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. cameronlemon97
    Dec 2, 2011
    10
    one of the best and most unique games I've played all year. I never though i could have so much fun dying and learning how to overcome each individual problem, enemy design is incredible as well and as the game progresses the enemies look more hellish and the difficulty makes this game one of the best games of the year
  2. DrunkBall101
    Nov 29, 2011
    10
    Awesome game! The difficulty of this game is so rewarding when you defeat giant and unique bosses. For anyone who loves action RPGs i would recommend this game to you. It is a must buy.
  3. Fidhel
    Nov 29, 2011
    10
    Exelente jogo perfeito só acredito que poderia ter uma historia um pouquinho melhor, Todo combate e unico isso da uma nova dinamica para o jogo a exploração e bem interessante. Enfim um dos melhores jogos que já joguei.
  4. SolidLinkSnake4
    Nov 27, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is a very fun RPG game that is challenging,fun to die, and overall awesome. If you don't like dieing a lot in a game don't get this ,but if you like RPG's this game is good for you
  5. whosgotthecrack
    Nov 26, 2011
    10
    This is quite possibly one of the best games I have played in the past 10 years. It feels like a return to the old school style action-adventure game, with RPG elements heavily incorporated. If you, like me, feel like video games have become incredibly dumbed-down, mindless and easy; this will be an incredibly refreshing experience. The immersion this game creates is amazing, as theThis is quite possibly one of the best games I have played in the past 10 years. It feels like a return to the old school style action-adventure game, with RPG elements heavily incorporated. If you, like me, feel like video games have become incredibly dumbed-down, mindless and easy; this will be an incredibly refreshing experience. The immersion this game creates is amazing, as the difficulty makes you pay close attention to the movements of the AI and the world around you. For the first time in years I felt immersed in a game, the environment and sheer difficulty invoke feelings of despair and anxiety at times, but this makes the reward for overcoming challenges feel much more like an accomplishment than anything I have experienced in a contemporary action/RPG game.… Expand
  6. FattyMooMooMan
    Nov 26, 2011
    10
    One of this years better games, challenging with an interesting story and setting - character development is good and you can mould your character around the way you want to play (I have been playing a sorcery caster and am currently in Anor Londo, unfortunately skyrim is taking huge chunks out of my life at the moment but I hope soon to be back and finishing this game off as I wouldOne of this years better games, challenging with an interesting story and setting - character development is good and you can mould your character around the way you want to play (I have been playing a sorcery caster and am currently in Anor Londo, unfortunately skyrim is taking huge chunks out of my life at the moment but I hope soon to be back and finishing this game off as I would really like to find out how it ends). The developers also appear to be supporting the title well as is apparent in the patches they have been putting out. This game is hard though - take your time to level up and play smart and you will find a very rewarding game here, try to rush through and be prepared to die lots.… Expand
  7. Kuzkula
    Nov 23, 2011
    8
    Criminy. Prepare to die. Simple as that.
    Well, I love this game. As always, I dip my toes in the Redbox and snag it on my night/s off. Got addicted. Returned RAGE and got this instead. Read my problems with that "masterpiece" in another review. To put it as others have, Dark Souls makes dying fun. :D
    Graphics: Dark Souls is beautiful. There's few if any clipping going on [dragon's tail],    Criminy. Prepare to die. Simple as that.
    Well, I love this game. As always, I dip my toes in the Redbox and snag it on my night/s off. Got addicted. Returned RAGE and got this instead. Read my problems with that "masterpiece" in another review. To put it as others have, Dark Souls makes dying fun. :D

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

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

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

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

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

    Overall: Love this game. Harsh gameplay leading to many people quitting just makes me laugh, but it can be frustrating at times, so it's understandable. Go in with patience, caution, and just a bit of foresight, and you may die less than 100 times your first playthough.    … Expand
  8. Shadexx7
    Nov 21, 2011
    8
    Dark Souls is an interesting game for today's generation, where games are usually much easier. I wasn't alive for the times when games like Battletoads came out, but I have gone back to play them. They are brutal. I am a glutton for punishment, playing games like Aban Awkins and The 1000 Spikes (etc.), but Dark Souls was one of the more enjoyable punishing games I've played.

    It's a great    Dark Souls is an interesting game for today's generation, where games are usually much easier. I wasn't alive for the times when games like Battletoads came out, but I have gone back to play them. They are brutal. I am a glutton for punishment, playing games like Aban Awkins and The 1000 Spikes (etc.), but Dark Souls was one of the more enjoyable punishing games I've played.

    It's a great fantasy game, there's no doubt about it. I like the "soul" system of currency, where you can either spend your hard earned money (which can disappear very fast) on new equipment or on levelling. It makes a guy think when he can either level a single attribute or buy that new armour from that creepy merchant, knowing both can help him. The combat is good, the system of having a left and right hand (and controlling them as such) is also good (I never played Demon's Souls). There are a few problems. Initially, the game was hard. Hard as hell. But then you realize, once you go through an area two, three, four, ten times, you just need to know where the enemies spawn and how to defeat them. Roll at the right time, attack. It isn't that hard once you go through the same area a few times. The bosses, on the other hand, are a mixed bag of emotions: they are very well thought out , and they're a blast to fight. Some of them do have very cheap tactics and moves that will see you killed without any warning or even knowing how something hit you. I also found some annoying parts, especially when starting, such as attacking someone by accident, having to kill them because they became aggressive, then losing out on a fairly important merchant early in the game.

    Dark Souls is not a bad game by any means. If you are a glutton for punishment, this is your game. I do have to tell you one thing though:

    Get TES: Skryim. It is a better game, especially if you're looking for a game that won't get you depressed considering how many times you die.    … Expand
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. Ischie
    Nov 20, 2011
    10
    I recommend this game to everyone who loves RPGs. If you think the game is too hard, get the fantastically well made, hard cover, strategy guide and play the game. I put in 140hrs into it and feel its one of the best games I have ever played. Highly recommended.
  13. Stfu_Noobs
    Nov 20, 2011
    5
    Played Demon Soul's fought through hours of death( I must have died a 1000 time) anyways i don't feel I gained anything for it, Even though i told myself i shouldn't get Dark Soul (I did anyways) well... I guess its just not my kind of game. I get on die, die and die again. Sometimes its not even my fault. And your character really has no goals other than to just get through alive. ThePlayed Demon Soul's fought through hours of death( I must have died a 1000 time) anyways i don't feel I gained anything for it, Even though i told myself i shouldn't get Dark Soul (I did anyways) well... I guess its just not my kind of game. I get on die, die and die again. Sometimes its not even my fault. And your character really has no goals other than to just get through alive. The game just wasn't rewarding enough for all the dying.… Expand
  14. TooGoods
    Nov 19, 2011
    4
    Good game, but the cheap deaths is a very negative aspect to this game, and there's a lot of it. The story is not as good as Dark Souls and the absence of a central "Nexus" also ruins this game for me. I feel that the bosses are also not as memorable as Dark Souls. Another negative thing is that the game is full of people who spam "soul" glitches to reach levels that are far too highGood game, but the cheap deaths is a very negative aspect to this game, and there's a lot of it. The story is not as good as Dark Souls and the absence of a central "Nexus" also ruins this game for me. I feel that the bosses are also not as memorable as Dark Souls. Another negative thing is that the game is full of people who spam "soul" glitches to reach levels that are far too high (300-700) to even challenge against when you are in certain covenants such as the Darkmoon covenant.… Expand
  15. 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
  16. Alibi
    Nov 17, 2011
    10
    What makes Dark Soul's story unique is that it talks about a prophecy of a hero will save the land one day, but it could careless if that is you. It doesn't care if you live or die. It does not have a huge back story either. It lets you fill in the blanks. Also, the same way it does not care if you live or die. It does not care if the NPC that fill the world of Dark Soul live or die. IfWhat makes Dark Soul's story unique is that it talks about a prophecy of a hero will save the land one day, but it could careless if that is you. It doesn't care if you live or die. It does not have a huge back story either. It lets you fill in the blanks. Also, the same way it does not care if you live or die. It does not care if the NPC that fill the world of Dark Soul live or die. If you are a fan of the RPG genre I would suggest picking this one up!… Expand
  17. k3k3ti6
    Nov 17, 2011
    10
    I don't think I've been so excited to die in a game before. This game really challenges you and makes you earn your reward. Alot of people I know don't like it or can't get into it, and to me it's due to the fact that they can't just run through and hack everything in site. This game is addicting and at times you will want to swear and throw the controller, take a deep breath and try try again.
  18. LonePie
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    This is a great game. Unlike most games where you can kill any enemy without batting an eye, this game has enemies that can kill you in a second. Not only does this make every enemy a significant encounter that makes your heart race, it makes each victory so much more sweet. The world, dark, miserable, and full of despair, is captured with success. From the cloudy vistas and darkThis is a great game. Unlike most games where you can kill any enemy without batting an eye, this game has enemies that can kill you in a second. Not only does this make every enemy a significant encounter that makes your heart race, it makes each victory so much more sweet. The world, dark, miserable, and full of despair, is captured with success. From the cloudy vistas and dark catacombs, even seeing light from the sun has a surreal and sad feeling; the light streaming from the sun on a world full of tragedy. It contrasts so well with the environment. Great game.… Expand
  19. KlaatuZu
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    If you like progression, open worlds, mystical environments, little talk and a lot of hardcore action, there is NO OTHER game comparable to this one. I play games since the 80´s and have been a hardcore FPS gamer most of the time, but this game takes the cake. Bethesda have great RPG´s when it comes to soft play, nice worlds etc...., mass effect? soooooo overratedIf you like progression, open worlds, mystical environments, little talk and a lot of hardcore action, there is NO OTHER game comparable to this one. I play games since the 80´s and have been a hardcore FPS gamer most of the time, but this game takes the cake. Bethesda have great RPG´s when it comes to soft play, nice worlds etc...., mass effect? soooooo overrated it´s sad ( I love KOTOR and Dragon Age, don´t get me wrong). In Dark Souls you end up memorizing the WHOLE game, because you have to be a PRO to go through. Very original multiplayer and a overall unforgetable experience. Few games stay with you like this one. I could not recomend it more. EASY 10/10… Expand
  20. incognito_1
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    i heard a lot good things about this game so i played demon souls couple months before dark souls came out. i loved it! i admit that it demon souls boss fights may have been a bit more creative but dark souls still impresses me greatly. i especially love (and hate) the feeling of fear and frustration of dieing just when the boss was one hit from death. this feeling will haunt you throughi heard a lot good things about this game so i played demon souls couple months before dark souls came out. i loved it! i admit that it demon souls boss fights may have been a bit more creative but dark souls still impresses me greatly. i especially love (and hate) the feeling of fear and frustration of dieing just when the boss was one hit from death. this feeling will haunt you through out the game, this tension and stress comes from the possibility of losing everything that you had earned from the last few hours and losing it all due to a bad roll, block, attack, spell cast etc. this is why i enjoyed the game so much, true it may not be for most people. the sense of loss and frustration may not your 'thing", but due to these feelings dark souls is one game that stands out in my library. also there is some issues with the game involving the frame rate, certain areas are worse than others but it is mostly due to the fact that ps3 and xbox hardware is getting old. plus it doesn't hinder the game to the point unplayability, it is more of an annoyance. if u ignore these flaws you will have a immensely enjoyable experience.… Expand
  21. bowflexman
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is an incredible game that forces you to withstand intense challenges, but rewards you in return with a sense of accomplishment you will not find in any other game. Yes, that includes Skyrim. Dark Souls is an open world action RPG. Where this game differs from others is the fact that you will die...a lot. This game is incredibly difficult, but with patience you will overcomeDark Souls is an incredible game that forces you to withstand intense challenges, but rewards you in return with a sense of accomplishment you will not find in any other game. Yes, that includes Skyrim. Dark Souls is an open world action RPG. Where this game differs from others is the fact that you will die...a lot. This game is incredibly difficult, but with patience you will overcome this difficulty through the use of its absolutely perfect controls. This game's controls are so fine-tuned and so perfect that every death can only be blamed on the player, not the game. Anyways, to cut this short, this game is amazing. I have invested 92 hours into the first playthrough and cant wait to seek further challenges in new game+!… Expand
  22. vorophobe
    Nov 12, 2011
    10
    I love the difficulty. This game and it's predecessor doesn't hold your hand and walk you from area to area, it rewards skill, planning and determination =)
  23. 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.
  24. wulfenstein
    Nov 11, 2011
    10
    What a lot of crap really the graphics for next gen could have been alot better, controls that drive you insane..meeting other characters in the game talk but make no sense and they don't even move it's like a mime show..All the hype really I feel robbed I even thought keep going it's going to get better o gee died, died and died again..no real effort in character design hell let makeWhat a lot of crap really the graphics for next gen could have been alot better, controls that drive you insane..meeting other characters in the game talk but make no sense and they don't even move it's like a mime show..All the hype really I feel robbed I even thought keep going it's going to get better o gee died, died and died again..no real effort in character design hell let make character and you be wearing a sacks for armour really come on..I hope Skyrim is alot better than this all this game is good for is a cup mat to remind how you wasted your money on a over hyped game...… Expand
  25. scott13
    Nov 10, 2011
    6
    Dark souls is a good game if you like games to be really hard (like me) but it is repetative and ign thought it was going to destroy skyrim. not even close to as good as skyrim.
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. Jools86
    Nov 10, 2011
    10
    This game is so satisfying. Killing a boss after dying 10 times in a row is the best feeling, it doesnt matter if you summon an npc or another player to help you - this game is so hard, but never punishing. graphics and the levelling up system are fantastic. 10 out of 10 as this is just as enjoyable as demons souls, i hope they do a port of xbox owners.
  29. ApocalypticEvil
    Nov 10, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is an adventure that is both fulfilling and exciting. The game itself can be brutally hard. But this is good, it's a challenge that IS possible. You're free to make your decisions on where to go almost as soon as you enter Lordran. The world is huge, and offers plenty of hours of gameplay. The multiplayer is an interesting aspect of the game. No voice chat allowed as theyDark Souls is an adventure that is both fulfilling and exciting. The game itself can be brutally hard. But this is good, it's a challenge that IS possible. You're free to make your decisions on where to go almost as soon as you enter Lordran. The world is huge, and offers plenty of hours of gameplay. The multiplayer is an interesting aspect of the game. No voice chat allowed as they prefer for "Silent assistance" which I find perfectly fine. Invading is always enjoyable (who wouldn't want to make someone throw their controller in frustration?). This is an epic and expansive RPG that has placed my faith back into immersing myself for countless hours in a single game. From Software did an amazing job, and I only hope they release another.… Expand
  30. EternalGamer2
    Nov 10, 2011
    10
    I don't generally like difficult games and I even disliked Demon Souls when I tried it, but I love Dark Souls. The reason why is that the difficultly in this game is not based on fast reflexes or pain staking memorization. It is, instead, based on being careful and playing with an awareness of your surroundings. You can't button mash in Dark Souls. Not even on the easiest enemies.I don't generally like difficult games and I even disliked Demon Souls when I tried it, but I love Dark Souls. The reason why is that the difficultly in this game is not based on fast reflexes or pain staking memorization. It is, instead, based on being careful and playing with an awareness of your surroundings. You can't button mash in Dark Souls. Not even on the easiest enemies. They aren't hard, you just have to block and wait for openings. You need to lure them out and use the environment to your advantage. Encountering a new enemy is always exhilirating and intimidating. If you like exploration based games like Zelda or Metriod you are in for a particular treat as the world of Dark Souls is amazing. It is filled with secret passages and shortcuts where the world loops back on itself and links back up with previous areas from new angles. Dark Souls is big but it very dense. There are no large areas where you have to wander along boring open fields for hours on end like Oblivion or Fall Out. Each and every inch of the world is lovingly crafted, not randomly generated.

    This is easily my favorite game on the 360. It is the only game I would give a 10. Not because it is perfect (the frame rate problems and the difficulty curve can occasionally seem a bit unfair), but because it is one of the very very few games I will still be thinking about a decade from now.    … Expand
  31. 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
  32. deadwooddanimal
    Nov 10, 2011
    10
    This is my all-time favorite game. It is seriously amazing in every aspect, and no review could do it justice. I recommend that if you are even slightly interested, rent or buy the game and you will see why it is such a masterpiece!
  33. LORDwargasm
    Nov 9, 2011
    10
    Beautifully done rpg with its own distinct flavour. Challenging but not as ridiculous as most make out but enough to feel like a divine being after every boss kill made after its 23rd attempt. Best played online tho, hints left by other players with orange soapstones have saved me having to die and restart on countless occassions and the summons left by players white soapstones have beenBeautifully done rpg with its own distinct flavour. Challenging but not as ridiculous as most make out but enough to feel like a divine being after every boss kill made after its 23rd attempt. Best played online tho, hints left by other players with orange soapstones have saved me having to die and restart on countless occassions and the summons left by players white soapstones have been seemingly necessary for some boss fights. Speaking of bosses every enemy is eye candy to look at, not so much graphically but impecably designed. The soundtracks nothing special neither is the story but they are not what this games about but they are fine enough. A brilliant game for those who like a challenging rpg, but prepare to suffer in your psyche greatly. Sound: 7. Gameplay: 10. Graphics: 8. Longevity: 10. Flavour: distinctly tangy… Expand
  34. 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
  35. DeadLegend
    Nov 8, 2011
    10
    Let me start off with, this game is ment for a different type of gamer. A gamer that loves abuse, loves to be defeated only to rise from the ashes and cheer at the littlest of victories and laugh in the face of the game. Dark Souls will fill you many emotions, mostly anger but alot of happiness when you delivering the killing blow to a boss or an invader. This game takes a simple formulaLet me start off with, this game is ment for a different type of gamer. A gamer that loves abuse, loves to be defeated only to rise from the ashes and cheer at the littlest of victories and laugh in the face of the game. Dark Souls will fill you many emotions, mostly anger but alot of happiness when you delivering the killing blow to a boss or an invader. This game takes a simple formula and executes it perfectly. With that said if you are looking for a game that doesnt hold your hand, doesnt care if you live or die, punishes you for any little mistake such as a bad roll, or missed block, then this game is for you. Just make sure you have an extra controller.… Expand
  36. dmanhuh
    Nov 8, 2011
    10
    This game in fact was one of the best rpg action games in my life. This game is not only difficult ,but it brings gaming towards a new dimension of classic fighting. Though you will rage quit and die in this game, you will be sucked back into playing this. Also, I bet that people who say this game sucks is most likely because they cannot beat this game without moding or soul glitching thisThis game in fact was one of the best rpg action games in my life. This game is not only difficult ,but it brings gaming towards a new dimension of classic fighting. Though you will rage quit and die in this game, you will be sucked back into playing this. Also, I bet that people who say this game sucks is most likely because they cannot beat this game without moding or soul glitching this game I do not recommend this game for rage quitters, sore losers, and little kids. Its not for you.… Expand
  37. 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
  38. AverageToaster
    Nov 8, 2011
    7
    Great game but insanely hard, not for everyone I have to stop playing this game about ever hour after how man it makes me. Sofar I have put in a good 60 hours and just beat the first level.
  39. 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
  40. 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.
  41. 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
  42. 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
  43. amnix
    Nov 4, 2011
    10
    Difficult to master, extremely punishing, rage educing & infuriating at times.

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

    But when it all comes together, when you finally understand the concepts and the basics, its extremely rewarding.
  44. 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
  45. 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
  46. 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
  47. 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
  48. Steel
    Oct 27, 2011
    10
    Buy This game after uve seen more than 20 min of in-game footage and u should be fine! Great game! , not really that difficult (except the CURSE , which is really infuriating!)
    Perfect 10! FOR PURE UNADULTRATED GAMING.
  49. Senta
    Oct 26, 2011
    10
    Dying has never been more FUN. This game is like no other. Atmosphere, the feel of this fantasy world is outstanding, the fact that you can never truly relax will have you on the edge of your seat. Seems to me that the biggest gripe people have with this title is its difficulty. Well, I loved it although it came as a surprise at first. You need to study, take few calculated deaths even,Dying has never been more FUN. This game is like no other. Atmosphere, the feel of this fantasy world is outstanding, the fact that you can never truly relax will have you on the edge of your seat. Seems to me that the biggest gripe people have with this title is its difficulty. Well, I loved it although it came as a surprise at first. You need to study, take few calculated deaths even, and then act upon what you've learned! You can't just run around without paying attention as it's ever too easy to fall off the cliff or get jumped by few of the low mop-up mobs who will wipe the floor with YOU if you aren't careful. There's no way to gauge mobs level, so any new enemy you encounter may be your last... in that particular life cycle at least! Dark Souls is extremely hard at places but most of times, with adjusted tactics (ie approach to any given problem, different spell, change of weapon to another one with a certain element) it rewards you by being fair. I have only killed one boss the first time i fought it, it's more of a DIE AND LEARN approach but it works great. I was literally standing up at few points trying to get to this bonfire few ledges over... If you pick this up, prepare mentally, because tonight you will not only dine in Hell, it's more like 24/7 Hell buffet over there!… Expand
  50. Czeslaw
    Oct 23, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is not for the impatient. Note that I do not say that it is not for the unskilled, as I believe anyone could master Dark Souls given time. It's like any other game, and its difficulty should not be seen as a deterrent but something to be embraced. If not, then it'd be like playing D&D, but without the threat of death around every corner. It would be like skydiving from ten feetDark Souls is not for the impatient. Note that I do not say that it is not for the unskilled, as I believe anyone could master Dark Souls given time. It's like any other game, and its difficulty should not be seen as a deterrent but something to be embraced. If not, then it'd be like playing D&D, but without the threat of death around every corner. It would be like skydiving from ten feet above the ground. No risk, no adrenaline.
    I bought this game completely out of the blue, having never played its predecessor or looking at the reviews. As far as negative opinions go, I guess mine was about as close as you'd get - I felt all the rage of the people rating 0s, I felt crushed and helpless and like I'd never beat the game. I spent ten hours trying to beat the Taurus Demon. But I had patience. I beat that boss and all the rest along the way, and I finished the game. And the result was a complete turnaround of my initial feelings of dread. For all you reviewing negatively, I ask you to first finish the game. If you can tell me that you didn't like it after that, I'll believe you. Otherwise, be patient, and keep working.    … Expand
  51. Drakus
    Oct 23, 2011
    10
    I never expected I would buy Dark Souls. I had heard of Demon Souls, and its legendary difficulty, but I never paid any attention. A few days after Dark Souls released, I saw a walkthrough video, and immediately fell in love with the game. I bought it the next day, and started an adventure I still am not done with. Dark Souls has solidified its place in my top ten, and for good reason.I never expected I would buy Dark Souls. I had heard of Demon Souls, and its legendary difficulty, but I never paid any attention. A few days after Dark Souls released, I saw a walkthrough video, and immediately fell in love with the game. I bought it the next day, and started an adventure I still am not done with. Dark Souls has solidified its place in my top ten, and for good reason. The gameplay is solid, the atmosphere is intense, and the game just make me feel like I could take on any challenge. The difficulty is something I was greatly desiring from a game for a while. Too many game hold your hand through the entire campaign, while Dark Souls just tells you the controls, and lets you and the community find out the rest. The combat system is simple, just the way I like it. You figure out what your enemy is weak against, and exploit it to win. But it wasn't the combat or the difficulty that kept me playing, it was the world the game created. I have found memories dungeon crawling in Diablo, and Dark Souls felt like a blast from the past. The idea of fighting through hordes of diverse enemies, finding loot, exploring secret passages and shortcuts, all in a dark fantasy setting is a winning combination no matter what game it is. I sometimes wish the game could delve in deeper to it's lore, but at the same time I like making things up as I go along. The open feel of the game is also quite welcoming, as I can go down whatever path I feel like. The design of the weapons and armor is spectacular. My only real complaints with the game is the fact that I can not be in an Xbox Live party and play the game online at the same time. It isn't a huge problem, but it can get annoying when a friend wants to talk to me and my game has to return to the main menu. There are also occasional framerate issues. This game though makes up for those things several times over however. This game came out of the blue for me, and I couldn't be happier taking a chance on it.… Expand
  52. Kuroko
    Oct 23, 2011
    10
    This game rapes you in the ass, and makes you love it.

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

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

    The lack of nexus to call "home" and keep the game structured makes the game far more psychologically oppressive, that is good considering the nature of the game, but also prevents me from playing too much, cause at some point my anguish meter goes too high.    … Expand
  53. 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
  54. FrozenStar90
    Oct 21, 2011
    10
    I have actually already reviewed Dark Souls. I originally awarded the game a '9', but felt the need to upgrade it to a '10' considering the circumstances. I'm about 55 hours in and I still haven't completed the game. The wealth of content is extraordinary, and the world From Software has built is absolutely staggering. This far in, I'm still fighting new and creative enemies, discoveringI have actually already reviewed Dark Souls. I originally awarded the game a '9', but felt the need to upgrade it to a '10' considering the circumstances. I'm about 55 hours in and I still haven't completed the game. The wealth of content is extraordinary, and the world From Software has built is absolutely staggering. This far in, I'm still fighting new and creative enemies, discovering secrets I had missed, and involving myself in the rewarding and immensely satisfying combat. In a year surging with triple A titles, Dark Souls pushes forward, and can proudly stand alongside the best games of the year.… Expand
  55. CptKiffMan
    Oct 21, 2011
    10
    Greatest game i purchased over years ... reminds me of Gothic 2 ^^ .. when u go somewhere ur 2 weak u get bashed to hell (or if u just dont know what to do with the enemy^^) so it has a lot of exploring and learning by doing, but i love this kind of Gameplay.
    I see myself running very often 2 the church buying those damn rings preventing death penalties :D
    The ability to make new weapons    Greatest game i purchased over years ... reminds me of Gothic 2 ^^ .. when u go somewhere ur 2 weak u get bashed to hell (or if u just dont know what to do with the enemy^^) so it has a lot of exploring and learning by doing, but i love this kind of Gameplay.
    I see myself running very often 2 the church buying those damn rings preventing death penalties :D
    The ability to make new weapons out of upgraded weapons is amazing too Can recommend it to every Gothic Fan    … Expand
  56. Broen
    Oct 21, 2011
    10
    I have been a Metacritic fan for a bit, but made an account just to write about this fantastic game. Many will say it is just "not for them" or attack people for "fanboyism". What matters is this is the RPG masterpiece that is a worthy successor to Demon's Souls. The game starts very difficult, but rewards exploration and skill like no other RPG before it. Out of my friends that I gameI have been a Metacritic fan for a bit, but made an account just to write about this fantastic game. Many will say it is just "not for them" or attack people for "fanboyism". What matters is this is the RPG masterpiece that is a worthy successor to Demon's Souls. The game starts very difficult, but rewards exploration and skill like no other RPG before it. Out of my friends that I game with, several love it, several hate it. If you think you might not like any game rent it first. If you like it, but are not doing well, get the guide. But for gamings' sake PLAY THIS GAME. I need Dark Souls 2. Bad.… Expand
  57. 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.
  58. grendelpoots
    Oct 19, 2011
    10
    Amazing. Reminds me of Simon's Quest. Best game I've played in ages.
    Hard, but not cheap. The sense of discovery makes the dying worthwhile.
    If you have the time to sink into it, do it. You won't regret it.
  59. 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
  60. Frewp
    Oct 18, 2011
    5
    Dark Souls isn't a bad game, but it isn't great. I am a hardcore gamer, in fact I have been playing my whole life and I love challenging games, but this game has the sharpest difficulty curve anyone will understand. The first boss is probably one of the most easiest bosses in gaming history, but the second (which is probably 5-10 minutes right after the first) seems as if you played theDark Souls isn't a bad game, but it isn't great. I am a hardcore gamer, in fact I have been playing my whole life and I love challenging games, but this game has the sharpest difficulty curve anyone will understand. The first boss is probably one of the most easiest bosses in gaming history, but the second (which is probably 5-10 minutes right after the first) seems as if you played the final boss of Zelda: Ocarina of Time "Ganon" with your controller upside down, blinded. Then after THAT boss, theres even a harder one requiring lots of grinding just to defeat him. Then the next, then the next, then the next. Very repetitive grinding, any console RPG game shouldn't have grinding, at all. We're not playing World of Warcraft.

    It's not a bad game, but before going deeply into difficulty, you have to give players a more grip of the game before giving them a near-impossible boss for a beginner. Yes, I did beat it, I love challenges.    … Expand
  61. andyz
    Oct 17, 2011
    10
    The key thing to not for Dark Souls is that it is NOT for everyone. You will die a lot. That aside, the combat is great. The open ended world is fantastic and gives you a great feeling of freedom. The controls are solid. And the sense of accomplishment when you beat an area or a boss that you thought was impossible is hard to describe. I highly highly recommend this underrated game toThe key thing to not for Dark Souls is that it is NOT for everyone. You will die a lot. That aside, the combat is great. The open ended world is fantastic and gives you a great feeling of freedom. The controls are solid. And the sense of accomplishment when you beat an area or a boss that you thought was impossible is hard to describe. I highly highly recommend this underrated game to diehard RPG fans.

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

    It looks to me like most of the harshly negative reviews are from those who are simply not accustomed to or are really fans of this type of game. So, I'll give it a 10.    … Expand
  62. KletassVanDam
    Oct 16, 2011
    1
    I had fun setting up my character, and starting thru the tutorial... that's about it. After I escape the first dungeon, I meet a knight and decide to fight him and take his soul (I'm a thief in the game after all...). He kills me in 3 hits... Fine, try again. Respawn/reload the game, he kills me again! The fighting is so lame... He hits me, and my character has to go thru this delayedI had fun setting up my character, and starting thru the tutorial... that's about it. After I escape the first dungeon, I meet a knight and decide to fight him and take his soul (I'm a thief in the game after all...). He kills me in 3 hits... Fine, try again. Respawn/reload the game, he kills me again! The fighting is so lame... He hits me, and my character has to go thru this delayed reaction/animation, realizing he's getting hit, and by the time I regain control, I'm hit again, then dead... again. Fine, can't fight him, I'll reload the game and run away. Nope, he just follows me no matter where I go, and how far I run. My hits are so weak, they barely register, and of course, he has no slow down from my hits, just continues thru his attack motion as if I'm not hitting him multiple times. 9 Deaths later, and screaming at he TV, i quit. Not fun. Why not at least "reset the scene" if the player is killed? If it was a mistake to fight the first character I meet, why not let me learn that, and leave him be upon reloading? Do i have to restart the whole game, and go thru the tutorial dungeon all over again? How many similar situations would ruin my evenings if I decided to keep this torture session disguised as a video game? I would have loved to play with a friend to help me, why restrict me from doing so? Multiplayer is random and can't be coordinated. Not fun. I gave it a rest and tried again the next day, still not fun. At all. Trading it in for Batman Arkham City.… Expand
  63. uh-huh
    Oct 16, 2011
    10
    Got this game 3 days ago and can't stop playing it. Yes, it's hard. Yes, you will die. A lot. However, this is probably one of the best rpgs of all time. Ignore the cry babies and the kiddies. They're just mad because they can't handle it.
  64. 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
  65. aqurban
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    The presentation is fitting to both new comers and Demon Souls experienced fans, yet also merciless to both. If you think you can just go slashing your way through dead and ugly, think again. Dark Souls will leave you anguished and agonized to the limit, youâ
  66. zenmechanic
    Oct 15, 2011
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I wanted very much to like this game. It just didn't give me an opportunity to. After your initial tutorial, you have a boss fight that would be the equivalent of the last boss encounter in most games. The trash mobs that follow?.... killed me about 20 times in a row. That just isn't fun. Dark souls is for the hardcore only, and they will likely enjoy the hell out of it, but if, like me, you play most games on the 'normal' setting? you wont last ten minutes playing this game before you give up in frustration. Save your money for Skyrim.… Expand
  67. yeomsta
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    On October 7th I was supposed to buy Rage, it was part of my gaming calender prior to Skyrim and Arkham Asylum. Dark Souls has made me scrap that plan. I'll probably be playing it for months, Rage is out the window, Arkham Asylum is on hold until spring next year probably and Skyrim will be my second fiddle game. I took a chance on Dark Souls, I knew nothing of its predecessor or itsOn October 7th I was supposed to buy Rage, it was part of my gaming calender prior to Skyrim and Arkham Asylum. Dark Souls has made me scrap that plan. I'll probably be playing it for months, Rage is out the window, Arkham Asylum is on hold until spring next year probably and Skyrim will be my second fiddle game. I took a chance on Dark Souls, I knew nothing of its predecessor or its developer but I took a chance because it looked different to the polished, same-y big budget rpgs I usually play and after 25 hours of playtime I can confirm that is definitely the case. This game takes challenge and reward to a whole new level, it refuses to hold my hand at any point and forces me to think and learn while playing it, I haven't enjoyed a game this much since i first started playing WoW, (incidentally WoW was the game that I thought would kill all console games for me forever until Dark Souls was released). The depth of character/gear building, combined with the challenge of the game and the fantastic insanely gothic atmosphere that surrounds every step my character takes has made this a truly special game for me, one that I will never forget and will always list it as one of my favourite games of all time.… Expand
  68. 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
  69. stevev45
    Oct 14, 2011
    10
    This is by far the best RPG I have ever played for the 360. The game is balanced extremely well, with lots of care given to making the game realistic. Get hit with a giant axe while not blocking equals you're death. One pit fall of many game sis that the currency system usually hits a point where money doesn't matter anymore, because there isn't anything the player really wants to buy.This is by far the best RPG I have ever played for the 360. The game is balanced extremely well, with lots of care given to making the game realistic. Get hit with a giant axe while not blocking equals you're death. One pit fall of many game sis that the currency system usually hits a point where money doesn't matter anymore, because there isn't anything the player really wants to buy. Dark Souls completely fixes this problem with two clever moves. First, it's difficult to mass wealth (souls), because you can lose them all when you die. Second, level ups and item upgrades are purchased with souls, which insures that they are always desirable. This game rewards patients, carful thought, and above all skill.… Expand
  70. rykeith
    Oct 13, 2011
    6
    Borderline terrible controls and hit detection at times. Framerate suffers immensely when the screen is full of characters. Multiplayer is probably the worst I have ever experienced, tried for over an hour multilpe times to join other people or have them join me met with failure save for one time. Difficulty is as stated, but the game flirts with completely unfair/borderline impossibleBorderline terrible controls and hit detection at times. Framerate suffers immensely when the screen is full of characters. Multiplayer is probably the worst I have ever experienced, tried for over an hour multilpe times to join other people or have them join me met with failure save for one time. Difficulty is as stated, but the game flirts with completely unfair/borderline impossible with some of the enemies in the game. Overall, it's an ok game, nothing to write home about.… Expand
  71. shadowrun
    Oct 13, 2011
    10
    if your like me. you have been at a loose end since the days of playing morrowind on the hardest difficulty setting. or even going as far as completing the original gauntlet on the sinclair zx. for games that hate you. they dont want you to succeed. they want you to eat the bitter troll leg of defeat over and over again. but when you dig in and not let the game beat you. and with a littleif your like me. you have been at a loose end since the days of playing morrowind on the hardest difficulty setting. or even going as far as completing the original gauntlet on the sinclair zx. for games that hate you. they dont want you to succeed. they want you to eat the bitter troll leg of defeat over and over again. but when you dig in and not let the game beat you. and with a little skill and a ton of luck. dark souls lets you live in the glow for just a few seconds. then slams the door shut and puts another big nasty b-stard of a boss in your path. the sequel to 2009 gamespot rpg of the year comes this work of dark art. that grabs you by the face and drags you from pillar to post. it may not have the sweeping storyline of a final fantasy or mass effect but its all about the brutal combat. the scary monsters that have no mercy for you. and a dark unforgiving atmosphere i havent seen in a game since the original silent hill. dark souls is a must for anyone who is not afraid to withstand a brutal ass kicking and a little old school xp grinding to enjoy this modern classic. not for rage-quitters!… Expand
  72. Bman2095
    Oct 12, 2011
    10
    I never played demon's souls (I play 360) but I've heard that it's REALLY hard, and apparently Dark souls is harder. Within 5 minutes of game play I was sold, the graphics are amazing, the open world is great, and the weapon selection is nearly limitless. Not to mention the cool enemies and almost impossible bosses. all in all the game was worth $60 and I've probably not even explored theI never played demon's souls (I play 360) but I've heard that it's REALLY hard, and apparently Dark souls is harder. Within 5 minutes of game play I was sold, the graphics are amazing, the open world is great, and the weapon selection is nearly limitless. Not to mention the cool enemies and almost impossible bosses. all in all the game was worth $60 and I've probably not even explored the entire world Dark souls has to offer yet. The game does live up to its tagline though "prepare to die"… Expand
  73. DiabeticDogma
    Oct 11, 2011
    10
    The two negative reviewers are idiots. That is all. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
  74. oslin007
    Oct 11, 2011
    10
    What a game! This is more than I could have hoped for and usually hate loosing in games! One thing that's so good about this game is the difficulty, but not only that its that insanely hard - which it actually isnt (think games like COD on hardest difficulty and other JRPGs are way more difficult) but the way you are really supposed to die. Today i grinded a whole day to get to the nextWhat a game! This is more than I could have hoped for and usually hate loosing in games! One thing that's so good about this game is the difficulty, but not only that its that insanely hard - which it actually isnt (think games like COD on hardest difficulty and other JRPGs are way more difficult) but the way you are really supposed to die. Today i grinded a whole day to get to the next bon fire which I didn't manage. DO I get mad? NO! because you learn so much from just fighting and fighting and fightning and each time you die you will have gotten a little better at the game and a little further into the amazingly crafted world. Do yourself a favour and BUY THIS GAME!… Expand
  75. 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
  76. 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
  77. harbglarb
    Oct 10, 2011
    2
    People rave about this game and Demons Souls, i really thought "wow, they must be great games." but they aren't! The movements of characters feel and look unnatural, the story is virtually nonexistent, the controls are so clunky i almost think the Difficulty people rave about (which by the way is one of the most retarded selling points I've ever heard) was put there specifically to make itPeople rave about this game and Demons Souls, i really thought "wow, they must be great games." but they aren't! The movements of characters feel and look unnatural, the story is virtually nonexistent, the controls are so clunky i almost think the Difficulty people rave about (which by the way is one of the most retarded selling points I've ever heard) was put there specifically to make it look like the crappy controls were part of the difficulty, There's a giant Raven early on and if you just sit and watch it, you see it goes through only 3 animations. That wouldn't be so bad if they were actually natural looking instead of look down look up look right, and it just repeats. There's a dragon and i literally saw no animation in it from far away and i could see almost every part of it. I understand wanting a difficult game, i play every game i can on the hardest difficulty available, but does difficulty make a game worth buying? no, neither do clunky controls, lack of story and unnatural animations. Hell i prefer Too Human over this, i was originally going to give this a 5 but putting my thoughts down actually made me realize how bad this game really is. I'm giving it a 2 literally only because the graphics are very nice. P.S. i don't even find the game hard i only stopped playing because the game was crap in my eyes.… Expand
  78. Icecreamgenius
    Oct 10, 2011
    10
    This game has almost required me to learn to breathe properly again. I could almost swear I spent two hours last night plodding around the Undead Parish in quiet resignation that the next undead Knight or swordsman I came across would end with me modelling a new line in sword based neckware. And yet after a short foot chase towards a distant clanging which somewhere in the dark recesses ofThis game has almost required me to learn to breathe properly again. I could almost swear I spent two hours last night plodding around the Undead Parish in quiet resignation that the next undead Knight or swordsman I came across would end with me modelling a new line in sword based neckware. And yet after a short foot chase towards a distant clanging which somewhere in the dark recesses of my brain I reckoned was a blacksmith's forge, I found the ultimate prize. The Bonfire. And that's when I realised I had barely drawn breath for the last 40 minutes. It's also when my hope returned, and, after sharpening my Scimitar, when I decided I could TAKE that gigantic black knight that had chased me relentlessly across the area. This game has you by the balls and it loves to look into your eyes and squeeze. But it is possible to learn to like this. Just be prepared to be razor sharp, error free, and supremely vigilant. Others will help, but in the end, it's down to you and you alone. My next real challenge seems almost insurmountable, and to even GET to it will require near perfect technique and a little bit of luck. But I can hear a bell tolling in the distance that tells me others have achieved what I am setting out to do. I just might need a stiff drink first...… Expand
  79. ShadeKirby
    Oct 10, 2011
    7
    The game, while not as technically impressive as other games on the market, is still a visually appealing game with interesting dark fantasy designs, plus a precise and deep combat system. However, its punishing difficulty will almost certainly be a discouraging element for some players, and definitely not for the wrong mindset, the ill-tempered, the impatient or the easily misplaced.The game, while not as technically impressive as other games on the market, is still a visually appealing game with interesting dark fantasy designs, plus a precise and deep combat system. However, its punishing difficulty will almost certainly be a discouraging element for some players, and definitely not for the wrong mindset, the ill-tempered, the impatient or the easily misplaced. Everyone else will have fun dieing.… Expand
  80. Parag0N
    Oct 10, 2011
    10
    I picked this up yesterday not knowing what to expect. I read all the reviews, I heard all the hype. I decided to give this game a shot. Never played Demon's souls, but I know it recieved similar praise and I wanted to know what was so great about these games that sounded so frustrating. Twenty hours of game time later and I am here to tell you that this is one of the most original gamesI picked this up yesterday not knowing what to expect. I read all the reviews, I heard all the hype. I decided to give this game a shot. Never played Demon's souls, but I know it recieved similar praise and I wanted to know what was so great about these games that sounded so frustrating. Twenty hours of game time later and I am here to tell you that this is one of the most original games I've ever played. Not since the very first Zelda on the NES have I played something so unique and uncompromising in its design. Full of secrets and easter eggs, tons and tons of cool weapons and armor, and beautiful art design. It's totally true the game is unflinchingly hard. Every section of the game is built around the concept of learning from death. I spent the first twenty minutes or so in the game dying over and over again only to realize I needed to equip a different weapon to deal with different enemies. Once I did so I walked right through them. It all started to click. There is almost always a solution to the situation your stuck in, you just have to use your brain and figure it out, and when you do you feel like a total badass. The controls take a bit of getting used to as you cant just mash the buttons fable style and expect to get anywhere. You really have to carefully plan each strike but again when you learn the enemies attack patterns and weaknesses you smash right through them. I can't reccomend checking this game out enough to those sitting on the fence. If your tired of the same old crap over and over again this was made for you so don't cry about games being repetitive and full of sequels if you don't pick this up. If you consider yourself a hardcore gamer you owe it to yourself and the industry to have this in your collection-no excuses! In over 20 years of playing games this is one of the finest experiences I've ever had with a game not only because the game is great but because it "gets" the psychology behind what makes gamers tick and uses that to keep you playing even when it feels like the odds are 100 percent against you and then rewards you when you do finally overcome them amplifiying your emotion to the point where you feel like you just won the world series when overcoming a difficulty you never thought you were good enough to handle. Nothing else in gameing compares to this experience-period!… Expand
  81. lolholm
    Oct 9, 2011
    7
    I like this game in spite of the obvious and frustrating flaws that has me rage quitting every so often.

    The graphics are ugly and look ancient, the controls are clunky, the menu is in annoying, the targeting is awful and the camera is downright terrible. All these flaws angers me, but I live with them because Bandai Games understand that having to repeat a section does not kill the joy    I like this game in spite of the obvious and frustrating flaws that has me rage quitting every so often.

    The graphics are ugly and look ancient, the controls are clunky, the menu is in annoying, the targeting is awful and the camera is downright terrible. All these flaws angers me, but I live with them because Bandai Games understand that having to repeat a section does not kill the joy of a game. Repetition also means you don't have to create slow and soft sections of the game purely for players to learn the game. It's do or die as soon as you start up this game. I also love that there is one difficulty, which is Nightmarish and it uses checkpoints instead of free saves.

    I will never give a game with this many serious flaws 10 and I'm settling on 7. I think Bandai Games can make a third installment, that is 3 points better than this one.    … Expand
  82. 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
  83. godofallu
    Oct 7, 2011
    7
    Dark souls has a decent enough opening trailer, and the starting tutorial/prison is pretty fun. After that the game gets serious. A lot of people complain about the difficulty, but it isn't just that the game is hard. The game is cruel.

    Let me explain further, after the tutorial ends you are dumped at a campfire with 4 paths to take. 2 of those paths are the wrong answers, and if you go    Dark souls has a decent enough opening trailer, and the starting tutorial/prison is pretty fun. After that the game gets serious. A lot of people complain about the difficulty, but it isn't just that the game is hard. The game is cruel.

    Let me explain further, after the tutorial ends you are dumped at a campfire with 4 paths to take. 2 of those paths are the wrong answers, and if you go down them the game is impossible to beat. Not just hard but literally impossible due to you being the wrong level. Of course there is no way to actually know that at first, since enemy levels are not shown. Once you find the right path the game gets decent again, until a new boss to get stuck on or a red dragon who seems to be impossible to get past.

    If you are looking for a hard game this is it, but be careful since the game isn't just hard but unfair.    … Expand
  84. David_wayne
    Oct 6, 2011
    10
    This game is Amazing.I loved Demon souls on the PS3,But I love the fact that dark souls is available on the XBOX 360.Now to all those who do not play rpg's or are not good at rpg's DO NOT GET THIS GAME!!!!it is very hard and I mean this in a huge way.this game was made for people with alot of patience and who know how to play rpg's I'm not saying I'm the best either but I play alot ofThis game is Amazing.I loved Demon souls on the PS3,But I love the fact that dark souls is available on the XBOX 360.Now to all those who do not play rpg's or are not good at rpg's DO NOT GET THIS GAME!!!!it is very hard and I mean this in a huge way.this game was made for people with alot of patience and who know how to play rpg's I'm not saying I'm the best either but I play alot of rpg's and dark souls still gave me a run for my money.Dark souls is a must have.… Expand
  85. BigDave81
    Oct 6, 2011
    10
    There is only one way to describe dark souls and that is....AMAZING!!!.this game is a must have if your an jrpg fan or just an rpg fan period.Now I will say this, the game is Very and I mean VERY hard and is not for people who get angry fast since this game is made to punish you(and it will)I have died more times than I'd like to admit but I'm cool with that since when I do progress I feelThere is only one way to describe dark souls and that is....AMAZING!!!.this game is a must have if your an jrpg fan or just an rpg fan period.Now I will say this, the game is Very and I mean VERY hard and is not for people who get angry fast since this game is made to punish you(and it will)I have died more times than I'd like to admit but I'm cool with that since when I do progress I feel a sens of accomplishment and excitement beyond anything I've felt in any game in awhile(besides Ninja Gaiden)I loved Demon souls on PS3 so I knew I had to have Dark souls, and even better yet on the xbox 360.this game get's my highest score.Rpg fans go get some Dark souls.… Expand
  86. 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
  87. Joerh
    Oct 5, 2011
    10
    Just as the creator of Demon's Soul's said in reply to why he made another game "...to make it even harder" he left out how it's also even more intense, maddening, crazy, & brutally punishing (ALL in a great way)!!! While I always look for, & find good deals on games as I don't like to pay the $60 price tag -$40 is a little more reasonable to me- I happily paid full price for this one! :)Just as the creator of Demon's Soul's said in reply to why he made another game "...to make it even harder" he left out how it's also even more intense, maddening, crazy, & brutally punishing (ALL in a great way)!!! While I always look for, & find good deals on games as I don't like to pay the $60 price tag -$40 is a little more reasonable to me- I happily paid full price for this one! :) There is no better game to drive you up the wall one second, then turn around & reward you in such a manor save it's predecessor. With all the good/great games coming out in Q4 right now, I hope Dark Souls is voted Game of the Year just as Demon's Soul's was in 2009.… Expand
  88. metalhead980
    Oct 5, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dark Souls, A open world, Action Rpg with an extreme difficulty and great graphics.
    To say Dark souls is an immersive experience would be an under statement. Dark Souls is a work of art. A hand crafted masterpiece. A game that takes us back to the old days when games were extremely challenging. You will die a lot in Dark souls, this isn't a game for everyone but for those that stick with it the feeling of accomplishment is massive. If you like a challenge? a Rpg experience that spans 60+ hours buy this game.    … Expand
  89. 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
  90. advancedbeta
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Short and simple.This game is hard.This game is good.freeframeratedrops but otherwise awesome.
  91. Richie
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Dark Souls is simply amazing, an addicting challenge, one the most beautifully made hardcore RPG games ever. It's hard to put Dark Souls down, it sucks you in early on and keeps you grinding through hours and hours of death and rewarding conquest. This game will test your nerves and make your blood boil, you will die and you will die often. I guarantee your adrenaline will surge throughDark Souls is simply amazing, an addicting challenge, one the most beautifully made hardcore RPG games ever. It's hard to put Dark Souls down, it sucks you in early on and keeps you grinding through hours and hours of death and rewarding conquest. This game will test your nerves and make your blood boil, you will die and you will die often. I guarantee your adrenaline will surge through the roof and you might even find yourself checking your pulse. Dark Souls is a **** of a game and one hell of a good time.… Expand
  92. Wombatkilla1
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Spent well over 100 hours with Demon Souls and about 15 already with Dark souls.... This game is no joke, and as everyone well knows by now an unforgiving experience. With that said, I have never felt such an extreme level of accomplishment when successful with any other game to date. This game may not be for everyone at first, but if given the chance can really make an impact on any typeSpent well over 100 hours with Demon Souls and about 15 already with Dark souls.... This game is no joke, and as everyone well knows by now an unforgiving experience. With that said, I have never felt such an extreme level of accomplishment when successful with any other game to date. This game may not be for everyone at first, but if given the chance can really make an impact on any type of player. Perfect score for me... without a doubt.… Expand
  93. SkizDriz
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Yes, 10. This game singlehandedly has restored my faith in rpg's. You will get stuck, and feel the rage of your gaming forfathers. You shall either expose yourself as a superficial gamer and quit to go play fluffybunnies, or you shall overcome and experience true accomplishment. The choice is yours.
  94. JPoppaWUSC
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Back in 2009, I spent 120+ hours of my life on Demon's Souls, and since then, I have not found its equal. As dark, challenging, and repressive as the game was, Demon's Souls still managed to feel like a breath of fresh air in the staling game market, throwing back to classic mechanics that were left in the 80s and early 90s with 8-bit, 16-bit, and arcade games. I find it interesting thatBack in 2009, I spent 120+ hours of my life on Demon's Souls, and since then, I have not found its equal. As dark, challenging, and repressive as the game was, Demon's Souls still managed to feel like a breath of fresh air in the staling game market, throwing back to classic mechanics that were left in the 80s and early 90s with 8-bit, 16-bit, and arcade games. I find it interesting that Demon's Souls was far better received in North America than in its native Japan (790,000 copies in NA to Japan's 300,000, many of which were sold after the game's subsequest success overseas), as the game reflects more western RPG conventions and D&D-esque styling than the increasingly common anime-styled games that get labeled as "JRPGs." Dark Souls is a spiritual successor in the purest sense of the over-used phrase. Its controls are identical to Demon's Souls, yet they are even more precise than before. The artistic style, starting classes, soundtrack, and multiplayer options are all quite similar as well, but again, they have been tweaked to be a bit superior to that of Demon's Souls. The graphics are more detailed and crisp than ever. But the biggest change here is the open-world structure. Unlike Demon's Souls, which had the Nexus serve as a hub between several more fragmented worlds, Dark Souls has interconnected areas that form one gigantic, seemless world. It's also at least three times the size of all of Demon's Souls' areas combined, and the zones are still diverse and well-conceived. The linking of various zones works kind of like classic Metroid or Castlevania maps, where shortcuts to previous areas can be unlocked, making exploration valuable and rewarding to the overall mission. Instead of the Nexus hub zone, players can rest at bonfires, where they can also upgrade weapons and armor, among other things. Combat is also enjoyable and very deep, and enemy mobs are more varied than in Demon's Souls. In short, Dark Souls improves on every aspect of its predecessor, and with the new open-world structure, Dark Souls can easily stand up to the industry's western-developed heavy hitters (like Dragon Age and Elder Scrolls). In fact, I can honestly say that Dark Souls could steal some serious thunder from Skyrim by offering a more fresh yet hardcore approach to the genre. I also think that it's astounding that developer From Software could make lightning strike twice - it would have been far too easy for some developers to misinterpret Demon's Souls overwhelming success in North America and try too hard to tweak the subsequent formula to cater to American tastes. Instead, From Software stayed true to its original form, even deciding to increase the challenge for Dark Souls. And as one final point, let me also say this: Anyone who has not tried Demon's Souls or Dark Souls should not let the now-legendary difficulty of the series discourage them. The challenge that these games offers is not the same kind of hard-for-the-sake-of-hard frustration that some games fall victim to. Even if you are normally frustrated by difficult games, it's usually because of cheap mechanics and the feeling of having to fight the controls or poor design, and none of that is an issue with the Souls games. They just demand a little more observation, a bit of strategy and thought. From Software trusts that its gamers are intelligent, diligent, and skilled enough to handle that challenge, and that's what makes every victory in Dark Souls feel like a real achievement. The game may not be for everyone, but I would at least encourage every PS3 or XBox360 owner to try it.… Expand
  95. 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
  96. cooliemannyu
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    I bought a ps3 for demon's souls.Now that this game is multiplatorm i can purchase it on my main console.(360) If you hate difficult games, stay the hell away.If you're up to the challenge this game can provide you with enough joy and playtime for the rest of the year.
  97. QuiterRaga
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    I got Dark Souls early after a mom and pop store broke the street date.I only own a 360 so i never knew about the soul series.After the fair bit of hype generating around the title i decided to look up the previews of said game and it's progeny before a purchase.One forum user said if you like ninja gaiden black this game is the kind of game you'll be interested in..boy were theyI got Dark Souls early after a mom and pop store broke the street date.I only own a 360 so i never knew about the soul series.After the fair bit of hype generating around the title i decided to look up the previews of said game and it's progeny before a purchase.One forum user said if you like ninja gaiden black this game is the kind of game you'll be interested in..boy were they right.This game DOES NOT hold your hand whatsoever, and if you're the type of person to get annoyed by deaths skip this title enticingly as you'll be doing alot of it( as well as learning from it.)

    Even at the beginning of the game From Software makes their intentions clear,their goal is to kill you if you aren't going to learn the mechanics of block or staying clear from enemy attacks.I know you're thinking " well it's an RPG and any idiot will know not to go running in blindly and pull a **** load of aggo it's only common sense" but sometimes they like to trick you into making you feel like you've succeeded in something then crush your ego as soon as you step into another room.After you managed to bypass/clear a current area you've been stuck on,you'll be guaranteed to have the biggest smile on your face and the best feeling from playing a video game in years.

    From enemy an area design to some of the best atmospheric sounds you'll ever hear, this game has everything covered perfectly... if you're up to the challenge that is.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 66 Critic Reviews

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