Dark Souls Remastered

It's pricey for a remastered game from a previous generation -- even if it includes a few hours of DLC that once cost extra -- but this is clearly the definitive version of this classic action RPG. While no match for modern graphical masterpieces, Dark Souls Remastered looks noticeably better than the original thanks to its higher resolution and steadier frame rate. The Switch version does have some darker, more blurry textures than the other systems because it's not as visually powerful as other systems, but it's still visually striking. Although no new content's been added, its collection of small improvements -- such as an extra bonfire and earlier access to the Dried Finger item (for people who want to focus on player-versus-player action) -- helps smooth over some of the original game's rougher edges. And what made the original game so memorable stands the test of time. Its challenging combat system -- which penalizes death by respawning all enemies and robbing you of souls collected (essentially experience points) -- remains tough but fair, encouraging caution, strategy, and play style experimentation. The beautiful and complexly designed world is still satisfying to explore, with secrets around nearly every corner. And untangling the game's dense knot of mysterious items and elaborate mechanics is as deeply rewarding as ever. If it doesn't feel quite as fresh as it did when it originally launched, that's only because so many other developers have taken pages from this game's book since its release.

All of this said, there's some missed opportunities for improving the Dark Souls experience even further. Many known glitches and cheats remain. The occasionally finicky camera is still problematic in some areas, especially in tight corridors or when locked onto enemies on narrow precipices. Plus, the continuing inability to pause when playing offline remains perplexing, and is bound to cause friction for players whose family members don't understand that they can't simply stop playing on command without potentially losing a lot of their hard-earned progress. It's frustrating, too, that finishing the game automatically starts a New Game + file, overwriting your current save and prohibiting access to all of the areas you've unlocked until you've played through the entire game again. Still, it's a treat to be able to revisit this classic and influential role-playing game on current generation hardware. If you fancy a serious test of your gaming skills (and patience), Dark Souls Remastered won't disappoint.