I never score a game based on what it represented for the time, I always score based of how much a game holds nowadays. That is why I always give NES games, does not matter how important and good they were for their time, a low score (with the exception of Zelda II).
Dark Souls 1, however, carry two features that no other game of the genre tried to replicate, and that is the verisimilitude aspect of the world with the gameplay and the level design, making it still an enjoyable experience for what it have as "different" from the following games that are or should be better. Still making this first title an experience of its own.
[Best characteristics of the game]==================================================
1. Very well executed metroidvania-like map made for a 3D game;
2. To this day, the most grounded soulsborne title in terms of gameplay (and yes, that includes passive poise and the fact that defense stat matters, exactly how it would be in real life). It gives more satisfaction when killing giant monsters, because you are closer to how a medieval knight would really move and what would really use against a dragon for example. Dark Souls 1 is your way to go If you would like to experience a “more realistic” soulsborne. Add the amazing animation of "not having enough strengh to wield this weapon" that only this game have (for some reason) to this. Also adds the fact that this game have almost no crazy big weapon or crazy moveset or crazy big magic that games like Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring are full of.
[Good characteristics of the game]=================================================
1. Souslborne gameplay: it means having an omnipresent stamina bar. Any action that takes effort, being attacking, defending, running, jumping, parrying and dodging eats from the same stamina bar, exactly like in the real world, and actions like holding a defense and using a ladder makes the stamina bar recharge slow. This adds to the realism those games craves and prevents any action spamming by the player;
2. Soulsborne online interactivity: Summoning players, being invaded, seeing people playing right now, Covenants.
3. The game’s narrative fits perfectly with every aspect of the gameplay. Unfortunately, it only works well for the games of the Dark Souls trilogy (Unfortunately for the other From Software games that makes use of such gameplay aspects).
[Bad characteristics of the game]==================================================
1. Lost Izalith map;
2. Demon ruins map;
3. The game let you take a wrong route in the beginning, no problem with that. The problem is not having a shortcut at the end back to Firelink Shrine, this would have made your forced progress at least useful for later.
Dark Souls 1, however, carry two features that no other game of the genre tried to replicate, and that is the verisimilitude aspect of the world with the gameplay and the level design, making it still an enjoyable experience for what it have as "different" from the following games that are or should be better. Still making this first title an experience of its own.
[Best characteristics of the game]==================================================
1. Very well executed metroidvania-like map made for a 3D game;
2. To this day, the most grounded soulsborne title in terms of gameplay (and yes, that includes passive poise and the fact that defense stat matters, exactly how it would be in real life). It gives more satisfaction when killing giant monsters, because you are closer to how a medieval knight would really move and what would really use against a dragon for example. Dark Souls 1 is your way to go If you would like to experience a “more realistic” soulsborne. Add the amazing animation of "not having enough strengh to wield this weapon" that only this game have (for some reason) to this. Also adds the fact that this game have almost no crazy big weapon or crazy moveset or crazy big magic that games like Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring are full of.
[Good characteristics of the game]=================================================
1. Souslborne gameplay: it means having an omnipresent stamina bar. Any action that takes effort, being attacking, defending, running, jumping, parrying and dodging eats from the same stamina bar, exactly like in the real world, and actions like holding a defense and using a ladder makes the stamina bar recharge slow. This adds to the realism those games craves and prevents any action spamming by the player;
2. Soulsborne online interactivity: Summoning players, being invaded, seeing people playing right now, Covenants.
3. The game’s narrative fits perfectly with every aspect of the gameplay. Unfortunately, it only works well for the games of the Dark Souls trilogy (Unfortunately for the other From Software games that makes use of such gameplay aspects).
[Bad characteristics of the game]==================================================
1. Lost Izalith map;
2. Demon ruins map;
3. The game let you take a wrong route in the beginning, no problem with that. The problem is not having a shortcut at the end back to Firelink Shrine, this would have made your forced progress at least useful for later.