Dark Souls 3
Platform: PS4, Xbox one, PC
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Release Date: March 24,2016
Author: R.D.
FromSoftware’s next installment in their Souls series, Dark Souls 3, is scheduled for release on March 24, 2016 in Japan and sometime in April for North America. Now I know some people out there might be a little cautious about getting another Souls game after Dark Souls 2 (I’m not, I enjoyed it for over 200 hours just like part one) but, as I’m sure many people know, the developers have decided to go back to a Dark Souls 1 slash Demons’ Souls feel with the combat and atmosphere.
The scenery and environment have a recurring motif to it that the lead developer calls a “withered beauty”. The game boasts that any and every location that you see will be explorable and, not only that, there will be many paths that can be travelled.
Withered beauty? More like completely unwelcoming….
The combat has become a sort of mix from Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 and, even, Demons’ Souls. Firstly, the backstabs no longer have the start-up animation from Dark Souls 2 or the place lock from Dark Souls. Instead the animation from the first game is used without locking the victim in place thus giving them a small window to dodge the backstab. Also the backstab window has become even smaller, so be quick young fools. While parries remain the same as in the first game. A nice return to the game is Guard breaks, which can only be done by reducing the opponents’ stamina, with an attack, the opponent will be susceptible to a riposte. A good strategy to lower stamina is merely to kick the opponent. This reduces a large amount of stamina, but be careful, because kicking is slow, does no damage, and can be parried.
The game has a new mechanic called weapon arts which are activated by equipping a weapon arts shield (or two-handing the weapon) and hitting the left-hand strong attack button. This allows you to use specialized moves with certain weapons. Which in turn affects how you will go about fighting, that said guys, learn about them! This brings me to the next point, the reappearance of the mana bar. Casting spells or weapon arts cost mana instead of having a number of uses. Fear not young gamer!Working in conjunction to compliment the mana bar, there is also the ash estus flask consumable item. It’s exactly like the regular estus flask but for mana, restore your mana as you much as you need to…inbetween getting stabbed at. The last mechanic to mention is the ember system. This is the replacement for humanity, you can find them as treasure or from killing red phantoms. When your ember is restored your health increases by a sizable amount.
In truth, I’m super exited for this game guys. The ability to fight and grind out a good old fashion rpg is my bread and butter. If you have the hours to sink into it, or even the will power to survive the multiple deaths? Please get this game!
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