

Think of it as a free for all or deathmatch with a Dark Souls twist. This PvP focused gameplay will pit you against other players either in teams or alone - the aim is to smash everyone to pieces. Only after defeating the optional boss will you gain access to this, but once you do, you will need to proceed to Firelink Shrine to start matchmaking. "Ashes of Ariandel" introduces a brand new concept in Dark Souls that is known as Undead Matches. One reason why the DLC is short is likely to be because of the addition of the arena battles. The optional boss looks and sounds fantastic, as well, but it is much easier and may only take a few tries to defeat.

#Ashes of ariandel boss fights series#
Many will even agree that it is up there with the best in the series as it is extremely tough and will challenge even the best of players. It is a bit of a shame as the series prides itself on its grand scale boss fights fortunately, the main boss of this DLC is so brilliantly executed. Unlike previous DLC's, "Ashes of Ariandel" only has two bosses, one of which is optional. After a couple of hours of exploring, you will start to wonder what is left to see. The DLC area is an interesting one but is not the biggest, unfortunately. Eureka moments are great in Dark Souls, especially after a while of halted progress. I'm not ashamed in saying that I even got lost on a number of occasions, realising that there was a hidden path or switch that I just missed further along. Some shortcuts feel more useful and opening a door may lead you back to a previous area and cause an "Oh, I'm back here!" moment. The Painted World of Ariandel is unique as a lot of areas loop round each other.

What the original game struggled with was a number of linear areas that, while having a couple of branching paths, didn't possess the same inter-connectivity of the first game. Not all enemies are tough to beat but there are a few surprises that will pound you into submission.Ī trusty shield or some quick feet will be invaluable hereĪs you aim to eradicate every enemy that you face, you will soon find yourself circling around the map. Combat isn't as clunky and slow as it used to be, so you will need to be nimble and agile to remain alive. A lot of these enemies make it clear just how much Dark Souls III has evolved since the first title. You will also spot lifelike trees camouflaging themselves amidst the landscape that will spare no expense in sending fireballs at you in a sudden attack. Hulking, barbaric knights will slam their axes and hammers in your face.

Some soldiers will show off brand new spells and breathe fire across a large radius that will engulf you if you aren't quick enough to avoid it. However, there are a few noticeable additions for which to look out. Wolves will ambush you in packs but get obliterated in a couple of sword swipes and a few environmental hazards will keep you on your toes. Soldiers will attempt to impale or hurl their spears at you but will get taken down by a quick back stab. At first, though, they don't pose too much of a threat. Inside the Painted World you will find a number of new enemies. The new lore implications of the Painted World of Ariandel are intriguing to say the least, and the connection it has to the rest of the Dark Souls universe may have you wondering whether the developers have in fact created another painted world for a reason. One might think that the developers have run out of steam and are desperately trying to recycle old areas with a new coat of paint, but what Dark Souls has always done so well is tell enthralling and tragic stories for those who search for them. Fortunately, the area isn't all just snow and the DLC does have a few surprises in store when exploring, so you shouldn't worry too much about a lack of creativity.ĭespite this, the new zone shares a blatant resemblance both in style and in name to the Painted World of Ariamis from Dark Souls. The effects that the climate shows off are nothing short of beautiful, so as you explore more of the new area, your eyes will certainly be in for a treat. The Painted World of Ariandel is swathed in a blanket of snow that helps to bring the visual brilliance of the game back to the forefront of players' minds. "Ashes of Ariandel" presents a brand new location to Dark Souls III.
