Dark Souls III Reviews
Demon's Souls had the spirit, Dark Souls had the lore, Dark Souls II the difficulty, Bloodborne the combat ... Dark Souls III is a bit of a mix of everything but a little less strong and shocking than its predecessors. It's a high-quality game and an ending worthy of a trilogy and even a pentalogy. But it doesn't make you feel bad that From Software stopped, which is a bit sad. I feel that From Software must have other sights. The era of great linear adventures has passed, and the open worlds cry out for good mechanics and combat. Time to do something else. Dark Souls III is the end of an era but it is also the opportunity for the virtues that From Software has cultivated in the dungeon crawler from King's Field to transcend into more ambitious genres. As for Dark Souls III, it is a necessary ending. Ash to ashes, dust to dust.
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Dark Souls 3 feels like the proper sequel to the first game. A lot of the odd mechanics from the second title were scrapped; instead, the game manages to update a lot of the core systems from the first game, borrow some from Demon's Souls, and even add a little bit of Bloodborne flavoring. And even though it feels like the true successor, it doesn't completely discount the second game's existence, as there are plenty of references to that game and world as well.
Dark Souls III is beautiful, balanced and fun, although it's not so different from the handful of games that preceded it.
Dark Souls III is shorter than what we've come to expect, but it's also more consolidated to give players exactly what they're looking for without any unnecessary fluff.
Dark Souls III is beautiful and terrifying all in one. Intense, atmospheric and so cruel. An essential game for RPG fans and one of the very best games of 2016 thus far.
Dark Souls 3 is exactly what fans want, more of the same. There are new elements to be sure, but overall the game is the same great action RPG formula as the previous games. Unfortunately this also means some pieces that should have been updated weren't. On top of this are some performance issues and a lackluster targeting system. Still, longtime fans will overlook these with ease. Newcomers will find a more accepting entry for the franchise, though the massive challenge is still there, and don't expect to understand all of the intricate mechanics that the game never really explains to you.
Dark Souls 3 relies too much on former glories to reach the heights of Bloodborne or the original Dark Souls, but that doesn't stop it being another superb adventure.
As the final game in the series, Dark Souls III delivers a fantastic, no holds barred, 30-hour experience that will satisfy longtime fans. Dark Souls III polishes its gameplay mechanics to a shine, and delivers the lore in droves to those who hunger for it – the perfect mix for an action RPG. Praise the Sun.
Dark Souls 3 lives up to the formula in some respects but falls short a little too often
Once you're a fan, Dark Souls isn't difficult. Hell, Dark Souls III might be the easiest of the series (with some notable exceptional elements). The appeal is all mental, because it's not about beating the game, or the bosses, or an area. It's about beating the part within all of us which tells us we can fail.
If Dark Souls III truly is the last game for now, it makes perfect sense, since it's just as much of a love letter to fans as it is a culmination of the series. I may not have like this iteration as much as the rest, but it's still streets ahead of most current action games and deserves a warm spot on your shelf by the bonfire.
If this were to be the final Souls game, I'd be happy to say goodbye. It's not quite the crowning achievement of the series but it's a fantastically inventive and fluid interpretation of the formula. And perhaps that would make it a great first Souls game for somebody new to the series as well.
Dark Souls III is an exceptional descent into a superbly menacing world
Devout followers of the Souls series will immediately discover that Dark Souls III is in many respects more of the same, and the majority of them couldn't be happier with that judgment. It is a challenging adventure unlike any other in the field, with the personal gratification after overcoming arduous obstacles second to none. The environment, though lacking much of a color palette, is an intricately detailed necropolis filled with terrors and rewards alike. The loose class system invites you to follow your own path, and the slightly relaxed introduction and accessible sanctuary of the Firelink Shrine beckons newcomers to give it a try. It is a stout and exceptionally formed entry in a series that keeps a steady course in the heart of its fans.
Dark Souls III is another triumph of the imagination for From Software, a studio which surely now must rank as one of Japan's leading talents. The company's Souls series has a near-flawless track record and after the cult nature of Demon's Souls has thankfully found a large and receptive mainstream audience – not bad for a franchise which delights in being obtuse and hair-pulling tricky in equal measure. Dark Souls III is arguably the most accomplished entry yet, refining the core mechanics and cunningly utilizing next-generation hardware to excellent effect.
Though technically iffy, Dark Souls 3 is yet another example of how worlds should be built: interlocking, beautiful, and interesting. The combat feels quick and fresh, and despite a few bosses that feel unfair, it's a glorious return to form for the series.
If Dark Souls 3 truly is the last in the series as we know it, then it's a worthy send-off. Weapon arts allow stylish and versatile new moves without tarnishing the purity of the combat system. Lothric's awe-inspiring locations provide visually stunning arenas for rigorous exploration and fierce face-offs with hosts of deadly enemies and even deadlier bosses. While not all the risky changes land as neatly as others, Dark Souls 3 is a powerful journey and the sequel the series truly deserves.
From the start, Dark Souls 3 feels incredibly familiar. The game's premise hasn't changed and the recurring series motifs are present and correct: ruined castle ramparts, red dragons breathing fire over a bridge, perseverance in the face of adversity. However one crucial thing differentiates Dark Souls 3 from the rest: almost everything from a design standpoint is flipped on its head.
Dark Souls III nails much of what made the first two in the series so special, but its world and enemies are unusually drab.
This game simply drips with atmosphere in a world that manages to transition from one darkly beautiful sight to the next.