The third and final part of the Dark Souls trilogy launches today. Dark Souls diehards will have no doubt secured their copy already – some lucky souls received their pre-orders on Saturday – but newcomers caught in belated Dark Souls hype may be in two minds about making a purchase.
Word has it that although Dark Souls II remains the easiest in the series, relatively speaking, this third instalment has a slightly more helpful opening.
We wouldn’t worry too much about being thrown in the deep end, though. Partly because that’s what the game is all about, but also because it’s one of those games with an incredibly strong community – fans are always eager to lend words of advice.
Reviews suggest there are a few unfair boss battles and some minor technical hiccups, but other than this it’s very close to perfection.
Take a look for yourself:
‘Essential’ – Eurogamer: “Is it the finest Souls game yet? I don’t know; it might be. I can say this, though: Dark Souls 3 is a fabulous game, and a fitting conclusion to the greatest trilogy of modern times”
5/5 – The Telegraph: “It is one of the most fascinating games you’ll play this year, or any other, a high-profile game that still dares to go against the grain despite its ever growing popularity”
9.5 – Arcade Sushi: “If Dark Souls III is the final visit to this series, then it is the apex the series deserves and certainly one of the most worthwhile adventures we’ve embarked on in a long time”
9.5 – IGN: “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”
9.25 – GameInformer: “If you’ve never played the series, this is a great place to begin, offering a bit more direction in the early game before opening up. If you’ve already played the series, you can feel confident that From Software hasn’t lost its touch”
9.0 – God is a Geek: “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”
9/10 – The Metro: “A fitting end to the Dark Souls trilogy, that eventually overcomes the feeling of overfamiliarity with some daring new features and classic boss battles”
9/10 – GameSpew: “It looks amazing, sounds amazing, plays amazing; the only things that let it down are the minor technical issues and perhaps the sometimes inconsistent difficulty level”
8.5 – PlayStation Lifestyle: “Sporting a wonderful environment full of color, suffering, death, and a small amount of hope, fans can expect to sink several dozen, if not hundreds, of hours into the game, if they haven’t already”
9/10 (PC), 8/10 (PS4) – The Jimquisition: “No game series comes close to doing what Dark Souls does, and Dark Souls III has done it again. It’s an undead favorite”
8/10 – GameSpot: “This is the essence of Dark Souls III: periods of doubt, followed by great reward. The journey may be rocky, but there’s a throne waiting at the end”
7.0 – Polygon: “Do you play for the joy and stress of exploring dangerous, intricately crafted places full of hidden elements and endless side paths? Then I suspect you’ll join me in being a little let down with the direction this sequel has gone in”
