Dark Souls 3 is bringing back the good stuff from Dark Souls 2

From Software's Dark Souls 2 was a divisive entry in the developer's beloved brand of challenging, dark action-RPGs, but some of the mechanics it introduced were smart steps forward for the series. For Dark Souls 3, From Software appears to be adopting the better aspects of the second game in the franchise as it attempts to push the Souls series forward.

Game Informer reports that certain mechanics from Dark Souls 2, including the ability to respec your character, will return in Dark Souls 3. So too will the remixed New Game+ mode, which rearranged some enemy placement and introduced new items in the game's second playthrough.

Some elements won't be coming back, however, for Dark Souls 3. Bonfire ascetics, which let players manually increase the difficulty level of a region, are reportedly gone. Weapons won't be as fragile in Dark Souls 3 as they were in Dark Souls 2; series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki said From Software hopes to strike a balance between the weapon durability of the first game and the second.

More detail on Dark Souls 3 gameplay changes is available at Game Informer's report.

Dark Souls 3 is slated to come to PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One in early 2016.