Dark Souls: Initial Thoughts

[krazykidd]

I beat the giant Bull Demon thing, but now I'm stuck by the dragon with no idea where to go, do I brave the fire it spews out and try to run past it? Do I backtrack? What do I dooooooooo? T_T

Also that Black Knight in the first area is bloody brutal, I'm not even sure why he's there... >.>

EDIT: Also, I have no idea how to use those shards that give combat bonuses to my items, they would be useful if I knew how to use 'em.

Also, there's a lot of crap in my inventory, I just wish I could sell it instead of being forced to drop it. T_T

Alright, tackling these one at a time.

The bridge with the dragon has a staircase in the middle of it on the right. You will have to survive a fire blast to get there. While under there, one of the sides shows the dragon's tail swinging exposed. Shoot it with arrows until you get the Drake Sword. Best early weapon in the game. It requires 16 Strength and 10 Dexterity.

The Black Knights should be taken on later on. If you feel gutsy, backstabs are the best way to beat them now.

There is a blacksmith under Firelink Shrine that sells Sorcerer stuff and will repair/enhance your equipment. Take the staircase behind the bonfire past the mute woman and take the elevator. He is in New Lando Ruins. Just go right until you hit a staircase. He is down that. After you ring both Bells, a NPC will appear at Firelink Shrine that trades souls for your stuff.

Alrighty, so I need a ranged weapon to fight the thing? The major problem this game seems to have is with explaining things to you/expecting you to solve problems, I've had to look up a lot of things to play the game better.

Although i agreethe game doesn't explain much to you ( anything really ) it not a "problem" the game has because it does that on purpose. And everything can be more or learn by experimentation and trial and error but i can see why people might dislike that . That being said , i personally refuse to look anything up ( i'm not attacking you because you did , just saying for me )because i find it would ruin the experience for me , for the first playthrough at least . Sure i will miss a lot of things but the feeling of accomplishment when i figure out how to do something on my own ( even after hours of trying ) is great. I guess i have more patience than most and too much free time . I almost wept when i suceeded to beat the boss after the poison swamp under blight town , i was literally at it for 3 hours ( between the bonfire an the boss theres like 2 minute run). Oh and my face when i realised the rat in blightown can breath fire ... Priceless.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Picked it up yesterday, I had played Demons Souls for a bit, liked it but unfortunately it was a friends copy and I don't have a PS3 so I never really got to sink my teeth into it. Ecstatic they made a 360 version. Its so good I'm actually playing it instead of the Old Republic beta.

I can't really think of higher praise than that.

To be critical, I do wish that the boss fights were a tad less trial-and-error, especially since I haven't seen one that doesn't lock you into the fight, meaning ot get your lost souls from dying you can't actually book it back to a fire and spend them to get better, you need to either cut your losses or grind without them. I think the challenge of making it back to the boss room without dying again should've been enough.

I do have some questions for the people who've been playing:

1. How open world is it really? I slew the Tauros demon and am now wandering around the blacksmith kind of lost, and I'm wondering when does the game "open up" like say Oblivion, or doesn't it, and how big roughly is it?

2. And, where is the god-damned pyromancing trainer? All I can find on google are the more advanced guys. I'm almost level 20 now and I've been forced to play my Pyro as basically a warrior with rechargeable incendiary bombs, since I can't find any other skills to train I put most of my stats into Str and Vit so I'm not so squishy. I'd really like some proper spells for my spell casting class!

The pyromancy trainer is in the Depths. You have to go free him from being trapped behind some boxes in a room. I think that he goes to Firelink Shrine. I haven't gone back to check, but that is where the sorcerer went. The Witch's covenant also has upgrades for pyromancy spells.

I beat the giant Bull Demon thing, but now I'm stuck by the dragon with no idea where to go, do I brave the fire it spews out and try to run past it? Do I backtrack? What do I dooooooooo? T_T

Also that Black Knight in the first area is bloody brutal, I'm not even sure why he's there... >.>

EDIT: Also, I have no idea how to use those shards that give combat bonuses to my items, they would be useful if I knew how to use 'em.

Also, there's a lot of crap in my inventory, I just wish I could sell it instead of being forced to drop it. T_T

Alright, tackling these one at a time.

The bridge with the dragon has a staircase in the middle of it on the right. You will have to survive a fire blast to get there. While under there, one of the sides shows the dragon's tail swinging exposed. Shoot it with arrows until you get the Drake Sword. Best early weapon in the game. It requires 16 Strength and 10 Dexterity.

The Black Knights should be taken on later on. If you feel gutsy, backstabs are the best way to beat them now.

There is a blacksmith under Firelink Shrine that sells Sorcerer stuff and will repair/enhance your equipment. Take the staircase behind the bonfire past the mute woman and take the elevator. He is in New Lando Ruins. Just go right until you hit a staircase. He is down that. After you ring both Bells, a NPC will appear at Firelink Shrine that trades souls for your stuff.

Alrighty, so I need a ranged weapon to fight the thing? The major problem this game seems to have is with explaining things to you/expecting you to solve problems, I've had to look up a lot of things to play the game better.

You don't fight the dragon yet. Just go under the bridge.

 

[ShotgunZombie]

Surprisingly I found the tutorial level to be of normal difficulty, not easy but not difficult either. Once I got out of the Asylum however, well... Let's just say that I'm glad I'm a patient guy.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Picked it up yesterday, I had played Demons Souls for a bit, liked it but unfortunately it was a friends copy and I don't have a PS3 so I never really got to sink my teeth into it. Ecstatic they made a 360 version. Its so good I'm actually playing it instead of the Old Republic beta.

I can't really think of higher praise than that.

To be critical, I do wish that the boss fights were a tad less trial-and-error, especially since I haven't seen one that doesn't lock you into the fight, meaning ot get your lost souls from dying you can't actually book it back to a fire and spend them to get better, you need to either cut your losses or grind without them. I think the challenge of making it back to the boss room without dying again should've been enough.

I do have some questions for the people who've been playing:

1. How open world is it really? I slew the Tauros demon and am now wandering around the blacksmith kind of lost, and I'm wondering when does the game "open up" like say Oblivion, or doesn't it, and how big roughly is it?

2. And, where is the god-damned pyromancing trainer? All I can find on google are the more advanced guys. I'm almost level 20 now and I've been forced to play my Pyro as basically a warrior with rechargeable incendiary bombs, since I can't find any other skills to train I put most of my stats into Str and Vit so I'm not so squishy. I'd really like some proper spells for my spell casting class!

The pyromancy trainer is in the Depths. You have to go free him from being trapped behind some boxes in a room. I think that he goes to Firelink Shrine. I haven't gone back to check, but that is where the sorcerer went. The Witch's covenant also has upgrades for pyromancy spells.

I beat the giant Bull Demon thing, but now I'm stuck by the dragon with no idea where to go, do I brave the fire it spews out and try to run past it? Do I backtrack? What do I dooooooooo? T_T

Also that Black Knight in the first area is bloody brutal, I'm not even sure why he's there... >.>

EDIT: Also, I have no idea how to use those shards that give combat bonuses to my items, they would be useful if I knew how to use 'em.

Also, there's a lot of crap in my inventory, I just wish I could sell it instead of being forced to drop it. T_T

Alright, tackling these one at a time.

The bridge with the dragon has a staircase in the middle of it on the right. You will have to survive a fire blast to get there. While under there, one of the sides shows the dragon's tail swinging exposed. Shoot it with arrows until you get the Drake Sword. Best early weapon in the game. It requires 16 Strength and 10 Dexterity.

The Black Knights should be taken on later on. If you feel gutsy, backstabs are the best way to beat them now.

There is a blacksmith under Firelink Shrine that sells Sorcerer stuff and will repair/enhance your equipment. Take the staircase behind the bonfire past the mute woman and take the elevator. He is in New Lando Ruins. Just go right until you hit a staircase. He is down that. After you ring both Bells, a NPC will appear at Firelink Shrine that trades souls for your stuff.

Alrighty, so I need a ranged weapon to fight the thing? The major problem this game seems to have is with explaining things to you/expecting you to solve problems, I've had to look up a lot of things to play the game better.

You don't fight the dragon yet. Just go under the bridge.

After spending a good two hours trying to get past the bridge, I've found it to be near impossible. I have to be lucky enough to kill those skeleton enemies under it, and since I have no ranged weapon with the exception of a crossbow (and it can't even lock onto the stupid thing's tail) I can't make the dragon leave, if I beat the skeleton spearmen, I have to go through a room filled with rats that poison me just enough to take out my entire life bar, and if I get past them I'll have no flasks and have to get past an armored boar and army of skeleton warriors... And if I die I have to run all the way back there from the third bonfire, which is pretty much half way across the map... With all the enemies re-spawned...

I had to put the game down before I would lose it and start writing threats to the game developers. -_-"

There is a wonderful little shortcut. Here:
It is about farming, but it shows the shortcut. After you manage to get under the bridge, before going further, go through that door and kick down the ladder. You can now rest at the bonfire then tackle the next area.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

If anyone is having problems early on, you can PM me. I'll try to help you.

 

[AlternatePFG]

Oh god, it was hell getting to the next bonfire after the Taurus Demon, but I did it. I ended up getting like 5 white phantom players killed in the process, but I did it. ;-;

 

[Kris015]

It's hard, and the game doesn't tell me anything! I wasted a freaking Fire Keeper Soul because I thought you were supposed to "Use Item" >.<

Also I have no freaking idea where to go after ringing the first bell! I even killed the Moonlight Butterfly.. Where to now!?

 

[Rabid Toilet]

After playing the game for around ten hours, I have to say I'm just not having as much fun as with Demon's Souls.

Demon's Souls was challenging, but fair. Dark Souls has definitely got the challenging part down, but a lot of the mechanics go straight into bullshit territory.

Spoiler: Spoilers for New Lando Ruins

I got screwed over here after killing over twenty ghosts in a row without a single Transient Curse dropping, so now I have to completely ignore that area until I can afford the 4000 souls per item from a merchant or get myself permanently cursed to half health (I know I can buy another expensive item to cure it, but it still means going through this area with half health). Not to mention the traps that are impossible to predict, and no amount of going slowly will prepare you for them (Ghosts stabbing you through the floor? Really?). I also can't figure out what the developers want me to do in this area. If I take the time to kill the ghosts, they just respawn where they were standing, and if I ignore them and run past, I end up with ten to fifteen ghosts chasing me through the level.

I'm also getting stuck on the Capra Demon, who seems designed specifically to kill my playstyle. I'm playing as a heavy armor spear user, who can't move very fast, but can block pretty much anything. This works great, except that the Capra Demon has two attacks that go straight through my guard, hitting me for half my life, and they both track me, so I can't sidestep them. I also can't move or roll fast enough to get out of range of them.

At this point it just doesn't feel like the game is fun, knowing that even if I do get past him, I'll have to deal with things like the frogs who curse you forever and other mechanics that are equally stupid. I'll probably finish the game eventually, just because I refuse to be beaten by a game, but it feels like a chore.

 

[Kris015]

Well after ringing the first bell I made my way through Darkroot Garden and Basin. Unlocked a magic door, killed a giant hydra, killed the moonlight butterfly, manhandled 3 giant hedgehogs, attacked the forest covenant on accident, and handily got a beat down by a giant wolf with a sword in its mouth. I then decided to head to the depths after taking out the Capra Demon after a few tries. Once in the depths I was attacked by 3 players consecutively and handed them their asses. Made my way to the Gaping Dragon and had him damn near death until I fucked up! I almost had that MF on my first go. Lost 5 humanity, 10,000 souls and swiftly died before reaching my corpse via a curse. Now I am cursed in the depths and can't find my way back to the vendor I found earlier that sells the uncurse dohickies lol. Oh MF I hate/love you Dark Souls..........

You.. Killed the freaking Hydra? What is your soul level and equipment? o.o

 

[Kopikatsu]

Well after ringing the first bell I made my way through Darkroot Garden and Basin. Unlocked a magic door, killed a giant hydra, killed the moonlight butterfly, manhandled 3 giant hedgehogs, attacked the forest covenant on accident, and handily got a beat down by a giant wolf with a sword in its mouth. I then decided to head to the depths after taking out the Capra Demon after a few tries. Once in the depths I was attacked by 3 players consecutively and handed them their asses. Made my way to the Gaping Dragon and had him damn near death until I fucked up! I almost had that MF on my first go. Lost 5 humanity, 10,000 souls and swiftly died before reaching my corpse via a curse. Now I am cursed in the depths and can't find my way back to the vendor I found earlier that sells the uncurse dohickies lol. Oh MF I hate/love you Dark Souls..........

You.. Killed the freaking Hydra? What is your soul level and equipment? o.o

Eh? The Hydra is easy. There is an even stronger, more head-ed one in Ash Lake.

Just run up to it, then when it tries to bite you, block. Hack at the heads until they retract. Block again. Repeat until dead.

 

[Kris015]

Well after ringing the first bell I made my way through Darkroot Garden and Basin. Unlocked a magic door, killed a giant hydra, killed the moonlight butterfly, manhandled 3 giant hedgehogs, attacked the forest covenant on accident, and handily got a beat down by a giant wolf with a sword in its mouth. I then decided to head to the depths after taking out the Capra Demon after a few tries. Once in the depths I was attacked by 3 players consecutively and handed them their asses. Made my way to the Gaping Dragon and had him damn near death until I fucked up! I almost had that MF on my first go. Lost 5 humanity, 10,000 souls and swiftly died before reaching my corpse via a curse. Now I am cursed in the depths and can't find my way back to the vendor I found earlier that sells the uncurse dohickies lol. Oh MF I hate/love you Dark Souls..........

You.. Killed the freaking Hydra? What is your soul level and equipment? o.o

Eh? The Hydra is easy. There is an even stronger, more head-ed one in Ash Lake.

Just run up to it, then when it tries to bite you, block. Hack at the heads until they retract. Block again. Repeat until dead.

Oh, I was afraid to approach him
Gonna try it tomorrow!

 

[Dansen]

Are smithing boxes, and repair boxes permanent items, or just a one time use?

 

[RagnaThePig]

Permanent. It's a good idea to buy the repair box.

 

[Dansen]

Permanent. It's a good idea to buy the repair box.

Thanks, I will defiantly make that investment.

 

[Condiments]

I'm also getting stuck on the Capra Demon, who seems designed specifically to kill my playstyle. I'm playing as a heavy armor spear user, who can't move very fast, but can block pretty much anything. This works great, except that the Capra Demon has two attacks that go straight through my guard, hitting me for half my life, and they both track me, so I can't sidestep them. I also can't move or roll fast enough to get out of range of them.

Actually my heavy armor wearing spear wielder friend had no trouble on him at all. The only attacks you have to worry about are when he combines his swords together, and does the leaping double sword attack. The only real attack you have to worry is the leaping attack, which you'll have to time your roll "perfectly". Do it to early, and the Capra will adjust mid swing and smash you. Everyone else you should be able to confidently block or outrange if you've built your character correctly.

The other worry is the dogs. The easy way to get rid of them is to buy the flame resin, and eliminate them as quickly as possible. Make your way to the stairs right away, and take them out.

Trust me its way worse as a fast character with such little margin for error in between his attacks.

 

[Shadie777]

I love/hate this game.

Spoiler

I finally made it through Blighttown and beat the boss Quelag and rang the bell. Greatest feeling ever. It is a shame that this feeling got destroyed as soon as I saw what seemed to be a half-dead spider chick. I got even more nervous as soon as I entered the Demon Ruins.I quit for the night, I need to strengthen my moral

 

[Casual Shinji]

Loving it.

It feels a lot more polished that than Demon's Souls, in the way the characters move and the wy they attack.

I'm fucking loving how much crit damage daggers do in this game (started out as thief).

No complaints about the visuals, they look better than Demon's Souls (at least on my TV), the level designs are more varied and there's a lot more variation in the types of grunts you face, so it never feels like I'm fighting wave after wave of the same sort of bad guy.

While I do like the game, it has a few questionable design choices compared to Demon's Souls.

- You have to buy the ability to write/rate messages. It's only a 100 souls, but still, this should've been in the game right from the start just like in Demon's Souls.
- The Soul Sign thing-a-ma-jig is easily missed, because you have to speak to some random dude - twice - in order to get it. Yet again a feature that was there from the get-go in Demon's Souls.
- And when you do get the Souls Sign there's hardly anyone accessing it, because the game runs on a different server system than Demon's Souls. I don't know the gist of it, but where in Demon's Souls you would trip over Soul Signs left and right, and could seek out your friends' Soul Sign easily using psn messaging or whatnot, in Dark Souls there's not a "soul" in sight. I've been playing all day today and I haven't seen a Soul Sign anywhere.

All I can hope for is that From Software releases a patch that makes the co-op component of this game actually work.

 

[AlternatePFG]

I really need to buy this game when I get the chance. From the rental, I'm really loving it, but like in Demon's Souls, it takes me forever to progress anywhere.

 

[krazykidd]

Loving it.

It feels a lot more polished that than Demon's Souls, in the way the characters move and the wy they attack.

I'm fucking loving how much crit damage daggers do in this game (started out as thief).

No complaints about the visuals, they look better than Demon's Souls (at least on my TV), the level designs are more varied and there's a lot more variation in the types of grunts you face, so it never feels like I'm fighting wave after wave of the same sort of bad guy.

While I do like the game, it has a few questionable design choices compared to Demon's Souls.

- You have to buy the ability to write/rate messages. It's only a 100 souls, but still, this should've been in the game right from the start just like in Demon's Souls.
- The Soul Sign thing-a-ma-jig is easily missed, because you have to speak to some random dude - twice - in order to get it. Yet again a feature that was there from the get-go in Demon's Souls.
- And when you do get the Souls Sign there's hardly anyone accessing it, because the game runs on a different server system than Demon's Souls. I don't know the gist of it, but where in Demon's Souls you would trip over Soul Signs left and right, and could seek out your friends' Soul Sign easily using psn messaging or whatnot, in Dark Souls there's not a "soul" in sight. I've been playing all day today and I haven't seen a Soul Sign anywhere.

All I can hope for is that From Software releases a patch that makes the co-op component of this game actually work.

Ummm first thing , are you human? You can only summon and see soul signs if your human . Second thing , they are mostly around bosses , players tend to help other for bosses or somewhere tough . I've seen quite a few and it was the only way i could beat the boss before the demon ruins

 

[krazykidd]

Loving it.

It feels a lot more polished that than Demon's Souls, in the way the characters move and the wy they attack.

I'm fucking loving how much crit damage daggers do in this game (started out as thief).

No complaints about the visuals, they look better than Demon's Souls (at least on my TV), the level designs are more varied and there's a lot more variation in the types of grunts you face, so it never feels like I'm fighting wave after wave of the same sort of bad guy.

While I do like the game, it has a few questionable design choices compared to Demon's Souls.

- You have to buy the ability to write/rate messages. It's only a 100 souls, but still, this should've been in the game right from the start just like in Demon's Souls.
- The Soul Sign thing-a-ma-jig is easily missed, because you have to speak to some random dude - twice - in order to get it. Yet again a feature that was there from the get-go in Demon's Souls.
- And when you do get the Souls Sign there's hardly anyone accessing it, because the game runs on a different server system than Demon's Souls. I don't know the gist of it, but where in Demon's Souls you would trip over Soul Signs left and right, and could seek out your friends' Soul Sign easily using psn messaging or whatnot, in Dark Souls there's not a "soul" in sight. I've been playing all day today and I haven't seen a Soul Sign anywhere.

All I can hope for is that From Software releases a patch that makes the co-op component of this game actually work.

Ummm first thing , are you human? You can only summon and see soul signs if your human . Second thing , they are mostly around bosses , players tend to help other for bosses or somewhere tough . I've seen quite a few and it was the only way i could beat the boss before the demon ruins