Dark Souls or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Dying

Kim · 10-02-2011, 03:06 PM

For the poor folks as of yet unaware, Dark Souls is the spiritual sequel to Demon's Souls. Perhaps you recall Demon's Souls, the painful, hard, frustrating action RPG that stormed the PS3 back in 2009. It built challenge through traps, powerful enemies, and an unforgiving stamina system, in addition to the complete lack of checkpoints between boss fights.

It was fantastic. Not remotely accessible to those who don't like challenge, but still fantastic. The challenge made every victory and every shortcut discovered incredibly rewarding, the combat itself was fairly well executed, and best of all the atmosphere of the game was top-notch.

Dark Souls comes out in two days, and looks better than Demon's Souls in every way. The magic system has been revamped to specific numbers of casts of each spell, which will contribute to the challenge and get rid of the constant mana potion spam that was necessary in the first game. There are now checkpoints in the form of campfires. The visuals and lighting have been improved. There are loads of new enemy types and brilliant monster designs throughout.

They've really taken what made Demon's Souls great and refined it. This was my experience with the E3 demo, and everything I've seen since then has reinforced that. Reviewers who have already gotten their hands on the game are, by and large, loving it.

Who's pumped? I'm pumped! Have some trailers!

All Saints Day

Prologue

Bartholomew

Gamescom Trailer

Arcanum · 10-02-2011, 07:29 PM

SO PUMPED! Also this reminds me I need to call Best Buy tomorrow and make sure they are honoring the "pre-order boosts you to the LE" thing I've read about.

Otherwise I'm looking forward to no longer needing to eat fifty times my weight in grass and spices just to get through an area on NG+

One thing I'm not looking forward to though. I saw in a demo video a gargoyle boss battle. And just like Maneater, another fucking gargoyle comes at you halfway through the fight. Fuck that. Seriously, fuck Maneater, fuck his friend, and fuck that fight. Although it wasn't as hard with my spellcaster as it was with my anti-magic melee character.

Drownball-Champ · 10-02-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz

<b>The magic system has been revamped to specific numbers of casts of each spell, which will contribute to the challenge and get rid of the constant mana potion spam that was necessary in the first game.</b>

Eew. That just sounds bad. Unless these are high numbers, this news makes me want the game less.

Kim · 10-02-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanum

One thing I'm not looking forward to though. I saw in a demo video a gargoyle boss battle. And just like Maneater, another fucking gargoyle comes at you halfway through the fight. Fuck that. Seriously, fuck Maneater, fuck his friend, and fuck that fight. Although it wasn't as hard with my spellcaster as it was with my anti-magic melee character.

I've played that battle and found it vastly superior to the Maneater fight.

@Drownball: This number is restored every time you stop at a campfire, and I'm inclined to think you can increase it as you proceed through the game.

phil_ · 10-02-2011, 08:59 PM

So, I was watching IGN play through Dark Souls on Thursday because I was lonely and I saw stuff pertaining to these quotes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanum

One thing I'm not looking forward to though. I saw in a demo video a gargoyle boss battle. And just like Maneater, another fucking gargoyle comes at you halfway through the fight. Fuck that. Seriously, fuck Maneater, fuck his friend, and fuck that fight. Although it wasn't as hard with my spellcaster as it was with my anti-magic melee character.

Gaping Dragon. You'll see it, and you'll be like, "Fuck, how am I gonna kill that with a sword?" and then five seconds later you'll be like "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KILL THAT?!" So, rehashed bosses shouldn't be a concern.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drownball-Champ

Eew. That just sounds bad. Unless these are high numbers, this news makes me want the game less.

They had almost thirty Soul Rays per rest. Seemed to make magic more usable, since you don't have to spend souls to get it back. They were using it to pick off weaklings just 'cause they could. Only had, like, ten fireballs, but those were stronger and didn't need a catalyst (they were a Pyromancer, you see).

As for me, no PS3, no Etsbots, and no cash to burn on either. I just have a burning love of Demon's Souls from playing a friend's copy. Go buy the game in my stead. Buy an extra copy.

Arcanum · 10-02-2011, 10:23 PM

I'm not angry at it seeming like a re-hashed boss fight at first glance. I'm angry because they throw a second flying bastard at you halfway through the fight, because one flying bastard is bad enough.

Though I have a feeling I'm gonna go pyromancer for my first character so hopefully it won't be too bad.

akaSM · 10-02-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz

I've played that battle and found it vastly superior to the Maneater fight.

@Drownball: This number is restored every time you stop at a campfire, and I'm inclined to think you can increase it as you proceed through the game.

So, magic will use something similar to the spell charges (?) from the original Final Fantasy, right?

I haven't played Demon's Souls so, I don't know if this'll make the game easier or harder but, having MP in the GBA remake of FF1 made it easier.

greed · 10-02-2011, 11:27 PM

Pay attention to the video Arcanum. There are FOUR gargoyle statues on that roof. Quadra Maneater. This is what makes From Software so cool, they hear that the hardest boss was Maneater. In the sequel they make you fight four Maneaters on an even more cramped arena.

But yeah I have not been this psyched for a game since Metroid Prime, I am really fucking looking forward to this and everything I've heard has gotten me more psyched.

Oh should mention for review lovers that this game has pretty much not scored below 9 yet. Dengeki and Famitsu gave it straights 9s and 10s, IGN of all people gave it a 9.

Also my net is more stable now so I should be able to do online for this unlike Demons Souls. Which considering the online looks even more insane and inventive has me grinning like a loon. The new covenant system looks amazing. You can be magic Batman hunting people from the leaderboard of most prolific invaders. You can send zombies at people. You can kill peoples campfires (essentially you can sneak into other people's games and remove their save points). However doing so leaves them a path to your world where they can kill you for mad rewards. If you drop equipment on the ground it will spawn monstrous demons that wander into other people's world. These get progressively stronger the longer they survive and the more players they kill and the gear they drop improves as they do.

This motherfucking game. I am literally dancing a little, typing this as thinking about it makes me so excited. I feel like a 12 year old awaiting Christmas again.

Arcanum · 10-03-2011, 12:23 AM

When I saw the gameplay demo I think the guy died when the second one came down. If more come then goddammit.

To be honest I haven't really been keeping up with the news about this game. I'm just excited because it's more Demon's Souls only better and harder. Like I just looked on the wiki now and am reading about these covenants, and I can't even describe how much more excited I am. Hell I'm glad I'm only finding out about this stuff now. Had I known earlier I would be going insane with anticipation.

EDIT- Oh my god these covenants are fucking amazing. Oh my god oh my god oh my god.

Also: What system are you guys getting this on? I'm staying true to Demon's Souls and sticking with the PS3 version.

EDIT 2- Found the magic page on the wiki. Gives you every spell and how many uses you get for each one. For those who were wondering.

Kim · 10-03-2011, 02:48 AM

Depends. I'll get it on 360 if MSXbox wants me to review it and just didn't get a review copy. If they have someone else reviewing it, I'll probably get the PS3 version since most people I know are getting it for PS3.

10-02-2011, 03:06 PM	#1
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	Dark Souls or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Dying For the poor folks as of yet unaware, Dark Souls is the spiritual sequel to Demon's Souls. Perhaps you recall Demon's Souls, the painful, hard, frustrating action RPG that stormed the PS3 back in 2009. It built challenge through traps, powerful enemies, and an unforgiving stamina system, in addition to the complete lack of checkpoints between boss fights. It was fantastic. Not remotely accessible to those who don't like challenge, but still fantastic. The challenge made every victory and every shortcut discovered incredibly rewarding, the combat itself was fairly well executed, and best of all the atmosphere of the game was top-notch. Dark Souls comes out in two days, and looks better than Demon's Souls in every way. The magic system has been revamped to specific numbers of casts of each spell, which will contribute to the challenge and get rid of the constant mana potion spam that was necessary in the first game. There are now checkpoints in the form of campfires. The visuals and lighting have been improved. There are loads of new enemy types and brilliant monster designs throughout. They've really taken what made Demon's Souls great and refined it. This was my experience with the E3 demo, and everything I've seen since then has reinforced that. Reviewers who have already gotten their hands on the game are, by and large, loving it. Who's pumped? I'm pumped! Have some trailers! All Saints Day Prologue Bartholomew Gamescom Trailer __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

10-02-2011, 07:29 PM	#2
Arcanum Strike the Earth! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,185	SO PUMPED! Also this reminds me I need to call Best Buy tomorrow and make sure they are honoring the "pre-order boosts you to the LE" thing I've read about. Otherwise I'm looking forward to no longer needing to eat fifty times my weight in grass and spices just to get through an area on NG++++++++++++ One thing I'm not looking forward to though. I saw in a demo video a gargoyle boss battle. And just like Maneater, another fucking gargoyle comes at you halfway through the fight. Fuck that. Seriously, fuck Maneater, fuck his friend, and fuck that fight. Although it wasn't as hard with my spellcaster as it was with my anti-magic melee character.

10-03-2011, 12:23 AM	#9
Arcanum Strike the Earth! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,185	When I saw the gameplay demo I think the guy died when the second one came down. If more come then goddammit. To be honest I haven't really been keeping up with the news about this game. I'm just excited because it's more Demon's Souls only better and harder. Like I just looked on the wiki now and am reading about these covenants, and I can't even describe how much more excited I am. Hell I'm glad I'm only finding out about this stuff now. Had I known earlier I would be going insane with anticipation. EDIT- Oh my god these covenants are fucking amazing. Oh my god oh my god oh my god. Also: What system are you guys getting this on? I'm staying true to Demon's Souls and sticking with the PS3 version. EDIT 2- Found the magic page on the wiki. Gives you every spell and how many uses you get for each one. For those who were wondering. Last edited by Arcanum; 10-03-2011 at 12:46 AM.

10-03-2011, 02:48 AM	#10
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	Depends. I'll get it on 360 if MSXbox wants me to review it and just didn't get a review copy. If they have someone else reviewing it, I'll probably get the PS3 version since most people I know are getting it for PS3. __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

10-02-2011, 10:23 PM	#6
Arcanum Strike the Earth! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,185	I'm not angry at it seeming like a re-hashed boss fight at first glance. I'm angry because they throw a second flying bastard at you halfway through the fight, because one flying bastard is bad enough. Though I have a feeling I'm gonna go pyromancer for my first character so hopefully it won't be too bad.