It wasn't long into DS 3 that I could feel the sense of weight and scale the game had to offer, and after finishing it it really does feel like the Souls franchise has reached a triumphant zenith. FROM went for broke with this, and honestly I'm kinda wondering what the DLC could be about when nearly every important plot thread's been tied up nice and neat.
Mechanics-wise, the game really does have the best of all its predecessors. Bloodborne and DS 1's sprawling, shortcut-laden areas, DS 2's fast travel and automatic weapon repair (with degredation slowed to the point you'll probably never notice it unless you do tons of invading) along with smoothed-over covenants, and even Demon's Souls's mana bar makes a triumphant return, to make the attunement stat something useful for non-magic user.
The game is by far the most linear of bunch, but that's not really much of a problem unless all the gear you really want waits at the end of the game. Outside of really dicking around there's a very clear "path" you're supposed to take through the game, with the occasional short fork for areas that may be required, but other times aren't. Still, the early game can be the most difficult part when your options are limited and the souls you get feel like a pittance compared to what you need to level up.
And yes, this is a Souls game, so expect some really challenging sections, to say nothing of tough bosses. The combat is much faster, almost Bloodborne-levels, but you still need to be patient and fight conservatively for the most part, because just because you're seeing a lot of old faces doesn't mean the Darkwraiths or Black Knights you fought before are going to be as easy to parry. But frankly, compared to the hell of some previous bosses most of DS 3's aren't that brutal. Not to say they aren't climactic and imaginative, with even the game's first boss feeling like a massive apology for everyone who complained about DS 2's over-abundance of armored dude bosses.
Admittedly, there are some minor problems. There are a lot of one-time surprises where the game just up and decides to punish either caution or recklessness, and you won't know which way's right at first. The lore for some characters could be better as it stands right now too, with there not being enough buildup for the bosses in the final stretch,
but with two DLC packages on their way I'm hoping some of my concerns will be addressed. And otherwise I have no complaints on that end either. The various NP Cs are hands down the best, the most colorful and engaging in the franchise, with their quests giving sufficient leeway to not run the chance of cocking it up.
I do recommend saving this though for the end of your own Souls adventures. Play as many of the others as you're able to, even Demon's or Bloodborne, to fully understand and appreciate how far the story and the games themselves have come. It is everything I hoped it would be, and even more.
One of the grandest Grand Finales ever
It wasn't long into DS 3 that I could feel the sense of weight and scale the game had to offer, and after finishing it it really does feel like the Souls franchise has reached a triumphant zenith. FROM went for broke with this, and honestly I'm kinda wondering what the DLC could be about when nearly every important plot thread's been tied up nice and neat.
Mechanics-wise, the game really does have the best of all its predecessors. Bloodborne and DS 1's sprawling, shortcut-laden areas, DS 2's fast travel and automatic weapon repair (with degredation slowed to the point you'll probably never notice it unless you do tons of invading) along with smoothed-over covenants, and even Demon's Souls's mana bar makes a triumphant return, to make the attunement stat something useful for non-magic user.
The game is by far the most linear of bunch, but that's not really much of a problem unless all the gear you really want waits at the end of the game. Outside of really dicking around there's a very clear "path" you're supposed to take through the game, with the occasional short fork for areas that may be required, but other times aren't. Still, the early game can be the most difficult part when your options are limited and the souls you get feel like a pittance compared to what you need to level up.
And yes, this is a Souls game, so expect some really challenging sections, to say nothing of tough bosses. The combat is much faster, almost Bloodborne-levels, but you still need to be patient and fight conservatively for the most part, because just because you're seeing a lot of old faces doesn't mean the Darkwraiths or Black Knights you fought before are going to be as easy to parry. But frankly, compared to the hell of some previous bosses most of DS 3's aren't that brutal. Not to say they aren't climactic and imaginative, with even the game's first boss feeling like a massive apology for everyone who complained about DS 2's over-abundance of armored dude bosses.
Admittedly, there are some minor problems. There are a lot of one-time surprises where the game just up and decides to punish either caution or recklessness, and you won't know which way's right at first. The lore for some characters could be better as it stands right now too, with there not being enough buildup for the bosses in the final stretch, but with two DLC packages on their way I'm hoping some of my concerns will be addressed. And otherwise I have no complaints on that end either. The various NP Cs are hands down the best, the most colorful and engaging in the franchise, with their quests giving sufficient leeway to not run the chance of cocking it up.
I do recommend saving this though for the end of your own Souls adventures. Play as many of the others as you're able to, even Demon's or Bloodborne, to fully understand and appreciate how far the story and the games themselves have come. It is everything I hoped it would be, and even more.