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. Avin
    Nov 12, 2011
    0
    I have never written a review for a game before but I feel that in this case I need to. If nothing else than to lower the user score of this game ever so slightly so that someone else won't have to go through what I did. In short the game is unplayable and I would like to explain why so as both not to get flamed and just banished to the bottom of the pile as another person who says "itsI have never written a review for a game before but I feel that in this case I need to. If nothing else than to lower the user score of this game ever so slightly so that someone else won't have to go through what I did. In short the game is unplayable and I would like to explain why so as both not to get flamed and just banished to the bottom of the pile as another person who says "its too hard waaaaaah". I do not deny that the game is hard and I have no problem with difficult games, I went through battletoads, Ninja Gaiden Series and Devil May Cry on the hardest of difficulty settings. However Dark souls is not a game end of. There is no reason this game has a score as high as it does but I suspect that it is where it is on metacritic because of very clever marketing ie One guy says this game sucks his friend says no its just hard you are being a **** its the same as saying "I can't punch my way through this wall" "well clearly you aren't trying hard enough and are just too weak". Thats what Dark Souls feels like to me. One of the main things is wrong with the game is the controls and the lag from pressing buttons to the character actually doing something. There is simply no reason for this kind of lag not on a console game. I have designed games before and the point is to make the character an extension of the player, the closer you come to that point where the player ceases controlling the character and the character becomes an extension of that player the better. Please take a look at this game and ask yourself why is it difficult is it because it requires me to think more about my actions, requires me to have lightning nay superhuman reflexes, or is it simply because the games bad game mechanics shoe horn you into a play style that goes against every natural instinct.… Expand
  2. BonalsII
    Apr 27, 2013
    4
    This is not a horrible game, that being said it is not a good game either. It has very minimal story and once you get going you realize that its basically a grind fest. The difficulty is overrated, its not hard because your opponents are smarter than you, and you need to figure out tactics to beat them,its difficult because the are stronger than you, the game plays like this. Get killed byThis is not a horrible game, that being said it is not a good game either. It has very minimal story and once you get going you realize that its basically a grind fest. The difficulty is overrated, its not hard because your opponents are smarter than you, and you need to figure out tactics to beat them,its difficult because the are stronger than you, the game plays like this. Get killed by a big strong guy 10 levels stronger than you, grind out 11 levels, beat strong guy, go two feet, rinse repeat. It just gets really boring really fast. One thing that is a major nuisance is the lack of a pause feature, for people who get telephone calls or occasionally have someone knock at their door or simply have to take a piss, you have to either find a relatively safe place to stand, die, or use an item to transport to your campsite, i guess the reasoning is that it makes it more difficult where in reality it's just annoying.… Expand
  3. Neian
    Oct 5, 2011
    2
    Horrible. That is the best way to sum up this game. Extremely difficult to the point of complete insanity. Make one mistake and you have to repeat an hours worth of play to get back to the same area. No story line what-so-ever. No explanation of what different symbols, stats, etc mean on your character. The game was definitely banking on previous reputation. Controls are very buggyHorrible. That is the best way to sum up this game. Extremely difficult to the point of complete insanity. Make one mistake and you have to repeat an hours worth of play to get back to the same area. No story line what-so-ever. No explanation of what different symbols, stats, etc mean on your character. The game was definitely banking on previous reputation. Controls are very buggy with multiple button combos almost pointless because you can never get them to work.… Expand
  4. ohboy382
    Nov 10, 2011
    2
    This game is simply not worth playing. it contains a decent amount of flaws, such as, the lack of multiplayer and co-op as the devs have promised that it would be included, you are unable to change your difficulty and the character creation is horrible. there is no beauty in this game so if you want a dead or broken game with horrible voice acting, then this game is for you.
  5. TooGoods
    Nov 19, 2011
    4
    Good game, but the cheap deaths is a very negative aspect to this game, and there's a lot of it. The story is not as good as Dark Souls and the absence of a central "Nexus" also ruins this game for me. I feel that the bosses are also not as memorable as Dark Souls. Another negative thing is that the game is full of people who spam "soul" glitches to reach levels that are far too highGood game, but the cheap deaths is a very negative aspect to this game, and there's a lot of it. The story is not as good as Dark Souls and the absence of a central "Nexus" also ruins this game for me. I feel that the bosses are also not as memorable as Dark Souls. Another negative thing is that the game is full of people who spam "soul" glitches to reach levels that are far too high (300-700) to even challenge against when you are in certain covenants such as the Darkmoon covenant.… Expand
  6. Bizmal
    Nov 9, 2011
    4
    Simply put they advertised a game with Co-Op and Multiplayer. The game has none of that. Once again peer to peer networking is the bane of gaming,. They say the multiplayer is working as intended. Here's my stats.
    72 Hrs of gaming I have summoned someone twice and I have been invaded once. My friends all have the same issue. This is pretty much a single player game. It is no Demon Souls.    Simply put they advertised a game with Co-Op and Multiplayer. The game has none of that. Once again peer to peer networking is the bane of gaming,. They say the multiplayer is working as intended. Here's my stats.
    72 Hrs of gaming I have summoned someone twice and I have been invaded once. My friends all have the same issue. This is pretty much a single player game. It is no Demon Souls. Ps3 did it right the first time with DEDICATED SERVERS.    … Expand
  7. Rb420
    Mar 29, 2019
    0
    Game lacks the shine of bloodborne and I played this after so it’s very jarring expiernce
  8. Glowguy
    Jul 11, 2013
    8
    While Dark souls is a great game there is nothing really revolutionary about it. All the major gameplay elements were already in place in the previous installment and I think Demon's Souls is the better game in terms of innovation and execution. I played Dark Souls first and I was shocked at how much of the game's content was outright lifted from Demon's when I went back and played itWhile Dark souls is a great game there is nothing really revolutionary about it. All the major gameplay elements were already in place in the previous installment and I think Demon's Souls is the better game in terms of innovation and execution. I played Dark Souls first and I was shocked at how much of the game's content was outright lifted from Demon's when I went back and played it (from bosses to level design to game mechanics and online play). I can certainly see why the retained the basic mechanics since that was such a strong point but transferring actual game content just seemed lazy to me. I'm not sure why the developers did this but it seems like maybe they rushed things a bit at the end. So while I was kind of blown away with Dark Souls at first the game seemed much less impressive after playing Demon's Souls.

    Dark Souls really shines in the two areas level design and monsters. I thought From did an awesome job creating an interconnected world with more variety and it was a blast getting lost in the world itself. I thought the bonfire dynamic was a nice touch and a slight improvement over the prior nexus design.    … Expand
  9. Caestus
    Mar 9, 2014
    9
    The bonfire system is an improvement to the nexus system from demon´s souls, which I did not like that much. The frame rate drops, especially in Blighttown, are annoying but the battle system plus the dark and intense atmosphere are really well-made and the soul of Dark Souls itself.
  10. AlienSpaceBats
    Mar 31, 2015
    8
    I can't think of a single other game (other than Demon's Souls) that's so purposely challenging, oldschool and meticulously crafted. Forget quest markers, dull NPCs spouting novellas full of dialogue and even duller codices crammed with useless information, Dark Souls throws that all out the window, and we're back to player driven exploration, the necessity of using your brain and yourI can't think of a single other game (other than Demon's Souls) that's so purposely challenging, oldschool and meticulously crafted. Forget quest markers, dull NPCs spouting novellas full of dialogue and even duller codices crammed with useless information, Dark Souls throws that all out the window, and we're back to player driven exploration, the necessity of using your brain and your eyes as well as the most devilish risk/reward system I've seen in a game for a long time. It's not for everyone though, and an unsuccessful first few hours will drive away everyone who isn't utterly compelled by the game.… Expand
  11. Theguyoffire
    Nov 18, 2012
    8
    Extremely hard and frustrating yet addictive and fun. It is a much better game then skyrim.
  12. Muuvinki
    Mar 14, 2013
    8
    Good game but you better be prepared to die alot. This game has a huge difficulty right from the start and bosses and enemies are tough. You might feel huge frustration while playing this game but if you can overcome that, then this is easily one of the most best games to ps3.
  13. Silverbow
    Dec 22, 2012
    9
    I had this game for 14 months, in that time I played it on and off for 8 hours total game time. Something kept bringing me back to it, but 30 mins into a session I would rage quit without fail. Then I spent some time online and read every single last piece of advice on the game. Where do I find the best armor, where do I find a good starting weapon (drake sword), where is the firstI had this game for 14 months, in that time I played it on and off for 8 hours total game time. Something kept bringing me back to it, but 30 mins into a session I would rage quit without fail. Then I spent some time online and read every single last piece of advice on the game. Where do I find the best armor, where do I find a good starting weapon (drake sword), where is the first blacksmith (upgrade your starting weapon ASAP), how do I kill this dude... you get the idea.

    I went back to it this weekend. On Friday evening Havel must have killed me 40 times, but eventually he fell :)
    It's been a joy ever since, this is quite possibly the best game I've ever played. You just need to be patient and use your brain, read advice on the net and open your eyes while playing. And NEVER panic.

    In the past I often felt that I would never get that feeling of power from this game. In something like Diablo 3 it is sooo easy to feel powerful, but that's because of your character and your gear, a blind monkey can play D3 if the character has good gear. The beauty of dark souls is that gear takes you only so far, it's your skill level (yes you on the couch fatty) that determines your success, and that is awesome.

    I hardly die at all anymore, unless I'm facing off against a proper boss, the mini bosses don't even scare me.

    The world design is fantastic, there is so much to explore in such a small area. The interface is terrible, but after a while you get things done very quickly, it's just not what we've come to expect from modern game interfaces.

    The heavy feel that combat has to it is so addictive, I think that's what kept me coming back. How I wish Skyrim felt like this.

    I love this game, but I don't recommend it to everyone. It's unforgiving if you are impatient or unwilling to learn from your mistakes. As stated earlier, it's your skill that makes you succeed, not your character stats or your gear. Sure, those things help, but you make the difference.    … Expand
  14. jeef1523
    Dec 14, 2012
    9
    This game takes the difficulty and challenges in a very different level, although it's not good for some people, that find the idea of learning with your mistakes over and over again disturbing, the challenges offered can make many other people dive into the greatness that the game offers.It's nothing but a shame that not everyone can play it and enjoy it the same way, it's not a game forThis game takes the difficulty and challenges in a very different level, although it's not good for some people, that find the idea of learning with your mistakes over and over again disturbing, the challenges offered can make many other people dive into the greatness that the game offers.It's nothing but a shame that not everyone can play it and enjoy it the same way, it's not a game for everyone, but it does a very good job entertaining those that are fit for it.… Expand
  15. MDG397
    May 4, 2013
    9
    I love a good challenge in a video game, but this game is not a challenge. It's an attempt to drive you insane by making you feel like you're nothing. People argue that the extreme difficulty will make you feel satisfied when you beat a hard boss or a hard level, but I didn't feel satisfied once while playing this game. I did maybe for the first thirty seconds after beating a boss, butI love a good challenge in a video game, but this game is not a challenge. It's an attempt to drive you insane by making you feel like you're nothing. People argue that the extreme difficulty will make you feel satisfied when you beat a hard boss or a hard level, but I didn't feel satisfied once while playing this game. I did maybe for the first thirty seconds after beating a boss, but that didn't last long because you're forced into another hard level afterwards. The game isn't even fun, mainly because of its combat system and level system. When you level up, your stats are hardly even increased, and you need a lot of souls(currency) to level up. Let me add that once you die, all of your souls are gone, but you can get them back by going back to where you died. If you die again without getting your souls back, they're just gone forever and there's no way to get them back. I know that your equipment is more important than your stats, but to play the game and not die every five minutes you'll need some really good equipment, and that's not easy to find. The combat system is seriously among the worst that I've ever seen in any video game, and it gets really repetitive. Block, attack, block again, attack again, repeat. Progressing in this game is a nightmare, it's entirely composed of trial and error, which is a horrible way to make a game. Needless to say, with constant trial and error and constantly dying, the game is no fun at all. The online features are also bad and completely unnecessary, you can either summon someone to join your game, or someone will just join your game automatically and mess everything up for you. Being allowed to let someone else join your game to help you is a nice feature, but just having someone butting into your game without you wanting them is just a terrible decision, and I really can't stress that enough. They'll just try to kill you, and mess everything up. They'll most likely have the best equipment and kill you like nothing, like the game wasn't already terrible enough without that feature. As an attempt to make the game a little easier, the developers put in a feature where you can leave messages to help other people, but most of the time what the messages say isn't helpful at all. Most of the time the messages I saw said "praise the sun!" which isn't the slightest bit helpful. I also saw things like "jump" at an edge of a big drop. I also saw stupid things like "I did it!" in random places, none of those things are helpful at all. The game is also completely absent of a story. So to summarize, the game has an unfair, brutal difficulty, terrible combat, poor level system, bad and unnecessary online features, progression that consists entirely of trial and error, annoying messages, gameplay that just isn't fun, and a nonexistent story. The one online feature that actually works is letting other people into your game to help you, which is the only reason I gave it a 1 and not a 0. Dark Souls is possibly the most overrated game of this console generation.… Expand
  16. Anarchy_Reaper7
    Mar 24, 2013
    9
    This is the best game ever hands down! The difficult of this game remind me of what old school games in the 80s and 90s used to be like including Castlevania, Contra, Ninja Gaiden, etc. The people who gave this game a low score must be casual gamers that want every game to be easy like Call of Duty for example. This game may not be for everyone but it mostly for hardcore gamer like me,This is the best game ever hands down! The difficult of this game remind me of what old school games in the 80s and 90s used to be like including Castlevania, Contra, Ninja Gaiden, etc. The people who gave this game a low score must be casual gamers that want every game to be easy like Call of Duty for example. This game may not be for everyone but it mostly for hardcore gamer like me, that want a challenge and the long length of the game and that are sick of modern games going water down and give us 4-6 hours single player length and getting rip off from 60$ games. This game has everything what hardcore gamer want. If you want a hard enemies, then you have it. If you want hard bosses, then you have it also. Struggling to see what items or weapons that is useful to you, then you have it. I love the dark atmosphere of this game. It make you feel like that there is no hope and everything want to kill you. After killing the boss that you have hard time on, it feel satisfies and rewarding. Anyone who never played Demon Souls like me, you haven't missed a thing but it take time to get used to the control and the game play. If your hardcore gamer like me who looking for a challenge, i would highly recommend to pick this up and also pick up the DLC of this game.… Expand
  17. Morfiss
    Jan 29, 2013
    8
    This game is so awesome! I love how this game is so brutal to noobs and it punishes you for not strategizing before a boss fight. Almost all the bosses are really fun to fight (not the Bed of Chaos). Theres heaps of cool items to collect. Every boss you kill rewards you greatly. The Lore is great if you ever look up the lore on youtube. This game can be really unpredictable. The graphics,This game is so awesome! I love how this game is so brutal to noobs and it punishes you for not strategizing before a boss fight. Almost all the bosses are really fun to fight (not the Bed of Chaos). Theres heaps of cool items to collect. Every boss you kill rewards you greatly. The Lore is great if you ever look up the lore on youtube. This game can be really unpredictable. The graphics, landscape and detail is amazing. The NPCs have their own character and the decisions you make on how to approach things can effect the rest of your gameplay however the PVP is terrible. Most PVP in this game involves some sort of cheap tactic such as: Super OP Magic, Lagstabbing, Hacking and Ganking.… Expand
  18. infamaniac23
    Feb 20, 2013
    9
    This is the absolute best RPG of this generation. Story the story is very interesting and deep, it isn't told to you, you have to discover it by yourself, which increases the replay value by a lot. gameplay absolutely amazing if I were to explain everything now it would take way too long. Graphics on an artistic view beautiful on a technical view ok. Sound voice acting is fine but nothingThis is the absolute best RPG of this generation. Story the story is very interesting and deep, it isn't told to you, you have to discover it by yourself, which increases the replay value by a lot. gameplay absolutely amazing if I were to explain everything now it would take way too long. Graphics on an artistic view beautiful on a technical view ok. Sound voice acting is fine but nothing special but the music is just amazing from boss themes or just laying around a bonfire it's subtle and epic at the same time. Overall easily a 10/10… Expand
  19. MisterNoodles
    Apr 2, 2013
    9
    This game is very fun and well designed. It is the first time I have ever died in a long time. Sadly most recent games like Skyrim or Fable 3 are far too easy. When I walk into a room I instantly know I can clear it. And just this morning when I was playing Skyrim I sat there being bored out of my mind as the same poorly designed and easy to kill NPCs charged at me. I than pulled out DarkThis game is very fun and well designed. It is the first time I have ever died in a long time. Sadly most recent games like Skyrim or Fable 3 are far too easy. When I walk into a room I instantly know I can clear it. And just this morning when I was playing Skyrim I sat there being bored out of my mind as the same poorly designed and easy to kill NPCs charged at me. I than pulled out Dark Souls and got killed within the first five minutes by a fire breathing dragon. This game is beyond hard which makes it so interesting. It may lack side quests and a main storyline, but I have rarely played a game where it actually tests your ability not to die. Most games these days make combat as simple as press one button. This is one of my favorite games and deserves some credit.… Expand
  20. KarjoTheCat
    Apr 26, 2013
    9
    I would like to start off with my positive thoughts of this wounderful game called Dark Souls. Firstly I am going to talk about the single player, Dark souls is very hard but a very easy game at the same time for you see that the game teaches you to play it very well, but punishing you if you don't try hard. My second point is about the story or lore of the game which is done in a goodI would like to start off with my positive thoughts of this wounderful game called Dark Souls. Firstly I am going to talk about the single player, Dark souls is very hard but a very easy game at the same time for you see that the game teaches you to play it very well, but punishing you if you don't try hard. My second point is about the story or lore of the game which is done in a good way, it makes the community work together to find the meaning by hind this dark story and how characters desive you to to their will ect. Thirdly is the gameplay which is spot on. Weapons sound and move like you would expect and the enemies are effect by you attack as you would expect. My last point is about the muilt player, there are two modes where one is to help another player though an area and the second is to kill them, they are both balanced and very fun. Unfortunately with all good games they have bad parts to them and Dark souls is no exception. Firstly is the terrible FPS lag in some areas of the game, and I am not going to lie and say I don't know why it is laggy there. Second point is that is very laggy online for Australians such as my self, but I do not know how it is in other places such as the USA or Japan. Due to the negitive points above I have to give Dark Souls a 9/10 but I recommend it to every one who has the rage suppression skills to cope with it. Thanks for reading, KarjoTheCat.… Expand
  21. CatsPawDigital
    May 19, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls, like Demon's Souls before it, is a truly wonderful game. There is (excluding Demon's Souls, of course) no other game out there now quite like it.

    That said, this game is not for everyone. Call of Duty and God of War this is not, and if you try to run through the game and mash buttons at your undead adversaries, you will have your behind handed to you in short order, and    Dark Souls, like Demon's Souls before it, is a truly wonderful game. There is (excluding Demon's Souls, of course) no other game out there now quite like it.

    That said, this game is not for everyone. Call of Duty and God of War this is not, and if you try to run through the game and mash buttons at your undead adversaries, you will have your behind handed to you in short order, and you'll deserrve it. If you have no patience, if you're easily frustrated, if you have a habit of throwing your controller when your character dies, this game is probably not for you.

    On the other hand, for those who can brave the game's challenges, the rewards are nothing short of amazing. I'm not talking about what the game gives you, although the souls of bosses can be used to make some pretty nice weapons and armor; I'm talking about about the truly wonderful sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering the games challenges, and the unparalleled bragging rights that come from finally beating the game.

    The story, such of it as there is, is forgetable, but this isn't actually a problem; you make the story yourself, going where you want and doing what you want, limited only by your ability to survive the denizens of whatever area you're exploring. This is actually a clever way to guide the player down a certian path; you are almost never limited in your choice of paths by the games scripting, its simply that unless you go a certian way you simply will not survive. This doesn't mean the game punishes exploration; quite the opposite, in fact, but it does require a change of tactics. Often a suicide run will reward players with a rare weapon or armor set, costing nothing but whatever souls the player happened to be carrying at the time. Death, you see, is never permanent in Dark Souls and you can even regain the souls you lost- provided you can fight your way back to your bloodstain and touch it.

    There is no challenge within the game that cannot be overcome with patience, skill and -like any good RPG- a little grinding. Or, if you play online, you can enlist the phantoms of other players to help you. You can join covenants to earn rewards- and sometimes be summoned to fight off or hunt other players. If you're feeling evil, you can invade another player's game as a black phantom and try and make off with that player's souls or humanity.

    There is no voice chat or messaging system in dark souls, and players may only communicate directly through gestures and this leads to a curious code of conduct where black phantoms bow to their defeated victims, a far cry from the indecencies and obscenities often directed at the vanqished in cames such CoD and Halo. Indirect communication is possible via an item called 'soapstone' which allows a player to leave a message in a certian spot that anybody playing online can see. Caution must be exercised, however, when one comes to a message that says something like 'treasure ahead' at the edge of a cliff. Not everyone is honest.

    Dark Souls doesn't try to be anything other than what it is, and what it is is an experience that (once again, excluding Demon's Souls) is quite like anything else you've played, an experience that you will either love or hate. But no game is perfect, and Dark Souls is not without a few glitches. During my first playthrough, two minor bosses simply committed suicide, one of them while was half of the in-game world away. An undead rat got stuck in a wall, pieces of broken boxes were left suspended in mid-air and sometimes the bodies of defeated enemies got stuck around my character's feet for a few seconds as if they were rag dolls. Victory in one particular boss fight, Bed of Chaos, although not a bug in itself seemed to rely less on skill than simple dumb luck (although I persevered and was eventually victorious) and I came close to throwing my controller myself.

    All in all, considering what Dark Souls is intended to be it is very hard to actually criticize it, and I loved every frustrating, agnoizing minute of it. And, in the end, if someone tells me "I beat Halo 4 on legendary" I'll reply "So?" But if they tell me they beat Dark Souls offline, their skills as a gamer will have earned my honest and instant respect.    … Expand
  22. TheFairCritic
    May 30, 2013
    9
    This game is truly a masterpiece. A modern classic if i can say so myself without sounding like a pretentious douche. It combines the oh so perfect controls with the monster slaying loot hunting action. The games main focus is on the "learn from your mistakes" pattern. The controls handle perfectly and i have not encountered any moments of "yanky" controls. Why this game has not been wellThis game is truly a masterpiece. A modern classic if i can say so myself without sounding like a pretentious douche. It combines the oh so perfect controls with the monster slaying loot hunting action. The games main focus is on the "learn from your mistakes" pattern. The controls handle perfectly and i have not encountered any moments of "yanky" controls. Why this game has not been well received by users and/or popular critics alike is because they think they are going to breeze through the content to see whats so hyped and fun about the game, but ends up laying face down in the mud due to lack of patience/concentration and then basically saying that the game is because they did not have patience enough to interpret the enemies actions and patterns. As long as you learn what that you are fighting is doing then the game suddenly becomes a cakewalk. I have beaten the game several times and even a couple without any armour and just a starting dagger.
    The reason the game does not get a perfect score is that in some parts of the game Blighttown in particular) the framerates drop on console. The multiplayer feature can also be buggy sometimes due to connections interrupting. Despite the bad reviews and the minor errors i give this game a solid 9.    … Expand
  23. XzRecolz
    Aug 30, 2020
    2
    This game is not good. I do not understand how everyone is so high on this game. FromSoft games are overrated in general, but decent (only great one is Bloodborne), but this game? Seriously? This is a 10/10? A standard for all games? Piss off. Get a better taste, please.

    This game plays like it came straight from the 90s, it has awful design choices, combat is extremely clunky with    This game is not good. I do not understand how everyone is so high on this game. FromSoft games are overrated in general, but decent (only great one is Bloodborne), but this game? Seriously? This is a 10/10? A standard for all games? Piss off. Get a better taste, please.

    This game plays like it came straight from the 90s, it has awful design choices, combat is extremely clunky with absurdly awful hitboxes, world is ugly looking, and some of the worst bosses Ive ever seen. If this was developed by any other gaming studio it would have gotten panned by everyone. IDK what the deal with FromSoft is. Stop sucking their dicks, they are decent, nothing more. How that company developed a masterpiece like Bloodborne, with other titles so mediocre is beyond me.    … Expand
  24. Jellybean15
    Nov 13, 2015
    9
    Dark Souls is truly a unique experience. Releasing amongst a demographic of gamers who are used to playing games with little difficulty and little consequence for your failure, Dark Souls goes against the grain by not just making the player face tough obstacles and challenging gameplay, but also by punishing them every time they die or make a mistake. It takes you on a journey of pain butDark Souls is truly a unique experience. Releasing amongst a demographic of gamers who are used to playing games with little difficulty and little consequence for your failure, Dark Souls goes against the grain by not just making the player face tough obstacles and challenging gameplay, but also by punishing them every time they die or make a mistake. It takes you on a journey of pain but also great empowerment whenever you overcome its obstacles, and it’s certainly an experience I’ll never forget.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    However, any complaints I have don't dampen the experience and I did really enjoy Dark Souls. However I do conclude that it is not a game for everyone. It has its audience, and if you’re not into this kind of game and its particular style, that’s perfectly fine, but I – and a lot of other people – will remember Dark Souls for quite a long time as a really special game.    … Expand
  25. PriceyPants
    Aug 28, 2013
    8
    Dark souls is a great game, it has a great rpg feel to it and a constant sense of danger when away from the bonfires. first off let me say this is no game for people without patients so many times i have heard "I cant beat this boss i quit" when all they have to do i level up a few times. dark souls is a hard game to start off with but after you get a certain quest item the game just getsDark souls is a great game, it has a great rpg feel to it and a constant sense of danger when away from the bonfires. first off let me say this is no game for people without patients so many times i have heard "I cant beat this boss i quit" when all they have to do i level up a few times. dark souls is a hard game to start off with but after you get a certain quest item the game just gets easier. Sure you still lose your souls when you die and PvP can be unfair but that is what Dark Souls is all about, you can't just go into this game expecting not to die trust me you will die Over and over. If you love games where you can fight giant bosses and have a huge amount of loot to find you will absolutely love dark souls, if on the other hand you play games like Call of Duty i recommend you don't even think about touching dark souls because all you will do is and cry.… Expand
  26. Jakallov3
    Aug 27, 2013
    8
    I am an absolute fan of the franchise, the game is challenging and brutal, teaching me something new every time I died. I loved experimenting with new builds, weapons and armors, making this game great for re-playability. PVP is brutal, especially if you do not know what to expect, and also gives the game a lot of uniqueness. However as much as I love this game, there are some issues, suchI am an absolute fan of the franchise, the game is challenging and brutal, teaching me something new every time I died. I loved experimenting with new builds, weapons and armors, making this game great for re-playability. PVP is brutal, especially if you do not know what to expect, and also gives the game a lot of uniqueness. However as much as I love this game, there are some issues, such as frame drops and some bugs and glitches, but you ignore it once it has consumed your soul.… Expand
  27. boshi
    Sep 30, 2013
    9
    a nearly perfect game. really challenging, in a good way, and the boss fights are incredible. there isn't much in terms of story, but you can learn about the world by reading the descriptions of items. it isn't much, but it's there. the only bad part of the game is, some areas lag, and in one area, the majority of the level is laggy. it's difficult, but a lot easier than demon's souls.
  28. chrisse989
    Dec 30, 2013
    8
    First of all to be clear, I am a huge fan of the predecessor, Demon's Souls. It's for me the game that showed the power of the capabilities (not just graphically) of a PS3 versus a PS2.

    Dark Souls is wilder, more beautiful and more technically advanced (esp for the multiplayer part) than Demon's Souls, so it definitely improves on the formula. It's a great game, which has challenging    First of all to be clear, I am a huge fan of the predecessor, Demon's Souls. It's for me the game that showed the power of the capabilities (not just graphically) of a PS3 versus a PS2.

    Dark Souls is wilder, more beautiful and more technically advanced (esp for the multiplayer part) than Demon's Souls, so it definitely improves on the formula. It's a great game, which has challenging bosses, great customisation options and is overall a great adventure.

    There are for me however two issues which ruin the experience a bit:
    - There are a lot of secrets in the game, but they are hidden a bit too well. You will need to read up on internet to discover them, especially since they hide some of the more interesting items. If you want to survive the multiplayer aspect of the game (ie when invading or invaded) and you face someone with items/spells you don't know (other people do read up), you will most likely lose most of the time.
    - The damage you receive can be very arbitrary, which doesn't make sense for a game that wants you to learn from your mistakes. Example: I fight a boss. I see the boss is going to hit so I raise my (very strong) shield. As my stamina was low, the boss his hit breaks through my shield and deals 800 hit points and KO for me. On the next try on that boss, when attacking him, he also hits me three times consecutively dealing only 400 hit points together... Some balance is lost within the game versus Demon's Souls, which is a pity.

    Overall, still a fantastic experience though.    … Expand
  29. Legion455
    Feb 17, 2014
    9
    What can i say about Dark souls well its a excellent and tough game but the difficulty shouldn't be why you play this masterpiece, The lore,story and music are why along with its nasty multiplayer you always feel a rush when someone invades you in the middle of a horde of enemy, along with players helping with that tough boss or leaving messages that could lead to treasure or your doom isWhat can i say about Dark souls well its a excellent and tough game but the difficulty shouldn't be why you play this masterpiece, The lore,story and music are why along with its nasty multiplayer you always feel a rush when someone invades you in the middle of a horde of enemy, along with players helping with that tough boss or leaving messages that could lead to treasure or your doom is always fun

    The game is not for everyone so please take cation in buying it unless you like to practice the game alot to beat some of the boss's    … Expand
  30. Iluvatar21
    May 22, 2014
    8
    HOW I RATE: 10-9 score: perfect or near-perfect don't exist; 8 score: one of the best games ever. Top score; 7-6 score: great but not one of the best; 5-below score: serious flaws.
    ===========
    Do you like finding new things? Do you fancy the idea of no hand-holding? But do you hate starting all over again if you made a fatal mistake? Also do you hate grinding & repetition? But not the    HOW I RATE: 10-9 score: perfect or near-perfect don't exist; 8 score: one of the best games ever. Top score; 7-6 score: great but not one of the best; 5-below score: serious flaws.
    ===========
    Do you like finding new things? Do you fancy the idea of no hand-holding? But do you hate starting all over again if you made a fatal mistake? Also do you hate grinding & repetition? But not the kind of grinding where you are furious of having to go through the same things again but the kind where you feel you are going somewhere & want to continue deeper?

    If you answered 'Yes' to all of these questions then this game is for you.    … Expand
  31. fijiboy
    Mar 22, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. dark souls is incredible. It is a challenging game that will make you question why you are even playing it at times, but if you put the effort in to get through it, there are no other series out there as rewarding as the souls series. a lot of people love this game for its challenging and rewarding gameplay, but for me one of the biggest appeals for me is the cryptic visual storytelling that can be either a hit or miss for some players. If you take the time to look deeply at the themes of this game and how it is discovered through level design, music and item descriptions instead of dialogue, you may find this game to be an artistic statement on determination, loss, depression, desperation, and how all these themes some how become feelings that player will feel many times throughout the game, and truly makes this game a masterpiece. the only thing I have a problem with is some portions of the game are just straight up ridiculous and are simply there to really frustrate you( walking across a very narrow bridge while big nights shoot dragon slaying arrows at you to knock you off while they block your path on an even narrower ledge) and no longer feels fair. there are a couple situations like that in the game that keeps it being a 10 for me, but is still a masterpiece, a flawed masterpiece.… Expand
  32. bigboss1964
    Oct 9, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls

    Game-play:The game play is slow and realistic with lot of different classes to play with i loved it.The game is very difficult so if you are not a hardcore gamer just stay away. Story:The story is the weak point of the game it is awuful. Graphics:The graphics fit the game perfectly. Notes:This RPG is very good and have lot of item and different enemy types a great    Dark Souls

    Game-play:The game play is slow and realistic with lot of different classes to play with i loved it.The game is very difficult so if you are not a hardcore gamer just stay away.

    Story:The story is the weak point of the game it is awuful.

    Graphics:The graphics fit the game perfectly.

    Notes:This RPG is very good and have lot of item and different enemy types a great game a full price buy.    … Expand
  33. MLP_Simta
    Aug 18, 2014
    9
    A really good game that needs time and patience to learn. The cover does not lie to you in your first playthrough you will die a lot. The game itself is enjoyable and has a great combat mechanic that is easy to get use to. The visuals are great for example when you ring the first bell you can see where you came from and what's still waiting for you and the light effect are awesome.
    The    A really good game that needs time and patience to learn. The cover does not lie to you in your first playthrough you will die a lot. The game itself is enjoyable and has a great combat mechanic that is easy to get use to. The visuals are great for example when you ring the first bell you can see where you came from and what's still waiting for you and the light effect are awesome.
    The storyline is there but if you don't take your time you will miss it, so bear in mind that the item description is not just about stats and you can find stroy elements just by looking the scenery.
    The DLC is a must have so if you wish to purchase the game go with the Prepare to Die edition.
    The online PVP for me for the most time is a lagfeast but the online PVE is fun.
    Oh and skip Blighttown that place just kills your FPS on Xbox360 the PS3 is just a few FPS better.
    On PC beware the **** port so on that platfrom so a controller is a must have and don't forget to download a few mods that help the FPS issues on the PC.
    Overall a great game a must buy if you can find it, but be patient. The game helps you but if you rush you gonna have a bad time.    … Expand
  34. krispintin
    Apr 7, 2015
    8
    the only reason the score I've given is an 8 is because some of the environments and late game areas are incredibly lazy, lame and unfinished. (lost Izalith, demon ruins.)

    That said, It is a very very good game, especially if you ignore the glaring flaws later that come later on. the world design is unmatched with mind blowing short cuts connecting the environments to each other.    the only reason the score I've given is an 8 is because some of the environments and late game areas are incredibly lazy, lame and unfinished. (lost Izalith, demon ruins.)

    That said, It is a very very good game, especially if you ignore the glaring flaws later that come later on. the world design is unmatched with mind blowing short cuts connecting the environments to each other.

    The combat is top notch and introduces mostly positive additions to the game from the past title demon's souls.

    The boss fights are dramatic and exciting, fresh and challenging. O&S is possibly the best boss fight they have ever made.
    Though some of the later game bosses are incredibly easy though and less exciting I'm not sure why this happens (maybe the game was rushed a little too much during development).
    I won't fault From Software on the fact that many bosses and areas are just basically different versions of the ones from demon's souls e.g because they do hold up on their own and are unique experiences.

    But the biggest critique I have that prevents me from seeing this as a perfect game like many of the fanboy reviews post is that some areas late into the game like lost izalith are terribly bare bones and unfinished. And then a place like demon's ruins is ruined (heh) by the lazy reposting of previous bosses and making them mobs. They just feel copy pasted into the environment for no reason other than they were lazy or out of time developing the game. Also wtf is up the repost of the asylum demon not once but twice into the game as later bosses, only adding a minor flame affect and/or making him larger in size. It is just lazy in these aspects which lowers the score.

    That said it is still a solid game, only that it dips hard towards the end.    … Expand
  35. Megaben02
    Jun 16, 2015
    9
    For a long tine i had this game sitting on my shelf waiting for me to play it. But when i did, i knew there was no going back. Right off the bat this game does feel like a old school hard rpg. This is most evident in the games tutotial which serves as the test. It will make or break the game for you. Once you escape the tutorial, you are free to explore this game's open world. WhileFor a long tine i had this game sitting on my shelf waiting for me to play it. But when i did, i knew there was no going back. Right off the bat this game does feel like a old school hard rpg. This is most evident in the games tutotial which serves as the test. It will make or break the game for you. Once you escape the tutorial, you are free to explore this game's open world. While exploring you are likely to find shortcuts to a boss, this serves as the games "checkpoint" system, allowing you to quickly get back to the boss with having to go through the level entirely. But the difficulty is where this game shines, gence the feeling of emmense satisfaction after finding said shortcut. The bosses will punish you if you dont take the time to learn their attack patterns. Even the low level enemies, when in a group, can easily overpower a player ten levels ahed of them. This games multiplayer is simple, if you are in human form you can summon another player to help, or if you are human and decide to take a stroll you might find yourself invaded by a red shade. Now, lets talk about this game's graphics. Even in 2015 the graphics still don't look to bad especially when going in the more visually stunning areas of the game, like Anor Londo, or The Painted World. But, the only problem with this game is the framerate. The framerate commonly drops below 15 when i play, especially in places like Blighttown or during the Great Grey Wolf, Sif boss battle. But besides that if you pay attention the Dark Souls lore is great, however you REALLY have to pay attention as this game tends not to blurt thing out like Demon's Souls did to an extent. So in the end the only things that really makes this game sink are the framerate drops and the way to the story is hidden in tems details to the point where it feels almost overdone. But aside from that, this game as you probably figured out, get a solid 9 out of 10.… Expand
  36. flattyfour
    Sep 19, 2015
    8
    Understand the hype, the history, and the limitations before calling this game what it isn't. Play with patience or not at all. I play cause I'm bored.
  37. DKR
    Jun 10, 2018
    5
    Since my review is cut in half and I have no fkn clue as to how, I'll keep it short.

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

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

    ...mostly bc the ps3 port is dogsh. There's a reason streamers play the xbox version.    … Expand
  38. UncleEd
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    OK, this one took a very long time to beat. But not necessarily gameplay time wise (about 105 hours). It took a long time (more than 6 months) because it was too depressing to keep playing for long hours. Before writing about my impressions, I want to make it clear that I am a Demon's Souls fan. Demon's Souls is in my opinion, the best PS3 game ever made. It took me to a different world,OK, this one took a very long time to beat. But not necessarily gameplay time wise (about 105 hours). It took a long time (more than 6 months) because it was too depressing to keep playing for long hours. Before writing about my impressions, I want to make it clear that I am a Demon's Souls fan. Demon's Souls is in my opinion, the best PS3 game ever made. It took me to a different world, gave me a unique gameplay experience, made me feel very awkward emotions. It was fantastic. So according to almost everyone's opinion, Dark Souls is the better game in every sense. Not for me, it is not. Let me tell you why...

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

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

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

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

    Do I recommend Dark Souls? Hell yes! But it is not a perfect game. I did not enjoy the entire over a 100 hours I have spent on it with a mixed feeling of depression, masochism and satisfaction. I did not enjoy playing it simultaneously checking a youtube gameplay video. But it is a great game nonetheless and highly recommended.    … Expand
  39. okayokay
    Oct 10, 2018
    9
    rrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaadddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllll
  40. 6oni
    Oct 14, 2018
    9
    dr r a lots of agresiv creturs but u r d unic who steal nd dstroy d scenario nd dis autorepairs making u out of d game xprienc, u r inmortal nd can farm infnitly so d game s no hard s tedious nd boring,artificial dficulty nd duration etc.. but wiz al dis s stil one of best games wiz personality gud dsign nd moments dat u dont forget
  41. Sleuth
    Jun 19, 2020
    0
    Enemies are always fought the same way: Dodge, hit enemy twice. Rins, repeat. it's genuinely bad. Level design is mostly corridors without verticality or interactivity. Shortcuts are nothing special, every game has those; Tomb Raider, Zelda, Metroid.
  42. Raknner
    Jul 9, 2021
    0
    Kskdjeoqjfkahwie he oqjdjeoqjw eiaheoqkqjeowie sowheiwjwiwjriwiw eorjeoqbr9wbq.
  43. Glaceon_Hit
    Aug 5, 2020
    7
    I love this game. Great story that nobody understand but Vaatividya explains you very well. Choosing different classes and so many weapons and armors makes the game play over and over again. The bosses are uniques and brilliants. From Software is the best company in my opinion that could create these masterpiece by Miyazaki.
    But I must to talk about some bad things:
    -Start: When i    I love this game. Great story that nobody understand but Vaatividya explains you very well. Choosing different classes and so many weapons and armors makes the game play over and over again. The bosses are uniques and brilliants. From Software is the best company in my opinion that could create these masterpiece by Miyazaki.
    But I must to talk about some bad things:
    -Start: When i finished the tutorial (dying 50 times). You start in the Fire Shine where there are 2-4 npcs if you look around. One of them tells you where to go, but it is very difficult to understand it. So i went to the wrong way(New Londo) dying 30 times to understand that it was the wrong way. Ok so lets go to this way(catacombs). Again wrong. So much time wasted because there is not an arrow pointing where to go.
    -Dead game: First game i knew some secrets passages thanks to some guides. You need the guides to know where to go. So i went to Big Hole when i should went to the other direction (Quelaag). Then going down and down i though i was going to find Fire Shine somehow, wrong. Also damned by a disgusting frog i understand that i couldnt go back because there are not way to climb. And it is not the only time that happen. When i went to tomb of giants wihtout going to Anor Londo it happened again, the same problem. Horrible experience delete that games because of that dead game.
    -Infested city: I though wow my video card cant work with this zone. But that wasnt the problem. The zone has poor frames in the game. Everyone says this is the worst place of all the game.
    -PvP: It has more good things that bad things. For casuals summoning a phantom is the best way to beat a zone with more fun. But the thing that starting the game a Giant Dad can invade you is the worst thing you can experience.
    -Bosses: The tutorial Bosses is cool, but the thing that he is going to be a boss 2 more times with the same moves is very boring. And some bosses like chaos bed, Gwyn or Pinwheel are jokes. Disappointing.
    Anyway the game is good but the sequels are better.    … Expand
  44. Simpson_761
    Oct 8, 2020
    10
    A Piece of Master. One could only dream of more games being this satisfying.
  45. yourmomlmaogote
    Jun 3, 2021
    0
    This game is truly something magical.
    It was my first souls game.
    It gave light to my love for fromsoftware in general, it made my days, whenever I came back from a sad, disappointing or annoying day, I always get happy again, knowing ill get to play this masterpiece again. From the atmosphere of the game, the enemies, the bosses, level design, how everything is intertwined, and you can    This game is truly something magical.
    It was my first souls game.
    It gave light to my love for fromsoftware in general, it made my days, whenever I came back from a sad, disappointing or annoying day, I always get happy again, knowing ill get to play this masterpiece again.
    From the atmosphere of the game, the enemies, the bosses, level design, how everything is intertwined, and you can see the previous area, and the next from any point.    … Expand
  46. SolaireMengao
    Sep 16, 2021
    9
    It's brilliant how they got the "die and try again" formula to be one of the most fun (and frustrating) experiences ever. The gameplay, the lore, almost everything in this game is awesome.
  47. DarkwingSchmuck
    Mar 14, 2022
    10
    Dark Souls takes the ambitious and challenging design of Demon's Souls and expands on it in every way imaginable. With one of the most ingenious interconnecting map designs, brilliant and deliberate combat, and exciting boss battles, Dark Souls is one of the greatest 3D games ever made.
  48. ReviewsAreBS
    Feb 15, 2023
    10
    The best souls game and hardest (after Sekiro). The entire game world is mostly self-contained and interconnected like a dollhouse.

    There are flaws: The sidequests are non-intuitive and pretty random. Crafting is really annoying and tedious. Some levels were clearly rushed. But even with these flaws, it is the only souls game you need to play, all the sequels (except for Sekiro) are    The best souls game and hardest (after Sekiro). The entire game world is mostly self-contained and interconnected like a dollhouse.

    There are flaws: The sidequests are non-intuitive and pretty random. Crafting is really annoying and tedious. Some levels were clearly rushed.

    But even with these flaws, it is the only souls game you need to play, all the sequels (except for Sekiro) are just rehashing more of the same.    … Expand
  49. Denniro
    Dec 28, 2020
    10
    this game's difficulty is overrated.... It's not so difficult as everybody is saying.. It just has it's own original style, pace and approach to a gamer and gaming itself.. If You're the fan of God of War style games where You rush through the game with your brains not involved in the process but only buttons snapping - this game is not for You..
    To be successful and enjoy the process    this game's difficulty is overrated.... It's not so difficult as everybody is saying.. It just has it's own original style, pace and approach to a gamer and gaming itself.. If You're the fan of God of War style games where You rush through the game with your brains not involved in the process but only buttons snapping - this game is not for You..
    To be successful and enjoy the process You have to think and plan the route and tactics - and as a result You will be awarded with the great joy and sense of achievement.
    10 with no discussions!    … Expand
  50. MetaRogue
    May 22, 2021
    9
    While Demon Souls was the first to establish the core formula for the Souls series, Dark Souls was the follow-up that not only perfected, but solidified the series identity and appeal. This is THE ORIGINAL GAME that spawned a new genre of games: the Souls-like genre. This is a genre defined by gameplay systems that are immensely difficult, soul-crushingly frustrating and punishing in everyWhile Demon Souls was the first to establish the core formula for the Souls series, Dark Souls was the follow-up that not only perfected, but solidified the series identity and appeal. This is THE ORIGINAL GAME that spawned a new genre of games: the Souls-like genre. This is a genre defined by gameplay systems that are immensely difficult, soul-crushingly frustrating and punishing in every possible way - AND people love this sort of thing because "modern videogames are just too soft, easy and forgiving". While that previous sentence may seem sarcastic, I actually really appreciate what Dark Souls is and what it does - even if it sometimes brings me to my wits end and makes me question why I'm wasting my time trying to fun by playing something that was designed with the deliberate intention of being downright difficult and just plain UNFAIR.

    Beyond it's obvious difficult gameplay, Dark Souls has fantastic combat and world design - both structurally and narratively. In this regard, the game is peerless. The overall vibe and aesthetic is brilliantly oppressive and (you guessed it) dark. This makes Dark Souls feel like a survival horror game instead of a dark fantasy RPG.

    The only pitfalls of this fantastic genre establishing game is, of course, the gruelling difficulty. While not as difficult as its sequels and spiritual successors (and other games that pay homage to it), the original Soul-crusher is still mightily challenging, sometimes to its own detriment. There are moments in this game where it feels like FromSoftware implemented certain elements just to frustrate gamers with things that require more luck than skill OR unparalleled amounts of patience.

    Nevertheless, this is (somehow) revered as a modern classic and the ones who persevere through this experience with great skill receive nearly equal amounts of reverence. Alas, I am not one of them because I not only think that videogames should be played for fun, but also because I'd prefer not to waste my time, and potentially risk my mental wellbeing, by trying to play something that is deliberately designed to frustrate me.

    Here's to you, Dark Souls - the darkest rose with the largest thorns.    … Expand
  51. Hackattaque
    Aug 23, 2017
    8
    Dark Souls is what you might get if you crossed Shadow of the Colossus with the very first 8-bit Legend of Zelda. It's a wilfully obscure, challenging game that explains nothing and throws you into a hostile adventure world populated with memorable bosses, unforgiving enemies and kooky allies. It's hard to really capture how crazy this approach seemed in 2011, even after predecessorDark Souls is what you might get if you crossed Shadow of the Colossus with the very first 8-bit Legend of Zelda. It's a wilfully obscure, challenging game that explains nothing and throws you into a hostile adventure world populated with memorable bosses, unforgiving enemies and kooky allies. It's hard to really capture how crazy this approach seemed in 2011, even after predecessor Demon's Souls. This game basically made it acceptable for big-budget titles to punish, alienate and confuse players.

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

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

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

    Dark Souls is a unique and unforgettable experience. It should be played. But it's not perfect. There are lows with the highs, so be prepared before you step into the fog.    … Expand
  52. Pasifull
    Sep 21, 2016
    9
    Dark soul's problems - of which there are many - get washed away in the torrent of euphoria that comes with each victory, whether minor or major. An excellent game that should be of no interest to most gamers, but the core it's designed to engage with won't be able to look at other games in the same way again.
  53. Camparini
    Jan 11, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls 1 é, antes de qualquer coisa, revolucionário. Criou um novo de gênero de jogo (o dos ''Soulslike"), e não apela pra dificuldades pífias para atrair todo tipo de público pra sua obra. Não, Dark Souls é uma obra onde você se adapta ao jogo, e não o jogo a você, e isso por si só já o faz distante de vários outros grandes jogos que, apesar de grandes obras, não inovam, apenasDark Souls 1 é, antes de qualquer coisa, revolucionário. Criou um novo de gênero de jogo (o dos ''Soulslike"), e não apela pra dificuldades pífias para atrair todo tipo de público pra sua obra. Não, Dark Souls é uma obra onde você se adapta ao jogo, e não o jogo a você, e isso por si só já o faz distante de vários outros grandes jogos que, apesar de grandes obras, não inovam, apenas expandem, não desafiam e não testam seus limites. A arte é incrível e a história é contada nas entrelinhas, mas a lore é rica e é bem explorada ao longo da franquia. É um dos 3 jogos da década passada, ao meu ver, pelo seu caráter inovador e pela bravura de testar os limites dos seus jogadores.… Expand
  54. Markain
    Mar 6, 2017
    8
    Cool Game, but very hard and confusing. I often got lost in the mazelike castle. The story is very mystic and ittakes a while until you get behind it.
  55. John-Doe
    May 1, 2016
    9
    The first in the dark souls series and arguably the best one because of its amazing visuals, fantastic soundtrack, amazing areas, great NPCs and heart beating mind blasting kicking your ass gameplay. The wide, expansive and interconnected world will cause you to explore every nook and cranny, and take note: what ever you look at in the world, most likely you can go there. Weapons lists andThe first in the dark souls series and arguably the best one because of its amazing visuals, fantastic soundtrack, amazing areas, great NPCs and heart beating mind blasting kicking your ass gameplay. The wide, expansive and interconnected world will cause you to explore every nook and cranny, and take note: what ever you look at in the world, most likely you can go there. Weapons lists and design are great although demon souls had a better line up. Boss fights are 5 times harder than demon souls and you will most likely break your controllers but gain 5 times the satisfaction for when you beat that piece of s***! If you have problems beating a boss you can call for backup, other people playing the game can be called to help you to beat the boss to lay the ultimate beatdown on the boss or vice versa. If this is your first souls game then you are in for a treat but be warned that in order to truly enjoy what this game has to offer you must first get past the learning curve. CASUAL GAMERS BEWARE… Expand
  56. nsroehl
    Feb 15, 2019
    9
    Loved the game. Like all the Dark Souls games, this has an amazing world to explore with plenty of fun and challenging bosses. Some technical glitches and certain areas hold this game back from getting a 10 in my opinion. Everyone complains about Blight Town, but they are right to complain about it. That area can be incredibly frustrating.
  57. XxJoseManuelxX
    Aug 25, 2016
    9
    Dark Souls is an action role-playing video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai. A spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls.

    + Good Gameplay
    + Epic Bosses Fights
    + Online
  58. OneLifeLeft
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    Few games have tested my patience, focus, and willpower, to the point of psychological despair.

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

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

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

    It forced me to examine my human potential for perseverance.
    And it gave me the strength to rise above my mental limitations.    … Expand
  59. IAmPaperworkDan
    Apr 1, 2017
    8
    This review comes from someone who's first experience of a Souls game was Bloodborne and I'm sorry to all the purists out there but Dark Souls just doesn't hold up to the modern entries of the franchise. Controversial intros aside, this game is by no means bad, it's just not as refined it's successors. I absolutely loved Bloodborne and Dark Souls III, and I very quickly grew to love DarkThis review comes from someone who's first experience of a Souls game was Bloodborne and I'm sorry to all the purists out there but Dark Souls just doesn't hold up to the modern entries of the franchise. Controversial intros aside, this game is by no means bad, it's just not as refined it's successors. I absolutely loved Bloodborne and Dark Souls III, and I very quickly grew to love Dark Souls as well, but it did have some hurdles along the way.

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

    Overall, Dark Souls is fantastic. Some aspects of the game completely outshine it's successors and the rest are a solid basis that the later instalments have built upon over the years. I would personally recommend starting with Bloodborne and then returning to this game afterwards but no matter where you choose to start the franchise is utterly outstanding. Once you fall in love with any one of them you'll be hooked.    … Expand
  60. Zerox_Undead
    Jun 25, 2017
    9
    I absolutely adore this game, It is hands down one of the most thrilling games to experience. So If you haven't played this gem of a game, I implore you to go out and buy a copy of this game.

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

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

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

    But it being one of my favorite games with all these issues should show you why this game is a must have. So when you do go pick up a copy all I can say is, "Prepare to Die."    … Expand
  61. WardenofSilence
    Jul 3, 2017
    8
    I want to say I could not beat this game my first couple of runs. This changed when I played and beat Bloodborne, which presented a new outlook on how to approach the game. By now, many probably know about the difficulty of the series. While this is true, the other part of what makes this game good is how it teaches the player to handle that difficulty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In all, Dark Souls is an excellent game. It makes you think better as a gamer, and has one of the best combat systems I have every played, coupled with seller level design makes this game a real gem. 87/100    … Expand
  62. HaterOfHaters
    Mar 21, 2018
    9
    I had never broken a game with my own hands, there is always a first time :)
    Wonderful hateful game that will pass to history
  63. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Apr 26, 2020
    9
    This spinoff of the PS3 exclusive "Demon's Souls" is a hardcore RPG that will kill you 1000 + times. It's certainly not for the casual gamer, but for those who like a serious challenge. The game rewards patience and practice. Each enemy poses a serious threat as they can eviscerate the player in just a few seconds. Your guard must always be up as combat is based on defensive stances. YouThis spinoff of the PS3 exclusive "Demon's Souls" is a hardcore RPG that will kill you 1000 + times. It's certainly not for the casual gamer, but for those who like a serious challenge. The game rewards patience and practice. Each enemy poses a serious threat as they can eviscerate the player in just a few seconds. Your guard must always be up as combat is based on defensive stances. You must learn enemy attack patterns and time your own moves just right. There are several strategies to memorize and upgrades you must make before you get into the groove. Presentation-wise, the game is solid with superb level design and good graphics. The game opens with a "Lord of the Rings"-esque cutscene before setting you on a long tough journey without much story. "Dark Souls" is not for the easily frustrated. Repetition is what this game is about. You'll have to learn again and again, but once you get into the groove, things will seem possible. It may not be for everyone, but if you like dungeon crawlers or high fantasy novels, you'll love this. I would rate it with a 9.1 out of 10.… Expand
  64. mythiiix
    Dec 17, 2020
    10
    FromSoftware are masterminds for making this game, Thank You Hidetaka Miyazaki for this masterpiece!
  65. XxAlbertoBuzzxX
    Jun 2, 2020
    9
    Dark souls
    ................................................................
  66. TARKUSironBLACK
    Mar 22, 2018
    9
    dark souls tem sido por anos o game que mais joguei ele me traz 1 misto de frustaçao e sentimentos de satisfaçao e a consepçao maxima do faça por merecer e aprenda com seus erros qualquer jogo tenta nos pássar a sensaçao de que e nos que estamos jogando e nao assistindo poren em dark souls vc simplesmente nao avança se nao nao aprender da forma mais bruta e crua que vc nao e 1 deus nao edark souls tem sido por anos o game que mais joguei ele me traz 1 misto de frustaçao e sentimentos de satisfaçao e a consepçao maxima do faça por merecer e aprenda com seus erros qualquer jogo tenta nos pássar a sensaçao de que e nos que estamos jogando e nao assistindo poren em dark souls vc simplesmente nao avança se nao nao aprender da forma mais bruta e crua que vc nao e 1 deus nao e invencia que vc nunca estara a salvo que vc deve andar com cuidado e evoluir vc e nao seu personagem pois mesmo no lv maximo 1 discuido e vc vera die na sua tela enfim e 1 jogo que desafia sua perseverança e vontade de chegar ao fim so os forte sobreviven e os casuais jamais saberao o sabor de vencer 1 artorias ou 1 manus com 10 de hp apos 30 mortes seguidas.… Expand
  67. AlexvaderII
    Sep 16, 2020
    10
    Dark Souls es uno de los mejores juegos de "TODOS LOS TIEMPOS". Cuenta con un gran combate estratégico en el cual tendremos que enfrentar enemigos difíciles. Desde el inicio hay que ir con cuidado para no morir aunque si morimos no hay problema este es un juego de probar nuevas maneras de afrontar el reto.

    La ambientación y diseño de niveles es de lo mejor que se ha visto en los últimos    Dark Souls es uno de los mejores juegos de "TODOS LOS TIEMPOS". Cuenta con un gran combate estratégico en el cual tendremos que enfrentar enemigos difíciles. Desde el inicio hay que ir con cuidado para no morir aunque si morimos no hay problema este es un juego de probar nuevas maneras de afrontar el reto.

    La ambientación y diseño de niveles es de lo mejor que se ha visto en los últimos años, el juego cuenta con muchas trampas en todo el mapa y esto hará que estemos muy alerta a lo que se avecina siempre. Hay gran cantidad de enemigos y todos son diferentes y agresivos pero tendremos una gran variedad de escudos para protegernos y armas que podremos mejorar bastante y de diferentes maneras para que las adecuemos según creamos que sea lo mejor para derrotar a tal enemigo. Adicionalmente obtendremos hechizos y piromancias que básicamente lo resumo en magia estos se obtienen de diferentes maneras los mas fáciles son de pago con almas dentro del juego pero serán los mas básicos, al final de cuentas esto hará los combates muy divertidos y variados.

    Algo que hace especial a este juego es que desde que encontremos nuestro primer ítem nos revelara partes de la historia del juego como un gigantesco rompecabezas, ya que la misma se narra atreves de los NPC´s que nos encontremos en el camino las pocas cinematicas y los ítems así que aquí todo es importante.

    En resumen tenemos un juego solido con grandes combates finales, gran historia y ambientación, divertido a mas no poder, y con componentes online que lo hacen mas original ya que podemos ayudar a jugadores que ni siquiera conocemos o podremos quedar de acuerdo con nuestros amigos o podremos estropearle la aventura a otros jugadores invadiéndolos y estropeando su avance, esto se escucha sencillo pero hay unos "PACTOS" que haremos dentro del juego con NPC´s que nos darán recompensas según lo que decidamos hacer o ayudar o eliminar a la persona online.

    NOTA: No esperes mas y juega a esta obra de arte!!!    … Expand
  68. AlvaroK95
    Jan 2, 2020
    8
    Un esencial de ps3 y digno sucesor del padre de la saga "Souls", aunque se reciclen ciertas ideas y mecánicas.
  69. Underscore--
    Nov 2, 2018
    9
    Amaizing combant and in game mechanisims plus a deep a rich story and wolrld but has multipul broken section in game
  70. Mogoalex
    Nov 15, 2018
    9
    Aparte de ser el mejor juego para iniciarse en la saga, no por el lore, si no por la curva de dificultad progresiva. Este es un juego que te hará ver el mundo de forma distinta una vez acabado.
  71. shenkenhigh
    Feb 14, 2023
    10
    it's udisputable 10/10; Btw DS got an Ultimate game of all time by GJ. I'am agreed with that. Such emotions, much atmosphere, solid challenge, git gud.
  72. MurphyBrandon
    Sep 18, 2019
    9
    Over 100 hours of playtime in Dark Souls. The level design and map design still amaze me when I think about it. The boss battles will always be iconic. So many aspects of this game are classic. Firelink Shrine, O&S, the music, Gwyn, Artorias. I'm not giving this game a perfect score because the hit detection is broken. Arrows hit invisible walls where there shouldn't be anything. EnemiesOver 100 hours of playtime in Dark Souls. The level design and map design still amaze me when I think about it. The boss battles will always be iconic. So many aspects of this game are classic. Firelink Shrine, O&S, the music, Gwyn, Artorias. I'm not giving this game a perfect score because the hit detection is broken. Arrows hit invisible walls where there shouldn't be anything. Enemies hit you through solid walls. That part is just broken.… Expand
  73. loserkid182
    Dec 11, 2019
    9
    Es una autentica maravilla hecha videojuego. Todo lo que pueda decir es poco, el juego envejece super bien, tiene una construcción de escenarios espectacular, unos personajes muy carismáticos y bien construidos, un Lore a libre interpretación brutal y la jugabilidad un 10.
  74. Dingytheman
    Feb 6, 2020
    10
    In Dark Souls nothing feels random, it is obvious developers put a lot of effort and planned out the areas beforehand. Item placement, enemies and shortcuts work together to provide a challenging yet fair and rewarding experience. Basically following the path introduced by Demon's Souls and expanding upon it.

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

    Traversing the game world feels like a journey, there is no warping from the start but the clever area design and mechanics that allow you to level up, repair and upgrade weapons at a bonfire, ensure that you won't need to backtrack to other areas most of the time.
    Interaction with other players range from subtle messages left around the game world that can either help or deceive, to co-op to pvp matches where you can duel or use a variety of items to trick your opponent.
    PvP is far from perfect and the game also sees a somewhat significant drop in quality in the last couple areas and bosses but it doesn't detract too much from the overall experience. It's one of the best games to come out in years.    … Expand
  75. YesIam
    Apr 6, 2022
    10
    There will always be mixed thoughts about the greatness of Dark Souls, where the ones who likes the game absolutely adores it and the ones who dislikes the game hates it to their entire core. Even though there are a majority of players who like the game it's still interesting to see why a minority of people hate it so much.

    The first criticism the game face is the difficulty and how    There will always be mixed thoughts about the greatness of Dark Souls, where the ones who likes the game absolutely adores it and the ones who dislikes the game hates it to their entire core. Even though there are a majority of players who like the game it's still interesting to see why a minority of people hate it so much.

    The first criticism the game face is the difficulty and how it's not well crafted. To understand what makes Dark Souls difficult we have to look at how you progress, trial in error. The whole point is to loose on your first attempt until you learn not to, given you advance through learning patterns, improve stats, explore and gather strong and hidden items.

    Reading some negative reviews it seems people would like a variety of combat which has more depth to it and that's the correct way of adding difficulty. This is valid criticism, in wishing for a better combat, but I will advocate to say that the exploring is an unique way of adding difficulty. You will get punished for not only understanding the patterns of bosses, but also not exploring. Through exploring you will either find checkpoints (bonfires) and find game changing items or weapons who might make the game easier. Through exploring you will also farm xp (souls) to level up your character to also make the game easier. There is also the fact that you can summon online players who ALSO makes the game easier.

    As mentioned the combat is quite simple, you get awarded for patience essentially and putting all these other factors into equation the game can turn really easy with patience. Rushing this game for this reason might make Dark Souls less enjoyable and harder. The game is uninviting in the sense of colors and overall dark theme which is understandable of why people don't want to explore. There still is a sense of achievment that you're able to conquer such a dark scary world and uncover all the corners and secrets in the game. I often also see people say "Games are supossed to be fun, not torture!", and yes I agree. Dark Souls is able to constantly give us a feel of achievment after conquering areas and bosses, you truly feel proud of yourself after completing and discovering secrets on your own. With frustration comes joy, and beyond the fact no one would play Dark Souls if they truly didn't enjoy it.

    All in all, this game is a masterpiece that has even created it's own genre "souls-like", still this game isn't for everyone. Music will always be opinions, but imo the soundtrack collection is also amazing. The world building in the sense that litterally every area is connected through shortcuts is genius. And last but not least, the difficulty feels rewarding, but it's of course going to depend on how you approach the game, if you rush the game or patiently trying to explore and understand the game.    … Expand
  76. MYP
    Mar 27, 2021
    10
    I recently bought a ps3 and X360 and played both versions in my free time (if there's anything remaining called free time) and the ps3 version was lacking a bit but it still offered the good old dark souls experience that we all know and love.
  77. Stolow
    May 25, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls is a truly iconic game that needs no introduction. Apart from one... IT'S HARD, IT'S REALLY REALLY HARD. Now, I played Bloodborne and Sekiro before I bought this one so I did not think it could be too difficult, just a fun challenge. Nope, it kicked my ass but that does lead into the single criticism I have.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    An RPG focuses on story but finds it hard to not sacrifice the game in play. Dark Souls beats this by a long shot and really should be experienced by anyone looking for a good challenge. Just be prepared and praise the sun.    … Expand
  78. Zankyouo
    Sep 3, 2019
    9
    Dark souls es fantástico tanto a nivel mecánico como narrativo. Con un combate exquisito y profundo a la par que difícil, haciendo que una vez logres el desafío impuesto, la sensación de victoria sea inigualable.

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

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

    Sí tenéis la oportunidad de comprarlo, hacerlo, ya que se que con un poquito de paciencia, os enamororara    … Expand
  79. Driuk
    May 5, 2021
    9
    El juego que mas disfruté sin multijugador de Xbox 360. Lo terminaba una y otra vez intentando sacar todos los logros... y lo consegui !
  80. Siralfon
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Podría decir que es mi juego favorito. Un mapeado excelente que nos muestra partes de la historia , la cual tambien es excelente , no por su calidad , sino por como está distribuida , el juego no te explica nada. Tienes que ir tu mismo descubriendola observando los mapas e incluso la colocación de los enemigos influye en la historia por ejemplo : aparece un extraño soldado encerrado en una torre , y luego te das cuenta de que era un viejo amigo de un dios qué fue encerrado en esa torre porque Estaba en desacuerdo con las actuaciones de ese dios . Este es un ejemplo de la escelente colocación de enemigos , los cuales te tienden elaboradas trampas que te pueden matar en 1 segundo si no estás . Este juego también es difícil, muy difícil , EXTREMADAMENTE DIFICIL.… Expand
  81. Solidsnake00901
    Nov 23, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Flawed Masterpiece......a fantastic game and a must play for anyone who loves action RPGs.… Expand
  82. Oboeteiru0
    Mar 14, 2022
    10
    I heard about Dark Souls series for the first time in times of Bloodborne, about its horrible dificulty, and about the good game it was. "Yeah, sure..." I thought and I bought it for PS3 as I like to play the games on its original console. The blow and attonishement this game caused to me can be compared with the best of the best of old generations (Ocarina, FFVII, Mario 64, Tomb Raider,I heard about Dark Souls series for the first time in times of Bloodborne, about its horrible dificulty, and about the good game it was. "Yeah, sure..." I thought and I bought it for PS3 as I like to play the games on its original console. The blow and attonishement this game caused to me can be compared with the best of the best of old generations (Ocarina, FFVII, Mario 64, Tomb Raider, Sonic, Street Fighter II....) and gave me back the hope I had lost in the industry. One of the best games in history.… Expand
  83. nurfedx
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best Games known to mankind.
    From Software is a safe heaven for the Gaming community.
    Especially in times where big Developers dissapiont us with theyr fraudulent intent.
    Praise the sun!
  84. 36h5h
    Apr 12, 2021
    10
    El juego es hermoso, execelente jugabilidad, dificultad alta eso sí pero quién le dedique tiempo y esfuerzo superará los retos igual que en la vida real. La historia que nos cuentan es asombrosa con personajes memorables que seguirán trascendiento aunque pase el tiempo porque no cualquier juego gana el título de juego de culto solo me queda recomendarlo a todos los valientes que quieranEl juego es hermoso, execelente jugabilidad, dificultad alta eso sí pero quién le dedique tiempo y esfuerzo superará los retos igual que en la vida real. La historia que nos cuentan es asombrosa con personajes memorables que seguirán trascendiento aunque pase el tiempo porque no cualquier juego gana el título de juego de culto solo me queda recomendarlo a todos los valientes que quieran tener una aventura como ningún otra(11/10)… Expand
  85. tantotonto
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    Decidí jugar sabiendo que seria un reto, pero no pensé que cambiaria mi manera de ver los juegos y por consiguiente mi vida. Simplemente Excepcional.
  86. JimPickens
    Oct 7, 2021
    8
    Dark Souls is above all else in my mind, an experience.

    it's easy to start waxing poetic when talking about Soulsborne games because the concepts found within the lore are generally pretty philosophical, take the endings for example, is it better to let the flame die out and allow nature to take its natural course, ending one civilization and ushering in the next? Or to cling to the way    Dark Souls is above all else in my mind, an experience.

    it's easy to start waxing poetic when talking about Soulsborne games because the concepts found within the lore are generally pretty philosophical, take the endings for example, is it better to let the flame die out and allow nature to take its natural course, ending one civilization and ushering in the next? Or to cling to the way things are and try to preserve our current age? Embrace modernism or tradition? See what I mean?

    Anyway now to talk about the actual game itself. Dark Souls is a game made by Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware in 2011 as a spiritual successor to the Sony owned Demon's Souls, and yes, that is an incredibly annoying name to say out loud. Dark Souls takes many of the ideas found Demon's Souls and makes them better for lack of a better word. From a linear level structure to an interconnected world that, with a few exceptions, all exist in the same place, taking the elevator from the Undead Parish back down to Firelink Shrine is an unforgettable feeling. Dark Souls also went pretty hard on the pain when it came to boss design, where Demonses Soulsies has... Phalanx... Dark Souls has the Taurus Demon, which is... ya know... a real fight. Not to say Dark Souls bosses are objectively better or anything, there is pretty much every boss in Demon Ruins and Lost Izalith which all kinda suck, but hey, there was an attempt.

    Story wise Dark Souls is very basic; you're an undead and you're tasked with ringing two bells, one above, one below, which eventually leads you to find that you're special, you're the Chosen Undead, now tasked with making your way to the Kiln of The First Flame and kindling the First Flame to prolong the age of fire that's fading away, or if you do some sequence breaking, you can embrace the dark and become the Dark Lord, letting the flame die out and ushering the age of dark, or "The age of man" as man is said to thrive in the dark where Gods thrive in the light. But as for what you actually DO in Dark Souls, you run around cool looking places and kill bosses, and that's kinda it for like 40 hours. It's a simple gameplay loop but a very addictive and fun one.

    The gameplay of Dark Souls is equally simple, you attack with R1 and R2, block and parry with L1 and L2 if you have a shield, dodge with O and drink your Sunny D with Square. In writing, Dark Souls combat is very... boring, it's basic, simple and not very flashy, compared to other action games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, what makes Dark Souls standout however, is not YOUR attacks, but your enemies. There are a variety of foes in Dark Souls, some are giant, axe wielding Bull demons, others are tiny Lizards that will inflict horrific status effects on you, and others are f*cking dogs... god I hate the dogs in Dark Souls. All these enemies have different attacks and different solutions to fighting them, some are best fought defensively, waiting for your time to strike, while others require speed and precision, kicking away an enemies shield and cutting him down before he can regain his composure. The game makes you think on your feet and doesn't let up until you make it to one of few safe spaces like Firelink, or another area with a Bonfire.

    The way I've described it makes Dark Souls seem like a harsh and cruel world full of big as*hole dogs, lizards and men, but it's not all bad. Where there's dark there's light, and you'll meet many a friend in Dark Souls, be it a friendly Blacksmith who will upgrade your gear for the coming threat, a happy man with a bucket helmet who just wants to find his own sun and partake in some jolly co-operation, or a Onion Armoured adventure, ready for anything the world throws at him, you're not alone, you never really are in Lordran, especially in Online. There'll always be a Summon Sign, always be a Phantom walking by or resting at a bonfire, always a friend to watch your back.

    Not all is good with Dark Souls however, like I said, with dark comes light and with light must come dark. Dark Souls is home to some of the most infuriating, BS, asinine design I have ever witnessed. From The Bed of Chaos and her horrifically unfinished design, to Ceaseless Discharge and his unreadable hitboxes, and Blighttown... ugh. A lot of the latter half of the game is pretty bad, Lost Izalith is notoriously bad and frankly I recommend joining the Chaos Covenant to skip it completely. They reuse the first boss two more goddamn times, and Sens Fortress... just don't even bother unless you have Fast Roll. The latter half falls into unfairness bit which is a shame to say for a game that otherwise encompasses "hard but fair". Stuff like falling down and losing 40% for the Gravelord Nito fight, before it can even begin comes to mind.

    It's hard for me to say I don't love Dark Souls, because it's brilliant but it's also heavily flawed. But nonetheless I recommend it wholeheartedly.

    Stay safe friend, and don't you dare go Hollow    … Expand
  87. Merces
    Feb 22, 2021
    8
    Positive
    - Overall Graphics
    - Pre-Rendered Citscene
    - Good Challenge
    - Battle System
    - Lore
    - Environment Design
    - Amazing Atmosphere
    - Creature Design
    - Level Design
    - Build Costumization
    - Script

    Negative
    - Empty Protagonist
    - Unacceptable Lore
    - Level Curve
    - Item UI & Storage
    - Anemic Ending
  88. daikengo
    Sep 16, 2020
    8
    일본 게임 역사에 남길 가치가 있는 문화유산. 만능열쇠가 있으면 게임이 너무 쉬워지는게 흠이긴 한데, 그 자유도가 이 게임의 매력이기도 하다. 수많은 유저들이 스테이지1을 넘기지 못했던 데몬즈 소울과 비교하면 많은 면에서 진화한 작품.
  89. Yiordanu
    Sep 9, 2023
    8
    A video game that sets a before and after in terms of world-building and level design, its unique and immersive storytelling, along with its well-crafted atmosphere, make it a game full of personality.

    Its level design is something I had never seen in another video game. Every corner of the environments, every enemy and their placement leads you to devise ways to overcome each obstacle.    A video game that sets a before and after in terms of world-building and level design, its unique and immersive storytelling, along with its well-crafted atmosphere, make it a game full of personality.

    Its level design is something I had never seen in another video game. Every corner of the environments, every enemy and their placement leads you to devise ways to overcome each obstacle. All of this makes it an incredibly fun video game.

    Its only negative point is the poor performance in certain areas where it is not stable at all and can be a bit frustrating, especially in the Infested City, as it's a rather challenging area in combination with its poor performance.    … Expand
  90. LiirThropp
    Jul 30, 2020
    9
    I keep coming back to it. Kind of clunky mechanics when compared to the third installment, but retains a huge replayability value.
  91. Sus1216
    Jul 16, 2020
    9
    Uno de los descubrimientos más importantes para mi en los videojuegos. El primer Dark Souls es una joya. A pesar de que la historia no se cuenta de una forma narrativa, la vas descubriendo a través de diálogos con los personajes del mundo y los diferentes objetos. La idea básica la sabes, eres un hueco que tiene una misión: avivar la llama del mundo que se está apagando, si no el mundo seUno de los descubrimientos más importantes para mi en los videojuegos. El primer Dark Souls es una joya. A pesar de que la historia no se cuenta de una forma narrativa, la vas descubriendo a través de diálogos con los personajes del mundo y los diferentes objetos. La idea básica la sabes, eres un hueco que tiene una misión: avivar la llama del mundo que se está apagando, si no el mundo se sumirá en la oscuridad. Podemos personalizar a nuestro personaje con un editor sencillo y elegir una clase. A partir de aquí es avanzar por los escenarios eliminando enemigos y consiguiendo sus almas para así subir de nivel. Conforme vayamos subiendo de nivel, podremos llevar ciertas magias o armas más potentes y pesadas. Los enemigos te pueden aniquilar en un par de golpes si no tenemos cuidado. A esto hay que sumarle el plataformeo en algunas zonas y, por supuesto, los jefes que ponen al jugador en un aprieto por su exigencia. Dark Souls es un juego exigente que requiere habilidad por parte del jugador. Dado que es el primero de los tres Souls, se nota lo lento y ortopédico que es manejar a nuestro personaje. A nivel visual y artístico, los personajes, enemigos y escenarios son muy buenos y a día de hoy, recuerdo perfectamente los escenarios. Se te quedan en la mente. Son inolvidables. A nivel gráfico es un juego de la anterior generación por lo que no es nada del otro mundo. Si te gustan los desafíos, no lo dudes. Juégalo.… Expand
  92. storygamer
    Sep 1, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls stands for rock-heavy gameplay with fascinating visuals. Sure, it`s difficult but after some hours into the game, you`ll realize it`s always fair. Besides you get one of the most intense gaming experiences of the last decade! I recommend the Prepare To Die Edition.
  93. DrPhilweeb
    Sep 18, 2020
    4
    So I had recently beat the game on my PS3 and leaving the game I came away from it being disappointed with it. The normal enemies aren't fun or interesting to fight and the bosses were a mixed bag you had some good bosses like the four kings and Gwyn but you had some really horrible bosses like nito, the iron golem, and the bed of chaos and compared to later games dark souls 1 is lacking,So I had recently beat the game on my PS3 and leaving the game I came away from it being disappointed with it. The normal enemies aren't fun or interesting to fight and the bosses were a mixed bag you had some good bosses like the four kings and Gwyn but you had some really horrible bosses like nito, the iron golem, and the bed of chaos and compared to later games dark souls 1 is lacking, one of the best examples is character creation witch in the first game was super basic but in the other games is really cool and in depth. the game runs really bad on consoles capping at 30 fps and having alot of dips namely in Blighttown. the world thought inter connected isn't fun to traverse and you can only warp from the bonfire after getting the lordvessel witch is about halfway through the game. there are shortcuts in the world but most of them are dumb and won't get used very much, plus the warping is annoying and doesn't work well because you have to sit at the bonfire or if you die it will send you to the one you warped from. so at leased to me dark souls 1 is somewhat a relic of the past and if you want it start the series you should go with dark soul 2 or 3… Expand
  94. RoninNinjaXL
    Sep 18, 2020
    10
    GREAT GAME WITH A YOU DIED BADASS SLAP CERTIFIED

    Story: 10
    Gameplay: 10
    ost: 10
    Characters: 10
  95. ARTORIASSIF
    Oct 4, 2020
    10
    Yes this game is not for all, but I'm one of those who really liked it, for me this game is really cool.
  96. TheNotoriusBenG
    Nov 27, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dark souls es de mis favoritos y la verdad no sabría de donde empezar ya que casi todo en este juego esta rozando la perfección pero preferiría empezar por los escenarios por que los escenarios escenarios de la saga Dark Souls son realmente hermosos y únicos que cada uno de ellos son realmente únicos y destacan por si mismos, y mas aun destacan sus armaduras que realmente son mas que únicos y hasta algunas como las de ornstein o la de artorias, el diseño de las armas en un videojuego es importante eso esta claro, y este juego sobresalta en ello con armas que tienen movimientos y diseños mas que excelente, jefes con diseños sobresalientes que para algunos son mas difíciles o mas fáciles para algunos por que alfin y al cavo Dark Souls es un juego que depende de tu habilidad, algunos se pasan Dark Souls con la espada rota o con nv1 y es que si algo me gusta de este juego es que es puramente habilidad y eso que no eh contado ni la mitad de sus virtudes,pero le doy un 9...... Dark souls es difícil y no por eso le bajo la nota si no por que aveces puede ser injusto y eso puede llegar a joder y bastante, me ah pasado mas de una vez el que un arma haga hit a la pared cuando si o si debería tocar el enemigo y el apuntado de los arcos es nefasto pero la abalanza de las cosas buenas y las cosas malas es 99-1 y es que las cosas malas casi ni se notan y las cosas buenas brillan por su ausencia de verdad vale muchísimo la pena por que no eh dicho ni la mitad de las cosas buenas de este video juego que para mi es el mejor se su saga y de los mejores de la década pero veran.... Dark Souls es de esos juegos que te gustan o los odias, en juegos como Dark Souls no hay punto intermedio, si eres de esos que juega para relajarse pues obviamente puede que Dark Souls no sea para ti y de eso estoy un 99,37% seguro pero si eres de esos que quiere algo distinto, algo que no se sienta igual a lo demás, querer algo mas fresco para jugar en vez de jugar los shooters o battleroyals que salen cada 10 horas, puede que te guste si eres de esos que no les importa mucho la dificultad pues no pierdas tu tiempo y agrégalo al maldito carro YA YA YA! o te parto las jodidas piernas! de verdad vale muchísimo la pena… Expand
  97. Dom007
    Mar 26, 2021
    10
    This is my personal favourite from software game. Amazing boss fights, some incredible areas, amazing level design, excellent combat, great customisation variety and build variety and great replay value. The second half of game at times feels rushed however with some poorly designed areas but the Dlc makes up for it undoubtedly.
  98. ALIreza57
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat… Expand
  99. GlacebrousFrost
    Nov 16, 2020
    8
    es muy divertido jugarlo graficos buenos para la epoca historia un tanto profunda si hablamos con los personajes y vemos que historia hay detras y lo mismo va con los objetos que obtenemos dificultad desafiante no obtante esa dificultad la generamos nosotros si suben de nivel elegen su arma armadura ideal podran comvertirse en un paseo eso sin mencionar que se puede jugar comperativo aunes muy divertido jugarlo graficos buenos para la epoca historia un tanto profunda si hablamos con los personajes y vemos que historia hay detras y lo mismo va con los objetos que obtenemos dificultad desafiante no obtante esa dificultad la generamos nosotros si suben de nivel elegen su arma armadura ideal podran comvertirse en un paseo eso sin mencionar que se puede jugar comperativo aun mas facil todavia , por si se los preguntan tiene un modo facil es tu forma de jugar que lo crea su difucultad es un pincel en blanco nosotros lo hacemos, mi puntuacion final es un 8 de 10.… Expand
  100. Pointdown
    Nov 18, 2020
    10
    The best game i have ever played. Lore is huge and told nicely for the people interested and the world is one of the most immersive ever. The RPG elements are done amazingly both with the level up system and customization. The level design is perhaps the best i have ever seen for the first 2/3 of the game and even late game it is still and enjoyable experience that i didnt want to end.The best game i have ever played. Lore is huge and told nicely for the people interested and the world is one of the most immersive ever. The RPG elements are done amazingly both with the level up system and customization. The level design is perhaps the best i have ever seen for the first 2/3 of the game and even late game it is still and enjoyable experience that i didnt want to end. Controls and gameplay is great despite what people say as long as you are playing with a controler and the bosses are great. The pvp is really bad so dont get your hopes up but coop can be pretty fun yet i do discourage summoning others for help as it can ruin the experence. The DLC is masterful in both storytelling and gameplay with one of the best bosses in gaming history. The game with the DLC will likely last around 40 hours or so depending on the player. There are pretty much no bugs in the game, only glitches that are performed intentionally by players. Overall as long as you play with a controller and are not afraid to face a bigger challenge than usuall i strongly suggest this game… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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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