Dark Souls

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1574 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,343 out of 1574
  2. Mixed: 87 out of 1574
  3. Negative: 144 out of 1574
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  1. RubikPinkiePie
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Perfect game, is not hard but exigent, the game only gives you the bases of how to play and the rest of the game you will have to discover it on your own in a wide world without restrictions
  2. Dperks
    Jan 10, 2019
    10
    I dropped this game at first but later came back and beat it and now i regularly come back to beat it again.
  3. HonestReviews69
    Jun 13, 2019
    9
    Fun if you are good. There is a lot more to the game than being hard. But if you can't get past the first undead areas, then this game will be terrible 4 u. I love it for it's amazing combat, amazing visuals, the soul system, and the difficulty. (which is fair btw) If u play it smart u won't die
  4. Hdogg
    Mar 24, 2020
    10
    Best game ever made. Anyone who actually gets to the end of the game or at least halfway through falls in love with it. The people who don't like it are those that gave up on it too early. No one likes this game right away. Just like the first time you took a sip of your daddy's beer. Grow up and drink the effing beer or shut up.
  5. MYP
    Mar 27, 2021
    10
    The Original Dark Souls is a must-play for any Video game fan or Critic. The game is one of those games that other art enthusiasts can look at it and say well that's unique. There's nothing like dark souls franchise out there and it all started with this game, i acknowledge that it was demon's souls that started it all but demon's souls falls short in comparison with dark souls.
  6. TheHound1
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    Incredible game design, level design, amazing environmental story telling, deep lore, doesn’t cater to a wide audience, is still being talked about 9 years after it’s release, literally spawned a whole new sub-genre.
    In a sea of uninspired generic easy as **** games, dark souls stands out as not only an “unforgiving” game but a game that respects the player and doesn’t treat them like a    Incredible game design, level design, amazing environmental story telling, deep lore, doesn’t cater to a wide audience, is still being talked about 9 years after it’s release, literally spawned a whole new sub-genre.
    In a sea of uninspired generic easy as **** games, dark souls stands out as not only an “unforgiving” game but a game that respects the player and doesn’t treat them like a **** idiot.
    In my opinion this is without a doubt the greatest game of all time.    … Expand
  7. scroole
    Mar 19, 2020
    10
    dasdasd dad ad a ad da das da dad asdasddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
  8. Khazar2
    May 5, 2020
    8
    A hack n slash game that actually provides a challenge unlike many of the others.
  9. soldar
    Jun 26, 2020
    10
    El juego llega a ser tan bueno que no dan ganas de quitar el juego y hay gran variedad de armas, escudos y armaduras
  10. Zaidx
    Jul 23, 2020
    10
    My favorite game of all time what else can I say its just perfect as a game
  11. flipflapx
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    Mi juego favorito de todos los tiempos. Pero no por su dificultad, para mi dark souls es grande por su gran sistema de combate y por las builds que te puedes hacer. Tiene muchas armas, armaduras y estilos de combate que lo hacen sumamente completo en ese aspecto. Los escenarios y los enemigos estan muy bien construidos, haciendo interesante la exploración por su "mundo". No te dejes llevarMi juego favorito de todos los tiempos. Pero no por su dificultad, para mi dark souls es grande por su gran sistema de combate y por las builds que te puedes hacer. Tiene muchas armas, armaduras y estilos de combate que lo hacen sumamente completo en ese aspecto. Los escenarios y los enemigos estan muy bien construidos, haciendo interesante la exploración por su "mundo". No te dejes llevar por la dificultad, mirar estos juegos y pensar que son buenos porque son difíciles para mi esta sumamente sobrevalorado y le ha hecho un mal favor a la industria de los videojuegos, haciendo que los desarrolladores se enfoquen en hacer juegos difíciles mas que juegos con buenas mecánicas de combate como dark souls.… Expand
  12. punkblud
    Jul 31, 2020
    9
    My many playthroughs of this game have proven to me, that videogames can be art. The world this game presents is one of immense detail and rich history and its a shame the casual player won't get to scratch the surface of what this game has to offer in terms of both story and gameplay. So much is left to the imagination as well as interpretation giving the player the ability to dwell inMy many playthroughs of this game have proven to me, that videogames can be art. The world this game presents is one of immense detail and rich history and its a shame the casual player won't get to scratch the surface of what this game has to offer in terms of both story and gameplay. So much is left to the imagination as well as interpretation giving the player the ability to dwell in thought of what they just experienced. Everyone knows this series for its crushing difficulty as well as its iconic boss fights, this is for good reason since they definitely live up to the hype. The bulk of the difficulty faced is completely fair and it lets the player learn from their mistakes instead of holding their hand with trivial tutorials and easy modes. The glaring issue many others and I face regards the level/boss design of certain areas of the game but outside of that this game is a true masterpiece that any fan of video games should experience at least once.… Expand
  13. KaleSungurCrane
    Nov 22, 2020
    10
    OVERALL - 97%

    Gameplay - 9/10 Graphics (for time) - 8/10 Story - 9/10 Game Length - 9/10 Characters - 7/10 Level/Area Design - 10/10 Atmosphere - 9/10 Sound Effects - 8/10 Soundtrack - 7/10 Replay Value - 10/10 This game and the SoulsBorne franchise have ruined gaming for me. I am addicted to these games. Nothing else has nailed the a balanced in game difficulty like this.    OVERALL - 97%

    Gameplay - 9/10
    Graphics (for time) - 8/10
    Story - 9/10
    Game Length - 9/10
    Characters - 7/10
    Level/Area Design - 10/10
    Atmosphere - 9/10
    Sound Effects - 8/10
    Soundtrack - 7/10
    Replay Value - 10/10

    This game and the SoulsBorne franchise have ruined gaming for me. I am addicted to these games. Nothing else has nailed the a balanced in game difficulty like this. It took me a while to get into the swing of it and of course rage quit 1000 times, but there is no equivalent in gaming to beating a section of Dark Souls after struggling on it for so long. The map is incredibly intricate and linked together beautifully, and the areas are impressively varied and creative. I love Dark Souls.    … Expand
  14. Brownies
    Dec 22, 2020
    10
    Dark souls took everything that demon's souls established and improved it in everyway, giving us one of the most challenging and deep video games ever.
  15. PlagueMan
    Dec 23, 2020
    10
    In the name of the gwyn, this game is a Masterpiece. Praise the sun, this game is so deep.
  16. Boldozer3u
    Dec 27, 2020
    10
    Dark souls is one of the deepest and hardest games ever made, from its minimalistic story tp its highly detailed world and NPCs.
  17. SkizDriz
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Yes, 10. This game singlehandedly has restored my faith in rpg's. You will get stuck, and feel the rage of your gaming forfathers. You shall either expose yourself as a superficial gamer and quit to go play fluffybunnies, or you shall overcome and experience true accomplishment. The choice is yours.
  18. Richie
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is simply amazing, an addicting challenge, one the most beautifully made hardcore RPG games ever. It's hard to put Dark Souls down, it sucks you in early on and keeps you grinding through hours and hours of death and rewarding conquest. This game will test your nerves and make your blood boil, you will die and you will die often. I guarantee your adrenaline will surge throughDark Souls is simply amazing, an addicting challenge, one the most beautifully made hardcore RPG games ever. It's hard to put Dark Souls down, it sucks you in early on and keeps you grinding through hours and hours of death and rewarding conquest. This game will test your nerves and make your blood boil, you will die and you will die often. I guarantee your adrenaline will surge through the roof and you might even find yourself checking your pulse. Dark Souls is a **** of a game and one hell of a good time.… Expand
  19. DiabeticDogma
    Oct 11, 2011
    10
    The two negative reviewers are idiots. That is all. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
  20. Wombatkilla1
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Spent well over 100 hours with Demon Souls and about 15 already with Dark souls.... This game is no joke, and as everyone well knows by now an unforgiving experience. With that said, I have never felt such an extreme level of accomplishment when successful with any other game to date. This game may not be for everyone at first, but if given the chance can really make an impact on any typeSpent well over 100 hours with Demon Souls and about 15 already with Dark souls.... This game is no joke, and as everyone well knows by now an unforgiving experience. With that said, I have never felt such an extreme level of accomplishment when successful with any other game to date. This game may not be for everyone at first, but if given the chance can really make an impact on any type of player. Perfect score for me... without a doubt.… Expand
  21. Steel
    Oct 27, 2011
    10
    Buy This game after uve seen more than 20 min of in-game footage and u should be fine! Great game! , not really that difficult (except the CURSE , which is really infuriating!)
    Perfect 10! FOR PURE UNADULTRATED GAMING.
  22. Bman2095
    Oct 12, 2011
    10
    I never played demon's souls (I play 360) but I've heard that it's REALLY hard, and apparently Dark souls is harder. Within 5 minutes of game play I was sold, the graphics are amazing, the open world is great, and the weapon selection is nearly limitless. Not to mention the cool enemies and almost impossible bosses. all in all the game was worth $60 and I've probably not even explored theI never played demon's souls (I play 360) but I've heard that it's REALLY hard, and apparently Dark souls is harder. Within 5 minutes of game play I was sold, the graphics are amazing, the open world is great, and the weapon selection is nearly limitless. Not to mention the cool enemies and almost impossible bosses. all in all the game was worth $60 and I've probably not even explored the entire world Dark souls has to offer yet. The game does live up to its tagline though "prepare to die"… Expand
  23. afxcollin
    Oct 10, 2011
    8
    This is by far the hardest game on the Xbox 360, which is the games curse but also its strength. The RPG elements are solid and each level up feels like my hero was getting stronger but the game behaves randomly and where once a battle was a breeze to maneuver through becomes a nightmare of un-relentless foes. This has to be the games biggest problem. When you grind you often are tediouslyThis is by far the hardest game on the Xbox 360, which is the games curse but also its strength. The RPG elements are solid and each level up feels like my hero was getting stronger but the game behaves randomly and where once a battle was a breeze to maneuver through becomes a nightmare of un-relentless foes. This has to be the games biggest problem. When you grind you often are tediously grinding through the same environments before you can take on the boss that you've attempted a dozen times before. The strength of the game is when you over come these problems, your rewarded with well designed maps and cut scenes, although there is little story. You do feel like you become stronger and the leveling system is fun but because of the tedium grinding and the random difficulty spikes this game is only for true hardcore RPG fans.… Expand
  24. oslin007
    Oct 11, 2011
    10
    What a game! This is more than I could have hoped for and usually hate loosing in games! One thing that's so good about this game is the difficulty, but not only that its that insanely hard - which it actually isnt (think games like COD on hardest difficulty and other JRPGs are way more difficult) but the way you are really supposed to die. Today i grinded a whole day to get to the nextWhat a game! This is more than I could have hoped for and usually hate loosing in games! One thing that's so good about this game is the difficulty, but not only that its that insanely hard - which it actually isnt (think games like COD on hardest difficulty and other JRPGs are way more difficult) but the way you are really supposed to die. Today i grinded a whole day to get to the next bon fire which I didn't manage. DO I get mad? NO! because you learn so much from just fighting and fighting and fightning and each time you die you will have gotten a little better at the game and a little further into the amazingly crafted world. Do yourself a favour and BUY THIS GAME!… Expand
  25. aqurban
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    The presentation is fitting to both new comers and Demon Souls experienced fans, yet also merciless to both. If you think you can just go slashing your way through dead and ugly, think again. Dark Souls will leave you anguished and agonized to the limit, youâ
  26. Sparpnsexyoak
    Oct 19, 2011
    9
    I swear, if I didn't have such an expensive TV my Xbox controller would long since have been buried in the screen. It is possibly the most frustratingly addictive game I have ever come across and I love every freaking minute of it... sort of. Like so many have said before, the game is difficult but in a good way. You always feel as if you have failed yourself and not as if the game hasI swear, if I didn't have such an expensive TV my Xbox controller would long since have been buried in the screen. It is possibly the most frustratingly addictive game I have ever come across and I love every freaking minute of it... sort of. Like so many have said before, the game is difficult but in a good way. You always feel as if you have failed yourself and not as if the game has somehow failed you, despite the four letter words that leave your mouth every time you die. I have never played Demon Souls, or for that matter even heard of it but after seeing a few online reviews for this game I just had to have it. Part of what drew me in was the idea of the challenge and I get the feeling that is what is pushing me one, I simply must complete this game in order to call myself a true gamer. yes, Iâ… Expand
  27. stevev45
    Oct 14, 2011
    10
    This is by far the best RPG I have ever played for the 360. The game is balanced extremely well, with lots of care given to making the game realistic. Get hit with a giant axe while not blocking equals you're death. One pit fall of many game sis that the currency system usually hits a point where money doesn't matter anymore, because there isn't anything the player really wants to buy.This is by far the best RPG I have ever played for the 360. The game is balanced extremely well, with lots of care given to making the game realistic. Get hit with a giant axe while not blocking equals you're death. One pit fall of many game sis that the currency system usually hits a point where money doesn't matter anymore, because there isn't anything the player really wants to buy. Dark Souls completely fixes this problem with two clever moves. First, it's difficult to mass wealth (souls), because you can lose them all when you die. Second, level ups and item upgrades are purchased with souls, which insures that they are always desirable. This game rewards patients, carful thought, and above all skill.… Expand
  28. Czeslaw
    Oct 23, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is not for the impatient. Note that I do not say that it is not for the unskilled, as I believe anyone could master Dark Souls given time. It's like any other game, and its difficulty should not be seen as a deterrent but something to be embraced. If not, then it'd be like playing D&D, but without the threat of death around every corner. It would be like skydiving from ten feetDark Souls is not for the impatient. Note that I do not say that it is not for the unskilled, as I believe anyone could master Dark Souls given time. It's like any other game, and its difficulty should not be seen as a deterrent but something to be embraced. If not, then it'd be like playing D&D, but without the threat of death around every corner. It would be like skydiving from ten feet above the ground. No risk, no adrenaline.
    I bought this game completely out of the blue, having never played its predecessor or looking at the reviews. As far as negative opinions go, I guess mine was about as close as you'd get - I felt all the rage of the people rating 0s, I felt crushed and helpless and like I'd never beat the game. I spent ten hours trying to beat the Taurus Demon. But I had patience. I beat that boss and all the rest along the way, and I finished the game. And the result was a complete turnaround of my initial feelings of dread. For all you reviewing negatively, I ask you to first finish the game. If you can tell me that you didn't like it after that, I'll believe you. Otherwise, be patient, and keep working.    … Expand
  29. Mohammad22
    Feb 20, 2012
    10
    Dark Souls is the BEST RPG GAME THIS GEN!!! the only reason some people hate it is becasue its Hard.. Otherwise its a really great and fun game. You MUST by it if you have a PS3 or Xbox 360
  30. incognito_1
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    i heard a lot good things about this game so i played demon souls couple months before dark souls came out. i loved it! i admit that it demon souls boss fights may have been a bit more creative but dark souls still impresses me greatly. i especially love (and hate) the feeling of fear and frustration of dieing just when the boss was one hit from death. this feeling will haunt you throughi heard a lot good things about this game so i played demon souls couple months before dark souls came out. i loved it! i admit that it demon souls boss fights may have been a bit more creative but dark souls still impresses me greatly. i especially love (and hate) the feeling of fear and frustration of dieing just when the boss was one hit from death. this feeling will haunt you through out the game, this tension and stress comes from the possibility of losing everything that you had earned from the last few hours and losing it all due to a bad roll, block, attack, spell cast etc. this is why i enjoyed the game so much, true it may not be for most people. the sense of loss and frustration may not your 'thing", but due to these feelings dark souls is one game that stands out in my library. also there is some issues with the game involving the frame rate, certain areas are worse than others but it is mostly due to the fact that ps3 and xbox hardware is getting old. plus it doesn't hinder the game to the point unplayability, it is more of an annoyance. if u ignore these flaws you will have a immensely enjoyable experience.… Expand
  31. amnix
    Nov 4, 2011
    10
    Difficult to master, extremely punishing, rage educing & infuriating at times.

    You will need to do your own research, scout the wiki's and plan ahead.

    But when it all comes together, when you finally understand the concepts and the basics, its extremely rewarding.
  32. BiggyT
    Oct 21, 2011
    9
    Great game, very challenging but satisfying. If you didn't like this game because your bad at video games, then go play halo on easy mode and don't have kids.
  33. yeomsta
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    On October 7th I was supposed to buy Rage, it was part of my gaming calender prior to Skyrim and Arkham Asylum. Dark Souls has made me scrap that plan. I'll probably be playing it for months, Rage is out the window, Arkham Asylum is on hold until spring next year probably and Skyrim will be my second fiddle game. I took a chance on Dark Souls, I knew nothing of its predecessor or itsOn October 7th I was supposed to buy Rage, it was part of my gaming calender prior to Skyrim and Arkham Asylum. Dark Souls has made me scrap that plan. I'll probably be playing it for months, Rage is out the window, Arkham Asylum is on hold until spring next year probably and Skyrim will be my second fiddle game. I took a chance on Dark Souls, I knew nothing of its predecessor or its developer but I took a chance because it looked different to the polished, same-y big budget rpgs I usually play and after 25 hours of playtime I can confirm that is definitely the case. This game takes challenge and reward to a whole new level, it refuses to hold my hand at any point and forces me to think and learn while playing it, I haven't enjoyed a game this much since i first started playing WoW, (incidentally WoW was the game that I thought would kill all console games for me forever until Dark Souls was released). The depth of character/gear building, combined with the challenge of the game and the fantastic insanely gothic atmosphere that surrounds every step my character takes has made this a truly special game for me, one that I will never forget and will always list it as one of my favourite games of all time.… Expand
  34. X-fushion
    Oct 5, 2012
    9
    If you are a gamer that wants some challenge, get this game yeah it´s hard as hell but its totally worth it, the boss battles are epic and all the adventure you go trough, the combat works well, the atmosphere is really cool and also discovering the secrets of this game.
  35. drlowdon
    Jan 18, 2015
    10
    A spiritual successor to the PS3 only Demon Souls, Dark Souls is a game like nothing else available on the Xbox360. As you may well have already have heard you will die a lot in the process of attempting to complete the game. In the 75+ hours it took me to finish I would estimate that I suffered in excess of one hundred deaths. Unlike a number of other games I could name however thisA spiritual successor to the PS3 only Demon Souls, Dark Souls is a game like nothing else available on the Xbox360. As you may well have already have heard you will die a lot in the process of attempting to complete the game. In the 75+ hours it took me to finish I would estimate that I suffered in excess of one hundred deaths. Unlike a number of other games I could name however this rarely (Blight Town’s frame rates and a certain archer being the exception) became frustrating as each death can be seen as a learning experience allowing you to progress just that little bit further next time.

    Following a short, but tough, tutorial section the player finds themselves in an open world that they are free to explore any direction they choose. Never knowing what is around the next corner provides a truly tense yet exhilarating experience and reaching a bonfire (the games equivalent of checkpoints) provides such a huge sense of relief that you will often find yourself letting out a deep breath.

    All this is backed up by an excellent combat system that allows for the use of magic, bow and melee tactics as well as any combination in between. Forgoing the use of complex button combinations success depends on quickly working out the attack patterns of the huge variety of enemies and launching your own attacks at just the right moment. A seconds lapse in concentration can be fatal even against the games most basic foes!

    If all this sounds impossible help is fortunately always at hand from fellow on-line players. Using an item found early in the game players can leave messages for each other providing information on how to find secret areas or on the weaknesses of certain enemies. It is even possible to summon another player into your world in order to assist you on a particularly troublesome boss and this can go a long way to swinging the odds in your favour.

    For anyone looking for something just that bit different I can't recommend Dark Souls highly enough, just ensure that you have the internet handy as the game doesn't clearly explain many of the concepts that are vital if you are to make any kind of progress.    … Expand
  36. fox294
    Jan 15, 2013
    10
    This game made me rethink the way that I play and enjoy videogames. --------------- TES: Skyrim was released very shortly after Dark Souls. At the time, Skyrim had been heavily hyped and advertised and Dark Souls slipped right past my radar. I do recall seeing it right next to Skyrim on the Metacritic chart but dismissing it. So I played through Skyrim and enjoyed it thoroughly ,This game made me rethink the way that I play and enjoy videogames. --------------- TES: Skyrim was released very shortly after Dark Souls. At the time, Skyrim had been heavily hyped and advertised and Dark Souls slipped right past my radar. I do recall seeing it right next to Skyrim on the Metacritic chart but dismissing it. So I played through Skyrim and enjoyed it thoroughly , thinking it was a 10. But even then I understood that Skyrim is a game where you walk around without any risk. This isn't a knock and it isn't unusual - most games these days present no actual risk, no heart-pounding moments. In Skyrim, after you slog your way through mission after mission you eventually build yourself into an unstoppable juggernaut. So whereas at the beginning of the game all you had to do was run or reload, by the end the only way you're going to die is if you hurl yourself off a cliff. At that point, it… Expand
  37. Rammsoldat
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    You the chosen undead make your pilgramage from the undead asylum in the north to lordran to fulfil the prophecy and break the curse of the darksign. For people who played the previous game "demon's souls" this game will be very familiar as it plays exactly the same with the odd addition here and there, there is also the familiar concept of souls as currency that you drop when dead andYou the chosen undead make your pilgramage from the undead asylum in the north to lordran to fulfil the prophecy and break the curse of the darksign. For people who played the previous game "demon's souls" this game will be very familiar as it plays exactly the same with the odd addition here and there, there is also the familiar concept of souls as currency that you drop when dead and have to fight your way back to. The best new feature of this game is the intergrated world, no longer do you have the nexus hub and warp to each level now you must fight your way to wherever you must journey. This game like the last one is for gamers seeking a test of skill and determination. A game not for the weak of mind or the weak of heart.… Expand
  38. Kuroko
    Oct 23, 2011
    10
    This game rapes you in the ass, and makes you love it.

    That's what I'd put in the back of the box. Better than Demon's Souls in almost every aspect, but after seeing so many ideas recycled from Demon's Souls, I'm kinda sad they didn't add a Maiden in Black equivalent character. I miss her a lot. The lack of nexus to call "home" and keep the game structured makes the game far more    This game rapes you in the ass, and makes you love it.

    That's what I'd put in the back of the box.
    Better than Demon's Souls in almost every aspect, but after seeing so many ideas recycled from Demon's Souls, I'm kinda sad they didn't add a Maiden in Black equivalent character. I miss her a lot.

    The lack of nexus to call "home" and keep the game structured makes the game far more psychologically oppressive, that is good considering the nature of the game, but also prevents me from playing too much, cause at some point my anguish meter goes too high.    … Expand
  39. SolidLinkSnake4
    Nov 27, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is a very fun RPG game that is challenging,fun to die, and overall awesome. If you don't like dieing a lot in a game don't get this ,but if you like RPG's this game is good for you
  40. ZzZ85
    Jan 13, 2014
    10
    Dark souls is my favorite game of all time. No other game comes close, period! Demons souls was really really awesome, but Dark souls is just amazing!
  41. ChaosWitch
    Nov 10, 2011
    9
    I can't remember a game that kept me stick with my X360 like Dark Souls. Wonderful eerie atmosphere, awesome environment and creatures design, fascinating places to explore and epic battles.
    I'm not giving a 10 to this game only because of some little imperfections, like the framerate in Blighttown and a few bugs.
    This game demonstrates that the good old times are still alive, and not only    I can't remember a game that kept me stick with my X360 like Dark Souls. Wonderful eerie atmosphere, awesome environment and creatures design, fascinating places to explore and epic battles.
    I'm not giving a 10 to this game only because of some little imperfections, like the framerate in Blighttown and a few bugs.
    This game demonstrates that the good old times are still alive, and not only because of its difficulty. Of course, it's hard. But IMHO it's much more beautiful than hard.    … Expand
  42. DrunkBall101
    Nov 29, 2011
    10
    Awesome game! The difficulty of this game is so rewarding when you defeat giant and unique bosses. For anyone who loves action RPGs i would recommend this game to you. It is a must buy.
  43. kevlar4
    May 18, 2012
    9
    dark souls is an awesome game it is one of the hardest games of this generation my only gripes are there are some pvp balancing issues the framerate drops in certain areas and the controls dont always work
  44. LonePie
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    This is a great game. Unlike most games where you can kill any enemy without batting an eye, this game has enemies that can kill you in a second. Not only does this make every enemy a significant encounter that makes your heart race, it makes each victory so much more sweet. The world, dark, miserable, and full of despair, is captured with success. From the cloudy vistas and darkThis is a great game. Unlike most games where you can kill any enemy without batting an eye, this game has enemies that can kill you in a second. Not only does this make every enemy a significant encounter that makes your heart race, it makes each victory so much more sweet. The world, dark, miserable, and full of despair, is captured with success. From the cloudy vistas and dark catacombs, even seeing light from the sun has a surreal and sad feeling; the light streaming from the sun on a world full of tragedy. It contrasts so well with the environment. Great game.… Expand
  45. Alibi
    Nov 17, 2011
    10
    What makes Dark Soul's story unique is that it talks about a prophecy of a hero will save the land one day, but it could careless if that is you. It doesn't care if you live or die. It does not have a huge back story either. It lets you fill in the blanks. Also, the same way it does not care if you live or die. It does not care if the NPC that fill the world of Dark Soul live or die. IfWhat makes Dark Soul's story unique is that it talks about a prophecy of a hero will save the land one day, but it could careless if that is you. It doesn't care if you live or die. It does not have a huge back story either. It lets you fill in the blanks. Also, the same way it does not care if you live or die. It does not care if the NPC that fill the world of Dark Soul live or die. If you are a fan of the RPG genre I would suggest picking this one up!… Expand
  46. cameronlemon97
    Dec 2, 2011
    10
    one of the best and most unique games I've played all year. I never though i could have so much fun dying and learning how to overcome each individual problem, enemy design is incredible as well and as the game progresses the enemies look more hellish and the difficulty makes this game one of the best games of the year
  47. ReSultZ
    Dec 2, 2011
    10
    Simply point you have NEVER played a game like them as Dark Souls and Demon's Souls are on another level. The bad news is these games are so long and good, they ruin other games.
  48. XxMayhemxX
    Feb 2, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing game. After about 20-30 minutes of playing you learn the enemies attack styles/defensive stances/parry stances and can handle them with ease. Then you won't die no more unless you get careless. This is very important.. DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.. ANYTIME..Once you do then your dead. To me this game is a realistic combat game. PPl complain all you do is block. Well, if you don't block in real life you die(or get hit) If you don't want to get hit or die.. then you either A. block, or B. Dodge/Roll... Same for in the game... It's not like countless other games were you can take hits like a sponge.. with a crazy amount of hp in a lifebar. If you dug through your backpack IRL, would you expect the enemies around you to freeze in place til your done? Nope.. didn't think so.. not in combat in this game either... Back to enemy stances and combat.. you mastered the undead in the beginning? ok.. Next area...block and block some more. Study their moves and patterns because their completely diff then the undead from the beginning. They can parry and riposte if you strike at the wrong time. It's all about blocking and timing... and if you don't study them you will die. Once again take your time. IF you do die. You don't lose ANY items, only your souls(money), and they STAY where you died and don't disappear unless you die again.. so don't rush it. Take your time, focus on your enemies, not your souls and use strategy with each and every fight. Treat every single enemy like it's your last 2 hit points and you will be victorious. After logging well over 200 hours into the game(i haven't beat it yet) nothing is too difficult and you feel like you've become a black belt... literally But any small misstep can spell your doom. So you must stay vigilant at all times.. block when you walk around every corner. Graphics: Some ppl are raving about how good they are. Others are complaining they are horrible. Well I got the 411. The view on the horizon(far away view) is beautiful.. the world up close, not so much(bland textures). The weapons and armor.. simply amazing...(lighting and parallax bump mapping are superb) you can tell From Software put more focus on weapons and armor graphics more so then the world which i am perfectly fine with. There are a few pieces of armor that are more beautiful then anything seen in Skyrim. Story: There IS a story.. it's just not told to you in the normal fashion.. Your character is living the story. You, yourself are creating the story. One reviewer on here keeps comparing this game to Halo and FPS tournaments. Rediculous. it's a 3rd person action adventure combat game, not a shooter. This game is simply amazing. Do yourself a favor and BUY this game if you have any interest in action adventure PC style rpgs, you'll love this game. In fact, pick up a PS3 simply for Demons Souls, you'll be glad you did. Demons Souls is not getting the due respect it deserves, Multiplayer: You can play offline or online tho later boss battles may require you to have another player help you out(think Smough/Ornstien) As the back of the box states.. groundbreaking online features.. you can raid another players game.. kill them, and get their souls. Or you can place down a marker that says your ready to join another player coop style(or select a marker from someone else to summon them instead) It only works til you beat the areas boss then the other player dissappears... Grinding: There isn't quite the need to grind as ppl say.. unless your just getting hit too much by bosses/enemies. I grinded alot in the first area(undead burg) but after playing the game alot and learning how to fight... I can safely say.. i could start over.. and not need to grind... so it isn't nessacary so long as you fight properly... block and dodge/roll, time your attacks, look for openings... play it safe.. don't be a hack and slashing superman. You will get hit ALOT. Some ppl complain all you do is spam block.... so what.. no different then spamming attack on most conventional hack and slashers with an occasional heal.. or spamming guns in FPS's while aiming... Diff strokes for diff folks... Alot of ppl compare this game to Skyrim. Even I did earlier. Most ppl say it's not as good as Skyrim.. overall it's not.. but it's got alot of things going for it Skyrim does not... and the fact alone that so many ppl are using it in the same sentence as Skyrim says alot.. no other RPG besides Oblivion and Fallout 3 can make that statement... Say what you want, but Bethesda could learn a thing or 2 about melee combat from Dark Souls Again.. Go directly to your local store and BUY this game pronto... and learn to fight pansies... I gave the game a 9.. cause nothing is perfect. Blighttown frame-rate issues and multiplay can be frustrating for some ppl. Wasn't a problem for me. I played it all solo except 2 hard bosses. For all the haters, play Megaman on Nintendo and stfu… Expand
  49. dendoi21
    Feb 9, 2012
    10
    If your an old school gamer that use to die alot playing Ghouls & Ghost and you can stand it being in his underwear game on end. Well this game is for you, You can start the game naked and die alot just like old times and throw your remote out your living room window.
    That in my opinion, is game of the year!
  50. Diavir
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    An amazing game. This was easily my favorite game of 2011, the combat is completely solid in every way imaginable and feels meaningful. Every hit feels like it has weight behind it. As for the difficulty, yes the game is hard, yes you will more than likely get frustrated, but it isn't hard in a way that isn't fair. It requires you to learn your opponents moves and skill sets, findAn amazing game. This was easily my favorite game of 2011, the combat is completely solid in every way imaginable and feels meaningful. Every hit feels like it has weight behind it. As for the difficulty, yes the game is hard, yes you will more than likely get frustrated, but it isn't hard in a way that isn't fair. It requires you to learn your opponents moves and skill sets, find weaknesses and strengths, analyze every part of the fight and then use it your advantage. My first play-through was around 60 hours. After completing the game you are instantly thrust into the game again which features an even harder difficulty. You are allowed to keep all your weapons, armor, items and souls, but will lose your keys (minus the master key) shortcuts, and a few other things. Monsters in this mode hit for a lot more and overall the game is even more unforgiving, it plays off the fact you have beaten the game and know the fights and tests you to your breaking point. The story is also another thing I really liked, while it is fairly sparse unless you do your share of work to figure out what is going on, it leaves a lot to the imagination, which I can understand would be aggravating to some but I was very fond of it.

    Do not expect a cakewalk, do not expect to beat this game in 6 hours, do not expect dumbed down and forgiving mechanics.

    Expect to die    … Expand
  51. ZacOfTheZombies
    Apr 13, 2012
    9
    Arguably one of my favorite games of 2011 and definitely one of my favorite RPG's. Dark Souls combines frantic combat with brutal difficulty to produce a game that rewards foresight and adaptability. Enemies form the starting areas can still kill you even at the end of the game if you rush mindlessly, so the game as a whole punishes you for playing it like a hack and slash. Armors andArguably one of my favorite games of 2011 and definitely one of my favorite RPG's. Dark Souls combines frantic combat with brutal difficulty to produce a game that rewards foresight and adaptability. Enemies form the starting areas can still kill you even at the end of the game if you rush mindlessly, so the game as a whole punishes you for playing it like a hack and slash. Armors and Weapons offer each player a chance to make a entirely unique build to bring to the world through mixing and matching any of the hundreds of items. The game's hidden gem is it's story. One of betrayal and lies, the game give the player only the thinnest glimpses into the story and for anyone who wishes to know what is really going on in this world must dig and discover it for themselves. The other shining point of the game is it's Multiplayer, which is seamlessly integrated into the singleplayer experience. The drawbacks to Dark souls also sadly reside in Multiplayer. Certain items are horrendously game breaking, a bad netcode results in frustrating hours of trying to connect to players and also the wondrous world of lag deaths. Net code aside, Dark Souls is something that every RPG fan should play and any gamer should challenge.… Expand
  52. xLegis
    Apr 17, 2012
    10
    I played Demon Souls and hated it. Not because it was a bad game, but because I was a "casual player". I wasn't good enough to match the harden integrity of that game. I thought I was a hardcore RPG gamer then but I wasn't. Then there was Dark Souls, my second chance to redeem myself and reinstate myself in the hardcore community. However, I said I'd only play it once. I said I'd only getI played Demon Souls and hated it. Not because it was a bad game, but because I was a "casual player". I wasn't good enough to match the harden integrity of that game. I thought I was a hardcore RPG gamer then but I wasn't. Then there was Dark Souls, my second chance to redeem myself and reinstate myself in the hardcore community. However, I said I'd only play it once. I said I'd only get achievements attainable through one play through. I said it was just a hold-over till Skyrim. I lied to myself 3 times. My main account is on it's 7th or 8th plaything. I recently became the Dark Soul (awarded for getting all achievements). I have more hours in this, then I do Skyrim. PRO'S: The graphics are beautiful, the controls are on point, customization (builds) are strategical, common enemies can be deadly, the map layout can kill you, boss battles fierce, and pvp's are the definition of epic. CON's: This game is NOT for everyone. It is the hardest game I have ever played (And I beat Ninja Gaiden on Master). It is the physical manifestation of "Unforgiving". You will die, you will yell, you will sweat...a lot. Every enemy is capable of killing you no matter your level, many times in less then 7hits. It is the lone-wolf's paradise with very little interaction with NPC's other then fighting and the story line is pretty much non-existent. That's it. VERDICT: Try it, rent it, steal it w/e. Just don't look down on this game because it was too much for others to handle. $60 well spent, still playing it, praying for DLC's.… Expand
  53. Hyomoto
    Apr 30, 2012
    9
    I gave this game a 9 because I don't believe in 10's. Any time I see a review of 10 I can't help but think it's lying, does any game deserve a perfect score? Dark Souls isn't perfect. It's just really damn good, and if you want a real, earned sense of accomplishment to go with your game time, this is where you'll find it. I find modern gaming to be mind-numbing easy. Reviewers go onI gave this game a 9 because I don't believe in 10's. Any time I see a review of 10 I can't help but think it's lying, does any game deserve a perfect score? Dark Souls isn't perfect. It's just really damn good, and if you want a real, earned sense of accomplishment to go with your game time, this is where you'll find it. I find modern gaming to be mind-numbing easy. Reviewers go on and on, not about how hard it is to beat a title, but how long it will take you! Dark Souls hearkens back to a time when video games challenged you to TRY and beat them, but there was no expectation that you'd succeed. In fact, that was where the replayability was, trying to beat the damn game! In this, Dark Souls makes a concession to modern gaming in that there are no game overs, and with enough perseverance you should be able to win. Probably. You'll actually need to learn something about your character, how they move, how far they attack and how quickly they can escape to be successful. Figuring out a boss' weaknesses, blind spots and coverage gaps will be instrumental to you victories. Or in the case of the Minotaur, a bit of dumb luck might support you (it did me!). The difficulty in this game isn't just your enemies health its how they move, attack and their sheer power. Luckily the controls work and respond like you need them to, and part of your learning experience will be to know what capabilities your weapon has and how to use them effectively (I prefer the spear and shield myself, but I'm a cautious man). Like Demon's Souls, you can defeat any enemy at any level and with any weapon. Powering these things up just gives you that warm comfy that you'll die slightly less horribly at your enemies hands because everything has a price. Wear that heavy armor to take less damage and reduce staggering, but give up your movement and dodge speed. It's a game of give and take, most of the time you'll be giving your life and taking a beating. But because of this, for each victory, you'll get something that little Xbox blip just can't give you, a real sense of achievement. The feeling of overcoming your enemies with your wicked cunning, superior preparation and steadfast devotion. Beasts begin to fall to your blade the way you once fell to theirs. Each step takes you deeper and deeper into adventure and danger, the way the RPG's of old used to. If you want a game that is going to pat you on the back, tell you everything is going to be alright and spoon feed baby then skip Dark Souls. It doesn't want to be your friend and it won't do you any favors. It's the type of game some people won't play, just based on its reputation. The last frontier of gaming; a place where only the courageous and masochistic dare to tread. But then again, if you agree with this review I have to assume you've already played it, how could you not know about it?… Expand
  54. Bribber646
    May 2, 2012
    10
    First i would like to start out that there are way too many reviews by people on this game who have not even completed it or come close to completing it. Not really sure how they even post about he game with 1 hour of experience. Dark souls in my opinion is a fantastic game. It has great graphics and creative environments that are always interesting to watch as you journey through theFirst i would like to start out that there are way too many reviews by people on this game who have not even completed it or come close to completing it. Not really sure how they even post about he game with 1 hour of experience. Dark souls in my opinion is a fantastic game. It has great graphics and creative environments that are always interesting to watch as you journey through the world that is Dark Souls. The gameplay is very addictive and is also very challenging which made me want to play for hours without stopping. Because the game is a challenge you can expect to die dozens of times on your first time through but as you play through the game and get experience you do become a lot better and master the controls. Something that i would like to say about the difficulty however is that there are two distinct parts in the game that are to the point where it isn't really your fault that you died. I have played the game and beaten it dozens of times and i still die several times at these specific parts. Sadly, one of those parts is a boss fight. Something else that i would like to point out is the lacking story line and because of the lack of story line it can sometimes be very difficult to find where you are supposed to go at the beginning of the game. I guess this can be a plus in that it really encourages you to explore the surroundings which is very helpful in the game. The lack of story line isn't really a big penalty because you don't keep playing the game because of a riveting story but because of the addicting gameplay and the pride in beating the challenge. Something else that i would like to point out is the controls sometimes do get you killed. It isn't that they are sluggish but sometimes the aim assistance can screw you over when you target a new enemy. The co-op in this game is great if you actually manage to get somebody in your game. The problem with co-op is that it fails 8 times out of 10 and it really just annoys the crap out of you when you try to play with a friend. The pvp is very fun when you get into it but it also is a hassle because of the large delays you can sometimes experience when playing against another person and really diminishes the experience of it. Overall, Dark souls was a fantastic game and i would recommend you buy this game as it provides fun for hours on end.… Expand
  55. Yashime
    Jun 2, 2012
    10
    Yeah, close to perfection :-). I don´t agree with some critics here who says that the character move unnatural: those guys are completly washed up from Modern Warfare and other game who the character don´t care about gravity! (play a multiplayer with Call of Duty or Battlefield and you will understand).
  56. Nataraja
    Mar 17, 2014
    9
    This is a game sheer will power. Wonderful mechanics and hard as hell situations. The graphics are sub-par but the game play more than makes up for it. I die over and over... and just when I walk away in disgust and lay down for bed it hits me.... I need to do this and then that THEN THIS! Jump up, grab a drink, die a few more times and then VICTORY! The boss goes DOWN. Its now 4 AMThis is a game sheer will power. Wonderful mechanics and hard as hell situations. The graphics are sub-par but the game play more than makes up for it. I die over and over... and just when I walk away in disgust and lay down for bed it hits me.... I need to do this and then that THEN THIS! Jump up, grab a drink, die a few more times and then VICTORY! The boss goes DOWN. Its now 4 AM and I need to be up in an hour...

    Yes its that addictive. But if you do not have patience this is not the game for you. Great voice acting and incredible to play. Would love improved graphics, but game play always trumps graphics.    … Expand
  57. BigStozz
    Oct 2, 2012
    9
    Fantastic game which is incredibly challenging and rewarding, at times you'll want to tear your hair out or just stop playing the game but it's so damn addicting!
  58. Auktopus
    Jan 17, 2013
    10
    Dark Souls is a genre in itself, and is an absolute must play for anyone who has the patience to reward intense punishment with intense accomplishment. Over a year after its release, and with another sequel in FROM Software's universe on the way, I still find myself booting up to PvP, make new characters - and watch the tears of pain and joy flow from friends playing it for the first time.
  59. Chowda
    Jan 23, 2014
    10
    I have never played such a robust and addicting game. Everything from the armor down to the different weapon effects are brilliant. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy. It took me close to four hours to beat Ornstein/Smough, this is one of the hardest and fairest games. I am buying a PS3 just so I can play Demon Souls.
  60. Kaprawiec
    Nov 24, 2014
    10
    This game is all about gameplay. And Its rock solid. I havent played other game with this good combat system. I know its hard, the boss life bars are ridiculously big. But i get the feeling that its just like it should be. If Id get there in my real life i would die just as many times as the mc of this game does.
    Strongly recommend, best RPG gameplay wise.
  61. gothasis
    Jun 3, 2015
    9
    this game is amazing i like it but it gets hard u have to go in order to unlock orange doors but once u get the mechanics its easier o and anor londo is hard
  62. socialperson1
    Oct 5, 2011
    8
    BEWARE to all you casual gamers out there, this is NOT for you! This game is not for everyone, if you never enjoyed or played Demon Souls stay away, if you are a casual RPG gamer stay away this is not for you. I really want people to understand this before they start hating the game. If you never played Demon Souls then Dark Souls will be very frustrating at start. There's no tutorialsBEWARE to all you casual gamers out there, this is NOT for you! This game is not for everyone, if you never enjoyed or played Demon Souls stay away, if you are a casual RPG gamer stay away this is not for you. I really want people to understand this before they start hating the game. If you never played Demon Souls then Dark Souls will be very frustrating at start. There's no tutorials explaining game mechanics (not explaining you the difference between humanity and undead, the use of souls and so on...)no directions on where to go. It's all about trial and error, going back and forth to the same locations, farming souls, leveling up, finding gear/items, upgrading gear, leveling up , boss battles, to then compete in pvp. There, just a clarification for the people new to the series. Now, if you are familiar with the series I could go off on an entire page but I'll just say that I highly recommend the game to you all. I have to say the graphics though do look a little outdated but there are some slight improvements in animations from the previous title. The text grammar is also sometimes not up to standards. However you forget about these things very quickly in a game like this. If you are not sure on what console to get this on then i would recommend you the 360 version, why? because it has a slightly better frame rate and is less effected by fps drops imo. Community wise such as the pvp, I'm not sure which version will go barren more quickly but what I can say is the japanese on ps3 are already farming this game to death so I'll let you decided.… Expand
  63. wulfenstein
    Nov 11, 2011
    10
    What a lot of crap really the graphics for next gen could have been alot better, controls that drive you insane..meeting other characters in the game talk but make no sense and they don't even move it's like a mime show..All the hype really I feel robbed I even thought keep going it's going to get better o gee died, died and died again..no real effort in character design hell let makeWhat a lot of crap really the graphics for next gen could have been alot better, controls that drive you insane..meeting other characters in the game talk but make no sense and they don't even move it's like a mime show..All the hype really I feel robbed I even thought keep going it's going to get better o gee died, died and died again..no real effort in character design hell let make character and you be wearing a sacks for armour really come on..I hope Skyrim is alot better than this all this game is good for is a cup mat to remind how you wasted your money on a over hyped game...… Expand
  64. Drakus
    Oct 23, 2011
    10
    I never expected I would buy Dark Souls. I had heard of Demon Souls, and its legendary difficulty, but I never paid any attention. A few days after Dark Souls released, I saw a walkthrough video, and immediately fell in love with the game. I bought it the next day, and started an adventure I still am not done with. Dark Souls has solidified its place in my top ten, and for good reason.I never expected I would buy Dark Souls. I had heard of Demon Souls, and its legendary difficulty, but I never paid any attention. A few days after Dark Souls released, I saw a walkthrough video, and immediately fell in love with the game. I bought it the next day, and started an adventure I still am not done with. Dark Souls has solidified its place in my top ten, and for good reason. The gameplay is solid, the atmosphere is intense, and the game just make me feel like I could take on any challenge. The difficulty is something I was greatly desiring from a game for a while. Too many game hold your hand through the entire campaign, while Dark Souls just tells you the controls, and lets you and the community find out the rest. The combat system is simple, just the way I like it. You figure out what your enemy is weak against, and exploit it to win. But it wasn't the combat or the difficulty that kept me playing, it was the world the game created. I have found memories dungeon crawling in Diablo, and Dark Souls felt like a blast from the past. The idea of fighting through hordes of diverse enemies, finding loot, exploring secret passages and shortcuts, all in a dark fantasy setting is a winning combination no matter what game it is. I sometimes wish the game could delve in deeper to it's lore, but at the same time I like making things up as I go along. The open feel of the game is also quite welcoming, as I can go down whatever path I feel like. The design of the weapons and armor is spectacular. My only real complaints with the game is the fact that I can not be in an Xbox Live party and play the game online at the same time. It isn't a huge problem, but it can get annoying when a friend wants to talk to me and my game has to return to the main menu. There are also occasional framerate issues. This game though makes up for those things several times over however. This game came out of the blue for me, and I couldn't be happier taking a chance on it.… Expand
  65. shadowrun
    Oct 13, 2011
    10
    if your like me. you have been at a loose end since the days of playing morrowind on the hardest difficulty setting. or even going as far as completing the original gauntlet on the sinclair zx. for games that hate you. they dont want you to succeed. they want you to eat the bitter troll leg of defeat over and over again. but when you dig in and not let the game beat you. and with a littleif your like me. you have been at a loose end since the days of playing morrowind on the hardest difficulty setting. or even going as far as completing the original gauntlet on the sinclair zx. for games that hate you. they dont want you to succeed. they want you to eat the bitter troll leg of defeat over and over again. but when you dig in and not let the game beat you. and with a little skill and a ton of luck. dark souls lets you live in the glow for just a few seconds. then slams the door shut and puts another big nasty b-stard of a boss in your path. the sequel to 2009 gamespot rpg of the year comes this work of dark art. that grabs you by the face and drags you from pillar to post. it may not have the sweeping storyline of a final fantasy or mass effect but its all about the brutal combat. the scary monsters that have no mercy for you. and a dark unforgiving atmosphere i havent seen in a game since the original silent hill. dark souls is a must for anyone who is not afraid to withstand a brutal ass kicking and a little old school xp grinding to enjoy this modern classic. not for rage-quitters!… Expand
  66. andyz
    Oct 17, 2011
    10
    The key thing to not for Dark Souls is that it is NOT for everyone. You will die a lot. That aside, the combat is great. The open ended world is fantastic and gives you a great feeling of freedom. The controls are solid. And the sense of accomplishment when you beat an area or a boss that you thought was impossible is hard to describe. I highly highly recommend this underrated game toThe key thing to not for Dark Souls is that it is NOT for everyone. You will die a lot. That aside, the combat is great. The open ended world is fantastic and gives you a great feeling of freedom. The controls are solid. And the sense of accomplishment when you beat an area or a boss that you thought was impossible is hard to describe. I highly highly recommend this underrated game to diehard RPG fans.

    The biggest problem I've had with this game are some frame-rate issues simply due to the immensity of some areas. Hopefully they can tighten that up!

    It looks to me like most of the harshly negative reviews are from those who are simply not accustomed to or are really fans of this type of game. So, I'll give it a 10.    … Expand
  67. grendelpoots
    Oct 19, 2011
    10
    Amazing. Reminds me of Simon's Quest. Best game I've played in ages.
    Hard, but not cheap. The sense of discovery makes the dying worthwhile.
    If you have the time to sink into it, do it. You won't regret it.
  68. Broen
    Oct 21, 2011
    10
    I have been a Metacritic fan for a bit, but made an account just to write about this fantastic game. Many will say it is just "not for them" or attack people for "fanboyism". What matters is this is the RPG masterpiece that is a worthy successor to Demon's Souls. The game starts very difficult, but rewards exploration and skill like no other RPG before it. Out of my friends that I gameI have been a Metacritic fan for a bit, but made an account just to write about this fantastic game. Many will say it is just "not for them" or attack people for "fanboyism". What matters is this is the RPG masterpiece that is a worthy successor to Demon's Souls. The game starts very difficult, but rewards exploration and skill like no other RPG before it. Out of my friends that I game with, several love it, several hate it. If you think you might not like any game rent it first. If you like it, but are not doing well, get the guide. But for gamings' sake PLAY THIS GAME. I need Dark Souls 2. Bad.… Expand
  69. CptKiffMan
    Oct 21, 2011
    10
    Greatest game i purchased over years ... reminds me of Gothic 2 ^^ .. when u go somewhere ur 2 weak u get bashed to hell (or if u just dont know what to do with the enemy^^) so it has a lot of exploring and learning by doing, but i love this kind of Gameplay.
    I see myself running very often 2 the church buying those damn rings preventing death penalties :D
    The ability to make new weapons    Greatest game i purchased over years ... reminds me of Gothic 2 ^^ .. when u go somewhere ur 2 weak u get bashed to hell (or if u just dont know what to do with the enemy^^) so it has a lot of exploring and learning by doing, but i love this kind of Gameplay.
    I see myself running very often 2 the church buying those damn rings preventing death penalties :D
    The ability to make new weapons out of upgraded weapons is amazing too Can recommend it to every Gothic Fan    … Expand
  70. sauce10
    Oct 31, 2011
    9
    This is a great game. The atmosphere and aesthetics are incredible, with a very expansive world. Don't fret if you know nothing about the game just watch a video and go buy it. Totally worth it
  71. SwanLee
    Nov 2, 2011
    9
    Dark Souls is definitely my game of the year so far, however at the time of writing SkyRim and Assassin's Creed revelations have yet to be released. Firstly, yes.... it's hard. Very, very hard, and yes there is a steep learning curve. The key is patience. You will die a lot, you will want to pull your hair out at times, you will shout at the TV, and you will keep exclaiming how much youDark Souls is definitely my game of the year so far, however at the time of writing SkyRim and Assassin's Creed revelations have yet to be released. Firstly, yes.... it's hard. Very, very hard, and yes there is a steep learning curve. The key is patience. You will die a lot, you will want to pull your hair out at times, you will shout at the TV, and you will keep exclaiming how much you hate the game. However, persist and you will be rewarded with am extremely challenging, atmospheric gaming experience. I'm personally tired of games where you can simply waltz through it on very hard level without breaking a sweat, and for that reason this game is a breath of fresh air. The feeling of euphoria when you finally get past a boss that's been giving you a hard time for the last few days is something I haven't seen in a game for a long long time. Every decision you make means something, upgrading your gear, spending your level up skill point, buying from vendors.... all decisions that require thought and careful preparation. Plot your routes carefully, and grind it out... you will not regret your time investment.

    My Dark Souls biggest hint: Keep your shield up, and inch forward.... there's surprises all over the place.

    The one complaint I have, and the reason I didn't give this a maximum 10 is that in one particular area of the game, a place called BlightTown, I found that there was a fair bit of lag. But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this wonderful RPG.

    I recommend to RPG fans who want a real challenge.    … Expand
  72. DeadLegend
    Nov 8, 2011
    10
    Let me start off with, this game is ment for a different type of gamer. A gamer that loves abuse, loves to be defeated only to rise from the ashes and cheer at the littlest of victories and laugh in the face of the game. Dark Souls will fill you many emotions, mostly anger but alot of happiness when you delivering the killing blow to a boss or an invader. This game takes a simple formulaLet me start off with, this game is ment for a different type of gamer. A gamer that loves abuse, loves to be defeated only to rise from the ashes and cheer at the littlest of victories and laugh in the face of the game. Dark Souls will fill you many emotions, mostly anger but alot of happiness when you delivering the killing blow to a boss or an invader. This game takes a simple formula and executes it perfectly. With that said if you are looking for a game that doesnt hold your hand, doesnt care if you live or die, punishes you for any little mistake such as a bad roll, or missed block, then this game is for you. Just make sure you have an extra controller.… Expand
  73. Fitonito
    Mar 19, 2012
    10
    When I play this game I feel like a cat on the hot roof. And man when I lose 30000 souls... only game with real sense of achievement in a long time. It's love affair.
  74. Bedbugwonder
    Mar 25, 2012
    9
    Game Starts. Prison cell, small corridor, orange writing, outside, DEAD. Youâ
  75. KlaatuZu
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    If you like progression, open worlds, mystical environments, little talk and a lot of hardcore action, there is NO OTHER game comparable to this one. I play games since the 80´s and have been a hardcore FPS gamer most of the time, but this game takes the cake. Bethesda have great RPG´s when it comes to soft play, nice worlds etc...., mass effect? soooooo overratedIf you like progression, open worlds, mystical environments, little talk and a lot of hardcore action, there is NO OTHER game comparable to this one. I play games since the 80´s and have been a hardcore FPS gamer most of the time, but this game takes the cake. Bethesda have great RPG´s when it comes to soft play, nice worlds etc...., mass effect? soooooo overrated it´s sad ( I love KOTOR and Dragon Age, don´t get me wrong). In Dark Souls you end up memorizing the WHOLE game, because you have to be a PRO to go through. Very original multiplayer and a overall unforgetable experience. Few games stay with you like this one. I could not recomend it more. EASY 10/10… Expand
  76. Necrotaur
    Oct 22, 2011
    9
    I came in not knowing what to expect as I had never played Demon's Souls and knew nothing about the series except I'd read a lot of good reviews, and it was a sort of western-themed JRPG/hack and slash. Aside from the incomprehensible story common to most games from Japan, Dark Souls is a great experience, but it's definitely not for everyone. It is VERY difficult and gives zero help toI came in not knowing what to expect as I had never played Demon's Souls and knew nothing about the series except I'd read a lot of good reviews, and it was a sort of western-themed JRPG/hack and slash. Aside from the incomprehensible story common to most games from Japan, Dark Souls is a great experience, but it's definitely not for everyone. It is VERY difficult and gives zero help to people either new to the series or these types of games in general. The checkpoint bonfires are few and far between, and there is a sort of penalty for using them (enemies respawn). Enemies can and will use 'cheap' attacks, stunlocking you or killing you in 2 hits. Difficult bosses appear from nowhere and cause you to lose all your accumulated souls. Sometimes you make a mistake and a group of normal enemies absolutely wipe the floor with you. But you know... all of that is part of Dark Souls charm. Playing it I was reminded of Vagrant Story and if you can get past the difficulty, there is a very deep and satisfying game here. It's also not a game you sit down to play in the morning and finish a little after lunch. The online portion of it with other players leaving hints of what to do and the pvp invasion segments are very innovative (at least, I haven't seen anything like them before). If you enjoy 'nintendo hard' games like Ninja Gaiden Black and don't mind dying a lot to try and beat a tough area, pick up Dark Souls.… Expand
  77. Icecreamgenius
    Oct 10, 2011
    10
    This game has almost required me to learn to breathe properly again. I could almost swear I spent two hours last night plodding around the Undead Parish in quiet resignation that the next undead Knight or swordsman I came across would end with me modelling a new line in sword based neckware. And yet after a short foot chase towards a distant clanging which somewhere in the dark recesses ofThis game has almost required me to learn to breathe properly again. I could almost swear I spent two hours last night plodding around the Undead Parish in quiet resignation that the next undead Knight or swordsman I came across would end with me modelling a new line in sword based neckware. And yet after a short foot chase towards a distant clanging which somewhere in the dark recesses of my brain I reckoned was a blacksmith's forge, I found the ultimate prize. The Bonfire. And that's when I realised I had barely drawn breath for the last 40 minutes. It's also when my hope returned, and, after sharpening my Scimitar, when I decided I could TAKE that gigantic black knight that had chased me relentlessly across the area. This game has you by the balls and it loves to look into your eyes and squeeze. But it is possible to learn to like this. Just be prepared to be razor sharp, error free, and supremely vigilant. Others will help, but in the end, it's down to you and you alone. My next real challenge seems almost insurmountable, and to even GET to it will require near perfect technique and a little bit of luck. But I can hear a bell tolling in the distance that tells me others have achieved what I am setting out to do. I just might need a stiff drink first...… Expand
  78. Mon0chromicorn
    Nov 10, 2011
    9
    This game is great for those who like a challenge and dont mind dying....A LOT. Jumping into Dark Souls is unlike any game your used to, it does not hold your hand and give you tutorials. You literally fight a huge boss minuets after you start the game. The world and enemies in Dark souls are vast, this is on game where buying a strategy guide is highly recommended! You always need to beThis game is great for those who like a challenge and dont mind dying....A LOT. Jumping into Dark Souls is unlike any game your used to, it does not hold your hand and give you tutorials. You literally fight a huge boss minuets after you start the game. The world and enemies in Dark souls are vast, this is on game where buying a strategy guide is highly recommended! You always need to be on your toes in this game. Very trial and error based. Being able to summon other players into your world to help fight a boss is great, it makes things alot easier and enjoyable.… Expand
  79. Kimogaku
    Feb 12, 2013
    8
    Darksouls is one of the most amazing Games out there. I've never played Demon Souls because i hadn't got the console there yet and i truly regret that. This Series throws you into Bloody Battles that you might think are Challenging... Looking deeper in the Game you will begin to understand, that this Game resembles a real War, not only for your Live but it show whats most important inDarksouls is one of the most amazing Games out there. I've never played Demon Souls because i hadn't got the console there yet and i truly regret that. This Series throws you into Bloody Battles that you might think are Challenging... Looking deeper in the Game you will begin to understand, that this Game resembles a real War, not only for your Live but it show whats most important in actual Battles: Experience!
    Its an achievement to get to the first Bell true but its an even greater achievment to play the game again and do the same in just an fifth of the time. Dark Souls is not a Game for everyone and especially not people who go Head first into Battles not thinking about how to fight.

    The Game would have gotten a 10 from me, but the Graphics are too Old, The Multiplayer System sucks and it got some bugs and problems here and there. Still its an awesome game and i spend way more than 100h on this game trying to get an even higher Level. Its fun and addictive and even though the Graphics are beautiful they are full of little Details here and there. You really feel as if you are in the world. Unfortunately that is not something everyone gets to Experience but this game is one of my All time Favorites    … Expand
  80. TheMightyShell
    Oct 15, 2011
    8
    When you die your first time in Dark Souls it is frustrating. You've lost souls, time, and hard work. After the first one-hundred times you die you will stop caring. The graphics are nothing special, but the game has amazing aesthetics. It entwines you in to the world very easily and you will instantly feel as though you are in the Dark Souls world. Combat is tight, very tight. To theWhen you die your first time in Dark Souls it is frustrating. You've lost souls, time, and hard work. After the first one-hundred times you die you will stop caring. The graphics are nothing special, but the game has amazing aesthetics. It entwines you in to the world very easily and you will instantly feel as though you are in the Dark Souls world. Combat is tight, very tight. To the point where you know that the reason you died was your own fault.

    Cons: Enemies can attack through walls, while you are penalized for striking through walls. This can be annoying in narrow corridors.
    The HUD is ugly, very ugly.
    Co-Op with friends in near impossible.    … Expand
  81. dimon94xx
    Oct 16, 2011
    8
    Ok, so first of all this game is great but falsely difficult. The game has a nice feel of scale, but unfortunately the frame rate goes down exactly because of the scale. Dark souls has a very unique feel of accomplishment after beating an enemy you couldn't beat before. The game claims to be difficult but as long as you understand the mechanics, you shouldn't have any problems for the mostOk, so first of all this game is great but falsely difficult. The game has a nice feel of scale, but unfortunately the frame rate goes down exactly because of the scale. Dark souls has a very unique feel of accomplishment after beating an enemy you couldn't beat before. The game claims to be difficult but as long as you understand the mechanics, you shouldn't have any problems for the most part. All you need to do is learn enemies pattern and they will become easy...in case you have a good equipment, it's an RPG after all. The graphics are up-to-date, but everything feels better, once again, because of the scale. Demon's souls was known for its strategic gameplay - i.e. you learned something new after every death, but Dark souls feels a little unfair at times. Controls WILL feel clunky at the beginning, but you just have to accept them before you'll start enjoying the game. For the most part this game needs to be understood by the player, and you CANNOT recommend it to anyone, it's either love or hate, and i love it, but the flaws are just too obvious to give it a 10.… Expand
  82. Multijhonny24
    Oct 27, 2011
    8
    This is a good game but so close to being an amazing game. the graphics are beautiful and i love the dark feel around it. The environments are great and the soundtrack is awesome especially the music when you fight a boss. the gameplay is fun but what takes away from it is the difficulty. i love a challenge and this game is certainly a challenge but at times it was just flat out unfair andThis is a good game but so close to being an amazing game. the graphics are beautiful and i love the dark feel around it. The environments are great and the soundtrack is awesome especially the music when you fight a boss. the gameplay is fun but what takes away from it is the difficulty. i love a challenge and this game is certainly a challenge but at times it was just flat out unfair and ridiculously hard. and the way the game saves makes it even more challenging but all in all this game is a good game, one of the best this year but not game of the year..… Expand
  83. Orujimaru
    Nov 9, 2011
    8
    Dark Souls is a great game and a terrible game.

    It's unbelivable addicting, I spent over 70 hours playing this game in just the first two weeks. It's huge with amazing varying landscapes. It's hard but fair. The story is great if you spend enough time with it and the NPCs are interesting. Boss and enemy models and animations are amazing. Those were the good parts, now these are the    Dark Souls is a great game and a terrible game.

    It's unbelivable addicting, I spent over 70 hours playing this game in just the first two weeks.
    It's huge with amazing varying landscapes.
    It's hard but fair.
    The story is great if you spend enough time with it and the NPCs are interesting.
    Boss and enemy models and animations are amazing.

    Those were the good parts, now these are the terrible parts.
    Framerate, some areas have terrible low framerates, the programmers have not done a good job here.
    Environment textures and models are terrible.
    The sound and music is very uninteresting, Demon's Souls had great music but this time I barely notice it.
    Unbalanced, especially when you begin NG+, you're literally 2 hit some bosses and some bosses seem to have almost infinite health. In NG+ they deal a lot more damage which can be frustrating when you keep getting one hit.

    Verdict:
    If you have the time to spend and like hard games, you should never forgive yourself for not picking up this.    … Expand
  84. The_upgrade
    Nov 10, 2011
    8
    Never played demon souls before so I didn't know what to expect. My cousin actually told me about this game. The more I read about the more interested I became. My experience with Dark souls is that it punishes you for not reacting to enemies differently. Even as a level 45 in the beginning area I can still be killed if I get careless or run through. The game can be played by yourself orNever played demon souls before so I didn't know what to expect. My cousin actually told me about this game. The more I read about the more interested I became. My experience with Dark souls is that it punishes you for not reacting to enemies differently. Even as a level 45 in the beginning area I can still be killed if I get careless or run through. The game can be played by yourself or summoning other people into your game. It makes for a great experience summoning people to your game to take on a boss you have no experienced yet. The graphics and sounds are pretty good but not great. There is frame rate issues in some of the levels. The game doesn't provide a tutorial on how to play or how to summon help. Another great aspect is you can invade other people's worlds and try to kill them so they would have to start at the last checkpoint. It can lead to some exciting 3v1 or 2v1v1 scenario. I would recommend this as a buy and if not a rent it for sure. Remember to take it calmly and figure things out slowly. It will frustrated you but when you figure it out it makes for some great experience.… Expand
  85. Redfelcon
    Nov 21, 2011
    8
    Ill be honest I loved Demon souls, Dark Souls not so much lol I know ! The graphics are amazing, the fighting is what was to be expected, difficulty out of this world so whats the problem? I guess the wowness and surprises of Demon souls still for me at lest out shines Dark Souls. I gave Dark Souls an 8 its not a bad game, but its nothing to wow over this time. If you loved Demon souls IIll be honest I loved Demon souls, Dark Souls not so much lol I know ! The graphics are amazing, the fighting is what was to be expected, difficulty out of this world so whats the problem? I guess the wowness and surprises of Demon souls still for me at lest out shines Dark Souls. I gave Dark Souls an 8 its not a bad game, but its nothing to wow over this time. If you loved Demon souls I would say pick it up you love it.… Expand
  86. denis2011
    Nov 21, 2011
    8
    Great action RPG. Nice graphics, awesome combat. Very chalenging indeed but sometimes unfair and the fact that you can lose all your hard earned souls (xp=money..) is very frustrating. You really are going to die, a lot.......be prepared.
  87. Kuzkula
    Nov 23, 2011
    8
    Criminy. Prepare to die. Simple as that.
    Well, I love this game. As always, I dip my toes in the Redbox and snag it on my night/s off. Got addicted. Returned RAGE and got this instead. Read my problems with that "masterpiece" in another review. To put it as others have, Dark Souls makes dying fun. :D
    Graphics: Dark Souls is beautiful. There's few if any clipping going on [dragon's tail],    Criminy. Prepare to die. Simple as that.
    Well, I love this game. As always, I dip my toes in the Redbox and snag it on my night/s off. Got addicted. Returned RAGE and got this instead. Read my problems with that "masterpiece" in another review. To put it as others have, Dark Souls makes dying fun. :D

    Graphics: Dark Souls is beautiful. There's few if any clipping going on [dragon's tail], weapons are just what you'd expect to be textured. You can see _forever_ in this game. If you find a high point you can easily turn around and either see the mass of corpses in your wake, or look forward and see certain doom waiting for you. Bosses are amazing, many moving parts and detail taken to make them truly terrifying. Don't believe me? Look up Gaping Dragon. That's not even the worst!

    Sound: Ahhh, dying in a eerily silent castle corridor has never sounded so realistic. There's hardly, if any, music going on at any time. Weapons sound like they're supposed to, and when you are slowly creeping the corridor of a dungeon, you know damn well to keep silent and LISTEN. The dry rasping of a hallowed will probably be all you have to tell you're walking into an ambush. Once again: Bosses - Terrifying.

    Controls: People keep complaining about controls. I don't see how. It's not a mash RT or X to win game, and people need to understand that. Armor and equipment load determine how well you move, and half of the fight of the game is learning how to inhabit this body as you try to survive hordes of enemies, traps, bosses, mini-bosses, and those damn black knights. Fighting is simple yet strategic. Basically this - never just run in swinging like an idiot. Block, strike, repeat til dead. Can't block that hit? DODGE, KNUCKLEHEAD. Oh wait, you've died because you can't understand the basic principle of not blocking attacks with your face. Here's your helmet due to your head being caved in for being an idiot.

    UI: Easy to navigate, but man they make you rush due to there being a lack of a pause menu. Pressing start opens a quick menu and keeps the game world running. Smart players would equip their items to the multiple slots for swapping out a weapon for a talisman or whatnot. The menus are a nice touch for determining what equipment is better thanks to a stat display. Lower bleed resistance but higher fire defense. Niiiiiice. Leveling up also keeps you on the verge of insanity, needing more and more souls to get that little stat bump to keep yourself from getting stuffed in a corner and... well... y'know.

    Gameplay: CHALLENGING. God. It's not a selling point as much as it is a fun factor. It's basically a huge game of find the weakness, except with two swords and your face. Riposte/slash/block/slash and repeat. Can get quite repetitive if you try to grab too much too quickly, typically leaving you farther than comfortable from a bonfire, making you go alllllll the way out there again to retrieve your lost souls/humanity so they're all not wasted. Bosses are, again, terrifying. Once you traverse the white light, it becomes very tense, then panic, and probably disappointment at dying yet again at the damn bell tower gargoyles. Sometimes it feels as though the enemies are unfair and just pummeling you into dust. Protip- try a different method. Experiment.

    Overall: Love this game. Harsh gameplay leading to many people quitting just makes me laugh, but it can be frustrating at times, so it's understandable. Go in with patience, caution, and just a bit of foresight, and you may die less than 100 times your first playthough.    … Expand
  88. Cabinutz
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    Dark Souls is not a game for everyone. The gameplay of the game is similar to that of Monster Hunter in some aspects. You will die a lot. But the things that this game does well outshine the negative aspects of it. Customizability of your character makes them feel as if they are unique in nature. The ever changing areas as you progress through the game create a nice flow. The game isDark Souls is not a game for everyone. The gameplay of the game is similar to that of Monster Hunter in some aspects. You will die a lot. But the things that this game does well outshine the negative aspects of it. Customizability of your character makes them feel as if they are unique in nature. The ever changing areas as you progress through the game create a nice flow. The game is constantly scaling its difficulty to keep up with your levels, and for those who enjoy gameplay elements akin to childhood difficulty will be reminded of it. Gamers have become too catered to easy games where everything must be spoon fed to them. Its nice to find a game that goes back to its roots and teaches you the basic elements and allows you to wander out and discover the rest of it for yourselves. The story is very thinly laid out in Dark Souls, but everything else makes up for it. The only big problem I had when playing it was input lag, which made hard situations even harder.… Expand
  89. dodgingbullet
    Sep 9, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls is that kind of game that you pay for so you can feel idiot, miserable and incompetent about yourself. And although you pay gladly for those feelings you wind up having a great and marvelous journey.
  90. Princevalvick64
    Dec 21, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "The difficultly isn't what makes Dark Souls unique, but its wide combat system and amazing lore/story makes Dark Souls truly, a one of kind game." Despite what I said there, Dark Souls is diffidently not for everybody. Prepare to die and yeah, your gonna die a lot from its (At first) starting difficulty until you understand its learning curve. For some players, after half way through the game, the game doesn't seem all that hard anymore. I really enjoy the combat system, I'm always creating new builds to just try out different play styles such as Light wight dexterity being my favorite and heavy strength builds with faith magic just to mix things up. There's no best armor or weapon as its all custom to your play style as every weapon, magic, or armor always comes with its pros and cons. Dark Souls is an open world game allowing players to explore in their own risk; with its well done level design, your rewarded for finding shout cuts making exploring and getting to a boss easier and quicker. The story soft-of hard to understand. Instead, your told lies through the whole playthrough and to understand the truth behind the horrors of dark souls is by reading the lore left in item descriptions. As the player, your discovering the story on your own and going back to some of the memorable areas will seem to be more understandable in how it became what you see and how it wasn't before you got there. Dark Souls is an amazing game and I'll never get tired of it but it does come with it short comings and some disappointment after Demon's Souls. The game comes with a unique multiplayer that works half the time. you can leave messages for other players to discover and help or troll. When you are human(You start as an Undead) you can summon random players to help you defeat an area and its boss but as human, other players can invade your world and kill you for half your souls and humanity. Dark Souls is an amazing and unique game but isn't for everybody. After really getting into Dark Souls, there are very few problems that can limit the player into its world and its multiplayer but overall, your getting huge and complex game that's filled with content and a DLC that wasn't even planed. Despite the rude community outside of Dark Souls, they are really supportive with each other.… Expand
  91. jcarl663
    Feb 14, 2015
    8
    It's a very unique and fresh game, which is surprisingly difficult your first time through. The lore is drip fed to you, which can be a double edged sword. It leaves a LOT of room for interpretation, but in many cases leaves too much room. If you look closely at points, things just don't make sense. It's pretty clear that Miyazaki really loves reusing things, so he tends to cram the sameIt's a very unique and fresh game, which is surprisingly difficult your first time through. The lore is drip fed to you, which can be a double edged sword. It leaves a LOT of room for interpretation, but in many cases leaves too much room. If you look closely at points, things just don't make sense. It's pretty clear that Miyazaki really loves reusing things, so he tends to cram the same things into his games repeatedly, even if they don't have any reason to be there. It's a weird part of Eastern philosophy that things don't need to, and often don't, make sense literally, but can be traced to some philosophical concept that does make sense.

    Point of note: this game isn't hard in the sense that you're constantly struggling. This game is hard to get used to. Once you do, it stops being hard. After the first few hours, you learn the majority of the mechanics and what the game expects of you. The gameplay, while difficult and rewarding, diverse and consistently fresh, is incredibly easy to cheese out and subsequent playthroughs offer little. Once you've beaten a new enemy, it's just a matter or repeating the pattern. There are many ways to play (many of which are entirely useless) tons of weapons and fighting styles (again, most of which are entirely worthless) but it can be fun.

    The biggest drawbacks I have for this game are that, for one, there are a few optimal play styles, from which any deviation is just wasting your own time and energy, and getting the play style you want often times means beating the game once just to get all the items.

    Despite these things, it is still an intensely fun game, offers a very unique challenge, a highly engaging world and a refreshing experience overall.    … Expand
  92. Jub
    Mar 2, 2015
    8
    This game was a much needed breath of fresh air into the gaming industry.

    It's not perfect and I did find that most of the difficulty is down to figuring out the game instead to player skill which is still fun but severely lowers replay difficulty. The setting, story and characters all come together to give this deep sense of hopelessness that will stay with you long after you finish    This game was a much needed breath of fresh air into the gaming industry.

    It's not perfect and I did find that most of the difficulty is down to figuring out the game instead to player skill which is still fun but severely lowers replay difficulty.

    The setting, story and characters all come together to give this deep sense of hopelessness that will stay with you long after you finish the game.

    One of the let downs for me was the PvP. There's really no sense of balance whatsoever.

    All in all this game has some really cool uniqueness about it and rewards the players hard efforts.    … Expand
  93. ninjanerd
    Jul 16, 2014
    8
    i think that dark souls is a good game. but im a noob gamer and i found dark souls to be incredibly hard and challenging and rewarding. the game looks good has a great combat system and has a large open world for you to explore. i dont think dark souls is a bad game it is just too damn hard for people like me who like easy games to blow through.
  94. swargo109
    Nov 5, 2014
    8
    Probably one of the hardest games I've ever played and I loved every minute of it. Combat is simple to learn but difficult to master. The lore in this game is super deep and will have you thinking about the world of Lordran. The only negatives is that the graphics look slightly dated now and that there is some issues with frame rate in places. If you can look past these small problems, youProbably one of the hardest games I've ever played and I loved every minute of it. Combat is simple to learn but difficult to master. The lore in this game is super deep and will have you thinking about the world of Lordran. The only negatives is that the graphics look slightly dated now and that there is some issues with frame rate in places. If you can look past these small problems, you can find a cheap gem at your local Gamestop.… Expand
  95. ManemanFTW
    Apr 18, 2015
    8
    is a very good RPG, what else can i say? oh the frame rate is **** in some parts but the game is so good that makes you forgive it very quickly. the combat is amazing and the pvp is actually very good. The only problem is that it is very difficult to play with a friend online. but hey, it is a very good game
  96. Rains01
    Jan 26, 2021
    10
    ..........................................................................:
  97. Cafe_8bits
    Nov 14, 2019
    8
    Dark Souls is not just a game, but an entire experience. Dark Soul is not your average RPG, where you grind your character untill you can destroy the world, but you as a player grow to master the mechanics as a whole. Levels matter here, but your handle of the game matter the most.
    The melancholic atmosphere and great narrative choices made this game an unforgettable experience for me,    Dark Souls is not just a game, but an entire experience. Dark Soul is not your average RPG, where you grind your character untill you can destroy the world, but you as a player grow to master the mechanics as a whole. Levels matter here, but your handle of the game matter the most.
    The melancholic atmosphere and great narrative choices made this game an unforgettable experience for me, and everyone who likes RPGs should play it.    … Expand
  98. Arya977
    Jan 11, 2021
    8
    Gameplay..........Good.
    Graphics............Mediocre.
    Score.................Amazing.
  99. somethingguy912
    Dec 2, 2016
    8
    It might be a bit late for me to make a review on a game this old, but I had just completed the game's story just a few weeks ago, and do understand the appeal of this game, although, even with that in mind, it does have some flaws.

    Now, this game is largely herald for it's absolutely insane difficulty curve and it's seamless environment, and half of that is true. Now, the game is    It might be a bit late for me to make a review on a game this old, but I had just completed the game's story just a few weeks ago, and do understand the appeal of this game, although, even with that in mind, it does have some flaws.

    Now, this game is largely herald for it's absolutely insane difficulty curve and it's seamless environment, and half of that is true. Now, the game is difficult, but it's difficulty is largely based on the fact that the game does not give you any pointers in terms of plot or combat other than the basic controls of the game. There's one thing to hand hold the players, and it's a whole other thing to not even give your players the correct means to progress through the game. Most if not all of your credentials are going to rely on looking up the wiki, which much like with Minecraft, completely takes the user off from the initial experience when you get ganked on and the game does not explain certain aspects. Did you know that you could talk to the daughter of chaos? You wouldn't unless you looked up the wiki. Did you know that Lautrec would kill the Fireseeker in Firelink Shrine, and that you have to go to a specific part in Anor Londo to get the soul back? Only with the wiki. The only story details the game tells you is the basic main story of lighting the two flames via ringing the two bells and retrieving four lord souls, and despite my expectations for some narrative twists - the only one is the fact that Gwyndolin has made an illusion of sunlight in Anor Londo - there is none. It's as straightforward as it comes: link the flame to continue the age of fire, or keep it selfishly to yourself. It's about as black and white as it gets. As a result of this forced piecemealing of the story, it does lose points.

    As for the environment and the gameplay, it is very solid, once you get the hang of it. Once again, the difficulty comes from the lack of explaining core details, the game still can be hard if you just come in rushing, unless you are overleveled against weaker foes. Blocking and timing attacks are key, and keeping your health and stamina pools is necessary for your success. You will in fact, die a lot, but dying is only a part of the learning experience of the game, as it does not give you any wiggle room on it's part. The world is built very well, as you can seamlessly travel through Firelink Shrine and bend towards New Londo, and make a backroad to the Valley of the Drakes and head towards Blighttown, and so on and so on. Even areas that aren't tied together, like Demon Ruins and Tomb of the Giants, still give you an opportunity to see these areas from a distance. But be careful about travelling to said areas, like with other open world areas, some places will be harder than others. Weapon variety is very well done, with a number of weapons that tie to certain builds, but be certain that your builds are the ones you want, as you cannot ReSpec in this game. Not to mention, miracles and sorceries, basically spells, can only be restored through bonfires and by no other means, so be careful with using them. Multiplayer is a bit flawed, as connectivity is sometimes inconsistent and lags horribly via Coop or even PvP matches, which is still well done since it is still based on the combat.

    So overall, Dark Souls is a well done game on exploration, observation, survival, and combat, but as for a story driven narrative, a lot of it is overly reliant on the items you find and the wiki you'll look up to realize you need to go to Scrumly the Crow and give him a Sunlight Maggot in order to get the Old Witch's Ring to talk to the Daughter of Chaos, which is completely irrelevant to anything.    … Expand
  100. RllyCoolGuy
    Jun 10, 2015
    8
    Well, it's a really good game, it has its flaws, but i'll get there.
    At its core, it's an action-rpg, and it does that pretty well. When i first played, i thought that there was going to be a few classes. The usual tank-slash-melee guy, the casting-inteligence based-mage and the quicky-stealthy- dodgy(?) thief. All the classes are variations of the listed above, but thats kind of "cute"    Well, it's a really good game, it has its flaws, but i'll get there.
    At its core, it's an action-rpg, and it does that pretty well. When i first played, i thought that there was going to be a few classes. The usual tank-slash-melee guy, the casting-inteligence based-mage and the quicky-stealthy- dodgy(?) thief. All the classes are variations of the listed above, but thats kind of "cute" to see.
    Graphics and art design at all are pretty well done (except for blighttown, that was horrible).
    Speaking of blighttown, framerate drops EVERYWHERE, sometimes even if i'm just critting someone, the game just lags. It doesn't seem like so much problem, but later in the game, if it freezes or lags at you during a boss figth, you're completely f*cked.
    Overall, it's a good experience if you like rpgs, and a really good experience if you're masoquist enough to handle this game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2011
7
#7 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
8
#8 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 66 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 66
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 66
  3. Negative: 0 out of 66
  1. Gamer Limit
    Nov 29, 2011
    85
    All in all, Dark Souls is a more difficult, but less enjoyable (and less accessible) Demon's Souls.
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  2. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Nov 15, 2011
    90
    Dark Souls' world is dense with something new around every corner. [Issue#78, p.76]
  3. Xbox Achievements
    Nov 15, 2011
    90
    Dark Souls makes no bones about being unrelenting in its difficulty though, although it's by no means insurmountable. It's a rare game that's unlike anything else, refusing to pander or compromise in any way, shape or form. In this day and age, Dark Souls is hugely refreshing then, and well worth the time and effort.
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