A breakdown retrospective of various games.

As people know me for the Souls series, I thought this would be a good place to start,

but I do intend to cover more games outside of Souls, as Game Design is a passion of mine.

Also, I'd love to know your thoughts on this type of video when it wraps, as I'm

new to this.

So, that said, here's a critical analysis of Dark Souls - both its pros and cons.

What makes the game work, and perhaps, would could have been improved.

There will be spoilers, as I'd like to talk about the overall game in depth, so you have

been warned.

—

Dark Souls starts the game simple enough, with a character creator.

Which, I think for repeat play throughs, and experienced players is a great place to start

- but can be kind of intimidating for someone new to a franchise.

While players returning from Demon's Souls will know what kind of character they want

to play - being immediately thrown a number of stats without ever having played a game

is a rough place to start.

To be honest, on my first play through, I pulled up a guide as I already felt like I

could be screwing up at this point.

I've never been a huge fan of presenting new players immediately with stat choices

to choose before they've even had a chance to play the game for this reason.

If you've never played a game before, you don't know what build you're going to

like, you don't know what works and doesn't work for that particular game, and it's

a lot to handle right from the get-go, before you have any investment in the game at hand.

I'm definitely a fan of RPGs, and love the ability to customize your stats, but my main

point is this can be intimidating, especially for a game that has the reputation of Dark

Souls, whether deserved or not, of being challenging.

One possible solution is to have a tutorial portion of the game where the player at least

learns base mechanics before they get to choose their stats - and in this case, that would

happen when the player arrives at Firelink Shrine.

However, that's really just a different choice, as it creates its own problems.

The character creator, at that point, would pull you out of the game - and possibly ruin

your sense of immersion as you should already have an idea of who your character is if you're

doing role playing.

I don't think there's necessarily a solution to this problem, but do want to point out

my own frustrations with it, as I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles with

this.

—

From here, we get what I think is one of Dark Souls strongest aspects over Demon's Souls,

Dark Souls 2, and Bloodborne… and even to an extent - Dark Souls 3, which is its intro

cinematic.

There's a strong pull to take cinematics completely out of video games, as they take

you of the game, and at that point you're watching something happen as opposed to playing.

But, I think they can have their place, and this is the perfect example of that.

In the intro cinematic we find out about the creation of the world, and are given a little

backstory to the overall game, which will become essential to its story.

But the main point I want to focus on here, is what the cinematic highlights.

We're shown horrifying looking Ancient Dragons, and then 4 amazingly powerful lords fighting

off these Ancient Dragons and starting the entire world as we'll come to know it - Gwyn,

The Witch of Izalith, Nito, and Seath.

The cinematic makes them look incredibly powerful, and they absolutely stand out as they're

shown fighting off the ancient dragons.

What this creates is an automatic understanding of who some of the major bosses you'll end

up fighting are.

You don't know it yet, but as you progress further into the game, and realize you're

about to have to fight Nito… or Seath… or the Witch of Izalith… or finally Gwyn

- living legends who we witnessed creating the world and destroying the ancient dragons

- the tone is set for you.

These are characters we know, we might revere or fear, and know are insanely powerful.

They created the world you stand on, and you're about to have to go fight them.

And that's both intimidating and exciting.

In Demon's Souls, we're told the overall lore of the world, and given some minor backstory

about warriors who've disappeared - which works just fine but doesn't have the same

effect.

In Dark Souls 2 we get some cutscene about some weird world under the water… which,

despite all of my lore videos on the game, I still don't really understand.

It doesn't do anything for you other than make the world seem mystical and strange.

Bloodborne, sets the tone of you being in a creepy world where you seem to have just

screwed yourself - but not much beyond that.

And finally, Dark Souls 3 replicates what Dark Souls 1 did - giving us beings that we're

going to have to fight, and names that we'll know.

But, it's not as effective, as these are simply beings who became Lords and had sacrificed

themselves to extend the Age of Fire at some point in time.

That's not nearly as important or wild as the beings who created the entire world and

mythology you exist within.

And I know I'm harping on this intro for a while, but I think it's just that good,

and that well worth praising.

—

Finally, with the intro cinematic out of the way, we find ourselves in prison, and a character

helps break us out - Oscar of Astora.

It's worth mentioning this, as it's something I've heard other creators talk about before

in mentioning what makes you like an NPC.

We immediately like Oscar, and he's more important to us than most NPCs in other games…

simply by the virtue of its he who gives us the key that gets us out of prison.

Characters who help you, or do things for you, are the ones who you'll tend to end

up liking.

If characters get in your way, such as Lautrec… we end up hating them - regardless of how

virtuous they may end up being.

Let's further look at Oscar…

Oscar later on gives us Estus Flasks, which finally allows your character to heal themselves,

with refillable vials.

Once again, he endears himself to the players by being useful - and he tells you to leave

before he goes hollow… as he doesn't want to hurt you.

When we find him hollow and attacking you later, he's once again endeared himself

through his actions of helping you.

But… when you really think about it.

Oscar is also the one who tells you about the Undead journey, which within the lore…

is a trap created by Gwyndolin, Frampt, or Gwyn… to get an undead to unwittingly sacrifice

themselves to link the flame.

It's all a giant lie.

But, what makes you, the player, so susceptible to this is that it's one of the game's

most likable characters who unwittingly tells you this lie - and sets you on your journey.

It's fascinating when you think about the psychology of it… and I think other games

should look at this as an example of how to properly lie to players.

Another game that did this really well was the original Bioshock.

It's similar in making you trust someone who keeps on doing things that would seem

to help you, when that character has their own ulterior motive.

It's great writing - and whether Fromsoftware did it on purpose or not, which given the

other characters we find, I assume they did - I applaud them for this.

—

So… here we are at the Undead Asylum, and what happens to be the tutorial area of Dark

Souls 1.

I think this, along with Demon's Souls were the best tutorial areas of the Souls games,

but before I get into that, I do have a criticism for it.

Anyone who's played Dark Souls for an extensive amount of time - especially if you've played

Bloodborne, will know that the optimal way to play the game is usually in rolling to

dodge enemy attacks.

However, the tutorial heavily emphasizes playing the game sword and board style.

It definitely teaches you how to roll - but what I mean is this:

You're pretty much immediately given your shield, and told how to use it.

After this, one of your first scenarios is being ambushed by a mob, along with an archer.

The best way to handle this situation is with your shield, so you block all of these attacks,

and then strike at your first opportunity.

I do think that's great for teaching how to use the shield effectively.

But…

I also feel like you're given the shield too early, or don't have enough enemies

to train with… and by that…

I mean even a single real enemy - to train with without a shield.

Especially when you're light, and before you're mid-rolling or fat-rolling - it's

the perfect opportunity to present a situation where all you have is a sword, and the best

way to avoid getting hit is through rolling.

Outside of that, I think the Undead Asylum is by far the best tutorial in any of the

Souls games, and here's why:

Simply put - the Asylum Demon is the perfect first boss.

When he first jumps down, it's shocking, especially if you've never played a Souls

game, and terrifying.

If you try attacking him, you'll probably die.

And, it quickly sets the mood for Dark souls in multiple ways.

For one - the game is going to be challenging.

And for two, if you stop panicking and explore around the room, you'll find an escape,

and get away from the boss.

You've now been rewarded for thinking and properly assessing the environment, which

is a huge deal in this game, which constantly pounds that into you: Be cautious, check the

environment for clues, and utilize it properly.

Not only that, but when we come to the boss better equipped, you're given a new mechanic

- that being the drop attack.

This takes out roughly half of the Asylum Demon's health, and presents with an optionally

easier boss fight.

Now, fully equipped and with healing items, knowing the mechanics of the game, you should

be able to take out the Asylum Demon after a few tries… if not your first.

He is difficult for new players… but not overly difficult - and this drop attack is

a great way for new players to feel like they have a real chance to defeat him.

Not only that - but because of how intimidating and challenging the Asylum Demon was when

we first met him, it's extremely rewarding when the player defeats him.

Right from the get-go, the tutorial has established what the game is about: overcoming challenging

situations, and a great sense of reward for doing so.

Demon's Souls attempts this by having an intimidating boss - but allows you to lose,

thereby potentially never gaining that sense of reward.

Meanwhile, both Dark Souls 2 and Bloodborne omit having a boss, which I think was a mistake

on the part of Dark Souls 2, where-as Bloodborne I'm more forgiving as it has totally different

feel as a game.

I think Dark Souls 3 actually handled this the worst with Iudex Gundyr.

He's overly difficult for new players, and certain builds, such as the thief build, are

at a huge disadvantage against him.

While he sets the tone for: “These games are about overcoming challenge”, I think

it's at the point of potentially being too discouraging.

Finally, another great thing about the Asylum Demon and the tutorial area is it has a now

well-known easter egg that rewards observant players.

The Asylum Demon can be seen at the top of the Undead Asylum if the player truly pays

attention.

Meanwhile, we find Oscar bashed in throughs he ceiling of the Undead Asylum, about to

die.

And - if we piece this together - it was the Asylum Demon who did this to him.

The story is there, and you're rewarded for paying attention… but it's never thrown

in your face.

Anyways, I think that's all I have to say about the Undead Asylum.

To be honest, the area's a little boring to me, but it does make for a great tutorial

area.

So, let's hitch a ride with a crow, and head into Firelink Shrine.

————

Ahhhh, Firelink Shrine.

Thanks in part to the sound design of the game, which opt to almost never play music

unless you're fighting a boss, this truly feels like a relaxing hub and safe spot.

This element of sound design is actually something I'm a little torn on.

On one hand, some of my favorite video game music comes from environmental music.

For example: Playing through From Software's first video game series, King's Field, there's

constantly this creepy music that plays in the background - and it really helped set

the mood of the game.

Meanwhile, a game like Skyrim has peaceful tracks playing the background which helps

make the game feel relaxing while you're exploring.

Dark Souls instead opts to only have environmental sounds ringing throughout, which heavy music

playing during bosses to indicate a heightened sense of danger - which I'll touch on more

when I get to the Taurus Demon.

And while I sometimes do miss the music, it also makes it so every track is far more effective.

Because Firelink Shrine is one of the only places in the game with music, it really does

feel like something separate, important, and peaceful.

Meanwhile, if you eventually find Ash Lake, the track that plays there immediately creates

a sense of awe and importance - as no-where else in the game does this.

I think - to my point - it's an interesting design choice, and I think one Dark Souls

pulls off effectively.

Another great thing about Firelink Shrine is that there are multiple branches here,

with the game not holding your hand or telling you where to go.

It's refreshing for a game to trust its player to figure out what's too difficult

for them.

And while I'm sure there are some players who have frustratedly quit out of the game

at this point, this is the type of choice that makes Dark Souls stand out to players

who do end up enjoying it so much.

From Firelink Shrine, you can head into the Catacombs, Undead Burg, or New Londo - which

actually has even more branches - but, let's first look at a new player's perspective.

If you go into the Graveyard, the skeletons are genuinely hard and will probably kill

you immediately.

One thing I hate in games is when they block off a path telling you: “You shouldn't

go here yet”.

It's such an obvious marker and pulls away from immersion.

But - this tells a player all they need to know.

If you died to the skeletons right away, you should probably be thinking: “I'm not

ready for this yet”, or at leas try to avoid it and look at other areas.

If you want to keep on attempting the Graveyard - fair enough man - but at least you're