Dark Souls - 12 Years Later

After playing Elden Ring, I go back to the iconic Dark Souls from 2011.
Cinematic Footage credits:
Zullie The Witch ( / zulliethewitch )
TheParryGod ( / @theparrygod )
Music Credits:
Co.ag ( / @co.agmusic )

[@emalinedickinson7492]

Why is poise always so maligned? It's a good mechanic. You are a knight standing in pounds upon pounds of heavily plated steel, and yet someone pokes you with a stick and you flinch? Poise makes so much sense and it isn't that complicated.

[@chaoskiller6084]

It's probably a matter of balance; poise is horribly broken in DS1, as good as it is. It breaks and trivialises almost every fight in the game.

[@a_fuckin_spacemarine7514]

​@@chaoskiller6084 it's not broken in the actual game, it's broken in PvP......and even there, only so because of the idiotic inclusion of "back stabs".

[@FoxFireUnlimited]

Most armor isn't nearly as heavy as most people think it is...there's videos of people doing flips and crap in full medieval armor.

[@CosmicPotato]

​@@FoxFireUnlimited Exactly, people greatly overestimate how heavy armor actually is

[@caseyking8394]

@@CosmicPotato to be fair, if you are wearing the shit Havel had you aren't gonna budge, but i agree that poise was overtuned in ds1 for sure. It's very satisfying in pve but a little absurd with how much you can shrug off

[@lorenfulghum2393]

Poise isn't that complicated, but it's unlike other mechanics: Poise is a stat, just like stamina, that refills, but there is a longer delay before the refill starts, and when it happens, it refills completely. It also automatically refills after a "poise break", which is what happens when poise is decreased to zero. Each weapon deals a set amount of poise damage along with normal hp damage. Basically it's like an invisible stamina type meter.

[@carloszerpa2312]

poise rules

[@enternamehere142]

What makes it special is the story being the gameplay. No game has really done anything like it. Don’t go hollow… don’t quit! You can do it

[@lucascarracedo7421]

Definitely. Not even the other DS games, let alone ER or BB managed to make the story and gameplay mesh that well conceptually. Maybe Sekiro is the only one that makes similar sense in that regard (as in death makes the world be stuck in a loop). But the way respawning at a bonfire had some sort of sense with the cyclical nature on the world is something that was sort of lost in following titles, and the world being the same after death stopped making much sense other than from a pure gameplay perspective. The mechanic is still there but without actual conceptual substance to back it up.

[@emmanuelwolf6568]

dark souls are truly a metaphor for life, my 14-year-old son has just been introduced to the games, and at first, he got very frustrated, but then, something clicked in his head, and he's almost beaten the game after around 5 days now, I'm very proud of him, if he takes the same method in life, he's going to do well.

[@gw7817]

Absolutely loved this comment

[@Aoekin]

thats awesome and definitely agree, the game teaches a good lesson that not everything in life is a happy path scenario lol

[@UniqueTechnique29]

This game is and always will be my favorite game of all time.

[@lucascarracedo7421]

Fully agree with you. Even though other games can be better in certain aspects, as a complete package this is the best ever for me and I doubt my opinion will ever change. It hits so many right notes.

[@TheRealSyrett]

Bloodborne is my favorite but this is my second favorite. Ds1 is far superior to other ds games and all other games

[@stefanostsougkranis5851]

DS1 is still their highest artistic achievement. What a legend of a game.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

It also has a few parallels to historical plagues but not outright adpting them plus a number of armor sets are based on historical armor. DS1 is the Antonine Plague if it was a Medieval Fantasy, (there are also some Black Death Parallels) the Plague caused the Death of the Co Emperor of Marcus Aurellius and caused the End of the Pax Romana causing the decline and Fall of Rome in the West. DS2 = Plauge of Justinian and its later flare ups and also the Reigns of the Byzantine Emperess Irene (she took the throne from her own son through murder after her Husband died and was hated by Byzantium and justified the creation of the HRE by Charlemagne.) and to a degree Charlemagne King of Francia and Basill the Bulgar Slayer. DS3 = has few IRL Parallels but its probably symbolising the End of the Medieval Period and the coming of the Early Modern Period after the Black Death and the Climate Change that preceded it causing famine, Europe entered the Renessance and a New Era was formed. (Also the Arts flourished in the Renessance and one escape from the end of the world in DS3 created was a literal painting.) P.S For DS2 Neshandra also has parallel to the English Queen Isabella during the Black death as she imprisoned her Husband after a coup and died in captivity.

[@grimr3vp3r84]

@@forickgrimaldus8301ds3 ringed city parallels a lot in real life just not plagues.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

@@grimr3vp3r84 the DS just adopts the Feel and less the Real TBH, like I said it takes inspiration just not put right adopts them

[@wolf1nsoul]

SoulsBorne games age like a good fucking wine man. It always takes few seconds to adjust to, but even Bloodborne's framerate doesn't bother me anymore - the brilliant art direction helps immensely!

[@jacedjohnson3541]

Love them all

[@Druwuwho1337]

I would not mind a PC release of Bloodborne tho. So we could get 60 fps and mods XD

[@prince_warhero]

Is and always will be a masterpiece

[@TheJols]

DS1 is so damn good. I love the harsh mechanical consequences that don't often exist in other games. I can't think of a game that had a better sense of adventure.

[@flamingmanure]

elden ring has quite a substantially better, bigger and dnser sense of adventure than all the other games tbh, but ds1 is the second best at that by miles, it was my first and the feelings i had cowering in corners and peaking into every turn is unrivalled till this day! its my second favorite after elden ring and probably always will be, not to mention its still the most influential souls game, it created the bonfire checkpoints, loopy level design and estus system that half the industry copied, i will never forget this game till the day i die! maybe in 10 years it gets a faithful remaster, one can only dream.

[@adammasterx5854]

@@flamingmanureI remember when I reached the bell gargoyles and was too scared to lose my souls so I stopped playing for a couple months, good times lol

[@justinld]

This is the first game that when I played it made me feel again for the first time that sense of exploration that classic games gave me as a kid. It felt like the first time I played Zelda and I have only come to love the game more and more over time. The DLC is soooo good too.

[@carloszerpa2312]

I felt the same way, it reminded me so much of that feeling I got as a kid playing Ocarina of Time, I think it might have something to do with Japanese take on medieval fantasi

[@pandora8734]

If a game makes you come back to it 4 times and you're not bored with it, you know it's good (especially in the span of almost 2 years of playing)

[@InternetPitstop]

This game literally changed my life. Great video man!

[@DownwardThrust]

Thanks

[@solidsnake9898]

Hey man! I watch your vids!

[@Olimpico230]

in my humble opinion, one of the most important reasons the first half of DS1 was so special is you can’t warp. I think warping made thing so much different. Maybe the devs were so confident in their level designs that they made them without warping, and then when the second half of the game was so rushed they had to introduce warping.

[@V-Jes]

After trying out a playthough with the ability to warp from the start, must say i didn't loose anything other than the time it would had taken to backtrack everywhere as lot of the locations just don't feel like they were made with backtracking in mind at all, what is why you can outright softlock yourself before you get the ability to warp...

[@miki49]

Just don’t warp whenever you get the lord vessel. See how much it affects how you prioritize the order of your next tasks.

[@TheJols]

Absolutely. Someone, i forget who said "given the option, gamers would optimize the fun out of games" and i think the no warping in DS1 shows that while it might add some tedium to the game it is a boon overall for the game. Getting cursed can become an entire quest in itself with multiple solutions. With warping it would be a quick warp to an npc instead of carefully making it to a merchant without losing your souls. For me that was a very memorable moment.

[@MrLaSilla]

This is a new take that I thoroughly agree with, the second half seemed so rushed and also as if they weren't aware that they prepared too much to be able to present so little. That being said I appreciate the fight to work towards fast travel. It's one thing I believe every game after ds1 could have used / improved upon. Being able to fast travel asap is just like every other open world game. Hence my utter disappointment when Elden ring basically was ds3 part 2

[@infidelicteeth6598]

I think warping is appropriate for the second half of the game, while I enjoy the feeling of being stuck in dangerous, unknown lands, -- the lord souls are so spread out and all in the deepest crevices of the world. If you had to crawl your way out of tomb of the giants for example, I think it'd be less of the fun, lost and alone experience, and more the teeth grindingly annoying kind.

[@RedCzar777]

Finished the Remastered version again a few weeks ago, it's a MASTERPEACE !

[@jurjcluners8490]

This is the definitive FromSoft experience. It beats every single game out of the water let alone any other games in the genre.

[@andrecontreras2792]

I’m sooooooo glad I got to play dark souls 1 before any other from game

[@Kernwadi]

“Past tense of ping is pong.” -Bilbo Baggins

[@rabidspatula1013]

Praise the Sun!

[@JaytheLay1]

Always down for more Dark Souls content, thanks for your work, keep creating I look forward to more!

[@carlosdumbratzen6332]

Thank you. I didnt know I needed this reminder of my favourite game of all times. I return to it from time to time and the sound of the character creation screen or the crackling of the bonfire sooth my soul. The fear, when turning around a corner when I was on my first playthrough was exhilerating. Something I never felt again in a an rpg (obviously outlast or RE7 or so made me scared to turn around a corner). I also really love the art design. Dark Souls is really dark, together with the crumbling architecture and decaying world this makes for an amazing atmosphere. I will replay it today

[@Hollowdude15]

I believe dark souls is still a masterpiece and amazing video man :]

[@XEN-ZOMBIE]

If a game reaches the 'Masterpiece' class it does not leave it. Generally people will look back on these games and critique the visuals or mechanics when the technology that made it was vastly inferior to what we have now. It is a masterpiece. One of very few and everything has flaws when perfection is unobtainable.

[@broomhilda5122]

Nobody else has videos this well-written. Thank you for another thoughtful retrospective!

[@Zanaki113]

Dark Souls was one of the first games where I just went at it, I never really played games much longer after they made me mad as a kid, but something about dark souls was hitting 15 year old me to just keep going. I think I finally understood why people loves old zelda games, as a kid I just couldn't beat those games, despite enjoying running around making no progress without old book guides lol... Dark Souls, though I did have gameafqs friends sometimes helping me, was mostly just me running around discovering things and man it sticks with me over a decade later. Very few games do that to this day.

[@bartwatts6561]

As a really long time fan, this is one of the best essays I have heard on Dark Souls. Great job. As much as I also love Elden Ring, I agree with you comments.

[@cim8805]

Great analogy and video, Love to see more content

[@Bioxidus85]

awesome video man, i love the slow ambien mysterious music playing in the background of the video

[@ragna6410]

Masterpiece

[@The_Pleb_King]

God what an absolutely fantastic video

[@jhitcho2026]

I agree. DS1 is special. It seems that DS games went in another direction to hit a wider player base. They succeeded but I find myself playing the older games more

[@stingyringpiece]

Great channel thanks man

[@ObedienceSuffering]

Your "Years Later" videos have made me replay Bloodborne and other souls games over and over again multiple times.Thank you for your amazing editing and your awesome narration dude. Much appreciated!

[@romanw29615]

Thank you for this video. You're a legend. I am currently after DS2 and Elden Ring. I am trying DS1 now and have tough time progressing.

[@BroadwayJosh]

Bravo! Excellent commentary and good takes on the game. Dark Souls is a work of art.

[@mikedelgrande5296]

I never get tired of watching these Dark Souls retrospectives.

[@MukiMuki688]

RE4 or DS1, that is the question. -Shakespeare

[@stix2906]

Literally I can’t get enough of either of these games, I always keep coming back

[@josiahferrell5022]

Dude just blindsided me with that hot take in the last 90 seconds.

[@OldboyGamergeek]

My favourite game ever. And the best character is the actual map itself. I love the sense of discovery on that first playthrough that no other game has come close to for me.

[@CrowFatherReign]

Impeccable

[@Gakusangi]

The fact that Dark Souls was very slow, tactical and favored defensive strategies was part of the major appeal to me. To think, a game where when you block with a shield, it negates the enemy attack... effectively! It was such a novel concept XD

[@weebto]

The combat was very methodical in its slowness, almost turn-based in spite of it still being action-based. It's something no other game has been able to replicate ever since. Sekiro kinda achieved it in its own way, but still quite differently. It's hard to explain what made ds1 combat so good, people often roll their eyes at me when I tell them I find it better than ds3's or elden ring's

[@Gakusangi]

@@weebto Dark Souls 1 is still the undisputed king, as far as I'm concerned. It was different from Demon's Souls and all the rest. You can't capture what it was again. I can enjoy the evolution of it with Elden Ring, but Dark Souls is still the game I come back to over and over again.

[@weebto]

@@Gakusangi wholeheartedly agreed, and it's got nothing to do with nostalgia tbh, as I only got around playing it when the remaster released. Elden ring is a much more modern and expansive game with a lot more build options and gameplay mechanics, but it's nowhere near as tight or cohesive as ds1, even keeping its lowest lows into account

[@Zockanumber1]

I have seen tons of Dark Souls Diqqriding vids but I never get sick of em

[@Vman_95]

Fromsoft and Miyazaki took huge risk with this souls project from demon souls. Trusting players to figure out game, lore & it's mechanics. And it succeeded where rest games can't.🔥💯

[@NamelessSekiro]

This game left me feeling empty. Truly amazing.

[@deadfall0324]

Dark souls one was my first souls game I struggled and I couldn’t get past the capper demon so I gave up swearing that all souls games are too hard and that I would never play any of them ever again. Eventually Elden ring comes out and one week after it’s release I decided to buy it and try it out. I was immediately in love with it and was determined to beat it and after I beat the game once I made several more characters. I love this game so much that I thought that I should go back and continue playing dark souls one so I re-download dark souls and started a new character. The game felt so much easier to play and I was able to beat the boss that I was stuck on previously, I beat dark souls one and made more characters too play it more. The game I once thought was unbeatable was now one of my favorite games and I absolutely loved it. If you enjoyed Elden ring and wanted to go back and play dark souls one it’s different but you’re definitely going to enjoy it. Oh and I once said that I would never play sekiro or bloodborne because they were “the hardest of the souls games”, but now I’ve played and beat both of them. I am 100% obsessed with everything fromsoftware has made and I highly recommend anyone and everyone to play these games if they peak your interest in the slightest, NO game is too hard!

[@UniqueTechnique29]

From is the absolute best in the business!

[@F2t0ny]

Great vid

[@mrwaldoful]

Wish I could go back to 2013 playing this game on ps3 every day for months

[@watfunstu9086]

I loved elden ring and then went back to the dark souls series and loved dark souls 1! They are both arguably masterpieces, sometimes its for the same reasons and sometimes it's for totally different ones.

[@Brmngm]

❤ Poetry, man! Never played Souls, but I wonder if author used same ratio of music to action sound in this video as it is how he described DS1?

[@Theorphan81]

Dark Souls changed my life. It came out shortly before I turned 30... It reminded me of the games of my youth on the original NES, tough, unforgiving, but fair. Compared to all the easy, mass market tripe of the time, it was a breath of fresh air. I'm 41 now and I have less time for gaming... But I always make time for FromSoft Games.... I don't game nearly as much as I did in the past, but when a new From Soft Game drops? I spend months playing it and learning everything about it again. I hope to do so for the rest of my days.

[@johnyoung8745]

I need to go back and finish this. I was there at the beginning for demons souls but I got lost in dark souls and my life changed and I got distracted by other games. I gave up on fromsoft games in 2015 until 2022. Then ER hype came and I jumped back in with ds3 then Bloodborne and now ER. I’m almost done ER and now I am going to return to ds1 &ds2 that I never finished

[@laius6047]

i also havent finished ds1, need to come back at some point, life man

[@OsokaOiv]

Even having played other soulslike, DS1 is still unmatched for me in the feeling you have venturing father and father away from the last bonfire until all the tension is released when finally finding the next one. Man do I love this game.

[@amarsiali5120]

I still haven't watched the video but I know it's gonna be great

[@ellescer]

I remember looking at a 3d map of the world and realizing how everything is so fucking close to each other , to firelink shrine. It felt huge

[@highwaytoheaven99]

True story: I played Skyrim back in 2011 when it released, and fell in love immediately, I played it for months no end. Then I hear people saying that this game "Dark Souls" released and it is so much better than Skyrim. My very mature 14 years old self raged at the thought of another game being better than my darling, so I decided to buy it on sale and try it. I couldn't get past Taurus Demon, I died again and again and again. I thought "how in the world could anyone like this difficult, unfair, poop looking game? Skyrim is so much better" then abandoned it for years. Until I saw a youtube video about Dark Souls, don't know which one, it talked about how you can't just charge at enemies and expect to tank their damage, and out-dps them, you'll lose every time. This was precisely what I did in Skyrim, I would go into any enemy without a second thought and when I get low on health, I would just pause the game and drink a few of my 100s of healing potions. I was playing Dark Souls like it was Skyrim, the game obviously kicked my butt, and I got mad at it. This video made me realise I needed to play Dark Souls in a different way, I needed strategy, to take each enemy out with patience and care. I beat the game no problem, and when I did I was like... "WOW, I can't believe I missed this for years because of gamer rage". And you know the best part? They didn't make me dislike Skyrim, it is still my darling, as it was before. All that gamer rage talk of "Skyrim vs Dark Souls"? Well, why not BOTH? Dark Souls is now one of my favorite games of all time, I've played it to death by now. Dark Souls 3, Bloodborne, Sekiro... and now Elden Ring. All of these games have a special place in my heart, now and forever.

[@YannMetalhead]

I believe that what sets DS1 apart from any other souls-like is the exploration aspects with the interconnected world; walk anywhere you will ending up in a interesting place connected somehow to the place you came.

[@PocketRugby]

I have been searching helplessly for a video on Dark Souls 1, and have been reduced to Ash. Today I have found my bonfire and have become the Ashen One.

[@masonrapp2889]

immediately sending this to everybody i know

[@NamelessSekiro]

I love the parallels between Anor Londo and Leyndell.

[@Husham_922]

Man i love your voice

[@Strakkulus]

Visually, the Kiln of the First Flame is my favorite area. The design of the place makes you wonder what it used to be like in its prime, before the undead started linking the flame.

[@cantrip7]

I think you understated the element of preparation in this game, or how many options you have. You get to keep up upgrades on at least a couple weapons, and there are a fair few strong utility spells requiring minimal investment. Having one fast weapon and one long-reach weapon, or one bow, or having just enough Int for soul arrow, or just enough to buff your shield... Loading up on fire bombs to take out annoying enemies like slimes... Using a homeward bone as soon as you get enough souls to level up... All makes a big difference. I think the game gets easier and opens up when you approach it like an RPG as much as an action game. I liked the video, though. Nice to watch something relaxed and appreciative.

[@spyrotikus]

I desperately miss the feeling you descibe at the beginning of this video. I got it with Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2, and then Bloodborne, because those were the first 3 Souls games I played in order. I love the world, and the combat in the Souls games, and have beaten 25 different souls likes since then, but the feeling of fear and uncertainty I got while genuinely exploring those three games' worlds is unlike anything Ive ever had and ever will have again. I miss turning back with my souls being a genuine option. Nowadayd it doesnt matter to me, even in new souls likes. Lies of P was super hard, but only the bosses. It was an epic action game, but to no fault of its own, I wasnt given that same feeling of my first three souls games I crave so much.

[@wymanrtaylor]

Still my favorite Souls game

[@mattwcook9127]

>Reads title: Yes. Next question.

[@satevo462]

Last night, I had a few beers and tried to beat Rennala Queen of the Full Moon on a new Sorcery build character. She kept getting me over and over because I was just tilted. Then tonight, I beat her on my first try with the exact same build. Sometimes the most important lesson Souls games can teach you is to just walk away, and try again when you're ready.

[@yayday]

Second half of the game is definitely not as bad as you described it here. Duke’s Archives is one of the best areas in the game. Sure the Seath run back sucks but at least it’s a beautiful environment. Crystal Cave is one of the standout places in DS1 for ambiance imo. Bed of Chaos is the only truly shitty part of the second half in my opinion. Izaleth was a victim of rushed development but is still a cool place other than BoC and the Dino butts. And once you know where to go, you can run through New Londo and Tomb of the Giants fairly quickly. The second half is definitely a step down from the first half, but it’s really not that bad.

[@bungalowfeuhler1541]

Good job calling dibs on this title. Maybe next year I’ll catch lucky 13.

[@oliverrrrrrrrrr]

Sigh, games felt so much more pure back then. Thankfully From Soft hasn't forgotten its routes!

[@kevinmorales4405]

Lets go

[@rhileyisnear]

I always thought the ds1 mechanics were great, even after elden ring and ds3. I always still feel like I'm having fun slashing down enemies with a katana even if it is the same buttons for the millionth time.

[@anthonywyatt5133]

"the first thing that comes into my mind when I think about dark souls..." I was expecting the point down emote

[@pidge19]

Hello there. Big fan. I'm wondering if you have any plans to do a resident evil 4 remake breakdown video. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, and I'd wager I'm not alone. Much love

[@ViralVibes61122]

I still have fun in DS1 playing as sorcerer is a blast killing bosses in few hits

[@tSunrise_]

Ah, yes. Dank Sauce. Brings back memories.

[@Titan1930S]

Ds1 is legendary ❤

[@Vihtal]

i loved dark souls 1 after playing elden ring!

[@Aoekin]

Even Bloodborne was pretty tough and gave me that same feeling. really enjoyed that game too.

[@dr.bright2446]

Good video

[@drshemp1]

top 5 game for me

[@Suren0]

Currently doing a playthrough of DS:R for the first time ever after finishing DS3, I gotta say I'm really enjoying the exploration aspect even if some things do feel dated. I feel like I powereleved myself a bit too far by accident. I got Havel's ring and knight lautrec's ring (attacked him by accident) and it made the early game easier by being able to wear the Stone Armor from the Darkroot Garden. Eventually got the Black Knight Halberd and got it to max upgrade in Londo. I fought the two knight bosses by level 70 and it was a breeze, I feel like I sort of 'broke' the difficulty at this point as bosses seem to be dropping like flies. The exploration aspect itself is what's keeping me playing, even if the combat is a bit simple compared to later titles.

[@GSG-io8zp]

Black knight Halberd is quite a rare drop and the stone armour is a literal meme, those are arguably two most broken rings in the whole game when paired with each other and you over levelled a bit. So you super cheesed it I guess, still DS3 is harder anyway.

[@Suren0]

@@GSG-io8zp damn thats a shame as I didnt want to cheese it... so how would I amend it, get rid of the armour and havel's ring at the least?

[@GSG-io8zp]

@@Suren0 If you feel satisfied and had fun with your play through then don’t let anyone else tell you how to play, but you could go for a more standard lightweight build using a sword and shield, personally the balder side sword is my favourite. The problem with using those rings together is that they both boost equip load tremendously which removes any downside of heavy armour. Heavy armour is pretty OP anyway because of the poise system (meaning you can tank hits with no reaction) but it increases your equip load a lot so the downside is that you can’t roll fast etc.

[@biomegamechdude]

how you described that first part of the vid was my fav thing about bloodborne'ss chalice dungeons, idk if it was all in my head or if it was actual intended design but i swear you could hear the enemies of other levels while on another layer entirely. As I looked at the dead enemies in the dimly lit halls, i always was wondering if i killed everything and the low blood vials i often had left made me walk around the remaining layer to the boss rather than run. Now i am terrible at navigation in games and rl soo this ALL could've been in my head but if it wasn't.. then that is better horror game design than most horror games have to make me think it was intentional XD Bloodborne is the one souls game that i DO NOT sit back in my chair to play unlike the rest of em, i am NEVER relaxed when i play Bloodborne.

[@Kernwadi]

Ad mortem sic vita fluit, velut ad mare flumen. Vivere nam res est dulcis, amara mori. Restituunt furtum fures, vi rapta, latrones. Omnia mors aufert, restituitque nihil. Latus ad occasum, unquam rediturus ad ortum. Vivo hodie, moriar cras, here natus eram.

[@CosmicCosmo1]

Did the frog curse you in the sewers in the first example? I remember that happening to me and spawning with only half health. That was a punishing mechanic but definately exemplified that difficult progress point you made.

[@gamoviede3460]

I played demons souls 1 year earlier, finished it, so I played this game differently.

[@synth_pulse3098]

I need this series to go on sale for steam so I can grab them for steamdeck

[@wagonet]

I was in the same boat and realized they rarely go on sale. Ended up buying at full price with no regrets. What a great game

[@synth_pulse3098]

@@wagonet oh I know they are fantastic games. I’ve just played them. Its been awhile but man I wanna get back into it. I’ll pay full if need be.

[@saintrhoads3375]

I completely neglected to reinforce my armor on my first play through and wondered why I was getting one shot the whole way

[@Cyd98]

i felt dark souls 1 had the perfect amount of bonfires, the first half of the game was just amazing. and of course who can forget that feeling of unlocking the shortcut from the parish to firelink shrine for the first time

[@fitzy4578]

I played this for the first time just last year (having gotten into Souls games through the Demon Souls Remaster). I totally disagree with the segment about it being outdated, compared to other games of the time, Dark Souls holds up incredibly well. I was very impressed.

[@James-ng5bx]

Oh those anor londo knights shootin arrows while your trying to go over a small walkway shakes fist

[@user-hp4gl8vx8e]

Still one of the best games of all time, sure the game isn’t prefect and definitely has its flaws but the feeling I got the first time playing through dark souls was something very few games have even come close to. My only regret is I wish I didn’t look up info online as much and just powered through finding my own way even if it took a very long time. I’m not even into gaming like I used to be but still can’t resist a dark souls video all these years later. This is more than just a game but a work of art. I’m not sure if I will ever replay with the game if I’m being honest but the experience is something I will never forget.

[@UberNorwegianBastard]

Wait DS3 doesnt really have music outsidde of bossfights either does it? Elden Ring does for sure, but I dont think ds3 does? It has more ambience, such as wind etc, but not music from what i remember

[@laius6047]

it gives a special feeling, just like demons souls such an ambient sound, perfection, no distractions from the atmosphere

[@weebto]

Yeah, only Sekiro and elden ring have environmental music

[@SimplexPL]

Where's that map geometry video from?

[@MalzraAirwynn]

Having played BB and Elden Ring before dark souls, it was interesting going back to the earlier game. There are things I like about it, but ultimately I ended up generally preferring the later games over it. I appreciate dark souls 1, but just enjoy playing the later games more. I wonder if I may have felt differently if dark souls had been my first experience in the genre. Ultimately though I was able to still play DS 1 largely the same way. Yes, stamina is slower to regen and estus locks you in place etc. But I was still able to grab a big weapon and play aggressively, using heavy use of dodge roll to evade attack, then punish enemy. That playstyle still worked just fine, just with perhaps a bit more time waiting for stamina to come back before attacking again.

[@miki49]

I first played (and beat) Sekiro which I adored and still know that DS1 is the best. No game matches it’s level design and deliberate combat where you and the enemy are on the same playing field. Have completed BB (platinum) and DS3 as well, DS1 will always be that masterpiece above them all. The world was full of pure wonder around every corner in a way no other game in the series could replicate, imho.

[@UniqueTechnique29]

You would absolutely feel differently if Demon Souls or Dark Souls were your intro to this style of game.

[@MalzraAirwynn]

@@UniqueTechnique29 Maybe.

[@HMCarsSOA]

@@miki49 I wish i loved DS1 the same way as you, i consider its first half and the dlc a masterpiece, but because of the second half and its dated mechanics, it falls behind Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne and DS3 for me.

[@miki49]

@@HMCarsSOA And that’s very fair. No one can disagree that the pacing and even the identity of the game changes after you get the lord vessel. Even if you decide to never use fast travel once you get it (which is still a worthwhile run imho), the level design seems to become more linear instead of interlooping. However, those later, more linear areas do still exhibit much character to me. The crystal cave, observing and discovering the snowflakes landing on the invisible platforms blew my mind. The Tomb of the giants was a bit clumsy when first stumbling through, but was interestingly intricate once you acquired light; it made sense that the catacombs would have more room to go deeper to flesh out the world further. The Duke’s archives and Demon Ruins definitely weren’t as articulate design-wise, but their environmental visuals and lore connections still peaked my personal interest, and it still made sense to keep having more room to progress further under blighttown. I thought the painted world was cool, mainly for how you figure out how to access it and some lore elements. It would have been nice for these newer, deeper areas to circle back up to previous areas, or if they weren’t so straightforward and turned on themselves a little more. For me personally tho, I still can’t even come close to finding something else I would call a better action RPG over the original Dark Souls. And when I say action RPG, I define that with a heavier RPG element than I do the action side of things, or you just get an action game, like Sekiro yes, but even BB and DS3, which I moreso consider heavier action games with RPG elements, if that makes sense.

[@brentloy131]

Love me some poise in DS1 cause I was able to run an actual tank build

[@quietspark8703]

Dark Souls is Hero's Journey the game.

[@iChefTheImpossible]

I think this is the first game I ever got the platinum trophy for. I think I did it for like 3 games total. This game stole my humanity for a bit

[@saintrhoads3375]

8:56 smough forgot where he was for a moment

[@fynnmollenhauer1460]

Since when did DS3 areas have looping music? Am I somehow misremembering this?

[@nikosyourtzakis]

You're not misremembering, he's just wrong. The only looping music is in Firelink Shrine and bosses obviously. I literally don't remember a single exploration area with looping music. Only in Elden Ring.

[@stefanostsougkranis5851]

Yeah, only Elden Ring and Sekiro has music in some areas.

[@ndouglas120]

Personally. I like the sound in Nier Automata more but in Dark Souls it's still good

[@RobSomeone]

Nothing beats the feeling of playing a new FromSoft game, for the first time, the week of release, with no help.