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Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition

The Ringed City is a fine ending to a memorable franchise, making the Fire Fades Edition a must-buy for anyone looking to jump into it head first.
Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
replayability, stability
97% User Score Based on 100 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxPlayStation
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Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition Game Cover

About

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is a single player and multiplayer open world role playing game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by FromSoftware and was released on April 21, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is a historical open-world RPG that offers a complete experience, including the full game and both DLC expansions. With its epic atmosphere, colossal enemies, and challenging combat, it delivers intense gameplay and dark themes. Winner of multiple awards, this edition lets players embrace the darkness in a world falling into ruin, either solo or in co-op with up to 2 players.

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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
gameplay7 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • Dark Souls 3 offers a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience, with a variety of combat styles and character builds to suit different player preferences.
  • The game features an immersive atmosphere and intricate world-building, with stunning environments and a deep lore that keeps players engaged.
  • Boss battles are intense and varied, providing a sense of accomplishment when defeated, and the inclusion of both DLCs adds significant content and replay value.
  • The game's controls and mechanics can be frustrating for newcomers, with awkward targeting and camera issues that can detract from the overall experience.
  • Healing during combat is slow and can lead to many deaths, as enemies are quick to capitalize on the player's vulnerability while using healing items.
  • Some players find the story and lore to be vague and difficult to piece together, which can make the narrative feel less engaging.
  • gameplay
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its intense and strategic nature, requiring skill and patience to navigate numerous challenges, with many players noting the satisfaction of combat and the depth of mechanics. However, some criticisms include awkward controls, frustrating movement, and a steep learning curve for newcomers, particularly those unfamiliar with the Dark Souls series. Overall, the game offers hundreds of hours of content, with a mix of enjoyable and frustrating elements that contribute to a unique experience.

    • “The gameplay is intense and strategic, requiring a combination of skill and patience to overcome the game's numerous challenges.”
    • “Gorgeous art and music, stellar gameplay with really satisfying combat, and excellent writing that respects your intelligence and lets you put the pieces together yourself.”
    • “Great game mechanics, no artificial difficulty, just great fun.”
    • “I am not a fan of the healing mechanic in this game.”
    • “Tldr - you don't need to have played the previous iterations, but if you are new to the Dark Souls series you will have bad impressions initially: awkward controls (buttons not customizable), no jumping, unimpressive graphics, frustrating movement and targeting mechanics, lots of dying.”
    • “Rolling is also a very poorly designed mechanic; you're essentially invulnerable even though you can clearly see the attacks hitting you.”
  • story
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is characterized by its depth and intricate world-building, though it is often described as vague and non-intrusive, allowing players to piece together the lore at their own pace. While the linear progression offers meaningful choices that affect outcomes and endings, some players find the storytelling lacks clarity and can feel random. Overall, the narrative effectively concludes the series while providing an engaging backdrop for the gameplay experience.

    • “But what really sets Dark Souls III apart is the depth of its world-building and storytelling.”
    • “The story does a good job of ending the series, closing the book on a lot of plotlines and filling in holes left by the first game.”
    • “The backstory, hidden just below the surface per the series' blueprint, is just as intriguing as the process of piecing it together.”
    • “The story is weird, almost non-existent, but not intrusive like some gamers who don't like heavy cut-scenes and dialogue.”
    • “The story/lore is also too vague and weird to really piece together and is almost too vague and random to try to get clues about the world of Dark Souls III.”
    • “Only downside is storytelling since the game doesn’t tell you accordingly.”
  • atmosphere
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is described as dark, immersive, and beautifully terrifying, drawing players into a medieval world filled with undead elements and gothic designs. While some comparisons to Bloodborne suggest it may not reach the same atmospheric heights, the level design, character customization, and epic boss fights contribute to a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is praised for its creativity and ability to enhance the role-playing experience.

    • “The level designs, character upgrade customizations, game atmosphere, storytelling, NPC interactions, level design, enemy design, epic boss fights are truly masterfully well thought out and executed.”
    • “From the moment you start playing, you're immersed in a dark and atmospheric world that is equal parts beautiful and terrifying.”
    • “Graphically nothing here is cutting-edge, but the creative design still leads to some breathtaking moments, with massive gothic structures and striking frozen vistas creating a fitting atmosphere for the dark, berserk-inspired character designs.”
    • “It loses to Bloodborne on atmosphere, but only slightly.”
    • “The atmosphere in this one was pretty solid overall.”
  • graphics
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them outdated compared to contemporary titles, while others appreciate the creative design and atmospheric settings that enhance the overall experience. Despite not being cutting-edge, the visuals are praised for their immersive environments, striking character designs, and impressive boss aesthetics. Overall, while the graphics may not impress everyone, they contribute significantly to the game's dark and engaging atmosphere.

    • “Finally, the setting and graphics are superb for the budget and technology.”
    • “Amazing visuals, premium bosses, and a truly immersive world including the fantastic DLCs Hello Games has developed.”
    • “The graphics I thought looked like crap compared to other games like Battlefield One, Until Dawn, and so on.”
    • “Graphics: 8, for some reason it feels outdated but it could be intended to get that look and feel and maybe a bit of comfortable graphic style for the devs.”
    • “Graphically, nothing here is cutting-edge, but the creative design still leads to some breathtaking moments, with massive gothic structures and striking frozen vistas creating a fitting atmosphere for the dark, berserk-inspired character designs.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, described as fitting and enhancing the dark atmosphere, though not considered groundbreaking. While some players miss specific tracks from previous installments, the overall score is appreciated for its quality and integration into the gameplay experience. The combination of beautiful music and engaging combat contributes positively to the game's immersive environment.

    • “Music score is also fitting and brilliant for the settings of the game.”
    • “The new bosses are aesthetically pleasing and the music is beautifully done.”
    • “Gorgeous art and music, stellar gameplay with really satisfying combat, and excellent writing that respects your intelligence and lets you put the pieces together yourself.”
    • “The music is nothing groundbreaking, but I do enjoy it and it doesn't feel out of place. I do miss the Dark Souls 2 Majula OST.”
    • “While the music is necessary to get all items and complete different quests, it still feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
    • “Overall, the music is enjoyable, but it doesn't leave a lasting impression and feels somewhat forgettable.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, varied difficulty levels, and diverse faction enlistments, allowing players to explore different character builds and quest lines. Well-written NPCs and their side plots, along with a robust class system, ensure that each playthrough feels fresh while still benefiting from previous experiences. Overall, players can expect to enjoy multiple runs without losing interest.

    • “The game does have a lot of replay value, with different endings, new game difficulty after your first run, and different faction enlistments. There are various character attributes, customizations, weapons, and armor you may want to try, along with quest lines that could have been missed the first time around. The game is brilliantly designed, so it never really gets old even if you revisit an old level.”
    • “Replay value is good too; I can see myself doing multiple new games before I get sick of the game.”
    • “The NPCs are well-written and performed, and their side plots give the game a good amount of replayability. The class system is different enough to give a second playthrough some freshness, while still being similar enough that players will benefit from skills built up the first time around.”
    • “The game does have a lot of replay value, with different endings, new game difficulty after your first run, and different faction enlistments. There are various character attributes, customizations, weapons, and armor you may want to try, along with quest lines that could have been missed the first time around and NPCs you may want to kill. The game is brilliantly designed, so it never really gets old even if you revisit an old level.”
    • “The bosses and areas have a lot of replay value.”
    • “Game replay value: I am only going through this game for the first time and I'm hooked.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, stability in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report a smooth experience on PS5 with no significant issues, others highlight persistent bugs and glitches that detract from the gameplay, suggesting that improvements are still needed despite the game's "complete edition" status.

    • “Runs great on PS5.”
    • “It is overrated; there are quite a few things to improve on besides the bugs and glitches that are in the game.”
    • “I played this on version 1.01, and there are still bugs and glitches that are annoying, especially since this game has been out for a while. This 'complete edition' is the reason why I rarely buy games at launch. If I had purchased this on day one, I would have been very upset to see a game lacking content and plagued by bugs.”
    • “The game had no problem loading up, with no glitches, frame rate drops, and no decline in resolution.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that grinding in Dark Souls and Bloodborne does not lead to overpowering characters, as farming for souls does not guarantee an easy victory over enemies. This aspect maintains the challenge and balance of the gameplay experience.

    • “Grinding in this game feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The amount of time required to level up is excessive, leading to burnout rather than enjoyment.”
    • “Farming for resources becomes a chore rather than a rewarding experience, detracting from the overall fun.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is enhanced by the game's creative design, featuring striking gothic structures and frozen landscapes that complement the dark, berserk-inspired character aesthetics, although the graphics themselves are not groundbreaking.

    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form emotional connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the plot progresses.”
    • “The choices you make significantly impact character growth, making each decision feel meaningful and enhancing the overall narrative experience.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by players' ironic realizations about their ongoing engagement with From Software titles, despite initial reluctance. Many find it amusing that even after vowing to stop playing, they are drawn back in, with this installment being noted for its refined gameplay and lighter tone compared to previous entries.

    • “It's funny because I really didn't have an interest in Dark Souls 3, and I promised myself that Bloodborne would be my last From Software game, but here I am... Once you play a From Software game, you're eventually going to miss it enough that you'll need to scratch that itch one way or another.”
    • “Doesn't have the same difficulty as the previous games, but is the best refined and funniest of them.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the game evokes a range of emotions, particularly discomfort, through its unsettling enemies and environments, challenging the stereotype that emotional experiences are limited to certain demographics.

    • “It’s not one of those action-horror jump-scare types of games, but some of the enemies and environments made me feel uncomfortable at times.”
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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

132h Median play time
122h Average play time
100-143h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is a open world role playing game with fantasy and historical themes.

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 122 hours playing Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition.

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition was released on April 21, 2017.

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition was developed by FromSoftware.

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include DARK SOULS III, Dark Souls II, Elden Ring, DARK SOULS: REMASTERED, Salt and Sanctuary and others.