Dark Souls 3 Review (Spoiler Free)

The final, scorching installment in the Dark Souls series: Dark Souls III. It all ends...with the ashes. Hidetaka Miyazaki and developer company From Software are back once more to present the epic and closing iteration that we all have come to love since 2011.

GAMEPLAY:

Dark Souls III's game-play mechanics are the same as the first game and the second, it's just faster and a tad more fluid this time around. There are many weapons you can choose from that you might feel overwhelmed, but don't fret, you'll surely find a sword or battle-axe, or katana that will suit your soul-slaying needs. 

   The controls are the same as ever and playing the game feels fun and responsive. It helps that the game doesn't have many frame-rate issues as the case was with Dark Souls I on consoles. Early on in the game, you'll find that you have access to quite the number of armor sets (the starting Knight class armor set is actually well-worth keeping as it has great attributes and defenses). 

   Also, I can't mention the weapons without mentioning the weapon skills or weapon arts. Performing weapon skills costs FP (Focus Points) or Mana, and doing so will result in a sort of special or ultimate attack. This is an awesome addition to the gameplay and adds a nice flare to the combat system. Don't worry, there are also a ton of weapons that deal with magic or spellcaster builds. You can get pretty creative if you really want. But you know, the best part is: no matter what class you choose, it doesn't truly matter. 

   The class you select does not act as a tether that constrains you, you are free to do as you please. You can be a knight and cast spells. You can be a nimble thief and wield a gargantuan great sword. Category Rating: 9/10

LEVEL-DESIGN:

The level designs are great. You have interconnected level-design and most of the stages loop in on themselves. The game features many beautiful vistas and locations that are both wonderfully grim and eerily beautiful. What else would expect in the decaying world of Dark Souls? I feel that only a few levels could've had more done to them. Other than that, the levels are memorable and fun to play through. Category Rating: 8/10

DIFFICULTY: 

Out of all the Souls games, DSIII is pretty forgiving but that doesn't mean it's not challenging. Enemies hit hard, and most of them will carry out delayed attacks in an attempt to trick your senses of dodging. Dodging is useful, and so is using a shield. I like to utilize both play-styles, resulting in the perfect blend of agile quickness and strong defense. Bosses can be brutal, and that is particularly true about some of the optional and late-game bosses. Overall, the game is challenging, but what's more is: it is definitely surmountable. Plus, boss fights harbor amazing orchestral and operatic soundtracks and scores that are pretty damn cool. This game has some of the best boss fights in the series.

  Also, when you beat the game, you can choose to do a new game+ which bumps up the game's difficulty. It will continue to rise with each new game+ all the way up to new game+ 7. Category Rating: 7.5/10

STORY: 

You are the Unkindled Ash, seeking the Lords of Cinder in a quest to bring them back to the thrones they long left. The world is dying, fading like an ember, and it is up to you to decide the fate of the world. The game has a lot of references and certainly homages to the previous entries in the series. It has lore connections to the first game, so if you've played and beaten Dark Souls I you'll surely enjoy Dark Souls III much more. To fully understand the story of the game, you have to play the first. Which isn't the greatest when you consider there will be many new-comers to Dark Souls III.

    The multiplayer system revolves around invading other real players worlds and trying to kill them or PVP (player vs player). There is also co-op play if you so choose to play with a friend or even a group of friends.

THE NEGATIVES:

• Some bland levels 
• Way too many references to previous games to the point where the game feels like "fan-service" for the veteran players of the series
• The game feels as though it doesn't truly have its own identity; it lacks a lot of original flair that--say--Bloodborne definitely has and Demon's Souls, too. That's not to say it doesn't have personality, because it certainly does. It's just not as strong as Bloodborne or Demon's Souls. 

THE POSITIVES:

• Awesome boss fights (some of the best in the series)
• An epic soundtrack
• Good frame-rate, not too many noticeable drops (even on consoles)
• An abundance of items, weapons, and armor sets
• Extremely fun gameplay (best positive trait about the game)
• The levels were enjoyable and fun to play through
• High replay value
• Beautiful graphics  

THE FINAL VERDICT:

This is the final Dark Souls game and to be completely honest with you--despite some of its flaws--It feels right as the send-off for the series. Dark Souls III is well-worth its price and is a game with excellent combat and thoroughly fun boss fights. That's what makes DSIII great. It's simply a fun ride to enjoy. But seriously, all of the references and throw-backs somewhat hurt the game when it comes to originality. Other than that, despite absolutely loving Dark Souls I and Bloodborne, Dark Souls III is my favorite Souls game.

Final Game Rating: 9/10.

Many thanks to Hidetaka Miyazaki and the wonderful team at From Software. Much love.