Dark Souls III
Release Date: March 24, 2016
RPG, TPP, fantasy, co-op, action RPG, soulslike, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
Another installment in the series of dark action RPGs, initiated and developed by Japanese studio From Software. The title is set in the same fantasy universe, in terms of content however, it offers a completely new story in which we visit 12 previously inaccessible locations. At the same time, the game features a more extensive plot, and the gameplay itself is accompanied by over an hour of cutscenes.
Last Update: May 17, 2016
Dark Souls III Game Guide & Walkthrough
This guide for Dark Souls 3 provides you with everything you need to complete the demanding and vast game. It contains a full walkthrough of the game, explanation of all the key mechanics, description of every boss fight and locations of all the secrets.
Videos and Screens
[1:55] Dark Souls III The Fire Fades Edition (PL)
[1:53] Dark Souls III Kingdom Fall
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 99% of Critics. There are 165 Critic Reviews.
GamesRadar+: 4.5 / 5 by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
Dark Souls used to feel like a gigantic trap. Dark Souls 3, for better and for worse, feels like home. The third in the trilogy is bewitching while it lasts, but may not leave you wanting more.
VideoGamer: 8 / 10 by Steven Burns
Dark Souls 3 relies too much on former glories to reach the heights of Bloodborne or the original Dark Souls, but that doesn't stop it being another superb adventure.
Polygon: 7 / 10 by Philip Kollar
Dark Souls 3 lives up to the formula in some respects but falls short a little too often
The main pros of the game
- Challenging Gameplay: Many players appreciate the game's difficulty, which encourages perseverance and learning from mistakes. The sense of accomplishment after defeating tough bosses is frequently highlighted.
- Engaging Boss Fights: The bosses are often described as fun, memorable, and well-designed, contributing to the game's overall enjoyment.
- Visuals and Art Direction: The graphics and art style are praised, with many noting that the game still looks good years after its release. The atmospheric environments enhance the overall experience.
- Replayability: Players enjoy the variety of builds and unique weapons, which encourage multiple playthroughs. The game is noted for its depth and complexity in combat mechanics.
- Soundtrack and Lore: The music and lore are frequently mentioned as highlights, with players appreciating the intricate world-building and storytelling through item descriptions.
- Accessibility for New Players: Some reviews suggest that this installment is more forgiving than previous entries, making it a good starting point for newcomers to the series.
The main cons of the game
- Camera Issues: Several players noted that the camera can feel too zoomed in, making it difficult to appreciate the visuals and sometimes hindering combat.
- Linear Level Design: While some appreciate the design, others feel that the game is too linear compared to other entries in the series, which could limit exploration.
- Difficulty Balance: Some players found certain bosses to be easier than expected or felt that some encounters were frustratingly designed, particularly in terms of hitboxes and camera angles during fights.
- Lack of Cinematic Wrap-Up: Players expressed disappointment over the absence of a concluding cinematic after completing the game and its DLCs, leaving them feeling unfulfilled.
- Optimization Issues: A few users reported performance issues, such as frame drops, even on capable hardware.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Multiplayer Systems: Some players miss the more robust multiplayer mechanics from earlier titles, such as covenants and more integrated co-op elements.
- World Interconnectivity: A few reviews lamented the lack of interconnected world design seen in *Dark Souls I*, feeling that this aspect added depth to exploration.
- Inventory Management Features: Suggestions were made for a "recent items" tab similar to that in *Elden Ring* to enhance inventory management.
- More Diverse Boss Mechanics: Some players expressed a desire for more complex boss mechanics or additional phases to increase the challenge and variety in fights.
Summary
- Overall, Dark Souls III is celebrated for its challenging gameplay, engaging world, and memorable boss encounters, but it also faces criticism regarding linearity, certain gameplay mechanics, and some missed opportunities for enhanced features.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 3319 votes. 770 players anticipated the game.
Dark Souls III Description
Officially, the Dark Souls franchise was born in 2011, when the first game under that title came out, however, it is Demon’s Souls, released back in 2009 on PlayStation 3, that is regarded as the first installment in the series. The franchise is traditionally developed by From Software, Inc., a company founded back in 1986. Their track record includes many different titles, including multiple Armored Core games, but it was the Souls franchise, that got them into the first league. Dark Souls III for PC, PS4 and XONE is their latest project, overseen by Hidetaka Miyazaki - the father of Demon’s Souls, the first Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Isamu Okano, the man behind Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor will be the game’s creative director.
Gameplay
Dark Souls III follows the usual setup. Once again, the players are invited into a dark fantasy world, where dangers loom behind every corner. In terms of gameplay the game takes after its predecessors and features a challenging action-RPG adventure, prompting you to explore different locations and learn its story piece by piece. Except the story is never placed before you on a silver platter – in order to get to know the setting you’ll have to read item descriptions, talk to the characters, or even study texts written by fans. The game includes roughly an hour’s worth of cut-scenes, which is a lot for this series.
You begin with the creation of your hero. The developers have prepared 12 default character classes, which are basically all the same because, in the course of a plathrough, you can develop your character any way you want. After your character is ready, you can proceed to the game’s main course, which includes mostly exploration (in contrast to the second Dark Souls, this time the way the locations are interconnected bears some resemblance to the first installment) and combat that requires patience and a cool head. There are 45 new kinds of enemies, and each of them can pose a challenge. From time to time you’ll face one of the bosses, which are a dozen or so in total. The combat system is familiar to anybody who’s played any of the previous chapters, albeit with some new additions, including the “ready” stance, which can be used to deliver exceptionally powerful strikes.
In a true RPG manner, in time, you will gain new gear, which can then be improved to enhance its offensive and defensive capabilities. Of course, you will also find lots of items (over 200 different types) with unique properties (healing potions, antidotes, weapon enchantments, and many more.).
Technology
Since Dark Souls III was designed for PC, PS4 and XONE it features high quality visuals, besting any of the previous games in the series up to date. The developers have approached the design process with a noteworthy attention to details, as reflected by the appearances of both locations and enemies, and employed cutting-edge visual effects.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
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8
GAMES
in Souls Game Series
Game Series
Souls Series
A series of action RPGs, enjoying a cult status among many players. Japanese studio FromSoftware is responsible for its creation, and the entire series is inextricably linked with Hidetaka Miyazaki, who served as production director for most installments.
8 video games
Dark Souls III Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Dark Souls III System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-2500 3.3 GHz/AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 750/Radeon HD 6870 or better, 20 GB HDD, Windows 7(SP1)/8.1/10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i7-2600 3.4 GHz/AMD FX-8350 4.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB RAM GeForce GTX 970 or better, 20 GB HDD, Windows 7(SP1)/8.1/10 64-bit
PlayStation 4
Uses: PlayStation Network
Xbox One
Uses: Xbox Live
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Files and Mods
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January 24, 2022
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