Deal | Steam: Remaster of a gaming legend returns to its lowest price in a rare sale

Soulslikes are known above all for one thing: uncompromisingly difficult combat that feels all the more rewarding because of it. The formula was established by FromSoftware’s action RPG Demon’s Souls in 2009. It truly took off two years later with Dark Souls, which played a decisive role in shaping the genre. In 2018, the game received a remaster, which is currently available on Steam at half price. Discounts of this size have appeared before, but compared with many other titles they remain rather rare. According to SteamDB, Dark Souls: Remastered was discounted only four times last year. By comparison, Mass Effect Legendary Edition was on sale every month.

With games like Lies of P, Lords of the Fallen and even Sifu, there are now many titles that draw on the Souls formula and are very popular with players. Anyone who has always wanted to try the original should find Dark Souls: Remastered a good place to start. The game is easy to explain, but difficult to master. The journey begins as an outcast undead, doomed to die again and again until he is left to wander the world as a hollow shell. Imprisoned in the Undead Asylum, he eventually escapes to Lordran, where he sets out in search of the First Flame. In Dark Souls, however, the story plays a rather secondary role. At its core, the game is about the combat.

Along the way, enemies await around every corner, and players regularly have to face major bosses. Every opponent has distinct attack patterns that must be studied in order to block, dodge and strike at the right moment. The combat system therefore requires not only good timing, but also tactical thinking. Dying is practically part of the normal flow of the game. For long-term motivation, Dark Souls offers a variety of starting classes that do not lock players into a fixed playstyle – whether as a heavily armored knight, a nimble thief or a spellcaster attacking from range. Attributes can be developed freely over time, and equipment can be adapted flexibly. Weapons, armor and shields differ significantly in weight, range and feel, which makes experimenting with different builds well worth it.

Even though the visual improvements are limited, Dark Souls: Remastered is a successful new edition, as shown by nearly 150,000 reviews with a 92% positive rating. The remaster benefits above all from stable performance, higher resolution and modern quality-of-life improvements. With its “Playable” rating on Steam Deck, it should also appeal to handheld players. It is worth noting that the game explains relatively little on its own. Anyone who wants to keep the frustration limited to the combat would be well advised to consult YouTube guides when starting out.

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