Discussion
Combat doesn't get much more nuanced than the Souls series.
Not much story and dialogue. Or rather, there IS story but it's rather oblique and not very obvious. Be prepared to refer to a guide because the game can seem rather impenetrable otherwise. I don't say that as a criticism - just by way of fair warning to anyone thinking of playing it
Not much story and dialogue. Or rather, there IS story but it's rather oblique and not very obvious. Be prepared to refer to a guide because the game can seem rather impenetrable otherwise. I don't say that as a criticism - just by way of fair warning to anyone thinking of playing it
Just whopped the Last Giant with my sorcerer with great ease. I was surprised at how few Great Soul Arrows and Souls Arrows it took. I used the Soldier's Key on the door in the keep, just before you go through the wrecked wall onto the rooftops that lead up to the first pursuer encounter.
I missed this door in my previous game, but I could see some of the turtle knights through the portcullis at the bottom of the roofed area, so I was never sure how to get there. I'm in there now and bloody hell, there are a lot of turtle knights! I just want to see what is hidden away here! Some of the messages on the ground suggest there is a bonfire back here.
I missed this door in my previous game, but I could see some of the turtle knights through the portcullis at the bottom of the roofed area, so I was never sure how to get there. I'm in there now and bloody hell, there are a lot of turtle knights! I just want to see what is hidden away here! Some of the messages on the ground suggest there is a bonfire back here.
Baryonyx said:
Just whopped the Last Giant with my sorcerer with great ease. I was surprised at how few Great Soul Arrows and Souls Arrows it took. I used the Soldier's Key on the door in the keep, just before you go through the wrecked wall onto the rooftops that lead up to the first pursuer encounter.
I missed this door in my previous game, but I could see some of the turtle knights through the portcullis at the bottom of the roofed area, so I was never sure how to get there. I'm in there now and bloody hell, there are a lot of turtle knights! I just want to see what is hidden away here! Some of the messages on the ground suggest there is a bonfire back here.
There's a bonfire and Resting Giant (no spoilers but important later in the game). There's some items and chests but can't remember what's in them sorry.I missed this door in my previous game, but I could see some of the turtle knights through the portcullis at the bottom of the roofed area, so I was never sure how to get there. I'm in there now and bloody hell, there are a lot of turtle knights! I just want to see what is hidden away here! Some of the messages on the ground suggest there is a bonfire back here.
On a similar note I've ran into a few doors that are blocked or can't be opened around the map, is it possible to destroy them or am i missing chunks of the map.
anonymous said:
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It's hack and slash with a difference. You've got a strong attack button, a quick attack and a block, or you can opt to duel wield or double-hand a weapon. The difference is that it's the most in-depth hack and slash combat you'll ever come across. If you think you can just wade in, sword swinging you'll get a shock.Dialogue, very little of it. Strong plot? You bet, but some people have played Dark Souls and thought there wasn't a plot. It's not spoon fed to you. I dare say that if a "plot and decent dialogue" are important to you that DS might not be the game for you. Still, for 6 it's definitely worth a shot. The first time I bought it for full price I didn't give it a proper go and gave up fairly early on and remembered itas a bad experience of gaming. I found it dull, empty and unrewarding. I just wasn't ready for it and the time and effort it demanded. I went back to it last winter when it was on sale on Xbox Live for 4 as a promo offer for DS2 coming out. I finished it second time around, and it's probably the best gaming experience I've ever had. The bleakness, the emptiness, the feeling of your morale being ground to dust, it's all part of the experience.
anonymous said:
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The plot is tied up in the objects you will find, if you want to know the plot expect to do stuff like pick up a ring and read the ring description in your inventory. You are expected to piece it all together yourself and work out how everything is connected. Very little of the plot is actually handed to you and even if you do work out what is going on a lot of it is left up to your interpretation as well, this is right down to whether or not a character is good or evil, or even if you are good or evil.anonymous said:
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You are having fun, you just haven't realised it yet. The Dark Souls games are a sort of zen experience. You will rage, you will sulk and moan, and eventually you will feel elated. Then the cycle repeats, quite apt given that the DS games are basically about the theme of cycles and repetition, fate, inevitability and the inescapable.anonymous said:
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Lucky? You're missing the point. Little happens in Dark Souls that can be attributed to luck. Fighting multiple enemies can be done, you just need to observe them and react appropriately. If you die, try again until you learn what works. This isn't a typical westernised hand-holding gaming experience where you can wade effortlessly through the game, always levelling to be strong enough for the game just to give you the illusion of challenge. Dark Souls is about challenging yourself to take on a task of great difficulty, to explore an exquisitely crafted world and slowly piece together it's story and lore. Yes, you do need to manage your stamina, this isn't a game of Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, you can't expect to go toe to toe with your foes, unless you go down a heavy armour and greatshield route, in which case you'll need to boost your stamina and strength big time to allow you to wield that sort of equipment and be able to soak up blows with it.
There is no 'luck' in Dark Souls. It can often be quite difficult, but it is also usually fair. A bit like Ninja Gaiden, it dumps your failures at your feet and you will know it is your own incompetence that has caused you to fail. The mechanics are fastidiously honed, there are few hand to hand combat games as 'direct' as Dark Souls.
Yes, your item stash is permanent. Though it is generally far less important than your soul count.
Off topic, I fought my way to the end of old the Soldier's Rest area at the Forest Of Fallen Giants. I discovered the sleeping giant corpse at the end. What is that there for? I went through the other giant memories and completed the game just fine. Is that just another memory you can go through to boost your gisbt soul count without having to use a bonfire ascetic at the Black Gulch?
Off topic, I fought my way to the end of old the Soldier's Rest area at the Forest Of Fallen Giants. I discovered the sleeping giant corpse at the end. What is that there for? I went through the other giant memories and completed the game just fine. Is that just another memory you can go through to boost your gisbt soul count without having to use a bonfire ascetic at the Black Gulch?
Baryonyx said:
Off topic, I fought my way to the end of old the Soldier's Rest area at the Forest Of Fallen Giants. I discovered the sleeping giant corpse at the end. What is that there for? I went through the other giant memories and completed the game just fine. Is that just another memory you can go through to boost your gisbt soul count without having to use a bonfire ascetic at the Black Gulch?
From what I've read, the only thing of interest in that whole area is the Seed of the Giant Tree you can pick up which, when you're invaded, you can use to make monsters hostile to the invader.I went in there briefly early in the game but struggled with the turtle knights. I figured I'd come back later but never got around to it. Sounds like I didn't miss much!
In other news, I got to Chancellor Wellager in NG++ last night and acquired the final pyro and miracles. That unlocked the final achievements for me. After 120 hours or so, I think I'm done with DS2 for a while!
I was wrapped up in 75 hrs on my first go. And that was clearing out lots of areas for XP too. I felt as though I was taking a slow and careful pace! You could do it a lot sooner if you were confident in taking on bosses after fighting your way too them without negating the enemy respawns.
aww999 said:
I've played for 120 hours and I have just got to Castle Drangleic on my first go through! How do you get through it so quick?
Wow! That's methodical! I finished the story in NG at around 85 hours, then spent a further few hours doing covenant stuff, including killing Darklurker (which was a PITA), and then finally taking on Vendrick (which was a bigger PITA until I figured out the "trick" to it. NG+ took me around 20 hours, but a spent a chunk of that farming souls and twinkling titanite to level up and reinforce weapons, and I rattled through NG++ in maybe 6-7 hours (but just farmed souls to open the Shrine of Winter rather than collecting all four Great Souls).
anonymous said:
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I haven't tried a Soul Level 1 run in DS2 yet, but did in DS1. You absolutely don't have to level up.The game can be beat at SL1, using only the equipment you start with (with no upgrades). My DS1 SL1 run I allowed myself to upgrade my gear (albeit the equipment you start with) but I've seen it beat naked with a non-upgraded axe.
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