Great Sequel to Demon's Souls
If you're even a little bit familiar with From Software’s souls series, you probably already know how iconic the original Dark Souls is. While it is my least favorite game in the series, I want to talk a bit about why I think Dark Souls Remastered still holds up today. It wasn’t my first Souls game. (Sekiro actually was). So going back to Dark Souls 1 after experiencing Elden Ring and Sekiro felt like going to old ages from future. Let’s break it down.
Gameplay and Combat
Dark Souls Remastered might feel slower compared to newer entries, especially if you’re coming straight from Elden Ring or DS3. Combat is very basic: you get your light and heavy attacks, you block with a shield, or you dodge roll. That’s it. No fancy weapon skills or jumping attacks. But somehow, the simplicity doesn't feel that bad. Every swing matters, and every mistake can cost you dearly.
There’s a huge variety of weapons to try out, each with its own move set. Experimenting with different builds is a big part of the fun, whether you want to be a tank (my goat havel) or a magic user. Sure, some weapons are obviously better than others (black knight weapons to be specific) and magic can feel a little too strong at times, but the freedom to create your own playstyle keeps it interesting. It’s slower and every victory feels earned.
Level Design and Boss Fights
This is where Dark Souls Remastered absolutely destroys most modern games. The world design is nearly perfect. Every area connects back to previous places in some smart way, and discovering a shortcut never stops feeling satisfying. You don’t just teleport everywhere; you actually walk through the world.
Boss fights, though? Honestly, I have mixed opinions. Some are absolute classics like Artorias and Manus. Others can be a bit underwhelming by today’s standards. Don’t expect every fight to blow your mind. Still, the atmosphere, music, and sense of scale make most fights memorable even when the mechanics are simple.
How Different is it from Demon's Souls?
Gameplay is almost same with a few changes here and there. But most important features that came with Dark Souls 1 is estus flask and bonfires. These mechanics are simple but made the formula so much more fun and managable.
Should You Buy Dark Souls Remastered?
Absolutely but with a little warning. If you’re used to faster, flashier Souls games, the slower pace might take some getting used to. And because it’s an older game, some of the mechanics feel clunky. But honestly? There’s no better way to understand why Souls games became a genre of their own than to play Dark Souls Remastered.
If you can grab it on sale, it’s a no-brainer. Even at full price, it’s worth it for one of the most important and still very fun action-RPGs ever made.