Dark Souls 3: Overview & Critic Reception

Combat

Stamina is the core resource: every attack, roll, block and sprint spends it, so combat becomes a matter of choosing when to commit. Weapon Arts add an active option to most weapons. Examples from the Fextralife wiki: the Claymore and Lothric Knight Sword have Stance; the Farron Greatsword's art is Parry; the Moonlight Greatsword's art is Moonlight Vortex, a thrust, and a fully charged strong attack fires a moonlight wave; and the Dancer's Enchanted Swords, made from the Soul of the Dancer, use Dancer's Grace, a spinning attack that continues while you have stamina.

Bosses include Vordt of the Boreal Valley, Pontiff Sulyvahn, Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, and Champion Gundyr. Slave Knight Gael is the final boss of the Ringed City expansion.

Gameplay and Progression

Souls are spent to raise Soul Level. The attributes are Vigor, Attunement, Endurance, Vitality, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith and Luck. Starting classes are Knight, Mercenary, Warrior, Herald, Thief, Assassin, Sorcerer, Pyromancer, Cleric and Deprived, each with different starting stats and equipment. Titanite is used to upgrade weapons at Blacksmith Andre.

Story

The Ashen One is sent to return the Lords of Cinder to their thrones. Much of the story is told through item descriptions, NPC dialogue and environments rather than cutscenes.

Multiplayer and Expansions

Online multiplayer lets you summon other players for co-op and exposes you to invasions; the game is also playable offline without those features. The Ashes of Ariandel expansion was criticized by critics for being short, according to Wikipedia, while The Ringed City was the final expansion. Ashes of Ariandel is reached by talking to Slave Knight Gael at the Cleansing Chapel bonfire in the Cathedral of the Deep, and The Ringed City through a new bonfire before the Soul of Cinder arena in the Kiln of the First Flame.

Summary

Dark Souls III has sold more than 10 million copies by May 2020 (Wikipedia). Whether it suits you depends on whether you want stamina-based melee combat with online multiplayer and two optional expansions.

Pros & Cons