Review: Dark Souls: Remastered (Nintendo Switch)

Then, there was fire. Re-experience the critically acclaimed, genre-defining game that started it all. Beautifully remastered, return to Lordran for the first time on Nintendo Switch with Dark Souls: Remastered Nintendo Switch.

Pros:

• Grim dark Gothic graphics.
• 4.0GB Download size.
• Action RPG gameplay.
• Amiibo support.
• Can rebind controls.
• Opens with a tutorial area with optional messages.
• Decent loading times.
• Difficult.
• Massive boss fights.
• Basic character creator, Choose a class, base stats and pick a couple of starting items all of which are described in the menu.
• Amazing level design.
• Open world with all areas interconnected in many ways.
• Bonfires- Can save/level up/respawn enemies from here and act like a checkpoint as you spawn here upon death.
• New game plus support, Keep your gear and face harder enemies and new game plus goes higher and higher each time giving better loot/rewards.
• Online- Co-op both with randoms or with friends. Can also be invaded by other players and initiate PVP.
• Hauntingly memorable soundtrack.
• Many secrets to find from shortcuts to loot to hidden areas.
• Free reign as you can go anywhere you want within reason. No set path.
• Satisfying combat both melee and magic based. You learn enemy patterns and block/dodge/roll around and counter.
• Souls- Earned/found and is used to buy from shops and level up your character.
• Death- You drop all souls and have one life to retrieve them or they are lost forever.
• Full camera control.
• Many enemy types.
• Includes all previous DLC.
• Third person view.
• Such an alluring world full of dread and intrigue, You cannot help but take in all its awe and grime.
• A solid crafting system that involves using soul stones from boss fights. Aside from that you can upgrade weapons and magic, Learn new spells and miracles.
• Possible to kill NPC.
• Messages can be left behind by yourself and other players.
• Can see player ghosts real-time watching other players run around.
• Pro controller support.
• Blood stains- Interact with these and see a short replay of how that player died.
• Clear easy to understand UI and inventory system.
• A lot of trial and error that serves to make you a better player.
• Users a stamina system for running, climbing and taking hits whilst blocking.

Cons:

• An online subscription is needed which is fine but you get a horrible pop up at the begininng which slows down the initial load. With no online sub, you miss out on messages left by other players, invasions, and co-op.
• No touchscreen support.
• Cannot pause the game.
• After closing the game down you get a long notification box where the Switch cannot be used until it has finished.
• A slight slowdown in places but a lot better than expected.
• Combat is a tough mistress to tame.
• Bosses are really tough.
• Little help or guidance and even more so if playing offline.