Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition
Release: 2011
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 (compatible with Xbox One)
Dark Souls is my favorite game of all-time, and always will be. In the world of subjective experiences, I don’t care if games are released that are objectively better. This will always hold my highest affections. How can it not? I still remember the first time I discovered the game’s cruel, masochistic brilliance; unearthed the formula upon which its gameplay systems are built; discovered the bitter brutality of its bosses. For me, no game will ever quite have the same impact.
If you’re newcomer to the series, don’t pick up Dark Souls III (released in 2016) right away. Start with this one. This is the foundation. The building block. The true great. This is the one with the world that unfurls on itself like a piece of cloth. This is the game with the hundred different shortcuts and the Metroidvania world; one in which you connect the dots like puzzle pieces falling into place.
From the gruelling Ornstein and Smough boss battle to the depths of Blighttown and more, Dark Souls will change the way you see games. Better yet, its servers are still active, meaning you can share the experience with friends.
Look out for the Prepare to Die Edition too, which comes bundled with the Artorias of the Abyss DLC pack. Just make sure you consult a guide online to find out how to actually access the new content (it’s a labyrinthine trek).
Price? Copies of Dark Souls command a surprisingly high price online, but you should be able to snare this for $20. That’s great value all round.
Published: Dec 17, 2016 02:41 pm