DARK SOULS (Zero Punctuation)

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This week, Zero Punctuation reviews Dark Souls.
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[@MrDuncanBelfast]

"[...] a dying world, where all the great gods and noble heroes have either abandoned you or gone insane[...]" That's basically the state of The Escapist, now that Yahtzee has left.

[@Jake_Eyes]

Nothing sums up Dark Souls like that moment in Blighttown when I timidly turned a corner in the dark to figure out what horrible monstrosity was making that noise and thought "Oh thank God. It's just a giant flying fire breathing spider."

[@Arexion5293]

I want to know what your reaction was when you met this for the first time: 38.media.tumblr.com/d93878e7a28174a833b73ef45a34efbf/tumblr_msovc8eHvG1rp1soxo1_400.gif You know, the friendliest enemy in the game. He even wants to cuddle you!

[@Jake_Eyes]

Arexion5293 It was "Take that, Museum of Natural History exhibiHOLYCRAPYOUGUYSRECOVERFAST!"

[@Arexion5293]

jayRiott Mine was more of: "... NOPE! It was a bad idea to get here this early in the game! Maybe I can run past them.. wait, I can't enter further due to this golden fog. Are you telling me that I'm not supposed to be here yet?! Ohgawd, I need to head back from all the way back here.." Seriously, I went up to that golden fog wall in the Tomb of the Giants before going through Blight Town on my first playthrough. Man did I regret it. xD

[@wolfpytlak2786]

the worst part is... one would think your comment is sarcarsm, but its so true.

[@MrBones-cu1vi]

Wolf Pytlak I one time ran all the way through the catacombs and tomb of the giants at sl 14-15 or so to kill lerroy to get his gear just for him not to spawn

[@dabeastfromdaweast9788]

"It's about as forgiving as a stand-up gig at the Nuremberg trials" I've seen this review about 9 times but for some reason the hilarity of this joke finally hit me this time holy shit

[@TheAsymmetrical]

On my tenth or so viewing and it always gutpunches me. Comic gold.

[@warrcoww6717]

“It’s right out in the open, in a chest in a basement in a different post code behind two secret walls and a fire”

[@kedabro1957]

Maybe because current events are leading us to another one?

[@akramgimmini8165]

God level Comedy

[@First-Last_name]

Yeah, my group didn't get a standing ovation🙃 😆 Apparently Jewish joke's didn't fly well with the crowd. Tried to woe them over with some French and British joke's but it all fell flat 🤭

[@physe8052]

"There's a certain liberty in hopelessness isn't there? Cause things can't get 101% fucked!"

[@jabobok786]

+Asher Flanagan I wonder if that's an off the cuff joke he made or if he found the second ending and figured that was the message they were trying to put across

[@MrJL1995]

And then you bite your tounge and then it is suddenly 101% ;D

[@OneBiasedOpinion]

Beretta249 Well the alternatives would've been 150% and 110%, so we'll call it the lesser of three evils.

[@voldlifilm]

Ah, how naïve we were!

[@lexslate2476]

Having lived through 2020, I can report that you are almost certainly underestimating the upper limit of how fucked things can get.

[@icarusty6481]

"Most of the environments look like they were designed for someone twenty feet taller than you" Literally true. A lot of areas were made by/for giants, so yeah, you're right.

[@alicaido6616]

Patrick Bever-Chritton well in dark souls it seems that size = power in one form or another. So yeah, there's that too.

[@icarusty6481]

Not necessarily true. Gwen is pretty damn powerful and he's roughly the same size as you. Not to mention your character who kills numerous gods and is just normal human size.

[@midsalvo5786]

Heath Dan you don't know shit

[@Isosyth]

Late as fuck but Gwyn has been burning in the first flame for who knows how long. He's basically a hollow when we fight him, so who knows how large (and powerful) he was in his prime.

[@ProfessorSkywalker7]

His honorary coffin in Anor Londo is fucking enormous, suggesting he was much larger when he first linked the flame.

[@TheTrueDeadFingers]

The reason why everything in Dark Souls looks like it's been designed for someone 20 feet taller than you is because... they were designed for someone 20 feet taller than you. You're a human in a land of giants, that's why a lot of the environments are so effin big.

[@stereotype17]

And the reason why you're a human in a land of giants is because it's a third person game and no one likes it when the camera hits walls constantly.

[@Akilroth234]

Yeah, the gods were about 11 to 20 feet tall most of the time.

[@gilgamesh310]

Akilroth234 Why is it that Gwyn is smaller than his daughter? Things like that puzzled me.

[@gilgamesh310]

Jonathan Ashton Where is that somewhere else?

[@RisenSlash]

timaeusTestified The gods in dark came from the "underground" as well, or the Dark, as the intro to the game called it. "And from the Dark they came, and found the souls of Lords within the Flame." Also, the gods left because the Flames were fading, not due to the curse, though I'm sure that was a partial contributor. P.S. And no offense was intended, by the way. I was just correcting what I KNEW was wrong, not because I think "yer stewpid 'er nothin'"

[@MrHornyboy2000]

i nearly spit my tea out on my keyboard at the smug smile the guy had. that was fucking hilarious!

[@Ch4oTiK]

+Oniix Windrunner Had to rewind and see/hear that again, shit was definitely funny.

[@TimmyCherry]

+Oniix Windrunner - The sombrero-ed octopus was a nice touch.

[@SuperArppis]

+Oniix Windrunner It made things even more funnier... because the joke reflects reality. :p

[@kingofdankmemes436]

It's the definition of a shit eating grin.

[@johndonn446]

not going to lie, I used to be that guy

[@Shpeedle]

... i just realized that in elden ring, the first boss has an item good against it in a different location, in a microdungeon, after a boss battle that changed the location of the object Seems from soft has never changes

[@r31ya]

Which only can be obtain if you know that you should spare the boss and then purchase the item from the said boss.

[@brettbewley5798]

Which item????

[@cocalicoman]

@@brettbewley5798 I’m assuming he’s talking about Margit’s Shackle

[@LuisSoto-fw3if]

@@r31ya You can kill him and then buy it from the twins using his bell.

[@Fishcrab]

The description of where the orange listerine ring was hidden reminds me of how in the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, the planning permission to knock down Arthur dents house, was in a bathroom in a basement, where the lights were off and it was in a filing cabinet with a sticker saying beware of the leopard on it.

[@schmoobmcfroob2800]

I would not be at all surprised if that was a deliberate reference. This guy practically speaks Douglas Adams.

[@dmichand5191]

The plans where on display

[@LilianOrchard]

Can't you just get the one lobster and save money? They do have two claws.

[@mr.orangeaide5260]

Jerry Peet that wouldnt be hardcore enough

[@mr.orangeaide5260]

exactly

[@Sleksin]

One lobster only has so much energy and desire to snip your balls.

[@RedRocky54]

But with two you can have each lobster with one claw on the balls and the other on your willy.

[@lucillefrancois150]

Lily Peet You sound like my kind of woman.

[@66Roses]

That smug face made my day.

[@AngryNerdBird]

I laughed so hard when I saw what you were talking about.

[@jonathanhodges8752]

'Which you must have found because its right there, in the open, on a chest, in a basement, in a different post code, behind two walls and a fire."

[@bigfatcarp93]

KZbin. Please. ENOUGH WITH THE FUCKING UNSKIPPABLE 30-SECOND ADS.

[@mayzerify5525]

bigfatcarp93 Ad block plus. use it

[@pmcburn1]

bigfatcarp93 Yes. How dare someone monetize their own content. (KZbin doesn't put these ads up. They simply allow people to put ads on their videos).

[@bigfatcarp93]

Godless and Gaming I have no problem with ads. I have problems with _long, unskippble ones_.

[@killerfugu2659]

bigfatcarp93 30 seconds isn't long, Budweiser at one point though 22 min ads were a good idea....

[@pmcburn1]

bigfatcarp93 Then protest by not watching the content. If they lose enough money, they'll change it.

[@DeathclawAlphaMale]

After playing Dark Souls, just about every other sword game got incredibly easier for me.

[@PaladinfffLeeroy]

And incredibly boring for me. The depth of the combat system in the Souls games is just soo damn good! Every different weapon you use can make for a completely different experience in a new playthrough! Shame hardly any other games are worth replaying as often as I've replayed the Souls games. :c

[@bcp-7]

assassins creed is still hard though

[@bcp-7]

Father Karras of course lol assassins creed is the easiest game that has swords in it

[@Arkayjiya]

Not me. A lot of "sword" games are hard simply because the controls are horrible compared to something like dark souls and/or your character power is incredibly dependant on character progression (In Dark Soul, you can do insane damages at lvl 1, hence the lvl 1 run all the way to NG+7)

[@dumpstercast-refuseradio8429]

Ever played Chivalry?

[@NoobLord9001]

1:22 you can cheese the archers, but you can't cheese THE WALL!

[@Er404ChannelNotFound]

Prise our lord and saviour OnlyAfro!

[@MrUnladenswallow]

+GammaWALLE NOTHING ON EARTH CAN MAKE YOU FALL!

[@jerec1267]

+MrUnladenswallow when you go to it and you cant go through it and you cant knock it down you know that youve found THE WALL THE WALL THE WALL!

[@cajbajthewhite4889]

O.P., do you play SLHG?

[@germanoverlord8655]

By the way, what's the name of the song Afro used there?

[@lilithgalac5102]

Loving all the comments talking about how easy ninety percent of the bosses are, just proving the comment about how 'insufferably smug' players who have beaten them are. Then again, I can't talk, I'm only just about to start Dark Souls again after dying about a bajillion times and giving up.

[@superseaking7313]

casual

[@Lord_Numpty]

+GameSpoon I'm going to assume it's implied that, in addition to the first try, one should also be able to kill it while naked and unarmed?

[@lilithgalac5102]

Shadow Scryer duh, you should also do it without holding the controller in your hands. Do it with your feet, of course. While upside down. Only THEN are you truly skilled.

[@Lord_Numpty]

+Hazel Capfuls Nah. You're truly skilled when you kill Manus that way. While blindfolded and having what's onscreen described to you by someone with a severe speech impediment.

[@mnightdude]

Shadow Scryer manus was a bitch i killed him with a shield

[@ScribeNemarious]

You know, before i watched this review about a year ago, Dark Souls wasn't even on my radar and i likely would have never even tried it, but now, thanks to Yatzee's recommendation, I now have nearly 400 hours played in the game, and I can say without hesitation it is probably one of my favorite games ever. THIS is why we have game reviewers like Yatzee, and I couldn't be more appreciative.

[@brodericksiz625]

Agreed. I never understood the "ooh, I can't tell you why it's good, blergle blergle" sharade. It's not like you need to spoil anything in the experience in saying "this game has a steep learning curve, but it has great storytelling, an oppressive atmosphere of hopelessness in a bleak world filled with awe inspiring places in ruins and absolutely insane levels of customisation, when it comes to character building and choosing your own play style".

[@Nick-mp1zh]

+Zack Reid That's what reviewers are for right?

[@vulcanspirit2585]

+Zack Reid I hope you didn't play Dark souls 2 -.-

[@Nick-mp1zh]

***** Dark souls 2 wasn't a BAD game, it just wasn't as good as ds1

[@vulcanspirit2585]

Nickolas Marchuk​​ it was a money grab cut and paste. And after I played Dark Souls after II recently it was like omg where did this game go? Everything besides the frame rate handled so great

[@brainstorm623]

Dark Souls: the greatest thing since tummy rubs.

[@icetiger-4760]

Brainstormer623 and sliced bread and cocaine and meth and pure ecstasy and pleasure and joy

[@JimTheCurator]

- IGN

[@DaybreakerRein]

What about the post-its saying "Amazing Chest Ahead" outside of Quelaag's Lair and Gywnevere's Chamber XD

[@zaelz7499]

That was the best part of Dark Souls for me, the hilarious post-its just scattered about Lordran. I seen one that had said "Amazing Chest Ahead" right infront of the Blacksmith Andre of Astora, and I just broke down laughing.

[@shadowthetwisted]

Zael Z there actually is a chest behind astora.

[@zaelz7499]

Really? :o I've never seen it! What does it contain?

[@shadowthetwisted]

Zael Z I think it's a ring, though I am not 100 percent sure anymore. Hawk ring iirc.

[@zaelz7499]

Hawk Ring was in the corner of the Giant Blacksmith.

[@Sergei_Ivanovich_Mosin]

Holy shit, Dark Souls is one of the handful of games that Yahtzee has said more positive than negative stuff about, I think we can safely assume he likes it.

[@hectorcorral3240]

Too bad it can't be in the top 5 because it came out 4 years ago.

[@KutsukiTsukiyo]

Hector Corral DS2 will more than likely be his GOTY. I feel he thought it was akin to Portal 2

[@projectTyrasa]

"Shut up or Fuck off, Ideally Both in Either Order" I'm So gonna use that from now on xD

[@AlexandrZaytsevet]

Regarding the size thing, wasn't the city built for giants and later redesigned to accommodate humans (who showed up later?)

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

Alexandr Zaytsevet No, it's made by the "gods" but they had giant guards aswell, so they needed accommodating stairs

[@Ariaoff.Limits]

Yes - You are correct these giants are the "gods" B-sun was referring too.

[@yowhazgood4505]

Dark souls: "It's glurb once you're blurb" i agree wholeheartedly.

[@W00DSTOCK02]

This is the most accurate and precise review of dark souls i have ever seen or heard

[@ThatFeelBr0]

Except the story of the game is mainly told via item descriptions (3:21), and just a little trough the environment.

[@needlessToo]

ThatFeelBr0 Except item descriptions are not telling the game's story but history of the Dark Souls world. Game tells the story of an undead who is trying to find his way. That's all. Rest are just side stories.

[@BloodyDIMISIS55]

i dont get why people dismiss dark souls great storytelling cause its "lore" not story. let me give you un example: you find this huge ass demon that does nothing, you walk around and find a corpse with a kick ass equipment.. you take it and run away and the demon jumps and suicides off a drop just to get to you...you laugh cause he is a shitty easy boss... you do it again again and again in NG+++.. and then you get in the lore and realize that the demon was a transformed/mutated brother looking after her dead sisters grave that you just freaking pillaged.... and that gets to me, i feel like a fucking douche.. not many games can do that. now compare that to Alduin fucking dying 10 seconds after all the build up and after that no one in the fucking world gives a shit about you saving it.

[@elliegray8184]

BloodyDIMISIS55 Totally. It's the fact that it's not all read to you by NPCs like a book that makes it good. You get into it because it's all there. People overlook it because they're used to fantasy games using the setting as an excuse. "Why are there demons? Because fantasy and magic!". In Dark Souls when you see something strange or out of place, there's a reason for it, and it's not just because "magic and shit, what're you gonna do?".

[@KnightOfZero00]

ThatFeelBr0 The descriptions and items tell very little of the story, What the items and characters say is the lore, not the story. The only story that the game makes for you is that you are the Chosen Undead. The true story is your experience from beginning to end.

[@TheSmegPod]

"There's a certain liberty in hopelessness, isn't there, because things can't get 101% fucked"

[@raresmacovei8382]

On my god. That last line. I cracked me to tears.

[@grahamwalker2168]

I feel that this review has aged very well, well done

[@5232chaos]

I cannot explain how glad I am to see that Yahtzee got the entire point of Darksouls down to its every last nitty gritty detail though comparing it to other games just seemed arbitrary but I honestly feel was necessary to reinforce his point to those that had not played Darksouls so to this I say thank you Ben Croshaw

[@Sianostrakarenrenren]

Kinda ironic considering he told Demon's Souls to fuck off less than an hour in.

[@cryptospuridium666]

Even the dark souls 2 trailer encompasses the feeling of being alone in a dying world. I bet the game causes severe depression

[@Murdrad]

Thoughts on DS (dark souls) level design. I have been trying to think of a good way to describe DS levels, and why I like them (along with older games, like doom). Realistic wont do because it's not, and because the word realism (or realistic), used to describe aspects of a video game, is quickly becoming a 4 letter word (a bad word). Natural might work. Doesn't seem right, but I can't think of anything better. "Words are meager things" However I have identified what I like about them. Being a collage student I just finished my first year living on campus. And after years of going to new buildings for school (grade school, middle, high, University) I have noticed something of a trend. When I first visit the campus, during an open house or something, it seems massive. Then when I start going there ever day, it seems like a maze. Some times you will be walking around and find a short cut, or go down a new path and see a familiar location from a new angle. After a wile you learn a lot of the ins and outs of the place, and it no longer seems massive any more. The long walks feel more like a long commute, rather then a long trek. I felt the same way with my play through dark souls. Complex seems like a good word to use. Complex levels are what you should go for if you want to make an epic game.

[@petertaylor5421]

calvin mcclory This description was perfect, surprised it didn't get more comments^_^ The word I would probably use for dark souls is probably ambitious, but i really like how it makes you feel how small you are, yet how powerful you are. At first, you look at it and think wow, I'm so small and theres no way I'm doing this, but you come back and think wow I've conquered this vast landscape, maybe my guy is the chosen undead. I dunno, I just really like the feel of the game^_^ hahhaa its also very mysterious

[@jerec1267]

calvin mcclory yeah the areas until the bells are rung are so perfectly designed with there always being 2 ways to get somewhere (havel being a great example)

[@thevisi0naryy]

+calvin mcclory Realistic is actually a good word to describe it. Not realistic in the sense of video game vs real world but in the sense that the areas are relative to each other and the world feels wholesome. Opposite example is in ds2, going from being at sea level then going down 2 stories and being at sea level again. Or earthen peak/ iron keep. Not realistic.

[@Indignations]

+thevisi0nary I would use the word "authentic". As you say, it's not exactly realistic is the real-world sense, but it feels internally consistent and logically laid out.

[@thevisi0naryy]

InDIGnation The definition of realistic is - sensible and practical.

[@edisontrent618]

Anyone else Praised the Son recently?

[@PaladinfffLeeroy]

all day erry day \\"[T]//

[@edisontrent618]

Paladin Leeroy Leeeeroy! Thanks for the help with the Bonewheels. -Chosen Undead

[@PaladinfffLeeroy]

The Celestia No problem Chosen Undead-kun.

[@Arexion5293]

The sun is dead and the old king shall share its fate.

[@edisontrent618]

Arexion5293 That's why I took over as the Once and Future King. Magical time travel is awesome like that.

[@halfhalo33]

You know this game is good when he mentions that the game reminds him of Half-Life and Silent Hill 2 in the same video. Edit: Also, he mentions Painkiller, so its even better now.

[@disturbedrocks1996]

***** Anyone that doesn't take Yahtzee's opinion with a massive sized grain of salt is a complete moron. Anyone as cynical as he comes off in these videos would be completely unlikeable in real life and would have most likely killed themselves from loneliness long ago.

[@Senthain]

ITT: People missing the joke of ZP.

[@rcurl44]

disturbedrocks1996 Wow. You sound way more depressing to be around than Yahtzee.

[@krukblood-axe3649]

@@disturbedrocks1996 Yeah, agreed with the guy above. I'd probably have killed myself if I had to spend more than an hour in your company, sheesh. If you want to see unlikeable, look in the mirror. EDIT: Just noticed it's been 7 years, but I doubt you've changed, so my point stands.

[@farjacko]

Glad I wasnt the only one who drew similarities between the gloriously souls games and metroidvanias.

[@Krebons1200]

+Jack Madaj I'd call it more zelda than metroidvania

[@PauLtus_B]

+Krebons1200 Structurally it's Metroidvania. But it's straight up 3D Zelda Swordplay.

[@nathaneskin3572]

More vania than Metroid though I'd say

[@thevisi0naryy]

+farjacko I think the similarities lie mostly in metroidvanias to largely be the first action open world games so anything following it would bear resemblance. That and the fact that they both have a dark setting.

[@PauLtus_B]

thevisi0nary The typical Metroid stucture is getting new gameplay ablitities to reach new areas, that's not in Dark Souls.

[@unmessable12]

"a distant tower or ruin in the distance" Hello Mr Writes-For-A-Living. :D

[@greywalker505]

Hey, that rhymed.

[@chukyuniqul]

I love this comment, I come back to it every once in a while to laugh at yahtzee.

[@MultiTequilaSunrise]

You Ninja Flip, I Flip Golems.

[@raptor10412]

Leeroy would kick your ass

[@MultiTequilaSunrise]

Not even in his wettest dream.

[@BloodyDIMISIS55]

Raptor the hell are you talking about? the guy is famous for fucking up and making everybody die! and you think he can take on TARKUUUUUUUUUS the mother fucking badass who took out a Dark souls boss single handedly!.... lol its like bieber fighting chuck noris

[@gabo007x1]

And gravity flips you.

[@Sianostrakarenrenren]

gabo Gravity OP plz nerf

[@JustSomeGuy489]

"Going to have to play thief with a lobster on each bollock" Now that Just made my day.

[@ahmedgamil74]

Best line in this video.

[@lovelobster8475]

I agree

[@RamadaArtist]

2:20 "A gentler barrier to entry might have turned less new players off." 8 Years Later, FromSoftware: "Fine." *releases Elden Ring*

[@DuckReconMajor]

is ER easier? maybe i need to explore more areas first

[@RamadaArtist]

@@DuckReconMajor I think ER has a much more shallow difficulty curve, with a lot of options in the opening areas so that you aren't necessarily funneled into challenge checks. It's much easier to be over leveled and overpowered, especially once you know what you're doing.

[@henchera]

This was a bad thing for hardcore veterns of the series. I was used to grinding for levels to stay competative. I did what I did in other DS games when I found my first good spot for grinding early in the game, and balanced out my skills for the character and upgraded weapons. I was absurdly overpowered for a decent while, and that was totally unintentionally. Although to be fair, despite its gameplay similarities, it isn't a dark souls game in reality, and that needs to be thought about too I guess. @@RamadaArtist

[@AlastorAltruistGaming]

@@DuckReconMajorfar from it. It is NOT super easy by any stretch of the imagination. In my experience, Elden has tested my patience & won. I hear people saying it’s easy, when in reality, even Demon’s Souls is easier than Elden.

[@DuckReconMajor]

@@AlastorAltruistGaming I think ER is one of the hardest From games but it also gives you the most tools to get OP if you want. I hope you stick with it. Also while Demon's Souls has a rough start, if you've played the other games most Demon's Souls bosses fall over pretty easily.

[@DaLoopDiggerz]

This is the best review of Dark souls i have ever seen.

[@sunnysideup137]

It took you two fucking years, but you finally got around to it. Thanks.

[@polymathicheretic5068]

Retro reviews is his things once in a while. Because why the fuck not?

[@MrSailing101]

Now do Xenoblade

[@V-Jes]

MrSailing101 it's a jrpg and he don't like it there

[@MrSailing101]

mywlan2 Not just a JRPG, Xenoblade is a Nintendo exclusive JRPG staring an animesque protagonist with spikey hair, a giant sword, and anger issues, and Critics everywhere love it, Meaning it's the pinnacle of things that we know Yahtzee will bash. Asking Yahtzee to review Xenoblade is like throwing your firstborn son to a pack of wolves , and I plan to bring popcorn. I'll have some popcorn for the review as well of course. (Also of note is that it came out in Australia before Americans ever got it, which is unheard of for most games)

[@V-Jes]

MrSailing101 same thing did happen to mario and luigi dream team bros

[@iweegouldyi8466]

I just found this guy, and i think i'm fucking in love, he's like a gaming Ashens

[@Nick-mp1zh]

And so begins the spiral, where you wake up from your coma and realize you've been watching every video of Zero Punctuation on repeat for months and your family has already given up on you for dead

[@iweegouldyi8466]

***** The Flag? Scotland

[@zakkemp9383]

His world war 2 game reviews are bad. He just talks about how much he hates Germans. So yes, avoid his WW2 game reviews.

[@wasabi1787]

Also, this is the most glowing review I've ever seen him give a game... like ever.

[@gingervampireFTW]

darkfur3 Don't forget Psychonauts. He loves that game, and for good reason.

[@Candesce]

BloodyDIMISIS55 I get the feeling that darkfur3 was trying to invoke Yahtzee-esque talky talk.

[@Usernamesdontmatter1]

BloodyDIMISIS55 Those were in yahtzee's own words buttmunch. Welcome to the community. He literally compares him loving certain games as oral sex if you fucking pay attention.

[@BloodyDIMISIS55]

darkfur3 wel...ok then sorry haha

[@SingaporeLoveItachi]

Arkham Asylum?

[@Jaceblue04]

0:59 - 1:21 I had a similar experience with My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

[@LuckyBastard12345]

Same thing with Adventure time

[@protogod19]

Ragnarok9x Oh no... that was my first thought but I didn't wanna touch this one.... which now I have ...damn

[@BlackMetalWorld]

I don't get the appeal of the show, no matter how good the characters or story might be, the fanbase vertainly doesn't help it.

[@protogod19]

Urhg I really wanted to stay out of this, I really did... but guys this isn't a seemingly witty, kinda well thought out cartoon with colorful characters and a sensible tongue and cheek plot. This is Dark Souls, its the exact opposite. Where you can spend maybe an hour and get into MLP most people have put Dark Souls down never to return to it in that same time span. The world is bleak, characters kinda sad or creepy, little direction of what to do, little actual story (other then undead and trying to collect souls, it's more lore than story) What I'm saying is the elements that draw people into that cartoon is not the same elements that draw people into the Souls games. For MLP if you just stick around and watch that's pretty much all it may take for you to get into it. In Dark Soul its takes a lot more then just playing... ineptitude of skill, strategy, experimentation, learning... This is what you have to overcome in Dark Souls. If thats not enough and you still think that these to media are similar in that they require you to endure it to like it. MLP is a television show, it requires no input on your part in order to be interested in it, in Dark Soul... hell In Games in general are all input based. Games are an experience that you have a direct influence on. Hell even the opening prologue of Dark Soul barely makes sense until you are familiar with some of the games concepts... I want nothing to do with MLP, I wont watch it, wont touch it. I get where you're coming from but the requirement level of engagement needed to get into Dark Souls stems far beyond what is needed for MLP. That being said: git gud brony scrubs... git gud

[@greywalker505]

@Gideon Winters ...I’m not deep in the Dark Souls fan base, despite playing the FromSoftware games, but I assume that “git gud” is intended as a compliment. Am I correct?

[@djlapio93litlebro]

Now play Demon Souls

[@theescapist]

DEMON'S SOULS (Zero Punctuation)

[@djlapio93litlebro]

Escapist well, that rounds up the search

[@robbysimpson3707]

Escapist ...um, now bring me a pizza?

[@semvision]

I played Dark Souls first, then I gave Demon's Souls a try because many people would claim that it is better than Dark Souls. Those people can eat shit and die.

[@MrConnerCassel]

+djlapio93litlebro hurr durr, demon souls is so good because it came out first hurr durr

[@Ultrasound700]

I look forward to the Thief review.

[@AlexMartinez-cu5bw]

Finally found that "behind two brick walls and a fire" joke from tbe YTP Krubby Krabbs Avenges Pearl Harbor. Anyone aho doesnt know what im talking about thinks im a fucking lunatic now.

[@Evsbear1]

yep you got my thoughts right haha

[@spongethebest2728]

Yes I was looking too

[@sirllamaiii9708]

Same

[@SuperLordGaming]

Was always wondering what ZP episode it was from, now I found it lol. Been thinking about it since that video came out.

[@TheMorbidHobo]

I just like Dark Souls because it brings me back to when games were not a walk in the park to beat, they took time and dedication, and they were real challenges.

[@Bourikii2992]

except after beating dark souls once it becomes a cake walk and can be completed kill all optional bosses plus the dlc in 4 hours

[@TheMorbidHobo]

And? That's usually what happened with the old games as well. Look at NCS's 1 heart Contra run. "How do you do that? By playing the fucking game." To quote an oh-so wondrous fellow.

[@TheMorbidHobo]

Which just further proves my point by this guy with no real formal training doing a 1 heart run of the game.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@Bourikii2992 I can't. And I have played through all of them.

[@shirokumaotaku]

2:34 Saw this in a SpongeBob YTP

[@Stynze]

which one?

[@shirokumaotaku]

@@Stynze Mr. Krabs Avenges Pearl Harbor

[@nikolozgilles]

2:33 This is the reward we get for all our hard work? Fishing for stinky clams in a smelly old boat in a different postcode behind two secret walls and a fire UNDER THE SEA

[@Kraken-rex9743]

​@@nikolozgilles ah come on squidward

[@Kyllmor]

Every time I see someone new play this game, they say they hate the game and don't stop playing. Then it gets so bad that I want to bang my head in a wall. Continually doing it until I reach the outside and and then bang my head into the fucking dirt to the core of the Earth.

[@Carium1]

6 years really does fly by

[@1983Corolla]

There it is, Bam, Yahtzee hit the nail right on the head about everything that makes Dark Souls *good* I'v been waiting for this review for a while and it's great seeing him just hit every detail perfectly.

[@Chaosdogg47]

I honestly wasn't expecting him to ever do this one. He did the Demon's Souls game, and he hated that one. Well, perhaps now he can go back to Demon's Souls and actually enjoy it and appreciate it this time around.

[@AirahsELL]

***** both games have a lot of problems that people tout as strong points, but Demons Souls is just chock full of inane design decisions that were ironed out with Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 later. The biggest problem was how the hub and levels were designed, and half health penalty for staying in soul form is a close second.

[@jkitty542]

1:30 "A narrow and easy to miss path down lies the rest of the fucking game". Yep, that's the hallway that leads to the Depths after fighting the Capra Demon alright.

[@hectorluis1997]

2:25 a guy telling you how to easily beat a boss? in the dark souls community? without calling you a casual or saying ''git gud'' instead? in which parallel universe were you in that exact moment?

[@AngryLoo]

Now that you finally understand the wonder of Souls, Yahtzee, you have our permission to remake your Demon's Souls review.

[@Tiitra]

Did he ever finish that game?

[@thcioci]

Personally, I love his Demon's Souls review. Somehow, it captured my initial experience with Dark Souls perfectly. I'm not sure how accurate it was since I haven't played Demon's Souls, but nevertheless, it was hilarious.

[@Tiitra]

Claudiu Ciocian Doesn't answer my question but good to share your thoughts. And unlike a lot of his reviews he did it in a more experienced feel type of way and that first time playing Demon's Souls is the hardest time but so invigorating at the same time.

[@MrVile738]

Sorry if i'm disagreeing with some people's views, but I didn't like demon's souls nearly as much as Dark Souls. It felt more like a standard RPG that was too difficult. Wherein Dark Souls was cruel yet fair, Demon's Souls was irritating and trial and error.

[@daandriod]

Overall it seems like he enjoyed it. Maybe that means we won't have to wait 3 years for a review of Dark souls 2

[@HardMGaming]

I knew that Yahtzee would come around eventually once he gave it a chance. I bet he would have liked Demon's Souls too if he had given it the time it deserved. These aren't games you can rush through in a weekend, you gotta give them at least a full week.

[@NTeKLullaby]

The Souls series is amazing, and as far as I have seen Dark Souls 2 is shaping up to be a really good game. "Once you get used to it" - hehe :D

[@HardMGaming]

NTeKLullaby It seems like they're making Dark Souls 2 a lot easier to understand and teaching the basic mechanics better. A lot of people are pissed at that but honestly accessibility is important. I think everyone should play a Souls game all the way through.

[@CornishCreamtea07]

HardModeGaming I've heard that the first part has been made very easy, I've heard from people who have fought the Mirror Knight that it is very hard.

[@skullkid325]

HardModeGaming You are correct. The game itself has, by all accounts retained its difficulty (some say it's harder), as well as having in-game mechanics to increase the difficulty ontop of the usual (a Covenant that makes the game harder, for example). But, the game is more accessible. The lore is told in the same manner as the first, which is excellent, but the basic story and the background are explained properly. The tutorial is easy and doesn't feature a boss, but it's also completely optional (lots of fans dislike this, I think it will make new builds less repetitive)

[@NTeKLullaby]

Yeah but the late game is way harder, no invincibility whilst in an animation, permanent chance of being invaded, better enemy AI as well as groups of enemies attacking you more often, more traps and the like, a more varied skill system adds to the depth of the game. It really is looking like it will be a great experience with an even higher skill ceiling. :D

[@epicactual5209]

My favorite sign is still the one that said "Tears ahead" right before the stairwell in Undead Burg leading to the first Black Knight.

[@matthewroddick9737]

3:35 I recall one scenario of unreachable scenery piece in Dark Souls 3 and it opened up a huge speculation for a while since there was no way of getting to it. Turned out it was part of a cut area.

[@jimmystyx194]

2:24 I get that same smile whenever I watch people play the tutorial level. "Ha! The boss can't get me up on this le- OH SHIT!" Priceless.

[@ImJTHM]

This is the video that convinced me to buy this game. And jesus fucking christ, this game is amazing. I'm a whiney gamesnob, and this game is the shit.

[@Gusztika3]

Have a great time :D

[@kowaretatenshi4561]

lol yeah darksouls is endlessly fantastic, i just started a new game after almost a year of not playing and was like "why the hell did i stop playing this?!?! its fucking epic!!!!" -commits dark souls genocide and kills every invader" huzzah for the best PVP system ever, the one where you dont get a damn choice XD I LOVE IT!!!!!

[@rexjhowell]

I heard that the pc version is very bad is it good or not

[@ImJTHM]

R.J. Howell It has two major issues. First: The keyboard controls are fucked beyond belief to the point of unplayable. If you have a controller, this doesn't matter. I also heard that it is extremely poorly optimized if you don't have a good PC. I don't have any issues, personally, but I know people that get really bad FPS lag.

[@christyanho]

R.J. Howell Just Google for DSFix and DSMFix. Those 2 mods completely fix the game on PC. As a matter of fact, I finished the game many many times with keyboard+mouse and, quite frankly, I can't imagine playing this game with a controller now.

[@Arexion5293]

This will always be one of the classics. If you're wondering whether I'm referring to the game or the video, the answer is yes.

[@danzone9168]

3:08 , isn't that sif the great grey wolf.

[@Digggyyyyy]

Before I watched the video I was thinking, "This'll be another of those episodes where the whole time I'm just shouting NO! NO! NO!" but then Yahtzee proved his excellent taste!

[@Phobosinadamant]

That 20 feet tall thing... there is a reason for that :)

[@Dragodonv2]

Good for you Yahtzee! You finally did it! Now all your friends can badger you about some other game!

[@Dragodonv2]

Geahk Burchill Right, right... yeah

[@Dragodonv2]

***** Well, I personally don't think Yahtzee considers ANYONE his friend, and just sees them as amusing distractions from his misery and stunning good looks.

[@cjr4908]

Y'know, the first time I watched this, I thought he was joking about a wolf trying to shiv him.

[@mrwindupbird101]

"Dark Souls, letting you know which of your gamer friends are really into masochism since 2011."

[@dragonkillx5]

Am I the only one that only watches these videos and nothing else in the Escapist Channel?

[@suli568]

I can't imagine Sif pissing on Artorias's grave,mistaking it for a fire hydrant. NOOOOOOOOOOOO! :'(

[@liviublaj8659]

this reminds me of one of your quotes "sotn isn't here to impress you, you're here to impress sotn"

[@Limubi1]

I come back to this review every so often. It's just so very good.

[@reyalskrad1]

Ive watched thousands of 30 minute videos explaining the lore, the story, and everything about dark souls and 2:50 summarizes the game perfectly in 10 seconds. Good job.

[@jerec1267]

Kevin Lavoie dark souls in summary also were those lore videos by any chance by either/or vaatividya/epicnamebro

[@neobakuryu804]

"I'm gonna have to play the new thief with a lobster on each bullock." Now you understand why playing Dark Souls is the best way to end up playing less videogames. That and hearing Pewdiepie saying "Praise the sun." I don't think I'll ever be able to get used to that.

[@edge21str]

You missed out on pvp. It's one of the main points in the game. Getting invaded, invading and eventually facing equal opponents in set up duels is what really made this game for me after mastering the world.

[@MrVile738]

Eventually...

[@ethan277]

And there are so many ways to engage in pvp too! My personal favorite method is just sitting in the forest and waiting for others to invade.

[@Spore9996]

You remember that Yahtzee HATES multiplayer?

[@Spore9996]

Yup.

[@OdaSwifteye]

He actually sort of didn't. He turned around and started letting PVP happen and enjoyed it too. It only took place after this review though.

[@techsyoutube3891]

“In a chest, In a basement in a different post code behind 2 secret walls and a fire”

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

And I know which one he means.

[@davidfrancis421]

OtakuUnitedStudio is he talking about the ring the allows you to find gwyndolyn or the rusted iron ring? or is he talking about some other obscure ring hidden as far away from the place it’s used for that I don’t know about?

[@deadstop4434]

I thought he was talking about the ring in the great hollow

[@Gento70]

I'm happy with this review.

[@Jaceblue04]

If I ever make a game, the only thing I'll put in the skybox is the sun and some clouds, if daytime; if nighttime, I'll put the moon and some stars. The pretty stuff, I'll put in the levels.

[@SketchBookShortFilms]

Holy shit, after playing Dark Souls I suddenly understand so much more about this review: 1:25 fucking mimics... 1:35 happened many times during the game for me 1:40 The running joke with Dark Souls next to hailing a particular celestial body 2:13 Belltower Gargoyles. ALWAYS. BRING. SOLAIRE. (if you're going in your first time) 2:44 Oh hi Quelaag 2:55 I take i you linked the First Flame? 3:07 Prepare to cry... 3:55 FUCK. THOSE. ARCHERS.

[@fluffy-hellhound]

+SketchBookShortFilms Wanna know what's even worst than archers? The guys with the fucking spears. They take forever to drop their guard and almost never attack.

[@alexgregory365]

Totally agree with you about those &@(;:/?$&ING archers!

[@Arexion5293]

+FluffyHellHound Wanna know what's even worse? Head to the roof when you're gravelorded, and you will find two black phantom spear guys.

[@Krebons1200]

+FluffyHellHound just kick em and they drop it automatically

[@fluffy-hellhound]

Krebons1200 You can kick?

[@Core_Of_The_Void]

“A chest in a basement in a different post code behind 2 secret walls and a fire”

[@TechnologyWitch]

My only qualm with the game is the fact that I feel like not telling the player what stats do what is fake difficulty. My pyromancer wasted quite a few levels on intelligence before I was helpfully informed that it does fuck-all for us, and our damage is determined entirely by how much we upgrade our gloves. I don't mind a steep learning curve, but I sort of expect the game to explain the mechanics of something as simple and basic as the leveling system, a belief that apparently makes me a filthy casual. o_o

[@TheAnimefan112]

Press select in the stat menu and it tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about the stats, including the fact that intelligence does not improve pyromancies (during loadingscreens you can sometimes see the pyromancy flame and it tells you that you can upgrade it for more pyromancy damage). And it's not the glove (armor) you upgrade for extra pyromancy damage, but the flame (weapon). Not reading what stats do before you invest in them makes you a filthy casual.

[@Stigsnake5]

Yes that part wasn't well explained, but if you looked at the stats of the pyromancy flame you will notice it does not scale with any stat, indicated by the -/-/-/- where each scaling for str, dex, int, and faith. I agree it was a surprise to me but that's all changed in DS2 atleast.

[@JustLetMeComment80]

Blaze Dude, it says "Hit BACK/Select for an explanation" in the menu screen.

[@K0sm1cKid]

I hope they do better with that in Dark Souls II, a lot of things needed to be explained better but I guess you could say that's part of the experience. :/

[@Stigsnake5]

JustLetMeComment80 The explanation doesn't indicate what it scales with, the MagAdjust is the only thing that slightly indicates pyromancy is separate from sorcery but with the way faith and int scales with their respective spells your first thought would be that pyromancy works in a similar way which I only found out through online when I started playing.

[@PANTEHRAH]

True story Dark Souls was one of my first RPGs ever and I spent 100+ hours trying to get the lower bell because I skipped the dialogue from the npc next to the bonfire and didn't know there was another path. I own all dark souls games now.

[@BecktonBoii]

Just picked this up and all the signs say ' Praise the sun' can anyone explain it

[@NinurtahRS]

There's an NPC called Solaire who's Gwyn's firstborn son. He's a sunlight warrior and his catchphrase is Praise the Sun.

[@samshaw8830]

You can also get a guesture called Praise the Sun

[@samshaw8830]

Depends on your soul level get it to 8m and we can

[@CreepingCreeper21]

Umbassa!

[@AngryNerdBird]

Ninurtah RS I don't think he ever actually said that phrase in Dark Souls. It's just one of the pre-made messages you can leave with the orange soapstone.

[@DarthVaizard]

What I got from this: I like it.

[@OtterloopB]

I'd say Demon's Souls is rent-worthy: Dark Souls is everything I've been wanting in a game for a long time. Moody, atmospheric, rewards exploration, treats you like you're capable of thinking for yourself, etc. After the ATROCITIES that are Dream Team and Bravely Default, I figured the days of good RPGs were one and done. So glad I caved and got Dark Souls.

[@geoffnaylor3734]

Given it's a long game in bargain bins it's not worth renting at all; you can buy it at nearly rental price.

[@Xirbtt]

You bought Bravely Default expecting Dark Souls type experience? I'd say your expectations are way out of order.

[@Snowlili]

TIL: JRPGs and WRPGs should be expected to be the same thing. Okay...

[@TheMurderCircus]

TheSilentAmp Dark Souls is a JRPG.

[@Snowlili]

TheMurderCircus I honestly do NOT see how, and that is incredibly unbelievable.

[@MrGhoulGamer]

dear god he actually liked it we have a new Souls fan

[@VGamingJunkieVT]

Fun fact, John Romero actually made it a rule in Doom where, if you can see outside, you should be able to get out there somehow. Perhaps the game industry should make that a standard.

[@spladam3845]

Wow, I'm newly subscribed to you guys, one of the guys from Analog Reviews linked me to THIS vid, and wow, great writing and delivery man, really good stuff and looking forward to checking out the rest of your Zero Punctuation vids. Very well done and very witty, and all so true. Now excuse me, I have to go rake myself in the face, or maybe just rake myself gently....

[@1xadavid]

When I saw Yahtzee was going to review this, I was honesty scared. I just saw it in my recommended videos and I thought OH BOY HERE WE GO. But of course, Yahtzee was a bro and made a good video of it.

[@Spartansoldier217]

Only took him two years to get around to this one... ah well, it was just as hilarious as I'd imagined it would be.

[@Traveler-254]

"It's right there in the open, in a chest, in a basement, behind two secret walls and a fire" ....From definitely took inspiration in how they hid Lightning Arrow in DS3, didn't they?

[@Bombom1300]

From has always gone all in on the hidden items. If I had to guess which thing Yahtzee was talking about, I would assume it's the Cloranthy Ring. It's an extremely helpful ring which is (Spoilers) at the bottom of blight town through two illusory walls and past a nightmarish jump into a tree. Then again, there was an entire area with a covenant and an NPC story conclusion even past all that, so I guess From just really likes hiding things.

[@ReginaFera]

This is so spot on. I've never been a "hardcore gamer," but the subtle story telling and bleak-but-awe-inspiring atmosphere is what drew me to the games, and I don't think anyone rants about it enough! It makes me just want to dive in and immerse myself in the world and discover more about these vague and mysterious places.

[@00Darkprince]

So what I get from this is Dark Souls makes you stronger

[@cremecrimson9035]

Amazing Chest Ahead

[@greywalker505]

2:15 Stand-up gig...at the Nuremberg Trials. I know that that’s meant to illustrate how forgiving the boss fights can be, but still, that’s one of the most line-crossingly hilarious things I’ve ever heard.

[@mikemoran9132]

I love everything this man does. His reviews, his books, it's all just amazing and hilarious. I hope he does a review of Sick of Truth soon.

[@link4585]

gotta say first game I heard him praise....while still insulting others....still I laughed the entire time....Cant wait for him to review DSII

[@mikeandike7844]

I lost a friend to this game. Seriously, I havent seen him for months, and it still says he is playing dark-souls on steam

[@stefanfr13]

I like how this was uploaded on the exact same day I completed Dark Souls the first time. Well, I am talking about when it was uploaded on the Escapist's website.

[@TheKettle92]

This is still my favourite review you've done. Awesome work

[@TheKettle92]

Still true

[@TheKettle92]

Yep, I love this review

[@ivanovsd]

Do The Stick of Truth!

[@OdaSwifteye]

Review requests go unheard on this channel. Go to the escapist forums. Also he has a schedule there are no requests.

[@The-ph6jf]

one time when playing this I was low on health in the undead burg trying to get away from some hollows, I got on a bridge leading to a building and saw a message that said "tough fight ahead" so I turned around and tried to go the other way and died. Later I found out that what was actually there was a bonfire...fuck my life...

[@VanhendrixMegamaiden]

I can't believe you gave Dark Souls such a lenient review (or lenient from what some I've seen of yours), just glad you finished it.

[@acemcbeanpiff]

I quite liked how he referred to the boss on the rooftop as forgiving as "A stand-up comedian in the Nuremburg Trials"