Dark Souls- PS3, Xbox 360, PC

[Jeneki]

Got my copy, only played for an hour though. Having Demons Souls fresh in my mind really helped with the basics (such as hitting the correct button to attack instead of using an item, that used to get me all the time when Demons Souls was first released). I haven't seen any gameplay videos or read any guides yet, so I went in blind other than my knowledge of the first game.

I didn't notice an install on the PS3 version, however it did take a while to create the trophies and save game slots. I always groan when the very first thing a game does is download a patch, but it went a lot faster than most PS3 patches.

The intro sequence is a bit long, but the tutorial level is really cool. Good foreshadowing and use of terrain to preview what's ahead. Covers all the basics and makes it immediately clear that brute force won't work all the time and you have to use your brain a bit.

Lots of people are leaving "good luck" messages right next to the starting point. Like, everywhere in the tutorial. Seriously people give it a rest, it was only a half hour after midnight launch and the place was already spammed up.

Definitely lots of nooks and crannies to explore. The terrain is very dense, with little mini passages and rooms everywhere. It seems like it'd be very easy to get lost, but there's good variety in the terrain which makes it easier to remember how to get around.

Enemies are very dense at times, even early on. Lots of 3 on 1 fights, or even 5 on 1 if you don't wait for them to come to you. And off-screen ranged attacks, with several enemies in elevated positions tossing stuff all over the place and adding to the chaos. It's not very dangerous unless you stand still though, even greatly outnumbered I didn't feel hopelessly doomed.

Probably the hardest new thing about the A.I. is how quickly they follow up if they break your guard or knock you down. The won't hesitate to mash you into the pavement before you can recover and roll out of the way (bosses especially seem wired to push any advantage).

The only thing I don't like is the frame rate and controller responsiveness, which are not very good unfortunately. And no, it's not the windups; there's a noticeable delay between pushing a button and before you even start to move. There's also lots of choppy sections early on, even inside tunnels where I can't see very far.

[CMoon]

It's like christmas today. Can't believe how high my anticipation for this game had grown!

Edit: Incidentally, the US collector's edition definitely isn't too special. I guess I must have seen some euro unboxing that included the soundtrack and what I'm guessing was the strategy guide, on disc. No such luck here. At least the book is nice. The instruction manual is about the worst I've ever seen.

[Elixir]

It's like christmas today. Can't believe how high my anticipation for this game had grown!

Edit: Incidentally, the US collector's edition definitely isn't too special. I guess I must have seen some euro unboxing that included the soundtrack and what I'm guessing was the strategy guide, on disc. No such luck here. At least the book is nice. The instruction manual is about the worst I've ever seen.

Yeah, the European limited edition comes with:

The Dark Souls game.
The Artbook.
The Making of DVD.
The Official Sound Track CD.
The Complete' game guide (via download).

39.99 pounds, so $61 USD-ish. Unfortunately it's 120 NZD here. I'm not interested in English limited editions though. This game has music?

[brentsg]

Am I blind, or is there no optional PS3 install?

[CMoon]

I did not see one.

[Jeneki]

I haven't seen any load screens once the game begins, so I'm not sure what installing would gain us.

[evil_ash_xero]

I am kind of pissed that these PS3 games don't have the option. My God Of War Origins stutters from time to time, and there's no need for that.

[mesh control]

Has anyone seen any report on in game performance (frame drops, clipping, loading times, etc) comparisons between the two different consoles versions?

Not sure if I want to get it for the PS3 or the 360 yet.

[drauch]

God, both my roommates have this and are simultaneously playing in their respective rooms. I'm trying to fight the urge to the max.

[CMoon]

God, both my roommates have this and are simultaneously playing in their respective rooms. I'm trying to fight the urge to the max.

Soon they will be sliding coins under your door.

[Elixir]

Has anyone seen any report on in game performance (frame drops, clipping, loading times, etc) comparisons between the two different consoles versions?

Not sure if I want to get it for the PS3 or the 360 yet.

It's practically identical, just get whatever version suits you.

[iconoclast]

Has anyone seen any report on in game performance (frame drops, clipping, loading times, etc) comparisons between the two different consoles versions?

Not sure if I want to get it for the PS3 or the 360 yet.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digit ... s-face-off

TL;DR they're basically identical.


From my own experience so far, the framerate is *mostly* fine, but it does get really choppy in some areas. I'm sure Blighttown in particular regularly hits single digits. Kinda ridiculous.

[drauch]

God, both my roommates have this and are simultaneously playing in their respective rooms. I'm trying to fight the urge to the max.

Soon they will be sliding coins under your door.

[Leader Bee]

According to some videos on youtoob it seems theres a weapon you can get from one of the bosses that takes 50 strength to use...

If i recall correctly Bramd from demons souls was the most strength heavy weapon in DS and that only took 36. I'm guessing either you level up much faster in DKs or this is really a special weapon you're supposed to be using on NG+?

[Zaarock]

There is also a boss soul one that requires 56 strength. You don't level up much faster, but I guess NG+ is less special now. Also from the looks of it easier. Weekend of playing this starts soon :d

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Is it me or the bonfires in this game are crazy far apart? I beat a boss and went through to another zone for like half an hour and died with 8000 souls just to lose them when marathoning to recover them.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Nvm, fuck this shit. I noticed I missed a shortcut after the boss. FUUUUCCCKKK lost 8000 souls.

[sjewkestheloon]

I am drooling over this. Will be raiding my game collection for stuff to trade in tomorrow so that I can hopefully pick it up after work. Demon's Souls was one of the main reasons for my jealousy of all PS3 owners.

[Jeneki]

Is it just me or are bosses the least of our worries?

I've gone through three bosses in so far. Sure they do some heavy damage, but leave me with enough to back off and recover, and once I got the technique down I was able to defeat them in a few minutes. To compare, there's a couple black knight guys I run into that can one-shot kill me even when blocking, and I only do 1% damage or so to them per hit, so it's a good ten minutes of slogging away on them and hoping I don't screw up. There are also some really "holy crap" giant monsters but aren't bosses, some with more range than I can even see so I have to be dodging stuff before I even get to them.

Brings back memories of playing early Might and Magic games. "Oh cool, my newbie party found the cyclops cave, I wonder why it's named tha-" *splut*

Oh and the instruction manual is completely worthless. Now, I can understand leaving out item and weapon lists to let players discover them on their own. Early Kings Field games specifically stated they didn't tell you how things work because you're supposed to be in a foreign land and with no knowledge of what things are; that's cool and I can roll with that. But when it doesn't even tell you really basic, important control options like HOW TO JUMP, I have to wonder what they are thinking.

[evil_ash_xero]

For me, without walkthroughs and guides, and can't really enjoy these games. However, with them....good, tough times.

[Weak Boson]

Oh and the instruction manual is completely worthless. Now, I can understand leaving out item and weapon lists to let players discover them on their own. Early Kings Field games specifically stated they didn't tell you how things work because you're supposed to be in a foreign land and with no knowledge of what things are; that's cool and I can roll with that. But when it doesn't even tell you really basic, important control options like HOW TO JUMP, I have to wonder what they are thinking.

You can jump in this game? I just got the PAL version and I'm downloading the free strategy guide now. It was advertised as the full strategy guide but on the download it says mini guide. I hope it's not just what should have been in the manual.

[Jeneki]

To jump: Hold O to run, then while running release O and quickly tap it again. I found quite a few items that are unaccessible without jumping, so it's important to know.

[iconoclast]

Is it just me or are bosses the least of our worries?

I've gone through three bosses in so far. Sure they do some heavy damage, but leave me with enough to back off and recover, and once I got the technique down I was able to defeat them in a few minutes. To compare, there's a couple black knight guys I run into that can one-shot kill me even when blocking, and I only do 1% damage or so to them per hit, so it's a good ten minutes of slogging away on them and hoping I don't screw up. There are also some really "holy crap" giant monsters but aren't bosses, some with more range than I can even see so I have to be dodging stuff before I even get to them.

Aside from the first boss, I agree. I've killed 4 of them so far, and they're all pretty easy once you learn their patterns. The first boss gave me some trouble though - as a pure melee character, it can be hard to land a hit toward the second half of the battle without getting hit yourself.

I'm loving the game as much as I thought I would though. I'm just under 20 hours in, and I've already seen a ton of variety in the locations & enemies. Can't wait to see what else they have in store. Oh, and pretty much every stage has been good so far - I haven't come across anything terrible like 5-2 yet.

[guigui]

Nvm, fuck this shit. I noticed I missed a shortcut after the boss. FUUUUCCCKKK lost 8000 souls.

This message actually makes me want to play the game.

[Elixir]

So did anyone order the Asian English PS3/360 versions? Play-Asia just says "Oct", still. I'm wondering if it's actually out in Asia by now.

It's available locally but only in limited edition form, for some reason.

[CMoon]

Great moment playing Dark Souls. Upon approach of the two gargoyles, had the opportunity to both summon a real player (yeah, his sign actually worked) and also summoned that sun knight dude. Three allies made absolute mincemeat of the gargoyles. I'm sure I would have died hundreds of times and feel sort of like a cheap ass, but on the other hand, it was really satisfying.

[MJR]

Nvm, fuck this shit. I noticed I missed a shortcut after the boss. FUUUUCCCKKK lost 8000 souls.

Go right from the very first bonfire, up the stairs, to the bridge. You can drop down on a very narrow ledge. There's a fine ring. Wear it next time you got lots of souls. Won't happen again

[evil_ash_xero]

This game is pretty damn good, but I'm dreading going into the sewers(that's my next section). I don't want to deal with the curse!

I'll have to buy a couple of cures for it, from that guy in the bell tower. But that will be 8000 souls. God...lots of grinding to do...

There was one thing the lady that reviewed this game on IGN UK said, in the live stream, that is about right. She said that it's harder than Demon's Souls, but less disheartening. I think the check points and all that, does make it seem less frustrating, even though the game is harder. When I first got Demon's Souls, and had to go through each stage over and over, when the boss would kill me...that really almost made me give up. But in the end, it's the easier game. They're really out to kick your ass in this one.

[Weak Boson]

Spent quite a long time in the graveyard near firelink shrine luring skeletons to the cliff edge and whacking them off. Except the giant skeletons which usually jump off of their own accord. So I got in the catacombs managed to kill all those reviving skeletons and got to the bonfire. Then I had a brief skim of the guide where it said "for god's sake don't go in the catacombs until you're stronger". Should I press on like a man or would it be futile?

[MJR]

Spent quite a long time in the graveyard near firelink shrine luring skeletons to the cliff edge and whacking them off. Except the giant skeletons which usually jump off of their own accord. So I got in the catacombs managed to kill all those reviving skeletons and got to the bonfire. Then I had a brief skim of the guide where it said "for god's sake don't go in the catacombs until you're stronger". Should I press on like a man or would it be futile?

He did? That's interesting, because I have read that it is better to go up when you start the game.

And indeed, the undead burg (or what is what called) isn't that bad, but the skeletons were too much for me at the beginning.