Dark Souls III is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released in March 2016, it is the fourth entry in the Souls series and the final instalment in the Dark Souls trilogy. Set in the decaying kingdom of Lothric, players take on the role of the "Ashen One," an undead warrior tasked with rekindling the First Flame to prevent the world from falling into darkness. The game features challenging combat, intricate level design, and a deep, lore-rich narrative.
About the story
Set in the Kingdom of Lothric, a bell has rung to signal that the First Flame, responsible for maintaining the Age of Fire, is dying out. As has happened many times before, the coming of the Age of Dark produces the undead: cursed beings that rise after death. The Age of Fire can be prolonged by linking the fire, a ritual in which great lords and heroes sacrifice their souls to rekindle the First Flame. However, Prince Lothric, the chosen linker for this age, abandoned his duty and decided to watch the flame die from afar. The bell is the last hope for the Age of Fire, resurrecting previous Lords of Cinder (heroes who linked the flame in past ages) to attempt to link the fire again; however, all but one Lord shirk their duty. Meanwhile, Sulyvahn, a sorcerer from the Painted World of Ariandel, wrongfully proclaims himself Pontiff and seizes power over Irithyll of the Boreal Valley and the returning Anor Londo cathedral from Dark Souls as a tyrant. The Ashen One, an Undead who failed to become a Lord of Cinder and thus called an Unkindled, rises and must link the fire by returning Prince Lothric and the defiant Lords of Cinder to their thrones in Firelink Shrine. The Lords include the Abyss Watchers, a legion of warriors sworn by the Old Wolf's Blood which linked their souls into one to protect the land from the Abyss and ultimately locked in an endless battle between each other; Yhorm the Giant, who sacrificed his life for a nation conquered by his ancestor; and Aldrich, who became a Lord of Cinder despite his ravenous appetite for both men and gods. Lothric was raised to link the First Flame but neglected his duties and chose to watch the fire fade instead. Once the Ashen One succeeds in returning Lothric and the Lords of Cinder to their thrones, they travel to the ruins of the Kiln of the First Flame. There, they encounter the Soul of Cinder, an amalgamation of all the former Lords of Cinder. Upon defeat, the player can attempt to link the fire or access three other optional endings unlocked by the player's in-game decisions. These include summoning the Fire Keeper to extinguish the flame and begin an age of Dark or killing her in a sudden change of heart. A fourth ending consists of the Ashen One taking the flame for their own, becoming the Lord of Hollows.
Platforms
PC PS4 XONEGenres
Adventure Role-playing (RPG)Themes
Action FantasyLanguages: English and 12 more
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Critic Reviews
By Tom Olson
If you haven’t played Dark Souls up until now because of the difficulty, then Dark Souls 3 still isn’t going to change that. It’s the tried and tested gameplay, with a few polished up features. It is by far the best game in the series, but it is only going to appeal to a certain demographic of gamer. Those who enjoy the test of increasingly difficult combat systems, a slow and methodical approach to progression and who don’t get frustrated easily will certainly have already played Dark Souls 3 by now, but if it’s sitting in your library and you have always wondered “Am I good enough?” Then the answer is almost certainly “No, you are not you absolute scrub” but you should still boot up Dark Souls 3 for an epic experience you cannot get anywhere else.
- 22 Oct, 2017
By Gabriel Jones
All of the praise that Dark Souls III receives is well deserved, because it gets most of everything right. However, it never strays from the established formula. This is something most gamers are willing to ignore, just because the formula is excellent. Although it's great that the Dark Souls series can retire on a high note, it's a shame that its crown has gone unchallenged. Hopefully that will change in the future. Videogame companies in competition with one another helps to bring out the best in them.
- 27 Dec, 2016
By Stuart Alt
Dark Souls 3 is a game that many fans will be used to and comfortable with by now since it follows the same winning formula. Some may find it bland in comparison, but it still holds up as a great title and greater send-off for the series.
- 09 Oct, 2016
By Jordan Micheal
Dark Souls III is the best action RPG of this year. The game is enjoyable and interesting.
- 12 Jul, 2016
By Shawn Zipay
Quite possibly the best "Souls" game to date, even surpassing the original, and much beloved, Dark Souls.
- 05 Jun, 2016
