Dark Souls Remastered

 Switch
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 381 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 302 out of 381
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 381
  3. Negative: 51 out of 381
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  1. Ryzacus
    Oct 25, 2018
    8
    I preordered this game and was incredibly excited to play it. It got delayed, but I was willing to wait to play it on switch. This is a fantastic game but the Switch version has 2 small drawbacks:

    1. The compressed audio in the first area (Undead asylum) is pretty bad. After this first area though it isn't a problem. 2. The 'A' and 'B' buttons are the other way round and cannot be    I preordered this game and was incredibly excited to play it. It got delayed, but I was willing to wait to play it on switch. This is a fantastic game but the Switch version has 2 small drawbacks:

    1. The compressed audio in the first area (Undead asylum) is pretty bad. After this first area though it isn't a problem.

    2. The 'A' and 'B' buttons are the other way round and cannot be changed in the control options. This is very confusing and after hours of game play it still feels uncomfortable as 'A' is universally select and 'B' is back.

    Apart from these 2 small drawbacks on the Switch version you're in for one hell of a game. The world of Londor is mysterious and interconnecting like no other. Mechanically the game has age pretty well but still feels clunkier than Dark Souls 3. The lack of direction that game gives you is part of what makes exploring and discovering paths and secrets one of the most rewarding experiences an RPG can offer. Finally, this game is quite difficult and may turn away a few people, but as with all Dark Souls games (and trust me on this one) if you persist and get better section by section this game is going to be topping a few peoples lists.

    So glad to finally experience this masterpiece and even more so to do it on a Nintendo console!    … Expand
  2. quanta
    Oct 23, 2018
    5
    The only reason to play on the switch is for the handheld mode, because every other platform is to be preferred otherwise. Unfortunately, it will get your switch super hot pretty fast and drain a lot of battery making use in handheld not that appealing either. Sad.
  3. SocietyEarth
    Oct 23, 2018
    8
    This release seems to have more in common with the original release, rather than the current-gen remasters, and that's okay! Especially whilst playing handheld, the game performs well and I found myself only becoming frustrated due to my own lack of patience. I never feel like I am battling poor controls, hitboxes, or poor game design. Easily a quality title for the Nintendo Switch.
  4. datmofo
    Oct 23, 2018
    10
    great port. Very smooth 30fps, graphics are downscaled but that's fine. its on a switch bois
  5. SileSixEcho
    Oct 23, 2018
    10
    I don't care about the lack of fidelity of this version compared to the "real" remaster. For me, this is the definitive way to play and enjoy dark souls. It's just so convenient to play it no matter where you want to play and you can always put it to "sleep" and hop back in at any time. Praise the Sun!
  6. zeke95
    Oct 22, 2018
    1
    This is not a remaster of the game. In fact, all the original textures, assets and character models from the xbox 360 version are used and unchanged. The framerate is not locked for some reason so you still experience drops when fighting bosses. The frame pacing issue also makes a comeback which makes the game feel clunky. The audio quality is so poor that you'll wish you were playing thisThis is not a remaster of the game. In fact, all the original textures, assets and character models from the xbox 360 version are used and unchanged. The framerate is not locked for some reason so you still experience drops when fighting bosses. The frame pacing issue also makes a comeback which makes the game feel clunky. The audio quality is so poor that you'll wish you were playing this elsewhere instead. The fire and fog effects are worse than the original xbox 360 version in fact, they replaced the effects with moving textures.

    Considering the port was delayed for almost six months, this one is not worth your time and money and certainly not worth $40. Don't let the good critics fool you.    … Expand
  7. Archangel289
    Oct 21, 2018
    8
    I was very excited for the Switch port of Dark Souls when it got announced. Dark Souls has been a favorite of mine since the 360 version years back, so when the opportunity came up to play it on the go, I jumped at the chance. And overall, it’s a great experience! It plays smoothly, looks good (not quite up to par with the PS4/Xbox One remasters, but I had anticipated that. What the SwitchI was very excited for the Switch port of Dark Souls when it got announced. Dark Souls has been a favorite of mine since the 360 version years back, so when the opportunity came up to play it on the go, I jumped at the chance. And overall, it’s a great experience! It plays smoothly, looks good (not quite up to par with the PS4/Xbox One remasters, but I had anticipated that. What the Switch lacks in raw power it makes up for in adaptability), and overall has been a positive experience. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to get into the series, or having another option to play what has now become a classic in the genre (if not a genre builder itself).

    My one complaint, and I actually wanted to write this review to do my part to get it out there as best I could, is that the audio is...bad. I can’t make any assumptions about what the cause is, but the audio sounds horribly compressed for most sounds (voices sound mostly okay, but they do lose some of the resonance they had in the original). The sound effects still sound appropriate (though a few have been cut, I’ve noticed), but the audio actually kinda messed with my ears because it sounded so low-quality. It’s nothing that ruins the game for me, and it’s still one of my favorite iterations of the game because of the portability, but it is something that could really use a fix to make the game essentially a 9-10 in my book. Nothing is broken, but if you want a good example of what it sounds like, think of watching a stream of the game (feel free to actually watch videos of this version, too) with low stream quality—it just sounds off, and makes you second-guess whether something’s wrong with your speakers.

    Overall, I’d still highly recommend this game, and think that it’s a faithful port with some much upgrades. Just note that if you’re a fan of the series already, or an audio fanatic, you may want to double check that the audio isn’t going to ruin your experience before dropping $40.

    Edit: I forgot to mention that the audio sounds significantly better in handheld mode vs. docked. My one speculation for this review is that the audio was designed to maintain decent quality on the handheld speakers, but wasn’t optimized for TVs—and especially not for good home sound systems.    … Expand
  8. Lolster
    Oct 21, 2018
    9
    As a person who has never played the first Dark Souls, this was a very satisfying port. The frame rate is consistent and the graphical downgrade is perfectly acceptable (especially after the flack the remaster got on other consoles). There are a few nitpicks though, there is a noticeable compression in the audio and the button mapping in the menus is weird and can't be changed for someAs a person who has never played the first Dark Souls, this was a very satisfying port. The frame rate is consistent and the graphical downgrade is perfectly acceptable (especially after the flack the remaster got on other consoles). There are a few nitpicks though, there is a noticeable compression in the audio and the button mapping in the menus is weird and can't be changed for some reason, but I got used to the compression very quickly and the the B and A buttons don't ruin the experience. Also, fantastic game.… Expand
  9. carreracarrera
    Oct 20, 2018
    1
    this is a 360 version with some frames more.... when you buy a remaster is because you receive a best version from 7 years ago.. no an old version from 360
  10. benjistan
    Oct 19, 2018
    10
    Probably the best version of the game out there.

    Dark souls was designed to be a 30fps game. It is a very rare exception where a game feels better at 30. So with that being said. ( you can disagree if you want but before you do you should try playing the game at 30 and 60) I have played the moded original at 60 and it was like walking in soup. The Switch version feels much better.    Probably the best version of the game out there.

    Dark souls was designed to be a 30fps game. It is a very rare exception where a game feels better at 30. So with that being said. ( you can disagree if you want but before you do you should try playing the game at 30 and 60) I have played the moded original at 60 and it was like walking in soup. The Switch version feels much better.

    The game is the original with better resolution and some small changes.
    It runs very well and is a game that has aged well.    … Expand
  11. evildoomfoot
    Oct 19, 2018
    10
    this is hands down one of my favorite games ever, and now i can play it on the go with better performance than the original! if your a souls fan and own an switch, this is a must have. this is one of those games that sucks you into its world and haunts you for days after playing. from the world building to the unforgiving but fair game play, Dark Souls is what gaming is all about.
  12. Danthereddevil
    Oct 19, 2018
    9
    Great game only thing to spoil it is a mix up with buttons and a little on the (dark) side lol not a major issue but when playing handheld can cauae battery to drain rather quick but other than that a classic game
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Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best Switch Game of 2018
14
#14 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
4
#4 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 51
  3. Negative: 0 out of 51
  1. CD-Action
    Nov 14, 2019
    50
    It’s another edition of the same old thing. One that has nothing to offer apart from what should be offered in the least – and still doesn’t accomplish it well enough to be worthy of any praise. [13/2018, p.76]
  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Feb 26, 2019
    80
    There are technical limitations inherent with the Switch version of Dark Souls, but if you're from a time where you can fight through it, you should be OK. [Issue #37 – January/February 2019, p. 73]
  3. DualShockers
    Dec 10, 2018
    80
    Dark Souls Remastered on the Nintendo Switch brings a new kind of revelry to the moment-to-moment victories like finding a bonfire or killing a boss.
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