Dark Souls review

This game is really fun.  Considered a sequel to Demons Souls, this game picks up where the previous game left off.
You start the game in a cell and work your way out of the asylum.  Your mission is to defeat Lord Gwyn.  When you reach the end, you can choose two endings: a good ending or bad ending.

This game is more open-world than Demons Souls.  You can choose what order you want to complete the areas; however due to the strength of some enemies you can face early in the game, you know rather quickly what route to take.  There are many bosses to fight although some are optional.  You can use boss souls to craft new weapons and some of them are quite useful.  The co-op and player vs player component returns.  You can get summoned to help defeat bosses or other players.  The PvP play has changed and it has been made more fair.  The use of Estus Flasks--used to heal your character--is disabled for the invader which was vastly needed because in Demons Souls, PvP fights can last forever due to both sides healing.  Magic is handled differently in that magic energy is replaced by the number of times it can be used before you run out and must rest at a bonfire.  Endurance remained unchanged; the lighter you are, the faster you can move.  Increasing endurance can help protect against guard breaks.

Bonfires are prevalent throughout the game; most sections have at least 2.  These are your save points in that when you die, you return here.  They are also where you can attune your magic, level up, repair weapons and armor and more things.  When resting at a bonfire, most enemies are revived thus leading to easy farming if necessary.  So it is up to you when and if you want to rest at one, but trust me it will become essential the later you progress into the game.

Some debate is out about whether this is a better game than Demons Souls.  It's far game; both are difficult initially but Dark Souls is much easier later on because of the bonfires.  Rare items seem to drop more  often in this game with the latest patches.  There aren't too many things wrong with this game.   The game is the right length and you get your money's worth.  Pick this one up.  You will really enjoy it.