Dark Souls 3 details explain what's returning from first two games

Dark Souls 3 will feature a number of familiar gameplay mechanics from previous entries in From Software's acclaimed action RPG series, and new information on these has been released.

As detailed by GameInformer, the development team is cherry-picking gameplay elements for the third game. Dark Souls 2's ability to fast travel from the start of the game, for example, will be included. This is because the game's director Hidetaka Miyazaki wants to ensure the experience is convenient.

Although it has not yet been decided if the Soul Vessel item will be in Dark Souls 3, there will be a respec function that allows players to redistribute Souls to rebuild their character.

Durability will return, but is being tuned to settle in a middle ground between the first two games.

"I personally think the weapons in Dark Souls 2 break a little too easily," Miyazaki said. "This was implemented intending for the players to try out many types of weapons, but even so, I felt they broke too quickly. However, in Dark Souls 1, they didn't break enough, and so I'm hoping to find a good balance for Dark Souls 3."

Bloodborne's bell system won't be used for Dark Souls 3. It will instead stick to standard Souls summoning procedure, which involves placing and finding summoning signs.

Hidden walls will once again be revealed when attacked instead of when the interaction button is pressed in front of them.

"This is due to my thinking behind this type of feature," Miyazaki explained, "I like to have coincidences happen during battles, or accidental reveals due to swinging weapons around or randomly shooting arrows. I want to implement this sort of surprise discovery in a natural way when playing the game."

Discussing magic abilities, Miyazaki said the usual set of spells will return, but the developer is making attempts to distinguish them from each other.

"We will make sure that they are not just the same type of spells with different attributes (i.e. Spear type, lightning type) but actually have specific characteristics that can enhance the players' play styles and strategies," Miyazaki explained.

"Players will be able to have more criteria to accurately choose the different types of spells to best fit their tactics and strategies. This is similar to the thinking behind the characterisation of each weapon and their specific battle arts."

Finally, New Game+ will be similar to Dark Souls 2's, which introduced new enemies, weapons, items and remixed the location of all of these aspects.

Dark Souls 2's Bonfire Asetics, which allowed players to turn an area into a New Game+-like version without completing the game once, will not be available.

Dark Souls 3 launches in early 2016 for Xbox One,PlayStation 4 and PC.

Miyazaki, who is also president of From Software, has said he's hoping to launch "several new projects" at the studio, one of which could be a sci-fi game.

"As president of From Software, I am planning to launch several new projects," he said. "I can't quite specify exactly what they are. Those could be something sci-fi, but you'll have to stay tuned for more about that in the future."

Miyazaki has described the sequel as a "turning point in the series," as well as his obligations to PS4-exclusive Bloodborne. Read GameSpot's Dark Souls 3 interview to find out what he said.