Would you have played the Demon/Dark Souls games if there was no online?

[Raku-Gosha]

Would you have played any of the souls games if it was strictly a single player experience?

Seeing with the release of Dark Souls II, FROM is taking a bigger interest in the online portion of their games, with content and patches in favor of pvp. It wouldn't be ignorant to assume future installments will only increase the attention towards it also. Possibly detracting from the core experience.


This question hypotheses if the Souls games were released without a hint of online would you still have played/enjoyed them? Nothing would have changed that could not be tweaked to accommodate the lack of online capabilities (covenants will be around in a different sense, soapstone messages can be randomly generated etc)

[small] I've failed you Solaire [/small]

The reason I ask, is with Dark Souls II it seems the games are being catered to those that seek and enjoy the invasion aspect of Dark Souls, which I feel is it's worst aspect. Sure there is the co-op but by focusing on online FROM has developed around that fact and has made most of the content with Online in mind, not as a single player. the nerfs and changes they make also slightly affect the PVP (which is their intention) but hits hardest in the PVE. Taking some of the fun in building specific characters.

To maintain discussion value this is more of a socratic questioning of the Souls games sans multiplayer so keep the "Git Gud" nonsense to a minimum.

Spoiler

EDIT: Hi, my first thread and what not, so it's nice to meet you all.

UPDATE: Wow, I'm loving the variety of answers I'm getting so far! It's fascinating reading what every ones preferences regarding online are. Thanks for sharing and providing more food for thought! Continue to Praise the Sun Escapist!

 

[-Seraph-]

I have always from the start given zero fucks about the online aspect of the game, I solo'd the first playthrough almost completely in hollow. Even when I did dabble with online, it was just co-op to see if it was any fun and I did enjoy that aspect a bit with helping others get through certain sections.

Invasions though can go fuck themselves. Though my grip with actual PvP stems from the fact that the game doesn't feel like it ever had PvP in mind and was just kinda stapled onto it. I can't quite pin my finger on the exact aspect of it all, but whenever I played PvP it hardly ever felt enjoyable if I won or lost, the gameplay and controls just didn't feel good for that.

I honestly think online should always be optional and not something I am sort of pulled into. No, I should not have to pull the internet in order to play offline. None of the online features even matter that much when the game is completely serviceable without it.

Now a souls game totally devoid of online features would be a downer, a big unique and oddly charmful aspect of the game would be lost if that were so. I don't like/care for online, but those who want it can have it and those that just want to solo should be free to do so without human invaders if they want. NPC invaders might not be as tough as a human invader, but whatever.

Even though I still hate the whole change they made to DS2 with you being almost forced into staying human, and thus more susceptible to invasion, I look forward to getting it this weekend.

 

[hazabaza1]

First off hello and welcome!

And yeah I certainly would. I got a lot of replayability from the coop when I was long done with DkS1 and I've been enjoying it in 2 (despite only getting any kind of hostile reaction while in NG+) but it's not nearly the core part of the experience and it's never been the reason why I play the Souls games.

That being said a lot of the charm that comes from the messages left by other players would be lost.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I played through all of Dark Souls 1 offline. I borrowed it from my friend after I got rid of my xbox live, and so I've never actually done coop or pvp in the game, and I still love the game to bits, and it's absolutely a favorite of mine, even though I missed out on some core features.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I would absolutely enjoy them either way. And, in actuality, I am disappointed that basically all of the covenants in DS2 were based around online play. I figured they could have done some interesting things with covenants on the offline side of things.

That said, I still appreciate what From is trying with online play and do feel that the online features they added in DS2 made the online aspects of the game much more interesting.

 

[shrekfan246]

EDIT: Hi, my first thread and what not, so it's nice to meet you all.

Welcome to The Escapist. Try to stay away from the social justice threads and you'll be fine.

OT: I've probably been online while playing Demon's Souls and Dark Souls a collective total of twice, so yes, I think it's safe to say that I don't have any particular interest in the online portion.

Which means that my interest in the franchise will wane if the focus on online interactions becomes more and more prevalent in future titles.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

I'd still have played them. When I tried playing Dark Souls my internet connection was fuzzy at best so I had no online and I doubt having a bunch of random people come in trying to kill me or going in would have improved my experience any so even if I did like the game I probably would have turned it off.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Welcome to The Escapist. Try to stay away from the social justice threads and you'll be fine.

Is that the new "basement"? Or were they the basement all along?

OP: Yeah, I played through almost all of Dark Souls offline. I didn't even find the soapstones added much to the game for me, personally.

 

[Chester Rabbit]

I didn't even realize there was an online aspect to the games until I started having a try at demon souls and even then i didn't realize the extent of it until I went to the forums trying to get a better grasp on how to not suck at the game.

I try my best to avoid the online features of the souls games. I don't seek out help and I sure as hell avoid becoming human because I don't want some dick coming in and killing me just because he can.

So in short yes I would and do

 

[shrekfan246]

Welcome to The Escapist. Try to stay away from the social justice threads and you'll be fine.

Is that the new "basement"? Or were they the basement all along?

I'm not sure it was the basement all along, if only because I don't remember them being quite so frequent and vicious back when I first joined, but it certainly could replace it nowadays. Which is a bit sad, in all honesty.

 

[Raku-Gosha]

Spoiler: -Seraph's- comment

I have always from the start given zero fucks about the online aspect of the game, I solo'd the first playthrough almost completely in hollow. Even when I did dabble with online, it was just co-op to see if it was any fun and I did enjoy that aspect a bit with helping others get through certain sections.

Invasions though can go fuck themselves. Though my grip with actual PvP stems from the fact that the game doesn't feel like it ever had PvP in mind and was just kinda stapled onto it. I can't quite pin my finger on the exact aspect of it all, but whenever I played PvP it hardly ever felt enjoyable if I won or lost, the gameplay and controls just didn't feel good for that.

I honestly think online should always be optional and not something I am sort of pulled into. No, I should not have to pull the internet in order to play offline. None of the online features even matter that much when the game is completely serviceable without it.

Now a souls game totally devoid of online features would be a downer, a big unique and oddly charmful aspect of the game would be lost if that were so. I don't like/care for online, but those who want it can have it and those that just want to solo should be free to do so without human invaders if they want. NPC invaders might not be as tough as a human invader, but whatever.

Even though I still hate the whole change they made to DS2 with you being almost forced into staying human, and thus more susceptible to invasion, I look forward to getting it this weekend.

Same, I have dabbled in online a bit myself, but mostly played and completed Dark Souls offline (Let Gold die) several times not once needing or considering any of the online aspects when playing. You say that removing the online portion from the souls games would be a downer? Why is that? Hypothetically In this question they were never there to begin with what would you be missing? and how would it change the game for you?

Thanks for responding, seems my initial question isn't as clear as I wanted.

 

[Raku-Gosha]

First off hello and welcome!

And yeah I certainly would. I got a lot of replayability from the coop when I was long done with DkS1 and I've been enjoying it in 2 (despite only getting any kind of hostile reaction while in NG+) but it's not nearly the core part of the experience and it's never been the reason why I play the Souls games.

That being said a lot of the charm that comes from the messages left by other players would be lost.

Secondly Hello to you too, and Thank you!

Yeah, I can imagine the fun of aiding newer players out as a majestic white phantom guiding them through the depths or the Catacombs like an angel is quite exhilarating. Your point about it not being a core aspect is on point with what I was worried about as well. With the original Director gone, there have been questionable changes to the Souls series if the core gameplay changes to further accommodate the online aspect would that hurt your enjoyment?

I'll concede that the often cliché and obnoxious messages left behind (try holding with both hands in Gywneveres chamber for example lol) would be a bummer.

 

[hazabaza1]

First off hello and welcome!

And yeah I certainly would. I got a lot of replayability from the coop when I was long done with DkS1 and I've been enjoying it in 2 (despite only getting any kind of hostile reaction while in NG+) but it's not nearly the core part of the experience and it's never been the reason why I play the Souls games.

That being said a lot of the charm that comes from the messages left by other players would be lost.

Secondly Hello to you too, and Thank you!

Yeah, I can imagine the fun of aiding newer players out as a majestic white phantom guiding them through the depths or the Catacombs like an angel is quite exhilarating. Your point about it not being a core aspect is on point with what I was worried about as well. With the original Director gone, there have been questionable changes to the Souls series if the core gameplay changes to further accommodate the online aspect would that hurt your enjoyment?

I'll concede that the often cliché and obnoxious messages left behind (try holding with both hands in Gywneveres chamber for example lol) would be a bummer.

There'd have to be some pretty drastic changes. Stuff like exclusively locking out major sections or bosses of the game without coop/pvp or something similar. Though DkS2 to me was just as good as the first so I have faith.

 

[Raku-Gosha]

EDIT: Hi, my first thread and what not, so it's nice to meet you all.

Welcome to The Escapist. Try to stay away from the social justice threads and you'll be fine.

OT: I've probably been online while playing Demon's Souls and Dark Souls a collective total of twice, so yes, I think it's safe to say that I don't have any particular interest in the online portion.

Which means that my interest in the franchise will wane if the focus on online interactions becomes more and more prevalent in future titles.

Thanks appreciate the nice welcome! I've lurked around so I'm aware of this communities inquiries with rape, Anita Sharkesian/feminism, Jims' weekly topics, sexism, etc that basement you speak of must be huge! I'll be sure to continue to steer clear.

OT: Yeah I've gotten a similar response from most of the other posters. The online is a nice addition but ultimately unnecessary or cared for. I'll harp your sentiments as well, I'd most certainly lose interest in the franchise if it were to get more encroaching with its online.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Oh man, I stay far, far, far away from invading worlds. And when I do get invaded in Dark Souls II, I just run to a bonfire and wait for the guy to kill me. Or I kill myself. I suck fighting other people one-on-one in that game. Everyone else seems to know all the tricks to combat.
So yeah, if Dark Souls II was completely offline, I would have been fine with it, at least on the first playthrough. In Dark Souls, I always stay Hollow unless I'm coming up on a boss, because same thing.

However, I must admit that I get a blast out of co op. I love calling people to help me (because New Game+ has some boss fights that are a lot harder by yourself), or being called to help other people. I enjoy this aspect of both games the most, and I would be very sad if they were taken out. Honestly, I kind of wish they would make it so you could play with a friend through the whole game, but I understand that that kind of ruins the point of the game.
Still, it would be fun.

 

[Erttheking]

Oh easily. Heck, I've been challenging myself in Dark Souls 2 to go through the entire game only getting by on NPC summons (Broke this rule for the Ruin Sentinels because I just can't 1v3 a boss). That's why I love the online aspect of Dark Souls. Completely fits into the world, but takes nothing away when removed.

 

[CyberSinner]

To me Demon/Dark Souls is great. Online or offline.

Though....the dicks of the interwebz. I forgot to turn off my game to connecting to the ethernet one day and some dude joined my game stabbed me. This was after I beated a really hard boss, I felt good, was proud to be alive, I had died so many times and nearly had a heart attack raging at this game. I finally win, I finally am alive. Then someone joins my game and kills me. I was so sad.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

I would have yeah, and for the most part I did. I would have torn my hair out on the Smough and Ornstein fight though.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Sure, all the online interaction I got from Demon's Souls were the floor graffiti by the other players. Nice touch but hardly a selling point.

 

[Skin]

I have maybe 150~ hours of PvE playtime both Dark Souls games combined, maximum. I have probably 1000 hours of DkS1 PvP, so yeh, I really do enjoy the online component. Dark Souls PvP is the most competitive non-competitive game I have ever played.

I feel that DkS2 is an inferior game especially regarding the PvP and I am not even talking about balance. The system doesn't reward the players skill anywhere near as much as DkS1 did. It's dead in the water and the amount of PvP that is currently going on in DkS1 is a testament of its failure as a PvP experience.

People are sticking too it because they expect it to get alot better. Dark Souls 1 is still an incredibly imbalanced game, it had very few patches that actually catered to PvP, and one of the biggest ones was with the release of the DLC.