Dark souls 3 is a confusing game to describe. This game... is one of the most broken, yet amazing games I will ever play. The mechanics of the game are completely unforgiving, yet when looked at with a cool-head, every death was due to me not knowing the enemy well enough. Dark souls 3 is a very methodical game that demands you learn your weapon, your character’s stamina pool limits and most importantly... the enemy. Each weapon, enemy and character build has a unique play style, with the game mercilessly punishing the player while they learn each new area, enemy, weapon and limits of your armor. With each weapon and armor having a weight to it, the ability to customize your character is nearly endless. From elemental to strike and slash resistances, each piece of armor has its own strengths.
With the addition of rings, the ability to specialize your character to not only resist but to directly counter an elemental strike or a poisonous swamp enters a ludicrous territory. This customization potential shows itself best in PVP. there are many different ways to play DARK SOULS, with many play styles and weapons being only truly usable in PVP.
Below is a small example of the amount of weapons and rings at your disposal.
The main appeal of DS3 is the ability to face monstrous enemies with near-impossible odds and emerge victorious. From the baseline enemies all the way to the bosses being able to deal near, if not full, fatal damage in just a few hits. Along your travels of each map, as well as after each boss, the game gives you a bonfire to return to Firelink to level up and improve your gear. Resting at a bonfire heals you and sets a checkpoint, but it also respawns any defeated enemies. Creating an interesting risk/reward of: do you explore just that little bit further with your dwindling supplies, or do you run all the way back to a bonfire to restock, respawning the enemies and undoing all the work you forged to get to this point.
My personal favorite example of the games ruthlessness is with the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, featured above in her intro cut scene. She serves as the game’s way to test the player’s damage and movement before allowing you to progress into the endgame, and with this being Dark Souls her boss room is available before the second boss. Upon her introduction, her attacks seem very chaotic and random, you will often find yourself running full speed just to dodge her combos for your first few encounters. However, as you battle more and more you start to realize her limited mobility when she strings a combo together. Often she will commit to a single direction for her attack, giving you the chance to run headfirst into danger to get a few strikes in.
Dark souls is one of those games that forces you to look at your enemies strengths and weaknesses. The mechanics encourage a back and forth with your opponents, but in every battle, the only thing holding you back from victory is your own skill and knowledge. DS3 is always willing to humble any player that tries to brute force their way through any section of its map or mechanics. Exploit every opening that you can for it may be the one thing standing between death and victory.
In conclusion, DARK SOULS 3 is an impressive game with a beautifully detailed world. Its gameplay is definitely unpolished, but never to an absurd/annoying level. The combat is unforgiving, but never impossible.it always lets you walk away with a sense of relief and accomplishment. The lore of the world itself is worth an afternoon of running around to learn it all. The main downside to ds3 is it's price tag, being a full four years and the price stands firm at $60. Definitely a negative that can’t be overlooked.
All in all, DS3 earns a comfortable 7/10. Just wait for a sale on humble bundle or steam.
