Dark Souls is an epic RPG created by From Software, maker of the equally impressive Demon's Souls. Dark Souls is a beautifully atmospheric game that is well crafted and perfectly balanced.
This could potentially be a game of the year candidate, but for one reason: I imagine it will only appeal to a handful of hardcore gamers.
Dark Souls is very light on its back-story: a group of heroes defeat a race of dragons, simultaneously saving and damning the human race. Cursed humans who are born with 'the dark sign' wither away and eventually become undead; so all those born with the sign are shipped to the Undead Asylum. One of the undead is destined to save the world, and the chosen one happens to be you.
When developing a character, players get to choose between 10 classes and to customise their skills and gifts. As they progress, they collect souls that are used to level the character, and the skills they choose to increase - whether it's strength or dexterity - significantly affects the way the game is played. This makes for a rich gaming experience.
The game environment is a dark, desolate and isolated world. The game has no maps, pointers or directional cues, and the player has to learn from the environment - if going down a specific path means players die very quickly, it might mean they've gone in the wrong direction. And death happens often.
In summary:
Pros: Well-balanced and rewarding gameplay; enormous campaign
Cons: Will only appeal to a few gamers; you die ... often
Rating: 8/10
Time to completion: 80 hours
Achievement difficulty: 7/10
Price: R529
Contact: BT Games - www.btgames.co.za
The learning curve is painfully steep, and players need to quickly learn how to dodge and fight effectively. Until they do, they will die over and over and over again. Whenever the player dies, he re-spawns at the last bonfire (the game's only save mechanism), which could be up to half an hour earlier. This can be particularly frustrating, but when the player finally makes it through the tough learning curve, it's intensely rewarding.
The multiplayer is wonderfully constructed. In the campaign, players will occasionally see a ghost-like image running past them, fighting invisible enemies. These are other Xbox Live players fighting and dying around the player. Other players can leave messages; and if players have enough 'humanity points', they can call up a fellow Xbox Live player to help them. However, players cannot invite contacts from their friend lists, or talk to the other person. This has the effect of making the player feel simultaneously reassured and isolated by the players who are there only in spirit.
Dark Souls is a massive game that is beautifully constructed in every dimension, but it is subject to a load of contradictions: a completely desolate atmosphere matched by an intermittent sense that you aren't suffering alone; a learning curve that's significantly steep, yet immensely rewarding; and the experience of countless deaths, only to finally grind through almost impossible boss fights. It's potentially one of the best, or most frustrating games you will ever play.
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