Dark Souls...

I bought Dark Souls but haven't started it yet (it's ready for when I finish Dishonored, probably this weekend). Anyway, I've heard from some people that it's REALLY hard, and I've heard from some people that it's nowhere near as unforgiving as some people say it is.

Anyone want to pitch an opinion either way? Is it the hardest game ever made ever, or just harder than most current gen games?

I'm gonna play it regardless... but curious as to which school of thought is closest to the truth.

It depends on how you play. A lack of patience will get you killed faster than anything else. Also, the game is extremely deep (you'll spend hours reading wikis and watching Youtube tutorials in order to get a handle on the gameplay mechanics).

If you proceed slowly and cautiously and you don't bite off more than you can chew in a battle, you'll still die but probably a lot less often. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzExZsaA-oc

-Byshop

Don't be Adventurer #2.

The only thing that is crazy challenging are the bosses. And once you get used to them, and understand their move sets, that'll be a breeze as well.

It's an easy game.

You go slow, keep your guard up, and always react to an attack instead of initiating it.

It's an easy game.

You go slow, keep your guard up, and always react to an attack instead of initiating it.

Jaysonguy

lol easy...

I remember the first level of demon souls. I made it all the way to the end of the first level (after playing over 4 hours) and got run over by a random barrel. Instant death...

It's an easy game.

You go slow, keep your guard up, and always react to an attack instead of initiating it.

Jaysonguy

It's an easy game.

You go slow, keep your guard up, and always react to an attack instead of initiating it.

Jaysonguy

I think it's harder than Demon's Souls. This is because they make it more difficult to use magic and ranged combat in Dark Souls, which is how I like to play. However, it's pretty cool to have to understand what weapons to use when, as they are all different in some way. Just know that you'll be stuck with a lot of melee combat, which may not appeal to all. There are also a few spots that feel really cheap, such as one part where you have to climb up the side of building and there are two giant knights with arrows that are very unbalanced for that section because of how they're placed and how you can't really use ranged combat. Other than that it just requires patience and level grinding. I like the grinding part, as it makes it seem like you spent time doing something for a reason.

I found it quite restricting as an RPG. I came to it after playing hours of Skyrim, which is an adventure about making yourself, thinking i could approach this game the same way. I was very put off that it sort of forced your build into a close combat or magic character... Definitely not the sneaky ranged threat i was hoping to be. But it was frustrating in a fascinating way. While i was figuring out how to survive i was constantly wondering about this complex world i was in, and eventually everything just clicked, and i was having a totally engrossing time. Smough and Ornstein was the turning point. The one thing i wished someone told me would be... You dont have to play online. Everything can be beaten solo, and hollow (not able to summon help). I never won a single encounter with invaders and they were not something i enjoyed, though i understand they have a place in the game.Witchsight

PvP required different tactics, particularly at high level. Once I got accustomed to this (and there are dozens of youtube videos and wikis to help) it became one of the most fun parts of the game for me. I'm on NG+ with my main character and my second character is level 86 with 700k souls in the bank earned mostly from PvP.

Additionally there are NPC invaders who drop interesting items if you beat them, as well as NPC summons who can help out in boss battles. This is particularly helpful if you're fighting a boss that you're not set up for (like a melee character fighting the Moonlight Butterfly). You only get these if you walk around alive and not hollow.

-Byshop

It's an easy game.

You go slow, keep your guard up, and always react to an attack instead of initiating it.

Jaysonguy

...until a big guy knocks you off a ledge with a strike that you sucesfully blocked.

...or you get hit by a curse cloud in a narrow part of the sewers that ignores your shield and armor.

...or you die in one of the many tricky platforming parts.

etc, etc.

-Byshop

It's an easy game.

You go slow, keep your guard up, and always react to an attack instead of initiating it.

Jaysonguy

It CAN be an easy game, and yes patience is vital. During the first few hours ease through observing each enemy closely and learn their tactics. Just understand you will die a few times, but simply, get something from those deaths, do not make the same mistakes over and over. By your 2nd or 3rd playthrough the game sort of becomes old hat!

I really liked the game because you can actually feel yourself getting better over time, which I do not get from a lot of games today.

sorta hard, yes but it's fun for that very reason. THE only hint i have for you is

1: Don't butten mash. dark souls don't take kind to those people

2: learn the controls and USE THEM

3: USE your shield, This isn't a hack and slash game

you follow those 3 tips game is 100x easier. IT is one of my most favorite game besides halo 2....

ALSO don't attack everything you see. There is freindly NPCS in game if you attack them, They can die or hate you FOREVER.

its an amazing game...but its deffinatly challenging. just pay attention everyhting you do has a consequence

It's not as difficult as people make it out to be (played through 90% of it offline because I wanted to be in party chat with friends so I never tried the co-op my first play through which I heard makes the game easier). Not saying its easy either. The game likes to punish you if you run in wildly or try and tank. Mastering the roll will make the game much easier. Take your time and attack after a block or roll and you should be fine.

One of the best games I played this year. Very few games make me want to start a New Game+ right after the credits roll.

Don't be Adventurer #2.

The only thing that is crazy challenging are the bosses. And once you get used to them, and understand their move sets, that'll be a breeze as well.

Thefatness16

This couldn't be any more true.:lol: this post is spot on.

I bought Dark Souls but haven't started it yet (it's ready for when I finish Dishonored, probably this weekend). Anyway, I've heard from some people that it's REALLY hard, and I've heard from some people that it's nowhere near as unforgiving as some people say it is.

Anyone want to pitch an opinion either way? Is it the hardest game ever made ever, or just harder than most current gen games?

I'm gonna play it regardless... but curious as to which school of thought is closest to the truth.

boredom_kills

It's not the hardest game ever. It can actually be easy at some points. I can wholeheartedly recommend it, though. Don't let the difficulty dissuade you.

Ever seen 'Groundhog Day' with Bill Murray? No, well go watch that movie, absorb it's message and then you might start to get the jist of what Dark Souls is going to be like. Like that movie the tasks of repeating things and learning exactly what you have to do in order to proceed can be as frustrating or enjoyable as you want them to be.

Ever seen 'Groundhog Day' with Bill Murray? No, well go watch that movie, absorb it's message and then you might start to get the jist of what Dark Souls is going to be like. Like that movie the tasks of repeating things and learning exactly what you have to do in order to proceed can be as frustrating or enjoyable as you want them to be.

MentatAssassin

[QUOTE="MentatAssassin"]

Ever seen 'Groundhog Day' with Bill Murray? No, well go watch that movie, absorb it's message and then you might start to get the jist of what Dark Souls is going to be like. Like that movie the tasks of repeating things and learning exactly what you have to do in order to proceed can be as frustrating or enjoyable as you want them to be.

realguitarhero5

Blight Town is not so bad... as long as you don't enter through the Depths that is. :P

My main problem with Blight Town was the constant frame drops.

[QUOTE="realguitarhero5"][QUOTE="MentatAssassin"]

Ever seen 'Groundhog Day' with Bill Murray? No, well go watch that movie, absorb it's message and then you might start to get the jist of what Dark Souls is going to be like. Like that movie the tasks of repeating things and learning exactly what you have to do in order to proceed can be as frustrating or enjoyable as you want them to be.

DJSAV_101

Blight Town is not so bad... as long as you don't enter through the Depths that is. :P

My main problem with Blight Town was the constant frame drops.

I've only played the one for PS3, but I know they're similar. They are challenging, but with enough dedication can be completed fairly easily.

Just be patient, make sure all of your movements are deliberate and always pay attention to your surroundings. The difficulty in these games comes from how much you do/don't learn from you mistakes.