 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
  58. Kiomarv
    Jul 17, 2020
    10
    Навсегда в сердце первый Dark souls! Великолепная игра во всех аспектах
  59. 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
  60. 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.
  61. 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.
  62. 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
  63. 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.
  64. Lm35
    Aug 11, 2020
    10
    Incredible boss battles and a fascinating story, a hard but rewarding game.
  65. MasterMoonfire
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    Dark Souls is a masterpiece and well made Action RPG and the best game of 2011. This is a perfect example of the perfect game by FromSoftware, simple yet satisfying gameplay, great music, amazing atmosphere, attractive environments, and is one of the video games with the best bosses. Dark Souls is very challenging but is fair along with it, the bosses all have their own set of attacks andDark Souls is a masterpiece and well made Action RPG and the best game of 2011. This is a perfect example of the perfect game by FromSoftware, simple yet satisfying gameplay, great music, amazing atmosphere, attractive environments, and is one of the video games with the best bosses. Dark Souls is very challenging but is fair along with it, the bosses all have their own set of attacks and defenses, forcing the player to use strategy. Exploration in the world of Lordran, and NPC interaction is also what makes this game interesting, as it brings out more of the story and some NPCs even fight with you through summoning. This game is a must have for any gamer who enjoys PC/PS3/X360, every gamer must try this game before they die. Dark Souls is without a doubt the best game of the year, and a perfect successor to the already amazing predecessor Demon’s Souls, sure there are frame rate drops while exploring a certain area sometimes, but that gets excused by the great gameplay and doesn’t stop this from getting a 10 out of 10 rating, a masterpiece. If you enjoy action RPG games with amazing dark atmosphere, and a great interconnected world like this, then this is for you.… Expand
  66. MaxieZeus
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    A genre defining masterpiece with excellent combat and challenging enemies and bosses. A must for for people who like to be challenged.
  67. fanbanta1
    Oct 8, 2011
    9
    When i was heading to town to pick this up i thought it can not possibly be as hard as they say and still fun well guess what they are all correct get this game sod rage get this
  68. VidsRule
    Sep 2, 2012
    10
    I remember being in the 'demon souls club' (I just made the up), the days following the release of the game. Awestruck by its greatness. And now countless other get to enjoy the gameplay of Souls. There is no other game,gameplay, atmosphere, and world better than dark souls. It stands alone in numerous areas. Most games can't even stand alone in one. Although Demons Souls will still be theI remember being in the 'demon souls club' (I just made the up), the days following the release of the game. Awestruck by its greatness. And now countless other get to enjoy the gameplay of Souls. There is no other game,gameplay, atmosphere, and world better than dark souls. It stands alone in numerous areas. Most games can't even stand alone in one. Although Demons Souls will still be the game that I was most immersed in in 25 years of video gaming, Dark Souls beats it in most ways. And the difficulty is high, but that's part where the immersion comes from. I still go back to it, and once again I'm perfectly happy playing the same section over and I've again once again. One of the best games ever made. One rule: you must be a hardcore gamer.… Expand
  69. Jalopicus
    May 10, 2014
    3
    I did not like this game but I still finished it (which seems to be relatively unusual). Aside from the difficulty Dark Souls is pretty average. Yes, it is good-looking and atmospheric with a large catalog of combat-related items to collect and manage but no new ground is broken here. The PVP system is an innovative idea but ubiquitous latency issues have essentially transformed it intoI did not like this game but I still finished it (which seems to be relatively unusual). Aside from the difficulty Dark Souls is pretty average. Yes, it is good-looking and atmospheric with a large catalog of combat-related items to collect and manage but no new ground is broken here. The PVP system is an innovative idea but ubiquitous latency issues have essentially transformed it into a griefing mechanic for invaders who like to exploit the laggy netcode.

    The difficulty can indeed be refreshing but reaches diminishing returns when deaths that have little learning value start to pile up. These include, but are not limited to, frumpy hit boxes, oddly-clipping cameras, misinterpreted lock-ons and other things that are basically normal in an RPG engine but are occasionally pushed to the forefront in Dark Souls. Some areas and bosses become more tedious than challenging which takes away from the satisfaction of getting through.    … Expand
  70. JustSagan
    May 21, 2014
    3
    I do not get it. When I heard all the great things about this game, I immediately went out to buy it. I regret ever spending money on it. This game taught me to do more research on games. I honestly think the only reason people like this game is because of how hard it is. This game is hard, but to me its slow, and boring. I creating every type of class in the game, and played through theI do not get it. When I heard all the great things about this game, I immediately went out to buy it. I regret ever spending money on it. This game taught me to do more research on games. I honestly think the only reason people like this game is because of how hard it is. This game is hard, but to me its slow, and boring. I creating every type of class in the game, and played through the game with the different classes just to see if i was missing something. Every time I did, I did not have any fun. I do not have a problem with a hard game. I just have a problem with a boring game, and this is a boring game. so if you are considering getting this game then rent it first. Because what people are praising this game for may be to only thing they like about it.… Expand
  71. Snodog
    Apr 29, 2015
    5
    I'll be fair, this game has a truly amazing world, huge in scale and scope. Different paths can lead to different areas where you've never been and exploring and finding new things is amazing. The RPG element is solid, a solid level up system with your choice of stats and how you want to build your character. There are a staggering amount of items and some do hidden things that you mustI'll be fair, this game has a truly amazing world, huge in scale and scope. Different paths can lead to different areas where you've never been and exploring and finding new things is amazing. The RPG element is solid, a solid level up system with your choice of stats and how you want to build your character. There are a staggering amount of items and some do hidden things that you must discover by yourself. This game is hard. It takes me back to the SNES days of Super Ghosts n' Ghouls difficulty. The game and all of its bosses are very beatable, even if you're the worst possible build for it.

    However, that is also it's downfall. While the world is expansive, I've put upwards of 40 hours in this game and have only seen maybe a third of it. The co-op element is a joke, I couldn't find anyone to play with or help me out of those especially tough situations that maybe my build just wasn't right for. If you watch the speed runners of this game, you'll notice that they all have one thing in common, they skip the exploration, they skip massive amounts of game play and they all have the boss mechanics down to the letter. This game punishes you for trying to figure out its secrets and the rewards are very little to none. Amazing sets of armor are left just lying around with no one guarding them and the item behind the 15 boss clones are usually worthless. The story is tough to figure out too, you're spending so much time grinding souls and avoiding the harder areas of the game that you forget what your goal was in the first place. NPC's are scattered around and some seem to have little purpose until a very specific trigger is met.

    In short, if you're looking for a game to test you, this is it. If you're looking for a game to escape and relax, this is far from it. I do find the fact that you are not, by any means, powerful enough to kill everything by spamming the attack button like in a typical hack and slash refreshing. However, being the ant on the receiving end of a boot gets very old after a while as well. I, unfortunately, gave up on this game when I got to a point where one of the bosses has mini clones guarding absolutely nothing and got stuck behind them when I kindled the fire. I already killed this guy and he was tough enough, now I have to kill 5 for absolutely no reason? I gave it a fair shot, I farmed, I killed probably the first 1/3 of the bosses, and it just got old and boring after a while. I couldn't hoof the long haul but if you feel like you're up to the challenge, prepare for a time sink and grind fest.    … Expand
  72. dcl2000
    Aug 6, 2013
    4
    In order to like this game you'll need to like tedium and frustration. Each time you die you respawn quite far from where you die and have to fight your way through enemies, obstacles you've already surmounted to get back to the part where you died.

    On top of this the game forces you to take time out because e.g. you might get cursed, or need a new weapon. This means you have to do    In order to like this game you'll need to like tedium and frustration. Each time you die you respawn quite far from where you die and have to fight your way through enemies, obstacles you've already surmounted to get back to the part where you died.

    On top of this the game forces you to take time out because e.g. you might get cursed, or need a new weapon. This means you have to do soul farming, killing and respawning lots of times to do the required amount of kills to win the necessary souls. then you go traipsing across the levels you've already completed to find the guy selling the rock weapon whatever before traipsing all the way back. then if you're unlucky, you might get cursed again or your weapon might break again and get to do all this again. not my idea of fun    … Expand
  73. 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
  74. Duekiller
    Nov 4, 2012
    1
    Dark Souls start out in a similar manner to Demon Souls, but unlike Demon Souls - Dark Souls is rife with frustrating deaths and cheap mechanics that lock the player to play the game the way the designers intended instead of being open ended like its predecessor. No longer does the play have the choice of which challange to tackle next, instead we have an RPG on rails due to the designDark Souls start out in a similar manner to Demon Souls, but unlike Demon Souls - Dark Souls is rife with frustrating deaths and cheap mechanics that lock the player to play the game the way the designers intended instead of being open ended like its predecessor. No longer does the play have the choice of which challange to tackle next, instead we have an RPG on rails due to the design scaling enemies by area. Thus if the player is stuck in a specific area he or she can no longer try a different challenge instead the game forces you to try the same long sequence over and over, which can lead to frustration and annoyance. When you have to run the same 15 minute sequence in order to fight that boss that you keep dying with no option of game progression, the game become an exercise in repetition instead of exploration and progression.

    Also, a year after release the game is still rife with frame rate drops, graphical tearing, enemy glitches, and bad clipping. It is incredibaly frustrating when fighting a single skeleton and the game locks up or a two ghosts and the game drops down to single digit fps causing you to miss that roll. The worst though is enemies hitting the player through foliage or solid objects that should be impenetrable.    … Expand
  75. 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
  76. xrarara
    May 5, 2018
    3
    difficulty is based off horrible mechanics. story's cool, everything else is awful. Would never play this game again.
  77. Shoebox
    Mar 14, 2012
    5
    Dark Souls is a game that doesn't really make much sense, it has a lot of glaring problems and it's only advertised feature is that it will actively punish you for playing it. That alone speaks volumes about the game itself, which is both a nightmare to enjoy and wrap your head around. Playing the game is the same as playing any run of the mill MMORPG, with monsters running at you singleDark Souls is a game that doesn't really make much sense, it has a lot of glaring problems and it's only advertised feature is that it will actively punish you for playing it. That alone speaks volumes about the game itself, which is both a nightmare to enjoy and wrap your head around. Playing the game is the same as playing any run of the mill MMORPG, with monsters running at you single file when you approach them and flailing wildly whenever you're in attacking range. The ranged enemies don't try to get a better vantage point when you're behind a wall, instead choosing to fire at the wall that you're standing behind. Many of the trash monsters in the game have one hit kill attacks that they will use as often as possible and the bosses seemingly lack this feature, making them the easiest things in the game to fight. The last boss in particular is a walk in the park. All in all, the game does punish you for playing it and you will die a lot, but the difficulty of the game is really only in line with how much time you intend on investing in farming titanite or souls to advance your character. The online component of the game is peer to peer, meaning much of the things rife in other games, such as laggers, exploiters and hackers, run rampant here as well. Overall, if you're considering buying the game to bring back nostalgia from the games of old, this is the opposite of the game you're looking for. If you're looking for a game that punishes you at every turn, there are free games on the internet that are much more fun and challenging. If you're looking for a difficult role playing game, I'd advise you to get a guide, as there is absolutely no feature documentation in game or the manual. I'm giving the game a five if only for the fact the trophies are easy to acquire and it does tend to be interesting at certain points. However the online and core gameplay is just too tedious to enjoy and reviewing this as a single player experience with intermittent online, there's not enough here unless you want to platinum the game.… Expand
  78. nosebeagle
    Jun 2, 2015
    7
    I know I must be missing something, but I do not understand why a game that re-spawns the same enemies with the same moves after leaving an area and returning can get such epic reviews. This game is based on grinding (always reminds me of South Park when they have to kill boars in the woods for days to get to a high enough level to do anything). I realized I am not a real gamer afterI know I must be missing something, but I do not understand why a game that re-spawns the same enemies with the same moves after leaving an area and returning can get such epic reviews. This game is based on grinding (always reminds me of South Park when they have to kill boars in the woods for days to get to a high enough level to do anything). I realized I am not a real gamer after getting bored with this game after a few hours, and if being a real gamer means not having a life outside of gaming so you can kill the same enemies over and over again...then I am happy being a non-real gamer. If you game for a casual escape from reality, this game is not for you. If you haven't seen the sun in months or have forgotten what year it is in the real world, fire this game up and let the boar slaughter begin!… Expand
  79. Crimson_Air
    Nov 12, 2011
    8
    An absolutely amazing game. Everything from Demon's Souls except done better....well almost everything. I can't agree with Bandai's decision to use a lobby based MP system, makes trying to play with friends near impossible to do, but nonetheless the game is incredibly, the story, while limited still leaves you with enough that it can leave it to your imagination to make it even moreAn absolutely amazing game. Everything from Demon's Souls except done better....well almost everything. I can't agree with Bandai's decision to use a lobby based MP system, makes trying to play with friends near impossible to do, but nonetheless the game is incredibly, the story, while limited still leaves you with enough that it can leave it to your imagination to make it even more compelling. 8/10, with MP being what I really wanted to play it for Dark Souls still delivered everything I wanted from it. Make more amazing games From Software, I look forward to Armored Core 5… Expand
  80. Gompster
    May 30, 2012
    9
    I would prefer to give this game an 8.5. Great game. Love the multi-player component to it. It seemed more difficult than its predecessor, Demon Souls, to summon people however. I love that the story line was simple, diverse enemies and the look and feel of the game.
  81. nonchalantgamer
    Apr 27, 2014
    9
    At first glance i didn't like dark souls because i played demon souls at a friends house once and got demolished so much it turned me off but years later i gave this game a shot and im glad i did. this is one of the most challenging games ive ever played, and as a hardcore gamer i can appreciate that because the feeling of accomplishment you get from beating enemies and progressing forwardAt first glance i didn't like dark souls because i played demon souls at a friends house once and got demolished so much it turned me off but years later i gave this game a shot and im glad i did. this is one of the most challenging games ive ever played, and as a hardcore gamer i can appreciate that because the feeling of accomplishment you get from beating enemies and progressing forward is indescribable. i get a physical adrenaline rush when i finally take down a tough boss that killed me 10 times over and its so satisfying. there is plenty to do in this game to, with numerous places to explore and things to collect within the beautifully designed environment. overall this game is one of the best ive played with a extremely challenging but rewarding system with great mechanics and beautiful level design. death is the ultimate teacher, and im willing to learn from it.… Expand
  82. MushyBird
    Jul 4, 2015
    9
    Don't be fooled by all of the people saying the game is difficult, it's really just a matter of comfort. Dark Souls takes a bit to get used to, but once you've got the controls down and you've figured out how to dodge, parry, and so on, the game turns into a straight up amazing RPG. Once you've gotten comfortable with Dark Souls, the only thing you'll be worrying about is what build you'llDon't be fooled by all of the people saying the game is difficult, it's really just a matter of comfort. Dark Souls takes a bit to get used to, but once you've got the controls down and you've figured out how to dodge, parry, and so on, the game turns into a straight up amazing RPG. Once you've gotten comfortable with Dark Souls, the only thing you'll be worrying about is what build you'll be making for your next play through.

    The level design is top notch, as is the atmosphere. The world is incredibly well built, with everything making geographical sense. Not to mention, there's nary a single impossible space in this game.

    My only real complaint, and a very light one at that, is that the lore and story may be TOO well hidden. Don't get me wrong, both the plot and lore of Dark Souls is great. I still find myself tearing up over Artorias and Sif. However, the only reason I know the plot and lore of this game is because of dedicated Youtube uploaders such as EpicNameBro, TeraMantis, and VaatiVidya (Pre-Patreon, that is...). Although I guess that just goes to show the amazing community around this game.    … Expand
  83. VTL
    Jan 5, 2020
    10
    Obra maestra perfeccion de un gran juego y creador de un genero... No hay mas Dark Souls religion.
  84. 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.
  85. 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
  86. dannydans
    Oct 5, 2013
    2
    who wants to play the same level for a day just because its too dam hard to finish....waist of time and a big waist of money there is no joy in dying 10000000 time .....maybe for you very good gamers out there this is good but otherwise dont get it
  87. pissedoffgamer1
    Jan 5, 2013
    1
    I played this game and hated it the first time I played it, then the second time, then the third and even fourth time. But when i played a fifth time it got a little better. It isn't so hard to get used to the controls even if they do suck so bad they want to make your face explode. I did yell "What the FREAK!!!" quite a few times when I died from pure lack of good controls, and I did hateI played this game and hated it the first time I played it, then the second time, then the third and even fourth time. But when i played a fifth time it got a little better. It isn't so hard to get used to the controls even if they do suck so bad they want to make your face explode. I did yell "What the FREAK!!!" quite a few times when I died from pure lack of good controls, and I did hate the fact that the pretty backgrounds were just that, pretty backgrounds. The internet play sucked the story line sucked, but once you got used to it, it was ok. Definitely not my favorite game though. Ive played worse. What made me the most angry was that you couldn't pause it. It just expects you to play forever. Put the game back in and if it is still too hard to get used to a new game play style then you are a noob.… Expand
  88. JaimeGarcia
    Dec 20, 2013
    3
    Terrible software. Masochism shouldn't even be marketed as fun, which is what somehow happened with this game. Unbelievable to read the amount of 9's and 10's this game got when it is nothing but pure frustration. The worst thing about it are its fanatical followers that just won't see through a thick curtain of bought reviewers and artificial hype.

    A game shouldn't be unforgiving in    Terrible software. Masochism shouldn't even be marketed as fun, which is what somehow happened with this game. Unbelievable to read the amount of 9's and 10's this game got when it is nothing but pure frustration. The worst thing about it are its fanatical followers that just won't see through a thick curtain of bought reviewers and artificial hype.

    A game shouldn't be unforgiving in order to be difficult. Dark Souls isn't only unforgiving but it also shows the middle finger to the player by forcing a sluggish character with pretty consistent input delays into a world filled with enemies that can kill you in the most absurd and random ways.

    Spent hours trying to like this game but couldn't. I got really good at it but had to quit since I realized I was starting to feel really upset since it wasn't really my fault but the game's that I was making little to no progress.

    It is ridiculous and games that push their difficulty in such cheap ways shouldn't be scored that high. According to several people, gamers are masochists and love horrible gameplay mechanics coated with gorgeous graphics.

    Oh wait. That's actually true these days.

    Sad times for gamers.    … Expand
  89. akakakakak
    Oct 18, 2011
    2
    If you think Silver Surfer is the greatest game of all time, and that difficulty means out-of-nowhere deaths that require psychic abilities to avoid, Dark Souls is for you. Everyone else, stay away.
  90. kazmodan
    Nov 14, 2011
    6
    A below average sequel to Demon's Souls. The graphics quality is worse than Demon's Souls. Many jagged lines everywhere and the frame rate plummets considerably whenever there is combat on screen. If it weren't for the frame rate problems I would give this game an 8. The sound and controls are ok. The combat mechanics are superbly done and require thinking. This is not a buttonA below average sequel to Demon's Souls. The graphics quality is worse than Demon's Souls. Many jagged lines everywhere and the frame rate plummets considerably whenever there is combat on screen. If it weren't for the frame rate problems I would give this game an 8. The sound and controls are ok. The combat mechanics are superbly done and require thinking. This is not a button masher's game (which is good!). Enemy boss AI is especially intelligent and challenging (again, a good thing). ______However, the whole game has a "rushed release" feeling to it due to the poor framerate and pedestrian menu system. Maybe the publisher wanted to avoid the holiday rush and therefore ended up "rushing" the release.… Expand
  91. Jacktheripper99
    Jul 14, 2012
    5
    A game that demands a lot out of, but doesn't really give you this sense of reward people keep yapping on about. It's highly recommend that you play Demon Souls first, seeing how the tutorial isn't really that helpful or good here, which it should be, seeing how this isn't a game that suppose to hold your hand at all, and suppose to be hard, which it is. There are also a lot of cheap, andA game that demands a lot out of, but doesn't really give you this sense of reward people keep yapping on about. It's highly recommend that you play Demon Souls first, seeing how the tutorial isn't really that helpful or good here, which it should be, seeing how this isn't a game that suppose to hold your hand at all, and suppose to be hard, which it is. There are also a lot of cheap, and harder enemies across the board now, and you will die a lot, which is the point of the game (trial and error). And the boss battles can be incredibly hard, if you don't know the strategy behind defeating them, or you can simply keep dying, and running back until you get it right, and this is of coarse with enemies you previously kill respawning back, Fun! The graphics have improve a bit, but not to much. There still no worth while story, which isn't the selling point with these games. And the music is fantastic, and better than the first.

    Overall I did beat DS (without soul glitching), and just didn't really fun with this game. DS1 felt right, this DS is pushing you to the limit of frustration, which isn't for me. If you love intense challenges, and constantly getting beat down, with no advantages insight then this is for you. You'll get you money worth if this is your cup of tea.    … Expand
  92. Insaner
    Oct 22, 2011
    0
    There is a great deal of difference between being challenging and being unfair. This game is simply unfair, and, as someone said, this is the kind of game that you play just to say you played it. There is nothing to like here: is just a struggle, like putting yourself on diet, or working your biceps to exaustion at the gym. I could play this game for a wage, not for free. And if I think IThere is a great deal of difference between being challenging and being unfair. This game is simply unfair, and, as someone said, this is the kind of game that you play just to say you played it. There is nothing to like here: is just a struggle, like putting yourself on diet, or working your biceps to exaustion at the gym. I could play this game for a wage, not for free. And if I think I even payed for this one, well, I can just blame myself...… Expand
  93. nmaxw63
    Nov 2, 2011
    0
    Demon's Souls was/is 1 of the best games I've ever played. the balance between frustration & reward was perfect. every death was your fault. I have never put so many hours into a game.
    as spiritual successor, dark souls lacks the same balance & polish the graphics are an improved, however the character animations are a step backwards - my deprived runs like a legless chicken. the levels    Demon's Souls was/is 1 of the best games I've ever played. the balance between frustration & reward was perfect. every death was your fault. I have never put so many hours into a game.
    as spiritual successor, dark souls lacks the same balance & polish the graphics are an improved, however the character animations are a step backwards - my deprived runs like a legless chicken. the levels in DS were tight, the game was about itching forward. in going more 'open world' ds loses the focus that DS had. o
    the combat feels sluggish in comparison, & there's a noticeable lag betwixt button press & action. every time, bar 1, I've died in my short time with dark souls, I felt it was the game at fault, not me.
    I score half what I give Demon's Souls minus 1 for disappointment.
    Return game to shop, back to Demon's Souls, maybe get Skyrim?    … Expand
  94. aspentitan
    Aug 10, 2014
    8
    Seriously, any game you have played over 100 hrs at least deserves an 8, 9 or 10 rating. I'm going to go with an 8 rating because up until a certain point I had a great time but then this game lost my interest. The reason I have a love-hate relationship with this game is because the more I play Dark Souls the more I realize how bad it is compared to its inspirational game, Demon Souls.Seriously, any game you have played over 100 hrs at least deserves an 8, 9 or 10 rating. I'm going to go with an 8 rating because up until a certain point I had a great time but then this game lost my interest. The reason I have a love-hate relationship with this game is because the more I play Dark Souls the more I realize how bad it is compared to its inspirational game, Demon Souls. Demon Souls was crafted as a very cruel but fair encounter and for that reason very enjoyable. A game which required you to get better and learn some moves and all the enemies. What was great about Demons Souls was you could wiggle your way through it eventually by varying your strategies and paying attention to detail.....I cannot say the same about Dark Souls. I do love love how they made this game more open world concept, this is far superior in that respect, and I love all the new enemies so kudos there. However, Dark Souls was crafted as super annoying and really very limited in your approach to enemies. This game for me was a grind as i felt so many of the stats were meaningless and there was only one super approach to most enemies and bosses. For me this made the game unbearably annoying and boring. Online was a joke as the game is based on fatique and speed and lag ruins all that....constant backstabs out of nowhere. Not only that but defensive damage taken seems quite similar at level 10 as at level 115 with better armor.....(hello stats??? wtf??). Every area had at least one developer cheese area even if you knew the trap by an initial suicide run you were doomed to repeat a cheap area over and over. I cant actually say much nice about Dark Souls except it seems similar to Demons Souls. I find the end result a turnoff. I put in 200 hrs and it was fun getting to the realization point that this game is not a better version of Demons Souls, it actually is a worse spinoff of platforming memorization and a grind more than rpg. I didn't find the controls and weapons responsive to the same subtle degree as Demons Souls and consequently I just ended up becoming bored of this game. Unlike Demons Souls I feel that Dark Souls makes you grind ahead of playing a patient style of your choice. True, you do have to be patient but my point is as you grind you improve far more as a character than your choice of upgrading. Offensive stats seem to matter, defensive stats do not. On top of this I felt the camera and false locks ons were annoyingly broken as much or even more than Demons Souls where it also needed a huge amount of fix, and screen tearing was an issue in many battles in tight areas. Overall, I really enjoyed this game until I uncovered how bad the repetition of the game was caused by cheapshots and lack of responsiveness towards character upgrades, then it dropped off like a rock into pure boredom. It just got so old grinding levels and getting stronger stats per level than actually learning better combat and feeling those loot runs pay out. I'm having a hard time describing my complaint but what I'm trying to get at is as you level up you automatically become better at the game rather than the effort you put into say finding and chosing better armor and putting skill points into strength for example. I just don't feel the upgrades, just the grind. For me the game is so close to my expectations of fantasy rpg but not so much that I don't feel the software and development is also lacking and could use some upgrading.… Expand
  95. KletassVanDam
    Oct 16, 2011
    1
    I had fun setting up my character, and starting thru the tutorial... That's about it. After I escape the first dungeon, I meet a knight and decide to fight him and take his soul (I'm a thief in the game after all...). He kills me in 3 hits... Fine, try again. Respawn/reload the game, he kills me again! The fighting is so lame... He hits me, and my character has to go thru this delayedI had fun setting up my character, and starting thru the tutorial... That's about it. After I escape the first dungeon, I meet a knight and decide to fight him and take his soul (I'm a thief in the game after all...). He kills me in 3 hits... Fine, try again. Respawn/reload the game, he kills me again! The fighting is so lame... He hits me, and my character has to go thru this delayed reaction/animation, realizing he's getting hit, and by the time I regain control, I'm hit again, then dead... again. Fine, can't fight him, I'll reload the game and run away. Nope, he just follows me no matter where I go, and how far I run. My hits are so weak, they barely register, and of course, he has no slow down from my hits, just continues thru his attack motion as if I'm not hitting him multiple times. 9 Deaths later, and screaming at he TV, i quit. Not fun. Why not at least "reset the scene" if the player is killed? If it was a mistake to fight the first character I meet, why not let me learn that, and leave him be. Do i have to restart the whole game, and go thru the tutorial dungeon all over again? How many similar situations would ruin my evenings if I decided to keep this torture session disguised as a video game? I would have loved to play with a friend to help me, why restrict me from doing so? Muliplayer i random and can't be coordinated. Not fun. I gave it a rest and tried again the next day, still not fun. At all. Trading it in for Batman Arkham City.… Expand
  96. 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
  97. TheEighthDay
    Nov 14, 2011
    3
    This game just doesn't have quality like I guess I'm used to. The idea that a full screen announcement comes on to tell me that "You Lit The Bonfire" as if it was a significant achievement confuses me, especially since the game hides some much other information that is crucial for understanding how to play the game. The character classes are obscure and magic is pretty much a joke asThis game just doesn't have quality like I guess I'm used to. The idea that a full screen announcement comes on to tell me that "You Lit The Bonfire" as if it was a significant achievement confuses me, especially since the game hides some much other information that is crucial for understanding how to play the game. The character classes are obscure and magic is pretty much a joke as everyone has to engage in melee combat due to the restrictive amount of spells that exist in the first 6 hours I put in the game. Since there is a heavy reliance upon melee combat and health is so crucial the game becomes even more difficult if you pick a lower vitality, magic strong class. And the game is difficult, but the difficulty comes not from the game itself but from the horrible UI and controls. I died more from fumbling my controls than I ever did from underestimating my enemy and the heavy fog of ignorance the game keeps you in that hides some of the games mechanics is the other side of the difficulty. I don't know why people enjoy a game that makes it hard for you to enjoy its many aspects but this game succeeded. I mean, the starting gift you choose, what could be more obscure and then overly useless than blindly picking an item from that list. I would have rather it not existed at all since the item I picked was never useful for me.

    The online aspect of the game is usually most prominent in messages left on the ground, many of them stating this: "I'm tired of this"

    How useful. I died to a boss because I rolled off a cliff, unintentionally, I didn't want to roll my hand just happened to mash down R3. I died to a simple skeleton archer because I accidentally unequipped my shield in the midst of battle when trying to quickly switch to the healing potion from some bombs I was using. Bad controls should not be the main contributor to a games "difficulty" level. The targeting system also needs some help...which is another part of, I guess, the difficulty. Fix the controls, sloppy controls are never fun, fix the targeting, and provide more information about items and the overall why for running around in the world so I can enjoy the world you created and I'd rate this game much higher.    … Expand
  98. neuralsturgeon
    Oct 9, 2011
    2
    Inferior to the original in every way. After the initial "tutorial" area (which is reminiscent of the original and well-executed), I ran into a multitude of problems. Within a span of five minutes, I got stuck in a tombstone, attacked by teleporting skeletons (not INTENTIONALLY teleporting skeletons, which I'd be cool with), had my vision blocked by a giant crow, encountered massiveInferior to the original in every way. After the initial "tutorial" area (which is reminiscent of the original and well-executed), I ran into a multitude of problems. Within a span of five minutes, I got stuck in a tombstone, attacked by teleporting skeletons (not INTENTIONALLY teleporting skeletons, which I'd be cool with), had my vision blocked by a giant crow, encountered massive slowdown and fell through a flight of stairs causing the game to lock up (and after restarting the system the game proceeded to berate me for turning it off without saving). I plan on changing this review if/when a patch comes out, but the game is completely unplayable for me at the moment. It's like trying to play Super Meat Boy with a trackball. I've tested 2 copies of the game on 3 separate PS3's, so it's not an isolated issue. Whomever was responsible for QA should be fired.

    Also, judging by other people's comments, it seems like user reviews are being pulled from the site...? What kind of crap is that?    … Expand
  99. Pivot1022
    Jan 4, 2012
    5
    Blighttown... Just **** blighttown. Oh god the problems start showing up there faster then i have ever seen in a game. Blighttown is one of the WORST areas i have ever seen in any video game. 1. When you first get to the first bonfire (on the bridge) You are never getting out of blighttown... all it is, is **** platform after platform after platform, with ladders that you have no clueBlighttown... Just **** blighttown. Oh god the problems start showing up there faster then i have ever seen in a game. Blighttown is one of the WORST areas i have ever seen in any video game. 1. When you first get to the first bonfire (on the bridge) You are never getting out of blighttown... all it is, is **** platform after platform after platform, with ladders that you have no clue where they go. And if you didn't bring enough **** for curing toxic, or poison, YOU ARE **** "Oh hey this might be the way out *Fall* FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" 2. The camera becomes an enemy in this part as it will **** you up any chance it gets. 3. You will fall off tons of platforms when fighting. 4. One way this game try's to be harder then demon souls is by making you fight 2-3 guys at once, well here you're in very tight spaces, with little room to move, and you have to fight A gaint fat **** and some troll like thing. and you will fall off. 5. I get people like the whole "figure it out you'reself" but here I JUST WANT TO GET OUT TO BUY CURES FOR TOXIC! but i can't cause blighttown is so badly made.… Expand
  100. iOnlySam
    Apr 16, 2013
    5
    This game is NOT for a wide ranged audience. It is for loved true RPG fans. It has a detailed system of weapons spells and armour. Good graphics and a long winded campaign. It isn't a game for me, but for someone who likes RPGs and strategic massive open world games, it's a seller.
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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.
    Read full review
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