Very Positive(92%)
interconnected world
atmosphere
combat system
high replayability
difficulty
storytelling
remaster improvements
rushed areas
missing quality-of-life
long boss runbacks
clunky controls
While Dark Souls Remastered is generally praised for its brilliant world design, atmospheric depth, and rewarding combat, it also receives criticism for its perceived mechanical clunkiness and early-game difficulty spikes. The game's replayability and player-driven discovery of lore add layers of appeal that have made it a beloved classic. However, elements like the long boss runbacks and less polished later-game sections are noted drawbacks. Ultimately, it stands as a cornerstone of its genre, compelling players to return repeatedly despite its flaws.
Positive Points
The game features outstanding world and level design with a masterful sense of interconnectivity, where different areas are cleverly linked.Players praise the atmosphere, music, and art design, which contribute to a deeply immersive experience.The combat system, while challenging, is rewarding and encourages players to improve their skills.There is high replayability due to the variety of builds and different styles of play, keeping the experience fresh on multiple playthroughs.Negative Points
Some areas of the game, such as Lost Izalith and the Tomb of the Giants, feel rushed and less polished.The game lacks certain quality-of-life features present in later Souls games, such as fully functional fast travel from the beginning.Boss runbacks are notoriously long and tedious, often requiring players to traverse significant distances to re-attempt challenging bosses.Critics mention the controls as being clunky and some mechanics as outdated compared to modern games.Mixed Points
While some appreciate the game's difficulty and mechanics as fair, others feel it resorts to artificial challenges through inconvenient design choices.The narrative style, which relies heavily on environmental storytelling and item descriptions, is seen as deep and engaging by some, but confusing for others who prefer more direct storytelling.The remaster itself is criticized for not adding enough significant improvements over the original release.Common Themes
The interconnected world design of Dark Souls is frequently highlighted as a standout element, setting a high standard for world-building in games.The challenging nature of the game is both praised for its rewarding experience and criticized for its difficulty spikes.The game's impact on players often revolves around themes of perseverance and eventual mastery, inspiring determination and resilience.The community's shared experiences, memes, and in-game messages create a unique culture around Dark Souls.Updated 9/30/2025, 12:01:45 AM UTC