We're less than two months away from what was once a mere pipe dream - Dark Souls on a portable machine - and thanks to a preview on Fandom (which has subsequently been removed), the new and improved Dark Souls: Remastered will feature a handful of subtle yet welcome changes to one of the most beloved action-RPGs of all time.
According to the post, one of the areas of the game that suffered notorious frame rate issues in previous versions - the grimly-named Blighttown - has now been carefully massaged to improve performance. The game will be running at 1080p and 60fps on PS4 and Xbox One, and 1080p/720p in Switch's docked/handheld mode. The Switch version will also be, according to reports, locked at 30fps. In other subtle changes, multiple Hard Souls can now be used at once (saving you from sitting through the same animation multiple times), while jumping has been mapped to the left analog stick. This is the case for the PS4/Xbox One versions, so such a configuration could differ on Switch.
Dark Souls: Remastered arrives on Nintendo Switch on 25th May.
Will you be returning to Lordran come May, or will this be the first time you've become 'hollowed'? Share your takes with the Nintendo Life community below...
[source imgur.com]
Comments 81
I need all this misery back in my life. Even Blighttown.
It's been a while since I wanted a new game and this will be my first retail game of the year that's a must have for me. Hoping the rest of the year ends like last year did!
1080P 60FPS docked that doesn't sound right..?
I thought Bandai Namco said 1080P 30FPS docked and even digital foundry followed that up confirming that as well..
I'll believe it when I see it.
SARCASM APPROACHES
I'm sure we're all THRILLED TO BITS to be able to experience Blighttown once more.
60 FPS when docked? I thought it was only 30fps.
We should get to see some of the game in the next couple of days as it will be featuring along with Wolfenstein 2 at PAX East.
That sounds like the PS4 release to me...
They were previewing the PS4 Pro version. We have no idea how the Switch version will run yet. This article is misleading.
Dark souls on portable! With a perfect resolution? What to ask more? Nothing except: "You died."
Put about 80 hours into DkS on the 360 on its original release, and must be one of very few people on this planet who never had a horrendous time in Blight Town with slow down, it always worked fine for me, and I farmed over 30 Sunlight medals on the boss so its not like I didn't spend any real time down there.
Kinda feel like I missed out on a key DkS experience...
HA YEA RIGHT
wait what? 1080p and 60 fps does not sound right at all (it would be incredible, of course, but I can not believe that would be possible on switch)
@0muros no see, the higher resolution and frame rates are only present when docked. Therefore rendering the whole 'portable' appeal useless in this regard.
60fps 1080p is simply not happening on switch.
I thought blighttown was mainly a PC problem and not so much a console problem.
Definitely picking this up when I can get a used copy at Gamestop and use one of my coupons. I gotta finish Skyrim first.
Facts please Nintendo Life, facts. "60fps docked"...
it's been confirmed that it's 1080p 30fps docked and 720p 30fps portable
Don't need Dark Souls when I have Bloodborne.
Nintendo should pay for their on soulsborne game.
1080p 30fps, I DO believe. Get yer reporting right... slacker🙃
I want a game with this level of difficulty and fluent gameplay.
But without all the nightmare-inducing monstrosities.
Basically give me this but in sci-fi setting.
... or in Hyrule.
we all know it's 30fps docked since january
gotta love them portz
I swear down this better be as hard as folk make out...
@gatorboi352
Funny cause you port this same sentiment into an awful lot of storys on this website. You are dull as dishwater.
No chance this is 1080p60 on Switch. Hopefully it's a stable 30fps especially in portable mode where a stable 720p30 will put it ahead of the PS3 version. But of course, with the huge advantage of being portable. Never bothered with it on PS3 but I'll give the Switch version a go.
Ugh, I wasn’t a fan of the control scheme before and now I like it even less. I seriously hope there’s an option to remap the controls.
Looks like they really putting in the time and at a good price for all the content you get.
This is how older games should be brought to the Switch. Not big on replaying old games - but hope this does well and sets the standard.
I never got around to playing this on other consoles so I’m looking forward to giving it a try on the switch. This will also give me the excuse to buy the amiibo.
Cant wait, this will be my first Souls game.
@gatorboi352 What's your point man? I use my Switch half the time in portable mode and the other half on my 60 inch screen at home. Portable and high resolution its the perfect mix for me. I'm a huge fan the serie also.
@SBandy Totally with you on that opinion.
@SBandy don't feed the troll... 😉
I'll admit that I'm jealous of the 60fps (and might even double-dip on my fancy PC) but, assuming they stick the landing, I'll be a day-one buyer on Switch. Portable Dark Souls is too great!
@LUIGITORNADO The games play completely different from one another,hence the little troll item of the wooden shield found in the Cathedral Ward area in Bloodborne.....but I'm sure you knew that
I an super excited for this game. This will be my new work game for a long time!!
Don't get the confusion here unless it was edited by the time I saw this but it never said 60fps for Switch at all. It's clearly up there saying 30fps, and quoting as much: "The Switch version will also be, according to reports, locked at 30fps." 30fps is plenty enough, so tired of the grousing about 60fps as it's very irrelevant in most genres, and this slow plodding non FPS style game even more so. For those who do complain, not saying people here so much, stop whining like babies and consider two things important - this is a handheld, and Nintendo is getting honest 3rd party support that isn't halfassed since the Gamecube era, even more so blindly from the SNES period. It has been long time coming and way overdue.
@darkswabber
Nope, it's a problem on all versions of the game. PC version probably suffered the least if you applied the correct fixes. It's a shame really, it's a blemish on an otherwise nearly flawless game.
@Slapsillium
That's interesting. I played the original on 360 version of day one, and have had 15fps on this version ever since.
@tanookisuit
If you're fine with 30fps, more power to you, but don't pretend like it's not a significant difference. I've played Dark Souls 1/2/3 on both consoles and PC, and I can say 60+ fps is a very significant upgrade for this style of game (and it is for pretty much every game).
@PlayedNSlayed Yeah, and Bloodborne is 10x better because it plays better.
@LUIGITORNADO They can't. They have child games mainly. It aint gonna happen. Gamecube Eternal Darkness was a different story, but that happened just once. With that being said bring on Dark Souls! Love love love
Only reason to buy this Remaster is if you want it on the go on Switch, i already play the original at 4k/60fps using DSFix.
Already have the game on PC and Xbox but a portable version? Not going to say no to that
I want Eternal Darkness remastered for the Switch.
@Thisismycomment Can I have a yacht please while we are wanting things?
Couldn't they just remove Blighttown? That place is a nightmare.
@TheGameSquid I agree - Dark Souls is indeed a series that benefits from the 60fps framerate, given its high level of combat intricacy. That said, it runs surprisingly well at 30fps, and that's how I initially experienced DS and DS2 on the Xbox 360. Hopefully my experiences playing DS2 and DS3 on PC at 60fps won't color my impressions of this new portable entry too much!
@GrailUK yes, yachts for everyone!
"Dark Souls Remastered To Feature Improved Frame Rates In Blighttown"
So what you're saying is vastly more powerful hardware will improve framerates? Nice reporting yet again from our new editor whilst also repeating information that Digital Foundry stated weeks ago.
The Switch version looks by and large the same as the 360 game albeit with a vastly more stable frame rate, personally I'll be getting this for the Xbox but it looks like those who want it on Switch will be getting a very good version
@Faruko That's nothing!
I play it at 16K 240Hz in 3D VR with 10.2 surround sound!
4K 60fps? Bah! Peasant!
@GrailUK Its not. Patience, paying attention, learning your moveset and when to deploy it, ditto for your enemies, are the name of the game. Since 99% of games dont force you to focus and learn in such ways, this series has gained its "hard" rep. Amazing game series though, dont get me wrong. My favorite kind of difficulty, and my favorite of the Dark series.
@Alucard83 You clearly don't know what you're talking about. All anyone needs to do to show how wrong you are is to point at what's been on their systems.
@tanookisuit
They originally put 60fps and have edited it since
@dereq
No need for that at all. It's a games site. Calm down.
bought bloodborne I sucked at it and quit, bought Nioh sucked at it and quit, bought Dark Souls 3 sucked at it and quit, bought Dark Souls 2 sucked at it and quit
will I buy Dark Souls 1? absolutely
Can't wait praise the ☀️!
@dereq Keep the comment section civil please. Thank you.
Jumping with a click of the left stick? No thank you! Control options here I come.
I am still don't quite understand what makes this game so beloved and am on the fence about picking it up.
I have this game preordered since last December. I’ve never played a Dark Souls game before so I’m quite excited for it even though I really suck at difficult games. Still I don’t know yet if I’ll keep the preorder since the pull of God of War it’s becoming irresistible and I might end up caving in and buying a PS4 instead (desperately looking for ways to convince my wife but failing miserably)
This will be my first time playing the series, can't wait. I almost took the plunge on PS3, but my backlog was too big that gen. I'm not too picky about 60fps, it's cool that the other versions run at 60, but eh, portability ftw.
This game could have released on Vita with Borderlands 2 level of pop in and slowdown, scaled back graphics like RE Revelations 2 Vita, at 480p with rear touchpad commands, and people would've lost their collective minds over getting a handheld version.
Enter the Switch version... This is the real deal. If it wasn't, people wouldn't feel the need to try to marginalize it.
@Heavyarms55 It really is something you have to experience yourself to really appreciate. I never understood why people went bonkers for the Soulsborne games before I tried Dark Souls, but after playing it for a bit and playing through Bloodborne I was hooked. The way the levels flow between each other, the huge variety in builds (at least in Dark Souls, Bloodborne doesn't have that much variety), the huge bossfights, the huge feeling of finally killing that boss you've been stuck on all night (or all day, or all week, or all month, ect.), the super cool lore, I don't know...it's one of the few games that can make me so furious and frustrated but never want to stop playing.
@electrolite77 Makes sense.
Love seeing the snobbish pc master race/console 60fps and up club getting all whiny over something very trivial. The problem isn't 30fps, it's smooth, the issue is any dips under that can truly be perceived by the eye. That's where you get into problems of not being able to respond right in time in cases.
I really wanted to like this game, but the constant death just got to me. I do enjoy the lore, and I certainly see the appeal.
I will probably get it again anyways.... Sigh...
Not for me. Never played it before but everyone says it's tough. Don't mind games that are somewhat tough but this sounds like one where I'd get stuck in an area, get upset, put it away, & never come back to it again. Not worth it for me. But glad we got an AAA 3rd party most are excited for.
@thiz
"Disgusting?"
You must live a sheltered life. Does rereleasing a consumer product that nobody is forced to buy, taking advantage of improvements in technology and giving those who couldn't play a game the first time round an opportunity to do so, genuinely disgust you? If so, video games aren't for you. Probably best steer clear of TV, Movies, Music and Books. And for your own sake, don't watch the news or anything actually important.
@LUIGITORNADO breath of the wild on master mode is a pretty close equivalent to a Souls game for Switch.
But seriously, if they did get a Nintendo-Souls exclusive, I’d buy that up too
@BradC40 there will be online — which means you can team up with a friend who can help you beat a boss or unlock an area when you get stuck— and since you have the chance to play when everyone else will be buying it, your likelihood of getting help from a stranger is high as well
Yeah, I'll be upgrading my current PC copy for $20 instead and playing it in 4k. Portable Souls at 30fps is still pretty impressive though tbh.
Will get it once Dark Souls 2 & 3 have been announced. Want to have the trilogy on a single console if possible.
If they don't do the other 2 at some point I'll just get the trilogy for cheap on PC or something.
@tanookisuit Strongly disagree. 60FPS is better than 30 in every game, and for action games like Dark Souls in particular. People who say "30 is enough" usually have only played one version of the game or do so to don't feel bad about themselves. But in my job as a game tester I got to test the same AAA title across multiple platforms... Not being locked to 30 is a world of difference. And I don't just mean looks, I mean responsiveness.
That's why if I'm getting Dark Souls it's going to be on PC. If BotW had a 60FPS legal version on that platform I wouldn't be getting that one on Switch either. One can get used to 30, but 60+ just plays better.
This’ll be my first time playing dark souls but I love Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne so I’m excited! I’m not looking forward to going through Blighttown though from what I’ve heard of it 😂
I don't know if I should get this for PS4 or Switch since I got the platinum on PS3, tough adult decision.
@SmaggTheSmug BOTW does have a legal 60fps version as long as you legitimately buy a WiiU disc. Emulation is perfectly legal if the developer does it correctly, which CeMu have, and as long as you legally own the game disc and use it.
@0muros At least you properly labeled his take as an opinion, because it certainly isn't fact.
What's that? Zelda DLC?!?!
@thiz From a business perspective, producing ports is a wise decision. Studios can develop new games while older ones get outsourced to porting studios and will generate more profit. Why let old assets go to waste? Players who've never played the game before will benefit from the experience and so will the companies that produce it. It's Win-Win! I can understand how having a lot of ports in the catalogue can make it seem like there are very few new, original titles but that's really the only inconvenience. The Wii U did not have this much enthusiasm from third-party devs in its entire lifespan. If ports do well, every Switch owner benefits regardless of whether they buy 'em or not b/c it creates a healthy, thriving ecosystem for all.
@thiz
Ok mate. Keep trying eh?
@tanookisuit
I can understand the PC gamers turning their nose up at 30fps. Really makes me laugh to see posters who game on a PS4, or even worse Xbox One, suddenly become framerate zealots when a chance to complain about the Switch comes along. They can't buy many games if 60fps is important to them.
Just read an interesting article on kotaku where the guy had a hands on with the PS4 pro version of the game and it wasn’t overly positive surprisingly. It said there is some slowdown, a lot of pop up and wasn’t cleaned up too great. Really hope this isn’t the case with the finished product. The writer also briefly says that the problems don’t bode well for the switch version. Eek
@electrolite77 Pretty much there has to be some reason to cry given the consoles, none often run at 60fps let alone a solid one too unlike the PC which handily can do so very easily. I've tested, helped work on games, reviewed them too in past jobs, and outside of a job gamed since the mid 80s at home. Certain stuff on certain platforms work perfectly fine for what they are, while others can handle a higher capability (like PC) without a loss. But there are walls of perception where it moves from what an eye can track into just that 6th sense of just 'feeling' something and that's where you get into the realm of just flinging bs.
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