Dark Souls

The main pros of the game

• Challenging Gameplay: Many users appreciate the game's difficulty, stating that it offers a fair challenge and a rewarding sense of progression as players learn enemy patterns and improve their skills.
• Combat Mechanics: The combat system is frequently praised for being solid, fair, and deeply satisfying, contributing to the game's overall enjoyment.
• World Design: The interconnected world of Lordran is noted for its complexity and the unique exploration experience it provides, allowing players to discover alternate routes and strategies.
• Impactful Experience: Players often describe the game as a "masterpiece" and recognize its significant influence on the gaming landscape, particularly in the action RPG genre.
• Replayability with Mods: While the original PC port has issues, the game has a strong modding community that enhances replayability and fixes many problems.

The main cons of the game

• Technical Issues: Users report that the PC port is poorly optimized, with many recommending mods to improve performance and control issues, particularly with keyboard and mouse setups.
• Tedious Design Choices: Some players criticize the game's design for being unnecessarily confusing, with opaque progression paths and tedious backtracking that can lead to frustration.
• Limited Dodging Mechanics: The restriction to four-directional dodging is seen as a downside, especially compared to later games in the series that allow for more fluid movement.
• Time-Wasting Elements: Players express frustration over lengthy treks between bonfires and the lack of early fast travel options, which can detract from the overall experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Quality of Life Improvements: Players note the absence of modern conveniences such as early fast travel and more intuitive navigation, which are present in later entries in the series.
• Better PC Support: Many users feel that the game lacks proper support for PC controls and has not been adequately updated for modern systems, leading to a less enjoyable experience for those without a controller.
• Clearer Progression Guidance: There is a desire for clearer indicators or guidance within the game to help players navigate the world and understand where to go next, reducing the need to rely on external resources like wikis.
• Enhanced Graphics and Performance: While some appreciate the remaster, others believe it does not significantly improve the original experience and still suffers from many of the same issues.

Summary

• Overall, while DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition is celebrated for its challenging gameplay and significant impact on the gaming world, it is also criticized for its technical shortcomings and design frustrations that can hinder the experience for modern players.

Summary generated on: October 8, 2025