Worst parts of being into these games:
1) Looking at Reddit for info. I'd never actually looked at it before Bloodborne came out and the depressing parts definitely creep in.
2) Most people who make Souls videos are into terrible music.
3) Occasional hate mail from children when playing online.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Thursday, 3 March 2016 19:07 (eight years ago) link
Do these games have a story? And is there a larger, interconnected story?
― Insane Prince of False Binaries (Gukbe), Friday, 4 March 2016 03:20 (eight years ago) link
they have a story but it's really up to the player to piece it together.
as for are the games connected there are many theories and i thought the world of 2 was largely completely disconnected from the world of 1 but 3 has a lot of things returning from 1 so who knows maybe we will be playing in the past or future of places we have been to before. the first game was tightly directed by creator Hidetaka Miyazaki, then he took on a more supervisory role for 2 so that he could make Bloodborne at the same time. 3 looks like it will be a return to form in many ways receiving his full attention and his intention for it to be the final game in the series. so chances are good there will be some overarching story themes concluded or fleshed out.
imo dark souls 1 starts when you are cursed/hollowed/undead. the main mechanic of the games - dying over and over - is part of the story. as a hollow you cannot die; that is your curse. this is the same with all of your non-boss enemies and many of the NPCs that populate the world. how this curse is tied into the king-queen-god-monsters whose thrones you usurp remains to be seen. the motivations for many characters, including the "helpful" ones who guide you, is unclear. the writing and voice acting is pretty great. then there are the major themes of the series: the meaning between Light and Dark, the flames, the bonfires and kindling, death and rebirth, etc.
i've beaten the two Dark Souls games multiple times and can barely grasp the story. there is a lot of symbolism and ambiguity there. if you want there are dozens of hours of lore analysis waiting for you on youtube.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 4 March 2016 06:42 (eight years ago) link
i think from software's games are some of the greatest examples of environmental storytelling in gaming history tbh
― the uniqueness of our billionaires (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 4 March 2016 09:35 (eight years ago) link
what adam said, but basically the story is very vague and easy to miss/ignore (both the main one and those of the characters you meet). a lot of it has to do with reading the descriptions of the items you pick up.
i also love how it's done, partially because i like the option to completely ignore it much of the time. they provide just enough details to create atmosphere and let you fill in the gaps.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Friday, 4 March 2016 15:03 (eight years ago) link
there is massive complex deep lore if you want it and it's totally not necessary to know while you play.http://soulslore.wikidot.com/
― ulysses, Friday, 4 March 2016 15:24 (eight years ago) link
3) Occasional hate mail from children when playing online.― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Thursday, March 3, 2016 2:07 PM
this is a plus in my book
― am0n, Saturday, 5 March 2016 01:15 (eight years ago) link
playing the deep game
― ulysses, Saturday, 5 March 2016 01:28 (eight years ago) link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.fromsoftware.darksoulscamera
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 10 March 2016 23:52 (eight years ago) link
important information imohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm4IOCkc5n0
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Tuesday, 29 March 2016 16:25 (eight years ago) link
I wonder if Burial is trying to get that next EP done before this comes out.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Tuesday, 29 March 2016 20:02 (eight years ago) link
reviews coming in for this now, sounds like more of the same? http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/dark-souls-iii/critic-reviews
― Gaz upon my works ye mighty, and despair (Neil S), Monday, 4 April 2016 16:59 (eight years ago) link
perfect
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Monday, 4 April 2016 17:12 (eight years ago) link
yeah not a bad thing. I'm a bit discouraged by he Polygon review which said that environment design is more akin to DS2 than DS though.
― Gaz upon my works ye mighty, and despair (Neil S), Monday, 4 April 2016 17:14 (eight years ago) link
huh, my impression was that it's the opposite, we'll see i guess.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Monday, 4 April 2016 17:33 (eight years ago) link
I saw this thread was updated and fully expected to click through and see this: (warning bare butt semi NSFW) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfG10WFUYAAgTOm.jpg:large
― antexit, Monday, 4 April 2016 17:49 (eight years ago) link
Read a few conflicting reviews about world design and difficulty
Eurogamer's preview from the Japan build said it was slightly too easy, then the full Rich Stanton review from today said he wouldn't be surprised if the difficulty wasn't patched downwards because it's so brutal. Interesting to note he thought it spells out plot points and relies on fan service too much. I wonder if the localisation was by the same personnel as before?
The Eurogamer review is a bit too detailed re: locations and bosses for people who want to be surprised btw
Can I finish the Bloodborne DLC and late game in time to get DS3 on release then get burnt out by it, hm
― Dadjokke (Sgt. Biscuits), Monday, 4 April 2016 18:01 (eight years ago) link
he wouldn't be surprised if the difficulty WAS patched downwards ^
― Dadjokke (Sgt. Biscuits), Monday, 4 April 2016 18:02 (eight years ago) link
Read somewhere that one of the pre-release/review versions were easier in terms of low boss hp, at least in the beginning, but who knows. I'm sure there will be some early patches. I'm just looking forward to early days multiplayer chaos before everyone knows what they're doing.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Monday, 4 April 2016 18:24 (eight years ago) link
apparently the XBox version everyone is playing early is a preview build that will be fixed in a day one patch. all enemies do lower damage to the player in the preview build.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 4 April 2016 21:50 (eight years ago) link
i bought this yesterday, Steam said I was coming out April 11! i thought it was coming out April 12!
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 6 April 2016 21:44 (eight years ago) link
looks like it will unlock on the 11th at 7pm EST
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 6 April 2016 21:45 (eight years ago) link
I'll get a physical copy in the mail on the 12th, spent the rest of the day downloading the patches, then go out of town for work the rest of the week. ;_;
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Wednesday, 6 April 2016 21:59 (eight years ago) link
preordered a ps4 copy from an online retailer who often sends stuff out early - hoping it arrives tomorrow...
― a lad of balls (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 8 April 2016 09:25 (eight years ago) link
https://www.facebook.com/darksouls/videos/1069455576460819/
― jamiesummerz, Friday, 8 April 2016 10:02 (eight years ago) link
heh, just added that to the game-related lolz thread
― a lad of balls (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 8 April 2016 10:14 (eight years ago) link
omg my copy has shipped
goodbye weekend, i didn't have any plans 4 u anyway
― a lad of balls (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 8 April 2016 15:50 (eight years ago) link
so stoked for this, only know a few small facts about this and have kept myself in the dark to avoid over-hype like i fell for with 2 (which i wasn't into and didn't finish)
ahh why isn't tuesday now
― art, Friday, 8 April 2016 16:14 (eight years ago) link
very admirable, i let myself look at mechanics/weapons/pvp info, but drew the line at any levels/bosses/walkthrough videos.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Friday, 8 April 2016 16:40 (eight years ago) link
order placed
― ulysses, Friday, 8 April 2016 17:07 (eight years ago) link
2 days and 22 hours on steam
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Saturday, 9 April 2016 00:40 (eight years ago) link
gahahah ShopTo sent me a dispatch e-mail at 12:30 and it came through my letterbox minutes later, say what you want about Royal Mail but
I'm on the Research Hall on the Old Hunters rn :/
― Dadjokke (Sgt. Biscuits), Saturday, 9 April 2016 12:28 (eight years ago) link
no, my son is *also* named Vordt
― Dadjokke (Sgt. Biscuits), Monday, 11 April 2016 10:32 (eight years ago) link
Don't know if it's just me trying to go to back to a lumbering blubbertank character after playing a cardio freak in Bloodborne, but not really feeling the idea that the combat has been honed to perfection here, getting lots of camera lock-on fuck-ups and unwanted useless kicks coming out in critical situations
so far had very tough bits of levels but not really any tough bosses
― Dadjokke (Sgt. Biscuits), Monday, 11 April 2016 20:52 (eight years ago) link
mine now isn't arriving until Thursday, that's what i get from ordering from the evil empire.
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Monday, 11 April 2016 22:07 (eight years ago) link
watching Steam unpack this thing right now is torture!
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 11 April 2016 22:09 (eight years ago) link
alright i failed to get my brand new DS4 controller to work so i went KB+M (for now, hopefully someone will hack something to get this working)
but damn. this is already really great. i just fought a giant version of a common enemy in the other souls games and it was a lot of fun. i love having this speed in these games, this is going to be incredible.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 00:07 (eight years ago) link
art design is just draw dropping and dreamlike. i am just staring at corners for minutes looking at some strange beautiful scenery.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 00:08 (eight years ago) link
i've got to stop because i have work in the morning. but damn, this game is amazing. it LOOKS incredible, just the way light hits everything looks way more impressive than any Souls game. there is this cool green light left behind from your soul echoes in this game, which makes for some really cool lighting situations.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 01:56 (eight years ago) link
the game is hard too! ive been dying over and over in the beginning area for about an hour and a half, just loving it. the game looks amazing. that dragon draped over the entrance near the bridge is so cool. the combat/controls is flawless, perfect, all systems check. I would say Dark Souls: Championship Edition but the atmosphere in this is so thick and unique it really feels like a thing of its own. i love it!
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 01:58 (eight years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/I8z6Lk1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/c3Vfqad.jpg
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 01:59 (eight years ago) link
supposed to get here Wednesday. I am hyped.
― ulysses, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 02:55 (eight years ago) link
went deprived, stuck on 1st boss. don't go deprived
― am0n, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 05:34 (eight years ago) link
there is no other way to go afaik
― ulysses, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 13:28 (eight years ago) link
i feel deprived.
the club moveset/weapon art looks pretty cool though?
― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 15:38 (eight years ago) link
is there anything fundamentally new in DS3? that sounds like a disparaging remark but it's not meant to be - i'd gladly play it if it's just the same formula with new enemies and locations.
― Karl Malone, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 15:47 (eight years ago) link
the main new things are weapon arts, which are weapon-specific special moves and magic now has its own health bar and flask to refill it
i got past 1st guy deprived after ~20 tries, felt really epic. immediately bought some ugly armor and shield but still using club. backstabbing is little more tricky now that enemies guard their own back which is cool. parrying also not as easy because of how fast enemies are.
― am0n, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 15:59 (eight years ago) link
adam are those pc screenshots. looks so much better, that area on console is really washed out and yellow
― am0n, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 16:05 (eight years ago) link
Have you tried lowering the brightness in the system menu, am0n?
― chihuahuau, Tuesday, 12 April 2016 16:52 (eight years ago) link
my copy finally arrived today
of course virtually the first thing i did was wilfully ignore a 'turn back' warning and get killed by a giant crystal lizard thing
feels like comin' home
― a lad of balls (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 12 April 2016 17:46 (eight years ago) link
Congrats!
I actually opted out of meta-level pvp a long time ago, the damage is so high that you can die in three hits, and everyone's got everything on their builds (hornet ring, tears of denial, chaos bed vestiges, etc).
I've got a sl44±4 character that I use in the Cathedral through central irithyll, a sl66+6 for Pontiff, and a sl77+7 for Grand Archives. I've found a lot more groups actually trying to get through the levels that way, and for me it's more fun to fight a group of players who maybe aren't pvp experts than dueling one person who is (although they can be fun too). But groups at meta level who are just trying to crush invaders, I burnt out on that.
Also lower-level pvp is fun because the damage to health ratio is more forgiving. You can take a bunch of hits, make mistakes and learn from them, and also need to apply pressure instead of playing passively and waiting for that one big parry or whatever.
― change display name (Jordan), Saturday, 8 January 2022 15:59 (two years ago) link
I def. feel like I missed out not playing online, but I don't feel like I missed too much. It almost sounds like a different game.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 8 January 2022 17:27 (two years ago) link
It kinda is! Certainly a completely different set of skills. You don't have to worry about pressuring or roll-catching the AI, or playing parry mind games.
― change display name (Jordan), Saturday, 8 January 2022 18:41 (two years ago) link
Yeah, I was reading something about the mirror knight in DS2, where it can summon another player, and a lot of people pointed out that it summoning an NPC is not too bad, but if it succeeds in summoning a player the player could be a lot more trouble than the boss.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 8 January 2022 18:59 (two years ago) link
Same for the spear of the church in DS3, and the Old Monk in Demon's. I guess they just skipped the 'player as boss' in DS1 and BB.
― change display name (Jordan), Saturday, 8 January 2022 19:08 (two years ago) link
I really lucked out I guess with my Halflight PvP moment. I went in solo and beat the guy solo. Since then I've "been the boss" about twenty times, each time there were 1-2 accomplices, and I've only managed to hold my ground against them.. 25% of the time?
Also you're not kidding about "meta PvP". I'm getting destroyed. Nosomuch because I can't go toe-to-toe with an invader, and more because there are clearly some tactics involved. I've had invaders suddenly backed up by one or two identically dressed helpers. Invaders making a bee-line for the most dangerous part of the area and letting a mob of enemies do the job. I've been playing Darkmoon as my covenant and I get summoned most often to late-stage DLC areas (Dregs, Ringed City) and my SL 130 character, weakened by the summon, is definitely struggling with Ringed and Haldar Knights that I would otherwise not have issues with. One Dark Spirit cleverly led us into the death from above area of Ariendel and I didn't even have time to roll away between the thunderbolts from the tower.
One particularly nasty summon found me and the Dark Spirit in the entry zone of Ringed City with the 100 phantom archers. I was able to murder the dude in a Saint Sebastian fever dream
― flamboyant goon tie included, Saturday, 8 January 2022 23:54 (two years ago) link