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. notsoslimShayde
    Sep 11, 2014
    10
    This is the best game I have played in a long time. I would put it on my top 10 list. I played it for over 90 hours (more than any ever), and I would play it again if I had the time.

    What did I love? The strategy to build a character to finish the game, the intense encounters with bosses, the huge variety of enemies. This game throws everything at you - but is rarely unfair. An    This is the best game I have played in a long time. I would put it on my top 10 list. I played it for over 90 hours (more than any ever), and I would play it again if I had the time.

    What did I love? The strategy to build a character to finish the game, the intense encounters with bosses, the huge variety of enemies. This game throws everything at you - but is rarely unfair.

    An incredibly important thing to remember is that because of the leveling system, even mediocre gamers (like me) can ultimately win because we can make our characters more powerful and revisit the boss battles. This being said, you are never overpowering in boss battles. One or two hits can always kill you.

    I am a mediocre gamer, but I did complete this game - and thank you internet for all the assistance.

    Do I have a few complaints - sure... Sometime camera angles we mucked up; at times the grinding to level up or buy gear was boring; no fast travel between checkpoint until the end of the game; and the fact that save / respawn points to boss battles was sometimes too far.

    However, this game does so much right that I would still give it a 10    … Expand
  2. coral2dj
    Sep 16, 2014
    10
    There might be kids raging and showing their big hate against this game. But ignore them, they are TOTALLY retarded. This game is the best of the best in my opinion, and will remain the best. I am currently in NG+7, and still not bored. I love this game. I don't care if this game is extremely hard. Its still fun, amazing, fascinating, enjoying. If you want a hard, amazing, interestingThere might be kids raging and showing their big hate against this game. But ignore them, they are TOTALLY retarded. This game is the best of the best in my opinion, and will remain the best. I am currently in NG+7, and still not bored. I love this game. I don't care if this game is extremely hard. Its still fun, amazing, fascinating, enjoying. If you want a hard, amazing, interesting game, Dark Souls is for you.… Expand
  3. AmazingMonky
    Nov 26, 2014
    9
    This game is dripping with atmosphere, gives you the biggest rush in any game, story that is amazing (if you read the items) and challenges you every step of the way, if you want to jump into the souls series this is the place to start. only thing that can be counted against it is is catering to a more hardcore audience with a steep curve for casuals. If you are tired of linear storiesThis game is dripping with atmosphere, gives you the biggest rush in any game, story that is amazing (if you read the items) and challenges you every step of the way, if you want to jump into the souls series this is the place to start. only thing that can be counted against it is is catering to a more hardcore audience with a steep curve for casuals. If you are tired of linear stories and easy games that hold your hand for their entirety this is the game for you.… Expand
  4. TemplarQuacks95
    Feb 1, 2015
    10
    If you are faint-hearted or can't take on a REAL challenge, DO NOT play this game. But if you love a challenge, get this game now.
    The first time played this game I couldn't stand it, so it gathered dust for a few months. But I decided to pop in the disk one more time, and I just couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. I played 7 hours straight that day.
    You don't need to be a hardcore    If you are faint-hearted or can't take on a REAL challenge, DO NOT play this game. But if you love a challenge, get this game now.
    The first time played this game I couldn't stand it, so it gathered dust for a few months. But I decided to pop in the disk one more time, and I just couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. I played 7 hours straight that day.
    You don't need to be a hardcore gamer to be able to complete this game. But you will need A LOT of patience. This is a trial-and-error game. You're SUPPOSED to die. That how you learn what you should and shouldn't do, what weaknesses a certain enemy has, and discover many hidden shortcuts. There is no greater sense of relief and satisfaction than when you defeat a powerful enemy in this game. That's one of the things that make it so great
    Dark Souls is easily one of the best games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. This has more replay value than almost any game I can think of. I truly feel a lot of pity for people who can't appreciate this masterpiece.    … Expand
  5. qetuo761
    Dec 2, 2014
    10
    this game has brought me the upmost pleasure in everything i do and i fully believe that this... this is art. there is no other game that i'd rather have the pleasure of giving a perfect 10 than the game that managed to kick my ass yet leave me wanting "just one more try" every time it would kick me to the floor it would brush me off, pat my back and say "go get 'em tiger" then proceed tothis game has brought me the upmost pleasure in everything i do and i fully believe that this... this is art. there is no other game that i'd rather have the pleasure of giving a perfect 10 than the game that managed to kick my ass yet leave me wanting "just one more try" every time it would kick me to the floor it would brush me off, pat my back and say "go get 'em tiger" then proceed to rip my flaccid penis off. and i couldn't stop playing it. this is without a doubt the greatest game i have ever played and has rewritten my life to an unbelievable level. i will not be capable of enjoying another game again due to it not being half as good as this godlike masterpiece. if I'm having a bad day, i can sit down with a cup of brew and a controller and just DO something. after you beat it this game has the kind of replay ability usually only found in little big planet. i could sit down and speed run it and be done in just a few hours. i can hop on and port to the silently gorgeous Anor Londo and murder some people who just want to kill Big Smo and the Ornmeister. thats another thing; every bas has fully fledged character to them. Ornstein is a grand duelist who has slain hundreds of dragons and does it all with honor. Smough is willing to kill anyone to get to you, including his long time partner Ornstein, whom he crushes to death just for some extra power. this kind of detail is barely scratching the surface of this dynamic duo. but the verdict of this review :

    TL;DR godlike masterpiece, wouldn't play anything else if i could "69/10"    … Expand
  6. Robo11
    Dec 27, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls is without a doubt my favorite game released on the 7th generation of consoles. It is the only game I would give 10/10, not that it's perfect because it certainly has it's issues, such as frame rate drops in certain areas. However, none of the issues the game have are significant enough to detract from the overall experience.

    There are many reasons why I love this game as    Dark Souls is without a doubt my favorite game released on the 7th generation of consoles. It is the only game I would give 10/10, not that it's perfect because it certainly has it's issues, such as frame rate drops in certain areas. However, none of the issues the game have are significant enough to detract from the overall experience.

    There are many reasons why I love this game as much as I do, but I think it is mainly the oppressive, lonely and foreboding atmosphere, combined with its excellent yet simple combat system that makes Dark Souls a uniquely harrowing experience. Much has been made of the games difficulty, and indeed this has put a lot of people off, however it is the games difficulty that creates it's atmosphere and separates it from other action rpg's.

    The World of Lordran is brilliantly designed with its web of interconnected areas, cleverly linked by ingenious shortcuts (which negate the need to backtrack once you have unlocked them). Each area in the game has it's own distinct theme with new enemies and as such you never feel bored. There is also just enough narrative to keep you invested in the story. Be warned though, the game will not spoon-feed you directions or checklists, so you will have to pay attention to what little direction/narrative you get.

    The name of the game here is perseverance and patience - this is not your typical action rpg game where you can run into any situation and mash R1 until you stand victorious (Skyrim, Dragon age etc...). Dark Souls requires a more measured and tactical approach to combat as even the lowliest of foes can slay you with relative ease. The lack of health regeneration combined with a limit on healing and the games bonfire/checkpoint system really drive home the need to exercise caution at all times.

    If you enjoy a challenge then Dark Souls is for you. However, if you are expecting a Bioware/Bethesda approach to the rpg (i.e. focus on dialogue and story) and/or lack patience/perseverance then you are barking up the wrong tree.    … Expand
  7. Bajo19
    May 17, 2015
    9
    Hours and hours of rage and endless trying of not looking on internet how you do this part and that part. Still you got to love this game, it is a big challenge. If you already got trough this game you deserve some kind of trophy.
  8. Mattacus
    Feb 14, 2015
    10
    Phenomenal. There is no getting around it, this is, bar none, the absolute best game of the last generation, and one of the best of all time. I've been gaming for decades, and nothing has gotten stuck in my craw quite like this baby.
  9. ravingmasher
    Mar 12, 2015
    10
    If ever asked what game could captivate such an immerse experience for someone, I would right away say: Dark Souls.

    The world, the art style, the music, the ambience and loneliness that comes with your character, it's all so chilling and eerie in it's atmosphere. By the end of the game, I truly had to sit there and ask what I had actually acomplished, but in a good way, in terms of the    If ever asked what game could captivate such an immerse experience for someone, I would right away say: Dark Souls.

    The world, the art style, the music, the ambience and loneliness that comes with your character, it's all so chilling and eerie in it's atmosphere. By the end of the game, I truly had to sit there and ask what I had actually acomplished, but in a good way, in terms of the plot and my character's development. Without being harsh and to come across as bigoted, I am sad that some of the more 'simple' players can't see the beauty of this games hidden story and imagination that comes with it. In this game, the story is your story. The journey is yours and thus not much of the story is set in stone, you create this in your head yourself. Sure, there are many theories out there that delve into great detail about this sort of thing on Youtube and I really do recommend them, but do remember that your imagination is still valid and neither correct or wrong.

    The combat is also very viseral, realistic (to an extent, it's a game of course) and tense. Sure, the game is prized on it's difficulty, but it's a dying shame to have that be the focus of why to play this. The difficulty adds to your experience. But that is of course my opinion, you can play the game exactly how you want to play it or for whatever reason.

    However, don't expect easy co-op sessions with your friends, it's just unheard of. It's to do with connecting via the mulitplayer set up they've created. If you want a co-op Dark Souls game, try the second one as it's much easier for it.

    In conclusion: fantastic game    … Expand
  10. PFCraig
    Mar 31, 2015
    10
    I would have given this game a nine because nothing is perfect but all of these low scores are bringing the average way lower than it should be, for such a classic game. That's right, I can happily call this game a classic because it has all the aspects: challenging yet rewarding game play, beautiful artwork, smooth controls, and fantastic music. Obviously this isn't for everyone, but ifI would have given this game a nine because nothing is perfect but all of these low scores are bringing the average way lower than it should be, for such a classic game. That's right, I can happily call this game a classic because it has all the aspects: challenging yet rewarding game play, beautiful artwork, smooth controls, and fantastic music. Obviously this isn't for everyone, but if you actually take the time to play it, the game will consume you. Ultimately, if you're looking for a touching experience, I highly encourage you to play Dark Souls.… Expand
  11. Fedismo14
    Apr 18, 2015
    10
    A este juego le dedique horas y puedo llegar a decir que ha sido uno de mis juegos favoritos y de los mejores que jugado:

    Pros: -un diseño de nivel excelente. -gran variedad de enemigos. -un gran trasfondo, dando así una historia de lo mas variada con hipótesis. -jugabilidad desafiante. -rejugable al 100%. -gran diseño de escenarios. -una muy buena banda sonora. -los diseños de    A este juego le dedique horas y puedo llegar a decir que ha sido uno de mis juegos favoritos y de los mejores que jugado:

    Pros:
    -un diseño de nivel excelente.
    -gran variedad de enemigos.
    -un gran trasfondo, dando así una historia de lo mas variada con hipótesis.
    -jugabilidad desafiante.
    -rejugable al 100%.
    -gran diseño de escenarios.
    -una muy buena banda sonora.
    -los diseños de los jefes son muy buenos.
    -muchas cosas ocultas y por descubrir.

    Contras:
    -falta de dirección, de repente en el juego no sabes a donde ir.
    -historia que a simple vista no se percata.
    -fallos en el online.

    Es un juego que no llega a ser para todos ya que puede llegar a frustrarte, ya que muchas veces no te enteras de nada y la dificultad llega a ser un poco mas hasta que la de otros jugos, sin embargo si uno le da una oportunidad puede tener una gran experiencia con este juego.    … Expand
  12. DLKnight
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    I've only heard a bit about Dark Souls before playing it. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not since I heard of its difficulty. I have to say, this game is not one that will tell you you are doing something wrong. It told you what do do in the beginning, you didn't listen, it's your fault you forgot their was a lock on feature (my first of many frustrations up to the first boss). It'sI've only heard a bit about Dark Souls before playing it. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not since I heard of its difficulty. I have to say, this game is not one that will tell you you are doing something wrong. It told you what do do in the beginning, you didn't listen, it's your fault you forgot their was a lock on feature (my first of many frustrations up to the first boss). It's difficult if you let it be difficult. One has to learn how the game works, sometimes frustration will ensue; all part of learning. Observe and think, a game where rushing in will all but get you killed by a surprise horde of enemies. People also complain about the lack of story. There is a story, although it is not in your face. You want story? Take some time to read the item descriptions and look around the area, you lean a lot (although much of the lore is speculation, but that's part of the fun isn't it?). The game itself becomes a lot of fun once you lean the areas, and the thrill and suspense of not knowing if the floor will collapse under you leading to a surprise boss fight is prevalent. The wide variety of areas, sometimes you will look off to the distance with curiosity toward something, then a few hours later, be in that exact area. I will leave with saying that it is not for everyone. Some will be forever frustrated and too stubborn to try to keep going, to each their own. Still, a game AT THE VERY LEAST worth a try.… Expand
  13. Stopdumbingdown
    Apr 14, 2020
    10
    as a guy who first played dark souls waaay late in its cycle and thus, i heard a lot of the talk about it, the first thing i MUST state is that this game is, in NO way, a rpg. anybody referring to it (so-called pro reviewers, for example) as such is naively and blatantly incorrect.

    this is a simple, basic dungeon crawler where you get to choose weapons and gear and fight. THAT'S IT.    as a guy who first played dark souls waaay late in its cycle and thus, i heard a lot of the talk about it, the first thing i MUST state is that this game is, in NO way, a rpg. anybody referring to it (so-called pro reviewers, for example) as such is naively and blatantly incorrect.

    this is a simple, basic dungeon crawler where you get to choose weapons and gear and fight. THAT'S IT.

    secondly, all i ever heard about this game was the debate between how hard it is and whether or not that difficulty was cheap or not.

    first, this game is hard ONLY IF you aren't able to comprehend enemy tactics. it is inherently dejavu-memorization combat. PERIOD.
    and, yes, the game purposefully puts you in at a disadvantage. ie. yes, there are cheap deaths. and, they are galore.

    THIRD -- yes, yes, this game is EASY EASY once you know its mechanics, tricks, tactics, and, it's your second playthrough. PERIOD.

    i can't EMPHASIZE this more- do not CHEAT on your first time through this game. you MUST play it organically. why? cuz the second and tenth playthru's will NEVER be the same since you know the game

    *yes, one can cheat in single-player games. obviously*

    the game has its share of issues but is clearly a masterpiece. when you first set foot in it there is amazement and questioning and intrigue for this superbly unique game

    screw-up and die and try again. and, realize that this game hinges on your ability to watch and comprehend and learn.

    the game is littered with poor gameplay and mechanics, yet, it is an experience like no other.

    what i know is that dark souls is one of the most UNIQUE games i've ever played.

    there is no doubt that it's so-called "difficulty" is a sham and can be debated away with ease. there's no doubt that this is NOT a rpg. this game is purposefully repetitive.

    the "story and lore" that fanboys try to prop-up is still relatively nil. AND, your second play-through will NEVER be the same as the first.

    nevertheless, this is an instant classic and one of the greatest Unique games of all-time:

    tho, overall, its simply a great game    … Expand
  14. Benjiro
    Feb 9, 2016
    9
    I am not done with my first playthrough but I think I am far enough to give my opinion on it. At first I was frustrated with Dark Souls and even thought I wasted my money, but BY GOD WAS I WRONG! Dark Souls seems quite unfair but if you just let yourself get absorbed by its atmosphere and tightness of the gameplay you will have one ofe the greatest RPG experiences of the decade.
    But    I am not done with my first playthrough but I think I am far enough to give my opinion on it. At first I was frustrated with Dark Souls and even thought I wasted my money, but BY GOD WAS I WRONG! Dark Souls seems quite unfair but if you just let yourself get absorbed by its atmosphere and tightness of the gameplay you will have one ofe the greatest RPG experiences of the decade.
    But alas... I have to take away one point for the sometimes frustrating drops of the framerate and the occasional glitches...    … Expand
  15. SemenTheGreat
    Jul 26, 2016
    9
    Let me get this out of the way. Dark Souls is an amazing, amazing game, but it has its flaws. At first glance, it seems like your typical action RPG, but after playing for a couple of minutes, you realize it's different. If not, the punishing death mechanics and hard hitting foes are sure to make you do. Even though you can't talk about this game without mentioning its difficulty, there aLet me get this out of the way. Dark Souls is an amazing, amazing game, but it has its flaws. At first glance, it seems like your typical action RPG, but after playing for a couple of minutes, you realize it's different. If not, the punishing death mechanics and hard hitting foes are sure to make you do. Even though you can't talk about this game without mentioning its difficulty, there a lot of other things that really define the experience, from the amazing art style to the abnormally smart level design. The story is also well written and heart breaking, but not very clear if you don't put any extra work into placing the pieces together. The story comes mainly from item descriptions and npc dialogue. Last, but not least, the bosses are epic and challenging, with really good visual design and incredible music accompanying it. But as I said, there are some flaws. The first things that comes to mind is the, at times, unstable frame rate, especially in Blight town. Some of the hit boxes are a bit questionable, and one of the bosses is just **** These are just minor ones that won't ruin the experience.… Expand
  16. LtPaul
    Jul 30, 2016
    10
    Some people don't like dark souls. They don't like the lack of narrative, they don't like unforgiving gameplay and the sharp learning curve. But this isn't why you play dark souls. Dark souls isn't like any other RPG, or any other game at all. Death and learning from your mistakes is part of the game, and if can't deal with this fact then this game isn't for you, because to really unlockSome people don't like dark souls. They don't like the lack of narrative, they don't like unforgiving gameplay and the sharp learning curve. But this isn't why you play dark souls. Dark souls isn't like any other RPG, or any other game at all. Death and learning from your mistakes is part of the game, and if can't deal with this fact then this game isn't for you, because to really unlock the true potential of this game you have to completely adapt your playstyle to suit the unique playstyle of the souls games. This game isn't for everyone, some people like an easy ride though a game, but I strongly recommend that that any console or pc owner should at least give the game ago, because it is, and will always be, one of the best games of all time… Expand
  17. WPharolin
    Oct 28, 2016
    9
    It is currently October of 2016. By now, I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review is familiar with the common praise for Dark Souls. Great level and enemy design, tight controls, awesome sound design, difficult but fair gameplay, etc. Rather than repeat what you've heard a million times, I'd like to talk about my personal experience with Dark Souls.

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

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

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

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

    I've now beaten the game seven times over the course of its life and I've come to appreciate it as a coping mechanism as much as I do a fun gaming experience. Each subsequent play through I discover something new about the game I didn't know. Something new that adds a layer to the rich narrative as well to the allegorical meaning that I ascribe to the game. This allegory may very well be something that I'm assigning to the game that was never intended by its creators. However, intentional or not, Dark Souls has managed to craft a narrative that has inspired me and helped me to deal with my own depression.    … Expand
  18. Mistwalker_94
    Mar 10, 2017
    10
    "Ever fallen in love with someone, ever fallen in love? In love with someone, ever fallen in love? In love with someone you shouldn't fallen in love with."
  19. AkumaJack
    Jun 8, 2017
    10
    This game is a flawed masterpiece.
    Some areas are the best designed ever in videogame history and some of the later ones are just flat out bad.
    But the game is great anyway. The combat system, the lore, the setting and mood of the game are on point. The DLC is one of the best i've ever played. Both because it encreases the challenge and because it has some of the best boss fights of    This game is a flawed masterpiece.
    Some areas are the best designed ever in videogame history and some of the later ones are just flat out bad.
    But the game is great anyway. The combat system, the lore, the setting and mood of the game are on point.

    The DLC is one of the best i've ever played. Both because it encreases the challenge and because it has some of the best boss fights of the whole game.

    Buy it with any doubt if you still haven't.

    I'm giving a 10/10 even if it isn't perfect. It has both problems regarding fps issues and game design ones imo.
    Nonetheless is one of my favourite games.    … Expand
  20. brendo214
    May 21, 2019
    9
    While this game does have quite a few frustrating areas, the way that it is burned into my memory shows just how, well, memorable it is.
  21. Edgard86
    May 22, 2018
    9
    Melhor Dark souls, viciante, ambientação e mapa perfeitos.

    Gamer Tag: Edgard 86
  22. RafaelBarrera
    Sep 13, 2019
    10
    A master piece. This game treats gamers like actual grown people, it doesn't treat you like you're stupid. Perfect combat, interesting lore, epic bosses, beautiful art...
    Not recommended for wimpy people ;)
  23. RubikPinkiePie
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Perfect game, is not hard but exigent, the game only gives you the bases of how to play and the rest of the game you will have to discover it on your own in a wide world without restrictions
  24. pavel2
    May 10, 2019
    0
    Probably the worst game I have ever bought. Game was fun for a short while when I fought common enemies and discovered new things but quickly became a nightmare when I encountered bosses. To say they are very unfair is an understatement. Avoid this overhyped game at all costs.
  25. Dperks
    Jan 10, 2019
    10
    I dropped this game at first but later came back and beat it and now i regularly come back to beat it again.
  26. HonestReviews69
    Jun 13, 2019
    9
    Fun if you are good. There is a lot more to the game than being hard. But if you can't get past the first undead areas, then this game will be terrible 4 u. I love it for it's amazing combat, amazing visuals, the soul system, and the difficulty. (which is fair btw) If u play it smart u won't die
  27. Hdogg
    Mar 24, 2020
    10
    Best game ever made. Anyone who actually gets to the end of the game or at least halfway through falls in love with it. The people who don't like it are those that gave up on it too early. No one likes this game right away. Just like the first time you took a sip of your daddy's beer. Grow up and drink the effing beer or shut up.
  28. MYP
    Mar 27, 2021
    10
    The Original Dark Souls is a must-play for any Video game fan or Critic. The game is one of those games that other art enthusiasts can look at it and say well that's unique. There's nothing like dark souls franchise out there and it all started with this game, i acknowledge that it was demon's souls that started it all but demon's souls falls short in comparison with dark souls.
  29. TheHound1
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    Incredible game design, level design, amazing environmental story telling, deep lore, doesn’t cater to a wide audience, is still being talked about 9 years after it’s release, literally spawned a whole new sub-genre.
    In a sea of uninspired generic easy as **** games, dark souls stands out as not only an “unforgiving” game but a game that respects the player and doesn’t treat them like a    Incredible game design, level design, amazing environmental story telling, deep lore, doesn’t cater to a wide audience, is still being talked about 9 years after it’s release, literally spawned a whole new sub-genre.
    In a sea of uninspired generic easy as **** games, dark souls stands out as not only an “unforgiving” game but a game that respects the player and doesn’t treat them like a **** idiot.
    In my opinion this is without a doubt the greatest game of all time.    … Expand
  30. scroole
    Mar 19, 2020
    10
    dasdasd dad ad a ad da das da dad asdasddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
  31. Khazar2
    May 5, 2020
    8
    A hack n slash game that actually provides a challenge unlike many of the others.
  32. soldar
    Jun 26, 2020
    10
    El juego llega a ser tan bueno que no dan ganas de quitar el juego y hay gran variedad de armas, escudos y armaduras
  33. Zaidx
    Jul 23, 2020
    10
    My favorite game of all time what else can I say its just perfect as a game
  34. flipflapx
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    Mi juego favorito de todos los tiempos. Pero no por su dificultad, para mi dark souls es grande por su gran sistema de combate y por las builds que te puedes hacer. Tiene muchas armas, armaduras y estilos de combate que lo hacen sumamente completo en ese aspecto. Los escenarios y los enemigos estan muy bien construidos, haciendo interesante la exploración por su "mundo". No te dejes llevarMi juego favorito de todos los tiempos. Pero no por su dificultad, para mi dark souls es grande por su gran sistema de combate y por las builds que te puedes hacer. Tiene muchas armas, armaduras y estilos de combate que lo hacen sumamente completo en ese aspecto. Los escenarios y los enemigos estan muy bien construidos, haciendo interesante la exploración por su "mundo". No te dejes llevar por la dificultad, mirar estos juegos y pensar que son buenos porque son difíciles para mi esta sumamente sobrevalorado y le ha hecho un mal favor a la industria de los videojuegos, haciendo que los desarrolladores se enfoquen en hacer juegos difíciles mas que juegos con buenas mecánicas de combate como dark souls.… Expand
  35. punkblud
    Jul 31, 2020
    9
    My many playthroughs of this game have proven to me, that videogames can be art. The world this game presents is one of immense detail and rich history and its a shame the casual player won't get to scratch the surface of what this game has to offer in terms of both story and gameplay. So much is left to the imagination as well as interpretation giving the player the ability to dwell inMy many playthroughs of this game have proven to me, that videogames can be art. The world this game presents is one of immense detail and rich history and its a shame the casual player won't get to scratch the surface of what this game has to offer in terms of both story and gameplay. So much is left to the imagination as well as interpretation giving the player the ability to dwell in thought of what they just experienced. Everyone knows this series for its crushing difficulty as well as its iconic boss fights, this is for good reason since they definitely live up to the hype. The bulk of the difficulty faced is completely fair and it lets the player learn from their mistakes instead of holding their hand with trivial tutorials and easy modes. The glaring issue many others and I face regards the level/boss design of certain areas of the game but outside of that this game is a true masterpiece that any fan of video games should experience at least once.… Expand
  36. KaleSungurCrane
    Nov 22, 2020
    10
    OVERALL - 97%

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

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

    This game and the SoulsBorne franchise have ruined gaming for me. I am addicted to these games. Nothing else has nailed the a balanced in game difficulty like this. It took me a while to get into the swing of it and of course rage quit 1000 times, but there is no equivalent in gaming to beating a section of Dark Souls after struggling on it for so long. The map is incredibly intricate and linked together beautifully, and the areas are impressively varied and creative. I love Dark Souls.    … Expand
  37. Brownies
    Dec 22, 2020
    10
    Dark souls took everything that demon's souls established and improved it in everyway, giving us one of the most challenging and deep video games ever.
  38. PlagueMan
    Dec 23, 2020
    10
    In the name of the gwyn, this game is a Masterpiece. Praise the sun, this game is so deep.
  39. Boldozer3u
    Dec 27, 2020
    10
    Dark souls is one of the deepest and hardest games ever made, from its minimalistic story tp its highly detailed world and NPCs.
  40. 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.
  41. 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
  42. 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
  43. ToOGoodOfAPlaya
    Dec 28, 2011
    3
    "You Died"
    "You Died"
    "You Died" Get used to that as you're going to see it A LOT. Let me start off with some positives: considering how large the game world is, there is zero load time. The world looks amazing and is vastly populated with seemingly endless, forever spawning enemies that are so hard, their nightmares are afraid of them. But that's where it ends for me. Don't get me    "You Died"
    "You Died"
    "You Died"
    Get used to that as you're going to see it A LOT.

    Let me start off with some positives: considering how large the game world is, there is zero load time.
    The world looks amazing and is vastly populated with seemingly endless, forever spawning enemies that are so hard, their nightmares are afraid of them.

    But that's where it ends for me.
    Don't get me wrong, I love a challenging game, but when I say a challenge, I mean one that isn't a chore to grind through for three hours whilst dying and returning to your checkpoint 15 minutes sprint away.

    And that's a massive failure to me, not only do the checkpoints happen only during a full solar eclipse, but if you stop by after killing 5 baddies, and you heal up, be prepared to kill those guys again, as they seemingly come back to life.

    Enemies also seemingly never run out of stamina, and despite the belief that the move set is varied you will be killed by the same 2 hit combo over and over by every enemy that is near you.

    "You Died"

    Bosses should be this hard in all games, but what they shouldn't do (and in Dark Souls they do EVERY TIME) is hit you with an area of effect attack that knocks you down, wait for you to just start getting up, then as you stand hit you with same attack again and again and again and again and again ad infinitum.
    I say that though, you'll most likely die from the evil stare they give you as every weapon an enemy wields, seemingly does about 10000000 HP of damage.

    In all if I was told why I started in a prison at the games start and what the outlining plan was (after 4 hours I'm yet to get out of Lordran as I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing or where I'm going) it may be forgivable.

    Suffice is to say that this game is unforgiving, aimless and boring.
    After defeating bosses for a reward that seemingly does little more than look nice, and levelling up to find I'm still getting killed in 2 hits, I find little else to praise.

    Poorly implemented targeting and boring "story" make this feel like a chore rather than fun.

    AVOID    … Expand
  44. 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.
  45. 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
  46. holymoly
    Aug 13, 2012
    7
    Dark Souls is a good game, but not a great game. What makes Dark Souls a good game is the challenging difficulty, dark atmosphere, and haunting boss encounters.

    GOOD Dark Souls is one of the hardest games ever made. It takes a truly obscene time commitment and a strong gaming background to be able to progress through this title. If you're new to role-playing games, this isn't the one    Dark Souls is a good game, but not a great game. What makes Dark Souls a good game is the challenging difficulty, dark atmosphere, and haunting boss encounters.

    GOOD

    Dark Souls is one of the hardest games ever made. It takes a truly obscene time commitment and a strong gaming background to be able to progress through this title. If you're new to role-playing games, this isn't the one you should start with. The game punishes failure more than any other game to arrive in the last decade; every time you die (and you will die a lot) you risk losing a vast amount of progress. That can be a good thing, however, because it encourages you to persevere and become excellent. The boss fights, which test even the best players, will demand greatness from you. The feeling you get when killing a truly difficult boss is like nothing else. BAD

    Three key points. First, the game lacks narrative almost entirely. It's strange to have an RPG without a story component, but there you have it. Don't come to Dark Souls looking to be entertained by the storytelling. Second, the game comes without common conveniences like the option to pause the game or fast-travel between locations. You'll find yourself running back through hostile areas again and again just to get to another location on the (non-existent) map. Third, the game doesn't explain how to perform simple actions like upgrading weapons, invading other worlds, storing inventory items, or what your next objectives should be. Players will need to do a lot of reading online in order to even learn how to aim with a bow. Some will argue that this just adds to the challenge, but I disagree - challenging difficulty is one thing, but not explaining how to interact with the game world is another thing entirely; it's just sloppy game design. CONCLUSION

    Though Dark Souls will appeal to some, most gamers will be (rightly) inclined to steer clear. The game does one and only one thing well - it punishes mediocrity. It doesn't tell a good story, doesn't help you learn how to play, and doesn't make playing convenient. It just beats on you again and again. Some will love it; other will hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle.    … Expand
  47. milesprower06
    Jun 8, 2014
    1
    I too came to this game through Games With Gold, and was looking forward to how challenging it supposedly was.

    I want challenging due to gameplay, not challenging because they don't show you even the most basic concepts of HOW to play. I didn't even make it 30 minutes in because my time is more valuable than throwing myself at a boss endlessly because I have no clue how to equip and use    I too came to this game through Games With Gold, and was looking forward to how challenging it supposedly was.

    I want challenging due to gameplay, not challenging because they don't show you even the most basic concepts of HOW to play. I didn't even make it 30 minutes in because my time is more valuable than throwing myself at a boss endlessly because I have no clue how to equip and use spells. Sorry. Questionable design decisions if you think players can just figure stuff out like that by screwing around in the menus hoping they click the right thing.    … Expand
  48. sominex
    Jun 5, 2014
    2
    this game looks cool but you can't even save, can't even go back if you make a mistake, annoying. I don't understand why a video game wouldn't allow you to save.
  49. 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.
  50. 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
  51. Starkiller94
    Jun 14, 2014
    1
    When this game was made available to be downloaded for free with the 'Games with Gold' program on Xbox Live, I thought I'd go ahead and try it. (Available from June 1st, 2014 - June 16th, 2014) Believe me, it's not worth the 3.9 gigabytes it takes up on your hard drive. This game is the most repetitive, unforgiving piece of rubbish I've ever played in my life. Just compare it to The ElderWhen this game was made available to be downloaded for free with the 'Games with Gold' program on Xbox Live, I thought I'd go ahead and try it. (Available from June 1st, 2014 - June 16th, 2014) Believe me, it's not worth the 3.9 gigabytes it takes up on your hard drive. This game is the most repetitive, unforgiving piece of rubbish I've ever played in my life. Just compare it to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which was released about a month after this game came out. Does this game look like it was made in 2011, or 2006? You tell me... I know Skyrim looks like it was made in 2011 for sure. The graphics are mostly made up of dull grays, browns, and blacks, with a little puke green added into the mix. Low resolution images and screen tearing plague the game. The characters mouths don't even move when they speak. The voice acting is horrible too, sounding like the voices were recorded in a portable toilet. The controls are even worse... I found myself drinking potions and using items in the middle of combat because the control placement is so bad. Want to hear the real kicker?

    Everytime you die, all of the enemies in the stage respawn!!!

    Yes, I'm not kidding... Even if one of the small minion enemies kill you, the last 20 guys you just blew through are coming back. So basically it's a patience game... It tests to see how frustrated you get before you put your controller through a wall. Don't get me wrong, I like a challenge as much as the next guy. But Dark Souls takes it way too far... The checkpoints are placed miles apart from each other, causing you to be sent like ten to twenty minutes back when you die. So yeah, that aspect makes the game extremely repetitive... It just boils down to an half-baked RPG that could have been something interesting, but turned out to be a crock of ****

    I beg you not to download this game... By not downloading or purchasing it, you'll save yourself a lot of grief and turmoil.    … Expand
  52. czombie
    Mar 25, 2012
    2
    This game has some promising features but it is way too difficult and has some annoying features. For instance, if you die in the middle of trying to clear an area, you have to go back to the beginning and kill the same mobs all over again (although you do get to keep the weapons and items that you've already found). If this game had an easier setting for more casual gamers, and if itThis game has some promising features but it is way too difficult and has some annoying features. For instance, if you die in the middle of trying to clear an area, you have to go back to the beginning and kill the same mobs all over again (although you do get to keep the weapons and items that you've already found). If this game had an easier setting for more casual gamers, and if it let you save in the middle of a quest, it might be a lot of fun. If you like a challenge and are an RPG fan then you might light this game a lot. I gave up on it through and will be moving on to something a little less difficult.… Expand
  53. plotlesviolence
    Apr 28, 2015
    0
    OVERALL - 0 (or less)
    The Dark Souls series are the worst-designed games ever made and have no redeeming factor. They are also the most overrated, because for reasons I can't understand, the rest of the internet adores them and actually praises their flaws as if they were virtues. "Hard but fair" they say? Dark Souls isn't hard, it's time-consuming and obtuse; once you waste 5 hours    OVERALL - 0 (or less)
    The Dark Souls series are the worst-designed games ever made and have no redeeming factor. They are also the most overrated, because for reasons I can't understand, the rest of the internet adores them and actually praises their flaws as if they were virtues. "Hard but fair" they say? Dark Souls isn't hard, it's time-consuming and obtuse; once you waste 5 hours grinding your level up and find the "cheat" weapons with the walkthrough, most encounters become so easy they're boring; and it isn't fair, the game randomly punishes you (SEVERELY) often and without warning, and is totally unplayable without a step-by-step walkthrough. If someone patched the game to remove the upgrade system, properly balance the enemy encounters, and put a navigation arrow telling you where to go, a 50-hour-plus slog would turn into a 3-hour game that would bore you after the first hour.

    CONTROL - 2
    DS is a shallow hack-and-slash. Damage can go through blocking shields, and is affected by range to the enemy and whether you press the light/fast attack or heavy attack button, with every move drawing from a limited but regenerating stamina pool. There are only three moves:
    a) while locked-on, deflect an incoming attack to instant-kill; this reduces the game to a quicktime event without a button prompt
    b) while locked-on, hold the shield button to block a strike until the enemy staggers, then counter-attack
    c) do a dodge-roll to avoid a strike, then counter-attack. This is the most risky strategy, it mostly only works on bosses (whereas a and b only work on standard soldiers)
    All of these put you at risk when you face more than one enemy at a time, because you can only focus on one.
    The game also lies to you about there being other options. Supposedly it's possible to wield one heavy sword with both hands, or one weapon in each hand, but since you need the shield to block if you want to survive multiple encounters, these are impossible.

    PRESENTATION - 7
    Graphics aren't bad, but everything more or less looks alike (brick castle with vegetation); the only reason you recognize places is that the game halts your progress so much you become familiar with the most generic of locations. The story isn't great but is unintrusive. Enemies ragdoll when they die and the physics of broken crates/barrels is actually pretty cool, although physics never affect gameplay.

    DESIGN - 0
    Non-automatic upgrade systems are a cancer on videogames, because they always result in boring grinding early on and then being boring-ly overpowered later in the game. Of course DS embraces both flaws to both extremes. But worse, you drop all non-spent experience points where you die and they vanish if you don't collect them on the next life, so it's easily possible to waste 2 hours of your time for nothing.
    Every checkpoint has like 5 paths branching from it, 2 of them hidden, only 1 of them feasible in order to advance the game, and of course there are no hints as to which path that is. It is unplayable without a walkthrough. This is a problem videogames solved around the GTA3/Crazy Taxi era: navigation arrows.
    Personally, I don't like "exploration" games, but for those who do, one of the prerequisites is that exploration not be painful. In DS, the constant risk of losing all your experience holds you back from trying new paths or risky jumps. At one point I fell into a pit and got hit by a gas that took half my health (aka "cursed"). PERMANENTLY. Unless you trekked across the entire map and bought one of a LIMITED number of cures. And since enemies respawn, it is totally possible to lose half your health forever.
    There are also some purchaseable projectiles, and the occasional rare item that grants you a significant advantage (like doubling your health or the weapon's damage, etc.) but you'll never use them because you die so regularly that any one-use item would be a waste.
    The game is so punishing that you stop feeling guilty about winning through exploits that aren't fun: spamming projectiles from outside enemy reach, tricking the enemy AI into walking off cliffs, etc.
    This isn't "hard", it's bad design. Super Meat Boy is hard. ANYONE can beat Dark Souls with a walkthrough guide and the willingness to be bored and frustrated for 50 hours straight. I only wasted as much time as I did to see what the fuss was about, and I regret even that.    … Expand
  54. PanzerWulf
    Dec 30, 2011
    0
    This game is incredibly repetitive. I like a challenge more than the next guy, but goddamnit! I play video games for fun and entertainment, not for bitter frustration. If you constantly like dying from cheap shots while putting up with such a lame battle sequences. This game is for you. I don't know about you, but i don't have the patience to fight nearly impossible bosses and their cheapThis game is incredibly repetitive. I like a challenge more than the next guy, but goddamnit! I play video games for fun and entertainment, not for bitter frustration. If you constantly like dying from cheap shots while putting up with such a lame battle sequences. This game is for you. I don't know about you, but i don't have the patience to fight nearly impossible bosses and their cheap hits to reload from a checkpoint ten minutes to fight that same boss again, with all the annoying enemies respawned again. Its not the challenge that really gets me, its the repetitive battle sequences, not to mention complete and utter boredom. At least in Skyrim, there's alot more ways to fight an enemy. This game is going to make you get so mad to the point where it just becomes, not fun. I admit, the games out today make it to easy for you to win, but you have to draw the line somewhere. At least make the game with some kind of variety. I love well written storylines and DS doesn't have one really. So it almost for me, becomes pointless to let this game drag on more than it has to. I had to turn off the game after dying 574897539 friggin times before i start putting unnecessary holes in my walls. This F--- this game! A video game should be fun to play and not a hassle! Skip this atrocity of a game and buy Skyrim.… Expand
  55. 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
  56. youlouz
    Jan 20, 2015
    3
    This is one of the worst, most boring games I have ever played

    PROS
    -good graphics

    CONS
    -sad
    -too much to learn
    -boring
    -slow
    -too hard

    DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!
  57. 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
  58. 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
  59. 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
  60. 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
  61. 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
  62. 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
  63. Mohammad22
    Feb 20, 2012
    10
    Dark Souls is the BEST RPG GAME THIS GEN!!! the only reason some people hate it is becasue its Hard.. Otherwise its a really great and fun game. You MUST by it if you have a PS3 or Xbox 360
  64. 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
  65. 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
  66. Firemind
    Oct 27, 2012
    5
    Dark Souls is a good game in some ways. I like the way you fight and how you have to watch out for traps, attacks and so on. It's pretty cool, because you won't come far with button-smashing.That's something I really like about Dark Souls. Also there's nothing to say about the difficulty of the game: it's okay, but sometimes unfair. For example: you search the area for the next checkpointDark Souls is a good game in some ways. I like the way you fight and how you have to watch out for traps, attacks and so on. It's pretty cool, because you won't come far with button-smashing.That's something I really like about Dark Souls. Also there's nothing to say about the difficulty of the game: it's okay, but sometimes unfair. For example: you search the area for the next checkpoint and meet an enemy, that's much higher than you are. So you die, that's okay. But you lose all the Exp gained on the way to this enemy. So you've got two options: forget the Exp, farm everything again or you try to get it back, but actually there's no chance of getting it back, because you die again if you go there, where your Exp are. So what? You farm again and again and again. You spend hours and hours farming the same routes over and over again. If you like this, go and play World of Warcraft but in Dark Souls it's just annoying. I really want to like this game, but it's difficult to like it that way. Don't be fooled by all of these hype-guys, giving the game a 10. It's an average game, but nothing more. Dragon's Dogma is much more fun, nearly the same way of Gameplay and you have the choice how difficult that game is.… Expand
  67. chainsawslayer
    Mar 9, 2016
    4
    why there is such a big hype about the souls series is beyond me. i bought this game because i wanted a good, challenging game. But instead i got a cryptic, broken, low budget game. Glad i paid only 5 bucks for it.
    First the pros: i like the environments and the enemy design.especially the boss design.
    The cons: the controls are totally overloaded, and the buttonlayout is completely    why there is such a big hype about the souls series is beyond me. i bought this game because i wanted a good, challenging game. But instead i got a cryptic, broken, low budget game. Glad i paid only 5 bucks for it.
    First the pros: i like the environments and the enemy design.especially the boss design.
    The cons: the controls are totally overloaded, and the buttonlayout is completely random and makes even after hours no sense.
    The menu is a total mess, and the most things get no explanation. If the game is
    self-explanatory like Ninja Gaiden, or Street of Rage then it okay when there is no ingame help.
    And that brings me to the next point. That is what the game should be, a linear brawler with a high difficult level, but instead we get a "where i have to go" game, with no map or waypoint system.
    The combat system is so stiff and unresponsive, and you have to fight more the camera then your enemies. do not believe you get something like a ninja gaiden combatsystem in an RPG version.
    The characterdesign, of your own guy, is one of the uninspired if seen in years, and i have no relation to the character. That is also the fault of the missing story. Some say, you have to carefully listen to the NPCs to get the whole story. Sorry, but no! The voiceacting is so boring and bad, that it is not even laughable. Even the fist CDROM games in the 90s have better voiceacting. The checkpoint system adds only more frustration to the game. it is so annoying, to go for an 20 min walk after a enemy hits you with a cheap instant kill, or the camera or the bad controls kills you. if this was a straight hack&slay, or you know where you have to go, you could get through the complete game in on sitting with ease, because content wise there is not much to it.    … Expand
  68. TheAllRoundNerd
    Dec 22, 2014
    4
    I personally don't understand why people like this game. The toned down difficulty just spoiled the game, enemies are WAY easier to kill, did not deserve a game of the year nom at the game awards
  69. Sh0dan
    Jan 5, 2012
    3
    Clunky, inefficient design doesn't belong in games that are so challenging. For most gamers, challenge is fun part of any game. In most cases, the harder the better compared to today's super accessible casual games for the masses, so I was looking forward to Dark Souls based on what I had heard from around the web. But boy were those opinions misleading. Its not that the game is tooClunky, inefficient design doesn't belong in games that are so challenging. For most gamers, challenge is fun part of any game. In most cases, the harder the better compared to today's super accessible casual games for the masses, so I was looking forward to Dark Souls based on what I had heard from around the web. But boy were those opinions misleading. Its not that the game is too difficult.. I mean it is difficult, but that's not the problem, the problem is that its horrendously designed and when games are this poorly designed it really isnt a good idea for them not to have a forgiving nature. The game itself tries to mix western style high fantasy with outdated traditional Japanese design sensibilities which isnt a terrible idea, but its so poorly executed that the player constantly finds himself dying through no fault of his own. Camera's getting stuck on the surrounding, rolling directly through solid walls and falling to your death etc. Add to that the unfriendly user controls and interface with multiple button presses when one would suffice, odd control layout (left and right bumpers are the primary attacks / defence), the huge eye-saw of a HUD and inventory system, and the fact that game regularly slows down and gets very laggy even when there aren't any enemies on screen, and it all boils down to a terrible port of a mediocre PS3 game. And to top it all off, the environment GFX and sound are bland and uninspired... Anyway, I've wasted enough of my time with this game, so I'll end with the warning, regardless of what you have read about the PS3 exclusive Demon Souls (which apparently did have some potential, Dark Souls the sequel is not a worthy successor or a game I can recommend to anybody, especially on the 360.… Expand
  70. 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
  71. 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
  72. 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.
  73. Chapa9dj
    Aug 24, 2012
    4
    Overrated, uninspiring and boring. So this is the game that my friends pictured to me as the ''Panacea of Gaming'' and turned out to be completely wrong.
    The gameplay is clunky as hell, especially when you engage in a boss fight.. The map design feels bland and very empty, not to mention that the graphics are downright terrible. Is this 2012 or 2004?
    Ok, continuing with this, its not    Overrated, uninspiring and boring. So this is the game that my friends pictured to me as the ''Panacea of Gaming'' and turned out to be completely wrong.
    The gameplay is clunky as hell, especially when you engage in a boss fight.. The map design feels bland and very empty, not to mention that the graphics are downright terrible. Is this 2012 or 2004?
    Ok, continuing with this, its not open world as some people told me, its completely linear and boring and the character lacks personality and charisma.
    Also, it has GFWL. That is enough for anyone to stay away. I don't even know why companies still use this.

    I'm glad i got it as a birthday gift, but sometimes i wish my friend didn't have to spend that amount of money. I'm not ungrateful, on the contrary, but this game is definitely not my cup of tea.

    Definitely one of the most dissapointing games of 2012.    … Expand
  74. PWNS74R
    Nov 29, 2012
    4
    My experience with Dark Souls was terrible, now the reason why I say that, is that the game is flawed! So, first of the all lets get the graphics out of the way, it looks good but the textures look flat... Done! The A.I. offends me as not only is your character slow at recovering... but once you've been hit, say goodbye to your souls, as the A.I. WILL NOT STOP HITTING YOU! Plus, onMy experience with Dark Souls was terrible, now the reason why I say that, is that the game is flawed! So, first of the all lets get the graphics out of the way, it looks good but the textures look flat... Done! The A.I. offends me as not only is your character slow at recovering... but once you've been hit, say goodbye to your souls, as the A.I. WILL NOT STOP HITTING YOU! Plus, on top of that the A.I. will disregard it's own safety and fall off a cliff to get you! The controls feel slippery and awkward... why would you attack with the triggers, this isn't a first person shooter! The camera is awful, often getting pushed upwards against a wall, and I'm unable to see my character until I manually move itl As for story and music, I don't care... it's bland and unimportant. However, I do have to praise From Software for the art direction!

    So yes, the game is difficult.. but for all the wrong reasons, it's called Fake Difficulty, and thats what dissapointed me, if it all genuine... I would of enjoyed it! But is it worth playing? Not if you want a fair challenge... only resort to it if other games aren't difficult enough for you, and you want to push yourself!    … Expand
  75. 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.
  76. 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.
  77. 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
  78. X-fushion
    Oct 5, 2012
    9
    If you are a gamer that wants some challenge, get this game yeah it´s hard as hell but its totally worth it, the boss battles are epic and all the adventure you go trough, the combat works well, the atmosphere is really cool and also discovering the secrets of this game.
  79. drlowdon
    Jan 18, 2015
    10
    A spiritual successor to the PS3 only Demon Souls, Dark Souls is a game like nothing else available on the Xbox360. As you may well have already have heard you will die a lot in the process of attempting to complete the game. In the 75+ hours it took me to finish I would estimate that I suffered in excess of one hundred deaths. Unlike a number of other games I could name however thisA spiritual successor to the PS3 only Demon Souls, Dark Souls is a game like nothing else available on the Xbox360. As you may well have already have heard you will die a lot in the process of attempting to complete the game. In the 75+ hours it took me to finish I would estimate that I suffered in excess of one hundred deaths. Unlike a number of other games I could name however this rarely (Blight Town’s frame rates and a certain archer being the exception) became frustrating as each death can be seen as a learning experience allowing you to progress just that little bit further next time.

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

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

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

    For anyone looking for something just that bit different I can't recommend Dark Souls highly enough, just ensure that you have the internet handy as the game doesn't clearly explain many of the concepts that are vital if you are to make any kind of progress.    … Expand
  80. fox294
    Jan 15, 2013
    10
    This game made me rethink the way that I play and enjoy videogames. --------------- TES: Skyrim was released very shortly after Dark Souls. At the time, Skyrim had been heavily hyped and advertised and Dark Souls slipped right past my radar. I do recall seeing it right next to Skyrim on the Metacritic chart but dismissing it. So I played through Skyrim and enjoyed it thoroughly ,This game made me rethink the way that I play and enjoy videogames. --------------- TES: Skyrim was released very shortly after Dark Souls. At the time, Skyrim had been heavily hyped and advertised and Dark Souls slipped right past my radar. I do recall seeing it right next to Skyrim on the Metacritic chart but dismissing it. So I played through Skyrim and enjoyed it thoroughly , thinking it was a 10. But even then I understood that Skyrim is a game where you walk around without any risk. This isn't a knock and it isn't unusual - most games these days present no actual risk, no heart-pounding moments. In Skyrim, after you slog your way through mission after mission you eventually build yourself into an unstoppable juggernaut. So whereas at the beginning of the game all you had to do was run or reload, by the end the only way you're going to die is if you hurl yourself off a cliff. At that point, it… Expand
  81. Rammsoldat
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    You the chosen undead make your pilgramage from the undead asylum in the north to lordran to fulfil the prophecy and break the curse of the darksign. For people who played the previous game "demon's souls" this game will be very familiar as it plays exactly the same with the odd addition here and there, there is also the familiar concept of souls as currency that you drop when dead andYou the chosen undead make your pilgramage from the undead asylum in the north to lordran to fulfil the prophecy and break the curse of the darksign. For people who played the previous game "demon's souls" this game will be very familiar as it plays exactly the same with the odd addition here and there, there is also the familiar concept of souls as currency that you drop when dead and have to fight your way back to. The best new feature of this game is the intergrated world, no longer do you have the nexus hub and warp to each level now you must fight your way to wherever you must journey. This game like the last one is for gamers seeking a test of skill and determination. A game not for the weak of mind or the weak of heart.… Expand
  82. 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
  83. 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
  84. ZzZ85
    Jan 13, 2014
    10
    Dark souls is my favorite game of all time. No other game comes close, period! Demons souls was really really awesome, but Dark souls is just amazing!
  85. 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
  86. 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.
  87. kevlar4
    May 18, 2012
    9
    dark souls is an awesome game it is one of the hardest games of this generation my only gripes are there are some pvp balancing issues the framerate drops in certain areas and the controls dont always work
  88. 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
  89. 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
  90. 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
  91. ReSultZ
    Dec 2, 2011
    10
    Simply point you have NEVER played a game like them as Dark Souls and Demon's Souls are on another level. The bad news is these games are so long and good, they ruin other games.
  92. XxMayhemxX
    Feb 2, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing game. After about 20-30 minutes of playing you learn the enemies attack styles/defensive stances/parry stances and can handle them with ease. Then you won't die no more unless you get careless. This is very important.. DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.. ANYTIME..Once you do then your dead. To me this game is a realistic combat game. PPl complain all you do is block. Well, if you don't block in real life you die(or get hit) If you don't want to get hit or die.. then you either A. block, or B. Dodge/Roll... Same for in the game... It's not like countless other games were you can take hits like a sponge.. with a crazy amount of hp in a lifebar. If you dug through your backpack IRL, would you expect the enemies around you to freeze in place til your done? Nope.. didn't think so.. not in combat in this game either... Back to enemy stances and combat.. you mastered the undead in the beginning? ok.. Next area...block and block some more. Study their moves and patterns because their completely diff then the undead from the beginning. They can parry and riposte if you strike at the wrong time. It's all about blocking and timing... and if you don't study them you will die. Once again take your time. IF you do die. You don't lose ANY items, only your souls(money), and they STAY where you died and don't disappear unless you die again.. so don't rush it. Take your time, focus on your enemies, not your souls and use strategy with each and every fight. Treat every single enemy like it's your last 2 hit points and you will be victorious. After logging well over 200 hours into the game(i haven't beat it yet) nothing is too difficult and you feel like you've become a black belt... literally But any small misstep can spell your doom. So you must stay vigilant at all times.. block when you walk around every corner. Graphics: Some ppl are raving about how good they are. Others are complaining they are horrible. Well I got the 411. The view on the horizon(far away view) is beautiful.. the world up close, not so much(bland textures). The weapons and armor.. simply amazing...(lighting and parallax bump mapping are superb) you can tell From Software put more focus on weapons and armor graphics more so then the world which i am perfectly fine with. There are a few pieces of armor that are more beautiful then anything seen in Skyrim. Story: There IS a story.. it's just not told to you in the normal fashion.. Your character is living the story. You, yourself are creating the story. One reviewer on here keeps comparing this game to Halo and FPS tournaments. Rediculous. it's a 3rd person action adventure combat game, not a shooter. This game is simply amazing. Do yourself a favor and BUY this game if you have any interest in action adventure PC style rpgs, you'll love this game. In fact, pick up a PS3 simply for Demons Souls, you'll be glad you did. Demons Souls is not getting the due respect it deserves, Multiplayer: You can play offline or online tho later boss battles may require you to have another player help you out(think Smough/Ornstien) As the back of the box states.. groundbreaking online features.. you can raid another players game.. kill them, and get their souls. Or you can place down a marker that says your ready to join another player coop style(or select a marker from someone else to summon them instead) It only works til you beat the areas boss then the other player dissappears... Grinding: There isn't quite the need to grind as ppl say.. unless your just getting hit too much by bosses/enemies. I grinded alot in the first area(undead burg) but after playing the game alot and learning how to fight... I can safely say.. i could start over.. and not need to grind... so it isn't nessacary so long as you fight properly... block and dodge/roll, time your attacks, look for openings... play it safe.. don't be a hack and slashing superman. You will get hit ALOT. Some ppl complain all you do is spam block.... so what.. no different then spamming attack on most conventional hack and slashers with an occasional heal.. or spamming guns in FPS's while aiming... Diff strokes for diff folks... Alot of ppl compare this game to Skyrim. Even I did earlier. Most ppl say it's not as good as Skyrim.. overall it's not.. but it's got alot of things going for it Skyrim does not... and the fact alone that so many ppl are using it in the same sentence as Skyrim says alot.. no other RPG besides Oblivion and Fallout 3 can make that statement... Say what you want, but Bethesda could learn a thing or 2 about melee combat from Dark Souls Again.. Go directly to your local store and BUY this game pronto... and learn to fight pansies... I gave the game a 9.. cause nothing is perfect. Blighttown frame-rate issues and multiplay can be frustrating for some ppl. Wasn't a problem for me. I played it all solo except 2 hard bosses. For all the haters, play Megaman on Nintendo and stfu… Expand
  93. dendoi21
    Feb 9, 2012
    10
    If your an old school gamer that use to die alot playing Ghouls & Ghost and you can stand it being in his underwear game on end. Well this game is for you, You can start the game naked and die alot just like old times and throw your remote out your living room window.
    That in my opinion, is game of the year!
  94. Diavir
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    An amazing game. This was easily my favorite game of 2011, the combat is completely solid in every way imaginable and feels meaningful. Every hit feels like it has weight behind it. As for the difficulty, yes the game is hard, yes you will more than likely get frustrated, but it isn't hard in a way that isn't fair. It requires you to learn your opponents moves and skill sets, findAn amazing game. This was easily my favorite game of 2011, the combat is completely solid in every way imaginable and feels meaningful. Every hit feels like it has weight behind it. As for the difficulty, yes the game is hard, yes you will more than likely get frustrated, but it isn't hard in a way that isn't fair. It requires you to learn your opponents moves and skill sets, find weaknesses and strengths, analyze every part of the fight and then use it your advantage. My first play-through was around 60 hours. After completing the game you are instantly thrust into the game again which features an even harder difficulty. You are allowed to keep all your weapons, armor, items and souls, but will lose your keys (minus the master key) shortcuts, and a few other things. Monsters in this mode hit for a lot more and overall the game is even more unforgiving, it plays off the fact you have beaten the game and know the fights and tests you to your breaking point. The story is also another thing I really liked, while it is fairly sparse unless you do your share of work to figure out what is going on, it leaves a lot to the imagination, which I can understand would be aggravating to some but I was very fond of it.

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

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

    Yes its that addictive. But if you do not have patience this is not the game for you. Great voice acting and incredible to play. Would love improved graphics, but game play always trumps graphics.    … Expand
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 »