I died…a lot.
I keep trying. I tell myself that every time a new Dark Souls game launches. I love the idea of this series. The gothic architecture, the massive bosses, it all begs me to dig into it. While I try every time, I always end up frustrated because of the design of these games. When Bandai Namco announced a remastered version of the original was coming I decided I was going to go at it once again.
Let’s be honest: Dark Souls Remastered hinges its life on one thing, performance. Everyone wants to know if this version is the de facto iteration. Well for Xbox One X owners, it truly is. The game runs at a locked 60fps and feels spectacular. So if that was the only thing you wanted to know coming in, you can rest assured they achieved just that.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
If that is all you are here for, then you can rest assured this is the version to own. Move along and purchase freely. If you want to hear about my failures at once again playing a Souls game, read on!
The original Dark Souls is still widely considered the best in the series. This remaster comes with all the DLC and a host of graphical improvements along the way. The most obvious is the bump in framerate from 30fps to 60fps on consoles. This is the first time console players have experienced the game at this fidelity. It really changes the combat up and it feels great, even on the base consoles. There are also new features such as volumetric lighting and new particle effects. It gives the game a nice coat of paint.
Sadly, there really isn’t any new content here. This is the base game and DLC. Some more features or perhaps cut content would have more easily justified the price tag. Still, console players can finally experience the game in its finest form. Also for those that never played the original, this is a perfect place to get started.
Multiplayer has also been revamped. The player count for arena battles has been bumped up from four to six players. New servers are also implemented making it easier to play with friends, much like later entries in the series. Balance changes have also been made to make PVP more level. These are all great additions to the core game, bringing it on-par with the sequels.
Dark Souls Remastered is exactly what the name implies and fans will adore it. I still suck royally at these games. I still want an easy mode so I can manage to get through them without frustration, but the game that spawned a genre is still finely crafted. The jump in framerate and added DLC make this the package to own. For new and old players this is the version to own.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.