Tom Powter reviews Dark Souls III…
“Very well. I humbly place my faith, in you.” These are the last, desperate words spoken to you by a man locked deep beneath oblivion, in a cell with no other options left, in a world where the damned are on a constant, futile pilgrimage for refuge. And so too must you, the player, place your faith squarely in yourself, for you’ll find no help in the often mischievous, murderous or just downright mad denizens of Lothric. Such is the journey of Dark Souls III – a lonesome, sublime and powerful quest to save a world long beyond saving.
Hidetaka Miyazaki returns fresh off of the masterpiece that was Bloodborne to helm the final instalment in the Dark Souls series. The main storyline is surprisingly transparent – the world is teetering on the brink of destruction and only an ancient ritual known as the linking of the fire can save it. However, those who would serve to link the fire, the mysterious Lords of Cinder, have fled their posts and it’s up to you, a pitiful Unkindled, to try and bring them back as so many others have attempted before you.
Dark Souls III takes the beloved Souls formula and modernises it for an age where Bloodborne is now a thing. Lothric is a decaying shell of a world, living in the shadow of its own former glory. The game’s areas are all incredibly varied, leading you through high castle walls to poisonous bogs and ghostly catacombs, building incredible atmosphere and tension in a way rivalled only by From Software’s last outing. In fact, the entire world of Dark Souls III is positively dripping with lore and history.
From the mysterious Firekeeper, to the numerous NPCs, most of whom speak with in an endearingly cryptic and downtrodden manner, the game absolutely drives player obsession. Just as with Bloodborne, I spent my time not playing the game, thinking about the game. There’s a sickness at the centre of Lothric’s heart and that addiction carries over to the player. There’s a real sense of scale in Lothric, and in true Dark Souls fashion, everywhere you can see, you can visit. It’s world-building at its finest.
All of this is brought to life with the same engine that was used for Bloodborne, so the game is heavily detailed and absolutely laden with effects – so much so that the console version (I was playing on PS4) took a few frame rate drops in places. They never lasted more than a second and I never experienced them in a critical moment, such as a boss fight, but they’re there. It’s all worth it however when you step out onto a balcony and witness Lothric Castle towering over the world, the yellowing sunlight streaming past it. Dark Souls III has some of the most impressive vistas I’ve ever seen in a game, without a doubt.
The game’s visuals aren’t the only thing to have received an upgrade however – with the birth of Bloodborne, From has adopted some of the changes made in that game here – you still traverse huge, grandiose medieval worlds, confront colossal bosses and die an awful lot – but everything is much faster and more fluid. Staying huddled behind a shield is no longer your only option. The game will often encourage more aggressive play, as the enemies littering the world are more likely to throw themselves at you, hacking away relentlessly. Dodging, rolling and backstabbing are big here and the combat is incredibly organic and dynamic. Fights are breath-taking and terrifying and the game never relents. Each area brings new monstrosities for you to fight, with some of the enemy design bordering on madness.
The boss fights in particular are a typically amazing affair. With incredibly soundtracks and pulse-pounding move sets, the bosses also benefit from the overall faster pace of gameplay as a lot of them are far more oppressive, making each fight feel tense and brutal. Boss fights can be a tense and drawn-out situation, with only a couple of gimmicky bosses being something of a let-down. In fact, your heart will often be in your mouth throughout the experience, as Dark Souls III continues the gameplay loop of attempting to recover any lost ‘souls’ (the game’s currency used for purchasing and levelling) without dying, or else you lose them forever. It’s a cruel but brutally effective method of adding additional stakes to every life.
If this all sounds rather overbearing, well, that’s because it is. The world of Dark Souls III is testing and unkind, but every battle won lends an immense sense of satisfaction not found in any other game. However, unlike Bloodborne, you have an absolute ton of different weapons, armour and shields to choose from, to wield however you like in battle. Your stats and your class are all dealt with in the game’s surreal hub world, the Firelink Shrine. Here, you’re offered a fleeting moment of respite, before returning to the outside once again. You can also engage in Dark Souls’ unique brand of multiplayer to help, or hinder, your fellow questers. Once more, invasions are a thing, allowing you to enter another player’s game world to try and kill them. All of this adds to the ever-mounting tension, leading to truly breathless moments.
I’ve made a lot of comparisons with Bloodborne, and I feel that’s fitting. Thematically, this is a Dark Souls game through and through. There are elements of the gothic horror here, but this is mostly a game about knights and dragons. However, the pacing and overall feel of the game lean much more to Bloodborne than any other Dark Souls game. If you’re a Dark Souls veteran, you might find it liberating to not be hamstrung by a shield anymore. If you’ve only played Bloodborne, you may even have an advantage in some respects – the ability to roll like a madman is quite a useful one. Never played a Dark Souls game before? This is a good place to start.
The game’s difficulty curve is more gradual than before and you physically feel your character growing stronger with every trial. Yes, the Dark Souls games are hard, but that isn’t what they’re about. They’re about rewarding the player. They’re about rewarding exploration, interpretation and hesitation. They reward you with a surprise shortcut that highlights the phenomenal, unparalleled level design. They reward you with a new weapon for your efforts against a particular boss. The journey of Dark Souls III is a long one – it’s a sombre, thought-provoking adventure. But it doesn’t have to be walked alone. It’s your duty to link the fire – how you choose to do so, is in your hands. Dark Souls III is a modern masterpiece and one of the best games of this generation.
Pros
+ Stunning and awe-inspiring level design, with varied and beautiful areas
+ Borrowing the faster pace of Bloodborne, gameplay is slick and organic
+ A truly compelling and magical world, expertly crafted
+ Unique multiplayer offerings
+ A pulse-pounding tension and satisfaction that absolutely no other game series can offer
Cons
– Some rare technical issues
Rating: 10/10
Tom Powter
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