Originally I played this on the PS3 when it first came out. I got a fair bit into it and enjoyed it, but I just stopped playing. I'm guessing I just got distracted by something else and never went back to it. Until recently (on Xbox 360). Something compelled me to start a new game, so I was slowly dipping in and out, and then I picked up Lords of the Fallen, and I had a great time with that style of play and went straight back to Dark Souls.

After beating LotF I was dead keen to see this one through. I enjoyed the gameplay style, but I certainly didn't expect to get as invested in the lore as I did. I don't think I really bothered with it when I first played so wasn't expecting much narrative, but the way you get it in dribs and drabs via NPC interactions is really good, and adds quite a macabre gothic tone to everything.

I'm not sure I managed to see anyone's story through to the end, although got close with the knight in the big puffa jacket armour. And I think the guy who was chickened out at Firelink Shrine ended up trying to kill me, but there was no explanation as far as I could see.

The music was something special. Normally I don't really click with a lot of the big games original scores, but there something really beautiful and haunting about this one. Firelink Shrine was so melancholy yet so welcoming, and the sense of achievement when you hear Gwynevere's theme was wonderful. And the last boss was surprisingly stripped down. Some real subtle brilliance in the music.

Gameplay wise, once I though of it as just playing a big 3D, open world Castlevania, it seemed to click. I recently played the Advance Collection as well as Metroid Dread, and the overall approach is not too dissimilar. The toughest part is learning enemy/boss patterns, and getting back to the bit you were just on before you died. Sometimes the bonfires feel worlds apart, whereas other times they seem like they're round every corner. In some places this really added to a heightened sense of dread, especially in areas like Blighttown and Anor Londo, but it also meant you figured out all the short cuts and work arounds.

Basically the game is telling you how to play it in a slow, show don't tell process, and every time you figure something out it's one of the most rewarding feelings I've felt whilst playing a videogame.

Every back door or gate unlocked, every boss beaten and every new area revealed was an addictive buzz and even at the 40hr mark, as my journey was drawing to its final stages, I was excited to push on and see what comes next. The only other game I can think of like that is Xenoblade Chronicles, which took me almost twice as long to complete, and sometimes felt just as difficult.

I've gone on too much, and could still keep saying what I love about this game, but to keep it short and sweet, this game was effing brilliant. I strongly recommend it if you haven't played it yet. Don't let the notoriety put you off, it's a game all about learning curves. Each new section has a new part to master and the feeling once you've progressed through them is almost unrivalled.