Running it back

The Dark Souls III PC servers were back up, and now it seems they're back down again. Players are reporting in, unable to access the game, and the soci?al account has acknowledged a confirmed issue.

As noted by PC Gamer, speculation had starte??d picking up yesterday on the Steam forums, where users were starting to have is??sues with the servers.

A new tweet from the Dark Souls brand account on Twitter notes that there is a confirmed issue with Dark Souls III online play, via the Steam platform.

"We are investigating the source of the problem and will inform you as soon as more details become ava??ilable," the update says. "Thank you for your patience."

//twitter.com/Dark?Soul??sGame/status/1572548464164347905

Rise again, Ashen One

The PC servers for Dark Souls III were off for quite a while. Users discovered an exploit in the Souls series that has kept its PC versions offline for most of the year. Online PC services only just recently came back online for Dark Souls III. The team behind the updates had previously said they were working on bringing services back for the other back-entries in the Souls series, but now it looks like Dark Souls III may need more attention.

Meanwhile, Elden Ring had the specific vulnerability addressed pre-launch and has been cooking along just fine. So for PC players, the only FromSoft multiplayer game in town is Elden Ring once again.

It's a bummer, as each game has had its own meta-game and PvP communities. Numbers even seemed to jump up a bit for Dark Souls III after the fix was implemented.

Though no specifics have been given, hopefully this fix doesn't take months like the others have. We'll learn more as the Souls team works on getting the Dark Souls III PC servers back up.

The post Dark Souls III PC servers are having issues again appeared first on Destructoid.

New printings of the Dark Souls: Design Works trilogy are now available from Udon

It's been a good long time since we've had a reason to bring up Dark Souls: Design Works �and it's amusing to go back and read Chris' thoughts about the art book from 2014. If you're in the mood to look at some badass dark-fantasy imagery, it's never too late. Udon Entertainment has issued reprints of the Design Works books for the whole trilogy.

The main difference with these reprints is that they sport new cover art. I'm sure some readers will prefer the original tome-like cover design, which is classy, but I'?ll admit that I'm ?a sucker for the crazed Gwyn concept art �that fiery backdrop really pops.

These hardcover books focus on concept art, ke??y visuals, and character and monster designs, but there are interviews with From Software developers, including big boss Hidetaka Miyazaki. So if you want to see the ??Capra Demon up close, this is your chance.

[caption id="attachment_335188" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{The new covers use "production artwork."}[/caption]

Where to buy 'em

• Dark Souls: Design Works on Amazon for $33.08
• Dark Souls II: Design Works on Amazon for $44.99
• Dark Souls III: Design Works on Amazon for $44.99

At 128 pages, Dark Souls: Design Works is the lightest of the group; the scattershot Dark Souls II has 240 pages, while Dark Souls III comes out on top with 336 pages.

Remember the first time you gazed out on Irithyll of the Boreal Valley? An unforgettable sight, for sure. (Followed by an equa??lly unforgettable gotcha ?moment.)

According to Udon, the three Dark Souls: Design Works books are now back in stock "while supplies last." The original printings "may still be available at some retail outlets.?"

If you've already been there and done that with the Dark Souls trilogy, it's worth reminding everyone that Elden Ring will be getting a pair of official guide books �the Books of Knowledge �from Future Press later this year. I'm imagining some future gran?dkids unearthing a whole shelf full of From Software art books in a cluttered storage u?nit.

The post Dark Souls: D?esign Works?? art books are back with new covers appeared first on Destructoid.

And here's the ill-advised challenge run to prove it

Class is in session, and today we're going to learn how to complete Dark Souls III without walking �no, seriousl?y, c??heck the syllabus! The midterm is going to be brutal.

"Spicy guides" creator ymfah has been entertaining Souls fans with novelty challenge runs and hilarious(ly effective) beginner guides. These videos often take a seemingly "stupid" or "pointless" concept and figure out the smartest way to pull it off, then present the findings in an expertly edited package. The music choices get me every dang ??time.

I've been wanting to highlight this creator for a while now, and this recent no-walking Dark Souls III run is a good entry point. If your initial reaction is "what the hell even?," same!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIA4KYiHHlU

As with all of ymfah's best videos, there are so many considerations that go into the run �so man??y cha??nces for the set-in-stone criteria to be derailed by a baffling quirk.

Per the self-inflicted rules established at the outset, the left analog stick (aka movement, aka "walking") is off-limits �but hopping around like a total madman with the quick??step ability (from the Bandit's Knife) is allowed, and orienting the character with enemy lock-ons is a-okay. This specific Thief setup actually works! It's possible to move through the world without walking, in a traditional sense, and where there's a will, there's a way.

Ladders have never been scarier

But further into Dark Souls III, there's an unexpected setback: a too-tall ladder on the way to Farron Keep. The drop is long enough to be lethal, and the fall damage is too much to bear even with a sneaky mitigation spell that should work. The solution? A well-timed quit-ou???t, mid-fall, only to resume the game suddenly standing safely at the bottom.

Wild problems deserve even wilder solutions, and that's the joy of these absurd runs. This is just one early example. And with the high-effort way in which it's all presented, it feels like a crafted story is playing out �you don't have to know Souls to have fun, but if you do, you'll appreciate it even more. I always laugh, and I always learn somethin?g new.

As one YouTube commenter summed it up, "I always love the m??oment when th?e run goes from 'This is impossible' to 'This is better than my actual builds.'"

The post Yep, D??ark Souls III can be cleared without walking appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the most anticipated features of the game

Ah, character creators. Always the first two hours of my playthrough of a game that has one, they're one of the most fun ways to waste time in games. While some players dedicate themselves to making the most beautiful, lifelike characters they can, others are committed to creating the greatest atrocities gaming has ever seen. Any way you slice it, it's a blast, which is why fans were delighted to get a preview of the Elden Ring character creator as it leaked yesterday.

Known for their incredibly detailed customization options, the Soulsborne character creators have been a source of hilarity for years, and don't really have limits on how ridiculous you can make your character look. You can imagine the excitement, then, when the internet learned from the leaks that Elden Ring's customization system is even more detailed tha?n its pre??decessors.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh_G4ARUSDw

Footage from Elden Ring's character creator was leaked by YouTuber ER-SA, who apparently nabbed the footage from the recent closed-network test.

Many of the sliders in the creator don't have labels in the video, which is unsurprising as the game is still in development, but the end results are undeniable. Fans have remarked on how lifelike the characters look now, with one Twitter user expressing his excitement to "finally be able to make a human instead of a fish person/skinwalker." When you see a side-by-side, it's hard to deny that FromSoftware's character creators have come a long way since the last time we got one from them with Dark Souls III in 2016.

This progress basically comes down to graphical fidelity, which isn't surprising considering how much we've jumped into photorealism in the past two or three years. I don't know about you guys, but when I eventually get my hands on a PS5, I'm pumped to try out the possibilities of this new character creator. Leaks are a shame from a developer's perspective, but at the very least, players getting a preview for the character creator means that hype for Elden Ring is at an all-time high.

The post Players are pumped about Elden Ring’s leaked character creator appeared first on Destructoid.

Kairi!

Kingdom Hearts III, Dark Souls III: is there a connection here? Now there is.

Although poor Kairi didn't get her shot to kick nearly as much ass as she should have, she can take out the trash all-game-long in this Dark Souls III mod from creator iwtexplode.

The mod itself is pretty dazzling in that it not only transposes Kairi into the game, but also provides players with a "custom Keyblade-like moveset" at the start. In other words, within the framework of the game (the Knight and Cleric classes), Kairi can already utilize several spells and abilities that make her feel like her Kingdom Hearts counterpart. It also provides unique ??voicework and animations.

Hilariously, the trailer below actually looks like a dark Kingdom Hearts game at times! Somehow, this all just fits.

Kairi Mod [Nexus Mods]

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This game isn't hard at all!

If a mod is an amendment -- and, strictly speaking, it is -- then you have the right to bear arms in Dark Souls III. When you have a gun, none of the ot?her rules matter a whole lot.

As reported by PC Gamer, modder Asasasasasbc has imagined a take on Dark Souls III that's a lot less punitive than From Software ever inte?nded. It's trades the br??oadsword for the AK, and it's a lot easier to go medieval on someone's ass when you just have to let the lead fly.

The Modern Firearm mod takes guns that are mostly modeled after Resident Evil weapons and transplants them into Dark Souls. They replace specific regular?? weapons. So, the Light Crossbow turns into a Vector SBR, the Heavy Crossbow is an AK-47, the Knight Crossbow is an M16, the Repeating Crossbow is a Thompson SMG, the Sniper Crossbow is a sniper rifle, the Avelyn is a MP5, and the Arbalest is a shotgun.

Here's what it looks like ??in action. Warning: This video paints a picture of a preposterously easy game when it's actually quite difficult!

Here's the "Modern Firearm" Dark Souls III mod for anyone who wants to mow down boss after boss. As PC Gamer helpfully points out, you're going to want to install Modern Firearm via the Dark Souls III mod engine. The reason for this is beca??use the mod engine prevents connecting to the network. Mods are prohibited in online play, and showing up with guns is certainly going to result in a ban. So, the safe route is to make sure you can't connect.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, spray and pray to your heart's content. Throw that Estus Flask in the bonfire be??cause no one's get?ting close to killing you. Not when you're packin' this much heat.

Dark So??uls 3 with assault rifles is my new favorite easy mode [PC Gamer]

The post Sun’s out, guns out (literally) in this Dark Souls III mod appeared first on Destructoid.

Dark Souls controlled by your mind next, please

"Dark Souls player beats the entire game without getting hit by controlling everything through synapses in their brain!" is a headline I'd totally believe these days. Dark Souls players are using everything from musical instruments to bananas to...well, Ring Fit Adventure controllers!

YouTuber Super Louis 64 modded the Ring Fit accessory to play Zelda: Breath of the Wild a few months ago, but found it "too easy." Ever a glutton for punishment, they decided to mod it for Dark Souls III (one of my favorite entries ??that grows on me year after year).

Amazingly, the modder forced themselves to run to move in-game. That's right: you can't actually get anywhere unless you're running in real life. Drinking an Estus requires a squat. Squeezing the ring triggers an at?tack. It's a workout!

Unlike some of the other more esoteric control methods, this actually looks really fun. As folks are unable to hit their local gym, finding unique w?ays to get fit is an incredibly useful little skill.

The post We’ve had Dark Souls controlled by bananas, now here’s Dark Souls by way of Ring Fit appeared first on Destructoid.

The_Happy_Hob confirmed happier

A dedicated Dark Souls fan has completed a run of the game's entire trilogy without taking a single hit. The_Happy_Hob streamed the nerve-wracking achievement, a year in the making, on his Twitch channel. The final moment (which contains loud profanity) can be seen right here.

To qualify for the No-Hit run, Hob was required to play through all three titles without being struck by a single enemy, outside of a scripted death to Seathe the Scaleless. Last month, Hob made it to the very end of the run, but took a heartbreaking hit on the final boss of the final game. Damn.

But that's ancient history, as the dedicated player finally completed the notoriously difficult trilogy this weekend, understandably losing his mind upon taking down Dark Souls b??oss Gwyn (Hob ran through the gam??es in reverse order). Great work!

All of The_Happy_Hob's recent runs can be viewed over on his Twitch archive.

The post Stream?er completes zero hit run of the Dark Souls? Trilogy appeared first on Destructoid.

It's well out of my price range

If you were envious of Europe's Dark Souls trilogy vinyl set, you might explode when you see what's on the horizon in Japan. (Thankfully, I'm still glowing from today's news so I'm not too bothered.)

Bandai Namco is putting together a Dark Souls Trilogy Box Set for PlayStation 4 featuring the newly-announced Dark Souls Remastered plus Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition, and all three game soundtracks (with backgr??ound music) on CD.

Along with those core items, the box set squeezes in a pair of bookend??s, an encyclopedia, and artwork. As you would expect, this won't come cheap -- it's priced at 49,800 yen (roughly $448? USD).

I'll stick to admiring this from ??a distance, thanks.

In other Dark Souls merch news, Fangamer is teasing "figurines, apparel, and more" this spring.

[Via Siliconera]

The post Ja??pan is getting a sweet Dark Souls Trilogy Box Set appeared first on Destructoid.

Slayer of demons and wages

High-end figure makers Gecco have revealed the next release in their ongoing Dark Souls series of ?statues. This time ??around it is the turn of Oscar, Knight of Astoria.

The 1/6 scale statue stands just shy of 13 inche??s tall and features the delicate detail that Gecco's products are renown for. Anyone pre-ordering the item from their Japanese store will also receive a Crystal Lizard model, which probably makes for quite the handy paperweight.

The statue costs 36,800 yen, doing some real-quick maths in my head, that roughly equates to $335.5792, give or take a cent. This is in keeping with former statues in the Dark Souls range, that have been? at comparable prices. Don't forget to consider shipping for such a hefty item, as well as potential ??custom charges.

Regardless, it's pretty damn good-looking, though I'm personally still crying myself to sleep over being unable to afford one of those Shantae figurines that were released last month.

Oscar, Knight of Astoria Statue [mamegyorai]

The post Adorab??le Dark Souls statue coming to carve your wallet in half appeared first on Destructoid.

Another excuse to hear that wonderful new Mario song

Some of you are going to leave this video scratching your head?, but it's precisely my kind of silly.

I think the description from creator JellyElite~ sells it accurately: "Decided to kind of [emphasis mine] recreate the Super Mario Odyssey trailer. Don't know?? why, but goddamn if it wasn't a bunch of fun."

Credit where credit is due: a not-insignificant part of the charm here is the infectious "Jump Up, Super Star!" track from Odyssey. Gosh that song has grown on me. I mean, I liked it from the start, but now I'm full-on obsess??ed. And while this video didn't crack me up, it was light and fluffy. Th?at's all I needed.

[Via NeoGAF]

The post This Dark Sou?ls x Mario Odyssey video is the right amount of silly appeared first on Destructoid.

The Totally GOTY, Complete, Definitive Edition

If you've sat on the sideline on the excellent Dark Souls III, today you've won the waiting game as the complete edition is now its cheapest yet. This weekend at GameStop, Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is heavily discounted ??down to a low $40 price.

This edition comes with the complete season pass, which includes the expansions Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City. On console, Fire Fades Edition was released back in April of this year, whereas the PC's Deluxe bundle has been around since the game's original April release in 2016. While the PC's Deluxe Edition was on sale earlier today for $35, ??that price is now out of stock at digital retailer DLGamer (they do have the standard edition for $23, which is cheaper than Steam's Summer Sale price of $24).

Dark Souls III Weekend Deals

• Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition (PS4, Xbox One) — $39.99  (list price $50)
• Dark Souls III (Steam) — $22.99  (list price $60)
• Dark Souls III (Xbox One Download) — $24  (list price $60) <- Gold Required

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$50 gets you the complete Dark Souls III experience

I was expecting a "complete" re-release for Dark Souls III at retail, but not so soon. Bandai Namco has compiled the core game and its two expansions -- the frigid and somewhat underwhelming Ashes of Ariandel, and the brutal, much more fitting sendoff The Ringed City -- into one package.

This new retail release, Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition, is out ?today on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, priced at $50. Considering the season pass alone would be $25, that's not ba??d at all.

I don't think there's any topping Bloodborne, but DSIII is a clear runner-up for me.

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Git gud and smack 60% off

If you enjoy knowing the limits of your gaming ability, feast your peasant eyes upon this deal. Dark Souls series titles are on tap with savings this week at DLGamer, with Dark Souls III at a new historic low price of only $24. This beats out all previous deal we've seen for the game since the start of? 2017.

Another decent deal in the mix is Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin at a bit under $10. Note that while Dark Souls III Deluxe Edition is also on sale for $51 - you're probably better off picking up the included Season Pass elsewhere for more savings. For example, you can scoop up the Season Pass at GamesPlanet fo??r about $20. Coupled with the Dark Souls III deal at DLGamer, you're getting everything ??for only $44. Not too shabby, human meat bag.

Dark Souls PC Deals

• Dark Souls III (Steam) — $24  (list price $60)
• Dark Souls III: Season Pass (Steam) — $20.10  (list price $25)
• Dark Souls III Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $51  (list price $85)
• Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (Steam) — $9.60  (list price $40)

Everything above is a Steam key. The DLGamer deals will expire ??later this week on March 30th at about 5pm Eastern.

The post ?Cheapest Dark Souls II??I on Steam arrives for Spring appeared first on Destructoid.

Spoilers, obviously

Dark Souls III: The Ringed City is a little more involved than several of the other add-ons in the history of ?the series.

Without direct spoilers (read: screens or a description of the figh?t), here's a quick rundown of how to access the hidden boss.

First, you'll need to procee??d with the main DLC route until you get to the Ringed Inner Wall bonfire. From there, head down the spire, across the path, and hang a right up the large outdo??or staircase.

At the?? door is an NPC who will give you a ques??t to defeat a dragon. Accept it.

Further into the DLC you'll find the Shared Grave bonfi??re??. Head up the staircase and into a large outdoor area with a bridge.

Fight the drag??on, finish it off, and it'll drop into the abyss below.

Here's where the riddle in the very top screen com??es in handy.

Just before the Church bonfire (inside the giant chapel with another boss) is a spire that contains a ton of Black Knight statues. Head to the elevator inside that leads back up to the shortcut to the Ring?ed Inner Wall bonfire and leap into the alcove on the right side.

Head down the hallway to the left and locate? the statue above??.

In this case "bareth no arms" refers to his lack of a weapon. Strike the ??statue to reveal a false wall that leads to the boss room.

Go down and drop ?into the abyss! In case you're wondering, the Ringed Inner Wall is the closest bonfire to the boss.

The post Guide: Find the secret boss in the Dark Souls?? III: The Ringed C??ity DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Almost 60 FPS!

That Dark Souls III patch we reported on a few days ago has been put through the ringer by Digit?al Foundry and the results aren't too surprising. The support for PS4 Pro has given the game better performance, even if it still isn't perfect. Now you won't be hovering around 30 FPS, but will have frame rates above that at all times. This, in turn, makes the game feel smoother and should clear up most of the rather ugly frame pacing issues present in the original code.

While the PC version never had these problems, the Xbox One version still suffers from these issues. Hopefully From Software will enable support for the Xbox Scorpio, whenever that releases. I??t would certainly be a nice incentive to upgrade your console.

Dark Souls 3 gets a very basic PS4 Pro upgrade [Eurogamer]

The post Dark Souls III’s PS4 Pro patch definitely improves the game appeared first on Destructoid.

Out March 28 for $15

From Software is wrapping up Dark Souls III on March 28 with The Ringed City, the game's second and final expansion. Now that I've seen this launch trailer, that timing tidbit is far less likely to slip my mind Tuesday evening when I settle down to play games. It'll be a late night with Souls, that's for sure.

Part of me wants to avoid referencing anything too specific in the video -- it shows bosses, enemies, and locales -- but I feel like I just have to bring up the two-handed shield with which you can ?charge forward. I'm already imagining the dumb fun that'll enable in player-versus??-player shenanigans.

After spending countless hours with this game, it's going to feel so weird? to retire it to my shel?f.

The post Dark Souls III’s The Ringed City looks like one hell of a sendoff appeared first on Destructoid.

Patch 1.11 impacts all platforms as well

This has happened before, but it's still weird to see us entering an er??a of "PS4 Pro exclusive patches."

The next one on the docket is Dark Souls III, which will be rolling out patch 1.11 soon across all platforms, but the PS4 Pro specifically will be getting an extra benefit -- an enhanced framerate. It wasn't announced exactly how much of a boost it would be, but it's happening. It's the "pre-DLC" patch for the Ringed City add-on that hi?ts on March 28, and will bring a bunch of extra bug fixes in as well?.

Can we get that frame fix for Bloodborne next? That's one Souls (esque) ??game that would benefit from it the most, and it's a PS4 exclusive -- what a per?fect match!

Dark Souls III [Steam]

Patchnotes: 

• Made system updates for The Ringed City. 
• Increased frame rate for gameplay on PlayStation®4 Pro.
• 2 New maps added to Undead Match, Dragon Ruins and Grand Roof.
• Added function to Undead Match where, if password matching is used, players can split into teams. 
• Added function to Undead Match that allows one team of players to match with one password, and the other team to match with another password.
• Added function where various hosts could be displayed on the bonfire warp menu.
• Added warning text that advised player if he/she has dropped too many items in a single location on the field.
• Fixed issue where the loading screen was displayed for longer than usual when the guest returned to his/her own world after an online multiplayer session. 
• Fixed issue in "The Painted World of Ariandel" where the opened/closed status of the door to the Cleansing Chapel did not synched properly during online multiplayer session.
• Fixed issue where a guest could enter alone into the boss room for the Dancer of the Boreal Valley during online multiplayer session.
• Fixed issue where the level sync feature in Undead Match did not synched consistently during online multiplayer session.
• Fixed issue in the loading screen where guests were not alerted to an error that occurred on the host's side during online multiplayer session.
• Fixed issue when player using the miracle Tears of Denial doesn’t get attacked during online multiplayer session. 
• Fixed issue where weapons and items sent to the box get corrupted when inventory is full.
• Fixed icons that specify which certain items are for which gender. (ex. Chain Armor). 
• Improved attack power for Daggers. In accordance with this fix, critical hit is decreased in order to make critical power the same as present.
• Improved motion of normal attack for Ultra Greatswords, Great Hammers and Curved Great Swords.
• Decreased stamina depletion when attacking using Ultra Greatswords, Great Hammers, and Greataxes.
• Improved attack power for Curved Greatswords.
• Decreased motion of normal attack while dashing for Katanas. Improved motion of any other normal attacks.
• Improved motion of shield bash skill. In accordance with this fix, stamina consumption has been reduced.
• Improved motion of Dagger's Blind Spot skill.
• Increased rate at which Frostbite builds up when using Vordt's Great Hammer, Irithyll Straight Sword, and Friede's Great Scythe.
• Shortened attack window of Carthus Curved Sword and Dark Sword, Gargoyle Flame Spear and Follower Sabre.
• Improved motion of Crescent Moon Sword's skill, Crescent Blade. 
• Improved the motion of Moonlight Greatswords’s skill, Moonlight Vortex.
• Improved FP recovery effect of Executioner's Greatsword.
• Fixed so that Frost Blade appears from the beginning of Pontiff Knight Curved Sword skill.
• Improved FP decrease effect of Yorshka’s Spear skill, Pacify.
• Improved motion and the frost effect of Pontiff Knight Great Scythe skill.
• Improved motion of normal attack for Greatlance.
• Fixed so that poise is applied during Greatlance two-handed attack.　 
• Fixed so that poise is applied during Dark Hand skill, Lifedrain.
• Disabled parry during Pickaxe's two-handed attack.
• Improved duration of the Perseverance effect.
• Fixed issue where attack power of some bolts was different from the assumed value when using Avelyn.
• Fixed issue where one-handed attack motion of Crow Talons was the incorrectly using the animation for the Fists.
• Fixed issue where player can apply enchantment of Bloodlust to other weapons. 
• Fixed so that poise is applied during Spin Sweep attack.
• Fixed issue where Onislayer continued to attack consecutively.
• Improved correction value for Sharp or Heavy weapons' upgrade.
• Improved the Bleed build-up of Blood infusions. Reduced Bleed build-up of weapons not infused with Blood.
• Improved the Poison build-up of Poison infusions.
• Along with improving correction value for Sharp or Heavy weapons' upgrade, adjusted correction value for Refined weapons' upgrade.
• Improved defense and also increased weights for heavy armor.
• Improved the motion of Lightning Stake, Lightning Storm and Way of White Corona. 
• Extended the time you can move during the casting of the miracles of Gnaw, Dorhys' Gnawing and Wrath of the Gods
• Fixed issue where bonus value is not affected by Dark Damage when equipping Hornet Ring during critical attack. 
• Increased the damage of Poison and Toxic dealt by players, and shortened its duration.
• Decreased rate at which bleed builds up when using Carthus Rouge.

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The Ringed City is just a couple weeks away

Even if you aren't keen on the idea of more player-versus-player arenas in Dark Souls III, let this pair of videos serve as a reminder that, oh yeah, the second and final DLC for the game isn't far off.

The Ringed City is out on March 28, and there will soon be two new dedicated PvP arenas in Undead Match. There's Dragon Ruins, which draws from ??the main game's Archdragon Peak, and? also Grand Roof, which should look awfully familiar if you've made the trek to the top of Lothric Castle before.

Per Bandai Namco, "All arenas are accessible as long as you have access to [Undead Match], either through Ashes of Ariandel or The Ringed City." I'll probably just stick to the story content.

The post These are the new PvP arenas for Dark Souls III appeared first on Destructoid.

The Soul(s) still burns

I haven't gotten too far into Dark Souls III myself, because I am terrible, but I am absolutely in love with it. From Software's gothic dread speaks to my aesthetic, but what really holds the Souls series t??ogether are its monster designs. Deep blacks ??highlighted with just a little bit of color and brightness? Awesome. 

Check out the latest batch of screenshots and concept art for Dark Souls III's final DLC, The Ringed City, in the gallery below. Maybe you'll fawn over them as much as I have. The Ringed City releases on March 27th for Steam and? March 28th for Xbox One and PlaySt?ation 4. 

The post Dark Souls III: The Ringed City gets darkly?? gorgeous screenshots appeared first on Destructoid.

'New lands, bosses, enemies, armor, magic, and items'

Dark Souls III didn't have the strongest showing for its first DLC, but it had its moments. The Ringed City on the other hand, the second and final add-on (possibly ever, for Souls), looks like it isn't messing around.

With no mention of PVP, Ringed City&nbsp;seems to be a heavily PVE-centric addition infused into the lore, and will once again bring new bosses, areas, and items into the fray. A??s always, I'd recommend not watching the video if you want to go in fresh -- and speaking of fresh, some of the enemies are looking amazing.

Hopefully it's not as truncated as the first DLC! The Ringed City will drop ?on March 28 on PC, PS4, and Xbox ??One. It's being sold piecemeal, and is part of the $24.99 Season Pass.

The post The final Dark Souls III DLC is called ‘The Ringed City’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Dark Souls III

There's nothing quite like Dark Souls. I?t's a series that intrigues and ensnares, temping its players to persevere against harsh odds to see the next captivating set design or beautifully vile boss.

At times, these games teeter over the edge of despair. They can be too demanding or esoteric for some players, pushing them away for good. But for the folks who are able to dig in -- I mean really dig in -- they're near impossible to put down until those credits roll. Dark Souls III was, once again, exactly that.

Some of you even sought out the international version, in spite of known issues, just because it meant you could marathon the adventure slightly ahead of schedule. I get it. Once I tore into Dark Souls III, few things were on my mind for ??a week straight other than food, sleep, work, and bonfires. I couldn't explore Lothric soon enough. And despite making the trek half a dozen times by now, I still find myself returning -- to help one more summoner best the ??Nameless King. To convince one more player I truly am a good-natured Mound Maker who won't betray them. To gaze onto the Boreal Valley one last time.

This may be our last Souls, at least for a while, but its essence lives on. There's a yearning for From Software to continue remixing this type of experience, swapping in new stories, settings, and characters. If Dark Souls III re??ally is the end for now, we're happy ?knowing it left off on a high note.

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Praise the Sun!

When it was first revealed that From Software would be working on producing titles for Nintendo's upcoming console -- the Nintendo Switch -- my mind raced. Immediately, I thought of the possibility of playing games like Dark Souls while on a long commute, as well as the prospect of looking like a mad??man as I tear my hair out in a fit o?f rage after dying one too many times to The Nameless King.

According to a report by Laura Kate Dale from Let&rsq?uo;s Play Video Game??s (who previously worked at Destructoid), this may become an all-too-real situation, as From Software is supposedly working on producing a port of the third instalment in the Dark Souls trilogy for the Nintendo Switch. Laura Kate’s sources have stated that the game is running ??at a level of performance that the development team is happy with, although it is currently unconfirmed as to whether or not the company will go ahead and launch this as a full-fledged retail release. The reasoning behind this is that the company is awaiting initial sales data before ?committing to releasing this port.

Supposedly, th?e company is also looking into the financial viability of releasing the first two games in the series on Nintendo’s upcoming handheld/home console hybrid.

If From Software does decide to release a Switch port of this title, it will likely launch alongside complete editions of Dark Souls III for PS4 and Xbox One, whi??ch?? will contain both the game and all of its DLC.

Now, I do have to warn you that this is still a rumour. LPVG's previous Nintendo Switch rumours -- which has included a crude mockup of the console's design in order to show off its split ??d-pad well before the manufacturer officially revealed it -- have been rather accurate, but this information is still unconfirmed at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if it does turn out to be true, but there are many ways in which this project could potentially fail. ?This is still a rumour, and it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Of course, I have no intention whatsoever to discredit the sourc??e of this information. A?ll I’m saying is that caution should be exercised.

On a more personal note; I really hope this turns out to be true. I would gladly pay for a portable version of Dark Souls III, even though I know that it would more than likely lead to unpleasant situation??s for everyone around me whenever I play it in a public space.

Report: Dark Souls 3 Running on Sw?itch, From Software Conside??ring Trilogy ReRelease [Let's Play Video Games]

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But to what end?

_{[Image by Steam user MirkoW]}

I'm not so sure Dark Souls III players will ever see a satisfying conclusion to the game's ongoing and still-disappointing poise stat saga, but there is a curious new chapter. With the next patch dropping on Friday for all platforms, From Software is tweaking a bunch of values, fixing bugs, and also setting the table for the Ashes of Ariandel DLC. But then there's this bull??et point, which jumps right off the scre??en:

"Adjusted poise values across the board. Poise is now more effective for heavier weapon??s and armor."

Cue wild specu?lation based on a not-?informative-enough description.

I can't help but feel that Dark Souls III's poise stat will never do precisely what players believe it should do (which is to say function the same as it did in prior games), but I'd love to be proven wrong whether it's in?? this? patch or a future one. Give us more of an incentive to rock that heavy gear, please!

The full patch notes:

• Adjusted poise values across the board. Poise is now more effective for heavier weapons and armor.
• Improved regular attack animations of hammer category weapons.
• Improved regular attack animations of greatsword category weapons.
• Improved regular attack animations of axe category weapons.
• Improved regular attack animations of fist category weapons.
• Improved the "Neck Swipe" weapon skill animation of scythe category weapons.
• Fixed a bug where strong attacks performed using whips would not deal additional damage when fully charged.
• Fixed a bug where strong attacks performed using the Pickaxe would consume stamina multiple times per attack.
• Adjusted the "Onislayer" weapon skill hitbox timings for Onikiri and Ubadachi.
• Adjusted the hitbox timings of the claw category weapon skill "Leaping Slash."
• Fixed a bug where rolling attacks on Astora's Greatsword could not be parried.
• Improved the "Wrath of the Gods" weapon skill animation for Wornir's Holy Sword.
• Improved the "Blind Spot" weapon skill animation for Corvian Greatknife and Handmaiden's Dagger.
• Improved the "Shield Splitter" weapon skill animation for Mail Breaker and Irithyll Rapier.
• Improved the "Wolf Leap" weapon skill animation for Old Wolf Curved Sword.
• The weapon skill of Old King's Great Hammer "Molten Perseverence" will now release lava on both hits.
• Improved the "Darkdrift" weapon skill animation for Darkdrift.
• Reduced effectiveness of rolling attack animations on Gotthard Twinswords while dual wielding.
• Increased effectiveness of the sorcery "Pestilent Mercury."
• Improved the cast animation of miracle "Lifehunt Scythe."
• Increased poison and toxic buildup of the pyromancies "Poison Mist" and "Toxis Mist", respectively.
• Increased durability damage buildup of the pyromancy "Acid Surge."
• Increased duration of the "Warcry" weapon skill.
• Fixed a bug where the player's lock-on target would automatically change even if "Toggle auto lock-on" was set to "OFF."
• Fixed a bug where the leader board for Darkmoon Knights would display incorrect statistics.
• Fixed a bug where the fog wall near Holy Knight Hodrick would sometimes not disappear during multiplayer even after defeating him.
• Fixed a bug where Orbeck of Vinheim would sometimes die before the player purchased all his spells.
• Fixed a bug where Patches and Greirat would never return if sent to steal after defeating all bosses.
• Fixed a bug where female characters were subject to counter damage during certain movement animations.
• Fixed a bug where equipping Vordt's Great Hammer or Irithyll Straight Sword in the left hand would cause enchantments to disappear from weapons in the right hand.
• Fixed a bug where two-handing certain weapons would cause the stealth effect on Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring to not work correctly.
• Fixed a bug where Hornet Ring was not working for claw category weapons.
• Fixed a bug where dash attacks could not be performed using Farron Greatsword.
• Fixed a bug where strong attacks using Lothric Knight Sword were not dealing thrust type damage.
• Fixed a bug where dash attacks using Onikiri and Ubadachi were not dealing thrust type damage.
• Addressed other game balance issues and fixed other flaws.

App Version 1.08 - Official patchnotes [reddit]

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It's in this month's Ashes of Ariandel DLC

Some of my fondest memories in Dark Souls III were made while mucking about as a member of the Mound Makers, the game's wild-card, "When are they going to betray me?" covenant. I was a particularly friendly Mound Maker, and that always seemed to unsettle people. It?? was so great!

With that in mind, I am down for the Ashes of Ariandel DLC (despite falling way behind the current meta). It has new story content, as you'd hope and expect, but there's also a? separate PvP emphasis. The game's multiplayer functionality will? be fleshed out with Undead Matches, "one-on-one duels as well as free-for-all and team-based modes for up to six players."

We're less than two weeks out from the Tuesday, October?? 25 release. It's sneaking up.

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The Legend of Souls

A lot of gamers have noticed a striking amount of similarities between The Legend of Zelda and the Dark Souls games. Aside from being 3D action adventures titles, the combat mechanics seem to be fashioned around a similar type of gameplay, even if Souls goes a bit more in-depth.

To me, I've never really drawn the comparison until more recently. I think it comes down to the fact that Ocarina of Time laid the gro?undwork?? for how a 3D action game should be made, which is something series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki agrees with.

In an interview with Glixel, Miyazaki stated, "If there are similarities, they probably stem from the fact that The Legend of Zelda became a sort of textbook for 3D action games." It's funny how certain games become? shining ??examples of their genre and never seem to be topped in terms of innovation.

As for the comparison, Miyazaki added, "When I was a student, The Legend of Zelda was truly monumental?. So to be perfectly honest, I feel deeply unworthy of the comparison." Miyazaki then states that the focus of each game is what truly differentiates the?m. "Our goal was to allow players to do what they want, define their own goals, make their own discoveries, embrace their own values, and find their own interpretations."

While some fans have been clamoring for Nintendo to adopt a similar design philosophy for Zelda??, I honestly never had an issue with the later, more linear games. Sometimes, great direction and ??calculated pacing go a long way for creating an interesting environment.

Then you have Souls which prides itself on being overbearing, dark, menacing and obtuse. Neither game is wrong in its approach to design; they are just cut from a different cloth. That being said, I'd love to see what a From Software designed Zelda game would turn out like. For all the issues with motion controls, Skyward Sword had combat that was pretty damn similar to Dark Souls.

'Dark Souls' Creator Miyazaki on 'Zelda,' Sequels and Starting Out [Rolling Stone]

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It gives a bit too much away toward the end

You might already be down for Ashes of Ariandel, the first of two add-ons coming to Dark Souls III. If that's the case, I'd say watch some -- but not all! -- of this trailer. It's made up of a handful of largely unedited encounters in the frigid area, st?arting with more common enem??ies and culminating in some boss battles. I wish I would've stopped watching at 3:30 and left the rest for October's launch.

To be fair, there is a spoiler warning up front in the video and, if you've seen the prior marketing materials for this DLC, some of the more surprising momen?ts here? will be old news to you.

After a long break, I am eager to get back into Dark Souls III. The hunt for the dreaded "Proof of a Concord Kept" covenant item made me lose my sanity given the absolute grind it can be, and I still need about 10 more of the darn things. It'll be nice to have something new to dig into, particularly an area that feels at least partially reminiscent of Dark Souls' Painted World of Ariamis.

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Watch the new trailer

[Update #2: It's official! You can watch the trailer below. The DLC will add one new region (an "unnamed frozen land"), new bosses, armor, weapons, and magic. Dark Souls III's second and final add-on is still slated for early 2??017.]

[Update: The PlayStation Twitter account jumped the gun and announced "Ashes of Arian?del," which will launch on October? 25 in the west.]

So uh, according to Hachima, Bandai Namco has announced by way of various Japanese gaming magazines that Dark Souls III's first DLC (of two total) will consist of items and a PVP-exclusive map called "Immortal Competition" that sports a snow theme. The content includes weapons and magic, an an ice ??storm spell was shown, as well as a new great sword. No other details were shared.

I'm sure PVP fans are happy, but with the original Dark Souls we got a badass PVE add-on in Artorias that also came with PVP elements. I was under the impression that both announced DLCs would be substantial, but it looks like they might be going the Bloodborne&nbs??p;route with one p??resumed meaty expansion to come.

Then again with the price of the Season Pass at $25, and the first DLC priced out at roughly $10, it's not like the next add-on can be anything too crazy (Artorias is $14.99, and The Old Hunters is $19.99). More details have yet to come so there could be ??a PVE zone, and we'll report back as soon as we hear officially from Bandai Namco or From Software.

Dark Souls III [Hachima via Siliconera]

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Is it Poise?

I still dabble in Dark Souls III these days??, even if I've exhausted basically everything in terms of major content, but it's not the same. I pine for the days where I'm playing it constantly, and later this year it looks like I'll get that chance.

Namco Bandai is teasing a "major announcement" on August 24, which is no doubt related to its first DLC. Or, maybe it'll actually explain the poise system after all. The ?current schedule for the DLC is "late 2016" for the first, and 2017 for the second. ??There are only two major add-ons planned.

Dark Souls [Twitter]

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Possibly worse than Vaguebooking

The saga of the poise stat in Dark Souls III was pretty amazing. First, fans had no idea what it did, and much to their chagrin, From Software maintained a cheeky "it's a secret!" stance on it. Eventually though someone did seemingly figure it out, and now series director Hidetaka Miyazaki regret??s how they han?dled it.

Speaking to Kotaku, Miyazaki said, "This isn’t something w??e are particularly proud of. With how things are handled now, it can be improved and this is a?n agenda item we’ll be working on in the future." Hilariously, he did not explain poise once and for all.

One of my favorite things about the Souls series is From Software's stalwart commitment to having players figure out its intricacies. There are so many hidden strategies, areas, and items tucked away in every game, it's insane and also a refreshing break from the hand-holding nature of many releases. But something concrete like a stat listed on a menu?? That should probably be a known factor.

It also might be the equivalent of posting "something awful happene?d today" on Facebook, waiting for the "are you OK?"s to roll in.

Dark Souls 3 Dev Regrets How They Handled The Game's Controversial Poi?se? Stat [Kotaku]

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