What makes Dark Souls so Good and what are some tips for playing it
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Obviously excepting the archers in Anor Londo; those are just sadism on the part of the devsWWWLUCIFERCOM said:
Dark souls is fun for several reasons the first i though the game can be obtuse in its istructios at times it teaches by showing rather than telling when you learn something new the game often presents an opportunity to use that new knowledge, the other thing that makes Dark souls fun is that it is hard but fair when you die its almost always your fault you did something either physically or mentally that caused you to die. as for advice when you die take a few minutes to consider why you died retrace your steps up to the point of death this is especially important in areas that your stuck on as some thought can often lead to new revelations. last only use the guides online as a last resort! dark souls is all about exploration and discovery so let yourself discover.
What makes Dark Souls good to me at least is the atmosphere, the game is absolutely dripping with it and its easily one of the (to use a buzzword) most immersive games I've ever played. The atmosphere infuses every part of it, from the tense combat to the scraps of lore you can find and so on. The combat is another high point, its much more reliant on patience, preparedness and caution than other games but its very rewarding to push through a section. Finally the games approach to story and lore is really interesting, and a big part of why people are still talking about the game so long after its release, its everywhere in the environments, item descriptions, enemy placements, and all manner of other details; however the game doesn't outright tell you much of it so you're left to piece it together yourself and form your own interpretation of it. This combined with the quality of the lore itself, the beautiful art in the game, and the atmosphere gives the game a very 'mythic' feel to it, something I haven't seen in many other games.
As for tips to playing it I honestly think its best to figure it out yourself, Dark Souls is a hard teacher but its very rewarding to piece things together yourself. That said in general be patient, cautious, and observant and you'll go far. Also while I don't recommend using a wiki on your first playthrough there are a few things like covenants and embers that you'll probably want to look up, as the game could stand to give you some guidance in places.
As for tips to playing it I honestly think its best to figure it out yourself, Dark Souls is a hard teacher but its very rewarding to piece things together yourself. That said in general be patient, cautious, and observant and you'll go far. Also while I don't recommend using a wiki on your first playthrough there are a few things like covenants and embers that you'll probably want to look up, as the game could stand to give you some guidance in places.
apart from when you use DSFix, and then it becomes the best looking version of the game...Zac Jovanovic said:
i thought the same as you for about a year, finally was bothered to get it working, regret not doing it sooner.
anyway, be prepared to swear a lot at the archers, go right at firelink shrine (not the graveyard), find a video to see where the zweihander and winged spear are (two pretty good starting weapons), and pick the master key. otherwise, best to find out for yourself, have fun!
The biggest advice I'd give is don't get frustrated. At least once during the game, you're going to die with 75,000 souls and 20 Humanity, and then when you go back to retrieve it, you'll fall off a cliff you've walked past 100 times, or get killed by an enemy you've fought a dozen times, and you'll want to throw your console out the window. It (or something equally frustrating) WILL happen at some point, I can guarantee it, but the cool thing about Dark Souls is you'll never get put into a position where it becomes unwinnable.
Besides that, go slow, think about your attacks, and don't underestimate any new enemies you run into, no matter how goofy they may look (I'm looking at you giant mushroom dudes that killed me with one punch).
Besides that, go slow, think about your attacks, and don't underestimate any new enemies you run into, no matter how goofy they may look (I'm looking at you giant mushroom dudes that killed me with one punch).
So I've seen various people here say to use a walkthrough. Don't. Only use a guide when you are completely stuck. It's much more satisfying when you figure out to beat the boss. I'm in the middle of the game now, and it was way more satisfying killing those gargoyles by figuring out how to, not by using a guide, I also wouldn't play this game in small chunks. You'll feel like you aren't making any progress, which does happen at times.
Learn to PvP. Kind of stupid to say now, with DkS2 around the corner, but there will still be a healthy DkS PvP base considering the PvP in the two games is vastly different (like how Demons compared to Dark). IMO, being good at PvP will help you more than being good at PvE by time DkS2 rolls around
PvP makes you a better player. Simple as that. The PvE aspect of the game can essentially boil down to memorizing patterns and then using them to your advantage, essentially, you learn the game to beat the game; but PvP puts you in the drivers seat. Enemies are completely unpredictable in their builds, their movement, their attack patterns, their goals, their health, etc ,etc. Every single fight is different and what matters the most is your skill, not equipment or stats or whatever.
Finish your first playthough blind, with as little help as possible. Then delete that account (trust me, you wont be needing it ever again) and start acquainting yourself with PvP.
PvP makes you a better player. Simple as that. The PvE aspect of the game can essentially boil down to memorizing patterns and then using them to your advantage, essentially, you learn the game to beat the game; but PvP puts you in the drivers seat. Enemies are completely unpredictable in their builds, their movement, their attack patterns, their goals, their health, etc ,etc. Every single fight is different and what matters the most is your skill, not equipment or stats or whatever.
Finish your first playthough blind, with as little help as possible. Then delete that account (trust me, you wont be needing it ever again) and start acquainting yourself with PvP.
My biggest advice would be to take the black fire bombs as your starting gift, and use them wisely. Like on the very first thing with a hud life bar you see, on ghosts guarding something really useful, or on some friends in the graveyard.
I normally start out as a Wanderer, but 2 days ago I decided to start up a new game and picked Soldier or whatever the top option is. It gives you a really good starting shield and weapon + decent stats and armor.
I intended to give strength weapons a go this time, as I usually favor spears/halberds/straight swords for being too damn awesome. My top 2 weapons are the Great Scythe and the Balder Side Sword, but I want to avoid them this time.
The Morningstar is really useful, especially on skeletons (possibly of unusual size) and the Claymore is fun. I never liked the Zweihander, and still don't even though I practically one shot the Burg boss with it buffed with lightning.
My point being, try all the basic weapon types until you find one you like to use. Then stick with it, even if its hard in places. You will get very good with your chosen weapon, and when you find a better version you will more easily adapt to using it (or not using it).
Carrying around an arsenal of weapons for every occasion gets pretty boring and spreads your resources thinner than you need to. Picking one weapon and using it till the bitter end creates a better story.
Unless you picked a Caestus...then good luck with that ._.
Also I think its more fun to limit which weapons you use, so that you can play through it for the 12+ time and still have new experiences.
My other tip would be to play offline, but them's fighting words in most places.
I normally start out as a Wanderer, but 2 days ago I decided to start up a new game and picked Soldier or whatever the top option is. It gives you a really good starting shield and weapon + decent stats and armor.
I intended to give strength weapons a go this time, as I usually favor spears/halberds/straight swords for being too damn awesome. My top 2 weapons are the Great Scythe and the Balder Side Sword, but I want to avoid them this time.
The Morningstar is really useful, especially on skeletons (possibly of unusual size) and the Claymore is fun. I never liked the Zweihander, and still don't even though I practically one shot the Burg boss with it buffed with lightning.
My point being, try all the basic weapon types until you find one you like to use. Then stick with it, even if its hard in places. You will get very good with your chosen weapon, and when you find a better version you will more easily adapt to using it (or not using it).
Carrying around an arsenal of weapons for every occasion gets pretty boring and spreads your resources thinner than you need to. Picking one weapon and using it till the bitter end creates a better story.
Unless you picked a Caestus...then good luck with that ._.
Also I think its more fun to limit which weapons you use, so that you can play through it for the 12+ time and still have new experiences.
My other tip would be to play offline, but them's fighting words in most places.
I died with exactly that on my first run through of Anor Londo, at the Archers. I quit playing for a few days after that - seeing that green glow on the ledge and KNOWING I was going to die before getting them back was depressing.Ihateregistering1 said:
I picked it up just before Christmas when it was in the sale, £3.40 - I've spent just over 240 hours on it so far. Easily became one of my favourite games. Starting off it can be quite frustrating and confusing, but if you stick with it and just explore and look around you'll ease into it.
As a few other people have said: whenever going somewhere new keep your shield up, look around, look for traps and potential hiding enemies. Take it slow. Learn to roll properly, learn about roll speeds and learn about equip loads.
Also, try putting atleast an hour into an area before looking up a guide, the feeling of beating an area on your own accord is pretty good.
Praise the Sun, Sunbro!
I would add to this, since pvp kind of depends on the country you're in - I presume it's good in japan and the us, but here in the uk it's a massive lag fest and winning is more down to luck than skill.Skin said:
I live in Australia which would have a tiny Souls community comparatively and shit connection to the rest of the world, but lag doesn't matter once you start getting good. Only maybe 1/20 duels were unplayable because the opponent was warping around everywhere. Lagstabs happen, its a part of life, you learn to deal with it.bunnielovekins said:
PvP moulds Gods, PvE moulds casuls. git gud
Dark Souls is good because it doesn't hold your hand.
I didn't really enjoy it much until the end of my first playthrough. It's frustrating- but it's meant to be. When I finished it I was like `fuck yeah let's do that again`.
I think the most important tip I can give is- if you're dying a lot in a certain bit, you're probably doing something wrong.
Dark Souls doesn't needlessly kill you (except maybe in the Bed of Chaos and the first time you meet Seath, but you know what I mean), so most of the time you will only die if you're doing something wrong, or are in the wrong area. That doesn't sound as helpful as I meant it to.
Second tip, manage your stamina carefully, don't block unless you need to be blocking.
I didn't really enjoy it much until the end of my first playthrough. It's frustrating- but it's meant to be. When I finished it I was like `fuck yeah let's do that again`.
I think the most important tip I can give is- if you're dying a lot in a certain bit, you're probably doing something wrong.
Dark Souls doesn't needlessly kill you (except maybe in the Bed of Chaos and the first time you meet Seath, but you know what I mean), so most of the time you will only die if you're doing something wrong, or are in the wrong area. That doesn't sound as helpful as I meant it to.
Second tip, manage your stamina carefully, don't block unless you need to be blocking.