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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. 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
  2. mantecon
    Jan 11, 2012
    10
    Do not be fooled by angry rage quitters, 10 year olds and bad players! This game is hard, it wont hold you by your hand, it will not make your opponent easier so you can beat it, you will not be able to Hack and Slash everything with one sword swing or fight 10 enemies at a time.

    [How hard?] We have been spoiled! We are used to vanilla games that say you are playing in "normal difficulty"    Do not be fooled by angry rage quitters, 10 year olds and bad players! This game is hard, it wont hold you by your hand, it will not make your opponent easier so you can beat it, you will not be able to Hack and Slash everything with one sword swing or fight 10 enemies at a time.

    [How hard?] We have been spoiled! We are used to vanilla games that say you are playing in "normal difficulty" when in reality a 6 year old can play that difficulty and eventually win. We are used to bad, unrealistic and god-like-forgiving games where the AI usually allows you to punish them and continuously do damage to it. This game is hard for anyone that is used to going into a room guns blazing dying and that death meaning nothing. If you are used to walking with a big sword and doing tons of damage and your opponent be helpless then this game will be super hard. You could be level 100 and if you don't parry/block and wait you will die to a mouse.

    [Story and Gameplay] I won't spoil the game, there is a storyâ    … Expand
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. SpunkyMonkey
    Dec 28, 2011
    6
    Whilst there's fun to be had in Dark Souls it is also a prime example of how dumb, sad and gullible it's core audience is as reading through comments and user reviews people seem to be more bothered about the fact that they can play a tough game as some kind of badge of honour than the game itself. You see, the game is actually very lazy - great graphics but naff all music, barely any RPGWhilst there's fun to be had in Dark Souls it is also a prime example of how dumb, sad and gullible it's core audience is as reading through comments and user reviews people seem to be more bothered about the fact that they can play a tough game as some kind of badge of honour than the game itself. You see, the game is actually very lazy - great graphics but naff all music, barely any RPG elements of which to speak (with hardly any plot or story to drive you on), and worst of all repetative gameplay that just makes the game DRAG. I don't mind fighting a tough boss 5, 10, 20 times to beat it, but when I have to run down an empty path for a few minutes just to get there first and then be killed in one hit it's hard to look back on the time spent travelling and finding any fun in it. Also, the game could get away with being to tough and merciless if it's mechanics worked well, but the camera gets stuck behind trees, you roll through solid walls, and most unforgivingly of all the targetting mechanic spins you round in the opposite direction if you're not close enough to an enemy - by which time the enemy has usually jumped you. Dark Soul's also doesn't allow you to pause the game....ever. Now, I don't know about you but sometimes I need to pee, eat or actually do things in real life such as answer a phone call, the fact that this wasn't included is beyond a joke. If you're batteries die mid combat? No pause screen, your man just stands there and dies. But, slap a tag on it that this game is for "real games" and the drongos will buy en mass *facepalm*. On the plus side the combat can be fun and once you're a bit tougher it isn't so bad - until you come to a new area which means hours grinding to get tough again. I've probably focussed a bit too much on the negative aspects of Dark Souls, but folk need to be warned that it's more than just a case of it being a hard game - it's a hard game that's mechanics are poor and doesn't allow for glitches or reality. Deffinately try before you buy.… Expand
  7. AncientGR
    Aug 13, 2012
    4
    Challenging, addictive and exciting but eventually proves to be too user-unfriendly and unrefined for it's unforgiving level of difficulty. Lacking of all but the basic plot and scenario, forwarding the story at a very slow and repetitive pace that strongly resembles the early 90's -fun- yet now obsolete trial-and-error mechanics.
    Compared to other titles of its age, feels more like an    Challenging, addictive and exciting but eventually proves to be too user-unfriendly and unrefined for it's unforgiving level of difficulty. Lacking of all but the basic plot and scenario, forwarding the story at a very slow and repetitive pace that strongly resembles the early 90's -fun- yet now obsolete trial-and-error mechanics.
    Compared to other titles of its age, feels more like an arcade than a complete-game experience.
    Unforgivable flaws include taller enemy attacks hitting you through walls, slippery surface glitches, frame rate drops, difficult multiplayer mechanics, dull combat mechanics, doesn't pause, and eventually subjects you to an unavoidable charade of almost endless farming and backtracking.
    Adult players should be warned that this game shows no respect of your time spent playing it. If you are playing video games only for a few hours of high-quality fun, then steer clear of this game.    … Expand
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 360gamer8302
    Feb 1, 2012
    10
    A game that demands your attention. A true work of art that other developers should use as a template. I spent 80+ hours on Demon's Souls, and Dark Souls is just as and more addicting then its spiritual predecessor. This game uses creative tools to make it stand out amongst other RPGs. The punishing diffuculty only makes you a better player. Those who rage quit do not give this game enoughA game that demands your attention. A true work of art that other developers should use as a template. I spent 80+ hours on Demon's Souls, and Dark Souls is just as and more addicting then its spiritual predecessor. This game uses creative tools to make it stand out amongst other RPGs. The punishing diffuculty only makes you a better player. Those who rage quit do not give this game enough of a chance.… Expand
  12. Nogohoho
    Apr 10, 2012
    10
    Dark Souls in an incredible adventure, and sometimes a slog into the darkness of humanity. Many give up on the path to understanding, but for those few souls who are resilient enough to take on these evils, and look upon the face of death will find themselves a god amongst men.
    This is a good game, a hard game, and it will break you until you break it right back. It will not treat you    Dark Souls in an incredible adventure, and sometimes a slog into the darkness of humanity. Many give up on the path to understanding, but for those few souls who are resilient enough to take on these evils, and look upon the face of death will find themselves a god amongst men.
    This is a good game, a hard game, and it will break you until you break it right back. It will not treat you nice, it will not give you an easy out, but you can always find a way. Are you a bad enough dude to face your own mortality?    … Expand
  13. Shrykull
    May 13, 2012
    10
    Difficult, rewarding and sadistically beautiful. One of my favorite games of all time. I spent over 300 hours playing this it has a fantastic replay value.
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. DecafTable
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    Honestly the game is pretty easy once you know how the game works. Difficulty is a fun learning curve that most people with no patience will not enjoy. This is a real man's game, and i'm happy to own it. This really is the only 'adult' game I can think of. I thoroughly enjoy the dark nature of the game, the realistic color scheme which isn't cartoony like most games. The graphics are soHonestly the game is pretty easy once you know how the game works. Difficulty is a fun learning curve that most people with no patience will not enjoy. This is a real man's game, and i'm happy to own it. This really is the only 'adult' game I can think of. I thoroughly enjoy the dark nature of the game, the realistic color scheme which isn't cartoony like most games. The graphics are so jaw dropping that you'll want to spend your time looking around your environment. The open world landscape lets you see other parts of the world as you think to yourself, "i'll be heading there soon" The best part of this game that deserves the most attention to detail is the combat mechanics. This game has the most polished and deeply rewarding combat system ever imagined. This isn't a game where you can mash a few buttons and expect to live. You need to take into account consideration for what an opponent wears or doesn't wear, is it weak to slash attacks from a katana or will a stunlock from an ultra greatsword work well? Is this mob weak to fire? Once you master and become proficient with parry/riposte you'll be killing some enemies in one hit. This is very satisfying because the risk/reward for timing this will earn you the kill instantly, but fail by a 1/2 second and you may end up dead. It's this very nature of the game that makes you feel like you are always on the verge of death if you make a few wrong decisions. This realistic sense of life and death will have you shiver going into areas you know will be difficult. The voice acting in this game is top notch and has to be some of the best i've ever heard. You won't hear the same voice overs for multiple characters like other games either. The ambiance is really well portrayed here as well, you don't hear annoying background music every area you go into, rather you'll hear eerie screams, crows flying around and bickering, maybe if a skeleton shaking his bars on his cell door. This kind of thing immerses you into the game, especially when it's pitch dark and you hear a Darkwraith clanking as he runs across the room towards you crunching the skulls underneath his feet. You will be scared, you'll laugh (probably not), you'll cry, you may even get mad. But the payoff is the rewarding feeling you get once you accomplish what you thought was possible each time you die. I've sunk 300 hours into this game and i'm not even bored yet, talk about a great $60 well spent! Buy this game now!… Expand
  17. p360assassin
    Nov 7, 2012
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. The people who say it requires grinding are retarded. The only time I grinded was when I suddenly decided 35 hours in that "Ya no, heavy armour ain't for me, I'm going for a dodge build". The game does not require any grinding, it requires observation and skill. Nothing more.
  18. Jribs
    Nov 19, 2012
    10
    It's not the challenge of Dark Souls that is so refreshing; it's more that the game treats you like you are a veteran. It holds your hand in so few ways, but the exploration and learning is the best part anyways. The world is one seamless area with no central hub. It's a nice system, but the directions are lacking too much in my opinion. Getting lost is a bit too easy when you don't knowIt's not the challenge of Dark Souls that is so refreshing; it's more that the game treats you like you are a veteran. It holds your hand in so few ways, but the exploration and learning is the best part anyways. The world is one seamless area with no central hub. It's a nice system, but the directions are lacking too much in my opinion. Getting lost is a bit too easy when you don't know that you should backtrack to an area in order to advance in the game. I could just be a baby. I'm not quite sure. Other than that gripe, this game blew my mind. From Software, on a mediocre budget, produced this sixty+ hour masterpiece with gorgeous graphics. The music is tense and rare, but the silent moments of this game are almost what I look forward too the most. Defeating one of the many well-designed bosses leaves me feeling accomplished more than I have felt in any game before it. Just traversing a small group of enemies can feel accomplishing, because of how difficult this game can be at points. The combat is smooth. Really smooth. It's not like Skyrim, where hacking away at enemies is just a matter of smacking the right trigger and occasionally blocking. It's an art that has to be mastered by memorizing the moves of all of the enemies around you. Don't be too turned off by the magic system either. It's not the greatest system, but it actually works pretty well. I just wish it took more skill sometimes though to kill enemies with magic. It's fair and requires strategy, but it's a little easy to kill some enemies with (many bosses). This is one of those games that I just try to get everybody to try out because it seems so different from what the video game world is used to. It has a minimalist plot and is hardcore, yet somehow, a major video game company chose to make it this way. Against the odds, this game was made and I don't see many hardcore rpgs coming in 2013. Pick this up.… Expand
  19. Sneetches
    Dec 19, 2012
    8
    TL;DR A great RPG that'll have you raging one moment and cheering the next.

    Dark Souls is a highly debated game with one side crying of "artificial difficulty" and the other being fanboys defending it. However, if you're in the middle (hopefully), you'll realize that its a great game that still has its flaws. Addressing one of the most argued point(s), pertaining to the "artificial    TL;DR A great RPG that'll have you raging one moment and cheering the next.

    Dark Souls is a highly debated game with one side crying of "artificial difficulty" and the other being fanboys defending it. However, if you're in the middle (hopefully), you'll realize that its a great game that still has its flaws. Addressing one of the most argued point(s), pertaining to the "artificial difficulty", learning curve, or anything in between, I can say that there are legitimate and also illegitimate complaints. For one, those mainly complaining of the difficulty either tried to A) Blow through the game and got their **** promptly slapped, then complained. or B) Don't understand how to fight or address the different enemies/situations in the game, and would rather not go through the "trial and error" process. Don't be fooled, there is a LOT of trial and error at times. Outside of that highly debated topic, the game is interesting. The beginning and end cutscenes are the only story related scenes, the rest of the story is to be figured out through the player's exploration (another unpopular feature among the modern gamer). The world feels vast, being that you can actually see a lot of the zones from within each other, and they seem so large in view. The characters, while eccentric, aren't exactly memorable, but they aren't very bad either. The game has a depressing atmosphere to it, and it can be felt at times. The art design is great, and really fits the theme, along with the enemies of the world.

    The combat is another learning curve that definitely takes some getting used to. Parrying is an interesting mechanic that isn't reliable to the average player, but getting better at it makes dealing with small minions a breeze, but unfortunately it ruins one very important fight in the game. All the classes seem rather balanced although mage/ranger are play styles that seem better suited to the more experienced player, but being proficient at 2 is a big plus. The stats system holds true to any traditional RPG, and while gear doesn't make a world of difference (unless you're worried about your roll...), there is still a lot of customization.

    The PVP, while being a very large part of the game, still has its flaws. Summoning is unreliable at best, and doing Co-op with friends isn't exactly easy. Another problem arises with twinks (experienced, very low levels who have beaten the game and NG+ and have their best possible setup) will easily make any newcomer confused and angry at their first online invasion experiences. Lag turns any fight into a "who gets the lucky backstab" duel, and gankers can get very annoying.

    I'm not really sure how in-between you can be with Dark Souls, its either something you love, hate, or your friends are making you play to torture yourself with. Despite what many naysayers will complain about, the game still has its strong points, and I would argue that these will outweigh the complaints of "artificial difficulty" and other excuses.    … Expand
  20. BlueWorrior
    Jul 16, 2012
    10
    Okay, I'm gonna make this quick. Dark Souls is quite probably one of the best games EVER MADE. I stated that in all caps to let you know just how serious I am.

    Dark Souls Isn't just a game: It's an experience, an adventure that you will never forget. It has depth, atmosphere, tweaked and challenging gameplay, great visual design and an almost beautiful musical score. I implore you. Buy    Okay, I'm gonna make this quick. Dark Souls is quite probably one of the best games EVER MADE. I stated that in all caps to let you know just how serious I am.

    Dark Souls Isn't just a game: It's an experience, an adventure that you will never forget. It has depth, atmosphere, tweaked and challenging gameplay, great visual design and an almost beautiful musical score. I implore you. Buy this game. Right now. If you hate it you probably think that it's too hard. If you do, you are soft, play it and gain skill through experience, because it will pay off, I assure you.

    Best game of year? definately. Best game of the decade? I'd say so. Over-dramatic review? yeah, sorry 'bout that. But get this game anyway. It'll be the worth every penny.    … Expand
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. porss
    Jan 27, 2012
    9
    Wonderful game. It is refreshing to see a company rely on gameplay rather than graphics in their products. The combat is fun, diverse and mechanics are well thought out. The difficulty, as you've probably read, makes the game challenging. It's not just an easy walk spent admiring some developer's artistic talent. Overall the best game I've purchased in a while. With a little tweaking a tenWonderful game. It is refreshing to see a company rely on gameplay rather than graphics in their products. The combat is fun, diverse and mechanics are well thought out. The difficulty, as you've probably read, makes the game challenging. It's not just an easy walk spent admiring some developer's artistic talent. Overall the best game I've purchased in a while. With a little tweaking a ten for sure.… Expand
  24. OspreyB
    Feb 11, 2012
    10
    If you've read any of the other reviews, then you already know what Dark Souls is all about, so I can skip the facts and get right to my opinion. I don't think that Dark Souls is that hard. I'm not even a hardcore gamer, and I didn't find the difficulty curve to be unbearable. Nothing in Dark Souls is unfair to the player. Every challenge can be met with an eye for observation and a properIf you've read any of the other reviews, then you already know what Dark Souls is all about, so I can skip the facts and get right to my opinion. I don't think that Dark Souls is that hard. I'm not even a hardcore gamer, and I didn't find the difficulty curve to be unbearable. Nothing in Dark Souls is unfair to the player. Every challenge can be met with an eye for observation and a proper strategy. That's what I love about this game. It is possible to complete it without leveling up at all, not that I'd recommend trying it. Too many modern RPGs do away with skill, and leave the player's power to be determined by stats and numbers. Dark Souls is purely skill based, but it does help to have some good equipment. I've seen many reviewers complain about clunky and slow controls, and I'm almost positive that this is because they're trying to use equipment that they don't meet the stat requirements for. Dark Souls controls are fluid and easy to get used to. If the player tries to wear armor that weighs 20lbs and their equip weight is only 50lbs, they'll move slow and their rolls will result in falling and slow recovery. The tradeoff is that heavy armor obviously provides more defense. The player can sacrifice their heavy armor for robes or clothing and be able to dash, roll, and survive by evading. Either method works because Dark Souls allows for characters using any type of build to be effective.

    You can choose to be whatever you want, and the stats that you choose to level up can benefit or even restrict you. Weapons and magic scale with different stats, and the player must choose which weapon to use based off of how they plan on leveling up their character. You can't effectively use a weapon that scales with strength if you are only going to level up dexterity, and it isn't advisable to level up all of your stats equally because you'll end up limiting your own power. The max level is over 700, but for the average gamer, it will be very difficult to get anywhere past soul level 100. That means that you have to be careful about where you spend your stat points.

    A lot of the fun that can be had in Dark Souls comes from building a unique character, and strategizing based off of the skills and abilities that you have. The rest comes from exploration and discovery. Finding a new area is always a challenging and rewarding experience. There could be fake walls, sudden drops, archers from above, or any number of challenges, but they are all reasonable to overcome. The feeling of success that comes from seeing your strategy for an area pay off is unlike any other game. I could go on about the creativity of the different areas of the game, how seamless the world is, the different paths that could be taken, the innovation of the multiplayer, the genius planning behind the covenants, and how deep and incredible the story is, but you just need to play the game to find out about it all for yourself. If you make your decision based off of how hard everyone says that Dark Souls is, you will be missing out. It's hard at first, but the difficulty level is completely reasonable. We've been spoiled by the simplicity of games these days. By the end of Dark Souls, I was wishing for an even greater challenge. Luckily, the game gets even harder in New Game Plus!    … Expand
  25. SodeNaShirayuki
    Mar 22, 2012
    9
    Do you remember the first game you ever played? Mine was Bugs Bunny: Crazy Castle 4 on the Gameboy Color. I loved it. I meticulously documented every level code. If I got stuck, I'd spend hours, days, even weeks throwing everything I had at the problem. And when I finally beat it, it felt like a huge accomplishment. The sad thing is that I know that now I could breeze through it withoutDo you remember the first game you ever played? Mine was Bugs Bunny: Crazy Castle 4 on the Gameboy Color. I loved it. I meticulously documented every level code. If I got stuck, I'd spend hours, days, even weeks throwing everything I had at the problem. And when I finally beat it, it felt like a huge accomplishment. The sad thing is that I know that now I could breeze through it without even trying. And that's why I love Dark Souls - it recaptures that wonderful feeling of having to make your own way in an unknown world, earning your own successes and paying for your own mistakes. You're setting off on an adventure, and you don't know quite what you may find. The most obvious aspect of Dark Souls is its difficulty, so we'll start there. It's hard. There's no escaping it, but it's almost never unfair. If charging at that Hydra gets you killed time and time again, try something else. Success in Dark Souls means switching your gamer mindset. You need to accept that this is true dark fantasy, cold and brutal. Running away is a valid strategy, and dumb heroics will almost always get you killed. But it's not frustrating. Death in a video game too often means groaning "Ugh, now I have to do all that again". But here, death is an experience in and of itself. Each time you see the words "YOU DIED", you've learned something new - and if you haven't, you're not being creative enough. You will die, over and over, but you'll never feel like you made no progress. And that's why I - someone prone to nerd rage - have happily thrown my miserable, hollow avatar to his end again and again, and several hours later looked up and wondered where the time went. To focus solely on the difficulty is almost a sin, though. Dark Souls is gorgeous. From soaring cathedrals to vast crystal caves, giant ash lakes to dark, claustrophobic catacombs, sunken, burning cities to dripping, noxious swamps, every corner hides something new, beautiful and almost invariably deadly. There's nothing quite like the feeling of uncovering a shortcut and realising just how ingeniously the map fits together. The story is cleverly minimalistic - there will seem to be none at first, but read around enough and you'll discover a plot that challenges almost all fantasy conventions. The RPG elements of gameplay are strong, yet fluid - while you're required to pick a class at the start of the game, the way you play is almost exclusively determined by the equipment you use and the stats you choose to level up. A knight can become a cleric can become a pyromancer, as long as you have the stats and weapons to cover it. This freedom carries over to your equipment choice - there are very few weapon combinations you can't use if you so desire. Dual Zweihanders? Go for it, as long as your strength's high enough. Similarly, if you want to try beating your enemies to death with two shields, you can. It's a wonderful way of giving the player as much freedom as possible, allowing you to choose your own path.
    An aspect of Dark Souls which doesn't get as much attention as I think it should is the morality system. There is none. The only person who will ever judge your actions is you, and few NPCs are safe. See that knight by the bonfire, desperately searching for her father? If you want, you can kill her and steal her Humanity. No-one will care. There is no good or evil in Dark Souls except what you make, and even when you've finished you may be left wondering whether those bosses really deserved to die. Of course, it's not a perfect game. The impact analysis is occasionally off - in a game like this, where realism is paramount, it's irksome when your character gets hit from around a corner or through a pillar. It rarely happens, but it's still a problem. Similarly, the game occasionally dips from hard into unfair - dying when a boss smacks me with a giant tentacle is fine, but when I deliberately dodged it and still expire from some ungodly splash damage it feels cheap. There is framerate drop (particularly in Blighttown), and very occasionally the map is simply unfinished. But to focus on Dark Souls's failings is wrong. It's an excellent game. You'll hear a lot about it being for hardcore RPGers, but I don't think that's true - while some people will want to tear it apart and dissect it, there's a lot to be said for the simple joy of tumbling out the other side, slightly confused and too busy wondering how you survived to realise you've won. It's not solely for the L337 PR0 - it's for anyone that's willing to devote themselves to puzzling out and conquering a unique and immersive experience. What ultimately makes Dark Souls great is that it strikes right at the heart of what it means to be a gamer. When I pick up that controller, I'm an 8-year-old again with my Gameboy. I'm setting off, ignorant, into a strange and cruel new world - and when that world is as brutal, eerie and desolately beautiful as Lordran, you can't go far wrong.    … Expand
  26. Melychath
    Apr 3, 2012
    10
    My first review!
    Dark Souls ruined TES for me. I believe that that is all that need be said, but I suppose I should explain. I loved Morrowind (my introduction to TES). I lost more time to Oblivion than I care to admit, and had immeasurable fun doing so. And so, I was thoroughly excited to get my hands on Skyrim. Then, I played Dark Souls. A spear is not simply a weapon you choose for the    My first review!
    Dark Souls ruined TES for me. I believe that that is all that need be said, but I suppose I should explain. I loved Morrowind (my introduction to TES). I lost more time to Oblivion than I care to admit, and had immeasurable fun doing so. And so, I was thoroughly excited to get my hands on Skyrim. Then, I played Dark Souls. A spear is not simply a weapon you choose for the look it grants your character, but a tool used to keep a vicious enemy at bay. A rapier doesn't just alter the way your character swings his or her sword, but acts as a rapier should, with lunging, piercing attacks. Small shields are effective for parrying. Large shields absorb vast amounts of damage. This is how any hack and slash game should work from here on out. This game is not for everyone. If you enjoy casual games that spell everything out for you, don't play Dark Souls. If you enjoy running mindlessly into a crowd of baddies, mashing buttons and potting till all lie in ruins around you, don't play Dark Souls. If you enjoy the threat of death at every corner, a well timed and planned attack, a genuine experience of accomplishment for having beaten some SOB demon who has killed you 10+ times in a row, definitely, definitely, definitely, buy Dark Souls! More on how this game ruined TES: Did I mention how incredible the combat feels in DS? I believe I did. After sinking many, many hours into Dark Souls, I finally decided I needed to set it down so that I could play my beloved TES. I popped Skyrim in my box, palms sweaty in anticipation of the new shouts and dragon slaying to be had. I was looking forward to conjuring and casting and hacking and slashing and customizing again. What I was not prepared for was the utter disappointment I would experience with Skyrim. Don't get me wrong, I have played a lot of Skyrim, and I did eventually begin to enjoy it again, but the combat system in Dark Souls surpasses that of Skyrim on so many levels that I have had to mentally place TES in a category separate from Dark Souls. Dark Souls is a dungeon crawling, hack and slash and magic casting RPG that caters to the masochistic (I say this lovingly). A combat-first game in which story is subtly told and sparsely given (to great effect). Skyrim is a game of world exploration, where combat plays second fiddle to discovering and exploring new locations. Story can be found within book after book, heard through the ever-repeating voices of the towns' denizens, and followed along with the main quest line to a neat and tightly wrapped ending. In Skyrim you are the great and almighty hero who no man or beast may stand against. In Dark Souls, you are constantly fighting for your life.

    So why did I compare Dark Souls to Skyrim? These two games are really not comparable. I did so under the assumption that a person reading this review has not yet played Dark Souls (nor Demon Souls for that matter), but has played Skyrim, Oblivion or Morrowind (as I said earlier, I have not played TES titles prior to Morrowind). The assumption seems safe given the sales numbers of TES. And, why should I pretend any longer, I'm a little peeved that Dark Souls was so fun that Skyrim was ruined for me. In fact, I'm a lot peeved. So much so that I want others to experience the joy and bliss that is Dark Souls, and to return to any TES title as pissed as I am. Perhaps, we can demand future RPGs to have equally incredible combat systems as Dark Souls if enough people get torqued!

    P.S. Editing this is a real pain. Excuse me if I rambled.
    P.P.S. Play Dark Souls!    … Expand
  27. S_Jake
    May 4, 2012
    10
    Dark Souls is a masterpiece, but it is not for everyone. What it provides is a dark, rich, intense world with danger lurking around almost every corner. It also has a nasty tendency to punish mistakes, even small ones, with death. While this makes for an experience that can be intensely frustrating, it also makes it an extremely rewarding one as long as you are prepared to put in theDark Souls is a masterpiece, but it is not for everyone. What it provides is a dark, rich, intense world with danger lurking around almost every corner. It also has a nasty tendency to punish mistakes, even small ones, with death. While this makes for an experience that can be intensely frustrating, it also makes it an extremely rewarding one as long as you are prepared to put in the effort required. Ask yourself what you want from a game: Do you want a game that holds your hand while you waltz through it, or do you want a game where you are dropped, alone, into a world where you constantly have to fight for your life (and frequently die)? If it's the former, then look elsewhere. If it's the latter, you may just get as much out of this as I did.… Expand
  28. Pariah406
    Nov 9, 2012
    10
    Being a gamer for over 20 years has led me to a lackluster world of cookie cutter games with insane hype and terrible delivery. If you can remember how revolutionary Halo 1, Knights of the Old Republic, Resident Evil, Mario, Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid were to the video game arena, you will understand this review. Right before I packed my video game life up to sail it away withBeing a gamer for over 20 years has led me to a lackluster world of cookie cutter games with insane hype and terrible delivery. If you can remember how revolutionary Halo 1, Knights of the Old Republic, Resident Evil, Mario, Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid were to the video game arena, you will understand this review. Right before I packed my video game life up to sail it away with my mid twenties, I took a gaming friend's advice and plunged into the world of Dark Souls. Not only did I become insanely immersed in this diverse, action filled and challenging world but I also regained faith in the video game movement because it was so enthralling. I played through with three different character classes and every time I found something new, joined a new covenant and giggled after falling from ledge after ledge. I loved getting punished in the game because it served as a reminder how unforgiving games used to be and the rewards left you with an adrenaline rush. It simply is a game for excellent gamers who desire a new wave of video games and anyone without the tenacity and skill to beat it should just keep playing Fable.… Expand
  29. msherry9
    Dec 13, 2011
    9
    I would definitely give this game a solid 9.5. First off, if you've never played Demon Souls (like me) and are still hung up about the notorious difficulty of the game, I advise you not to buy into the hype. While the game can still be very challenging, it's something that can easily be overcome once you get the combat down properly. I've never played Demon Souls before and I had heard aI would definitely give this game a solid 9.5. First off, if you've never played Demon Souls (like me) and are still hung up about the notorious difficulty of the game, I advise you not to buy into the hype. While the game can still be very challenging, it's something that can easily be overcome once you get the combat down properly. I've never played Demon Souls before and I had heard a great deal about this game, so I decided to finally give it a go. The game is so thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to finish mainly due to the satisfaction that it brings when you overcome a new challenge. I've read several reviews where people say that the game is a chore and like "eating brussel sprouts" until you complete a challenge, whereas it turns into "eating ice cream". This could not be further from the truth. The game is CONSTANTLY like "eating ice cream", rewarding you at every turn with exciting new gear or spells to fuel you're ongoing push towards the final boss. I believe the IGN review has something along the lines of: "If you play games for fun, than this game is not for you". This statement is also extremely false and is very misleading to newcomers who are thinking about potentially purchasing this game. The game simply requires you to be more open-minded as well as patient in contemplating the best strategies to overcome certain situations and boss fights. The graphics of the game are gorgeous, giving players a huge variety of stunning environments ranging from murky catacombs to snowy fortresses set upon a mountainside. It's essentially an open-world experience, since you can go almost anywhere at anytime, but there's still a decent amount of linearity. If you stumble upon an area where the enemies take 15 hits to kill and are capable of killing you in 1-2, you probably shouldn't be at that area yet and should return there at a later time. The combat mechanics work extremely well, never feeling overly repetitive nor becoming a chore. The game tries to get players to "bond" with their weapons and develop a sort of attached relationship. I've definitely felt this before, as I was reluctant at one point in the game to cease using my Fire Spear that I crafted since the monsters were all basically immune to fire. The game has you select from one of many starting classes, which primarily only affect you're starting equipment and attributes (except the Pyromancer, who might be the only class that can utilize Pyromancy spells). Spells are an absolute blast to use and there's tons of variety for a myriad of situations in which they can be implemented. The storyline is almost nonexistent, save for a few cutscenes and cinematics here and there, but this does not hinder the experience whatsoever. It may even bolster it, depending on who you ask, granting the game a more "realistic" feel. It gives the sense that the storyline is essentially what a "real" hero's journey would be like, with many difficult trials and failures along the road to success. Let me be completely honest when I say this, however: you will die. You will die alot, but overcoming death in this game is part of the grand satisfaction I mentioned. You die to an extremely difficult boss, losing your souls temporarily (if you can recover your "body", similar to Diablo 2), come back, and annihilate the boss. These moments are uniquely crafted, leaving you feeling like you're on top of the world when you achieve them. The game is about as dark of a fantasy as you can get and leaves very little to no room for comedic relief, save for a few moments that are few and far between. The game's crafting system is addicting in many ways, constantly dangling that carrot in front of you to collect that last Titanite Shard to upgrade you're weapon. The game does, however, have some issues that are worth mentioning. My biggest complaint is the framerate tearing in certain areas and scenes of the game. Blighttown is the worst offender, making it close to maddening to explore without tilting the camera towards the ground. There are also some other sequences and boss fights that briefly experience this, but no other notables. Another issue I've noticed is sometimes a delayed reaction in the control scheme when activating items. During boss fights, timing is crucial, and when I press X to use my Estus Flask to heal myself, I expect my damn character to pop that baby open and drink instantly. Multiple times, I've done this only to see a 2-3 delay before my character finally drinks, and this is after I've resumed dodging attacks. My character has then stopped during an attack, and I either die or sustain a serious blow. This doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it's frustrating. Overall, Dark Souls is one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had the pleasure of playing. If you're still hung up about purchasing it, give it a rent, and you may be pleasantly surprised. Highly recommended.… Expand
  30. 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!
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 66 Critic Reviews

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