Dark Souls is easily one of my favorite games in the series, and for good reason. The interconnected world design is brilliant, making exploration feel rewarding and meaningful at every turn. The subtle storytelling and rich lore behind the characters give the world a depth that few games can match, while the soundtrack especially pieces like the haunting music of Ash Lake elevates the atmosphere to another level. Boss fights such as Ornstein and Smough, the Gaping Dragon, Priscilla, and even Gwyn stand out as some of the most memorable in the entire franchise.

That said, the game isn’t perfect. The last quarter of the journey feels unfinished, with areas like the Tomb of the Giants and bosses such as the Bed of Chaos dragging down the pacing. Despite these rough spots, the overall experience is unforgettable. Dark Souls set the standard for the series and remains to be one of the grates I’ll always come back to.

8.8/10

This was a huge disappointment. I can’t play more than 20 minutes without the game freezing and forcing me to restart my PC. On top of that, the story feels lackluster and doesn’t give me any reason to stay invested. The poor performance completely ruins the experience and makes the game basically unplayable. Until these issues are fixed, I can’t recommend this game at all was not worth the 100% achievement.

3.8/10