...the most satisfying game I have played, for many, many years. While Demon's Souls introduced me to the formula, Dark Souls brought an atmosphere and lore that I find much more appealing. It is a constant depressive, suffocating atmosphere that keeps pushing you into the ground, but you constantly feel the need to resist and push forwards. Much like what KevinV said in his review, this game is entering my daily, non-gaming thought processes. I constantly think about where I am going to head next, what equipment I need to pick up, or just what stats I'm going to pump up for the next few levels. The gameplay is what I have been waiting for in a third-person action game since... well, forever. It is extremely precise and definitive. No attack is "mashed" (unless panicking, which usually leads to death) and every movement is an extension of myself into the game. I feel truly connected to my avatar, and after longer playing sessions, I can go a couple hours feeling as though I'm carrying around my equipment and being burdened by my armor. I have my main character, Zeviander, playing as, what is essentially, a swordmage (see D&D 4E Forgotten Realms). Strength-based swords (mostly greatswords) backed up by blazing pyromancy. I made a second character on Tuesday, Kalliope, a female pyromancer, and built her especially to play co-op with my friend (since I took my first character WELL out of his league). With her, I am focusing more of smaller strength-based weapons (axes) and even more pyromancy (i.e. a "true" pyromancer, rather than my knight-turned-pyromancer). I just opened the path to Sen's Fortress with Zeviander, and just beat the Gaping Dragon with Kalliope. And I'm already planning new characters... This game is going to consume me for a while. It goes far deeper than Demon's ever did... and I'm willing to consider it the "best game I have played this generation" by many counts.