Dark Souls 3 Review

Ascending from Ashen
By Brett Wolfe
Reviewed on Xbox One
Released on April 12th, 2016 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC
Developer: FromSoftware, Inc. Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

---

​Welcome Ashen One! I am the Reviewer, the Fourth Lord of Penmanship, and I will be your guide throughout your quest. Your quest, if you chose to accept it, is to read this review and take from it what you will. Decide whether you agree or disagree and be wary as you will face many foes along your journey. In the end, your thoughts will reign supreme and help you decide if this is for you. Continue on if you accept this quest and are ready to face the Lords of Cinder.
 
Dark Souls III is an action-RPG developed by FromSoftware and is the fourth game in the Souls series. Dark Souls III puts you in the role of the Ashen One, whom is arisen from the grave to take down the Lords of Cinder and Link the First Flame. Although this is the task that they give the Ashen One, the game has a choice element (not very vast, but a choice element nonetheless) by letting you chose how the game ends. Each choice has a different cut scene after the game, but that’s really all the choice will do. Without going into too much detail that would spoil the end of the game, the choices the Ashen One is presented with are: Link the Fire, Usurp the Fire, Fire Keeper’s Ending, or Don’t Link the Fire.

​Game modes included in this game are only a campaign, which can be played in various ways. The game can be played in single player, cooperatively online with up to three people, and also in a Player vs. Player mode known as ‘invading’. When playing single player, you can (but not required) set the game to offline mode. This will keep the PVP section of the game from invading your game. When playing co-op, you must be online and you can summon two people into your game normally (three with a certain in-game item), however; the invaders can enter your world at any moment. The co-op in this game is not like your generic run-of-the-mill co-op. To play the co-op, you must be summoned using a summoning sign and invited into your friends’ games to help them through the section of the game. This use to be a nightmare in previous installments, but FromSoftware included a password system in this game that made this much easier. The third option of the PVP section requires some in-game items and allows you to enter the worlds of other player to kill them for other in-game items. I personally do not like this mechanic to the game, but some people find this one of the most fun elements to Dark Souls.

This title offers various way to play the game, from hack and slash to ranged and swords and shield to spears and much more. While it might seem difficult at first, once you learn the control mechanics and how to predict enemy movements. The game will get easier in time. Not saying that it still won’t be difficult, that is the charm that Dark Souls provides you with. You will very quickly fall in love with the story, the world, and the atmosphere that it puts off. Speaking of that the visuals and soundtrack in this game are second to none. They are just absolutely breathe-takingly beautiful. The game makes you wish that you could travel to the lands of Dark Souls (actually, maybe not all things considered.) This game offers a modest amount when it comes to replayability with featuring a new game plus which you can do various playthroughs one after another. It also contains various optional bosses that you can go back to after beating the game if you felt that you are under leveled for it before the end game.
​
All in all, Dark Souls III is a phenomenal title that provides a large of amount of gameplay and will let you get your money’s worth for a game of this magnitude. So grab your favorite broad sword, a couple Estus Flask, and your trusty bow and I wish you the best of luck…You are going to need it!

Final Score: 10/10

 +Beautiful Visuals
+Amazing Soundtrack
+Phenomenal Gameplay

​-Difficult if unaware of Souls experience