Dark Souls Series Review (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo & PC)

A bloodstain laced in cobblestone and ash illuminates a fate far worse than death, pleading with ambiguity to be taken seriously by those who traipse the same path. A ghost, fickle and white, illustrates a pattern that ultimately led to their untimely demise. A bonfire, smitten with smoke and kindling, ushers me forward, into a cesspit of demonic soldiers and gargantuan dragons—mighty warriors who once bore the weight of powers beyond their wildest desires. A husk without courage, alone and without the wealth of knowledge to stoke the inferno, steps into a dark and dangerous void that houses no formal introductions or preliminaries. This is, and forever will be the only respite that I will receive. It’s unapologetically Dark Souls — and it will never let me go.

As much as I’d like to say that, when it comes to Dark Souls, “you either have it or you don’t,” it wouldn’t be true. Frankly, if you fall into its world with the idea that it’s a battle of skill and masterful execution, then you might just find yourself abandoning the bonfire before setting it alight. See, Dark Souls is a lot like a fine wine, in that it gradually gets better the more you leave it out in the dark, somewhat damp waters. The problem is, with the series being famously difficult, a lot of fledgling warriors tend to lose interest shortly after succumbing to their first encounter with the big bad wolves of its world. And honestly, I can’t blame them. On paper, Dark Souls sounds like a major headache — and it is. But then, the more you begin to learn the ropes, and the more you begin to come to terms with death and the steps one might need to take in order to capitalize on their failures, the greater that  fine wine begins to taste. It isn’t the sweet nectar of third-person battlers; it’s a slap to the face that feels annoyingly warm and accommodating.

Generally speaking, Dark Souls isn’t the type to series that you would turn to in a heartbeat if you’re looking to unwind and detach yourself from the world. No, it’s a challenge that you know will push you to your limit, but will also season your frequent failures with reason and opportunities to improve. It isn’t for the faint of heart; it’s for those who desperately crave the smelted flesh of a relentless dungeon. It doesn’t hold your hand, but it does fool you into believing that, if you push yourself hard enough, great things will come to pass. Sadly, it’s committing to the grindstone and learning to roll with the punches, that’s the hard part.

If you can turn a blind eye to Dark Souls’ absurdly barbaric combat system and unfavorable conditions, then believe it or not, you will come to learn that, behind all of its shortcomings and curveballs, boss battles and death knells, the series itself fosters a ton of fantastic stories and hallmark elements, world lore and character development arcs. With an interwoven universe that houses numerous enemies, secrets, gear and opportunities to enhance your repertoire, each chapter brings fresh adventures and epic feuds, iconic battles and staggeringly complex orchestral moments. And to be clear, Dark Souls has never fallen short of being one for mesmerizing crescendos. It’s finding the joy in the little things, really, that brings you closer to its bonfire.

Of course, while you are likely to refer to Dark Souls as a stupidly difficult ARPG with fatal effects that would naturally force you to burst a blood vessel once in a blue moon, the series is, thankfully, able to numb your pain and with a fantastic selection of progression hooks and an in-depth character development suite, to boot. With a vast array of classes, armors, weapons and synergies to explore, each chapter in the saga ensures that you always have something to splurge on with your casket of souls. It isn’t always a smooth ride, but the series does make a habit of rewarding you for preserving and keeping your head above water. You’ll still die, a lot — but that’s sort of the point. Sadly, death is just the beginning; it’s the afterlife that makes you want to maintain your faith and keep plugging on.

Suffice it to say, Dark Souls is a series that you’ll walk into with a love-hate relationship already blooming. At first, you’ll hate it. But then, as you gradually begin to connect the dots and master your craft, you’ll come to find more avenues to tread on, as well as additional ways to squeeze the best possible outcomes from your experience. Granted, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. That said, there is a reward here that outweighs the challenge. Stick with it long enough, and you’ll see exactly what we’re talking about. Hopefully.

Verdict

While it’s no secret that there are countless alternate bonfires to bloody your blade in, the fact is, Dark Souls will forever remain forged in the fires of legend as an instrumental part of the universally beloved Soulslike genre, not as a speck of ash, but as the kindling that helped set it alight. And that’s something that we ought to celebrate here: the fact that it stands the test of time as one of the most important sagas in gaming. It isn’t the be all, end all of video games, but it is one that carries an enormous amount of influence over the spectrum and the outer boroughs of difficult ARPGs. Take from that what you will, but just know that, without Dark Souls, we wouldn’t have the likes of Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, or Elden Ring. That said, we would still have a lot more hairs on our scalps. Swings and roundabouts, you know how it is.

With all of the above out in the open, I will argue that, as long as you’re willing to watch your sanity whittle down to a pulp, you should be able to find your place in Dark Souls’ carnivorous world. You might come to develop a strong hatred towards the bonfire, but, with any luck, you might also come to appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that come with it. Unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out, and it’s staring at you right in the eye.