Dark Souls III is my favorite Souls title, of all time. I admit that this is 100% due to it being the first one I played. There are some criticisms that I agree with fully, particularly its lack of exploration compared to earlier entries. But no critique is enough to make me dislike this game. This is an experience that I love dearly.

# Background

Dark Souls III was released in 2016 by FromSoftware. Being the third and final entry in the Dark Souls franchise, FromSoftware wanted to have a big closure for the series, rather than continue making more. Development began in 2013 before Dark Souls II's release. Although Miyazaki was not present for the start of Dark Souls III, he joined during prototyping and started leading the project. This game was developed in parallel with Bloodborne, with mostly separate teams aside from a few shared members, namely Miyazaki himself.

# Story

Yet again, the fire starts to fade. But the Lord of Cinder groomed to link the flame, has refused to fulfill his role. The Old Lords have been resurrected to serve as kindling in their place, but they have chosen to abandon their duties as well. The Unkindled, those who were unfit to link the flame, have been raised in response. Their duty is to find the lords and return them to their thrones, fulfill their roles, and link the fire.

# Gameplay

Gameplay in Dark Souls III is just like every other Dark Souls game. You build a class, navigate the level, collect souls, level up, and beat the boss. We’re not reinventing the wheel here.

Dark Souls III has a slightly different gameplay pace in comparison to earlier entries. While you don’t have to play as aggressively as you would in Bloodborne, Dark Souls III is just as fast-paced. Enemies attack quicker, and so do you. As a result of this, I feel that Dark Souls III has more enemies in its levels than Dark Souls. Unless it was fodder, Dark Souls had enemies fairly spread out. Almost felt like every encounter was its own minor victory. Dark Souls III will throw more enemies at you, making clearing out the group feel like its own victory. And because you’re faster, it doesn’t feel unfair like Dark Souls II.

There is a negative to this increased pace of play: panic-rolling. Telegraphs were much more obvious in previous entries due to the slower pace of play. In Dark Souls III, you can’t be certain if an enemy will only attack once or chain attacks. Often, I found myself rolling in a panic rather than strategically assessing the situation. The DLC improved this issue a lot. Bosses like Sister Friede were given combos that often delayed sequential attacks to punish people who panic-rolled rather than keep their cool.

A new mechanic introduced to the series was weapon arts, or skills as the wiki calls them. These are special attacks or moves for every equipable weapon. Not every weapon has its own unique skill; most of the time shields are just for parrying. The skills aren’t huge punishers like Elden Ring either. They kind of stink sometimes. But it was a cool first step in having people experiment with different weapons and see what each skill did. Improves the gameplay by adding some variety to the combat system as well.

This point has been talked to death, but I know it will get brought up if I don't mention it. Dark Souls III is very linear. This is one of my biggest complaints about the game, too. While Dark Souls felt like a huge, interconnected world because of all the shortcuts and loopbacks one could find. Dark Souls III doesn't really have that same impact. You are never really returning to one area after completing it. Often shortcuts are just quicker routes through the area before fighting the boss. I blame this fully on the fast travel system. There was no reason to make quick navigational routes through the game when you have fast travel enabled from the get-go. It is what it is, though. It doesn't have that much impact on the game, just impacts its presentation slightly.

# Gamefeel

I know a complaint expressed by many is that Dark Souls III has way too much fan service. I understand the point they are making, but I believe that this is the entire point of Dark Souls III’s story. The world is decaying due to the constant cycle of linking the First Flame. The game is not trying to make you feel like this is a grand new adventure. The intention, in my opinion, is that you are supposed to be reminded of how grand everything was in Dark Souls. Dark Souls III is a reminder that things can never go back to how they used to be. The world is in a worse place due to people trying to hang on to something that should be let go of. Essentially, it is using nostalgia to reject nostalgia.

While I’m sure this likely wasn’t the intention, even the soundtrack plays into this theme. What was once an orchestral arrangement (correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m fairly certain about this) in Dark Souls is now made using digital libraries and orchestral sound samples. While still good, it is not what it used to be. It is a pale imitation of itself. I enjoy Dark Souls III’s music, by the way. It’s a great soundtrack; I have a couple of songs on my playlist. I’m not dunking on synthesized soundtracks trying to emulate real music. I am speculating how the music could tie into the theme of the game.

The graphics are also great in this game. All the environments tie directly into this theme of decay. As you explore the world, you can see ruins of what used to be great settlements. There are tombs made for once great conquerors. Battlefields littered with corpses show that battles had already been fought and ended. We can't forget the end of the game either,

I played this for first time earlier the year. I think it's a great game well worth playing but I will say I prefer DS1 and BB over it. DS1 had the level design and freshness, while BB does combat better.

I agree with your interpretation of the world design and I liked seeing this world as it's brink, barely holding together. As always fromsoft nails atmosphere.

Enemy and boss design were also fantsstic and a clear step up from DS1 where most mobs were very weak to circle strafing.

Now you got me wanting to go for a NG+ run.

In my experience Dark Souls III allowed the most creativity mid-fight. There were some boss battles I actually beat on my first try because I was able to try a few different approaches in between dodges and rolls. In the first game, I really felt like you HAD to meet the game where it was or you’d die 99% of the time (which is fun in its own way). You really only stood a chance with most bosses after dying 10+ times and learning from your mistakes. Maybe I was just lucky but it in DS3, while I wouldn’t call it easier, it was a little more flexible

I think ds3 is a great game but probably my least favorite of them all.

It's the beginning of the games shift from strategy to reflexes in terms of how you git gud and the gameplay did feel different especially losing the spell uses which added an element of strategy outside of spam your best spell and the environments seem not only very linear but so grey. I started with elden ring and then went to souls so I really loved 1 then 2 was a huge step forward only to feel like everything in 3 felt less important and less mysterious. I know 2 is the black sheep but it remains my favorite.

I definitely got some good hours out of DS III, but the frustration factor ultimately drove me away. I made it as far as the final boss fight for the first ending, but I just got tired of trying to learn all of the boss's different patterns. I made significantly better progress in Armored Core VI, so I'm thinking it was just more of a Dark Souls issue for me in general than anything else.

I'm with you. 2 is my still my favourite.

"...the environments seem not only very linear but so grey."

I think that is my least favorite part of starting a new playthrough of DS3: it takes quite a while to give the player branching paths, and those first areas are indeed gray and brown. When I start DS1 or DS2 I can go different directions from the get-go. DS2 seems to be my favorite too. I started with Demon's Souls, which might also be my favorite. I have multiple favorites :)

There is nothing like chilling in majula after killing an entire area 12 times haha

Yeah when I talk to other people about it most completely skip 2 which is such a bummer because it's one of the only ones I come back to regularly.

100%, the vibes are unreal!

It's a great game and some of the levels despite being frustrating were very interesting, like the prison with wardens that would drain your health. I started with DS1 and DS3 is my least favorite game in the souls series (still a 9/10 though)

After completing Bloodborne, I can confidently say that it feels like they wanted to make it much more like Bloodborne and succeeded, but in the process it became less of a souls game, if it makes sense?

It stands out among DeS, DS1 and DS2 in a way that I never really enjoyed.

ER has its own issues, but I'm glad the gameplay became a bit slower there.

After beating DS3 way bsck when it came out, I remeber saying to myself "I can never play a game like this again". I was so bored and sick of the formula. Then ER came out and brought me back in. I recently replayed DS3 and I have to say the feeling is much the same. The level design is tired (how many swamps, castles?), the enemy placement is frustrating and ganky, the overall feel uninspired. I know this echoes your sentiment, but it's funny to think how bad a wrap DS2 got when DS3 is easily the one I enjoyed replaying the least!