This is one of the best games I have ever played. Dark souls spits in the faces of all the new linear/mass appeal driven games and delivers something special. Something you don't see very often these days, a game that takes some big boy pants to overcome.

This game is as rewarding as difficult. Every enemy in the game is a challenge, it's great to spend time learning how to beat them. For a strange reason, it's highly addictive too.

Punishment at one of the fullest, But Victory at it's best. Dark Souls continues to receive a very demonic challenge with a lot of hours to spend developing your skills and training how to fight specific enemies. A large amount of weapons and monsters will keep you in for the adventure.. Just be warned this game is not meant to be easy and raging will occur

This game is the most overrated ever! Let me Explain why I think this game is bad.......1st: There is no choice of difficulty settings, instead you were force to be challenge all the time (which I hate).......2nd: Its exactly the same game as Demon Souls, only difference is the place, environment and the monsters, people was mad that "COD" always being a rip off from its previous game every time but what about Dark Souls rip off Demon Souls?..... 3rd: Its not "open world" type like Skyrim or Fallout 3 but instead your were force to go on a linear path anywhere........4th: There is very few dialogue choices while communicating with several NPCs (infact there were very few NPCs) on a game which its genre has being called an "RPG" game........5th There is no "cheats" or what so ever for players who are so frustrated by the game and doesn't want to be challenge.......6th: There is no storyline to it, just a linear dialogue and cutscene to push you forward? To me gaming is about "fun" and I find this game isn't about "fun" but "challenges". For me who has less "free time" and a busy person, I find this game a horrible game for me...... If I want to be challenged, I'll do it in real life like challenge myself in sports or any competition that benefits me in real life and not on a nerd virtual videogame that was made by someone who is successful at making money from giving others "challenges".… Expand

El mas grandioso, melancólico y tenebroso juego de la historia, direccion de arte y de enemigo derivados de una auténtica inspiración demoniaca de los autores, y lo mejor este año sale el 2.

This game is really something else. If you ask anyone for a game like Dark Souls, they will all tell you Demon Souls. You will then be prompted to ask is there any other game like those two. The answer is no. There is not one game in the world that is at least 51% similar to this game, and man does that piss me off. I love this game so much, that I spent months looking for a similar experience.

The experience that I got from this game was more of a thrill than any other game ever. Let me start with the fear factor. This game is NOT a horror game. Sure the enemies look horrific and are very detailed, but it is an action RPG. With all this in mind, it will scare the out of you. The constant fear of dying looming over your head is menacing, and trust me, you will die. It is like a Rubik's cube that if you don't solve in time explodes and kills you on impact.

So what about it makes it so difficult? The controls are extremely simple. A two year old can get its control scheme, and that same two year old could figure out the menus. Does this make the game easier? The answer is not really. All it does is force you to rely more on skill rather than luck. Everything is super tight and responsive, where if you make a mistake, you can't blame the controller or the game for screwing you over. You made the mistake, and you alone. So with an easy layout and controls, what makes it hard? People who have played the game remember that first fight. THE FIRST FIGHT IS A BOSS WHO KILLS YOU IN TWO HITS. Should you get past him, you fight some normal guys which are the bare minimum. Wanna swing that sword around and try to breeze past? JOKES ON YOU, THAT WIMPY THING ALREADY KILLED YOU. Oh and you lost all of your experience because you probably died twice. When you die you have a chance to redeem what you have lost during that set time. In order to reclaim what you lost, you need to return to where you died and pick it up. If you die before you get there BOOM the Rubik's cube exploded. You die a lot due to its unforgiving enemies. This is what makes this game amazing. Each enemy is a puzzle, and you need to learn the enemy before you can kill it. This usually means that you die in the process of finding out its weaknesses. Bosses obviously take a lot more time, because the window of opportunity is smaller, and they do way more damage.

To help you out, the game has bonfires which give you life and you can apply all of the rpg elements of the game like a huge amount of upgrading. Weapons and armor can be upgraded through materials gained through the monsters you slay and the chests you open, and new items can be crafted. The currency is universal and used for basically everything. You can get the currency by killing monsters and using certain items.

There is also a chance to individualize your character by upgrading different attributes which truly paves the way. You are given a different puzzle depending on what you upgrade, meaning you will have to approach things differently if you are magic heavy than if you are a guy that uses a sword and shield. Each approach is VERY different, adding a large amount of replay ability. WARNING: some approaches are harder than others.

This game is long for some and longer for others. I beat on my first play through in about 35 hours, but it can go up to 100 hours easily. The place is huge and there are lots of things to discover when in the world. Each place you visit you will definitely go back to at least ten times either for progression's sake, or to farm materials for upgrades and items.

Now onto what a ton of people dock points because of: the story. It is very convoluted into the game. There is one, you just need to look for it, making EVEN THE STORY a Rubik's cube. If you actually put time into noticing it (which is very very hard but indeed possible, like the game) the story is actually very good. It follows the high fantasy genre of storytelling and is very cool. It is in fact one of my favorite things to do. Finding the lore in itself is like defeating a boss, but that is just me, and considering this is a niche game, I don't expect people to like that factor. Everything about this game includes a selective audience, but if you are willing to give it a try, you will be part of either extreme. Hate it or love it, this game is a one of a kind experience… Expand

One of the most engrossing and challenging games of this generation. Don't let the motto "Prepare to Die" deter you. Yes, death will come in many forms, yet there is such depth and beauty in the world that you can't help but to face death over and over again in order to experience one of the most invigorating senses of accomplishment any game has to offer.

There are many reviews and videos showing the gameplay and online system of the game. And these things are very enjoyable and add a lot to this game (the combat is fun and responsive, the online system works wonderfully, and the weapons are diverse and fun). But I think I will focus on my favorite and less-covered aspect of the game. The depth, beauty of the world and its characters.

FIrst of all, the world is beautiful. There are large epic castles, deep dreary, yet magnificent, tombs, and mysterious and intriguing forests. The scenery draws you in and the amount of detail put into it is astounding. The same goes for the enemies, they are creative and unique. There is a lot of detail to each one of them as well. And I don't just mean visual detail

Almost every spec of armor, weapon, or item in the game has a story or description behind it. This includes the items owned by the enemy. It is this level of detail and depth that really makes dark souls a masterpiece. For each item tells a little bit about the story via a written description in the menu. If the player wants to dive farther into the world, they have to read these descriptions. And they are well worth it. The game does such a good job at drawing you into the world, that it doesn't feel like a chore to read every description, it feels rewarding.

The characters in the game also add that as well. Each character you encounter has their own story and adventure transpiring the same time as yours. As you progress in your quest, they do the same in theirs. Sometimes these paths cross. Sometimes there are rewards for interacting with characters, sometimes there are major set backs. Think of character interaction like side quests, they don't drastically change the main story, but they can greatly help you out or add a whole new level of depth to the current story. And all of it is optional. But since each character has such well written dialogue, you may find yourself becoming attached to them and yearning to interact with them as much as possible. You may start to feel bad about certain character circumstances, and you may start to hate certain character actions. Overall, It is rare to find a game that can get you this attached to computer characters. This is why dark souls is one of my favorite games.

Dark Souls is a masterpiece. It has an extremely deep and rich world covered with beautiful scenes, terrifying enemies, and complex and intriguing characters. All of this is layered between a responsive and fun combat system along with a unique online feature. It is one of the best games of the generation and a personal favorite of mine. The difficulty and complexity is not for everyone. However, I do recommend that everyone should try this out.… Expand

Dark Souls is nothing other than a rare masterpiece. The only thing I'd heard about this game before a friend recommended it to me, was that the game was ungodly difficult. It didn't get the best of the best reviews and I never heard much about it on the internet or even in my school. One person's description of the game convinced me to purchase it and I am so glad I did. I just beat the Undead Church and I don't think I've been this hooked on a game since the Zelda titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The game never holds your hand, which is surprisingly unique in a sea of games that legitimately make you press the X button to defeat a boss and point you directly to your objective. I love how you are going on one thing, ring the bells. Despite not having a motive or any sort of conveyance, I found myself wanting to venture deeper and deeper into the game. This is what makes the game so compelling, it doesn't need a plot-heavy story and lots of objective markers to get you to go places, it just needs its world. I kept exploring and I managed to reach objectives without even realized that I just trekked across a game world for 17 hours. Not to mention that the game is difficult. It's not Call of Duty's veteran difficulty where enemies just inflict double damage on you, no, it's the fact that the game says, "Here's how you hit, block and dodge. Now have fun!" It leaves you to discover the combat and the vast amount of enemies for yourself. Dark Souls succeeds so much here, because you get an unparalleled sense of accomplishment for tackling goals. If you die, it's because you were too hasty or didn't plan out your strategy right, which makes the game more skill-based than any game this generation. It's a shame, because the 90s had tons of games like Quake that had strategy-based difficulty like this game. It is one of the most remarkably unique and enjoyable experiences I've had this generation and I couldn't recommend it any more.… Expand

while the difficulty level of this game is high, every time you die its your own fault. the combat feels so good it never gets boring because every enemy is a enemy that can kill you not like in other games where you spam 1 key to win. this game just draws you in this world its so fun and rewarding to play it was my game of the year

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


the next game if I know that this continues
do not buy, do not admit a game with a hard blow so easy to take power
I and most people think the same
I do not do because I'm not a coward!!
.… Expand

Absolutely my favorite game of all time. I recommend it to everyone i know that loves gaming. The boss fights are the best I've ever experienced in a game, the armor is beautiful, and you have so much freedom in building your character. This game spoiled me and set the bar so high for everything else i play, i love it,.

I like this game. I managed, barely to not die just yet. Weapons are fun and can be upgraded several ways, but the direction and characters look... odd. Like it threw me out of the immersion with a giant head thing that grabs you by his teeth and that is a form of transportation to some near end of the game? Really? I just started and love it's variety, but character models need to feel human and or real, rather than some Japanese oddities of characters. I guess Americans like art styles that immerse you. Rather than be random and unique. It's odd, but fun and challenging. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait to see how I die.… Expand

In 2011, majority of the game review websites awarded the Game of the Year to Skyrim. Although Skyrim is a good game, I think Dark Souls is the game which deserves the Game of the Year Award (for 2011). It has a better combat engine (which ultimately makes it the "better" game). You always have to think of "how" to slay your enemy and not simply point at it and slash away. Everything revolves around this making it a very engaging game from start to finish. Some would say that Dark Souls is too difficult and does not appeal to mass audiences. It is true that it can be a difficult game but if all games were easy then that would make gaming very boring and lifeless. Dark Souls stands out because it is one of the unique games among the masses. Prepare to die!… Expand

This is the single most important, and the best RPG ever made, IMO.
you will not find a more Challeging game, i love how you have to figure everything out yourself, no guidelines, just pure use of your own mind, i love it!

And the weapons and armors, OMFG i have never seen such cool looking weapons and armor in anygame before, daaaamn you can look so goddamn epic! (pardon my language).

if you haven't tried it yet, it's a must buy, it's hard, but it's worth it!

and there is so many things to this game, that you'll have 200+H's fun!

Best RPG Ever made Period!
JUST BUY IT! you will never regret it!… Expand

The mixed bag of mixed bags, Dark Souls shines incandescently in some places while falling flat on its face in others. First come the graphics; the environments are stunning and detailed to perfection, but constant frame rate drops can ruin them at times. Combat can sometimes be a marvel and it can sometimes be a chore, at times (mostly boss fights) its fantastic, flows beautifully, and is a ton of fun whilst playing CO-OP, but outside of that the combat consists of exploiting the AI of other enemies...mostly the criminally overpowered back-stab or the Parry--Riposte combo which is so powerful and easy it almost breaks the game. Story wise the lore of Lordran is rich and interesting... but the story your character is taken on is abysmal. the story ceases to tell what you are doing, why you are doing it, and why it will matter for the first half of the game.... and when finished with the first of your tedious tasks your then introduced to a character who tells you to do go on a scavenger hunt for reasons you won't understand unless you've delved deeply into the lore. the story doesn't really suck you in or even make you care about what your doing, and the pay off includes two extremely vague and lackluster endings and NG+ which boosts up the difficulty higher every time you complete the game...its good at first but after a while it really limits what you can and can't do whilst playing. while in the first playthrough you can really use any weapon you please to with only a few exceptions...the higher NG your on the more it limits how your going play (you find yourself using overpowered black knight weapons or overpowered sorceries constantly which make the game boring). its these polarizing qualities that the game has that made me give it this score, sometimes i have a blast while playing it, other times i contemplate selling it. if you haven't played it yet I'd recommend you rent it before buying it, there's a chance you'll like it...but its a very very small one… Expand

While I know allot of people rave on about this game being the ultimate challenge, in my opinion it isn't. Don't get me wrong, it is a really good game with excellent visuals, a deep and complex world that just begs you to explore it. Combat is a little flimsy and could have been improved to be a bit more forgiving, to me I feel this is partially responsible for the difficulty level, but with practice it can be worked with. This game really reminds me of the old days and coin operated arcades. Sticking quarter after quarter into a game that just seemed designed to swallow your money. Yet with enough money (and a bucket load of patience) you beat it and felt fantastic. Then you just repeated this process until the game was burned into your mind and you could finish it with just one coin, feeling like the ultimate bad@$$. Dark Souls seems to follow this philosophy a bit, giving that same kind of satisfaction. But, challenge aside, there is a reason this style of gaming stopped being popular. It's really nothing more than a glorified version of trial and error and isn't appealing to the casual gamer (which makes up a LARGE percentage of the gaming market.) Overall: A game that is less than it appears to be. For a younger audience, this will be a breath of fresh air and a feeling that will be new and exciting, especially for those looking for a "challenge." For an older audience and more casual gamers just looking for fun it'll not have too much appeal. I really wanted to like this game, but even with such a wondrous world and beautiful visuals, I just couldn't ignore how simple and flawed the overall concept is. Hopefully the sequel will be able to add some depth to the narrative and give the gameplay a bit more character (at least one that doesn't feel like a beaten prisoner.)… Expand

Darksouls is one of the most amazing Games out there. I've never played Demon Souls because i hadn't got the console there yet and i truly regret that. This Series throws you into Bloody Battles that you might think are Challenging... Looking deeper in the Game you will begin to understand, that this Game resembles a real War, not only for your Live but it show whats most important in actual Battles: Experience!
Its an achievement to get to the first Bell true but its an even greater achievment to play the game again and do the same in just an fifth of the time. Dark Souls is not a Game for everyone and especially not people who go Head first into Battles not thinking about how to fight.

The Game would have gotten a 10 from me, but the Graphics are too Old, The Multiplayer System sucks and it got some bugs and problems here and there. Still its an awesome game and i spend way more than 100h on this game trying to get an even higher Level. Its fun and addictive and even though the Graphics are beautiful they are full of little Details here and there. You really feel as if you are in the world. Unfortunately that is not something everyone gets to Experience but this game is one of my All time Favorites… Expand

The game that made my video game addiction return. My GOTY by far, never thought that a game could give such a feeling of accomplishment. The game challenges you and punishes like no other (except Demon´s Souls maybe). Totally recommended for the hardcore gamers!

i have never claimed that any game was the best I've played before I played this, I love it, the weapon customization the deadly bosses the vicious enemies, very hard but amazingly rewarding and the online is unique and very well done, wouldn't recommend for the casual gamer but anyone else should love it.

This game is pretty awesome and a huge improvement from the original. It still keeps its crushing difficulty but fortunately it works for this game. the end

I had to give this game few shots before I finally started enjoying it. The learning curve is very steep and you will die A LOT but once you get a hang of it, this is one of the most rewarding games on the market. I am not a stranger to rpg's and hard games but this is the only game that will make my heart beat faster in some intense moments. You are being constantly challenged and reminded that you can die at any second be it by a monster, a trap or in some instances another player. Do yourself a favor if you buy this game. Take a look at some of the tutorials for combat and exploration, they will do you a lot of good. To summarize this game is not for people who are used to play games that hold you hand. Once again you will die a lot, you will get frustrated and you will try to break your controller into million pieces but it is all worth it at the end. As soon as I can I am pre-ordering Dark Souls 2.… Expand

This game is good, really good. Not just like "oh nice game you got here" it is like "ZOMG ITS A DARK SOULZ" I have had more fun with this game then I ever had with any game ever. Maybe it is just because I am sick and tired of games hold our hands to guide us through, because a real adventure does not have that. A real adventure is for you to draw your own conclusion from, not have the game flat out tell you, when I beat the game and did the link the fire ending I was confused in a good way, not the wtf way, more of the "I wonder..." way. I was able to draw my own conclusion about why this or that happened,and it made it more of an experience than anything.Overall it was one of the best games I have ever been given the pleasure of exploring through, I would totally recommend it to anyone who plays games like this.… Expand

SO i thought i was a good gamer until dark souls . I had to die over and over to rethink gaming and strategy. Now i despise games that hold your hand. While the game cheats a little,i have noticed where you can take damage through some walls and arrows that curve slightly towards you ..... all is fair game . I love the game and i am going to start on demon souls to see what i missed.

Dark Souls is a genre in itself, and is an absolute must play for anyone who has the patience to reward intense punishment with intense accomplishment. Over a year after its release, and with another sequel in FROM Software's universe on the way, I still find myself booting up to PvP, make new characters - and watch the tears of pain and joy flow from friends playing it for the first time.

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 this rarely 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

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

Probably there's no point in writing a review more than a year after the release date, but I felt the need to write about one of my favorite games of this generation, as I only created my Metacritic account a couple of months ago. There are many things which may be listed as reasons for liking this game: the story, the gameplay, the difficulty and the multiplayer, for instance. Although it may not appear, Dark Souls has a great, dense story, which is not told directly to the player. You must go after the elements that explain the story and the world of the game, reading the description of items and talking to every NPC that you'll encounter. The story is so rich that you'll even may find many videos on YouTube dedicated to explaining Dark Souls lore. The gameplay is awesome: the controls are very simple, yet extremely effective. The difficulty is just about right: the game is hard. It does not allow mistakes, you'll die many times and you'll die dozens of times more if you don't learn from your mistakes. But there's no reason in being hard just to be hard. There's also an amazing feeling of compensation when you can finally beat a challenging enemy. It's hard, but also very rewarding. The multiplayer is probably the most original that I've ever seen. You can interact with other players in many ways, such as PvP, cooperative gameplay, or just leaving messages on the ground to help (or confuse) others. I've played over 120 hours and I'm on the first third of my third playthrough.… Expand

I absolutely love this game but I can see how some don't . when I originally bought it I disliked it, not knowing what I was doing so after a few frustrating hours I returned it. But it lingered. That urge to just see what was beyond that tiny bit of progress I had made was so tempting that I got it again this time with the help of friends, forums and wikis to guide me on my way. And that's when it struck me how good it was , 9 hours in after killing a once intimidating boss. It struck me, that this game was perfect. How? The story: as intriguing as it was mysterious it has a decent set up which winds into a interesting yarn about this long since abandoned land. T.he graphics and atmosphere are both superb, no it's not the technically most stunning game and the atmosphere is second only to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R franchise (personal taste though) but it still fills me with that craving to return to its bleak yet beautiful word to see what it had to offer. The gameplay is where it shines though, its just top notch. You can tell its meant to be job just that, that it had weeks of fine tuning each element (carries over from demon souls). The boss fights, some of the best moments of gaming and I've been gaming for a decade. The only thing I can understand why someone who is a fan of the genre or of games in general might not like this is the sheer bare bones intro into it. The game doesn't hold you hand, its not meant to but it does provide a sleuth of options to intelligent players (and despite what you hear it is an open world some people just aren't looking hard enough). Its not that hard, if your discouraged, farm some of the easier enemies, practice your move set, look around, ask a friend, look on a wiki- the game just gets better the more you play and believe me, its something you should play...… Expand

There is only 1 place this game does badly (Blighttown). The rest IS hard, but not in a cheap way, in a "I should have blocked" way. it has fantastic graphics, nonexistent loading screens,and VERY well implemented Multiplayer. The controls are not slow and clunky, as some say, unless you are wearing heavy armor, and the feeling of satisfaction as you finally beat a boss is not replicated in any game I've played. Get. It. Now.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "The difficultly isn't what makes Dark Souls unique, but its wide combat system and amazing lore/story makes Dark Souls truly, a one of kind game." Despite what I said there, Dark Souls is diffidently not for everybody. Prepare to die and yeah, your gonna die a lot from its (At first) starting difficulty until you understand its learning curve. For some players, after half way through the game, the game doesn't seem all that hard anymore. I really enjoy the combat system, I'm always creating new builds to just try out different play styles such as Light wight dexterity being my favorite and heavy strength builds with faith magic just to mix things up. There's no best armor or weapon as its all custom to your play style as every weapon, magic, or armor always comes with its pros and cons. Dark Souls is an open world game allowing players to explore in their own risk; with its well done level design, your rewarded for finding shout cuts making exploring and getting to a boss easier and quicker. The story soft-of hard to understand. Instead, your told lies through the whole playthrough and to understand the truth behind the horrors of dark souls is by reading the lore left in item descriptions. As the player, your discovering the story on your own and going back to some of the memorable areas will seem to be more understandable in how it became what you see and how it wasn't before you got there. Dark Souls is an amazing game and I'll never get tired of it but it does come with it short comings and some disappointment after Demon's Souls. The game comes with a unique multiplayer that works half the time. you can leave messages for other players to discover and help or troll. When you are human(You start as an Undead) you can summon random players to help you defeat an area and its boss but as human, other players can invade your world and kill you for half your souls and humanity. Dark Souls is an amazing and unique game but isn't for everybody. After really getting into Dark Souls, there are very few problems that can limit the player into its world and its multiplayer but overall, your getting huge and complex game that's filled with content and a DLC that wasn't even planed. Despite the rude community outside of Dark Souls, they are really supportive with each other.… Expand

TL;DR A great RPG that'll have you raging one moment and cheering the next.

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

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

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

I'm not really sure how in-between you can be with Dark Souls, its either something you love, hate, or your friends are making you play to torture yourself with. Despite what many naysayers will complain about, the game still has its strong points, and I would argue that these will outweigh the complaints of "artificial difficulty" and other excuses.… Expand

4 me BEST GAME EVER (prepare to die edition). It is very SMART game. Pure gaming, best fantasy world, adult. You can not stop or pause single play! Revolutionary concept, adult aesthetics. Even Sony do not understand... Not for average gamers... In present times of average, nonconsistent games shines like a DIAMOND. Bugrim killa. In comparison with present games 15/10!

I can't remember the last time a game forced me to forget all my preconceptions about video games and adopt totally new expectations and mindsets. This game throws away the rule book and writes a new one. Go into this experience with an open mind, don't let yourself be discouraged by setbacks, and find out what people who aren't willing to give Dark Souls a proper chance are missing!

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, 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

Absolutely terrific. There is no game quite like Dark Souls. Uniquely challenging yet ultimately rewarding, this incredible action RPG proves that superior design and unique world building triumphs over the simplicity of modern gaming that we have been force fed over the years. It has its blemishes (terrible frame rate in an area, strange clipping issues) here and there, but you'll let it slide. I have yet to play another game that is both terrifying to play yet so strangely addicting. This is for the hardest of the hardcore gamers out there, and you have to be a glutton for punishment. But once you beat that boss, get through that area, find that incredible weapon, or simply make it to the end of this sprawling, minimalistic, and epic adventure I guarantee you'll be hooked. 9.5… Expand

It's not the challenge of Dark Souls that is so refreshing; it's more that the game treats you like you are a veteran. It holds your hand in so few ways, but the exploration and learning is the best part anyways. The world is one seamless area with no central hub. It's a nice system, but the directions are lacking too much in my opinion. Getting lost is a bit too easy when you don't know that you should backtrack to an area in order to advance in the game. I could just be a baby. I'm not quite sure. Other than that gripe, this game blew my mind. From Software, on a mediocre budget, produced this sixty+ hour masterpiece with gorgeous graphics. The music is tense and rare, but the silent moments of this game are almost what I look forward too the most. Defeating one of the many well-designed bosses leaves me feeling accomplished more than I have felt in any game before it. Just traversing a small group of enemies can feel accomplishing, because of how difficult this game can be at points. The combat is smooth. Really smooth. It's not like Skyrim, where hacking away at enemies is just a matter of smacking the right trigger and occasionally blocking. It's an art that has to be mastered by memorizing the moves of all of the enemies around you. Don't be too turned off by the magic system either. It's not the greatest system, but it actually works pretty well. I just wish it took more skill sometimes though to kill enemies with magic. It's fair and requires strategy, but it's a little easy to kill some enemies with (many bosses). This is one of those games that I just try to get everybody to try out because it seems so different from what the video game world is used to. It has a minimalist plot and is hardcore, yet somehow, a major video game company chose to make it this way. Against the odds, this game was made and I don't see many hardcore rpgs coming in 2013. Pick this up.… Expand

wat i booght this gaym and WAAT!!! no guns??????? wat kynd of game has no guns?!?!?!11/

ryt anywaiz, teh game is just so terible. u do lyk NO DAMMAJ to mostners srsly?? do tey evn want ppl to win? lolol is it hard?? no its just super unballanced sword does 10 dammag??! in cod knyf kills 1 hit always so sord shud do like, 0-shot some1!

okey so after playin sum more i got atacked by some **** and tey killed me evn when i hit em! wat a peece of sheet. review: bosses lol dun bovver tey kill u cause tey ****s, all plaayurs are knyfer ****s an dun fyt faare and just evrythin wong wit it. by cod an enjoy kilin ****s in one-go wit ur knyf lolol oh and cod has gunz!!!! like, so mutch coller than ****gy swords… Expand

This is one of my all time favourite games of all time.
This game demands a level of patients and thought that many games will never have!
Do I a random computer nerd recommend this game? Oh yes I do.
Revisit the Glory days of hard games.

Understand, this game is not made for everyone to enjoy. It is hard, unforgiving, it never holds your hand. Hard is not a bad thing, it's what makes this game so addicting and rewarding. Gameplay is so fine-tuned and fair, if you grasp the fundamentals and put them into practice, nothing is too hard. The game never gives you more than a slight hint as to where to go next, leaving it up to the player to explore everything to find out where they can go. Here's the genius behind this, after you've played the game thoroughly, when you play it again, you realize you can go pretty much anywhere you want at anytime, the key is just being good at the game and knowing where valuable items are. Theres no level grinding necessary. For your first time through however, with the experience system the way it is, that being earn xp from killing things, use it at checkpoints to level up, lose them all if you die, it makes every inch of the world dangerous and tense. Bosses are incredibly fun to fight. They are epic, challenging, and awe inspiring, just what boss fights should be. The gameworld is so enigmatic, it does a fantastic job sucking you right in. online functionality is creative as well. Players cannot talk to each other, there is no party chat while playing this game. Everyone is a stranger, another lost soul stuck in this purgatorial hell. Players can leave somewhat cryptic notes anywhere in the world to help guide or mislead other players on their journey. You may also summon other players into your world to give you a much needed edge. Or you can invade another players world and hunt them down and kill them for their experience and humanity, making the world all the more frightful. For hardcore gamers who welcome challenge, this game is one of the most rewarding and exciting games out there. I haven't truly loved many games in the last several years, but I LOVE this game.… Expand

Being a gamer for over 20 years has led me to a lackluster world of cookie cutter games with insane hype and terrible delivery. If you can remember how revolutionary Halo 1, Knights of the Old Republic, Resident Evil, Mario, Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid were to the video game arena, you will understand this review. Right before I packed my video game life up to sail it away with my mid twenties, I took a gaming friend's advice and plunged into the world of Dark Souls. Not only did I become insanely immersed in this diverse, action filled and challenging world but I also regained faith in the video game movement because it was so enthralling. I played through with three different character classes and every time I found something new, joined a new covenant and giggled after falling from ledge after ledge. I loved getting punished in the game because it served as a reminder how unforgiving games used to be and the rewards left you with an adrenaline rush. It simply is a game for excellent gamers who desire a new wave of video games and anyone without the tenacity and skill to beat it should just keep playing Fable.… Expand

This game is a masterpiece. The people who say it requires grinding are retarded. The only time I grinded was when I suddenly decided 35 hours in that "Ya no, heavy armour ain't for me, I'm going for a dodge build". The game does not require any grinding, it requires observation and skill. Nothing more.

The game is impossible to control. Controles are by default incorrect displayed in the interface(For PC version at least). I would defenitely not recommend this game to anyone. The game defenitely has a lot of potential but is not executed well.

For those looking for a challenge and some of the greatest medieval fantasy design in the last few years - play this game. There's little handholding but for those who have grown tired of running through games unscratched, a fair challenge awaits you.

Because the game is fair - if you die you just need to rethink your strategy.

I picked up this game with the mindset that I'd beat it for the sake of beating a hard game. Then Dark Souls ended up being one of my top 3 games. I almost stopped playing about 1/5 of the way through, its true that in one section frame rate becomes and issue and its true that the game can feel brutally hard but at the end its all worth it. Never have I felt so immersed in a game: someone commented below that they didn't like the 'no-pause' menu, I ended up loving it! It makes it feel less like a game and more like an experience. I can't remember another game that lets you play for 20 hours and then opens up a path for you that ends up right back where you were 10 minutes in the game, the level design is beyond superb and really makes it feel like your stuck in the world, with all the complexities and mazes you would expect in a castle and city the size Dark Souls is. The sparse collection of NPCs really make the world feel as bleak and the director intended. Music is fantastic. The plot is controversial, I personally love how they went with it. There is actually a huge amount of information under the surface: in item descriptions and character dialogue. You could easily completely miss what's happening for example the truth about princess Gwenevere, and you could never meet certain people integral to the plot such as primordial serpent kaathe and Gwendolyn, just like you can miss my favourite area in the game: Ash Lake. Overall don't expect this to be like other games, think of it as an experience, but one that's very much worth the effort when you finally overcome the challenges involved.… Expand

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 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

I have a confession to make, I've never played Demon's Souls, well, no longer than 3 hours of it. And at the time, I didn't care for it, I didn't really grasp what it was trying to do. Now, two years later I get to try Dark Souls. It hooks me, and there's really nothing that I can say about the game that it doesn't say for itself. I've had it for about a year, and it's only around 16 bucks at gamestop at the time of writing this, and I honestly see no better way to waste your money.… Expand

I will start off by saying I never played Demon Soul's because I did not own a PS3. So I heard all this hype about a game called "Dark Souls" a few weeks into its release, so I decided to rent it and see for myself what it was all about, I played it for about 2 days and took it back (keep reading), I later decided to re-rent it because I told my friend how blisteringly hard it was, so I decided to give it another shot. I instantly got hooked, and I mean the game blew my balls... to the ceiling. I put over 500+ hours into it within about a 2 months or so, I had never played such a hard yet at the same time satisfying game in my entire life. The amount of builds,weapons,armor and items was astounding. I would spend hours just researching items and builds, the game has the most replay value of any game I have ever played.I also want to mention, I don't get addicted to games ever, I have played nearly every big title of the past 7 years, basically every MMORPG out there, but no one RPG/Game has sucked me in harder than Dark Souls.

The world is small yet so large, the game has a very dark atmosphere, tie that in with the multiplayer. and the fear of always being invaded by another playing while trying to summon a NPC to help on a boss, just amazing. Every time I think about Dark Souls or something mentions it, chills run down my spine, I have only owned the game for about 6 months but the game already gives me huge nostalgia, I would go out on a limb to say this is the most unique and thought out game of at least the past decade. I know I might be over-dramatizing it, but to me this is what the game is like, I just love it, only thing that worries me is the game's community will eventually die and move on, and the soul's series will die, hope to God that doesn't happen. Please if you can, support the developers, buy the PC Version, Xbox or PS3, it doesn't matter.… Expand

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.

Fantastic game which is incredibly challenging and rewarding, at times you'll want to tear your hair out or just stop playing the game but it's so damn addicting!

After a bit of a rocky start Dark Souls has steadily grown on me to the point that it has become my #1 game of all time displacing Oblivion and Knights of the Old Republic. The game is very difficult especially to those who've never played demon souls. I own both the 360 and pc versions. I've invested around 300 hours into the game and have played it through 3 times. The only other games I've played more than once are Halo and KOTOR. My only real concern at this point is that DS has ruined all other video games for me; I simply won't play button mashers again! You need to be patient, build your skill and understanding of the upgrade paths and character building. When you are frustrated take a break and come back to it. I am looking forward to my next play-through where I'll simply focus on the pvp aspect of the game which involves invading other players worlds and punishing other players that have sinned! The game has it's flaws such as targeting strangeness, enemy weapons passing through walls, a sparse story line and lack of manual but I still have to give the game a 10 for overall enjoyment and value. I've seen a few low scores given to this game which are simply ridiculous. I myself nearly rage quit but kept with it.… Expand

Dark Souls is an outstanding game that I will long remember. The combat system is uniquely designed with lots of variation and options available to the player. It needs to be said that the aforementioned variation and options are all functionally useful in the game and not just fluff. The game world, though somewhat dark by design, is attractive graphically with a surprising continuity between different zones. Each zone challenges the player in unique ways. Some weapons/Armor/Spells work well in some zones tbut not in others. The fun is in figuring this out. The overall presentation is wonderfully imagined and beautifully expressed by talented artists. While the game does have a story, it will remain ambiguous to the player unless he engages the few NPCs at various locations. Despite this, the game is so enjoyable that it hardly even matters. There are stated objectives to accomplish even if the reasons are not always clear. The game does have a reputation for being difficult, but this seems to be at least somewhat overstated. It does take some diligence to navigate tricky terrains while also executing offensive and defensive maneuvers, but it can be done by most who are willing to try. It is possible to summon other players (or NPCs) to assist with boss battles. That said, a player feels a tremendous sense of accomplishment after successfully completing objectives. The game features guilds, each offering unique equipment, magics, or privileged access to (spoilers) - goodies, let's say. Some guilds offer offer direct help to players such as localized heals or souls. Souls are the game's currency for both leveling a character's attributes as well as for the purchase of items. Complete control of character design right down to individual attribute points makes this a true RPG experience. The game also features the capability to summon other players as well as be summoned yourself. This can be for cooperative efforts or PVP. Even if the player chooses to remain a solo adventurer, he can still read advice left by other players as well as dispense it. This game has replay value. There are so many hidden items/treasures/magics/paths/NPC decisions/etc/etc that it is not possible to experience it all in a single play through. There is enough room in character building to have a significantly different experience when compared to a previous play through. This game is definitely worth the money for what it gives you in return. This game earns a rare 10/10 from me.… Expand

I'Ve spent 150+ hours on this game. Combat on this game really though but it's cool. It's only for hardcore gamers. That's why I lovin this game so much.

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

IMO the best game this generation. I love playing through the game, building new characters, helping new players and invading the vets. The game just refuses to get old, I can't think of higher praise. And with new content on the way I maybe playing this for a very long time.

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

Challenging, addictive and exciting but eventually proves to be too user-unfriendly and unrefined for it's unforgiving level of difficulty. Lacking of all but the basic plot and scenario, forwarding the story at a very slow and repetitive pace that strongly resembles the early 90's -fun- yet now obsolete trial-and-error mechanics.
Compared to other titles of its age, feels more like an arcade than a complete-game experience.
Unforgivable flaws include taller enemy attacks hitting you through walls, slippery surface glitches, frame rate drops, difficult multiplayer mechanics, dull combat mechanics, doesn't pause, and eventually subjects you to an unavoidable charade of almost endless farming and backtracking.
Adult players should be warned that this game shows no respect of your time spent playing it. If you are playing video games only for a few hours of high-quality fun, then steer clear of this game.… Expand

There is no dought about the most difficult rpg game to be released on xbox 360. Dark souls is an absolute **** nightmare. It is time consuming, and very very repetitive. Also the storyline can be a little hard to follow if you dont use the internet as a guide. I however loved the leveling system in this game and felt the attention to detail was incredible. Will probably go back and have another crack at this game. Nearly got to the end but not quite. If you like a challenge buy this game.… Expand

This is one of those games that, if you give it a chance, will completely consume your soul. I have put in well over 150 hours and I'm still playing it. It is a difficult game that requires discipline and patience, though I feel its not as difficult as the previous game Demons Souls. The dark fantasy setting has been masterfully rendered by the developers and the multiplayer makes boss fights super exciting. I would have given this game a ten but there are frame rate issues and lag in a few areas of the game, but the overall experience more than compensates for the very minor technical issues. This is a game that is well worth your hard earned dollars.… Expand

After playing countless hours of online shooters and starting to become jaded and bored of gaming, this game could not have come at a better time for me. I was hooked from the barebones, albeit challenging, opening tutorial on. In a video game reality where even learning the basics could be challenging yet fun I knew I was in for some much needed gaming satisfaction with this one. The problem I'd started to get into with prior gaming experiences was that campaigns would constantly flow between being way too easy to being too difficult and I just lost interest. The beauty of Dark Souls, simply as an experience in and of itself, is that it manages to stay challenging the entire first playthrough but not in a way that if you've already beaten it, or figured out how to conquer a part of the game already, you will still find it challenging. That's what I enjoy most about this game is once you figure something out, you can use that knowledge to make what amounts to be a very challenging game, a lot less challenging over time. I enjoyed my time playing Skyrim as well but I actually prefer the style of Dark Souls graphics and the combat system a lot more. Combat in Dark Souls includes the ability to parry blows, block with shield or weapon depending on what you have equipped, deal critical "back-stab" hits if the character is positioned right, and slug away with both strong and standard damage attacks that vary greatly in implementation and usefulness depending on weapon type. There are a lot of different weapon types too but not so many that it gets overly confusing and you want to stick to one or two standby weapons all the time. I like the bleed effect that sharp katana bladed weapons have, so even if you have a low attack rating on a katana, if you hit a fleshy enemy enough times you can deal anywhere from 25%-50% of their health in damage. Playing this way enables you to explore different class builds and strategies. It should also be noted that the "load" system is well thought-out too, with players using bulky weapons and armor having less mobility but not paralyzingly less mobility. Magic and ranged weapons have their ability to dominate in the game as well so you aren't limited to always needing a strong melee weapon on hand. Various character building strategies can be implemented so as to keep the game fresh and play through multiple times. I should not that I've beaten the game a total of 5 times. The first time it was often agonizingly slow to progress but still satisfying to play after 70 hours. The second time it took me roughly 30 hours and I savored it this time around. The third time I beat it in about 20, knowing which smaller areas could be skipped while still managing to progress through to the end of the game. The last time I beat it I did so with practically no leveling up for extra stats to help. That in itself shows off what kind of game this is. One that can be beaten with sheer knowledge and skill alone (not exploits) is one-of-a-kind. It's too easy in other RPGs like Skyrim to just level up smithing or whatever have you and build super strong weapons or magic, etc. and rally to the end that way. In fact, in Skyrim grinding is absolutely necessary at times. In Dark Souls is ill-advised. So decide what you'd rather be doing for hours on end, learning to master a game as a player or learning to master it as your character.

Moving on, the plot is virtually non-existant aside from being a premise and a justification for why you encounter bosses at certain points throughout the game. That said though the plot is bare it leaves a lot of mystery to other aspects of the game so it helps with the already lonely, desolate feel of it all.

I recommend this game to anyone that wants a unique gaming experience they can savor for awhile and feel satisfied, maybe even proud, for having done so.… Expand

Okay, I'm gonna make this quick. Dark Souls is quite probably one of the best games EVER MADE. I stated that in all caps to let you know just how serious I am.

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

Best game of year? definately. Best game of the decade? I'd say so. Over-dramatic review? yeah, sorry 'bout that. But get this game anyway. It'll be the worth every penny.… Expand

The quintessential gamer's game. One of the most engaging and unrelenting games created in history. It requires attention, focus, and perseverance; qualities which most games have become actively attempting to remove from their games. It rewards exploration and discovery, all while demanding you do not lose focus on the tasks at hand. It is difficult to describe the feeling Dark Souls gives me upon turning it on. I remember conquering bosses and overcoming tasks that I formerly found impossible. But, while that is often the accredited or most maliced part of the game, simplifying Dark Souls as being a completionist's or masochist's wet dream is far too generalizing. Forgotten are the beautiful environments, precise combat, fascinating (although minimalistic) lore, and the incredible amount of loot and upgradable items. The game is incredible in its ability to linger. It leaves a satisying feeling not for the constant accomplishments, but for the true greatness of the game. For myself it was very difficult to move on afterwards. Finding the best can sometimes ruin everything else for a gamer.… Expand

Really regret buying the game and was really hoping to enjoy it. The "hardcore" aspect was appealing...however, there is absolutely no ramp-up for your learning curve. The situations get so involved, so quickly that you do not have much time to get the combat system down (and I am not a fan of their targeting system)........if there was a chance for a learning curve and the combat system worked better, it would probably be ok. You have to be very, very precise with your aim , so much so that it is unreasonable for what they expect you to pull off sometimes. I have not played the game for several months and I would still love to kick them in their collective balls and then give myself a good shot for being suckered in to the marketing. All I wanted was a good RPG (graphics, story, etc.) that was not necessarily for kids if you know what I mean. I do not mind difficult at all, but this is not difficult, it is unreasonable. Time for my therapy session! ;)… Expand

Pure masterpiece. Dark Souls is a successful exception in modern video game titles that awakes "the good old days of video games era". With incredible level of challenge, the game makes you feel like a true hero. Everything you do in the game is rewarded by sense of glory and victory. The quality of Dark Souls depends on player, because it gives you no hand to hold and you are the one crafting your own experience. With high replayability, unique online experience (that said, the game is worth of every penny even for single player-only experience), challenging and entertaining gameplay (and tough!), atmospheric world to explore and amazing feel of achievement(s!), Dark Souls offers the best you can find nowadays in video games.… Expand

Dark Souls is a modern masterpiece. It asks a few classic questions of its players.

Can you learn from mistakes? Can you learn from subtle hints? If not, then you will hit a brick wall and fall at the first hurdle. Persevere and you will slowly improve your skills and character. Dark Souls is a masterclass in game design. There is a mini world to explore and a plethora of secrets to uncover and more play styles than any other game I've played, in every play style there is a huge range of options and upgrades. With each switch of style or even weapon type it forces you to completely change your tactics and the way you approach enemies. As an example of its diversity; fundamentally this is a fighting RPG but with the right equipment (invisibility & silence ring and a long range bow) you can play the game as a stealthy sniper. The online aspect adds a new challenge and I've had some real epic "boss" style battles; one memorable encounter was as I was about to enter a boss battle I was invaded by a clearly more proficient player, quickly I started summoning other players to help take care of him, every new player I threw at him he slowly took apart and defeated, after I had exhausted all possible summoners, the invader bowed, dropped some humanity on the floor, let me pick it up and then we proceeded to battle, he overcame my unrefined skills, but it was an exciting and frantic battle.

I've not been more gripped and entertained by a game as I have Dark Souls.… Expand

Ok, so I don't even know where to start with this game, first of all, this game looks incredible. The graphics are absolutely stunning. Also, the music in this game is amazing as well. It has one of the deepest story lines of any game I have ever played, and one of the most immersive worlds of any game I have ever played. But don't get me wrong, this game is difficult. So this is not for the average gamer. But, if you're up for the challenge, Dark Souls is one of the most rewarding and satisfying games you will ever play.… Expand

The combat and story (yes, there is a story, but people who stop playing after a few hours never figure it out), atmosphere, online components (pvp and co-op) and graphics are all amazing, and that's been discussed before. Now, I'm going to point out other things that haven't been talked about so much- such as, there are no load times after the main menu. There are no glitches to be seen anywhere after you install the day 1 patch. It clocks in on the shorter end at 60 hours, with the average being 80 hours to complete and the near-completionist time being about 120 hours. There is also a new game+ that can extend the game for many playthroughs. The max level is about 700, but you'll only get to about 80 after one playthrough. The ending varies depending on your choices, but the choices are subtle and eays to miss, so you always need to proceed carefully. You can kill anyone- even critical npcs, so there really is a sense of urgency and caring for the npcs that you don't feel in most games. Most weapons and armor are unique, so they really feel valuable, and it's a huge effort to get each one. Often, they're in secret areas, so not everyone gets every (or even most) items in the game. The framerate drops at parts, but it never gets as low as Skyrim's and people play that just fine. It takes some intelligence and patience to play this game, as most of your problems have a variety of solutions, but it takes strategy and planning/experience to see the best ones. For example, in one area of the game, you have to kill ghosts that are unkillable without using consumable items with time limits. Many people expend all of their items, and then have to farm to buy more. However, being cursed by a completely different type of enemy in a different part of the game allows you to hurt ghosts without using consumable items. But the game never tells you about curses, or invincible ghosts, or anything. Part of the fun is discovering it first hand.
That was just one example. There are many like that. Unlike most developers that count on its audience being stupid and lazy, From Software counts on its audience to be clever and cautious. Dark Souls truly is a game about survival- you're just a random soldier in a world filled with monsters as strong as, or much stronger than you, and your wits and skill are your only hope.

People with neither hate the game, rant about it being broken or too hard, and then rate it 0 just to keep themselves in nice, comfortable denial about how unskilled, thick-skulled, and impatient they really are.… Expand

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

First up if you get this game you will die, a lot. I died a couple of times during the tutorial, but that is what makes the game so good. When you die it makes you want to go back and beat whoever (or whatever) killed you, when you do that there is no greater satisfaction, trust me. When I first went on Dark Souls and I finished the tutorial, hated the game. There's no map or compass to guide you, the enemies are hard to kill, good weapons and armour are hard to find at the beginning of the game and I spent at least 4 hours fighting my way up to the Taurus demon and being killed by it. But after a while when I got used to the control scheme and I got better at backstabbing and parrying etc, the game got easier and a lot more fun to play.

Overall, this game, in my opinion, is very similar to games like the old Onimusha titles. You have to scavenge for new armour and weapons, enemies are difficult to kill but not impossible, it's just a fantastic deep game that is defiantly worth buying.… Expand

Playing this game is like being beaten repeatedly with a car antenna. Gradually, you begin to learn how to take the beating so that it does not hurt so bad, and eventually, you learn to fight back, and win. The beauty of the game, is that the challenges you encounter seem impossible on first attempt, and only through numerous failures do you begin to find a strategy that allows you to survive to face your next challenge. It makes every victory truly enjoyable, and a first attempt victory that much sweeter. This game is the opposite of hack and slash. It rewards perfect timing of striking and blocking and precise movement. I am reviewing this game highly so that other people will feel my pain - the pain of being one-shotted, falling off of cliffs, and getting a boss to 5% health before he destroys you - and hating/loving every minute of it.… Expand

Na minha opinião é o MELHOR JOGO que joguei dessa geração de consoles!! Se você é um jogador veterano, que jogou bastante o famoso classico CASTLEVANIA SYNPHONY OF THE NIGHT, e até HOJE, se sente "orfão" (pois acha a que Konami não fez um á digno pra essa geração), você vai jogar DARK SOULS e vai dizer a cada minuto:

" Ã… Expand

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).

It's funny how all the negative reviews say the same things... "I don't have the time to deal with this games frustrations/difficulty" or "I work and have kids and don't have time for a game that doesn't teach me how to play" or "there is no story" or "its poorly designed". But guess what people... take a look at the rest of the reviews. Most people think its a masterwork, uncompromising, and with good reason.

I work 50-60 hr weeks, have 3 kids, and never have time to game for more than a couple of hours late at night. I still spent 75+ hrs on it so far, setting aside all other games such as ME3 and Arkham City.

If you treat every battle like its your last, and learn to fight, and think about what you are doing, when you are doing it, and where you are going, it is not "hard". It is uncompromising and very rewarding.

No story?? This is was one of my favorite fictions in YEARS... you just have to open your senses and mind to experience it. And imagination. No, its not spoon fed to you.

And it is beautifully designed. I love how people think good design means developers finding the best way to to teach you and entertain you while minimizing effort on your part. Well that's only one way to design something.

The best things are those are not for everyone.

Things that are for everyone, are well, common. Have fun with that.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A completely original concept is hard to come by, yet the Undead lands of Dark Souls offer exactly that. Unfortunely, this game will alienate a lot of people, myself included, due to its odd take on gaming. What's so odd about it? You're expected to fail CONSTANTLY at this game. It's part of the misery the characters all live in, and you'll find yourself battling through the same scenario over and over to try and scratch out just another inch of ground before falling again. It's merciless, and I honestly enjoyed it to a point. Eventually though, I decided that it was just a hair *too* depressing to spend 3 hours battling, using up consumables, and actually be worse off than when you started. I'd recommend everyone that likes action RPGS to play it, as it's actually a great game, but it will certainly test how far you're willing to go to acheive success.… Expand

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

This is quite possibly the worst game I've ever played. Using a scale of 0-10 it falls somewhere between 90 and 100. Not because it's SO good, but because it earns *both* the 9/10 *and* the 0, and the zero is enormous. Tremendous. Overwhelming. So much so that the 9/10 doesn't count.

Just to get the irrelevant out of the way, everything it does, it does everything extremely well. Graphics, sound, environments are all beautiful. Controls are pretty good, some things on the stick are awkward but almost nothing is bad to the point of detraction (archery is garbage), and there aren't many instances of 'screw you cam' (when you're trying to run across a narrow path and the camera rotates around your character making a straight path nearly impossible but falling to your death *extremely* easy). Inventories are deep and enemies are varied. In short, nearly every thing the developer attempted was successful.

Sadly, the developer chose to do a lot of things which aren't good. Some are absolutely awful. And those aren't the worst.

Open the case and you have a disc and 16 page manual. The manual is in four languages, so you have a few pages in your native tongue. The deep inventory uses icons which are never explained. Attributes and abilities are never explained. There's a Bonus system which is never explained. There are loads of things which are never explained. Including what you're actually trying to do, unless a single statement in the middle of a cut scene with a character whose relevance is never mentioned counts. This game needs a serious manual more than anything I've seen in several years. You're given a few pages. Have fun googling for the information that the developers should have given you.

There was a time and place when it made sense for falling to your death to be integral to a game. Actually it's still that time, but the place remains what it was: platformers, particularly 2D platformers. In a 3D RPG it's awful, particularly in conjunction with Dark Souls next absolutely miserable failing...

The ability to save progress is something that there's no compelling, or valid, argument against. Unless you're the maker of Dark Souls, in which case they apparently believe differently. I say "believe" rather than "think" because I said "valid." To put it in the form of a question that pertains to Dark Souls, "What's wrong with making a player repeat what took nearly 90 minutes, only to die by falling because the moving walkway slid out from under the player's feet?" What's wrong with that? *Everything*. It's awful to have few checkpoints, but much, *much* worse when the game makes them easy to miss.

Leaving a number of other major shortcomings (4 off the top of my head) I'm just going to move to the last, the net effect of the fully intended and incorporated failings of Dark Souls. It's frequently called a difficult game. It isn't. There are a few points in the game that are hard, but most of it isn't more challenging than most of what's out there. Rather than difficult, Dark Souls is frustrating. For the linguistically challenged, difficult is getting stuck at a point, failing over and over before passing on the 40th (or more) attempt. Frustrating is forcing players to spend fifteen (or forty) minutes passing tedious obstacles on each of those forty+ attempts. That's why mistakes are made, and how weak enemies gain the potential to defeat your character. And it's complete and unforgivable garbage.

In short, the people that made Dark Souls should be pleased with how well they succeeded in making the game they set out to make. Unfortunately, most of what they tried to do in inherently detritus.… Expand

Difficult, rewarding and sadistically beautiful. One of my favorite games of all time. I spent over 300 hours playing this it has a fantastic replay value.

Dark Souls is the "War and Peace" of video games, a vast and epic immersion, a world into which one disappears in rapture. Highest accolades, tears of joy.

Story sucks. Too difficult. Don't waist your time with this game. Takes hours upon hours to do anything. Don't wait your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dark Souls is a masterpiece, but it is not for everyone. What it provides is a dark, rich, intense world with danger lurking around almost every corner. It also has a nasty tendency to punish mistakes, even small ones, with death. While this makes for an experience that can be intensely frustrating, it also makes it an extremely rewarding one as long as you are prepared to put in the effort required. Ask yourself what you want from a game: Do you want a game that holds your hand while you waltz through it, or do you want a game where you are dropped, alone, into a world where you constantly have to fight for your life (and frequently die)? If it's the former, then look elsewhere. If it's the latter, you may just get as much out of this as I did.… Expand

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

Dark Souls in an incredible adventure, and sometimes a slog into the darkness of humanity. Many give up on the path to understanding, but for those few souls who are resilient enough to take on these evils, and look upon the face of death will find themselves a god amongst men.
This is a good game, a hard game, and it will break you until you break it right back. It will not treat you nice, it will not give you an easy out, but you can always find a way. Are you a bad enough dude to face your own mortality?… Expand

My first review!
Dark Souls ruined TES for me. I believe that that is all that need be said, but I suppose I should explain. I loved Morrowind (my introduction to TES). I lost more time to Oblivion than I care to admit, and had immeasurable fun doing so. And so, I was thoroughly excited to get my hands on Skyrim. Then, I played Dark Souls. A spear is not simply a weapon you choose for the look it grants your character, but a tool used to keep a vicious enemy at bay. A rapier doesn't just alter the way your character swings his or her sword, but acts as a rapier should, with lunging, piercing attacks. Small shields are effective for parrying. Large shields absorb vast amounts of damage. This is how any hack and slash game should work from here on out. This game is not for everyone. If you enjoy casual games that spell everything out for you, don't play Dark Souls. If you enjoy running mindlessly into a crowd of baddies, mashing buttons and potting till all lie in ruins around you, don't play Dark Souls. If you enjoy the threat of death at every corner, a well timed and planned attack, a genuine experience of accomplishment for having beaten some SOB demon who has killed you 10+ times in a row, definitely, definitely, definitely, buy Dark Souls! More on how this game ruined TES: Did I mention how incredible the combat feels in DS? I believe I did. After sinking many, many hours into Dark Souls, I finally decided I needed to set it down so that I could play my beloved TES. I popped Skyrim in my box, palms sweaty in anticipation of the new shouts and dragon slaying to be had. I was looking forward to conjuring and casting and hacking and slashing and customizing again. What I was not prepared for was the utter disappointment I would experience with Skyrim. Don't get me wrong, I have played a lot of Skyrim, and I did eventually begin to enjoy it again, but the combat system in Dark Souls surpasses that of Skyrim on so many levels that I have had to mentally place TES in a category separate from Dark Souls. Dark Souls is a dungeon crawling, hack and slash and magic casting RPG that caters to the masochistic (I say this lovingly). A combat-first game in which story is subtly told and sparsely given (to great effect). Skyrim is a game of world exploration, where combat plays second fiddle to discovering and exploring new locations. Story can be found within book after book, heard through the ever-repeating voices of the towns' denizens, and followed along with the main quest line to a neat and tightly wrapped ending. In Skyrim you are the great and almighty hero who no man or beast may stand against. In Dark Souls, you are constantly fighting for your life.

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

P.S. Editing this is a real pain. Excuse me if I rambled.
P.P.S. Play Dark Souls!… Expand

I love this game so much I almost resent it. This has messed up my standards for games now. You get such a rush from succeeding in this game that everything else pales in comparison. This game does sooooo many things right that other games don't even attempt. For example, the environments. The environments are not just pretty, but they are a reward. Almost everywhere is hard to get to in this game, so feel such relief when you get to the next bonfire. There are whole areas of the game completely hidden to the player unless you know exactly where to look. This game is so incredibly dense. The story seems really stupid and weird on the surface, but once you do some digging and look into some online resources, everything, every item, character, enemy, everything, has a reason to exist. It feels like a hell that exists by itself and you are intruding on it. The multiplayer is also very well done. The covenant system is interesting but some of them seem kind of empty and broken. Nonetheless, PVP in this game is exhilarating. Only get this game if you have a lot of time on your hands. People say Skyrim will steal your life. No, THIS will steal your life.… Expand

Wow, how I love Dark Souls. I have been playing video games for 33 years and this is the best one I have ever played. I have 150 hours of playtime in the game with 6 characters and I am just as mesmerized as I was in hour one. From Software has truly created a masterpiece and I am so grateful. The main thing people focus on when they hear the name Dark Souls is the difficulty. Is the game difficult? Yes. However, the challenge is an aspect that makes it wonderful. The sense of accomplishment after completing a difficult area or a boss you have struggled with is so huge. There is nothing like the adrenaline and heart pumping that you get while fighting the games many epic bosses. Going head to head versus the infamous Smough and Ornstein will make your heart beat out of your chest and you palms sweat. Graphically the game is amazing...the characters, environments, and bosses are top notch. The sound is awesome as well. The sound of armor clanking while you walk and swords hitting shields and flesh is very visceral. The lack of music in most areas make all of the sound effects stand out. The boss battles have elaborate musical scores which adds to the battles and make them so memorable. The music to the Four Kings battle is just as epic as the battle itself. The combat is where the game is the strongest. It is precise and addictive. If you die in a battle, it is because you just screwed up. I cannot recommend this game enough. I don't see myself tiring of it anytime soon.… Expand

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 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

Game Starts. Prison cell, small corridor, orange writing, outside, DEAD. Youâ

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 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

Do you remember the first game you ever played? Mine was Bugs Bunny: Crazy Castle 4 on the Gameboy Color. I loved it. I meticulously documented every level code. If I got stuck, I'd spend hours, days, even weeks throwing everything I had at the problem. And when I finally beat it, it felt like a huge accomplishment. The sad thing is that I know that now I could breeze through it without even trying. And that's why I love Dark Souls - it recaptures that wonderful feeling of having to make your own way in an unknown world, earning your own successes and paying for your own mistakes. You're setting off on an adventure, and you don't know quite what you may find. The most obvious aspect of Dark Souls is its difficulty, so we'll start there. It's hard. There's no escaping it, but it's almost never unfair. If charging at that Hydra gets you killed time and time again, try something else. Success in Dark Souls means switching your gamer mindset. You need to accept that this is true dark fantasy, cold and brutal. Running away is a valid strategy, and dumb heroics will almost always get you killed. But it's not frustrating. Death in a video game too often means groaning "Ugh, now I have to do all that again". But here, death is an experience in and of itself. Each time you see the words "YOU DIED", you've learned something new - and if you haven't, you're not being creative enough. You will die, over and over, but you'll never feel like you made no progress. And that's why I - someone prone to nerd rage - have happily thrown my miserable, hollow avatar to his end again and again, and several hours later looked up and wondered where the time went. To focus solely on the difficulty is almost a sin, though. Dark Souls is gorgeous. From soaring cathedrals to vast crystal caves, giant ash lakes to dark, claustrophobic catacombs, sunken, burning cities to dripping, noxious swamps, every corner hides something new, beautiful and almost invariably deadly. There's nothing quite like the feeling of uncovering a shortcut and realising just how ingeniously the map fits together. The story is cleverly minimalistic - there will seem to be none at first, but read around enough and you'll discover a plot that challenges almost all fantasy conventions. The RPG elements of gameplay are strong, yet fluid - while you're required to pick a class at the start of the game, the way you play is almost exclusively determined by the equipment you use and the stats you choose to level up. A knight can become a cleric can become a pyromancer, as long as you have the stats and weapons to cover it. This freedom carries over to your equipment choice - there are very few weapon combinations you can't use if you so desire. Dual Zweihanders? Go for it, as long as your strength's high enough. Similarly, if you want to try beating your enemies to death with two shields, you can. It's a wonderful way of giving the player as much freedom as possible, allowing you to choose your own path.
An aspect of Dark Souls which doesn't get as much attention as I think it should is the morality system. There is none. The only person who will ever judge your actions is you, and few NPCs are safe. See that knight by the bonfire, desperately searching for her father? If you want, you can kill her and steal her Humanity. No-one will care. There is no good or evil in Dark Souls except what you make, and even when you've finished you may be left wondering whether those bosses really deserved to die. Of course, it's not a perfect game. The impact analysis is occasionally off - in a game like this, where realism is paramount, it's irksome when your character gets hit from around a corner or through a pillar. It rarely happens, but it's still a problem. Similarly, the game occasionally dips from hard into unfair - dying when a boss smacks me with a giant tentacle is fine, but when I deliberately dodged it and still expire from some ungodly splash damage it feels cheap. There is framerate drop (particularly in Blighttown), and very occasionally the map is simply unfinished. But to focus on Dark Souls's failings is wrong. It's an excellent game. You'll hear a lot about it being for hardcore RPGers, but I don't think that's true - while some people will want to tear it apart and dissect it, there's a lot to be said for the simple joy of tumbling out the other side, slightly confused and too busy wondering how you survived to realise you've won. It's not solely for the L337 PR0 - it's for anyone that's willing to devote themselves to puzzling out and conquering a unique and immersive experience. What ultimately makes Dark Souls great is that it strikes right at the heart of what it means to be a gamer. When I pick up that controller, I'm an 8-year-old again with my Gameboy. I'm setting off, ignorant, into a strange and cruel new world - and when that world is as brutal, eerie and desolately beautiful as Lordran, you can't go far wrong.… Expand

So after reading some of those "Troll" comments i made Metacritic account just to adress some of them.First im hearing that that DS doesnt have a story.That is not true in fact there is a lot of story going on in the background,you have to search for it,read item descriptions etcetera.If you are gonna slam the game because it doesnt have story please Youtube Search:Dark Souls Lore.Second thing is that this game is about cheap deaths and unforgiving save system.Yes there are a lot of cheap deaths but i dont mind that because i should really pay more attention to what is going on in the area around me.The save system is not great but its basically telling you:You F*ck up you have to live with it and thats waht makes Dark Souls unique.Another thing that people say its that the game is too hard.Well you picked up a game that developers said would be harder then Demon Souls which i didnt played because i dont own PS3.But i love DS its one of the best games i have ever played.Yes the voice acting can be sometimes pretty terrible (especially on Vamos),And some Trolls here say that this game is only for people which wanna prove how awesome they are.I think its not about that its more about accepting a challange something that most games dont offer.Especially modern shooters.This game is unforgiving but thats what makes it so unique.If you love hardcore RPGs buy this game,And dont believe those trolls that got stuck on Capra Demon and are complaining about enemies are basically only zombies.… Expand

When I play this game I feel like a cat on the hot roof. And man when I lose 30000 souls... only game with real sense of achievement in a long time. It's love affair.

One of the most beautiful and best games i have ever played in my life. The challenge of the game alone draws you in, the game actually takes skill which is lacking in alot of games out there these days which is what i loved about old school gaming back i the day, games are to idiot proof these days.

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, 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

Dark Souls is not a game for everyone. The gameplay of the game is similar to that of Monster Hunter in some aspects. You will die a lot. But the things that this game does well outshine the negative aspects of it. Customizability of your character makes them feel as if they are unique in nature. The ever changing areas as you progress through the game create a nice flow. The game is constantly scaling its difficulty to keep up with your levels, and for those who enjoy gameplay elements akin to childhood difficulty will be reminded of it. Gamers have become too catered to easy games where everything must be spoon fed to them. Its nice to find a game that goes back to its roots and teaches you the basic elements and allows you to wander out and discover the rest of it for yourselves. The story is very thinly laid out in Dark Souls, but everything else makes up for it. The only big problem I had when playing it was input lag, which made hard situations even harder.… Expand

By far my favourite game of all time. Unlike many modern games, Dark souls doesn't attempt to hold your hand, leaving a sense of mystery and intrigue.

One of the best game released this year hands down. It's very challenging and it has alot to do, many different play styles so you can start over again, it has co-op and PvP and the bosses are just fantastic! Definitely worth the money.