My friend is obsessed with Dark Souls and talked me into playing 3 with him. I started it, I am six hours in and cannot even defeat the first real boss.
I knew this game's reputation going in but like what is there to enjoy here?
Nah, beating O&S on my first real try was the best feeling.
Then I tried playing again and just got completely thrashed a dozen times even with Solaire. 😂
edit: Actually when I beat Sigrun (on freaking normal!) in God of War.
God she's hard.
no one believes me when i say that i beat Gael in DS3's ringed city on my first try :( i have NO way to prove it too lol
Same, I beat Orphan of Kos on my second try (first was just me scoping out the boss area) and I killed him the same moment he killed me. Super cinematic ending, but I lost the replay.
It's possible that the game is just not for you. I think that the question you're asking is highly subjective, I can only offer my own personal experience with the series. When I first started playing Demon's Souls, the initial difficulty curve was pretty intimidating, but with some practice I caught up to it. The sensation of being able to read the environment and contemplate a plan that leads to survival is pretty satisfying after successfully executing it. Once you've practiced up to the initial difficulty, the game doesn't get a whole lot harder from there. It'll increase in difficulty a little bit, but not in such a way that you'll find yourself being outmatched by what you're encountering repeatedly. It's a game where the reward is all in overcoming its adversity. Dying will always be part of it, just fyi.
When the first Dark Souls game came out, gaming had been moving towards more cinematic experiences with barebones gameplay and stories built around setpieces (Uncharted is a good example of this) DS completely reversed this by being almost an entirely gameplay focused game with almost no cinematics or inorganic setpieces and became a smash hit doing so
The architecture in the first game is mind bogglingly well done. Everything is connected in an intricate clockwork fashion. It was a very memorable world to explore. I never got into the later DS games but I really vibed with the first Dark Souls.
I think they have a really good challenge level; difficult, but surmountable*.
*provided you already have some metaknowledge going in on how you want to build stats around equipment and abilities, especially in DS1 where there are no respecs and one stat in particular which is completely useless
The fact that statbuilding is so essential and that the only resources for doing it competently are completely external is pretty bad design imo.
Think how good you'll feel after you defeat the first real boss. That's why.
Dark Souls 1 has a genius method of showing you the general attitude you need to play the game. The undead asylum shows you the tutorial boss three times, each in a different context, each time to get you both mechanically and emotionally prepared for the whole game.
First instance you see the boss (not actually the real one, but it's the same kind of creature, so whatev) is through the window to your right just as you exit the first room you're in. It's huge. Makes a loud stomping noise when it walks. It's massive and imposing. You might think it's going to be impossible to fight such a thing, much less defeat it. You're equipped with nothing but your starting armor and a broken sword handle. The game is telling you the bosses, and the path you'll be playing, will be imposing and will seem difficult. Dark Souls knows its own reputation.
Second instance is where you're put in a nearly impossible situation where you actually do fight the asylum demon with a broken sword handle. You're absolutely outmatched and have no chance of winning unless you're already intimately familiar with the mechanics and have a lot of time to burn. The game is signaling that without proper preparation, practice, and skill, you will not be a match for the enemy encounters. It will be frustrating. You'll die instantly. The solution here is to run out of the room towards the back, escaping the encounter entirely.
Third instance is where the game leads you up to the balcony and you attack the demon from above, instantly taking off half its health. Now you've got this. You're familiar with the mechanics. You can dodge. You can weave. You now have a proper weapon. You've got your estus flask. You're all set. If you're decent enough at games and have some reflexes, you shouldn't have much issue with the boss. The game is giving you confidence here.
Each step of the way you're being instructed into how you'll face every boss. You'll first be intimidated, you'll then fight what seems to be an impossible battle, then you'll go back through previous areas. You'll prepare, get some new equipment, maybe level up a few times. You'll figure out maybe there's a different way of approaching the fight. You'll find a way, despite being so afraid at first.
It's an utterly genius and frankly supportive thing the game does. It wants you to feel good. It wants you to feel that triumph of facing down these impenetrable fights and coming through to the other side. It's a game meant to be beaten after all.
they're wonderfully designed action rpgs with great ambience and really tight mechanics
if you're getting repeatedly squashed, it's 100% because you suck ass at it
don't saltpost here about it. just git gud. watch videos about it. try again.
So, the best way I can explain is that the game pushes you out of the defensive fear. Like in Hbombs videos about DS, you get further by taking the more proactive, aggressive action.
The game has rules apparently all characters abide by. They have move sets and tells for you to figure out. Sometimes you think the way to progress is to take things slow, but eventually you have to push forward.
I don't think starting with 3 was a good idea (though if you are playing with your friend it should be more manageable), it wasn't my first game in the series so I can't really judge new player experience, but it did feel like a step up in difficulty (or in cheap bullshit, depending on my mood).
As to the appeal, no other game does what the souls games do. Sure, they play the difficulty card for marketing purposes but IMO that's not what makes FromSoft games so cool.
What made those games unique IMO was the way the world is presented to the player. It's just like... there, for you to explore but absolutely indifferent to you. Weird, obscure mechanics, locations and lore seem to exist for their own sake. This not only encourage a lot of player experimentation, but also a collaborative effort by the part of the community.
I also struggled a lot with DS1 (quit halfway through the first time). My advice would be not to force progress, try to enjoy it at your own pace. DS3 in particular has some great atmosphere.
