First ‘Dark Souls III’ expansion, ‘Ashes of Ariandel,’ teased in new gameplay trailer

By Danny Cowan September 21, 2016

Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment released a Dark Souls III trailer giving fans an early look at the upcoming

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Ashes of Ariandel expansion prior to its multiplatform launch in October.

Wednesday’s trailer gives an overview of the harsh arctic environments featured in Ashes of Ariandel and also offers a glimpse at the new enemies, creatures, and bosses players will encounter throughout the game.

Released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PCs earlier this year, Dark Souls III is the final chapter in developer From Software’s acclaimed action-RPG series. Dark Souls III dials up its difficulty significantly compared to previous series entries, which themselves are regarded as extremely difficult and uncompromising experiences.

From Software previously revealed that two downloadable content expansions will premiere for Dark Souls III in the year after its launch, with an initial offering arriving in October. Titled Ashes of Ariandel, the first Dark Souls III expansion introduces an all-new gameplay area defined by its snow-covered environments and blizzard-like weather conditions that reduce player visibility.

The newly issued trailer also reveals a handful of enemies exclusive to the forthcoming expansion, including heavily armored knights, hooded assassins, and insect-like demonic creatures. The expansion will also introduce new boss characters, including a gigantic wolf and a towering beast that wields what appears to be a gigantic cauldron filled with lava.

From Software will follow up on next month’s launch of Ashes of Ariandel with a second expansion in 2017, though further details regarding the developer’s future DLC plans are not yet known.

Ashes of Ariandel launches as a $15 add-on for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC versions of Dark Souls III on October 25. The expansion will be available as a free download for players who previously purchased Dark Souls III‘s digital Season Pass.

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Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

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A Dark Souls II starter guide — trust us, you’ll need the help

dark souls ii starter guide trust us youll need help scholar of the first sin 20200923131245

The world of Dark Souls II is a dangerous place. Whether you're a hardened vet who's been honing your skills since the original Demon's Souls for PlayStation 3 or if the hardest RPG you’ve played until now is Skyrim, you are probably going to want to throw your controller down in frustration at some point during Dark Souls II. So, there's nothing wrong with accepting a little bit of help getting started.

If you're new to the series, its many intricate systems can seem like an insurmountable obstacle at first. Even if you're familiar with the basics, there are plenty of changes to the recipe this time around that will have you wondering about the identity of all the game's new, subtle flavors. Without giving much away -- discovery is half the fun in Dark Souls II, after all -- these tips will help you get started on the right foot. Before it gets hacked off by demons, at least.

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The best games like Dark Souls

the surge 2

FromSoftware has made many, many games before 2009's Demon's Souls and the 2011 spiritual successor Dark Souls, but for the majority of gamers, this series was their first exposure to the developer. Since then, the series has grown and expanded to the point where it has become something of its own genre dubbed Souls-likes. Gamers fell in love with the new, brutal game design these Souls games provided, and although FromSoftware has been able to pump out one of these games almost every two years or so, it wasn't enough to satisfy the hunger for more experiences like Dark Souls.

Each game on this list will have something familiar to fans of Dark Souls, but also puts its own unique spin on the genre to make it stand out as more than just a simple clone. If you've played the series to death and are looking for a new challenge, check out these picks for the best games like Dark Souls.

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How to revive dead companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

Withers offering services to the player in Baldur's Gate 3.

You're given a good bit of leeway during battles in Baldur's Gate 3 before you or a companion actually bites the dust for good. While in battle, if a teammate does take enough damage to drop, they aren't dead then and there. Instead, they will be downed with a chance to roll every turn to get back up. If they roll successfully three times, the battle ends, or you use another character to pick them up, they're good. If they fail that roll three times, however, they will be completely dead. That can be harsh when you've become attached to certain characters and want to further their stories, so you'll be looking for any way you can to bring them back. Thankfully you do have a few options for reviving companions in Baldur's Gate 3, but just like respeccing, they aren't so obvious.
Pay Withers to bring them back

Withers is a friendly undead you can find in a secret room in the Dank Crypt found inside the Overgrown Ruins. After finding and speaking to him in his sarcophagus, he will offer you various services, one of which is bringing back any dead companions. He won't do this out of the kindness of his heart (probably because it isn't beating) and will charge you a heavy fine of 200 gold to do so. Still, that's a small price to pay to bring back a beloved character. Once paid, that character will appear in your camp where they would normally be, so there's no need to go back to their corpse and find them.
Use a scroll of Revivfy or learn it