Dark Souls & Other Souls-Likes

Unofficial Dark Souls PC mod fixes rendering resolution
By Tom Phillips Published 24 August, 2012
Fan does what From Software didn't.

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A fan-made mod for Dark Souls on PC has fixed the game's rendering resolution.

Eyebrows were raised earlier this month when Digital Foundry discovered the game's PC port to be locked at 1024x720, offering no improvement over its console brethren.

"From Software has admitted in advance that there have been technical issues, but this is still quite surprising," Digital Foundry's Tom Morgan wrote.

"This lower resolution doesn't bring out the fantastic visual design going into the game, where we'd hoped a PC version would take it to new heights. It's quite likely this will draw the ire of PC gamers expecting the premium experience. That is, until an official patch or heroic modder comes to the rescue."

Step forward such a fan.

NeoGAF user Durante has created "DSfix", an 80KB download that tells the game to enable higher resolutions.

The download includes a .dll file to place within the game's directory on your PC, and a text file in which you can alter the resolution at will.

Japanese developer From Software recently admitted having a "tough time" with the PC port, something it blamed on the studio's inexperience with the platform.

"In Japan there's not much of a PC market and we haven't really taken into consideration that audience before.

"We wanted to get the PC version out as soon as possible, it's more strictly a port from the console version. We haven't been able to step up into doing any specific optimisation for PC."

The modder offers no assurances that the fix will work perfectly for everyone and not break anything else in the process. But the improvement it offers is plain to see - a quick before-and-after comparison of the game lies below.

My bro started playing a couple days ago and he's caught up to me...and he's criticizing my game play. I want to kill him. The night before last he was at Ariamis and I encouraged him to wack at Priscillas tail and then she disappeared..this promptly freaked out my bro and he was all "what did you make me do!?" and then she just as promptly killed him as he looked around really confused. I was all "dude, that was the boss why didn't you kill her?" and he was all "she disappeared!?" and I responded "no she's just invisible!"

close enough revenge I suppose.

I ran through several zones last night trying to get this game done...finally beat the tomb of the giants but it was the worst experience of my gaming life...and I did it without a divine weapon..I....lol..ok I could not have looked any more n00bish doing that boss. My bro was all "how is it that you have unlimited souls and did not take the time to make a divine weapon when you knew you were coming here?" and I was all "*while aggroing everything and flailing around* I MADE IT THIS FAR!"

and then I did the Archives/Crystal cave which was beautiful but short..I think I liked these zones. Crystal cave was awesome even if I raged a few times because I kept falling off edges.

Finally did the Demon ruins..I actually managed to stay human long enough to call Solaire on a boss fight..then he walked into some lava and died.

Almost done!

when i first started my thief i immediately ran to New Londo Ruins at level 5, then around the corner using my Master Key to the valley of drakes to fight two ogre types in a very dark cave because the sign left outside read "Happiness".
and i love that 1080p fix, fixes most of the textures

For invisible monsters, and the hidden path ways, its easiest to equip a fast bow, and cheap arrows and fire away to reveal the path/monster.

The knights with rapiers in the Undead Parish are freaking ridiculous :<.

It was unexpected when one just backstabbed me and did 2/3rds of my health ><

You're lucky it only did 2/3rd x.x; when I get backstabbed I'm done for D:

Heh, I'm using the Gravelord sword I got from joining the Gravelord covenant.

It one shots them but leaves me pretty vulnerable if I miss :<

Edit: The Bell Gargoyle is absolutely horrid (x_x)

xD I thought you just started the game, how do you have the gravelord GS already @.@ well I guess it isn't very hard to get if you knew about it beforehand.

I skype with friends and they explain and tell me all this stuff lol

ah okay lol, yea it's one of the best weapons you can get when you start the game since catacombs is so easy

Full Elite Knight set with Gravelord Sword and a Knight Shield :D

Farming the heck out of the Parish for titanite shards and souls

EDIT: I'm not sure if its a glitch, or just on PC, but a Knight somehow "flipped" me around and backstabbed me while I was facing him. O_o

did they parry you maybe?

Been awhile since that post, I don't remember.

I finally got around to killing Havel at the bottom of that one tower.

His ring is nice, and the door lead to Darkroot Basin.

BUT THOSE RANGED PROJECTILES HFSLGNMSLGKDSLGJMV

uh... ranged projectile? The water shooting at you? o.o did you get closer <.<;

Nah, I left to go farm up some more Humanity back in the Parish :D

When you get a chance take a look. Just keep it in mind for when you get stronger.

So what kind of builds do you guys use? Looking for ideas and suggestions

24 strength to one-hand Gravelord.

Pretty straightforward for my early game

probably a crappy one.

I have the Xanthus set+5 minus the hat and I have some sort of knight armor helmet and I use a lightning halberd+5 and a queelags fury sword+5...and then I have the dragonslayer bow for the many cowardly moments I have. Also have that ring of steel/protection

I was wearing the crimson armor for a long time until I got xanthus and it has good stats and a really light weight..but Ive also not upgraded everything so idkImightsuckreallybad.

edit: forgot about my shields..I switch between the grass crest shield and the eagle shield the majority of the time..seems too often I have to keep pulling out the spider shield also (all 3 are +10)..but I like the eagle shield for phys dmg protection but the grass crest has the stamina++ effect..and I always have a hard time choosing T_T. I was toying with the idea of getting a shield of artorias or that moonlight shield and I think theres another I can get for killing gwyndolin too but idk..Id have to level another shield because I dont want to loose my others...

I'm primarily a DEX enthusiast. Katanas, Rapiers, daggers and curved swords for the most part. Lots of love for the Dragonslayer Spear too. Dat range.

I also prefer light armor and a wolf/cloranthy ring combo. Ricard's Rapier is quickly becoming my favorite weapon.

I'm also a big fan of Miracles. Darkmoon Blade is my weapon buff of choice. Goes very nicely with my Dragonslayer Spear too.

Grass Crest Shield. It's either on my back or being used to parry. I roll to avoid damage for the most part. If I absolutely need a shield for blocking I'll pull out my Eagle Shield.

I'm not sure I entirely understand here.

I found a Black Knight's Greatsword with higher requirements than the Gravelord sword but it seems to do less? I'm sure theres something here I'm completely missing :<

I'm unable to use it, not even 2 hand it but I can one-hand the GL sword...

dat hydra :E

Also, I found a Black Knight's Halberd, is it worth upgrading?

It depends on what your final stats are going to look like, STR builds work well with the Knight weapons. Especially the Great Axe.

I actually would like to see more builds posted so I can update the OP, would be nice to have.

first character i started an finished the game with:
looking back on it, i really didnt know what the *** i was doing till about sl 60 or so. then i decided i wanted faith and dex. then i wanted more str for zwi mods. at tht point i wasted a lot of points on resistance and int. but i guess thats what learning is all about lol

There's a Very Large Ember in the Darkwraith area in New Londo Ruins which allows you to ascend to +15 since you mentioned all are +10!

Shieldwise, Eagle Shield is absolutely wonderful for tanking stuff (but I hear gets nerfed on PC!) and Grass Crest for anything you fight more offensively. Bloodshield can work depending on your build, as can Sanctus. Spider I think is a bit too situational but very useful in said situations... definitely wouldn't consider it a mainstay. Crest Shield for early magic mitigation, Dragon Crest Shield (until Black Knight Shield if you use it) for fire mitigation and stuff are good too! Most shields work well overall I think.

Current Build:
SLv 135 Darkmoon Blade

Washing Pole is a great weapon. I'm having some difficulty with it though. I keep misjudging the range and leave myself open for back stabs or gettign nailed with a Zweihander/Demon Great Machete. I like the range this build gives me. I out range everything but Moonlight Horns, other Washing Poles and Dragonslayer Spears.

Here is a question

My first archer build I went for 50 DEX

I love the Black Bow of Pharis... it's quick with shooting and no downtime for moving after the shot, also the reload time isn't bad.

Dragonslayer Bow is slow, but knocks back players. I usually have to trade blows for it to work though.

Crossbows are just slow :\

so I usually stick with BBoP+15 (410 DMG) and Priscilla's Dagger+5, both modifiers are S in DEX.

Now, a Chaos Black Bow of Pharis+5 is 397 DMG with only 18 DEX, so I could put those points into VIT or END.

What would you chose? Keep in mind that the DEX is also contributing to the dagger as well, so if I drop the DEX I'll end up having to get a replacement for something else.

I could substitute a Chaos Mace+5 or a Chaos Warp Pick+5 for 512 DMG for <12 stats in str/dex.