The world of Dark Souls is almost one landmass, with few loading screens, and the way it intricately twists around itself is an architectural feat.
It is opaque, even mystical true comprehension always feels just out of reach.įor those familiar with the game, playing through again is a stark reminder of just how flabby Dark Souls’ imitators, and even its own sequels, have become. The challenge lies not in conquering it but in surviving it and trying to understand it. It constructs a meticulous dark fantasy world in which almost everything is trying to kill you. Dark Souls is an inversion of the kind of stories games usually tell. There have been two sequels, an endless array of merchandise, an army of writers and video-makers dedicated to dissecting the game’s mysteries and now Remaster.
Seven years on, the price is still being paid. Word-of-mouth buzz and a marketing campaign led by the tagline “Prepare to Die” saw Dark Souls become an unlikely hit in 2011. D ark Souls is such a touchstone for the video game industry that journalists’ constant references to the game have become a meme.
