The name is met with so many emotions ranging from love to hate to utter rage. Most gamers
pick it up for about 15 minutes and vow to never touch it again. Between its complex leveling system
and unforgiving gameplay it’s sure to leave the average gamers in tears and the determined highly
rewarded.
Developed by From Software they set out to make a game that was one of the hardest games on
the market. They started by releasing their first game Demon Souls in early 2009, this created a game
that is was unlike almost any game out. It jumped straight into the action right from the beginning and
didn’t spoon-feed you like all games do now days.
Dark Souls was released in late 2011 and came packing just as big of a punch. Popular mostly
among the pc gamers it remained quiet for some time but quickly gained moment as the years went on.
It is currently one of my Top games of all time.
The basic gameplay revolves around a character that is cursed to be an undead. In his quest to
regain his humanity he fights through hordes of enemies each more lethal than the last. At no point in
this game can you relax and drop your guard because if you’re not paying attention even the first
enemies you encounter can kill you relatively quickly. Stunning landscapes, Diverse areas, and original
monsters make this game a must have for all serious gamers.
The game allows for a nonlinear play through giving you complete control as to where you want
to go and what direction you want to take. The game offers little to no hints as to what to do so you
need to pay attention but it also leaves a fair bit of guesswork. At times this can prove frustrating but is
equally rewarding when you discover hidden secrets or advancements in the game.
The leveling system in the game is one of its weaker points in my opinion because when mixed
with the lack of direction it can confuse even experience gamers. You accrue souls that act as currency
when leveling up. The games unforgiving nature makes leveling a bit more difficult by dropping your
souls each time you die. Once dead you have only one opportunity to retrieve the souls before they are
lost forever and all the time you put in acquiring them is wasted (pro tip. Get a strap for your controller,
the urge to hurl them is incredibly strong when this happens). Knowing what each upgrade does is
essential to the game because if done improperly can cause you to struggle or fail completely in later
stages of the game. This requires either some prior research or a friend who knows what they are doing
to coach you. That being said I find this to be one of the only faults of the game and it is overcome once
you understand the mechanics of the game thus eliminating it.
The game was designed with the intent of making the player feel secluded and to be honest it
can be downright depressing at times. To lift this dark setting just a bit they included a minor multiplayer
aspect of the game. They didn’t want to make it co op but in certain area’s you can summon up to 2
npc’s or real characters. The idea was not to have one person do all the work and let you right the tails
so connecting with friends proved to be relatively difficult and was a bit of a turn off for many gamers.
Pc however quickly published a patch that slightly remedied the issue.
So you have killed all the monsters. You're safe right? You couldn’t be more wrong. The game has
a pvp element that allows you to invade other player’s worlds and face off in a mano y mano duel. This
can be avoided by playing in offline mode but can be fun once you get the hang of it.
Boss fights can be especially fun and fill you with a sense of accomplishment. They are by no
means easy or predictable and you will almost always die the first few times when you are learning the
movements and attacks. Each boss is original and has its own strategies for defeat. Bosses reward you
will high experience and items that can lead to special weapons later on in the game.
Which leads me to my final topic of weapons. The game caters to almost any playstyle you can
think of. From magic builds all the way to healers you can customize your character to fit you
individually. I myself am more of a ranged character but I enjoy mixing in bits of stealth. As you progress
you find a vast selection of weapons that each have their unique fighting style and move set. The
weapons along with the armor you find can be upgraded and is vital to your success against the enemy.
All in all this game is a masterpiece. It is a fantastic mix of risk and reward and doesn’t get
repetitive. I have put over 200 hrs. into this game and still go back for more. NG+ and on provide extra
challenges for those who are seeking it. This game receives a solid 9.5 out of 10 for me and I think could
be echoed by anyone brave enough to complete it in its entirety. Not for the faint of heart or the
impatient.
LifeHack
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