Whether you playedDark SoulsorDark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, it’s hard to ignore the game’s strides in the Souls-like subgenre.Dark Soulsis synonymous with difficult video games, often serving as a benchmark. The game’s macabre themes are on par withhorror games,which might deter some players. However, it offers masterclass gameplay that has hardly aged.
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The Souls games includeDemon’s Souls,Dark Souls,Dark Souls 2, andDark Souls 3.FromSoftware games likeBloodborneandSekiro: Shadows Die Twicewere not considered. The sequels made improvements, but the original did it first. Could the originalDark Soulsbe the best Souls game?
10BEST: Level Design
Entering an area like Anor Londo, players are mesmerized by the city’s scenic skyline and gorgeous architecture. There is never a shortage of places to marvel at in the originalDark Souls.By comparison,Dark Souls 2has inferior level designs because of the amount of backtracking required. The argument could be made thatDark Souls 3has the best level design. However,Dark Souls 3is much more linear by comparison, which is whyDark Soulshas the edge.
9NOT: Clumsy Gameplay
While plenty of reasons suggest thatDark Soulsis the best game in the series, the same could be said about the opposite.Dark Soulsis the first game in the series, so naturally, it has less refined gameplay than its successors.
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Dark Soulscombat can be described as clunky and awkwardcompared to a game likeSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.EvenDark Souls 3has smoother gameplay by comparison. Fighting the Capra Demon boss in a tight space is uncomfortable enough to give you claustrophobia.
8BEST: Memorable DLC
TheDLC (downloadable content)ofDark Soulswas unforgettable, yet it could be argued that any of the Souls games have the best DLC.Dark Souls 2needed the Scholar of the First Sin DLC to be complete. Our view ofDark Souls 2would be very different without it. However, the DLC inDark Soulsmade up of the Sanctuary Garden and the boss fight Knight Artorias the Abysswalker is too memorable. The originalDark Soulswins this category by a narrow margin.
7NOT: It’s Too Hard
Hands down, the originalDark Soulshas the hardest gameplay in the series.The game doesn’t do a great job of preparing you for boss fights,but that’s the idea. Whether you’re new to the subgenre or not, expect a long and arduous journey as you descend into madness.Dark Souls’excruciatingly hard difficulty might be too much for the average gamer. Many preferDark Souls 3for being more manageable yet still challenging.
6BEST: Combat Sequences
From the moment you startDark Souls,you begin to realize that it’s a different type of game. Of course,Dark Soulsis renowned for itsenemy varietyand combat sequences. While enemy variety relates to the makeup of the enemies, combat sequences are the order in which they are laid out. There is immersion while moving from enemy to enemy. Enemy encounters like skeletons, drakes, and Balder Knights are profoundly engaging on an inexplicable level.
5NOT: Too Dark
From the depths of Blighttown to the anything but tranquil Darkroot Garden, one common theme is darkness. It shouldn’t surprise you thatDark Soulsis a dark game. After all, it has the word “Dark” in the game’s title.
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Taking a closer look, we see that the originalDark Soulsis darker than its successors. This could be a reason to like or dislike the game, but it seems likeDark Soulscould’ve benefited from better lighting.
4BEST: The Game Doesn’t Hold Your Hand
As you daringly progress throughDark Souls, it becomes abundantly clear that the game provides few favors. A Hellkite Dragon, also known as a Red Drake or a Bridge Wyvern, meets you early on. This foe is practically undefeatable because of his thick scale armor, immense damage, and health points. It’s small subtleties like the Hellkite Dragon miniboss that separateDark Soulsfrom other action role-playing games. Progression is not easy, and there are few tutorials to aid progression.
3NOT: Loot System
The originalDark Soulsmight have the worst loot system of anyDark Soulsgame because of the reliance on certain items. One can get through the majority of the early game wielding a Drake Sword. The fact that seemingly negligible items like the Master Key can drastically change the playthrough experience is less than ideal. On the other hand,Dark Souls 3has a more refined loot system that encourages you to usedifferent weapons and gear.
2BEST: Boss Fights
Dark Souls’boss fights are among the most epic in video games. Behind bosses, there can be a rich backstory. An example would be the Great Grey Wolf Sif, who was once Artorias the Abysswalker’s partnerbefore choosing to guard his fallen comrade’s grave.
Another unforgettable fight was against the Taurus Demon atop the castle. Climbing the ladder and moving in for an aerial attack was one strategy to beat the Taurus Demon. Other examples of memorable boss fights are the Bell Gargoyles, Iron Golem, and Gwyn Lord of Cinder.
1NOT: Blighttown
Put simply, Blightttown is often lamented as one of the worst, most unengaging, and unrewardingly difficult areas in the Souls series, if not gaming as a whole — a sentiment echoed by many gamers the world over.Dark Souls 2has The Gutter, but it wasn’t untilDark Souls 3that the series rid itself of places like Blighttown. Can one location, no matter how frustrating,make or break a game?Blighttown certainly tempts the verdict.
