Review: Dark Souls – Death Served on a Bed of Death

Disclaimer: Prepare to Die – A Lot

This is a warning. A warning that will hopefully serve to inform you that Dark Souls is the most frustrating game you will ever play. You WILL run around like a chicken without a head, looking for a path that is right under your nose. You WILL die so many times that you can no longer keep count. You WILL almost cry out in anguish as you have to re-do a part of the game for the 50th time, and yet, you WILL love this infernal game.

Over the past couple of years game developers have been moving more and more towards the part-time gaming community. By this I mean the large percentage of people that want an easy game with straightforward levels and OP (Over Powered) items that make it unbelievably easy to finish the game in record time. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with this, just that this seems to be how game developers have been structuring their gameplay, as a bigger player base means a bigger bank account.

But sometimes, and I’m sure there are a lot of people that will agree, it’s nice to play a game that really makes you work for that final title screen. A game that causes you to all but throw the controller in frustration, walk away and promptly return to the game because the challenge is too enticing. With Dark Souls, you get this and a little extra on the side.

If I had to describe this game in one phrase, it would be: A real gamer’s game. This isn’t a game for the feint hearted. Dark Souls is a game for those who like getting blisters on their thumbs from playing for hours on end. Simply, it’s a game for those in society that hate the sunlight.

Dark Souls doesn’t have all the flashy lights and crazy animations that are common in RPG’s these days, but that doesn’t mean that the graphics leave you unsatisfied. The developers of Dark Souls did an amazing job in creating a landscape fit for any scenario, from giant castle climbing drakes to enormous lake dwelling hydras. Brilliant visuals to accompany an equally impressive gameplay experience.

Now for the topic that generates hours upon hours of thought and concentration: stats and customizability. To put it bluntly, there are load of options, combinations, weapons, armour pieces, consumable items etc. I haven’t seen a game that gives you this many options in ages, it will consume your life…

Dark Souls satisfied my nerdy needs like no other game has in ages. A very welcome descent into a world of fantastical creatures and impossible feats. No one can call themselves a true modern day gamer until they have played this game. An almost impossibly hard, yet immensely rewarding game. For all those parents trying to teach their console addicted kids what patience, perseverance and reward is, getting them this game is the perfect way to do it.

Dark Souls Rating: 9/10

Xavier Bezuidenhoudt – Our resident Frenchman; we discovered Xavier in the back streets of Paris selling bootleg Mighty Mouse action figures. His Parisian occupation paired with his checkered past as a mime in the Moulin Rouge gave him the necessary skill required to become an excelent PC games reviewer. We immediately offered him a job. Take away from the fast paced world of action figure bootlegging, Xavier settled in Johannesburg, living on a diet of Merlot, Foie Gras and your tears when he owns you at Starcraft