Topic: Dark Souls III

And so the Dark Souls 'trilogy' comes to an end, according to the games creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, by bringing the story to a closure.

Dark Souls III focuses on the "Unkindled Ash" as a dark hero and protagonist (you!) that goes to find and bring back four Lords of Cinder to their thrones at Firelink Shrine, to link the Flame once again.

As of Sunday the 10th of April, Dark Souls III is the highest rated game of the year so far on both OpenCritic and Metacritic alike, which is very reassuring.

There's ten classes to choose from this time, along with the return of the Pyromancer that was a popular starting choice in the original Dark Souls, hooray!

The PC version is locked at 60fps, whereas the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are 1080p/30fps and 900p/30fps respectively, although the latter console struggles more so in terms of frame rate (as low as 12-15fps in places) as well as the return of the unfortunate frame pacing issues that plagued a few specific areas in Bloodborne.

I could jot down our online IDs for those of whom would like to meet up in the game itself (if you wish to do so), and I can compose a list at the base of this OT.

Obviously any boss discoveries or things that would bother you if someone else openly spoils for you should be wrapped around with spoiler tags please. I shouldn't have to say this, but some folks need telling!

Let's begin our arduous quest to link the Flame for the last time...

I haven't started Demon's Souls yet, I have some catching up to do...

Dark Souls 3 is fun so far from the couple of hours I've played on Xbox One.

Don't think I'll like it as much as Bloodborne but I'm glad I've bought it.

Can't wait to get this game.

I am having a tough time choosing between the Herald and Mercenary as my starting class.

The Herald is remarkably similar to the Knight, but in place of the slightly weaker vitality and strength stats is a higher amount of magic and luck, which mixes things up a little bit. I like using a spear and shield together.

And because I love the aggressive fast-paced nature of the combat in Bloodborne, the Mercenary class shares similarity to the ruthlessness of a hunter in Bloodborne. This class offers dual scimitars from the word go too.

This is going to be such a good month (and a bit) of games; Dark Souls III, Ratchet & Clank, Alienation and to top it all off, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.

It has been quite some time since a wave of games as good as these that's come along all at once!

The first thing I noticed when I played this was the linearity of the opening thirty minutes, as well as the slightly worse looking visuals compared to Bloodborne, especially the art direction in the latter.

Whilst the frame rate is relatively smooth 95% of the time, the frame pacing issues are unfortunately far more frequent in this than Bloodborne. Seems that FromSoftware have not improved in this area, at all.

The long short of my opening impressions; it isn't as good as Bloodborne however, I do feel that compulsive urge to go back (to this) just as much as I did when I first played Demon's Souls.

Oh, and I chose the Mercenary as my starting class in the end. So far, so good!

Bloodborne is my only "souls"-like game experience. And since I've gotten a GuyFriend, who is obsessed with the franchise, I've been pulled into buying this one. I have a feeling I'm going to struggle greatly, because Bloodborne was more about staying on the offense while DS, as I'm aware, is more about patience and defense. Either way, I look forward to playing it

@Operative: If you choose the Mercenary or Warrior as your starting class, you would feel more at home with their aggressive and offensive stats as well as the weapons the two classes have; a two-handed battle axe and dual scimitars respectively.

This is the first place that made me say 'WOW!'

Surprisingly I'm pretty okay at the game! I sold some games, including Mario Maker (which on this site is probably blasphemy, but I haven't touched the thing since September) and got the game for nothing and spent $30 on the hard cover guide. It's really fun so far, though I'm stuck at Vordt at the moment.

Fixed it for you

But more to the point i don't think anyone can go wrong with this game. Had a good ol' laugh luring the Knight in the Great Wall Area into the path of the dragon's fire and just sat back and watched him burn. I love getting a kick out of things like that that most people won't think of doing.

Those gooey-black transformative enemies are what I perceive to be unfairly overpowered and with 'Spider Senses' to boot, as in seeing you even with their backs turned to you.

I downed the first 'boss' by using just one Estus Flask, as I was overly aggressive whilst rolling in and out, but these blooming enemies are doing my flipping head in!

I guess it is a case of, 'welcome back to Dark Souls'...

Anybody killed the NPC up the top of the stairs to the left of the Firelink Shire yet? I very nearly did so yesterday evening, but that chained attack of his killed me instantly. I really want that two-handed weapon of his!

Beat the third boss last night and I have to say wow. It's probably one of the more impressive Souls bosses I've fought, even if it was a bit easy.

I started with Mercenary, but I've added some magic for long range and so far it seems to be working well. I'm enjoying this game so far. I don't think it'll beat Bloodborne for me, but it's still great so far.

After all that effort, killing the deprived chap near the Firelink Shire, the reward, which is (or was) his sword, is pretty underwhelming...

I have infused my dual scimitars with a fire gem as well as upgrading it twice with those Titanite Shards, and it is now doing some fairly respectable damage.

I know that Dark Souls does it own thing, but I really miss the fluidity of the controls and combat in Bloodborne. Feels like a clunky step backwards in some ways.

Cheap deaths are part and parcel of the Souls games however, some of the stuff I have seen (and died to) has been more on the unfair side of things rather than a case of 'get better'.

Those gooey-black things are a pain in the arse too.

I'm still at the Undead Settlement after four hours with nary a boss in sight!

This game is much, much bigger than both Dark Souls I & II; twelve hours has gone by and all I have to show for it is downing the first (proper) boss and beginning a few NPC quests.

How is everybody else getting on?

@Peek-a-boo: I'll get back to you after this weekend, I had to stop playing as I needed to catch up on my uni work this week. I'll attempt to play on this for most of my free time this weekend.

@Operative: Meh, Mario Maker sucks anyway.

I'm doing pretty well. I just got the game yesterday but I've managed to make it to the Undead Settlement and cleared a good part of it.

Only just defeated the Abyss Watchers and amazingly, I did it on my first try and with five Estus Flasks than my usual nine. My heart was pounding towards the end after almost being hit by the oft unavoidable circular spinning-slash fire move.

Such an intense battle, and many thanks to the other knights whom helpfully chipped a small amount of health off of the Lord of the Cinder too!

I wasn't a fan of the journey from Farron Keep to the Keep Ruin; poisoness swamps may well be a tradition in the Dark Souls series, but it doesn't make them any less frustrating and joyless.

Cathedral of the Deep was repetitive, having to do a 'loop' three separate times. The reward(s) are worth the weary and stumbling plodding about however, I could have done without some of the rather cheap deaths that you genuinely cannot foresee, until they actually happen.

I am absolutely sure that Bloodborne has better and more consistant visuals as well as animations that looks both good and convincing; going down a lift in Dark Souls III is dull due to the fixed lighting and nary any clothes physics. It is like everything is rooted to the ground - gravity be damned!

My series rating so far is Bloodborne = Demon's Souls > Dark Souls > Dark Souls III > Dark Souls II, although the latter game was undeservedly moaned upon by nitpicking 'fans'.

Well, after neglecting some college work a little I managed to beat the game today, and wow I'm blown away! It was a bit of a slow starter at the beginning, but some of the later areas are some of the best in the entire soulsborne series.

I won't spoil anthing, but I will say that the final boss is probably one of the best in the series, both from a lore standpoint and the actual battle itself. Don't quite know if this has beat Bloodborne as my favourite of the series or not, but at the very least it's my favourite of the Souls games (except for Demon Souls, which I still need to play).

I will say though that the game could do with a little extra polish. I've noticed a few bugs and glitches around, including an invader getting pushed into a wall by an enemy and getting stuck, and textures sometimes flickering occassionally.

Now I need to find a way to make myself put the same amount of effort into something productive.

@GrizzlyArctos: I am really pleased to hear that you perceive the later areas as being some of the best in the series, and that you also thought the start was slow going (and surprisingly linear) too.

Farron Keep and beyond must surely be the lowest point of the game; so dreary and dull and joyless.

I too have been invaded four times - I won the first two, lost the third one only for the fourth player to 'get stuck' on some scenery and unable to go anywhere. I just bowed in front of him/her and walked away.

I never like cheating or taking advantage of other players. I just hope that that person realised why I walked away.

If you look very the far right side of the High Wall at the beginning, there are some horrendous textures, almost comparable to a N64 game! I totally understand what you mean about the game needing to be given a bit of polish.

If you do not mind me asking, what was your level at the end of the game? I am currently at 38 (mostly on VIT, STR and DEX) and haven't felt the need to grind for souls to level up (yet).