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. cchenders40
    Feb 19, 2022
    10
    The masterpiece of the 360/PS3 generation. This game is one of the greatest video games of all time. From the level design to the combat it was revolutionary and brilliant. Even playing it now in 2022 you can still see how it effected the RPG genre and enjoy it. It has incredible replay ability. Each class offers a unique play through that will make you play differently and even encounterThe masterpiece of the 360/PS3 generation. This game is one of the greatest video games of all time. From the level design to the combat it was revolutionary and brilliant. Even playing it now in 2022 you can still see how it effected the RPG genre and enjoy it. It has incredible replay ability. Each class offers a unique play through that will make you play differently and even encounter new characters and lore. Each weapon also adds so much variety. In fact you could probably play this game through with a new weapon on each time through and the game feel new and different. The bosses are obviously amazing and the lore and world building are top notch. The games atmosphere is unmatched as well even all these years later. You feel the weight and dread, the highs let you feel a glimmer of hope only to take you down to the dark again. The difficulty is fair yet challenging. If you are constantly dying it is because you haven’t learned the mechanics or you lack patience. This game never holds your hand and it makes you rely on dialogue, environmental storytelling and remembering where you have been in order to navigate well and not lose your way. This game is not for the person who loves quest makers or fast pace shooters or quick games you can hop in and out of. I recommend this game to anyone who loves gaming, RPGs, or fantasy worlds. 10/10!

    P.S. When I read bad reviews for this game it only communicates to me that someone just didn’t get it.    … Expand
  2. Salt_addict
    Feb 14, 2022
    10
    Oh Dark souls. A shop employee told me it was like Skyrim on steroids and I wouldn't enjoy it. The gauntlet was thrown down that day. (2011) Still one of my top games all these years later.
  3. Du7Ra
    Feb 16, 2022
    10
    It was elected the best game of all time for a reason. The best gameplay that you can find is right here.
  4. agq
    Jul 28, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the closest any game will ever come to in terms of true art. The story is told through rare bits of NPC dialogue, descriptions of items, and the world around you. The enemies, bosses and world design feel intricately designed in a way that makes the world feel real and lived in. This game-play can go from dreadful to fearless depending on where you are, the trip into the Depths and down to Blighttown always gives me a unique sense of dread that not even a horror game could give me. But you persist and move on through the game, unveiling the ending leaving you thinking that you have played the greatest game ever to be created.… Expand
  5. Smartacus
    Feb 10, 2014
    9
    I really enjoyed this game. Make no mistake. It is frustratingly hard and sometimes the grinding for souls gets a bit boring, but the satisfaction of beating the bosses and even the mini-bosses is well worth it.

    It is weird that the selection of character doesn't really make a huge deal as you can play however you wish regardless of what class. In a nutshell..... very hard and    I really enjoyed this game. Make no mistake. It is frustratingly hard and sometimes the grinding for souls gets a bit boring, but the satisfaction of beating the bosses and even the mini-bosses is well worth it.

    It is weird that the selection of character doesn't really make a huge deal as you can play however you wish regardless of what class.

    In a nutshell..... very hard and frustrating, but worthwhile.    … Expand
  6. msherry9
    Dec 13, 2011
    9
    I would definitely give this game a solid 9.5. First off, if you've never played Demon Souls (like me) and are still hung up about the notorious difficulty of the game, I advise you not to buy into the hype. While the game can still be very challenging, it's something that can easily be overcome once you get the combat down properly. I've never played Demon Souls before and I had heard aI would definitely give this game a solid 9.5. First off, if you've never played Demon Souls (like me) and are still hung up about the notorious difficulty of the game, I advise you not to buy into the hype. While the game can still be very challenging, it's something that can easily be overcome once you get the combat down properly. I've never played Demon Souls before and I had heard a great deal about this game, so I decided to finally give it a go. The game is so thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to finish mainly due to the satisfaction that it brings when you overcome a new challenge. I've read several reviews where people say that the game is a chore and like "eating brussel sprouts" until you complete a challenge, whereas it turns into "eating ice cream". This could not be further from the truth. The game is CONSTANTLY like "eating ice cream", rewarding you at every turn with exciting new gear or spells to fuel you're ongoing push towards the final boss. I believe the IGN review has something along the lines of: "If you play games for fun, than this game is not for you". This statement is also extremely false and is very misleading to newcomers who are thinking about potentially purchasing this game. The game simply requires you to be more open-minded as well as patient in contemplating the best strategies to overcome certain situations and boss fights. The graphics of the game are gorgeous, giving players a huge variety of stunning environments ranging from murky catacombs to snowy fortresses set upon a mountainside. It's essentially an open-world experience, since you can go almost anywhere at anytime, but there's still a decent amount of linearity. If you stumble upon an area where the enemies take 15 hits to kill and are capable of killing you in 1-2, you probably shouldn't be at that area yet and should return there at a later time. The combat mechanics work extremely well, never feeling overly repetitive nor becoming a chore. The game tries to get players to "bond" with their weapons and develop a sort of attached relationship. I've definitely felt this before, as I was reluctant at one point in the game to cease using my Fire Spear that I crafted since the monsters were all basically immune to fire. The game has you select from one of many starting classes, which primarily only affect you're starting equipment and attributes (except the Pyromancer, who might be the only class that can utilize Pyromancy spells). Spells are an absolute blast to use and there's tons of variety for a myriad of situations in which they can be implemented. The storyline is almost nonexistent, save for a few cutscenes and cinematics here and there, but this does not hinder the experience whatsoever. It may even bolster it, depending on who you ask, granting the game a more "realistic" feel. It gives the sense that the storyline is essentially what a "real" hero's journey would be like, with many difficult trials and failures along the road to success. Let me be completely honest when I say this, however: you will die. You will die alot, but overcoming death in this game is part of the grand satisfaction I mentioned. You die to an extremely difficult boss, losing your souls temporarily (if you can recover your "body", similar to Diablo 2), come back, and annihilate the boss. These moments are uniquely crafted, leaving you feeling like you're on top of the world when you achieve them. The game is about as dark of a fantasy as you can get and leaves very little to no room for comedic relief, save for a few moments that are few and far between. The game's crafting system is addicting in many ways, constantly dangling that carrot in front of you to collect that last Titanite Shard to upgrade you're weapon. The game does, however, have some issues that are worth mentioning. My biggest complaint is the framerate tearing in certain areas and scenes of the game. Blighttown is the worst offender, making it close to maddening to explore without tilting the camera towards the ground. There are also some other sequences and boss fights that briefly experience this, but no other notables. Another issue I've noticed is sometimes a delayed reaction in the control scheme when activating items. During boss fights, timing is crucial, and when I press X to use my Estus Flask to heal myself, I expect my damn character to pop that baby open and drink instantly. Multiple times, I've done this only to see a 2-3 delay before my character finally drinks, and this is after I've resumed dodging attacks. My character has then stopped during an attack, and I either die or sustain a serious blow. This doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it's frustrating. Overall, Dark Souls is one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had the pleasure of playing. If you're still hung up about purchasing it, give it a rent, and you may be pleasantly surprised. Highly recommended.… Expand
  7. Nimgif
    Nov 7, 2011
    9
    This game is in a nutshell a Action-RPG where you slowly get stronger. This in itself is not the strange thing about the game. That you gain strenght by actually learning the game, the moves of enemies and generally making better decisions, this makes the game unique. Yes there is grind, but is it really grind if the enemy no matter what lvl you are has a potential to dish out some realThis game is in a nutshell a Action-RPG where you slowly get stronger. This in itself is not the strange thing about the game. That you gain strenght by actually learning the game, the moves of enemies and generally making better decisions, this makes the game unique. Yes there is grind, but is it really grind if the enemy no matter what lvl you are has a potential to dish out some real pain on you? also that you have to not just equip the heaviest armour without thought or what weapon to use. i could go on about how much of the gameplay that is actually comming from your choice and how you believe to best handle a given situation. In a nutshell, it's a great game and deserves a play. but try a rental first its not for everyone

    Happy gaming    … Expand
  8. citizenx
    Nov 6, 2011
    9
    This is one of the best games I have played. Why? The game is hard... even frustratingly so. So why is that a good thing? Because it makes all the content in the game matter... and you are constantly having to learn new tactics to win. Games get boring when you realize you can exploit some scripted behavior and always win. This game manages to be hard, and not in a "The computer isThis is one of the best games I have played. Why? The game is hard... even frustratingly so. So why is that a good thing? Because it makes all the content in the game matter... and you are constantly having to learn new tactics to win. Games get boring when you realize you can exploit some scripted behavior and always win. This game manages to be hard, and not in a "The computer is cheating" sort of way. The monsters react quickly and realistically, and even when you get good at the game you never truly feel safe. Then there are aspects to this game similar to an MMORPG but better... In game wealth comes and goes easily, except for items. People join each other's games on the fly. You can take certain actions to make sure those people are only there to help with bosses, (and you need the help) or if you are up for it you can be vulnerable to being invaded for PVP where you risk in game wealth. The pvp is adrenaline packed in ways that so many games have failed to accomplish because of the gambling model. The music is good, the visuals are amazing, the animation and fluidity of the combat is great and realistic. I don't know what that other clown was talking about - the crow moves his head fast because he is a bird... have you not ever seen a bird in real life? After playing this game, I can't believe I ever wasted my time playing other RPGs where your accomplishments in the game didn't matter because there was never anything hard enough to use it on.

    I had to come back and edit this review, and drop the score down to a 9 however. The problem is, the multiplayer is unpolished and the most clever covenants (gametypes) do not work. The matchmaking is bad, and you can get locked in a room for 30 minutes waiting for someone trying to join your game. That would have been the biggest selling point IMO. Also, I lost like a straight week to this game, but after that I had explored everything and new every boss and enemies behavior. Then the game became less challenging. The economy isn't perfect either, since most of the items dropped are useless - the whole humanity affecting drop rate thing would have been super clever otherwise. The game's money is also troubled, since it quickly costs a fortune to make your character marginally stronger than he/she currently is.    … Expand
  9. BoG
    Nov 11, 2011
    9
    I loved this game. It's challenging in a way that few games are anymore. Yes it's hard, yes it's frustrating. But, so was the water temple in Zelda, and anyone who has played that game will never forget that stage. What I'm saying is, the difficulty is part of what makes the game worth playing and beating.
  10. Dyskresiac
    Oct 6, 2011
    9
    Call me a naysayer. I hated Demon's Souls. It wasn't the difficulty (Because Dark Souls is surely more difficult.) It was just that once you looked past the difficulty, the game felt... bland. Dark Souls, on the other hand, feels a lot more refined. A true sequel that built upon the foundation of the first game to deliver what I felt Demon's Souls SHOULD have been.

    This game does    Call me a naysayer. I hated Demon's Souls. It wasn't the difficulty (Because Dark Souls is surely more difficult.) It was just that once you looked past the difficulty, the game felt... bland. Dark Souls, on the other hand, feels a lot more refined. A true sequel that built upon the foundation of the first game to deliver what I felt Demon's Souls SHOULD have been.

    This game does lose .5 point for its tutorial and worthless manual. Okay, so a bad tutorial makes the game difficult, since you don't know what you're doing, but even once you do know what you're doing it's still hard. It's just FAR less frustrating. Such as:Tap B twice to jump WHILE sprinting. Once I got my bearings straight, I've been sailing. And by sailing I mean dying. But they've been legitimate deaths. Each enemy knicking away my health bit by bit, forcing me to refine my tactics to save my potions for the big fights. Get completely destroyed in a single blink from an ambush.

    Which brings me to the other half of a point lost. The boss fights aren't "difficult" so much as they are poor design. Horrible camera, juggling, and invisible walls make boss fights more irritating than difficult. Especially when the boss jumps, you try to roll under them, and it somehow throws you off a cliff because the game uses cylinders for placement. Fortunately, there aren't too many of them like this. So I can't dock off too much for it.

    All in all, it's the ideal game to bring you to the November Gaming Marathon that surely awaits you coming 11/14/11.    … Expand
  11. bugbear1
    Dec 10, 2011
    9
    My toon, originated as "deprived" and is now level 61 and capable of healing, fire, magic and also is fairly deft and adroit with spears and shields. After minimal patching, unlike some similar newer games of its ilk, DARK SOULS runs spendidly and has the full gamut of expected tropes and conventions of many dungeon-crawlers from yesteryear including a "difficulty level" that would makeMy toon, originated as "deprived" and is now level 61 and capable of healing, fire, magic and also is fairly deft and adroit with spears and shields. After minimal patching, unlike some similar newer games of its ilk, DARK SOULS runs spendidly and has the full gamut of expected tropes and conventions of many dungeon-crawlers from yesteryear including a "difficulty level" that would make the Marquis de Sade cry. Ironically, buoyed by player-choice and an open world, DARK SOULS hammers home the challenges with brutal combat and spikes in difficulty that might hamper less hardy players. Great game and world. Tough to master, impossible to tame.… Expand
  12. subsided
    Jan 29, 2013
    9
    This game is pretty awesome and a huge improvement from the original. It still keeps its crushing difficulty but fortunately it works for this game. the end
  13. LordOFlibertY
    Oct 11, 2011
    9
    An excellent and worthy successor of the hit 2009 video game; Demon's Soul. Dark Souls is easily in my top 10 games of all time and probably had the best first impression of any game I have ever played. The gameplay is extremely accurage and precise, positioning is key and knowing what your opponent is capable is gold. In addition the bosses in this game looks absolutely gorgeous and youAn excellent and worthy successor of the hit 2009 video game; Demon's Soul. Dark Souls is easily in my top 10 games of all time and probably had the best first impression of any game I have ever played. The gameplay is extremely accurage and precise, positioning is key and knowing what your opponent is capable is gold. In addition the bosses in this game looks absolutely gorgeous and you can easily tell FROM software has spent hours and hours on each stage making each level as 'evil' as possible. If you look up the term 'Dark Fantasy' in a dictionary I can guarantee you it will say Dark Souls. The only negative aspect I can think of on the spot are the rare graphic pop-ins and clippings. But to be honest the only reason this game has negative reviews is because those people are spending several hours trying to kill the Asylum demon lol fail nubs.… Expand
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. alceste007
    Jan 19, 2012
    9
    The challenge level in this game is simply awesome. Dark souls really should have been game of the year for most sites. Truly amazing game. Not quite perfect, the controls need some work.
  17. nayerr
    Oct 4, 2011
    9
    Got Dark Souls this past Saturday @ Video games New York (the old St.Marks video games) and it's been giving me anxiety ever since. Anxiety, heartbreak & depression mixed with pure joy. That's how I would describe the last few days with Dark Souls. I literally grinded around the same bonfire for 5 hours straight, 30,000 souls...I call it "Soul Spamming" I transformed my pyromancer fromGot Dark Souls this past Saturday @ Video games New York (the old St.Marks video games) and it's been giving me anxiety ever since. Anxiety, heartbreak & depression mixed with pure joy. That's how I would describe the last few days with Dark Souls. I literally grinded around the same bonfire for 5 hours straight, 30,000 souls...I call it "Soul Spamming" I transformed my pyromancer from rape victim to rapist...until I decided to explore the forest with the gigantic crystal monsters that explode. I have now gone back to being a rape victim. Damn you Dark Souls. You may hate me, but I'm starting to fall in love with you.… Expand
  18. ZombieMessiah
    Dec 30, 2011
    9
    I reviewed this game a month or two ago when I first started playing, when I was playing offline- so I figured it was worth re-reviewing taking online content into account.***

    First things first- if you do not have online capabilities, this game is frustratingly difficult, and you will miss a good portion of the content. I had a lot of fun playing offline, but I wouldn't recommend it    I reviewed this game a month or two ago when I first started playing, when I was playing offline- so I figured it was worth re-reviewing taking online content into account.***

    First things first- if you do not have online capabilities, this game is frustratingly difficult, and you will miss a good portion of the content. I had a lot of fun playing offline, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone except the most hardcore. The couple patches and the ability to do online co-op have made the game much much easier.*** You will still die. As someone said a while back, what you quickly begin to realize is that it isn't your character that needs to improve, it's you. Those hollows in the burg? They won't even touch you after a while. Your armor won't improve enough to absorb the damage they do until long after killing them is worth your time. YOU have to improve. Know when to dodge, and when to block. When to cast magic and when to attack.***

    That bit of trepidation you feel when entering the catacombs for the first time? I can't think of a single other game out right now that feels that way. Not one. And that is just the PVE.***

    When you are in human form, (necessary to summon aid, or kindle a bonfire) you are vulnerable to attack by players. I find that the rate at which I am invaded is not terribly high. Certainly not enough to avoid going human over, assuming you have an aversion to PVP. The pvp is fun, and oftentimes, will have several factions pitted against each other. While gravelording, It is not uncommon to be invaded by both a spirit of vengeance and a darkwraith simultaneously, which results in interesting scenarios. Sword dance is designed for these situations.***

    As you creep down those stairs, or exit that lift, you are always on guard...always nervous about what lies around the corner, and with good reason. When you drop your guard, when you get lazy, or careless, you will die. It is that simple. But dying was never so much fun. Take SotN and breed it with super ghouls and ghosts, then pump it full of steroids and you have Dark Souls.***

    I take 1 point off the score for blight town framerate issues (which have improved, but still choppy) and PVP lag. Here's to hoping Gravelord gets fixed in the next patch.    … Expand
  19. 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
  20. Bentleym
    Oct 7, 2011
    9
    One of the most frustrating games I've ever played, yet also one of the most addictive. Dark Souls is Unique. One of the only games where I can die countless times, and replay the same area over and over and still want to continue playing. This is definitely a game where you will spend most of your time dieing, and it certainly isn't for everyone. But once you started playing, this gameOne of the most frustrating games I've ever played, yet also one of the most addictive. Dark Souls is Unique. One of the only games where I can die countless times, and replay the same area over and over and still want to continue playing. This is definitely a game where you will spend most of your time dieing, and it certainly isn't for everyone. But once you started playing, this game hooks you and draws you into it's sick and twisted world. Killing the games many bosses is definitely one of the most satisfying feelings in gaming and the big sigh of relief when you find that next bonfire. Dark souls is hard, Dark Souls is unfair, Dark Souls is unforgiving, Dark Souls is awesome!… Expand
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. Kermie
    Nov 22, 2012
    9
    Absolutely terrific. There is no game quite like Dark Souls. Uniquely challenging yet ultimately rewarding, this incredible action RPG proves that superior design and unique world building triumphs over the simplicity of modern gaming that we have been force fed over the years. It has its blemishes (terrible frame rate in an area, strange clipping issues) here and there, but you'll letAbsolutely terrific. There is no game quite like Dark Souls. Uniquely challenging yet ultimately rewarding, this incredible action RPG proves that superior design and unique world building triumphs over the simplicity of modern gaming that we have been force fed over the years. It has its blemishes (terrible frame rate in an area, strange clipping issues) here and there, but you'll let it slide. I have yet to play another game that is both terrifying to play yet so strangely addicting. This is for the hardest of the hardcore gamers out there, and you have to be a glutton for punishment. But once you beat that boss, get through that area, find that incredible weapon, or simply make it to the end of this sprawling, minimalistic, and epic adventure I guarantee you'll be hooked. 9.5… Expand
  24. Rafalas
    Nov 7, 2011
    9
    Definitely Game Of The Year. I'm enjoying this game so much that it's sucking my life. Enough with easy nowadays rpg games that carry the players by the hand. This game IS hardcore, but that is the point: you'll feel more success playing and achieving in this game than you have felt in any other game. Amazing, vibrating, action-packed are adjectives that just start to categorize Dark Souls.
  25. Ormik
    Nov 8, 2011
    9
    Let me see if I can give you some expectation of this game, beyond the glowing reviews of others. Combat may seem very restricting at first, with a low stamina pool forcing your strikes and blocks/rolls. Low hp and below-average armour to start will make your mistakes very costly, and most people will counter this by assuming they need to grind souls and level up some more to improve theirLet me see if I can give you some expectation of this game, beyond the glowing reviews of others. Combat may seem very restricting at first, with a low stamina pool forcing your strikes and blocks/rolls. Low hp and below-average armour to start will make your mistakes very costly, and most people will counter this by assuming they need to grind souls and level up some more to improve their character and gear.

    Truth of the matter is, it is not your character that really needs the improvement. It is you. Time spent fighting for those souls is just as well time invested learning the ins and outs of your characters weapon set and your enemies attacks and weaknesses. This game does not hold your hand and suggest when to use a parry, when to block, which attacks you should roll away from or roll under, what elements are better against which enemies. You have to figure that out.

    In fact you can clear Dark Souls at a fairly low level, which goes to show that understanding the foe is far more important than levelling up. When you think about it, this is a fairly unique concept. True that most RPG's will avoid any sort of grinding, but if you were to skip enough fights in an area and reach a boss who is more than a few levels ahead of it, you would have no means to winning. Dark Souls does not put that on you.

    If you want to stay level 1 and try to clear the game, go for it. It is do able, but it will not be easy.    … Expand
  26. elmassivo
    Nov 8, 2011
    9
    This game is a throwback to the days where gaming required perseverance and intelligence. It is a rude awakening for anyone who considers themselves "hardcore" from experience with first person shooters or even other third person adventure games. You have to be intelligent in your playstyle to excel at Dark Souls, the only other option is grinding like a madman.

    There are few mechanics in    This game is a throwback to the days where gaming required perseverance and intelligence. It is a rude awakening for anyone who considers themselves "hardcore" from experience with first person shooters or even other third person adventure games. You have to be intelligent in your playstyle to excel at Dark Souls, the only other option is grinding like a madman.

    There are few mechanics in this game that are not well thought out, every area is meticulously planned, static drops are placed with the utmost care. After struggling with an area for hours or even days, you can often find a shortcut that allows future visits to be strolled through with little difficulty.

    Magic and melee are far more balanced than they were in the world of Demon's Souls. Magic has a more sizable delay on cast and leaves you vulnerable for longer. Melee does fast, reliable damage that is relatively safe with use of a proper shield. There is versatility in job choices in that your initial character building decision has little effect on your character as the game progresses, you can bolster whatever stats you deem fit and become whatever type of warrior you desire, it is completely open.

    An equally impressive facet of the game is the replayability. Very few third person or first person adventure games hold any value in a replay. You often collect all items or are capable of performing all story events in a single playthrough. In Dark Souls beating the game grants a "new game+" style experience with increased difficulty. Any enhanced bonfires you may leave remain, making your runthrough substantially faster than anything before. Additionally shortcuts abound throughout the game. It is actually advantageous to reroll halfway through your first playthrough after you firmly grasp the concepts of the game. You can get back to where you were in a fraction of the time it took for the original run (took me 5 hours to get back to what had taken 50 hours before, no joke!).

    There is a story in this game, but it is minimalist. Many games become bogged down with wordy or overly complicated stories that can limit interpretation or imagination. You will not get that in Dark Souls. It is incredibly open-ended, to the point where exploring your environment can grant you more insight into the world you inhabit than talking to others. Do no expect depth from any conversation or any choices besides "Yes" and "No", because it just doesn't happen. It is almost reminiscent of the Metroid Prime series where you can only piece together the events leading to this world from context clues and remnants of what was once there.

    Aside from the (often times humorously) limited dialog, the few failings this game has are likely due to console limitations. The graphics are gorgeous but the framerate will often slow to a crawl when advanced shader effects and light reflection come into play (large fire/magic effects, water reflection at the New Londo ruins, lava in the Demon Ruins/Lost Izilith). The online play is interesting, and can be quite engaging (especially when you are charged with killing other players to collect humanity/dragon scales/settle vendettas), but not very reliable. Single player mode offers about as much gameplay-wise in terms of the main story as online does, sans the (almost universally worthless) messages other players may leave.

    All in all, awesome gaming experience. If you complete Dark Souls you will be in the minority, and very likely worthy of some serious gamer cred. Playing it for its duration takes away deaths sting, it becomes impossible to be frustrated at other games when you die, because you will have died 100x worse in Dark Souls.    … Expand
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. PhineasGraves
    Nov 21, 2011
    9
    There is no denying the game is hard. But that does not mean it's unbeatable. I found that every place has a strategy and figuring out that strategy is part of the fun. I found myself more times than not getting frustrated and putting down the controller, only to return a short time later to pick it back up again. It's this kind of addicting play that has drawn me in. Another thing toThere is no denying the game is hard. But that does not mean it's unbeatable. I found that every place has a strategy and figuring out that strategy is part of the fun. I found myself more times than not getting frustrated and putting down the controller, only to return a short time later to pick it back up again. It's this kind of addicting play that has drawn me in. Another thing to note is this world is MASSIVE. Just when you think you found everything to be found, something opens up around the corner. Cant go wrong with that! As of this writing I haven't beat the game just yet, but I'm 66 hours in and I'm sure I'm close. Of course your time could be dramatically lower depending on how good of a player you are. TIP: To make this game is easier, take bigger risks exploring; to get Armour, weapons, and rings. They make you more powerful than leveling up. Don't play any mind to the souls you may loose. The bigger risk, the bigger the reward.… Expand
  31. VulcanHades
    Dec 6, 2011
    9
    This game is very underrated. A lot of people seemed turned off by the difficulty and apparent lack of story, but those people don't know they are missing out on a jewel. This game is the perfect example of what games should really be about: gameplay. Dark Souls has a very good combat system featuring evasions, parry attacks, backstabs, special moves, poise and target lock. Coupled withThis game is very underrated. A lot of people seemed turned off by the difficulty and apparent lack of story, but those people don't know they are missing out on a jewel. This game is the perfect example of what games should really be about: gameplay. Dark Souls has a very good combat system featuring evasions, parry attacks, backstabs, special moves, poise and target lock. Coupled with a very efficient UI that allows players to easily and rapidly toggle between weapons, items and spells. All very fluidly and dynamically. In addition, the game offers incredible variety in weapons. Each weapon is unique and has different set of moves, animations, speed, range, stamina usage and recovery. With many different ways to upgrade and ascend them. Dark Souls depth simply puts many other rival RPGs to shame. The game also has brilliant level design all around. Areas are very beautiful and unique, and they each have different types of enemies, challenges and rewards. It's a little hard to explain, but the levels are actually "gameplay themed" in addition to color-themed. The levels and their obstacles represent a challenge in themselves. But another part of the challenge is being able to manage our items, spells and souls between smartly placed bonfires. Not to mention the very satisfying and truly epic boss fights. Furthermore, this game offers great multiplayer through online play items such as the whitesoap stone which allows players to summon help (coop) and various orbs that let you invade the world of other players (player vs player). Story wise, a lot of people criticize the lack of narrative in Dark Souls. But I think the story is still interesting. It's just different than your typical soap opera RPG that have those interminable dialogues and cut scenes. In Dark Souls, the story is more like a big puzzle and the player needs to put pieces together to understand the people and the world that surrounds him. You get clues by reading item descriptions and talking to various NPCs, but also by looking at the environment. I thought it was actually pretty clever and original. That being said, the game still has its fair share of flaws. The most unfortunate ones are the bad artificial intelligence and lack of dedicated server. And that is the main reason why I'm not giving this game a perfect 10. But Dark Souls is still a nearly flawless game that in my opinion deserves to be GOTY.… Expand
  32. ViralKillsBrain
    Dec 8, 2011
    9
    Probably the best game i've played this gen. It does have some issues (areas of low framerate, multiplayer is a little too much of a hurdle to get into) but it says alot when those issues can be overlooked.
  33. Warlike
    Dec 13, 2011
    9
    This game has amazing combat, which feels very responsive. after playing this game a while, other games like Skyrim feel lacking in the melee combat. The game does not have much story other then the starting video and little bits of lore you receive from npc's, This dissapoint's me because i am very interested in the world and the strange undead disease that is ravaging the land. SomeThis game has amazing combat, which feels very responsive. after playing this game a while, other games like Skyrim feel lacking in the melee combat. The game does not have much story other then the starting video and little bits of lore you receive from npc's, This dissapoint's me because i am very interested in the world and the strange undead disease that is ravaging the land. Some bosses can feel very frustrating and unfair. knowing a bosses weakness and pattern is mostly the only way to win the fight which can be frustrating constantly dying trying to figure out what to do, although once you do the satisfaction is great. I also have a problem that some enemies are able to turn to face you while they swing their weapon which is annoying, and alot of the time un-dogable even if you roll around. Probably just me getting frustrated at the difficulty, a very enjoyable game with the added bonus of pvp.… Expand
  34. Offtheheezay95
    Dec 27, 2011
    9
    great game and prepare to die.... ive had quite a few rage quits over the brief time ive played the game and a great change to the genre of rpgs although online play could be a little better
  35. 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.
  36. sias
    Jan 12, 2012
    9
    GOOD - Fantastic precise and satisfying combat which requires tactics over button mashing. Superb visual design creating a unique dungeons and dragons/ ninja gaiden hybrid. Lots of RPG elements that allow you to create a vast amount of character builds. A sparse and dark story, that requires much investigation by the player to be fully realised (no long cut-scenes here). ExcellentGOOD - Fantastic precise and satisfying combat which requires tactics over button mashing. Superb visual design creating a unique dungeons and dragons/ ninja gaiden hybrid. Lots of RPG elements that allow you to create a vast amount of character builds. A sparse and dark story, that requires much investigation by the player to be fully realised (no long cut-scenes here). Excellent multiplayer design allowing various types of co-op and PvP gameplay that is integrated into your own single player experience. PvP in particular is very interesting, allowing you to effectively invade the games of other players, murder them and claim rewards.

    BAD - Frame-rate issues everywhere (Blight town and New Londo I'm looking at you!) which can really be crippling at times. Thankfully, although quite abundant, frame-rate drops are very specific to certain parts of a map, so are generally only glimpsed momentarily. Still, they can lead to some frustration. The lock-on system can sometimes be a pain. Although this is much improved from Demon's Souls (predecessor to Dark Souls - PS3 exclusive). The difficulty and relative obscurity of the story doesn't make for a particularly accessible game. In fact I really disliked the use of the high difficulty as a selling point. It really makes the game sound horribly elitist. The difficulty is about the least interesting thing in Dark Souls and is terribly overhyped. There are much harder games in existence. Nevertheless, the difficulty will put some people off.

    However, it must be noted that the game is very fair (more so than Demon's Souls) and actually offers a lot of assistance in the forms of NPCs who can be asked upon to help you in difficult boss fights (as well as gaining assistance from other players online).

    Overall - Dark Souls isn't for everyone and won't enjoy the mainstream success of games such as Skyrim due to a steep learning curve that will instantly put off some newcomers to the series. However, give the game some time and once everything clicks and you get an understanding of how the game works it becomes thoroughly enjoyable. Also, the sense of camaraderie that the games online mechanics produces is wonderful. Dark Souls has a massive emphasis on co-op play and you will never be short of people willing to come into your world and help you defeat a tough boss. I fear a lot of people will be put off due that awful 'You will die' tagline used in the advertising of Dark Souls. But if you are even the least bit curious to play this game, please ignore the stupid difficulty hype and just get down to enjoying a very original game.    … Expand
  37. porss
    Jan 27, 2012
    9
    Wonderful game. It is refreshing to see a company rely on gameplay rather than graphics in their products. The combat is fun, diverse and mechanics are well thought out. The difficulty, as you've probably read, makes the game challenging. It's not just an easy walk spent admiring some developer's artistic talent. Overall the best game I've purchased in a while. With a little tweaking a tenWonderful game. It is refreshing to see a company rely on gameplay rather than graphics in their products. The combat is fun, diverse and mechanics are well thought out. The difficulty, as you've probably read, makes the game challenging. It's not just an easy walk spent admiring some developer's artistic talent. Overall the best game I've purchased in a while. With a little tweaking a ten for sure.… Expand
  38. 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
  39. VotableDread
    Feb 12, 2012
    9
    With brutal gameplay, and dark but alluring settings, Dark Souls shines in that it puts a greater value in overcoming the cruel obstacles of its non-linear gameplay. Dark Souls is not for everyone (certainly not I) but for the right gamer its the right game. With much tantalizing gameplay and awe-inspiring atmosphere, the unforgiving world of Dark Souls provides a sure amount of replayWith brutal gameplay, and dark but alluring settings, Dark Souls shines in that it puts a greater value in overcoming the cruel obstacles of its non-linear gameplay. Dark Souls is not for everyone (certainly not I) but for the right gamer its the right game. With much tantalizing gameplay and awe-inspiring atmosphere, the unforgiving world of Dark Souls provides a sure amount of replay value and is one to be commended as a top game of last year.… Expand
  40. Corepore
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    Nowadays there seems to be no type of medium or hobby that isn't exempt from the laws of diminishing returns. If you have been gaming since your childhood such as me you probably feel like games are becoming more of a habit to play then fun or challenging. Well this game kindled a fire in me that made me feel young & immersed, which were feelings that I had thought were long lost in theNowadays there seems to be no type of medium or hobby that isn't exempt from the laws of diminishing returns. If you have been gaming since your childhood such as me you probably feel like games are becoming more of a habit to play then fun or challenging. Well this game kindled a fire in me that made me feel young & immersed, which were feelings that I had thought were long lost in the maturity of my age. Although the game has a few flaws, such as frame issues in certain areas, they're easily overlooked by the amazing art direction, mysteries in-depth story/lore, fun/challenging game-play & combat, and a somewhat unique take on character customization.… Expand
  41. Wynnyelle
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    I have spend an absurd amount of time playing this game and it never really seems to get old. Don't be fooled by the people saying that it's "too hard." The game is hard at first until you get used to the playstyle, but the main thing about it is that it doesn't hold your hand in any way. You are forced to figure things out yourself. The game also has a unique aesthetic to it that isI have spend an absurd amount of time playing this game and it never really seems to get old. Don't be fooled by the people saying that it's "too hard." The game is hard at first until you get used to the playstyle, but the main thing about it is that it doesn't hold your hand in any way. You are forced to figure things out yourself. The game also has a unique aesthetic to it that is very atmospheric and appealing. The story may seem lacking to somebody trying to blaze through the game, but it's there if you're willing to seek it out. Talk to characters and listen to what they say and you can start piecing things together to find some interesting tidbits of information you otherwise would never have known about. The feeling you get when you down a boss is also an immensely satisfying one. You might try your brains out for a while, but believe me, once you finally win that fight, it'll all be worth it.… Expand
  42. Havok1496
    Mar 9, 2014
    9
    Fantastic game that only has a few flaws. First the good news. The combat is great and challenging. The environments are beautiful and the enemies are varied. That said prepare to die a lot. Is the game impossibly challenging? no, but when just starting out the controls can be hard to get used to. I would say don't judge the game based on the first two hours, keep at it and you willFantastic game that only has a few flaws. First the good news. The combat is great and challenging. The environments are beautiful and the enemies are varied. That said prepare to die a lot. Is the game impossibly challenging? no, but when just starting out the controls can be hard to get used to. I would say don't judge the game based on the first two hours, keep at it and you will discover an amazing game. After the first few initial levels the game opens up and while challenging becomes a great adventure. The only issue i would have with the game is that the story is lacking. While the story is there its very basic and it would be great if there was more to it. The story sounds very interesting and yet the finer details are not really fleshed out as you go along. However, the gameplay makes up for this and ultimately this is one of the best games i have played in a long time. I could not put it down once i was able to begin to get a small grasp of the mechanics. Learning how to play this game is a challenge but over time you will learn how to approach certain enemies and defeat them. Is this game punishing at times with checkpoints yes, but the game is ultimately very rewarding. There will probably be moments of frustration while playing this game, I had plenty of them. I could not beat one boss until my tenth try. Still these moments will pass and will not ruin what is an amazing game. My advice to new players is to not be discouraged at the beginning. The game truly does get better. I have just finished my first playthrough and i cannot wait to dive into a second adventure.… Expand
  43. SodeNaShirayuki
    Mar 22, 2012
    9
    Do you remember the first game you ever played? Mine was Bugs Bunny: Crazy Castle 4 on the Gameboy Color. I loved it. I meticulously documented every level code. If I got stuck, I'd spend hours, days, even weeks throwing everything I had at the problem. And when I finally beat it, it felt like a huge accomplishment. The sad thing is that I know that now I could breeze through it withoutDo you remember the first game you ever played? Mine was Bugs Bunny: Crazy Castle 4 on the Gameboy Color. I loved it. I meticulously documented every level code. If I got stuck, I'd spend hours, days, even weeks throwing everything I had at the problem. And when I finally beat it, it felt like a huge accomplishment. The sad thing is that I know that now I could breeze through it without even trying. And that's why I love Dark Souls - it recaptures that wonderful feeling of having to make your own way in an unknown world, earning your own successes and paying for your own mistakes. You're setting off on an adventure, and you don't know quite what you may find. The most obvious aspect of Dark Souls is its difficulty, so we'll start there. It's hard. There's no escaping it, but it's almost never unfair. If charging at that Hydra gets you killed time and time again, try something else. Success in Dark Souls means switching your gamer mindset. You need to accept that this is true dark fantasy, cold and brutal. Running away is a valid strategy, and dumb heroics will almost always get you killed. But it's not frustrating. Death in a video game too often means groaning "Ugh, now I have to do all that again". But here, death is an experience in and of itself. Each time you see the words "YOU DIED", you've learned something new - and if you haven't, you're not being creative enough. You will die, over and over, but you'll never feel like you made no progress. And that's why I - someone prone to nerd rage - have happily thrown my miserable, hollow avatar to his end again and again, and several hours later looked up and wondered where the time went. To focus solely on the difficulty is almost a sin, though. Dark Souls is gorgeous. From soaring cathedrals to vast crystal caves, giant ash lakes to dark, claustrophobic catacombs, sunken, burning cities to dripping, noxious swamps, every corner hides something new, beautiful and almost invariably deadly. There's nothing quite like the feeling of uncovering a shortcut and realising just how ingeniously the map fits together. The story is cleverly minimalistic - there will seem to be none at first, but read around enough and you'll discover a plot that challenges almost all fantasy conventions. The RPG elements of gameplay are strong, yet fluid - while you're required to pick a class at the start of the game, the way you play is almost exclusively determined by the equipment you use and the stats you choose to level up. A knight can become a cleric can become a pyromancer, as long as you have the stats and weapons to cover it. This freedom carries over to your equipment choice - there are very few weapon combinations you can't use if you so desire. Dual Zweihanders? Go for it, as long as your strength's high enough. Similarly, if you want to try beating your enemies to death with two shields, you can. It's a wonderful way of giving the player as much freedom as possible, allowing you to choose your own path.
    An aspect of Dark Souls which doesn't get as much attention as I think it should is the morality system. There is none. The only person who will ever judge your actions is you, and few NPCs are safe. See that knight by the bonfire, desperately searching for her father? If you want, you can kill her and steal her Humanity. No-one will care. There is no good or evil in Dark Souls except what you make, and even when you've finished you may be left wondering whether those bosses really deserved to die. Of course, it's not a perfect game. The impact analysis is occasionally off - in a game like this, where realism is paramount, it's irksome when your character gets hit from around a corner or through a pillar. It rarely happens, but it's still a problem. Similarly, the game occasionally dips from hard into unfair - dying when a boss smacks me with a giant tentacle is fine, but when I deliberately dodged it and still expire from some ungodly splash damage it feels cheap. There is framerate drop (particularly in Blighttown), and very occasionally the map is simply unfinished. But to focus on Dark Souls's failings is wrong. It's an excellent game. You'll hear a lot about it being for hardcore RPGers, but I don't think that's true - while some people will want to tear it apart and dissect it, there's a lot to be said for the simple joy of tumbling out the other side, slightly confused and too busy wondering how you survived to realise you've won. It's not solely for the L337 PR0 - it's for anyone that's willing to devote themselves to puzzling out and conquering a unique and immersive experience. What ultimately makes Dark Souls great is that it strikes right at the heart of what it means to be a gamer. When I pick up that controller, I'm an 8-year-old again with my Gameboy. I'm setting off, ignorant, into a strange and cruel new world - and when that world is as brutal, eerie and desolately beautiful as Lordran, you can't go far wrong.    … Expand
  44. G-baby
    Jul 19, 2012
    9
    This is one of those games that, if you give it a chance, will completely consume your soul. I have put in well over 150 hours and I'm still playing it. It is a difficult game that requires discipline and patience, though I feel its not as difficult as the previous game Demons Souls. The dark fantasy setting has been masterfully rendered by the developers and the multiplayer makes bossThis is one of those games that, if you give it a chance, will completely consume your soul. I have put in well over 150 hours and I'm still playing it. It is a difficult game that requires discipline and patience, though I feel its not as difficult as the previous game Demons Souls. The dark fantasy setting has been masterfully rendered by the developers and the multiplayer makes boss fights super exciting. I would have given this game a ten but there are frame rate issues and lag in a few areas of the game, but the overall experience more than compensates for the very minor technical issues. This is a game that is well worth your hard earned dollars.… Expand
  45. Bedbugwonder
    Mar 25, 2012
    9
    Game Starts. Prison cell, small corridor, orange writing, outside, DEAD. Youâ
  46. 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
  47. TheSquirrel
    Jul 6, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls is a tense inch by inch death fest where the idea of self preservation becomes a fond memory of other games you have played. You play this game to die over and over and over and than you go to sleep haunted by how to get past the thing that is currently killing you. Leveling up and item upgrading have never felt so useless, as you just continue to die over and over and over.Dark Souls is a tense inch by inch death fest where the idea of self preservation becomes a fond memory of other games you have played. You play this game to die over and over and over and than you go to sleep haunted by how to get past the thing that is currently killing you. Leveling up and item upgrading have never felt so useless, as you just continue to die over and over and over.
    I can picture right now the thing I'm trying to get past and I haven't played the game in months. This type of game is not for me, I feel like half the time i'm fighting enemies, and the other half I'm fighting the camera and the controls.
    What they have is a slow moving, grainy looking, repeat every area a dozen times game that hides all of this by appealing to our inner desire to win at any cost. All this game has going for it is gameplay time and bragging rights, everything else is just there to kill you.

    You don't enjoy playing this game, you take pleasure in beating it. You get there angry and frustrated and turn off the game exhausted and beaten down. Not how I like to leave a game, not a game I enjoyed.

    UPDATE years later: This is one of the best games I have ever played. As you can see from my review above, it beat me down. I set it aside, and came back to it a couple of years later, and this time I pushed through the learning curve and the deaths and the frustrations. What I found was a rich, beautiful, incredible game that I have now played numerous times with several characters. It is incredible and if you can get into the headspace where you expect to learn through dying, this game will reward you.    … Expand
  48. 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
  49. Benzia
    Jun 23, 2012
    9
    Overall, very beautiful game. What strikes me about this game is how well the artistic blend of the world collides with the astonishing game play. When you pick this one up, it is not nearly what you would expect it to be. We all know that each game has their own little perk that makes them unique in their own way, but Dark Souls truly does take the cake on this one. Where this game wouldOverall, very beautiful game. What strikes me about this game is how well the artistic blend of the world collides with the astonishing game play. When you pick this one up, it is not nearly what you would expect it to be. We all know that each game has their own little perk that makes them unique in their own way, but Dark Souls truly does take the cake on this one. Where this game would normally be labeled 'difficult', it sounds so much better as challenging; it just fits. This game is, granted, time-consuming. Though, if you look deep into the constant repeated deaths, you will realize that there is always a pattern. With each Game Over, you are meant to learn from the mistakes and flaws that you made upon death. That, of course, may take hours. Hence, time-consuming and all. The challenge Dark Souls presents is simply tremendous. From the point you begin the game you think: "Hey, this is cool. Should be a breezy hack and slasher game, right?", wrong. As stated before, you practically are required to identify a pattern with every obstacle you may come by. The developers of Dark Souls made it so you literally are expected to spar with enemies and dangerous foes that your character may encounter. Depending on your class, your tactics may have to be changed a bit. That's what I enjoy about this game, the complex challenge in your battles and the artistic dark age scenery. The combat system blows me away and it always keeps me on the edge of my seat when you are granted the ability to really duel with the various enemies. I felt that Dark Souls provided a fair set of combat methods and classes that fulfills the needs of preference-based players. Whether you are more of a magic user, or fancy a good old bow, you are almost always able to find a handy weapon that suits your pleasure. There is another point that some people may bring up during the play through, what the heck is the story? The story, my friends, is for you to find out. When you play through the dangerous labyrinths and areas of Lordran, you pick up plenty of items and encounter multiple friendly units. Each item has a description and somehow gives some background on the lore of the world. In turn, you are basically your own little historian. While you play and uncover the secrets of Dark Souls, you begin to piece together that your mindless killing spree is not merely for nothing. The mysterious character you play as has a role that is key to the legendary land you will traverse. The thing is, you can't be lazy and just expect the game to just tell the story for you. You as the player are expected to learn about the story yourself. The story really is quite exciting, and therefore it is given a plus. Where that last point just didn't make it for me was the multiplayer. Sadly, this game (Like it's predecessor, Demon Souls) harbors a very limited interaction with other players. There is a very unique system of how online players are able to interact with each other in this game, that being able to lay down a summon sign for anyone to see and take interest in. Though in my opinion, this could have been a bit more interactive by allowing some friends to be able to play some classic coop. Instead of hoping you can find your friends' sign in a selected area, perhaps a feature that allows some instant friendly encounters would be in order. For that reason, I take away one measly point. This doesn't affect my view on the game, though. Dark Souls has earned their spot on my list of top games and it is a game that I would return to just for the hell of it; that is, at my own risk.… Expand
  50. 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
  51. 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!
  52. lpsyco
    Mar 29, 2013
    9
    Backstab the most supid and cowrd thing in this game....it all the experience.!!!!
    please do a favor to yoursels and reset this stupid thing in the game,or make a thing more har to take energy...
    Backstab the most supid and cowrd in this game....it all the experience!!!! please do a favor to yoursels and reset this stupid thing in the game,or make a thing more hard to take    Backstab the most supid and cowrd thing in this game....it all the experience.!!!!
    please do a favor to yoursels and reset this stupid thing in the game,or make a thing more har to take energy...

    Backstab the most supid and cowrd in this game....it all the experience!!!!
    please do a favor to yoursels and reset this stupid thing in the game,or make a thing more hard to take energy...

    the next game if I know that this continues
    do not buy, do not admit a game with a hard blow so easy to take power
    I and most people think the same
    I do not do because I'm not a coward!!
    .    … Expand
  53. XboxGamerGuy
    Nov 13, 2012
    9
    This is one of my all time favourite games of all time.
    This game demands a level of patients and thought that many games will never have!
    Do I a random computer nerd recommend this game? Oh yes I do.
    Revisit the Glory days of hard games.
  54. drunkenmuse
    Nov 1, 2012
    9
    For those looking for a challenge and some of the greatest medieval fantasy design in the last few years - play this game. There's little handholding but for those who have grown tired of running through games unscratched, a fair challenge awaits you.

    Because the game is fair - if you die you just need to rethink your strategy.
  55. GildaTheGriffin
    Mar 17, 2013
    9
    I like this game. I managed, barely to not die just yet. Weapons are fun and can be upgraded several ways, but the direction and characters look... odd. Like it threw me out of the immersion with a giant head thing that grabs you by his teeth and that is a form of transportation to some near end of the game? Really? I just started and love it's variety, but character models need toI like this game. I managed, barely to not die just yet. Weapons are fun and can be upgraded several ways, but the direction and characters look... odd. Like it threw me out of the immersion with a giant head thing that grabs you by his teeth and that is a form of transportation to some near end of the game? Really? I just started and love it's variety, but character models need to feel human and or real, rather than some Japanese oddities of characters. I guess Americans like art styles that immerse you. Rather than be random and unique. It's odd, but fun and challenging. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait to see how I die.… Expand
  56. JoeyMoey91
    May 19, 2013
    9
    Positives: Incredible scenery, awesome graphics, tons of variation with weapons, armor, in-game items, so much to explore, and seriously in-depth story (although not exactly clear to the player, but if you read everything and explore everything, you'll see the story, and what a story.), so much choice available to the player right from the beginning of the game. Able to replay this gamePositives: Incredible scenery, awesome graphics, tons of variation with weapons, armor, in-game items, so much to explore, and seriously in-depth story (although not exactly clear to the player, but if you read everything and explore everything, you'll see the story, and what a story.), so much choice available to the player right from the beginning of the game. Able to replay this game again and again and again and still be given a challenge. It's one of the more difficult games out there, but that's what I like about it. With the intense difficulty that this game provides (damn you FromSoft), the sheer jubilation you feel when you accomplish something in this game is what it's all about for me. And the added fact I've managed to get all achievements is something I never thought I'd achieve with this game (not that it was a simple task). You can also summon other players to your world to help you with boss battles, and to help you clear the area up until that point. There's no option to change difficulty, so you gotta learn from your mistakes and strategise how you're going to do things.

    Negatives: The lag you get when doing PvP (not so bad with co-op play) is ridiculous, it's pretty much impossible to fight an invading/invaded player-enemy as it will almost always lag out (for the majority of us). I personally don't consider this next point a negative, but a lot of people will find this game extremely hard and will be off-put by it.

    9/10 because of the huge amount of fun I had playing this, searching every rock and every corner of every area to find something new, even on my 50+ playthrough (not new game +50, but you get the jist). Extremely challenging game, which made it all the more sweeter once I completed it, and then completed it again to claim all 'ending' achievements. You will always find something new, very few people on earth know every little detail about Dark Souls, so you'll definitely get your money's worth.    … Expand
  57. scottmiller82
    May 4, 2013
    9
    This game is as rewarding as difficult. Every enemy in the game is a challenge, it's great to spend time learning how to beat them. For a strange reason, it's highly addictive too.
  58. D4RKNESS-360
    May 25, 2013
    9
    I found this game to be an enjoyable experience, although occasionaly frustrating due to its challenging difficulty. .

    Gameplay I personally found the combat to be mostly skill and reflex based. You have to learn when to strike, dodge and parry each type of enemy, and you also have to strategicly use the bonfires, which are the checkpoints of Dark Souls but when ever you use it, the    I found this game to be an enjoyable experience, although occasionaly frustrating due to its challenging difficulty. .

    Gameplay I personally found the combat to be mostly skill and reflex based. You have to learn when to strike, dodge and parry each type of enemy, and you also have to strategicly use the bonfires, which are the checkpoints of Dark Souls but when ever you use it, the hords of enemy that you just passed through will respawn, meaning back tracking will be harder incase you need to.

    Graphics I found the graphics to be more than what i initially expected out of this game, and found the dark and gritty art style to be very fitting to the gameplay, difficulty and the focus on "dark things."

    Story Ever put a puzzle together? If you don't look for the pieces of the puzzle then the puzzle will always be incomplete, and that what the story feels like to me. You get an introduction video introducing you to the lore and sometimes in the beginning you will be refered to as the chosen undead, but you were never told why you were chosen and for what. Most of the lore you will get are from the item descriptions and loading screens.

    Multiplayer I was very excited by this feature only to be dissapointed by how hard it is to play with my friends. It isn't like most games where you just invite your friends and they join. No! you have to jump through hell of alot of hoops that shouldnt be there. Me and my friends never get to play co-op because of how difficult it was.    … Expand
  59. DirtySnackage
    Jul 24, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls is an amazing game. From the enemies, to the lore, to the environments, everything SCREAMS originality. The world of Dark Souls is a very bleak one, but one you could be lost in for hours. The game gives you what you put into it. Don't expect cutscenes or narratives to explain the story, its up to you to do the research by reading item descriptions, talking to npcs, and evenDark Souls is an amazing game. From the enemies, to the lore, to the environments, everything SCREAMS originality. The world of Dark Souls is a very bleak one, but one you could be lost in for hours. The game gives you what you put into it. Don't expect cutscenes or narratives to explain the story, its up to you to do the research by reading item descriptions, talking to npcs, and even drawing your own conclusions. The gameplay is exeptional, even though many people mistake it for being "stiff". The gameplay is very responsive, and almost every weapon attacks differently. On the topic of weapons, you can craft your weapons to a great extent to fit your exact playstyle. Even online, there is not just one way to go about playing. You can do whatever you want. And the game, contrary to popular belief, is NOT that hard. This is not to say it is not challenging, but it doesn't have artificial difficulty. Even if you have 1 hp, enemies and bosses are still beatable, with the right amount of skill. Each move is appropriately telegraphed just enough for you to get out of the way. But if the game does end up being too difficult, there is a way to make it easier. Git Gud.… Expand
  60. Orangegod39
    Jul 11, 2013
    9
    Dark Souls punishes you. Whether or not you like this game; you have to admit that it punishes you. Severely. How you reacted to the punishment directly affects the score you gave the game. If the uncountable deaths doused any passionate flame for challenge you had for this game, you are (sorry to say) weak. You couldn't do it. No matter how you look at it, you could not beat this gameDark Souls punishes you. Whether or not you like this game; you have to admit that it punishes you. Severely. How you reacted to the punishment directly affects the score you gave the game. If the uncountable deaths doused any passionate flame for challenge you had for this game, you are (sorry to say) weak. You couldn't do it. No matter how you look at it, you could not beat this game because you weren't strong enough. If you didn't want to, that's a different story. If the insane challenge fueled your drive to defy From Software and you continued, you were rewarded. For those who haven't bought the game and have no idea what I'm talking about I say this: You will never know how strong you are until you play this video game. If you beat games on easy... Stay away. Save the money. Buy Skyrim and stun-lock dragons for all I care; I'll be testing skill. Not my aim with a dual-casted firebolt.… Expand
  61. JustBenjy7
    Jan 7, 2014
    9
    TL;DR I think Dark Souls is a great game, with a great setting, story and characters, it can be very rewarding, and has great character and combat systems that will keep you coming back, but can and will punish you if you do something dumb. All that said, it certainly isn't for everyone.

    I went from thinking "I might try Dark Souls, it looks like it might be good" to "I absolutely love    TL;DR I think Dark Souls is a great game, with a great setting, story and characters, it can be very rewarding, and has great character and combat systems that will keep you coming back, but can and will punish you if you do something dumb. All that said, it certainly isn't for everyone.

    I went from thinking "I might try Dark Souls, it looks like it might be good" to "I absolutely love this game" in under a day. Granted, I was about 2 years late to the party, but that hasn't spoiled my enjoyment of it.

    First off, I will say that Dark Souls is nowhere near as difficult as its reputation would have you believe... as long as you go in with the right attitude, some patience and a degree of skill. Charge into a group of enemies swinging your sword like a lunatic, and the game will punish you, but lure the enemies away from the group, and take them on one at a time, and you'll (hopefully) succeed. The way to play Dark Souls is carefully, with tactics and through trial and error.

    The game will not hold your hand. It will not tell you exactly where to go. It will punish you for doing something dumb. A prime example is something I have done, myself, seen friends do and seen in gameplay videos... fighting the first Black Knight. If you try and take on the Black Knight, at a low level, without only an hour or so of experience, you will probably die. I learned that lesson the hard way, and didn't try again until I was a higher level, and had better weapons and armour.

    I've played very few games that give you such a sense of adrenaline while fighting a boss, and such a feeling of victory upon defeating them. Each time I've faced a boss that I have no escape from, no choice but to fight up close and personal, I've felt my heart rate rocket and my breathing become shallow and fast. This happens with most of the bosses I've faced, and its the greatest thrill I have ever got from playing a game. But even better than the thrill is the moment that you conquer a boss (or maybe some other enemy) who has been giving you a lot of grief. Depending on the intensity of the fight, my reactions have either been a loud yeah" or sitting for a few minutes, breathing deeply, shaking a little.

    I've seen and heard many people talk about the story... no, it isn't given to you on a plate; you have to work for it. If you want to know about the world of Dark Souls, start exploring, reading item descriptions and talking to NPCs, or look online if you're stuck. If you don't care for the story, it can practically be ignored, as long as you remember what your goal is, because it won't be written down anywhere. That is something that they could have done differently, but its adds to the-- actually, forgetting where you're at is a real pain, and I won't try and defend that part. The depth of the story and the setting is incredible, and leaves many things to the imagination of the player.

    In terms of gameplay, I find the combat to be a good, solid system, and only the more advanced elements take an above average degree of getting used to. Weapons often have unique features, and there is no "best weapon" in the conventional way; how useful a weapon is, and if it is "better" than another weapon is almost always personal taste. And seeing as most weapons have a unique moveset, you can change up your style by just changing your weapon.

    Finally, Dark Souls is the only game that makes me want to playing it in 10 different ways, on simultaneous playthroughs. There is so much room for customisation and experimentation, that you may find yourself starting several new games before you've even finished your first go, and if you want more, you could try challenges, find one online ore make up your own.

    But even though I love it, I know Dark Souls isn't for everyone. Having read a few reviews, I disagree with some that say that Dark Souls is horrible, and there are some where the reviewer has clearly misunderstood (or failed to understand) a core element of the game, and that's fine, its just a difference of opinion.    … Expand
  62. Ebelon
    Nov 20, 2013
    9
    I played this game a year after Skyrim came out and i can say that dark souls sure gives skyrim a run for its money. Skyrim is still my favorite RPG of all time but Dark souls is a very close second. It has a very mysterious allure that just begs to be explored. The fluid movement and combat feel very realistic, and the swing of a sword has the "umpf!" that really lets you feel likeI played this game a year after Skyrim came out and i can say that dark souls sure gives skyrim a run for its money. Skyrim is still my favorite RPG of all time but Dark souls is a very close second. It has a very mysterious allure that just begs to be explored. The fluid movement and combat feel very realistic, and the swing of a sword has the "umpf!" that really lets you feel like there's power in your attack. The pvp is also very intense but its ruined by hackers and cheaters (so best to wait for Dark souls 2 to play online). The punishing difficulty may be intimidating but the reward of overcoming a a very hard enemy is like no other. If you are weak at heart don't play this game, but if you're looking for a genuine challenge that rewards you for perseverance then buy this bad boy and prepare for hell.… Expand
  63. tmlorfing
    Aug 15, 2014
    9
    You better be prepared to die. Dark Souls is brutal: one screw-up can negate hours of progress. However, the reward for triumph is amazing. Nothing feels better than plowing through an area that killed you 10 times, or finally defeating that towering demon boss. Don't be deterred by the naysayers: This game will punish your mistakes, but it can be mastered and beaten.
    The story of Dark    You better be prepared to die. Dark Souls is brutal: one screw-up can negate hours of progress. However, the reward for triumph is amazing. Nothing feels better than plowing through an area that killed you 10 times, or finally defeating that towering demon boss. Don't be deterred by the naysayers: This game will punish your mistakes, but it can be mastered and beaten.
    The story of Dark Souls is minimal. Most of it comes from lore, dialogue, and little details. You are a cursed undead, and must find a way to break the curse. However, fate has given you another calling: and that calling will challenge you to the limit.
    The world of Dark Souls is beautiful and immersive. See that giant tower off in the distance? Often times, if you see an area in the background, you will end up going there. The game starts out somewhat linear, but soon enough the massive world is at your fingertips. Unfortunatley, some parts of the game struggle with major frame-rate issues. It's not game-breaking, but can get you killed if you aren't careful. But other than that, Dark Souls is graphically impressive.
    The Combat system works very well. Every class can use every type of weapon. You don't need to be a wizard to cast spells, and you don't need to be a knight to wear heavy armor. It is a system that lets you choose your own way to fight the brutal enemies the game throws at you.
    Multiplayer is refreshing and exciting. You can choose to invade other players' worlds, or you may be invaded yourself. The invader and the master will duel to the death: and the winner will be greatly rewarded.
    If you love RPGs, go pick up this game. If you prefer casual FPS games like Call of Duty or Halo, still go pick it up for a new, brutal experience. This is a game that I think should not be missed.    … Expand
  64. xbonekilla
    Dec 29, 2013
    9
    Just a masterpiece. Deep combat, that isn't about memorizing long combos, rewarding exploration. A world that is slowly revealed to you. No reliance on gimmicky gameplay and long cutscenes. A gamer's game.
  65. oobergoober21
    Feb 8, 2014
    9
    What can I say about Dark Souls? It's ruthless, terrifying, and very immasculating...but it's addicting and great!

    Dark Souls is infamous for being known as one of the hardest games ever, which could be true, but we're so used to playing easier games with no real strategy like Call of Duty. Difficulty wise, Dark Souls does require skill, which can grow as you play the game, but you have    What can I say about Dark Souls? It's ruthless, terrifying, and very immasculating...but it's addicting and great!

    Dark Souls is infamous for being known as one of the hardest games ever, which could be true, but we're so used to playing easier games with no real strategy like Call of Duty. Difficulty wise, Dark Souls does require skill, which can grow as you play the game, but you have to play smarter and more carefully if you want to make it far.

    Visually, Dark Souls is gorgeous-I don't think I have ever seen a game with more beautiful level designs and originality. The graphics are also fairly top notch, aside from a few framerate issues and the occasional drunken camera.

    The gameplay is one-of-a-kind. It's a different feel of combat when compared to other more popular games, and that's a good thing. To achieve maximum combat potential, you have to be patient and smart, because going head-in and "balls-deep", for the most part, won't get the job done.

    Dark Souls is a much needed breath of fresh air in the world of gaming. Amazing visuals, dynamic gameplay...but the real reason to play is the excitement of defeating the many bosses. Each boss, aside from the beginning few, is very challenging-so much that you could die many times in attempting to finish. You might kick, scream, swear, and rage, but when you finally recieve the victory you have so longed for, the feeling is priceless. That is the main driving motivation in Dark Souls.

    Only a few bugs and maybe the rare repitition hold Dark Souls from getting the oh-so-coveted 10, but the game is extremely entertaining and shouldn't be missed.

    I give Dark Souls a solid 9 out of 10.    … Expand
  66. JacobCleveland
    Apr 5, 2014
    9
    Now I will speak plainly about this game, and I won't go into excruciating detail. This is not for everyone. Hell, its not even for me. I enjoy a challenge, but this game gives you that strong sense of dread and the impossibility of the level. The game constantly tries to test your limits to the max, and I applaud the developers for that. However, this game has an acquired taste to it. TheNow I will speak plainly about this game, and I won't go into excruciating detail. This is not for everyone. Hell, its not even for me. I enjoy a challenge, but this game gives you that strong sense of dread and the impossibility of the level. The game constantly tries to test your limits to the max, and I applaud the developers for that. However, this game has an acquired taste to it. The graphics and art direction of this game is amazing, but it's just not for me. This game doesn't make the attempt to appeal to everybody, which I applaud. If you like excruciating difficulty and a interesting experience, play Dark Souls. If you want to shoot up 12 year old kids and call them campers, play COD.… Expand
  67. RussianPhil28
    Aug 12, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls is the kind of game in which your hopes on a productive day are diminished due to how engrossing the dark yet light world of Dark Souls turns out to be. Although it is very difficult each and every obstacle has a counter part to it which is up to the player to find. While other games use this scenario Dark Souls masters it. My amount of deaths in Dark Souls are more than myDark Souls is the kind of game in which your hopes on a productive day are diminished due to how engrossing the dark yet light world of Dark Souls turns out to be. Although it is very difficult each and every obstacle has a counter part to it which is up to the player to find. While other games use this scenario Dark Souls masters it. My amount of deaths in Dark Souls are more than my kills in Bf3 but that is what makes this game different. Death in Dark Souls is an element which sometimes yes sucks but killing that boss that killed you countless times is very rewarding. Making this RPG one of the best ever made the amazing combat and world design make Dark Souls excellent.… Expand
  68. AmazingMonky
    Nov 26, 2014
    9
    This game is dripping with atmosphere, gives you the biggest rush in any game, story that is amazing (if you read the items) and challenges you every step of the way, if you want to jump into the souls series this is the place to start. only thing that can be counted against it is is catering to a more hardcore audience with a steep curve for casuals. If you are tired of linear storiesThis game is dripping with atmosphere, gives you the biggest rush in any game, story that is amazing (if you read the items) and challenges you every step of the way, if you want to jump into the souls series this is the place to start. only thing that can be counted against it is is catering to a more hardcore audience with a steep curve for casuals. If you are tired of linear stories and easy games that hold your hand for their entirety this is the game for you.… Expand
  69. Bajo19
    May 17, 2015
    9
    Hours and hours of rage and endless trying of not looking on internet how you do this part and that part. Still you got to love this game, it is a big challenge. If you already got trough this game you deserve some kind of trophy.
  70. DLKnight
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    I've only heard a bit about Dark Souls before playing it. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not since I heard of its difficulty. I have to say, this game is not one that will tell you you are doing something wrong. It told you what do do in the beginning, you didn't listen, it's your fault you forgot their was a lock on feature (my first of many frustrations up to the first boss). It'sI've only heard a bit about Dark Souls before playing it. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not since I heard of its difficulty. I have to say, this game is not one that will tell you you are doing something wrong. It told you what do do in the beginning, you didn't listen, it's your fault you forgot their was a lock on feature (my first of many frustrations up to the first boss). It's difficult if you let it be difficult. One has to learn how the game works, sometimes frustration will ensue; all part of learning. Observe and think, a game where rushing in will all but get you killed by a surprise horde of enemies. People also complain about the lack of story. There is a story, although it is not in your face. You want story? Take some time to read the item descriptions and look around the area, you lean a lot (although much of the lore is speculation, but that's part of the fun isn't it?). The game itself becomes a lot of fun once you lean the areas, and the thrill and suspense of not knowing if the floor will collapse under you leading to a surprise boss fight is prevalent. The wide variety of areas, sometimes you will look off to the distance with curiosity toward something, then a few hours later, be in that exact area. I will leave with saying that it is not for everyone. Some will be forever frustrated and too stubborn to try to keep going, to each their own. Still, a game AT THE VERY LEAST worth a try.… Expand
  71. 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
  72. TheRedFern
    Jul 8, 2023
    9
    The level design was one of the best ever made, the game felt amazing and the gameplay was fantastic. I played this probably 10 years too late and it still felt monumental and like it was a top 20 game of all time.
  73. Benjiro
    Feb 9, 2016
    9
    I am not done with my first playthrough but I think I am far enough to give my opinion on it. At first I was frustrated with Dark Souls and even thought I wasted my money, but BY GOD WAS I WRONG! Dark Souls seems quite unfair but if you just let yourself get absorbed by its atmosphere and tightness of the gameplay you will have one ofe the greatest RPG experiences of the decade.
    But    I am not done with my first playthrough but I think I am far enough to give my opinion on it. At first I was frustrated with Dark Souls and even thought I wasted my money, but BY GOD WAS I WRONG! Dark Souls seems quite unfair but if you just let yourself get absorbed by its atmosphere and tightness of the gameplay you will have one ofe the greatest RPG experiences of the decade.
    But alas... I have to take away one point for the sometimes frustrating drops of the framerate and the occasional glitches...    … Expand
  74. SemenTheGreat
    Jul 26, 2016
    9
    Let me get this out of the way. Dark Souls is an amazing, amazing game, but it has its flaws. At first glance, it seems like your typical action RPG, but after playing for a couple of minutes, you realize it's different. If not, the punishing death mechanics and hard hitting foes are sure to make you do. Even though you can't talk about this game without mentioning its difficulty, there aLet me get this out of the way. Dark Souls is an amazing, amazing game, but it has its flaws. At first glance, it seems like your typical action RPG, but after playing for a couple of minutes, you realize it's different. If not, the punishing death mechanics and hard hitting foes are sure to make you do. Even though you can't talk about this game without mentioning its difficulty, there a lot of other things that really define the experience, from the amazing art style to the abnormally smart level design. The story is also well written and heart breaking, but not very clear if you don't put any extra work into placing the pieces together. The story comes mainly from item descriptions and npc dialogue. Last, but not least, the bosses are epic and challenging, with really good visual design and incredible music accompanying it. But as I said, there are some flaws. The first things that comes to mind is the, at times, unstable frame rate, especially in Blight town. Some of the hit boxes are a bit questionable, and one of the bosses is just **** These are just minor ones that won't ruin the experience.… Expand
  75. WPharolin
    Oct 28, 2016
    9
    It is currently October of 2016. By now, I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review is familiar with the common praise for Dark Souls. Great level and enemy design, tight controls, awesome sound design, difficult but fair gameplay, etc. Rather than repeat what you've heard a million times, I'd like to talk about my personal experience with Dark Souls.

    I bought the game when it    It is currently October of 2016. By now, I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review is familiar with the common praise for Dark Souls. Great level and enemy design, tight controls, awesome sound design, difficult but fair gameplay, etc. Rather than repeat what you've heard a million times, I'd like to talk about my personal experience with Dark Souls.

    I bought the game when it was first released, however, I didn't give it a fair shot for about a year or so later. I took the game home and played for a few hours and just didn't "get it". To this day I don't have any of the achievements beyond the first three that everyone else seem to have (Covenant: Way of White, Estus Flask, and Rite of Kindling). However, when a good friend came to stay with me for a few months he brought over his PS3 and we played through Demon Souls. Enjoying it far more than I would have guessed we decided we were going to buy Dark Souls for the Ps3 (since my copy had gone missing) and beat it as soon as possible.

    However, we were so engrossed by the game that our plan to rush through the game was foiled by the intriguing setting and narrative. We were engrossed by the experienced and our goals shifted from beating Dark Souls as soon as possible to simply experiencing all it had to offer.

    What set Dark Souls apart from any other gaming experience for me was that it worked, intentional or not, as an allegory for depression. The world is indifferent to you and your struggles, things get worse before they get better, and any improvement is made by persevering in the face of what seem like insurmountable odds. In Dark Souls, death is harsh, but not final. By giving you an infinite number of attempts to overcome challenges, the focus of the game becomes about life, survival, and having the will to stick with it. You don't really die in Dark Souls until you give up. The game is a constant struggle for survival in face of world indifferent to your presence. And that is what it's like to have depression.

    I've now beaten the game seven times over the course of its life and I've come to appreciate it as a coping mechanism as much as I do a fun gaming experience. Each subsequent play through I discover something new about the game I didn't know. Something new that adds a layer to the rich narrative as well to the allegorical meaning that I ascribe to the game. This allegory may very well be something that I'm assigning to the game that was never intended by its creators. However, intentional or not, Dark Souls has managed to craft a narrative that has inspired me and helped me to deal with my own depression.    … Expand
  76. brendo214
    May 21, 2019
    9
    While this game does have quite a few frustrating areas, the way that it is burned into my memory shows just how, well, memorable it is.
  77. Edgard86
    May 22, 2018
    9
    Melhor Dark souls, viciante, ambientação e mapa perfeitos.

    Gamer Tag: Edgard 86
  78. 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
  79. migueltaker
    Jan 4, 2021
    9
    De los mejores juegos que alguna vez jugué, toda una experiencia, los escenarios increíbles
  80. f1o_o1f
    Apr 5, 2021
    9
    (PTDE review) One of the best games I've ever played. It's not for everyone, but everyone should have tried it once in their life.
    It's certainly hard, but not unfair. Lack of polish in late-game and obvious development constraints keep it from a full score.
    Also, if you get frustrated quickly and don't like to find the path for yourself, you will not enjoy it as much.
  81. Kio22
    Mar 26, 2023
    9
    This is a great game, was the easiest souls game of the series until I played Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2. The game play can take some getting used to but the fun thing about it is you can play any way you want. This games level design is magnificent and gives the player the freedom to choose whatever direction they want to go in. The story in this game is rewarded to players willing toThis is a great game, was the easiest souls game of the series until I played Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2. The game play can take some getting used to but the fun thing about it is you can play any way you want. This games level design is magnificent and gives the player the freedom to choose whatever direction they want to go in. The story in this game is rewarded to players willing to explore and look for it. The bosses are cool and most boss fights are fair except for one very frustrating one. Overall, it's a great game that is shaped by how people choose to play it.… Expand
  82. 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
  83. DarkSoulAxel
    Apr 10, 2021
    9
    Dark Souls 1 is a flawed masterpiece for sure. It has its annoying parts, has its parts that feel rushed (Lost Izalith) and needed some polishing (i.e. framerate in Blight Town). But despite all flaws, it strikes with charm, satisfying combat and upgrading, great level up system and awesome boss fights (for the most part, not so much for the Demon Centipede for example, holy hell). I haveDark Souls 1 is a flawed masterpiece for sure. It has its annoying parts, has its parts that feel rushed (Lost Izalith) and needed some polishing (i.e. framerate in Blight Town). But despite all flaws, it strikes with charm, satisfying combat and upgrading, great level up system and awesome boss fights (for the most part, not so much for the Demon Centipede for example, holy hell). I have played this game over 24 times I believe and put hundreds of hours into it, offline. That is enough proof for me to say that its my most favorite game of all time at this date. Its nature allows a lot of variety in playthroughs so you can challenge yourself one more unique time. Surely to be recommended, its my top 1 game in general. Only giving it a 9/10 because 9.5 is not possible and saying its 10/10, meaning perfect, would contradict my criticism above.… Expand
  84. grimreapersims
    Feb 8, 2023
    9
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  85. Huitzilopochtli
    Feb 28, 2022
    9
    A true masterpiece that popularized the Soulsborne series. If you have not played this game, buy and play it immediately. A must-have for every video game consumer.
  86. Netherghul
    Mar 6, 2022
    9
    One of the best games ive ever played. My Introduction into the souls series and I played it in its prime from 2011 and 2012. Never before had a game given me such a challenge. It has the best characters out of any souls game. Although I prefer 2 over this it is because I prefered ds2s dark and gritty tone to Dark Souls 1s. The Multiplayer is the worst of the series with all the backstabOne of the best games ive ever played. My Introduction into the souls series and I played it in its prime from 2011 and 2012. Never before had a game given me such a challenge. It has the best characters out of any souls game. Although I prefer 2 over this it is because I prefered ds2s dark and gritty tone to Dark Souls 1s. The Multiplayer is the worst of the series with all the backstab fishing and parry baiters. The Story and its lore however is Legendary and it deserves its roses for being the father of the Dark Souls series. Also Manus I hate you.… Expand
  87. botardi
    Jan 1, 2023
    9
    an absolute classic, the horrific post-apocalyptic medieval world is perfectly built
    the combat system is addicting, and the variety of playstyles is immense
    the first half of this game is without a doubt one of the greatest videogame sequences of all time, and then lacks a bit on the second half, being the the sometimes very very questionable game design of that sequence the only reason    an absolute classic, the horrific post-apocalyptic medieval world is perfectly built
    the combat system is addicting, and the variety of playstyles is immense
    the first half of this game is without a doubt one of the greatest videogame sequences of all time, and then lacks a bit on the second half, being the the sometimes very very questionable game design of that sequence the only reason its not a solid 10    … Expand
  88. farrrullll
    Feb 5, 2023
    9
    Dark Souls Dark Souls Dark Souls Dark Souls Dark Souls Dark Souls Dark Souls
  89. 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
  90. 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
  91. 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
  92. 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
  93. 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
  94. 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
  95. thekauffdog
    Oct 27, 2011
    8
    I love Dark Souls. I loved Demons Souls. However, the developer alienates such a large part of the gaming base available, not by making Dark Souls hard, but unfair also. Yes I understand that there is no pause button in the real world, but it isn't the real world. I have 4 kids and a wife. Guys like us that have to schedule gaming time apart from when we were 12 and could play for hours,I love Dark Souls. I loved Demons Souls. However, the developer alienates such a large part of the gaming base available, not by making Dark Souls hard, but unfair also. Yes I understand that there is no pause button in the real world, but it isn't the real world. I have 4 kids and a wife. Guys like us that have to schedule gaming time apart from when we were 12 and could play for hours, but now, 4 kids and family later, I NEED A PAUSE BUTTON!! It is so frustrating not being able to find a bonfire, and your son falls down, or needs s diaper change, or someones at the door. Simply put, they didn't make it hard, they made it unfair. I have no problem with the enemies, and the fact that the game gets harder as you die. But for the love of all that's good, I don't think a pause button dilutes the intensity that developers intended for Dark Souls. In fact, it's such a snub of the nose, you begin to wonder if any of the developers have kids and actually tried to give the game some time when it wasn't work related. Further more, SAVE POINTS!!! I understand that the intent is to make each time you play Dark Souls a journey. But sometimes even a trip to the gas station is journey you don't want to make. Point being, better or easier save points, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ISN'T A PAUSE BUTTON. Nuff said. Take it from a guy that has been playing video game for 28 years, missing these two key items are enough to turn away allot of gamers because they don't have the patience, or TIME Dark Souls demands. Now surely the developers want as many people to love and enjoy their game. I just find it so nieve they were as black and white with very little (to almost no) grey.....… Expand
  96. 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
  97. 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
  98. fatsouls
    Nov 18, 2011
    8
    This game is like hell. It's one of the most addicting, desperating, freak. You'll want to shoot yourself evrytime you play and end up throwing the controller to the TV.
    I highly recommend NOT TO BUY THIS GAME. FAT SOULS
  99. 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
  100. 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.
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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

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
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