Dark Souls III

The story of Dark Souls III has garnered praise from several critics for its immersive and engaging narrative. Critics like God is a Geek and IGN Italia commend the game for its emotional storytelling and nostalgic references to previous games, creating a heartfelt experience for fans. The narrative is described as bleak and mysterious, following the efforts of 'The Unkindled' to seek the Lords of Cinder and save humanity, as noted by GamingTrend. The game's lore is revealed through item descriptions, environmental clues, and character interactions, providing a rich and detailed world for players to explore, as highlighted by Gaming Nexus and TrueAchievements. On the flip side, some critics express concerns about the story of Dark Souls III. IBTimes UK finds the narrative somewhat disappointing and lacking originality, describing it as a trope with cryptic lore and esoteric item descriptions. PSX Extreme criticizes the story as somewhat disjointed and underwhelming, with missed opportunities for a better narrative. Gameplanet notes that the story lacks depth and character interactions, with dialogue that feels unfulfilling. These criticisms suggest that while the game's storytelling elements are intriguing, they may not fully satisfy all players in terms of originality and depth. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Dark Souls III offers a compelling and atmospheric story that is shrouded in mystery and ambiguity, appealing to fans of the series. The narrative's focus on tone, legends, sacrifices, and the existential loneliness of the paths taken resonates with many reviewers, as highlighted by GameSpot and Polygon. While some critics point out shortcomings in terms of originality and character depth, the majority appreciate the game's minimalist storytelling approach and the way it engages players through exploration and discovery. Dark Souls III's story is seen as a fitting end to the series, wrapping up hanging questions from previous games and providing a satisfying conclusion, as noted by Gamers' Temple and Twinfinite. Ultimately, the game's narrative style may not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate its cryptic and immersive storytelling, Dark Souls III delivers a memorable and captivating experience.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Dark Souls III for its challenging and rewarding nature, with a focus on strategic combat, exploration, and character progression. Critics like GameSpot and GameWatcher highlighted the game's brutal difficulty and unforgiving combat mechanics, which require players to adapt and persevere. The addition of new features like Weapon Arts, as mentioned by TheSixthAxis and IGN Denmark, added depth and tactical options to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. The diverse weaponry, combat mechanics, and challenging boss battles were also commended by critics such as Worth Playing and PC Invasion, emphasizing the game's ability to engage players with its intricate world-building and dynamic encounters. However, some critics pointed out certain issues with the gameplay of Dark Souls III. CGMagazine and PSX Extreme mentioned problems like input lag, unreliable lock-on mechanics, and inconsistent frame rates, which affected the overall gameplay experience for some players. Additionally, The Daily Dot highlighted that while the combat system was deep and engaging, some aspects of the game, such as the boss 'phase' system, felt unfair to players. These criticisms suggest that while the majority of critics found the gameplay to be excellent, there were still some technical and design issues that hindered the overall enjoyment for a few reviewers. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the gameplay of Dark Souls III. The challenging combat, intricate level design, diverse weapon options, and rewarding progression system were widely praised, with critics like Gameplanet and The Digital Fix lauding the game for its tense and cautious gameplay that evokes feelings of triumph and tragedy. Despite some minor flaws and technical hiccups mentioned by a few critics, the general sentiment is that Dark Souls III delivers a deeply satisfying and immersive gameplay experience that stays true to the series' reputation for providing a tough yet ultimately gratifying journey for players.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Dark Souls III are varied and offer a comprehensive view of the game's visual presentation. Many critics praised the game for its stunning and detailed environments, with mentions of beautiful and elegant settings filled with small details (New York Daily News), breathtaking sights and excellent monster design (Worth Playing), and varied color palettes in detailed medieval fantasy environments (Twinfinite). The game's artistry and artistic direction were also commended, with references to nightmare-inducing artistic styles (ZTGD), gothic atmospheres (Gaming Nexus), and visually striking locations with exquisite detail and surprising use of color (Metro GameCentral). On the other hand, several critics pointed out some drawbacks in the Graphics and Visual Design of Dark Souls III. Issues such as muddy textures and reduced level of detail in some areas (Impulsegamer), inconsistent frame rates impacting immersion (PSX Extreme), and performance issues like poor optimization and poor framerates (GamesBeat) were highlighted. Some critics also noted a sense of familiarity and reused design concepts affecting the overall visual experience, with mentions of recycled boss designs (GameSpot) and repetitive design leading to a waning sense of immersion (God is a Geek). Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards acknowledging Dark Souls III for its visually impressive and artistically stunning presentation, despite some technical shortcomings and design issues. While some critics like Telegraph appreciated the unique visual design evoking thematic elements from Berserk and stunning boss designs, others like GameCrate and RPG Site pointed out the consistently poor framerates and performance issues affecting the game. Despite the mixed opinions on specific aspects of the Graphics and Visual Design, the majority of critics recognized the game's efforts to create a visually captivating world with intricate level design and diverse environments, ultimately contributing to the immersive experience that the Dark Souls series is known for.

The majority of the critics praised the Sound Design and Music of Dark Souls III, highlighting several positive aspects. Gamers' Temple appreciated the bleak orchestral score that added to the adventure, while Gaming Nexus found the haunting soundtrack to complement boss fights and locales effectively. High-Def Digest described the soundtrack as symphonic and well-received, with bombastic sound design that enhanced the overall experience. Impulsegamer also commended the solid soundtrack, immersive ambient effects, and accurate sound mastering that heightened gameplay immersion. Worth Playing even went as far as to say that the sound design in Dark Souls III can be scarier than in horror games, emphasizing the impact of the audio elements on the player's experience. On the other hand, RPG Fan expressed disappointment in the quality of some sound effects, citing them as low in quality. However, they did acknowledge that the boss music stood out with intense and thematic orchestral music and choirs. This critique suggests that there may have been some inconsistencies in the sound quality throughout the game. Additionally, some critics like Twinfinite and TrueAchievements did not provide any negative feedback regarding the Sound Design and Music of Dark Souls III, indicating a general consensus of positive reception among reviewers. Overall, the consensus among the critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the Sound Design and Music of Dark Souls III. Critics like God is a Geek, PSX Extreme, and Gameplanet praised the impact of the sound design on gameplay immersion, with haunting scores enhancing tension and atmosphere. The diverse range of music, from sombre chants to overwhelming overtures, was also highlighted as a strong point by The critics, such as TheSixthAxis and GameGrin. The impressive audio design, including themes for areas and boss battles that intensified the adrenaline rush during challenges, was a common point of praise among reviewers like ZTGD and MMORPG.com. Despite some minor criticisms, the overall sentiment is that the Sound Design and Music significantly contributed to the immersive and memorable experience of Dark Souls III, solidifying its reputation as a standout aspect of the game.

The voice acting in Dark Souls III has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from multiple critics. Gamers' Temple, God is a Geek, High-Def Digest, RPG Fan, and Game Rant all praised the voice acting for its contribution to the immersive atmosphere of the game. Gamers' Temple specifically mentioned that the voice acting was spot-on, enhancing the overall experience. God is a Geek and High-Def Digest both highlighted the believable performances of the characters, which added to the narrative and atmosphere. RPG Fan appreciated the well-voiced short conversations with NPCs, emphasizing the quality of the voice acting in enhancing the game's world-building. Game Rant also commended the game for its great voice acting. Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, there are some critics who did not provide detailed comments on the voice acting in Dark Souls III. It would have been beneficial to have a more in-depth analysis of the voice performances to understand any potential shortcomings or areas for improvement. While the lack of negative feedback may indicate that the voice acting was generally well-received, a more critical examination could have provided a more balanced perspective on this aspect of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Dark Souls III is a strong aspect of the game. The praise for the voice performances, the dialogue-rich characters, and the immersive nature of the voice acting indicates that it successfully enhances the overall experience for players. The positive comments from critics like IGN, who specifically mentioned the mysteries of NPC questlines alongside the voice acting, further solidify the importance of this element in the game's success. The collective opinion of the critics suggests that the voice acting in Dark Souls III is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's immersive and engaging world.

In terms of technical performance on the PS4, several critics highlighted both positive and negative aspects. Gaming Nexus and Push Square noted that the PS4 version had a locked 30 frames per second with no major technical issues reported, while High-Def Digest mentioned that the framerate was generally stable with tolerable load times. However, CGMagazine, GamesBeat, and God is a Geek all pointed out significant issues with frame rate drops, texture pop-in, and overall poor optimization, impacting the gameplay experience. Twinfinite and Worth Playing also mentioned inconsistent frame rates and dips below 30 frames per second, affecting visual experience and immersion. Despite these drawbacks, Gaming Age highlighted that the PC version ran smoothly at 60FPS, indicating a more stable performance compared to the PS4 version. On the Xbox One platform, critics had mixed opinions regarding technical performance. GameSpew and Game Rant noted that the framerate was pleasingly stable with only occasional hiccups, providing a better performance than previous entries in the series. However, ICXM highlighted significant performance issues on Xbox One, including frame rate drops and texture pop-in that could affect controls and maneuverability. Digital Spy mentioned frame rate issues in spectacular areas and fights, while Post Arcade noted the absence of online play for co-op assistance, potentially impacting the difficulty experience. Overall, while some critics found the Xbox One version to be relatively stable, others experienced notable technical issues that hindered the gameplay experience. For the PC platform, the consensus among critics leaned towards a more positive technical performance. GameWatcher, Gameplanet, and ZTGD praised the PC version for running at a consistent 60FPS with minimal crashes or freezes, offering a rock-solid experience on max settings. GameStar mentioned some initial performance issues and bugs but highlighted that the game was mostly stable during the review. Critics like Destructoid and RPG Site also noted the benefits of playing on PC with 60 frames per second, despite occasional dips in performance. However, ActionTrip and GameCrate pointed out consistently poor framerates and occasional bugs that negatively impacted the gameplay experience. Overall, the PC platform seemed to provide the most stable and optimized performance for Dark Souls III, with fewer technical issues compared to the console versions. In summary, the overall consensus among critics for Dark Souls III's technical performance indicates a mixed bag across different gaming platforms. While the PC version generally received praise for its stable performance at 60FPS and minimal technical issues, the PS4 and Xbox One versions faced more challenges. Critics like GamesBeat, God is a Geek, and Twinfinite highlighted significant frame rate drops, texture pop-ins, and overall poor optimization on the PS4, impacting the gameplay experience. On the Xbox One, critics had varying experiences, with some noting stable framerates and others facing significant performance issues like frame rate drops and texture pop-in. Despite these platform-specific issues, the game's core mechanics and gameplay were still appreciated by many critics, showcasing the enduring appeal of the Dark Souls series despite technical setbacks.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Dark Souls III are overwhelmingly positive. Critics like Arcade Sushi, Game Informer, and Gaming Nexus praise the game for offering a rich variety of options catering to different playstyles, with multiple characters, secrets, shortcuts, and addictive hidden content to discover. The inclusion of multiplayer features, covenants, and New Game Plus adds depth and longevity to the gameplay experience, as highlighted by God is a Geek and TrueAchievements. The challenging gameplay, depth of exploration, and intricate world design are also mentioned as key factors contributing to the high replay value, as noted by Push Square and GRYOnline.pl. On the flip side, some critics express concerns about certain aspects that may impact the replayability of Dark Souls III. CGMagazine and PlayStation Universe mention that the end-game may not feel as ambitious or grandiose, potentially leading to a less compelling replay value for some players. GameSpot and Polygon point out that some late-game areas lose their design appeal, while Telegraph highlights the feeling of having seen it all before, which could diminish the urge to replay the game for some individuals. Additionally, Digital Spy and RPGamer note that certain areas may feel repetitive, especially in later levels, requiring grinding and practice, which could deter some players from engaging in multiple playthroughs. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Dark Souls III offers a high level of replay value due to its challenging gameplay, variety of content, and multiplayer interactions. While there are some concerns about late-game design, repetition, and potential lack of ambition in the end-game, the majority of critics appreciate the depth of exploration, character progression, and social interactivity elements that contribute to a rewarding and engaging experience. The game's ability to cater to both series veterans and newcomers, as mentioned by IGN Italia and GameGrin, further solidifies its position as a title with significant replay value that appeals to a wide range of players.