The wonderful world of Dark Souls beckons us once again. The game has been out for merely a day and we can already hear the screams of dying gamers and the smashing of controllers. It feels great to be back in a FromSoftware game, killing things and (more often than not) getting killed by things. By things, I mean monsters, beasts, and even a tree (yes, I’m serious). This game can be the most rewarding of experiences and, at the same time, the most evil kind of brutal a game has ever been.
This does not mean you should give up hope after a few deaths. There are plenty of things you can do to conquer the world of Lothric. A tip here and a trick there and voila — you have yourself a tank of a character ready to annihilate all that crosses him. Don’t just read my pep talk here, take these few tips on your trek through darkness and claim what is rightfully yours.
Tip #1: Accept Death
Dark Souls III is a Souls game, correct? FromSoftware is responsible for creating this masterpiece, yes? Well then, prepare to die and die often. This is OK, and you should not smash your controller over the absurd amount of dying happening. Dark Souls III, like any other game in the series, is difficult. You probably won’t go more than 20 minutes at the most without dying.
Things will kill you and enemies will catch you off guard — it is just the way the game plays. Accept the fact that you will die A LOT and this game will already look better in your eyes.
Tip #2: Beginning of the game, only class stats matter
The beginning of the game gives you quite a customization option. From your class to your burial gift, there are plenty of things to contemplate. However, don’t get worked up in choosing the class that is right for you or the burial gift that will be most beneficial down the line. The only thing that should matter to you is the starting stats of the class you choose.
If you prefer armor, strength and a good weapon, the knight class is perfect. Perhaps you would like to be able to move about a bit quicker than usual — in that case, the thief and assassin classes be up your ally. If you want to cast deadly spells, then go with a pyromancer or sorcerer. At the end of the day, whatever you choose has no weight in what your character will become. You still have the opportunity as an assassin to find the same armor as a knight. It is all based on your starting stat preference.
Tip #3: Be wary of your equip load and weight
Equip load and weight will determine how weighed down your character is. The more weight he has, the slower he will move. If your character is being weighed down a great deal, then he will roll slow and lumber about. If your weight ratio is down in the 50s or 60s, then you will roll quicker and move faster. Keep in mind that if you prefer better armor and prefer to take more of a defensive mindset, then your best option would be to find knight armor. Knight armor has the best defense and there are plenty of different sets of knight armor that you can find.
May the darkness guide you to the light
Keep these 3 tips in mind when starting up Dark Souls III. They may just save your life a few times. Just remember to accept death, mind your starting stats and watch your weight. This isn’t rocket science even if it seems hard enough to be just that. The kingdom of Lothric can be daunting to tackle, but only the strong survive.
Dark Souls III is out now for PS4, Xbox One and PC.
