The Painted Worlds Are Metaphors For Video Games | Dark Souls Lore

[@zacharyhutter9085]

"The painter is Miyazaki himself." Ah ha. Well no wonder they don't have shoes in winter

[@yiangaruga4928]

Gotta cater to the foot fetish fans >_>

[@speedwagooon2250]

Ya know ariendal doesn't have seasons

[@amberhernandez]

@@speedwagooon2250 "I hope the Painted World has seasons, or I've just made a grave error." - Zullie, having just shaved Priscilla for summer

[@bungiecrimes7247]

@@yiangaruga4928 You say that like it's a bad thing.

[@junkolover9518]

I think Ariandel isn't cold btw, or not cold enough on its own to do anything bad. Just look at how our character can stroll in naked, Friede and the Painter go barefoot around, and wear some light dresses. I don't know how Corvians work, but all of them are naked too. The world of Dark Souls has a bit different logic from our world, so it's not surprising if snow isn't freezing. The only thing that can ever induce freezing is concentrated frostbite attacks, like mists, special attacks of Pontiff's Knights and Friede's enchanted scythe, but even so they fade fast. One frostbite will end in about 20 seconds easily, and you're warm again.

[@javax6]

"I've seen your kind, time and time again. Every fleeing man must be caught. Every secret must be unearthed." Following your video theme, I always liked this callout to us players. Miyazaki is telling us something I think.

[@Derthertnerdergler]

He does it again with Sekiro, where immortality breeds stagnation. Reiterating on the same idea over and over is not what he and his team want to do.

[@DreamskyDance]

yup, i felt that too when he said that... almost got me to return to the bonfire and continue in Lothric castle ( i went to dlcs before beating twin princes )... but i was curious what secrets lie at the bottom of destroyed bridge ladder...

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

@@DreamskyDance Such is the hidden meanings hidden within hidden meanings left behind by the Director.

[@willg1439]

“See? They even kinda look like you.” God damn man you didn’t have to be that brutal

[@luqmannaim8087]

Hit me right in my dark soul

[@ThisIsPampkin]

"Those absorbed by fire must not paint the world" I may be stretching things too far but I kinda feel like this is why most Souls-Like Games made not by Fromsoft tend to be shallow and uninteresting, because by the core of the project, they are trying to recreate Dark Souls with a different Skin, they are obsessed with it, absorbed by it.

[@ratatoskr6324]

YES

[@ThisIsPampkin]

@@ratatoskr6324 holy shit mom MOM!!! I GOT A HEART FROM RATATOSKR HIMSELF!!!

[@bludgeon1081]

​@@ThisIsPampkin Now you're famous, congratulations. How do you feel?

[@ThisIsPampkin]

@@bludgeon1081 i feel happy my friend, happy and anxious waiting for ELDEN RING

[@pabloraulpereyra4948]

Blasphemous was very good

[@THExRISER]

You're covering a side of the lore that I've never seen covered before, I love it!

[@afik13]

Excellent take on the concept “Behold it’s size!” Big dark souls game hint revealed!

[@nanoblast5748]

So Gael is Elden Rings tutorial boss! But in another game? Time is convoluted?

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

@@nanoblast5748 Elden Ring is the "Big Painted World" that the Painter herself is talking about.

[@theblackbaron4119]

Obligatory dick joke. Could also have been one...

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

@@theblackbaron4119 Damn it, you ruined it.

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

@@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx "Behold its size"

[@MonoFlax]

I like that the new world is being painted with the literal Blood of the Dark Soul, that seems a very appropriate metaphor in this context since fromsoft are basically taking the Dark Souls DNA and weaving it into their future games like Sekiro and Elden Ring in interesting and meaningful ways. Thank you for giving me a further appreciation for this game!

[@amimm7776]

something I like about the Sister Friede fight is how it has three phases, one phase for each dark souls game. First one is slow like DS1 combat and has a similar gimmick to Priscilla. Second one has more than one opponent, a staple of DS2 for better or worse. Third is extremely fast and frantic like bloodborne and DS3. You really are killing dark souls as you go, brilliant even if it's unintentional.

[@kagehipinette2335]

I very much agree with Miyazaki here, as with story telling in general there is a point when you should stop almost always, and thats why some of the best media doesn't have endless sequels and has a clear and concise "this world lives on, but this is the end of the story we tell." You can very much see where Miyazaki stands with this if you look at other franchises, look at the assassins creed games as a series, how many games are even in the series, I don't know, but they all regardless of how new they are seem the same release after release, beating a dead horse, same is with any call of duty or battlefield game, every year almost a new game, the same game, and this is what Miyazaki wanted to avoid, he doesn't want to make another dark souls game every couple years, even if the gameplay is similar he doesn't want to beat a horse till its dead and long after he wants to make something new and different such as sekiro or elden ring or countless other new worlds to explore, which is mindset not that many game directors/artists have I feel.

[@azronger7214]

This is also how I feel about the Star Wars sequels. I don't mind isolated stories past ROTJ but "The Skywalker Saga" as it's being marketed as ended with that movie. There was nothing more to add to that particular tale. You don't go an scribble on the Mona Lisa after it's already finished.

[@WyldeCarde182]

Keeping with the theme of the game is Miyazaki speaking to us, we speak to Miyazaki in the form of choosing an ending. (In DS3) We can: A) Link the fire, choosing to stay in Dark Souls a little longer. B)Reject the fire, choosing to move on and seek something new. C)Reject the fire cruelly, (Kill keeper) mocking what its symbolism might mean. D)Usurp/Internalize the fire, and then carry it with us as we seek something new. The end of the game asks what now? We answer, The DLC teases the future while giving us more vague details of the past.

[@bandiriatraveler8343]

3:34 Damn, you didn't have to remind me...

[@LJdaOG]

The royal line with Oceiros and the twin princes seemed to be a metaphor for the series itself as well. At the very least, it seems far too apt to be coincidental. The first prince was successful beyond anyone's wildest imaginings, and yet somehow didn't match the standards of the original (and fell short of expectations by getting mired in fighting chaos demons, a-wink-wink, nudge nudge.) The second prince was a person whose survival of birth was more of a miracle than anyone could have expected, but it's plain to see that he got where he was by leaning on his brother a touch too heavily. His heavy use of miracles is also his most obvious strength. (Given the things we've all learned about the drastic retooling and directorship changes that dark souls 2 had to undergo, and how bluntly it had to be tied into the first game to even make a coherent story, this can't be accidental.) The symbolism falls short here with Ocelotte, though. I'm not quite canny enough to figure out what exactly the invisibaby could represent other than the literal sense that Bloodborne was fixated on invisible babies. This metaphor here is quite a bit less blunt and confrontational than Ariandel's, but between the two of them, I think Miyazaki's voice is clear. I had no idea about any of those things he said in interviews before viewing this, but it fits, alright.

[@hisholiness4537]

The baby is only invisible because people are too soft to accept that parents can and have killed their children in the name of progress, honor, or survival.

[@joshmay2944]

I don’t see the similarity to DS2 at all personally. Cool analogy to think about though.

[@bare_bear_hands]

I don't like that this makes that much sense. The first brother, big and successful, the second, a failure who uses the first as a crutch. And I don't like Miyazaki throwing poop at us in such a subtle way.

[@LJdaOG]

@@bare_bear_hands While I'm fully delving right into tinfoil hat literature club theorizing, I might as well also wildly speculate that while the elder brother is the most overt physical threat, the younger brother has way more reach (market penetration) and brings the elder one back to life when he falls (long tail sales spikes).

[@aquabluerose7734]

Well great,now you have me imagining the Virgin and the Chad meme with Lothric as the Virgin and Lorian as Chad 🤣

[@bludgeon1081]

Gotta praise miyazaki for having the guts to think like this considering the constant pressure investors place on gaming companies to milk their franchises.

[@bungiecrimes7247]

feet

[@bludgeon1081]

@@bungiecrimes7247 😏

[@yggdrasilburnes]

Investors want money, but have no idea how it's made honestly. All they care about is seeing tickers rise and fall. You should never listen to them.

[@bludgeon1081]

@@yggdrasilburnes Yeah, actually, I don't know too much either, but I do know that companies can really easily succumb to quantity over quality.

[@JuanAntonioGarciaHeredia]

@@bludgeon1081 blizzard

[@StrikeNoir105E]

The conclusion at the end even fits with the form that Elden Ring has taken: it is essentially the core of Dark Souls, manifest in a new shape. It takes the things that made Dark Souls good - its combat, its challenge, its polish, its sublime lore delivery - and uses that to paint a new world, culminating in the creation of The Lands Between. Elden Ring is not bound by the lore and themes of Dark Souls, and so is now free to pursue its own lore and themes, without worrying about whether it maintains continuity with previous games.

[@lebarondeminuit3580]

I think that the Dark Soul of Man is the madness within all the Artists. That thing we share, our creative spirit

[@zennim125]

in other words, the artist needs "humanity", be human, flaws and all

[@PravoSlavicon]

"Those who aren't ken to fire cannot paint a world. Those absorbed by fire, must not paint a world."

[@MrBuns-yi2hk]

I recently started getting into Outward after finding your channel. I looked up guids, found yours on your Hexmage build, and I am loving it.

[@ratatoskr6324]

Thank you.

[@Varsonin]

"Dark Souls is a game..." Paused the video. That's all I needed to know. Thank you for your service.

[@Abrabeck82]

I agree with DS3 being a metaphor for the series itself. It's curious to see that a lot of the covenants and characters are worshipers of the characters and gods of the first game, aways trying to be as close to them as possible but only managing to be a lesser version of them (Abyss Watchers worshiping Artorias, Oceiros worshiping Seath and so on). I think DS1 was also very self-conscious about being a game and the player, but DS3 took it to another level and I really love that.

[@MundMoriginal]

Yeah, I am a believer in Fromsoft being at their best with new ips, even if they bring in some references like certain weapons.

[@Kizen.]

Except for armored core. Which is not only unique, but always changing and always great.

[@dificulttocure]

Maybe the fact that the painted world of Ariandel is a restoration of the painted world of Ariamis represents how Dark Souls 3 draws so much from Dark Souls 1.

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

Ah but Miyazaki never made a game about Fire and Rot... Elden Ring: **exists** ...oh.

[@Vilithos]

I see that you're becoming a painter of your videos as well. Setting up the storyline and finishing it on a fine note. Lovely!

[@goudanuff6451]

I interpreted it as an alternative "good" ending. Instead of usurping the flame and ushering in the age of dark, or rekindling the flame to restart the age of fire, we can escape into a painted world where sacrifice isn't necessary. Sure the painting rots, but you can paint a new one. No self immolation required!

[@mareczek00713]

There are three types of series - a disconnected series where each game is a new game with new story and lore, basically like Fire Emblem (where no more than 3 are connected storywise) or Final Fantasy, a gameplay series like Monster Hunter where games share gameplay ideas and maybe general setting but either don't prioritize the story or don't have any) and narrative stories like Dark Souls where each new game is a continuation of narration of its prequels. Third type is simply finite by design.

[@Falkenhorst2000]

True, and to be honest, seeing so many long-running franchises being bogged down and slowly rotted by sequel after sequel, only to again and again continue a story that should've ended long ago... gave me a new appreciation for franchises like Final Fantasy, Tales of, Fire Emblem, etc., that try to be something completely new with each entry, even if that means to sacrifice a long-term story. In the long run, however, it's simply better that way, because it keeps things fresh and prevents stagnation. That way, you also don't need reboot after reboot. Fans also don't complain and simply accept that these stories are run and done. I'd rather have that than a story that is stretched out ad nauseam.

[@zombiehampster1397]

Miyazaki is a smart man and i love that he realizes that things run their course and isn't trying to squeeze every dime out of an IP.

[@Mariopwnzu]

So Elden Ring isn't just a spiritual successor to Dark Souls in the traditional sense, it's also metaphorically the next Dark Souls game by being that painted world that's she working on with the Dark Soul and fire

[@私はクソな中国人です]

Except elden ring seem neither dark, cold or very gentle at all. That lil bitch lied

[@FromsoftgoatKaj]

@@私はクソな中国人です Perhaps the shattering is the cause of that.

[@Tsukiyomi001]

@@私はクソな中国人です it's story is dark and cold, and gentle in that it's even more accessible to casual players with its open world and myriad of playstyles... looking back at the video now, it's very apt

[@cheeseburger627]

So elden ring is the new world the painter created in ashes of Ariandel 🤯my mind is blown!dude that's the coolest thing I've ever heard!!!Great shout!

[@Amoebacity]

I love your Dark Souls videos! I've always preferred looking at a stories meanings rather than the plot, and spent a ton of time the past few years reading up on Comparative Mythology and Analytical Psychology, so seeing you do my favorite franchise in a style my friends called me crazy for gets me so pumped. I even had a rough outline on this exact topic lol, seeing it done much better than I could have done makes me so happy. Please keep doing these, we can feel its something you care about! One thing that I noticed too is the differences of cultural views between styles, with a Japanese man writing a traditionally Western world, it comes with a different view point. Where many western cultures would typically tell it as a story of Good vs Evil, where the light/Fire will always overcome the Dark because of innate righteousness, this is a story of balance, where too much of either side is unpleasant, to say the least, much like how Buddhism states "a string too tight will snap, a string too loose will not produce sound." In the same way that the artificial preservation of the Fire through the kindling of Gwyn caused corruption of the Dark into the Abyss. I don't know if this is true, but I've seen that the only time the title "Lord of Cinder " is used in Dark Souls 1 is in the name of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, giving it a special meaning that Gwyn is either the Lord who became Cinder, or the Ruler of a world of Cinder, burnt out past its natural intentions. Another series that tickled my mushy brain was Megami Tensei/Persona, which I found out through studying Psychology and led me to studying world religions, which also has a different cultural view on religion, where, without going too into it, the Abrahamic God is seen as a Authoritarian Dictator and Lucifer is (sometimes) seen as a Chaotic Rebel. Where many western beliefs are Religious in faith, many Eastern religions are closer to philosophies, with many exceptions. Its interesting to see how ideas are seen differently under the lens of culture and history, regardless of personal beliefs.

[@CelestialDraconis]

It's really quite bittersweet that Dark Souls is over now, but at the same time, we have Elden Ring and other spiritual successors of the Souls franchise to look forward to. I can appreciate a developer who doesn't intend to milk a series dry for the sake of it. You can move on with a new story to tell while still remembering your past through means such as keeping what made them special (i.e the gameplay, artstyle, lore presentation, etc).

[@MarvinT0606]

By extension, the Painted World of Ariamis from DS1 was Miyazaki's way of saying goodbye to Demon's Souls

[@Felicificity]

This is a wonderful analogy. So excited for ER and whatever comes next for From.

[@Terminarch]

Elden Ring crackpot theory: Someone was talking about how the fingers are supposed to represent our real world human hands. I thought she was crazy. But then I had a thought... The finger reader crones take OUR hands to read intent. OUR intent. WE ARE OUTER GODS imposing our will onto the world Miyazaki created. I really do believe, thanks to the context here, that Miyazaki upped the metaphor into the fucking stratosphere. What a genius. A little expansion. When you're heading up to the giant place for the flame, the crone will comment on the player's intent to burn the tree. Now tell me what outer god's will is she interpreting that requires reading your fingers and would have information on your intent? I wonder what else we know about these characters and what we can gleam from interactions with them...

[@d.mulanovich]

Incredibly emotional analysis. Outstanding video

[@pyoheliobros5773]

looking at these design aspects in this context makes so much sense. It's a whole other feeling when you look at them as metaphor

[@Graff-z4x]

I absolutely love the idea that the Painter is Miyazaki's Mona Lisa! and this greatly exemplifies how your videos diverge from most. Rather than the micro empirical facts, which are ofc important, you delve into the subjective artistry and even psychological factors of creativity. A smaller example from my circle... I was asked what was up with the Knight of Astora at the beginning of DS3. Lying there like Oscar. They asked if it was either Oscar or Anri? I answered simply that it couldn't be either because they both have physical bodies and rather complete stories that hold no weight in this moment. This struck me because I've found that when there are diverging references or points that seem to lead nowhere, then it is usually a larger subjective, symbolic, artistic, poetic representation (Video Games can arguably attain the highest art form, hello!). So I looked harder at the scene, the display, the presentation, meditated next to the body etc. I realized that in the very beginning of DS3 Miyazaki was telling us the story was done. That body is actually in the identical position of Oscar. Beyond that it is also the og meta-hero sans ds. It is the metaphor of the life of DS. It took us this far. But it's dead. Dead to miyazaki and this is the fugue. Even the item on the body hints to this blatant visual statement. Ashen Estus: "Quite befitting of an Unkindled, an Ashen Estus Flask turns a bonfire's heat cold." There will be no DS4... I understand that but... but... it's fine... because my head-canon shared universe theory is more alive than ever dawg!

[@sightfield]

It's risky move, and it's good that he's stop on the head of the curve So many legendary stuffs ended up ugly just because they force to keep on living in an already rotten environment. Fast furious, naruto, and etc.

[@Raguna163]

The starting of DS3 has players rising from the ashes of a burnt out series in a Firelink Shine stuck in the past. It grinds my gears when people say Elden Ring should have been called DS4; why would it be completely different gameplay wise? Bloodborne and Sekiro weren't that different, but the world and setting warranted a new name alone. Even with the new name people are trying to connect Elden Ring to Dark Souls, and while I'll entertain the idea, knowing Miyazaki's MO, any references are just fan service and not a cannon lore connection. A doll in Elden Ring wishes you "Good hunting", but all it is is recognizing fans who have played Bloodborne.

[@thenobody7509]

"Behold it's size" Elden ring of course.

[@domenzizek8865]

Glad to have found your take on the souls lore. When i first finished the painted world in DS3 i thought Mia. Was telling us let DarkSouls die so i can make somthing new. Glad to see i was not the only one to take away that interpretation

[@richardcheese4680]

Miyazaki and Fromsoft are the last real bastion of integrity in the industry for me personally. Sometimes I wonder what would’ve been if I never tried Dark Souls 1 all those years ago. Trip down memory lane.

[@theblackbaron4119]

That's what blind faith looks like. You're delusional.

[@richardcheese4680]

@@theblackbaron4119 how so?

[@t_Gecko]

“See? They even kinda look like you.” bro

[@marcofromtropoje3169]

I really appreciate your perspective and insight on the DLC. think i was having a hard time following the story because I was trying to fit it too much into the in-game main narrative, but they way you presented the 3rd interpretation has given me a more “complete” appreciation of the Ariandel DLC as a whole

[@waltersullivan2727]

Pretty spot on Miyazaki himself even said in a 2016 duelshockers interview the DLC’s were meant. To help reinforce the theme of the game and that the painted world was symbolic of that. Some people criticize DS3 for making references to previous titles but I think that was to the narratives benefit so it didn’t feel bad to me. Friede’s calls the painting “our” home despite it’s rot and decay not wanting to let go of what she holds dear. It mirrors much of the players experience on the outside world these places and characters you yourself knew. Like Anor Londo, Demon Ruins, Earthen Peak, OG Firelink, and Farron Keep once being Darkroot Basin. Are in a much worse state then you last saw them being rundown, corrupted, or turned to literal ash. Even almost every npc of the current game have tragic endings reinforced by the Locust Preachers coaxing us to the dark by letting fire fade. The outside world could be considered a “home” to players so are you gonna keep the fire lit despite it’s sorry state? Or are you gonna decide to move on and let things take their natural course for the next? That’s all up to you. Also aiding Gael in his quest for pigment to finish the painting to break from the cycle/curse reminds me of what Aldia said in DS2. About searching for a path beyond the scope of light, beyond the reach of dark which I thought was nice.

[@MacCarell]

His outlook on what it means to make video games is very intriguing

[@DreamskyDance]

So i guess i have to chreate a new character named "Elden Ring" so the painter may name the new cold, dark and very gentle place by that characters name in the end XD I have to admit i am kinda sad and melancholic that there wont ever be another Dark Souls game... i discovered Dark Souls games only this year and played them all but DS3 to 100% ( ng, ng+ and ng++) and was and am so deeply captivated by them that i enjoyed multiple playthroughs and even playthroughs on new characters in last few months. I am now on ng++ of Dark Souls 3...i let the fire die out..then i usurped it...and i think ill let it die out again, linking and continuing the cycle does not seem right.. Met all the characters and found out most of the secrets... it is all like a dreamy, sureal experience when i remember this games last few months...and now its at its end. And i fear Elden Ring wont be the same experience, maybe it will be to easy, maybe the story will be presented differently...or something other. Dont get me wrong, i believe it will be a great game...but not the experience of Dark Souls again... I will probably be a cold, dark and very gentle place.. but different place...

[@andrewiriana1319]

I think it’s interesting how the player is the one to do all this: burning the old world and getting the Dark Soul to paint a new one. It’s like Miyazaki is asking us to help him in leaving Dark Souls behind so that he can better make new games.

[@agopessimist1335]

While I personally don't believe that the Paintings are literal metaphors for oversaturation and over-attachment to the Dark Souls franchise (though I do agree that the similarities are there, just probably not as on-the-nose as you say in the video or something that Miyazaki purposefully intended for it to represent), I do 100% agree with Miyazaki that it's best to have Dark Souls be finished and concluded as it is. He is correct, in that there is really nothing else he can really add to make a Dark Souls 4 out of. All the gods and Lords of Cinder are dead, nearly every Undead and Unkindled are either Hollowed or have fulfilled their purpose and passed on. The world has been completely burnt to Ash (almost like the Heat Death of the Universe in a sense), the Dark Soul itself has been found, and out of the ash and rot, a new universe can be born. There's really nothing you can further expand upon especially since the 4 endings of DS3 and the Painting quest are pretty open-ended. All of FromSoftware's Souls games have had the same themes of rot, decay, and stagnation from Demon's Souls all the way to Sekiro and likely Elden Ring as well. It's a common motif in Japanese mythology and in other mythologies as well, so that's why these themes of corruption and decay are so prevalent in these games. Whether you want to also make those themes as a metaphor for over-saturation is up to you (personally I don't really see it that way. Miyazaki doesn't seem to be the type of director who would blatantly try to make those metaphors for things like that but to each their own). That said, I feel like a lot of companies should really start to take Miyazaki's words to heart and to not be overly-attached to their franchises to milk them dry. Call of Duty, Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, and so many others have been continuously milked to death and have made minimal to no changes in their formulas (though at least I'll give Assassin's Creed a bit of a pass since the switch from normal hack-and-slash to 3rd person action RPG shows that they're willing to experiment, but even I agree that Assassin's Creed has been going on for too long). Hopefully in the future we see these studios move on from their over-saturated IPs and either make some new innovations and changes to spice up the formula, or try to build something new based on what they've learned from their old franchises.

[@JavierHernandez-ou1el]

Considering how open the 4 endings in DS3 are I would have loved if Miyazaki did a very closed ending to the franchise, just have one ending to tell the conclusion to the saga. Something like following the Lord of Hollows questline, do the 2 DLCs and just then unlock a proper ending to the story. In my opinion the current endings being so open brings a lot of desire to have a Dark Souls 4. If it have 1 ending I think would be easier to move on and say "Dark Souls? The story ended in 3"

[@CrimeFighterFrog]

Miyazaki is really an S tier dev. In an age where every slightly successful game gets turned into a trilogy or massive franchise, bastardizing and feeding off of itself, Miyazaki puts the foot down at the height of Dark Souls' popularity and says "this is it". People would absolutely buy a Dark Souls 4 but he knows he has nothing to add, so he doesn't. He's not afraid of creating new, original IPs. He's not focused on making a trillion yen in returns. He just wants to make good games, and he is on a mighty spree right now.

[@hugocardoso1488]

Finally some new content from you, i was starving for the chunky pasta sauce my man.

[@justsomejojo]

I've played some of the pre-Demon Souls Fromsoft games (though sadly Armored Core wasn't one of them) and even if they varied in quality, they were always unique and managed to create atmosphere. I think it's safe to say that essence never dies. The feeling of wanting to move on from one idea is understandable - it's something I've encountered in my own creative endeavors and heard many times from others. It's a big reason why I can't help but be impressed with videogame development - not only does a single game take a LONG time to be realized, but the ones that go on to be series (and continue being great) constantly fight this battle of rekindling the idea time and time again or slowly rotting away. At least in my mind. I kinda envy those who have the stamina to reiterate on the same thing and not getting tired of it.

[@junk06]

I am soo glad you made this video! Now, instead of trying to explain this subject to other people, I can just point them to this video so I don't have to scramble on with my words for 30 minutes! Btw, excelente video! Neatly packaged without leaving out key information!

[@franticpoizen1809]

I like to think that " the fools on the outside " are other video game companies that keep releasing the same game over and over again without adding anything of value, like ea and ubisoft

[@needo6295]

dark souls is a loved franchise because it ended it ended before we began to hate it and so long as it continues to remain in the past, it will continue to be loved

[@cloud.y]

this is a cool idea, makes me think how sekiro theme is the stagnation and sickness that it brings

[@countecristo2579]

Keep up the quality content Ratatoskr! Great video. I did kinda think it was a Gajin video when I first saw the thumbnail lol

[@kimlee6643]

Refreshing content that cuts into the ER info staleness and the newest Bloodborne frenzy. Thanks.

[@VonBoche]

I've been saying the same thing for years but this is the first time I've seen a video made about the topic. Feels satisfying to hear, I gotta say

[@wolvenedvard3049]

I’ve always thought the Dark Soul is a metaphor for ink, as it’s associated with writing, painting, creative sparks from our deep emotions.

[@latrodectusmactans7592]

I feel the metaphor loses something when her choice for the painting is a cold, dark, and very gentle place. What the Painted World of Ariamis/Ariandel was already supposed to be. So is her great new project just the Painted World again? A new name on the same idea, like Demon’s Souls to Dark Souls? Dark Souls 3 often struggles with the paradox of a story about moving on, with a refusal to actually commit. Luckily From has actually moved forward; Senior and Armored Core 6 (ironic given it’s the 6th game in a series) show a willingness to abandon the Souls formula and audience and try something risky, and I respect that.

[@amberhernandez]

Every Dark Souls player has a moment where they realise what the game means. For me, Dark Souls 3 represents the struggle of letting go, of moving on. Dragging yourself back into the cycle, over and over, while the world screams and begs for release, for an end. Everything is dull, depressed, sickly, and corrupted; the Abyss Watchers, valiant defenders of the world from the stains of darkness, are corrupted themselves, locked in an endless struggle to destroy the sickness taking hold of their collective soul. The proud ruler Yhorm, hated and undermined by his people, sits on his throne in the dregs of a city once flourishing with life and opulence, now only surrounded by corpses and scattered goblets, to await his end. A saint of the Way of White, wretched inside, consumed men and turned to ghastly sludge, an abomination that sought nothing but more power, more to feed upon, and rests in a lake of his own waste halfway through devouring a god by the time we face him. And finally, a shriveled and weak prince, born of unspeakable acts for the sole purpose of kindling, who defies destiny to end it all. This is the best this world has to offer. These are the most powerful and significant beings, the fabled Lords of Cinder, and they're pathetic. After thousands of cycles, the world is at its end, decayed and dying, helpless and twisted. Out of desperation to keep dragging on, a faceless nobody rises from the ashes of failure to once again either quell the flame or prolong it. After facing all the trials in their way, the Ashen One, culmination of all failures, arrives at the Kiln of the First Flame where they battle the Soul of Cinder, culmination of all successes, for that choice. But it doesn't matter. They either sit at the fire, barely moving as the flame barely reignites, or they snuff it out, nothing but the promise of another cycle to send them off. There is no grand burst of flame, as in the first re-linking of the fire, there is no hail of serpents welcoming the Lord of the Dark, only quiet resolve as they succumb to the end. It's time to move on. Time to leave behind this horrid, ailing world, and let it die for good this time.

[@Sylentmana]

I’ve been playing through the series again with the same main character being reborn in different time periods of the Dark Souls world. When I get the the end of DS3 I’m imagining the painting to actually be a portal leading to a new world. Specifically, the world of Elden Ring.

[@emilvennerberg4927]

Miyazaki stating that he wants to move on from the dark soul. How fitting it is that a major theme of the games is moving on.

[@Robahomusic]

I just came about multiple videos by you, recommended by the algorithm and enjoyed them. Gotta sub I guess.

[@JibanExE]

The painter asks the player if he wants to name the painting, after he gives the dark soul If you say NO She will say that she likes the player, inplying that she is gratefull for having creative freedom

[@fantomeduchateaux8136]

ohh Meta Lore. I love you. And Kings Field Soundtrack, you have my giant like

[@theazureknight9399]

Maybe the real Dark Souls were the friends we made along the way

[@MrBuns-yi2hk]

I don't mind seeing the Dark Souls franchise end. There shouldn't have been a second one imo. The first game pretty much concluded the series.

[@MrBuns-yi2hk]

@oohanalligator I don't know, I have some fond memories of Ds2, but I feel like it was unnecessary, and in some ways actually made the story worse.

[@jeremyjoyner9796]

It sounds like he’s saying for Dark Souls, it would be “better to burn out than fade away”.

[@JMoore-vo7ii]

From a quick write up I did about the Souls games: "Dark Souls, even after the trilogy has ended for some time now, does not satiate our desire for answers and understanding. The unknown/unclear endings, the necessity for the player to construct the lore by themselves, and the interplay of world building with mechanics (convoluted time, NPC quests, item locations/descriptions, the Ringed City/Gael area in its entirety, etc.) all instill this sense of incomprehensiblity on the surface. And yet, the more you play, the more you ask questions, the more you try to understand the world in its totality and come to some point of clarity, the more an answer eludes you. The Souls games, more than any other piece of art or literature I have encountered, is willing to give you so much in its worldbuilding to ponder and think about without ever hinting at a conclusion or final answer. That, for me, is the brilliance of these games"

[@SaladDongs]

Expected you to mention that the pigment isn't just the Dark Soul, it's the Blood of the Dark Soul, the essence of the game will carry on and the message it's trying to send will continue to be spread whether it's through different games, franchises or even studios. Assuming this theory is true, calling it "The Blood of the Dark Soul" is kind of blunt, even though it's hidden in plain sight. Just a minor thing

[@alxsblv6164]

Ratatoskr: "See, they even look like you" Ratatoskr: *shows picture of hunched corvian* Me: Why must you hurt me in this way?

[@bludgeon1081]

I mean, they're kinda cute...

[@alxsblv6164]

@@bludgeon1081 are they? *flashback of corvians vomiting on me*

[@tatu9805]

When he recorded this video I had diarrhea every day for seven years.

[@GeorgeK340]

And the new world that The Painter has painted. She named it - E L D E N R I N G -

[@LikeAGroove]

Blizzard hates this one simple trick!

[@xantishayde-walker4593]

"See, they even look kinda like you." Man, the cameras they have are insane! I didn't know you could take a picture that could see what's on the inside. 😅

[@gabrielkazanowski5637]

Man, such awesome insights, great stuff!

[@MediaphusioN]

I think this interpretation is probably true. That said, I'm not a fan of obviously "meta" narratives or themes in games (see: FFVII remake). It's a tribute to Miyazaki's skill that he's able to weave this into the world so naturally that it doesn't call attention to itself. I also think there's an sound interpretation that doesn't require the "meta" element, but the painter as game designer metaphor is so strong (along with the information we have about Miyazaki's thoughts) that it seems likely to be intentional.

[@joca_sol]

This ending always leave me almost in tears

[@m.khalid334]

"the forlorn in this situation, are you" epic roast, i saw it coming but i still laughed out loud

[@DE787-8]

It did make me sad that Dark Souls ended. But seeing From's newer games, and how good they were, I look forward to whatever they make now.

[@kindaedgy3548]

I never truly understood the painting and why we needed to burn it down, or why the flames waned and why it would be best to let it die when that happens. But now that the idea of ending something while we still could has been presented, it all makes much more sense to me.

[@alexyguadalupe3456]

*proceeds to make dark souls but with jumping*

[@c.b.5104]

Finally the meaning of the end is understood. A gentle death, the world of Dark Souls can find solace in rest at last... Forever

[@surepath3992]

Another interpretation could be the "spiritual" or metaphysical narrative. Dark souls is the story of the "Dark night of the soul" or evolution of consciousness. The painter is Miyazaki or you or me or any human being. The painting is the mind. "Those absorbed by fire must not paint the world" - Fire is often used to symbolize anger, hate, desires or any mental state that obsesses over something. The fire consumes our minds and we are focused on a single emotion. You can take a look at my channel, I have made a video that looks at the spiritual symbolism in bloodborne.

[@juan321ification]

Video starts: "dark souls is a game" Me: Dude he's spitting facts yooo

[@JustHANO]

I thought you were reaching, but then you started preaching 👏👏 love this theory

[@jhit2026]

Great take for games and life itself

[@borislavmarkov4171]

You cheeky bastard! Excellent video.

[@Taco-TannerVODS]

So they made an entire dlc to say "we aren't making ds4, so stop asking".

[@f2t948]

With this idea as context one could also interpreted that gale could also represent miyazaky as gale was present at the beginning of the world all the way until the end and gale requires the players help to burn the old world and bring the dark soul to the painter which could be interpreted as miyazaky as the painter has the ability to create a new world/game but miyazaky as gale requires the players strength/acceptance to do so

[@yiangaruga4928]

I just beat Gael for the first time and (I think) am soon finishing the DS3 dlc for the first time. That being said I shall watch this video when I've finished it so I don't get any spoilers for the rest of it, cheers!

[@prawn1717]

Congrats! Gael is imo the greatest boss in video game history (not my favorite though, Fatalis just barely beats him out). Glad to see you trying out DS3!

[@yiangaruga4928]

@@prawn1717 I've actually played through the base game for like 4 times but for whatever stupid reason I didn't go into the DLC content until now which I regret so much cause they have some of the best bosses in the series!

[@prawn1717]

@@yiangaruga4928 Oh man yeah, the base game is amazing but as always, Fromsoft knocks it out of the park with the DLC. What weapon have you been using??

[@ratatoskr6324]

Man I love that damn DLC. Makes the game 34% better.

[@yiangaruga4928]

@@prawn1717 I'm using my trusty Arstor's spear! We've been through alot

[@Haimi-fv5xj]

I love your take and I believe it’s only a part of what Miyazaki is trying to convey. In my opinion it’s more general: it‘s a nod to human nature and it’s notion of „home“ as well as art (in general) as a refuge for humankind. Home and refuge not necessarily being the same but blending together in many aspects so that they become synonymous. Home and warmth are two concepts than more often than not come hand in hand. However, the painting is cold and yet it’s citizens yearn for a place to belong to and settle in the rot. Decadence, resilience (to change), contentment, and monotony, all belong in „home“ as well and seem to have usurped the warmth’s throne. I believe rot to be synonymous to those. Take the broken Bell: I always wandered what those two bells of awakening represented in dark souls 1, and how the bell tolling at the beginning of ds3 or the one atop archdragon peak related to them. While I still haven’t found an answer that satisfies me, it’s obvious that bells in dark souls are directly linked to awakenings. There can be no awakening without sleep. The broken bell has two functions: The first one is being directly related to the lore and the other one is being a metaphor for the „sleeping“ (sweetly rotting bed) state of Ariandel. Have you ever been bedridden for a long time and realized how your bed, while offering you comfort, was seeping away at your strength and your willingness to stand up? That’s also the rot. Rot is everything opposed to motion, dynamics, change of state. Newton’s first law of dynamics states that a system at rest will present an inertial force, directly opposed to any force trying to change its state of inertia. That inertial force would be Father Ariandel, devoted to the preservation of the painted world. Fire is antagonistic to rot: A flame will offer warmth and flicker for as long as it subsists. The player is ember. In other words: the player has the potential to become flame and exerts this force of change on the painted world of Ariandel. That’s when Newton‘s third law of dynamics comes in: The player exerts a force on the painted world. As such, the painted world exerts a force on the player of the same magnitude, same direction, but opposite sense, also known as Sister Friede, another unkindled who stands in direct opposition to the player. I have defined the state of the world as a system at rest, and have made the inventory of the forces that exercise over it. There‘s one variable left in this physics-based interpretation of mine: The painter and its blanc canvas. She would be the resulting force. She IS the Change: Tearing a system apart, that is at equilibrium requires a lot of energy: the flame that she wants to see -that same flame that ends up engulfing the chapel-, I believe that to be the artist‘s passion. That same passion that is plastered on the canvas is the same capable of leveling the status quo. As such, the canvas is the creation, the new refuge, the escape from the rot, the break from monotony and is a metaphor for art as a whole. That’s my take on it. Essentially what I‘m saying, is that Miyazaki is not only portraying his own work as a mychrocosm of itself, but also as a mychrochosm to art as a whole. Thank you for reading this far. -a fan

[@fabi3790]

it is interesting how different the flame/fire is in the game and in the Painting in the world we play in the flame means to keep on. let it live to keep our world and progress. (this is the origin of the rott in the painting) In the Paintings fire means to burn the world. destroy/reset it and start new. its more like the dark (endings) in "our" world thats how I see it (ok you mention it in the video haha)

[@AshnSilvercorp]

just seeing the painter in the burned room with the pigment received hearing her talk about Gael is a bit of a depressing end to the quest line. No fanfare. Nothing But when you realize it from a perspective like this of what it meant. It's like feeling a deeper ending to a game only a community could ever create.

[@plus-delta4477]

As a trusted inspirational source once said, "It's not tainted meat, it's painted meat"

[@KonRoge11]

Ah That’s why the painting looks like Yharnam

[@AppleberryOjisan]

Anyone know where the music used at 1:32 is from?

[@spyguyvishal]

If Miyazaki is the painter then slave knight Gael is Banadai Namco, providing the painter with the dark soul (budget) to create the painting (game)

[@benedict6962]

"A cold, dark, and very gentle place" .....Sekiro!?

[@manab787]

The nonchalant delivery of "see? They even look like you"! Why you gotta do is like that?

[@muddymoisturizer4691]

did you know that the unkindled one is actually the sus imposter? he kills everyone and vents into the painted world.