pc Dark Souls is the worst console port

[Muhammad Farrukh]

When Dark Souls first came out on consoles, I played it, and loved every minute of it. It was a new experience for me, as I was not familiar with this genre and hadn't played much, or any game like it before.

Now, when it was out for PC, I was extremely happy, because I wanted to play more and if possible, finish it. (Not too many games in my system have the privilage to be finished :p )

So I went out a few days ago and bought it. Installed it, and then finished my assignment earlier so that I would be able to play it in the night.

So when I started it, the very first thing to notice was that it had those XBOX buttons, and not the keyboard ones, at the bottom, for page navigation thing. No worries. Somehow, I managed to get through and started the game

And there it was. After the initial promo video, I was struck by surprise that how bad it really was.

The controls are just plain awful. Even when I wanted to pause the game, I had to hit almost every single key on the keyboard to fing the one that pauses the game.

My thoughts exactly match this comment

You want the game for your platform? Oh ok, they say..but we really can't be bothered with much else, because we're inexperienced. Experienced enough though to charge full price for an ass-backwards menu system, useless mouse controls and woeful graphics options, with nothing really to support the best gaming platform. We seriously can't be bothered hiring someone with experience with PC games in all that time. Some modder who can satisfy the legion of steam users. Oh and heres Games for Windows slapped on to top it off. Here's your damn game, make of it what you will while we take your damn money

After five frustrating minutes, I quit it by Alt+F4 and un-installed it instantly.

Also, I would like to add that this is not the first time, I am playing a game that was ported to PC from consoles. I've, infact, played many, but this one, unfourtunately supersedes them

I'd rather want a game to stay console exclusive than turning it into a nightmare

[Lingwo]

While the standard version is pretty terrible, still playable. Also this game should be played with a controller anyway.

You can mod the game quite easily which makes the game more playable.

DSfix is a must - http://blog.metaclassofnil.com/?tag=dsfix

Then head over to Dark Souls Nexus to get other mods - http://darksouls.nexusmods.com

I believe there is even a mod the replaces the xbox button inputs with keyboard inputs.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

I am aware of the mods.

A friend of mine has a few of them running, and while he says that they have improved the overall gameplay, I still feel that it falls short of what I can call playable.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

If I remember correctly, the developers stated that they didn't have any PC development experience. But they still delivered a playable game to the fans. I commend them for listening to the fans and giving them something which is certainly better than nothing. It falls well below my standards for a PC game but that doesn't mean other people won't enjoy it.

[madd-hatter]

Somewhere in the Steam description it states something along the lines of "Xbox 360 controller for Windows or equivalent gamepad is highly recommended."

[trag3dy]

Gonna go with Prototype 1 as the worst pc port I've ever experienced. But I haven't played Dark Souls yet, so that may change. Disappointing that it's gotten a lack luster port as I was thinking I would get it soon.

[ILikeTobacco]

Dark Souls works perfectly fine? Not sure what people are complaining about. Plays exactly like the console version.

[ahhell]

If I remember correctly, the developers stated that they didn't have any PC development experience. But they still delivered a playable game to the fans. I commend them for listening to the fans and giving them something which is certainly better than nothing. It falls well below my standards for a PC game but that doesn't mean other people won't enjoy it.

If they were aware that it was going to be a such a ****ty port, it should have been free then.

[compl3x]

Dark Souls works perfectly fine? Not sure what people are complaining about. Plays exactly like the console version.

:|

I essentially agree with the OP. If you honestly can't offer a good, or even decent, quality PC port then you shouldn't bother with it at all. Accept console exclusivity. This is about knowing your limits and your capabilities. From Software over-reached and the shabby port is the proof.

It's a real shame a game like Dark Souls, which has had universal praise, now has this black-mark against them.

[Andre S. Veteran]

Buy an Xbox360 controller for the PC. Many games just play better with a controller anyway. Problem solved.

[pupdawg21]

This is a game where the xbox 360 controller should be listed as a requirement on the box.

[ILikeTobacco]

:|

I essentially agree with the OP. If you honestly can't offer a good, or even decent, quality PC port then you shouldn't bother with it at all. Accept console exclusivity. This is about knowing your limits and your capabilities. From Software over-reached and the shabby port is the proof.

It's a real shame a game like Dark Souls, which has had universal praise, now has this black-mark against them.

Except there is absolutely no difference between the PC and console versions of the game. They play EXACTLY THE SAME.

[HawkMan]

How is that a bad thing? It's the same game. As has been said certain game types play better with a controller. This is one of them, and with a controller you have the best of both worlds.

[compl3x]

Except there is absolutely no difference between the PC and console versions of the game. They play EXACTLY THE SAME.

:rolleyes: People don't choose to game on their PCs to have the exact same experience as on a console.

In GameSpy's review of the PC version, the port was referred to as "shabby", citing the game's limit of 30 frames per second, poor mouse and keyboard controls, and nonadjustable resolution,

[Muhammad Farrukh]

How is that a bad thing? It's the same game. As has been said certain game types play better with a controller. This is one of them, and with a controller you have the best of both worlds.

Have you playes it yourself? I doubt it

[ILikeTobacco]

:rolleyes: People don't choose to game on their PCs to have the exact same experience as on a console.

So according to your qoute... exactly like the console version. Now we are knocking companies for consistancy? Jesus christ has the gaming community become retarded? It's a no win environment. No wonder companies aren't listening to customers anymore. Damned if you, damned if you don't.

[ArialBlue]

Holy hell that is one hell of an unplayable game O.o

Just googled this,

http://segmentnext.com/2012/08/24/dark-souls-pc-crashes-low-fps-fix-controls-errors-freezes-and-gfwl-fixes/

"Make sure you don?t have two hard-drives and especially an external second hard drive as a general program drive. If you have it and you are trying to install Dark Souls on your secondary hard-drive, edit the registry to make that drive your primary install location."

I would try it for the lolz, but alas my hardware is about 4 times under the sys req.

[Dashel]

I agree, it should never have been ported. Its terrible. At least PC gamers, in true fashion, have made attempts to fix it (or at least make it less of an abortion).

[McKay]

So according to your qoute... exactly like the console version. Now we are knocking companies for consistancy? Jesus christ has the gaming community become retarded? It's a no win environment. No wonder companies aren't listening to customers anymore. Damned if you, damned if you don't.

You can't reason with Die-hard PC Gamers, they're some of the most stuck up, elitist people on the internet.

[Solid Knight]

From Software has never made a PC game before muchless ported a console game to a PC. The game is a port of Xbox version which is a port of the PS3 version. With that, they did strongly recommend using a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard since the game was originally designed for a controller.

I wouldn't call it the worst port. It's mouse and keyboard controls aren't any good. I have several gamepads for my PC so that wasn't an issue. You got to let go of the mouse and keyboard, it's not optimal for certain genres.

[compl3x]

So according to your qoute... exactly like the console version. Now we are knocking companies for consistancy? Jesus christ has the gaming community become retarded? It's a no win environment. No wonder companies aren't listening to customers anymore. Damned if you, damned if you don't.

This isn't simply a "OMG WE HAZ 2 UZE CONTROLLA!?!" issue. There were a raft of issues with the PC release. If they felt they couldn't bring a half-way decent port to the PC then they shouldn't have bothered. The community had to offer basic **** like changing the resolution. WTF!?

You've completely missed the point. I'm not surprised.

You can't reason with Die-hard PC Gamers, they're some of the most stuck up, elitist people on the internet.

I'm not a die-hard PC gamer. I just think it sucks that game companies completely phone in development for the PC platform. If you're forking out a substantial amount of cash for a game you expect some rudimentary features and compatibility.

Your comment added nothing and was entirely arrogant. Oh, like you're accusing PC gamers of being. Interesting.

[McKay]

I'm not a die-hard PC gamer. I just think it sucks that game companies completely phone in development for the PC platform. If you're forking out a substantial amount of cash for a game you expect some rudimentary features and compatibility.

Your comment added nothing and was entirely arrogant. Oh, like you're accusing PC gamers of being. Interesting.

I was referring to the idea that this game being on par with the console version "not being good enough" was arrogant.

[Dashel]

Yup, damn us for having higher standards or actually expecting it to run decently on our platform. Even with a controller this port stinks and requires the community to be playable. Tobac's statement that its the same (which it isn't) on the console and PC so its consistent rather than unoptimized is laughable.

Its a frustrating enough game at times to not have technology issues compound that.