Prepare to die once again

Dark Souls is like an old wise man from a fantasy story. He is dark, mysterious and always has something else up his sleeve. These games have always had something more to give than what was expected, and Dark Souls III is no exception.

Bringing more of the same punishing difficulty, Dark Souls III tweaks the formula to keep things fresh and interesting.

“Dark Souls is one of my favorite titles. It’s one of the few RPG’s that stays true to old fashioned, genuine difficulty and is enjoyable no matter how many times it’s played”, freshmen Anthony Degoian said.

Things start off as they always have - a dark cutscene with the voice of an unknown narrator in the background. Then, the player awakens in the Cemetery of Ash, a barren wasteland full of gravestones and… ash. It’s a very fitting name.

After a tutorial explaining the basic mechanics of the game, players are introduced to the first boss, Iudex Gundyr. My first impression of him was rather poor, after kindly pulling a sword out of his chest. he proceeded to repeatedly stomp my face into the dirt for thirty minutes.

After finally killing him, I was able to proceed on towards Firelink Shrine, the central hub where players can improve their equipment, buy new items, and level up. Not much time was spent here, since there was almost nothing to do. The first area following the Shrine, the High Wall of Lothric, was densely packed with entertainment.

Undead soldiers, dragons, and monsters disguised as chests and sad feelings are common here. The level design was twisted and complex, with branching paths and secrets that made me check every nook and cranny for everything there was to find.

The area was finished off with a fantastic boss battle, Bordt of the Boreal Valley. Some kind of giant dog-type monster covered in armor carried a mace. He attacked quickly and wildly until he got down to half health. Then, he started moving even faster and attacking more wildly and with frost attacks.

Something that was very noticeable during the battle with Bordt was how good the combat felt. It was more like the combat from Dark Souls I - slow and methodical. However, each weapon now has unique abilities called, sword arts. Sword arts vary from new moves, to defensive buffs, and to strikes that can parry attacks and other changes.

The moment to moment action is incredible. However, similar to all Souls games, the reason for being there is always foggy and unclear. The player is an Unkindled, a “champion of ash”, and the purpose is to awaken the Lords of Cinder, so that they might come together and give their bodies to keep the Flame lit, I think.

The stories in these game are always ambiguous and kind of frustrating to understand, but it doesn’t take away from the incredible action and fun that the game presents. Dark Souls III is a game that has gone through much refinement, and that is clearly shown. It is a welcome addition to the Souls community and is definitely one of the better games in the series.