Dark Souls

[cheeseisgood1918]

Anyone have any experience with this game? I've heard really good things, and it sounds like something I would enjoy. I've heard it's an unforgiving and difficult game, but that doesn't bother me so much. Just want to hear some people's thoughts on the game, as I don't know anyone that has played it, and I only trust reviewers so much.

[Biofungus]

I know Joshua (Lovecraft13) has played it (he's posted on Facebook about it), so give him a day or two to chime in.

I've heard the same things too, about how difficult it is. That's why I haven't bought it. I play games to *de-stress*, I don't need my games stressing me out more (that's why I stopped playing God of War 2).

[Lovecraft13]

Yo.

Yeah, I played the hell out of that game. It has a rep for being really difficult, but it's not that hard as long as you upgrade your weapons as you go. Farm mats, when you can. Getting better weapons is key. The game doesn't really have a proper tutorial, so read up on a spoiler-light faq, if you can. It'll help with materials and locations. But it's definitely worth playing. If you can get your hands on Demon's Souls for the PS3, start with that.

The worst part of the game is the invasions by other players. You can only have people similar in level invade your game, but they're there to hunt you down and kill you. All this, while you're still fighting through an area hounded by monsters. However, you can also invite players to join in your game, so there's a co-op mode.

[Bishop]

Do you get a notification when someone joins the game to hunt you? Can you turn off that ability?

[Lovecraft13]

You can play offline, if you want, but you won't get the notifications people leave everywhere as invaluable hints like safe rooms or ambushes or boss weaknesses. When people invade your game, there's a small notification that lets you know. In Demon's Souls, it was a huge alarm system.

[Bishop]

I'm intrigued by this game. I may have to give it a shot.

[cheeseisgood1918]

Thanks for the info Josh. I've been curious about this game since the original you mentioned on the PS3. But I don't have a PS3. I've heard the best way to play is online, but I only have the internet on my phone, so I'll probably wait to play until I move into my new apartment in a month or so, then I'll give it a shot. I think GameStop has it for like $25, so I'll probably pick it up.

I've been wanting something that will actually make me think lately. I love games like Skyrim, but they're just a little too easy. I want something outside the box, even if I struggle with it a little. It takes me back to the old days when games were so difficult, you literally threw your controller at the screen in anger. I don't know why exactly that appeals to me, just feeling wistful for the old days of gaming I suppose. Thanks for the insight guys!

[Lovecraft13]

I think most people found the games extremely frustrating because you lose all of your "currency" when you're killed. In order to reclaim it, you would have to travel back to where you originally died, fighting through the same horde of respawned monsters that killed you in the first place. And if you died again along the way, your cache of souls vanished with it.

In Dark Souls, the worst part is fighting the giant frogs that curse you with their cloud of filth. I don't quite remember if it kills you instantly (I think it does), but it immediately cuts your health in half until you break the curse. Not only does the curse remain with you even after you respawn, the curse can stack multiple times, reducing your health again and again. Considering most creatures do crazy dmg, you'll die with one hit. Plus, early on, there was only one vendor who sold anti-curses, and you'd have to backtrack through most of the game to get there.

[cheeseisgood1918]

I read that thing about the frog curse and the vendor with the anti-curse pots somewhere (I've done a lot of research on this game). My question is, knowing that, can you just stock up on them early in the game. Because I've heard you have unlimited inventory space. Just curious.

[Lovecraft13]

Yeah, you should be able to if you have the funds. The vendor is the easiest way, but I think he shows up a little later in the game. The only other option is a vendor at the top of a belltower, but you'd have to fight a troublesome boss to reach him.