From Software
Dark Souls

I don't know to what extent you might find this review useful, nor how many of you might actually be interested. But reviewing a video game that by now has become an essential piece of history in the gaming panorama seemed like an interesting experiment to me... then who knows...

Dark Souls is one of the most important and influential video games in gaming history, and those familiar with video games know exactly what I'm talking about. This work has been able to completely change the way an action RPG is understood (and developed), and like it or not, every self-respecting gamer has had the chance to deal with a game that came after this one but incorporates its mechanics and spirit (such games are now known as "Souls-Like").

But what makes Dark Souls not only a spectacular game but even so influential? What are the elements that have led numerous development houses to create games that get as close as possible to Miyazaki's work?

Let's start with the narrative. The story (or better, Lore) of Dark Souls is intricate and vast, of a beauty and poetic nature rarely found in a video game. There are no cut-scenes or film sequences to explain it to you here; instead, the player will literally have to "understand it on their own" through the elements that the game map (Enormous and largely explorable right from the start) will leave behind for the player. Observing statues, reading descriptions of various items, and exploring the environment will give the player small pieces of information that, when put together, will reveal something incredibly large and absolutely fascinating. Throughout the game, there is a melancholic feeling, one feels oppressed by an impending end of the world and moves in a world now in ruins, destroyed by violence, diseases, and curses. From Software has created a truly impressive narrative universe, as well as a very intricate one, involving numerous characters freely inspired by the most famous Japanese Manga works (see Berserk). This sense of discomfort that pervades the entire adventure is accentuated by the non-story of our character, who can be freely created to the player's liking and will rely solely on their own unique strengths to survive in the lands of Lordran. Yes, I did say "survive" not by chance because... well... Dark Souls is difficult. Very difficult. A small distraction in combat against basic enemies could lead to certain death, while the now-legendary Boss Fights are as difficult as they are memorable. Meticulous design dominates, both for the enemies (always well-crafted and never random) and for the majestic settings, strong with an impressive architecture and a level design that leaves one breathless.

Dark Souls represents a fundamental page regarding the history of video gaming, strong with a narrative that has garnered praise even outside the video game world (see the numerous awards won by Miyazaki, which don't always have to do with gaming) and gameplay that is challenging but absolutely fun and rewarding, becoming a drug you simply can't do without. A work with such a narrative that it crumbles away every preconception and stereotype associated with video games.