Dark Souls- PS3, Xbox 360, PC

[maxlords]

Damn....wish I could get it early so I could get ass-raped by super-enemies....so awesome!

[dcharlie]

yeah, i'm about 3 hours of actual game in - level 18 or so and a couple of "oh ffs" moments already.

Having to take breaks to avoid me smashing my PS3 into bits, but that's all part of the Souls fun !

[evil_ash_xero]

Have you guys been reading the hype IGN has been giving this game? It's nuts.

http://ps3.ign.com/objects/086/086623.html

I mean, they have a review "diary" going up to the actual review, and a thing about why it will be better than SkyRim(that's pissing some people off).

Odd.

[Ruldra]

Are the classes unique in this game or is it just like the previous game where they only affect the initial stats and equipment?

Also, is armor still useless?

[Zaarock]

Are the classes unique in this game or is it just like the previous game where they only affect the initial stats and equipment?

Also, is armor still useless?

1. Latter, apart from thief who always starts the game with a master ring (can open any door, single use). It's the only starting item you can't find in the game world.

2. No, looks like it's more useful. And you can upgrade it.

Going to be interesting to see what kind of characters will end up working with each covenant. Haven't seen any gameplay of the faith one yet, that seems pretty cool.

[CMoon]

IGN put up their review of Dark Souls. 9/10.

[evil_ash_xero]

From reading that, does anyone get the impression this will be the Dai-Ou-Jou of action RPGs? Or maybe Ketsui? You get my meaning.

[maxlords]

Demon's Souls is the Da-Ou-Jou of Action RPGs. But yes, I agree with you for sure.

[Zaarock]

Only thing I'm disappointed at so far having watched some streams etc. Is some lack of polish in the game, like bad boss AI meaning none of them having any ability to navigate obstacles (like pillars) and being able to put them in some kind of attack loop. Same with enemies jumping off cliffs a lot. There also seem to be a lot of broken PvP things and glitches found already, but I guess they'll patch those fairly soon.

I guess those are small things but even in a great game a lack of polish and some small mistakes can hurt it. I'll probably enjoy everything else more than I expect once I play the game. Just weird to see broken AI and whatnot after all these years.. other action games like Bayonetta learned from those mistakes much more.


(Rant: example of small mistakes ruining something that could be great: 90% of weapons being random in Vanquish ruining any kind speedrunning or score attack. And the set 10% won't be enough ammo to survive from what I've seen. Still mad about that, speedrunning would've been fun.)

[DragonInstall]

I don't get why people like this game. What is the main appeal of it?

Just looks like a slow pace game with generic Ai.. like a monster hunter game but you take a ton of damage.

I prefer games with fast action like Ninja Gaiden, so this series is kind of foreign to me. Although I'm 50/50 whether to pick this game up. Would I enjoy this game if I didn't enjoy the monster hunter series, but liked Ninja Gaiden I & 2?

[evil_ash_xero]

If you really don't like slow games, that require tons of of patience...I'd steer clear.

[CMoon]

Sort of funny. I called up Gamestop because I didn't recall whether I pre-ordered the CE or not, and they sat there with hand over the receiver clearly looking through the copies they had in store deciding whether or not they had enough copies of the CE to ensure I had one (I could hear them discussing it, rummaging through their stock.) Was half tempted to ask if there was any way I could just come down and get my copy, but obviously I can't.

I swear the hardest part about this game is the wait. Prepare to die waiting!

[CMoon]

Yeah, DragonInstall, not your kinda game from what you've said.

Among all this talk of hardcore, oldschool gaming, the 'Souls' games are also a sort of pure dungeon crawler/horror experience. While these games have their share of action (some of it fast paced), the horror/crawler thing is not meant to move quickly. It should be inch by inch--hoping to find some boundary to the area you are exploring, but instead finding a ladder leading toward deeper catacombs.

I don't mean to imply that only some people 'get it', but I think only some people have a real hard on for this kind of thing. It's like the people who want party chat and to be able to play with their friends. I'm not saying they don't get it, but they are looking for a different kind of game.

Reminds me of when I was in middle school and (with a friend) we'd explore these drainage pipes that ran underneath the city. It was pointless and there was nothing down there, but at the same time when that kind of thing turns up in video games I absolutely love it. Tuesday can't get here soon enough for me.

[Zaarock]

Well, it looks like you can definitely play through the game fast (say, knowing the environment and going with with light armor and a high power katana), but I suppose it isn't the games strong point. Bosses aren't probably designed to be speed runned either. Personally I'm just worried about AI glitches and broken stuff, the exploration and online aspects look great.

[Cuilan]

I really hope the US 360 version works on a Japanese 360, since I'd much rather buy from Amazon instead of Play-Asia. If any of you pick it up early, please test it out.

[Elixir]

I don't get why people like this game. What is the main appeal of it?

Just looks like a slow pace game with generic Ai.. like a monster hunter game but you take a ton of damage.

I prefer games with fast action like Ninja Gaiden, so this series is kind of foreign to me. Although I'm 50/50 whether to pick this game up. Would I enjoy this game if I didn't enjoy the monster hunter series, but liked Ninja Gaiden I & 2?

I love comments like this. If I didn't like <game loosely related to this game> but I liked <game completely unrelated to this game>, will I like this game?

[Despatche]

Yes, Demon's Souls is the Daioujou of RPGs; actually hard for a change, although the difficulty is heavily overstated.

(Rant: example of small mistakes ruining something that could be great: 90% of weapons being random in Vanquish ruining any kind speedrunning or score attack. And the set 10% won't be enough ammo to survive from what I've seen. Still mad about that, speedrunning would've been fun.)

Why does everyone insist things like these are "mistakes"? It's somehow more reasonable that things like this are put in for the sole purpose of irritating those communities, than for it to be some random error on anyone's part.

[Zaarock]

Why does everyone insist things like these are "mistakes"? It's somehow more reasonable that things like this are put in for the sole purpose of irritating those communities, than for it to be some random error on anyone's part.

True, but in this case it contradicts how they put detailed scoring systems and bonuses into the game and how the game is all about playing fast. A decision I guess, but a very stupid one unless they just want to anger people, thus "mistake". I did play the game for score and it was FUN, but with a non-random mode (yes, there is challenge.. but the main game is very fun and has scoring) it would just be so much better. Seems weird coming from platinum as Bayonetta etc. have been very polished.

Hell, maybe in some future I'll time attack it with some infinite ammo cheat :p

[maxlords]

Yes, Demon's Souls is the Daioujou of RPGs; actually hard for a change, although the difficulty is heavily overstated.

Yes and no. The game is damned hard...but only till you get the hang of it and learn your way around it. I found it daunting and intimidating at first....but once I "got" it, it was fairly easy overall.

[evil_ash_xero]

Well, I just went through Demon's Souls again, and found it to be FAR easier this time around.

I was talking about Dark Souls being the DOJ of Action RPGs. I'm kind of nervous about it's difficulty.

[dcharlie]

Dark Souls (akin to Demon Souls) difficulty is , for me, more to do with the level of concentration needed.

You make one bad move (including losing your footing on steps etc! ) or you lapse in concentration fighting even scrub enemies and you end up dead.

One of the biggest problems i've had with Dark Souls is , again, a lack of patience and concentration following a death. In one particular segment i had went a good amount of time without hitting a bonfire and had 5000+ souls collected. I got to an area where i could see the next bonfire and all that stood in my way was two scrub enemies. Had a brain spasm where one half of me was "Get that shield up and pick them off" and "just hammer into one of them with the mace before the other one runs over" - in the end i ended up with a pike right through my guard taking half my energy off and then the other scrub running in and finishing me off as i doubled over :/

The next attempt was disasterous as i tried to rush through and ended up dying again - waving goodbye to that nice stash of souls :/

Right now i'm about 10 hours in but it's stolen hours at 3-4am here and there whilst busy with work - it's brilliant so far, but i hate it... i mean love it... i mean HATE it... i mean....

[iconoclast]

Well, I just went through Demon's Souls again, and found it to be FAR easier this time around.

The hardest thing about Demon's Souls is the initial learning process: learning each enemy's attacks, the stage layouts, the traps, the strategies, etc etc. Once you actually know all of that stuff, the counters to just about everything are pretty easy to execute.

[evil_ash_xero]

Well, I just went through Demon's Souls again, and found it to be FAR easier this time around.

The hardest thing about Demon's Souls is the initial learning process: learning each enemy's attacks, the stage layouts, the traps, the strategies, etc etc. Once you actually know all of that stuff, the counters to just about everything are pretty easy to execute.

That, for sure.

Also, some of the enemies are weak to this and that. And it's hard to figure out, or to get the right handle on it. I mean, I won't lie, I used the hell out of that Demon's Souls wiki, but it's kind of overwhelming, in ways. AND, I don't plan on doing a whole lot with Dark Souls, until a proper wiki comes out for it. I can't handle the uphill grind, and feeling of "what the hell am I supposed to do?!". Challenge I can deal with and understand...confusion....not so good. And I HATE HATE HATE how you'll be kicking ass, and some shady guy just shows up, and kills you almost instantly. The dual katana wielding skeleton and the big trolls come to mind. And I know Dark Souls is going to be littered with the bastards.

However, I do feel much better, this time around about beating the game...the first time I did it shamefully, and poisoned the False King. I mean, I just couldn't fight the bastard. This time, I went in with light armor(so I could beat cheeks), the eternal warriors ring, and an 8+Quality Compound Bow, and put the hurt on him. But I mean, the first instinct would be to go head to head with your most powerful sword, and dressed like a tank. No. And he's strong against magic too. Who's going to know this? I don't have the patience to figure all that out.

[Elixir]

My first instinct would actually be to learn his attack patterns. For example, mashing herbs in front of him causes him to almost always Soul Suck you, which is great for deleveling and getting Magic down to 6.

So hey, how do servers work? Are they split into regions like the first game?

[Leader Bee]

However, I do feel much better, this time around about beating the game...the first time I did it shamefully, and poisoned the False King. I mean, I just couldn't fight the bastard. This time, I went in with light armor(so I could beat cheeks), the eternal warriors ring, and an 8+Quality Compound Bow, and put the hurt on him. But I mean, the first instinct would be to go head to head with your most powerful sword, and dressed like a tank. No. And he's strong against magic too. Who's going to know this? I don't have the patience to figure all that out.

I meleed pretty much all of the bosses in demons souls. Tower knight isn't nearly as difficult as he initially looks and I'd invested heavily in strength and endurance so i could equip all that heavy armour and use the large swords early on so my magic ability sucked balls for the majority of the game. If you fight the false king this way I found it best to keep middle distance with him, far enough away for him not to soul suck you and close enough for him not to use that annoying rush attack, it took a few tries but once i'd gotten the pattern down he wasn't too bad, infact the worst part about the level was having to get past the blue dragon every time I died.

Also I meleed Flamelurker, it was hard but I've noticed lots of people had trouble with this and used magic instead?

The only "Boss" i cheesed on was Old King doran. I just used poison cloud on him from a distance after loads of tries at meleeing him. There just wasn't enough room to melee comfortably inside the mausoleum and he'll only follow you so far past the bridge then stops at the door, just outisde the Mausoleum is probably the best place to try hand to hand but i still wasn't comfortable with the space available.

[Jeneki]

infact the worst part about the level was having to get past the blue dragon every time I died.

The part that bugged me the most on that level was the "go make a sandwich" elevator you'd have to sit through every time you fought him.

[DragonInstall]

If you really don't like slow games, that require tons of of patience...I'd steer clear.

Yeah I figured as much. I saw some vids and was not feeling the flow of the game's combat. Plus I hate trial and error stuff in general.

[Jeneki]

The friendly local game store called to say they're doing a midnight release, so I can pick up Dark Souls tonight.

So ... should I should stay up all night, call in sick tomorrow to play more, get all geared up, and then Tuesday night when everyone comes home from work to play their new game, gank the crap out of them?

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

FUCK. I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT.

[guigui]

The friendly local game store called to say they're doing a midnight release, so I can pick up Dark Souls tonight.

So ... should I should stay up all night, call in sick tomorrow to play more, get all geared up, and then Tuesday night when everyone comes home from work to play their new game, gank the crap out of them?

If only I could. I'll recieve the game before end of the week and dont even know when I'll have a spare minute to give it a go. Those damned kids do love math so much that I absolutely have to give them more and more and more...