Getting dark with ‘Dark Souls III’

Published 7:01 am Sunday, August 16, 2015

“Dark Souls III” is coming.

The terrifyingly difficult RPG series is set to release a new title early next year, which is both a blessing and a curse. I’ve written before about how monstrously difficult the “Dark Souls” series is, but the latest gameplay videos from the company have given plenty of fans hope for a new level of difficult gameplay.

The “Dark Souls” series first started in 2009 with “Demon’s Souls,” a medieval fantasy kind of game where you have limited movement and plenty of opportunities to die, from enemies throwing you off high structures to baddies simply killing you in one hit.

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It’s a cruel sort of game, the kind of action game that makes you repeat your mistakes over and over until you either get lucky, improve your skills or quit the game in frustration. It’s not always friendly to the casual player, but it is gorgeous and skillfully designed.

“Demon’s Souls” grew into “Dark Souls,” and eventually “Dark Souls II,” games which share the same gameplay style but don’t have much of a connection in terms of plot.

The “Souls” games have become popular enough to warrant a spin-off series, starting with the popular “Bloodborne,” which was released earlier this year.

Now, we wait for “Dark Souls III,” promising even more shiny graphics, incredibly huge enemies, and what looks to be a post-apocalyptic medieval land. The formula doesn’t appear to have changed much, but it honestly doesn’t have to.

There’s a trend in recent movies and games to make gritty, dark games. Though it can be quite tiring, games like “Dark Souls” prove to use its gritty roots as innovative tools, providing a bit of entertainment for any kind of gamer. There’s horror, there’s comedy, there’s drama, there’s tough action, there’s RPG elements — there’s even online competition between players.

There’s a lot to look forward to when “Dark Souls III” comes out. Let’s hope the latest entry lives up to its precedent.