dark souls 1

Here are some key things to know about Dark Souls 1:

• Dark Souls 1 was released in 2011 and is widely considered one of the best and most influential action RPGs of all time. It set the template for the Soulsborne genre.
• The game is notorious for being extremely challenging but fair. It punishes reckless play and rewards patience, observation and learning from deaths.
• There is no hand-holding. The game gives you very little direction or explanation. You have to explore the world and piece things together yourself through conversation, item descriptions and experimentation.
• Death is a major mechanic. When you die, you drop your souls (currency) at your bloodstain. If you die again before retrieving them, they are lost forever. This encourages careful, methodical play.
• Bonfire sites act as checkpoints and are your main means of leveling up. Finding and activating new bonfires is an accomplishment in itself.
• Character builds matter. Your choice of class, weapons, armor and stats can significantly change your playstyle and challenges. Some build options are more difficult than others.
• The game has a dark, Gothic fantasy setting full of decaying medieval environments, epic bosses and tragic storylines. The lore is deep but left largely unexplained.
• The remastered version, Dark Souls: Remastered, includes improved graphics, 60 FPS support and upgraded online features. But the core game and challenge remain the same.

So in summary, Dark Souls 1 is a benchmark in the action RPG genre known for its punishing but fair approach to difficulty, obscure storytelling, and weapon/build variety. The remaster improves the visuals and performance but retains what made the original so memorable and influential.