Latest Reviews of FromSoftware Games
Review Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (PS5) - Familiar FromSoftware Brilliance
Into the Shadow Realm
In the past couple of years, developers have attempted to reclaim the term "expansion". Arguing there's a difference between traditional DLC and fully-fledged add-ons, the likes of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores have been used as poster childs for the movement. Whether there really is...
Review Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon (PS5) - Great Mecha Action at Times Feels Stunted
Earth to Raven
Swapping swords and spells for mechs and missiles probably wasn't the first thing a FromSoftware accountant suggested following the absurd success of Elden Ring, but then the Japanese developer doesn't do things by the books. Having sold more than 20 million copies of the open world masterpiece, the studio has returned to a series it...
Review Elden Ring (PS5) - By Far FromSoftware's Best Ever Game
A song of life and death
Elden Ring is a special, once in a generation type of game. You can feel it the moment you push open the set of double doors looking out onto the opening area of Limgrave and begin exploring the vast open world at your feet. It’s an astonishing feat, as Japanese developer FromSoftware adapts its wide but ultimately linear...
Review Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - From Software Doesn't Sacrifice Difficulty for Accessibility
If at first you don't succeed, die and die again
It's a bit of a tired point at this stage, but it's definitely true -- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a far cry from Dark Souls and Bloodborne, and anyone who ignores this will be summarily slashed to pieces. From Software's latest shares some similarities with its predecessors, but with combat,...
Review Déraciné - PSVR's New Narrative Gold Standard
FromSoftware with love
Long before FromSoftware burst into the public consciousness with its Souls titles, it already had a large body of work to its name dating back decades. But after finding mainstream success with the likes of Bloodborne, its newest title Déraciné offers a glimpse to the past. And while this PlayStation VR foray is unlike...
Review Dark Souls Remastered (PS4)
The master remastered
We don't need to remind you that Dark Souls is an excellent game, so we're not going to sit here and reel off everything you already know about it. We're just going to cut right to the chase and give you the information you're looking for. Blight Town is no longer, er, blighted by poor framerate issues. The whole...
Review Bloodborne (PlayStation 4)
The 'borne supremacy
Republished on Wednesday 28th February 2018: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of March's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows. It's been an excruciating nine months since Bloodborne was first unveiled to wide-eyed spectators, as, much like more...
Review Dark Souls III: The Ringed City (PS4)
At the world's end
The Ringed City is the end of many things. While it marks the final instalment of Dark Souls III's short run of downloadable content, it also marks the potential end for Dark Souls as we know and love it. Oh, and it also marks the end of the world. Found within endless fields of ash, The Ringed City plays host to an array of new...
Review Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel (PS4)
The weather outside is frightful
Enter The Painted World via the grovelling NPC at the Cleansing Chapel bonfire and you're plunged into a harsh and isolated environment, with vision-impairing snow and unfamiliar faces. Wolves hunt you down and axe-wielding warriors make the very earth beneath you quake. It seems like a tough environment where...
Ashes to ashes
Dark Souls II was a tremendous video game – so good in fact that we happily played through it twice thanks to a timely HD remaster – but for some Souls fans, something wasn't quite right. It lacked the focus of the sublime original it was argued, and when it came to finding a scapegoat, such critics didn't have to look far...
Latest FromSoftware Articles
News Sony to Acquire Minority Stake in Elden Ring Dev FromSoftware
Tencent, too
FromSoftware, the studio behind hit RPGs like Elden Ring and Dark Souls, has today announced it will be selling new shares to both Sony and Tencent. Kadokawa Corporation, the current owner of FromSoft, will retain the majority of shares, owning 69.66 per cent of the studio. Sony will purchase a 14.09 per cent stake, and Tencent...
News Elden Ring Had One of the Biggest Gaming Launches in YouTube's History
GOTY? more like GOAT
Stop us if you have heard this one before, but Elden Ring is kind of a big deal. It was all any of us were talking about back when it launched and sold like absolute gangbusters, to boot. It will probably come as little surprise, then, to learn that FromSoftware's latest masterpiece also enjoyed one of the
News Elden Ring's Second Live-Action Trailer Is Just as Awkward as the First
But definitely don't tell Israel Adesanya we said so
Another live-action trailer for the critically-acclaimed and wildly-successful RPG Elden Ring has been released and, well, it's pretty weird. It features UFC star Israel Adesanya, who spends around a minute trying to get gamers pumped up to go out and be the best Elden Lord they can be, all the...
News Enigmatic Merchant Kalé Played a Larger Role in an Earlier Version of Elden Ring
I am Kalé. Purveyor of fine goods
Merchant Kalé is one of the first NPCs you will encounter in Elden Ring and one that will be crucial in the opening hours of the game, as the first of many nomadic merchants you will encounter. But it seems like FromSoftware intended for Kalé to have a larger role in an earlier version of the game, complete with...
Probably going to be worth a pretty penny, someday
Gorgeous hardcover editions of the official Elden Ring strategy guide, split across two volumes (known as the Books of Knowledge I & II), are now available to preorder through publisher Future Press and what's more, both are currently discounted. You'll find links to purchase each volume a...
Feature Bringing Elden Ring's Best and Worst Boys to Life
We speak to two of the game's most memorable voice actors
FromSoftware games are memorable for a myriad of reasons but in their hostile, melancholy worlds, the small number of NPCs that players can befriend are precious and memorable. So are those villains whose reputations precede them. As its biggest title to date, Elden Ring has a cast far larger...
Guide Elden Ring: All Summon Spirits and Where to Find Them
That's the spirit
What are all Summon Spirits and where do you find them in Elden Ring? Summon Spirits, also known as Spirit Ashes, are allies that you can call to aid you in battle, and are similar to multiplayer summons. Spirit Ashes can be collected and then added to your quick item inventory so you can call them during gameplay. In order to...
Guide Elden Ring: How to Two-Hand and Dual-Wield / Power Stance Weapons
Handy to know
How do you two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring? If you're keen to maximise your offensive potential, then two-handing a weapon is the way to go – but if you've played Souls games like Demon's Souls, Dark Souls,
Soundtrack of the Decade #4 - Dark Souls Delivers a Soundtrack as Unforgettable as Its Gameplay
The Dark Souls of soundtracks
We’re listing the ten best Soundtracks of the Decade. These are the ten PlayStation scores released over the past decade that we believe left the biggest impression on our sonic palettes. Whether it’s Journey's Grammy nominated masterpiece or Destiny’s 8 movement symphony, these are the soundtracks that hit the...
Guide Is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Like Dark Souls?
How it differs, and how it stays the same
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the next project by the excellent FromSoftware, a studio you'll know quite intimately from your time spent dying repeatedly in Dark Souls or Bloodborne. You might have noticed we said 'project' rather than 'action RPG' – that was on purpose, because Sekiro isn't exactly an...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Ornstein and Smough Boss Walkthrough
I can't take this...
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Iron Golem Boss Walkthrough
You can melt iron
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So much...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Chaos Witch Quelaag Boss Walkthrough
We'll show you chaos
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Gaping Dragon Boss Walkthrough
Pop this in your gaping mouth and smoke it
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Capra Demon Boss Walkthrough
Pop a cap(ra) in his ass
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Moonlight Butterfly Boss Walkthrough
Turn off the (moon)light
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Taurus Demon Boss Walkthrough
Why isn't this Demon Souls 2 again?
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Asylum Demon Boss Walkthrough
Driving me insane
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So much so that...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Illusory Walls Locations
They're not tricks, they're illusions
Illusory Walls hide hidden locations in Dark Souls Remastered that lead to awesome treasures and shortcuts. Finding them can be really difficult though. That's because there's nothing you can really look out for to spot them, unless another player has left a note on the ground detailing its location...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Fire Keeper Souls Locations and How to Upgrade Your Estus Flask
And then there was fire...
If you take damage in Dark Souls Remastered – which you will, a lot – you need your Estus Flask to heal back up. Unless you're one of those Clerics that can use Miracles. Lucky so-and-sos. As you progress through your adventure, you'll likely boost your vitality or find equipment to give you more health, and will...
Guide 19 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Dark Souls Remastered
Git gud
In case you haven't heard it countless times already, Dark Souls is hard. That doesn't change no matter how many times you hear the phrase "git gud". You can rest assured though that it is achievable, and that a lot of the frustration and difficulty stems from you being, pardon our pun, left in the dark. By that, we mean that a bunch of...
Guide Which Starting Class Should You Pick in Dark Souls Remastered?
Where to begin
If you've never quite been brave enough to tackle Dark Souls, but have decided to jump in for the first time with the remaster, first of all good for you! Second of all, you're in the right place: figuring out your starting class is exactly where you should start. When you're done here, you can then move onto these 19 things we wish...
Interview Bloodborne Comic Writer Ales Kot Discusses The Death of Sleep
Great one
It’s no secret that for nearly three years fans have been clamoring for a sequel to one of the PlayStation 4’s best-reviewed games, Bloodborne. But sadly, we have no official word on whether that sequel is ever going to happen. Thanks to a vague – to say the least – teaser trailer that aired during last year’s The Game Awards, we...
Feature The 10 Best PS4 Soundtracks of 2016
Hitting the right notes
Another year gone. Times flies, doesn't it? 2016 may have been, erm, less than stellar in a lot of respects, but the games industry was by no means one of the problems. Quality reigned supreme across so many titles it's hard to keep track. Not to be left behind, though, was the music from these games, which delivered some top...
Soapbox Subtleties of the Souls Series That Make It Special
The secret in the souls
Who would have guessed that FromSoftware would go on to make a dent on the global game development scene when it dropped Demon's Souls? A seemingly inconspicuous title upon release, it spawned a game formula that has evolved and enthralled more and more with its sophisticated sequels. The games test your resolve with a blend...
News Sony to Acquire Minority Stake in Elden Ring Dev FromSoftware
Tencent, too
FromSoftware, the studio behind hit RPGs like Elden Ring and Dark Souls, has today announced it will be selling new shares to both Sony and Tencent. Kadokawa Corporation, the current owner of FromSoft, will retain the majority of shares, owning 69.66 per cent of the studio. Sony will purchase a 14.09 per cent stake, and Tencent...
News Elden Ring Had One of the Biggest Gaming Launches in YouTube's History
GOTY? more like GOAT
Stop us if you have heard this one before, but Elden Ring is kind of a big deal. It was all any of us were talking about back when it launched and sold like absolute gangbusters, to boot. It will probably come as little surprise, then, to learn that FromSoftware's latest masterpiece also enjoyed one of the
News Elden Ring's Second Live-Action Trailer Is Just as Awkward as the First
But definitely don't tell Israel Adesanya we said so
Another live-action trailer for the critically-acclaimed and wildly-successful RPG Elden Ring has been released and, well, it's pretty weird. It features UFC star Israel Adesanya, who spends around a minute trying to get gamers pumped up to go out and be the best Elden Lord they can be, all the...
News Enigmatic Merchant Kalé Played a Larger Role in an Earlier Version of Elden Ring
I am Kalé. Purveyor of fine goods
Merchant Kalé is one of the first NPCs you will encounter in Elden Ring and one that will be crucial in the opening hours of the game, as the first of many nomadic merchants you will encounter. But it seems like FromSoftware intended for Kalé to have a larger role in an earlier version of the game, complete with...
Probably going to be worth a pretty penny, someday
Gorgeous hardcover editions of the official Elden Ring strategy guide, split across two volumes (known as the Books of Knowledge I & II), are now available to preorder through publisher Future Press and what's more, both are currently discounted. You'll find links to purchase each volume a...
Feature Bringing Elden Ring's Best and Worst Boys to Life
We speak to two of the game's most memorable voice actors
FromSoftware games are memorable for a myriad of reasons but in their hostile, melancholy worlds, the small number of NPCs that players can befriend are precious and memorable. So are those villains whose reputations precede them. As its biggest title to date, Elden Ring has a cast far larger...
Guide Elden Ring: All Summon Spirits and Where to Find Them
That's the spirit
What are all Summon Spirits and where do you find them in Elden Ring? Summon Spirits, also known as Spirit Ashes, are allies that you can call to aid you in battle, and are similar to multiplayer summons. Spirit Ashes can be collected and then added to your quick item inventory so you can call them during gameplay. In order to...
Guide Elden Ring: How to Two-Hand and Dual-Wield / Power Stance Weapons
Handy to know
How do you two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring? If you're keen to maximise your offensive potential, then two-handing a weapon is the way to go – but if you've played Souls games like Demon's Souls, Dark Souls,
Soundtrack of the Decade #4 - Dark Souls Delivers a Soundtrack as Unforgettable as Its Gameplay
The Dark Souls of soundtracks
We’re listing the ten best Soundtracks of the Decade. These are the ten PlayStation scores released over the past decade that we believe left the biggest impression on our sonic palettes. Whether it’s Journey's Grammy nominated masterpiece or Destiny’s 8 movement symphony, these are the soundtracks that hit the...
Guide Is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Like Dark Souls?
How it differs, and how it stays the same
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the next project by the excellent FromSoftware, a studio you'll know quite intimately from your time spent dying repeatedly in Dark Souls or Bloodborne. You might have noticed we said 'project' rather than 'action RPG' – that was on purpose, because Sekiro isn't exactly an...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Ornstein and Smough Boss Walkthrough
I can't take this...
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Iron Golem Boss Walkthrough
You can melt iron
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So much...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Chaos Witch Quelaag Boss Walkthrough
We'll show you chaos
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Gaping Dragon Boss Walkthrough
Pop this in your gaping mouth and smoke it
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Capra Demon Boss Walkthrough
Pop a cap(ra) in his ass
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Moonlight Butterfly Boss Walkthrough
Turn off the (moon)light
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Taurus Demon Boss Walkthrough
Why isn't this Demon Souls 2 again?
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Asylum Demon Boss Walkthrough
Driving me insane
Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss. Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So much so that...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Illusory Walls Locations
They're not tricks, they're illusions
Illusory Walls hide hidden locations in Dark Souls Remastered that lead to awesome treasures and shortcuts. Finding them can be really difficult though. That's because there's nothing you can really look out for to spot them, unless another player has left a note on the ground detailing its location...
Guide Dark Souls Remastered Fire Keeper Souls Locations and How to Upgrade Your Estus Flask
And then there was fire...
If you take damage in Dark Souls Remastered – which you will, a lot – you need your Estus Flask to heal back up. Unless you're one of those Clerics that can use Miracles. Lucky so-and-sos. As you progress through your adventure, you'll likely boost your vitality or find equipment to give you more health, and will...
Guide 19 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Dark Souls Remastered
Git gud
In case you haven't heard it countless times already, Dark Souls is hard. That doesn't change no matter how many times you hear the phrase "git gud". You can rest assured though that it is achievable, and that a lot of the frustration and difficulty stems from you being, pardon our pun, left in the dark. By that, we mean that a bunch of...
Guide Which Starting Class Should You Pick in Dark Souls Remastered?
Where to begin
If you've never quite been brave enough to tackle Dark Souls, but have decided to jump in for the first time with the remaster, first of all good for you! Second of all, you're in the right place: figuring out your starting class is exactly where you should start. When you're done here, you can then move onto these 19 things we wish...
Interview Bloodborne Comic Writer Ales Kot Discusses The Death of Sleep
Great one
It’s no secret that for nearly three years fans have been clamoring for a sequel to one of the PlayStation 4’s best-reviewed games, Bloodborne. But sadly, we have no official word on whether that sequel is ever going to happen. Thanks to a vague – to say the least – teaser trailer that aired during last year’s The Game Awards, we...
Feature The 10 Best PS4 Soundtracks of 2016
Hitting the right notes
Another year gone. Times flies, doesn't it? 2016 may have been, erm, less than stellar in a lot of respects, but the games industry was by no means one of the problems. Quality reigned supreme across so many titles it's hard to keep track. Not to be left behind, though, was the music from these games, which delivered some top...
Soapbox Subtleties of the Souls Series That Make It Special
The secret in the souls
Who would have guessed that FromSoftware would go on to make a dent on the global game development scene when it dropped Demon's Souls? A seemingly inconspicuous title upon release, it spawned a game formula that has evolved and enthralled more and more with its sophisticated sequels. The games test your resolve with a blend...