Review: Dark Souls (Switch)

The email from the editor-in-chief read: “Do you want to test a compelling, albeit challenging, game for Nintendo Switch?” I replied: “Yes, absolutely!“. This decision proved more daunting than anticipated, as few games have presented a challenge on par with Dark Souls: Remastered.

The original Dark Souls debuted seven years ago and has since spawned two sequels, including the third which we previously reviewed. The series is renowned for its high degree of difficulty, and it lives up to its reputation. The experience can be intensely challenging, a hallmark of developer From Software.

The narrative structure is minimalistic, with the initial intro sequence conveying the core premise. The gameplay emphasizes exploration of the various environments encountered. Players control their character in two distinct states. Initially, you begin as an undead (or Hollow) imprisoned. Interaction with other characters is limited until the player restores their human form by acquiring Humanity from defeated enemies or discovered corpses. Upon death, all accumulated Humanity is lost, requiring the player to gather it anew.

Prepare to die, and to die frequently. I can only imagine the screen burn-in on older displays, perpetually displaying the phrase:

Death is a constant companion in Dark Souls: Remastered. Each demise returns the player to the last bonfire visited. While bonfires are relatively sparse, and slain enemies respawn, certain environmental elements, such as elevators, retain their position. The necessity of repeatedly calling the elevator after each death introduces a significant frustration factor.

Initially, the urge to quit was strong, fueled by frustration. However, perseverance yielded progress, resulting in a potent sense of accomplishment. The game’s difficulty creates a rewarding feedback loop, triggering a brief period of euphoria before encountering a new adversary capable of swift annihilation.

Dark Souls: Remastered features updated visuals, as the title suggests, although the Nintendo Switch version exhibits some graphical anomalies. These issues, potentially absent in the versions released in May, include character model placement errors and misaligned text elements. These visual glitches detract from the overall gaming experience.

The game unfortunately still has a lot of graphical glitches.

While the environments and overall graphics are generally appealing, the animation feels somewhat unrefined. Combat encounters often result in missed attacks, leaving the player vulnerable to enemy counter-attacks.

In conclusion, this title stands out as one of the most challenging and unforgiving games encountered. Success hinges on identifying and utilizing the appropriate weapon, found in a specific location, and employing it with precision. Unlike the more accessible action-adventure gameplay of Diablo III, Dark Souls: Remastered presents a more complex and demanding experience. Once the initial difficulty curve is overcome, the game offers a rewarding experience. However, the graphical issues and repetitive nature detract from the overall enjoyment, resulting in a score that is just above average. Players who relish a brutal level of difficulty may find this game more appealing; however, the frustration and repetition ultimately diminish the experience.