Whether you played Dark Souls or Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, it's hard to ignore the game's strides in the Souls-like subgenre. Dark Souls is synonymous with difficult video games, often serving as a benchmark. The game's macabre themes are on par with horror games, which might deter some players. However, it offers masterclass gameplay that has hardly aged.
The Souls games include Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls 3. FromSoftware games like Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice were not considered. The sequels made improvements, but the original did it first. Could the original Dark Souls be the best Souls game?
10 BEST: Level Design
Entering an area like Anor Londo, players are mesmerized by the city's scenic skyline and gorgeous architecture. There is never a shortage of places to marvel at in the original Dark Souls. By comparison, Dark Souls 2 has inferior level designs because of the amount of backtracking required. The argument could be made that Dark Souls 3 has the best level design. However, Dark Souls 3 is much more linear by comparison, which is why Dark Souls has the edge.
9 NOT: Clumsy Gameplay
While plenty of reasons suggest that Dark Souls is the best game in the series, the same could be said about the opposite. Dark Souls is the first game in the series, so naturally, it has less refined gameplay than its successors.
Dark Souls combat can be described as clunky and awkward compared to a game like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Even Dark Souls 3 has smoother gameplay by comparison. Fighting the Capra Demon boss in a tight space is uncomfortable enough to give you claustrophobia.
8 BEST: Memorable DLC
The DLC (downloadable content) of Dark Souls was unforgettable, yet it could be argued that any of the Souls games have the best DLC. Dark Souls 2 needed the Scholar of the First Sin DLC to be complete. Our view of Dark Souls 2 would be very different without it. However, the DLC in Dark Souls made up of the Sanctuary Garden and the boss fight Knight Artorias the Abysswalker is too memorable. The original Dark Souls wins this category by a narrow margin.
7 NOT: It's Too Hard
Hands down, the original Dark Souls has the hardest gameplay in the series. The game doesn't do a great job of preparing you for boss fights, but that's the idea. Whether you're new to the subgenre or not, expect a long and arduous journey as you descend into madness. Dark Souls' excruciatingly hard difficulty might be too much for the average gamer. Many prefer Dark Souls 3 for being more manageable yet still challenging.
6 BEST: Combat Sequences
From the moment you start Dark Souls, you begin to realize that it's a different type of game. Of course, Dark Souls is renowned for its enemy variety and combat sequences. While enemy variety relates to the makeup of the enemies, combat sequences are the order in which they are laid out. There is immersion while moving from enemy to enemy. Enemy encounters like skeletons, drakes, and Balder Knights are profoundly engaging on an inexplicable level.
5 NOT: Too Dark
From the depths of Blighttown to the anything but tranquil Darkroot Garden, one common theme is darkness. It shouldn't surprise you that Dark Souls is a dark game. After all, it has the word "Dark" in the game's title.
Taking a closer look, we see that the original Dark Souls is darker than its successors. This could be a reason to like or dislike the game, but it seems like Dark Souls could've benefited from better lighting.
4 BEST: The Game Doesn't Hold Your Hand
As you daringly progress through Dark Souls, it becomes abundantly clear that the game provides few favors. A Hellkite Dragon, also known as a Red Drake or a Bridge Wyvern, meets you early on. This foe is practically undefeatable because of his thick scale armor, immense damage, and health points. It's small subtleties like the Hellkite Dragon miniboss that separate Dark Souls from other action role-playing games. Progression is not easy, and there are few tutorials to aid progression.
3 NOT: Loot System
The original Dark Souls might have the worst loot system of any Dark Souls game because of the reliance on certain items. One can get through the majority of the early game wielding a Drake Sword. The fact that seemingly negligible items like the Master Key can drastically change the playthrough experience is less than ideal. On the other hand, Dark Souls 3 has a more refined loot system that encourages you to use different weapons and gear.
2 BEST: Boss Fights
Dark Souls' boss fights are among the most epic in video games. Behind bosses, there can be a rich backstory. An example would be the Great Grey Wolf Sif, who was once Artorias the Abysswalker's partner before choosing to guard his fallen comrade's grave.
Another unforgettable fight was against the Taurus Demon atop the castle. Climbing the ladder and moving in for an aerial attack was one strategy to beat the Taurus Demon. Other examples of memorable boss fights are the Bell Gargoyles, Iron Golem, and Gwyn Lord of Cinder.
1 NOT: Blighttown
Put simply, Blightttown is often lamented as one of the worst, most unengaging, and unrewardingly difficult areas in the Souls series, if not gaming as a whole — a sentiment echoed by many gamers the world over. Dark Souls 2 has The Gutter, but it wasn't until Dark Souls 3 that the series rid itself of places like Blighttown. Can one location, no matter how frustrating, make or break a game? Blighttown certainly tempts the verdict.