I sort of had a post ready for today, but the contents of it are void so I’m deciding not to post it. Ooh, the mystery. Don’t worry, you’re not missing anything.
Anyway, instead, I’m just gonna talk a little bit about Dark Souls III. So far, I’m really enjoying my experience with the game, despite having done a lot of things out of order because I had very little exposure. For instance, I accidentally found the NPC that takes you right to the Ashes of Ariandel DLC - something I certainly wasn’t prepared for at level 31. Now at level 52, (I think), I’ve found my way to the Cathedral of the Deep. I was supposed to be here before defeating the boss in the Catacombs of Carthus, entering Irithyll of The Boreal Valley, and maybe even before defeating the Abyss Watchers.
Can we take a minute to appreciate the Abyss Watchers? I’ve adored that fight for such a long time. The pure enigma of it. Clashing of swords before you push open the heavy double doors, then witnessing what’s happening inside, and of course, being launched into the game-changing fight. Don’t get me wrong, it’s basically a straight rip of Lady Maria from Bloodborne who's been re-skinned... but there are multiple Watchers fighting you AND each other. As far as I can recall, that’s never been done before in the Soulsborne franchise. Sure there's been multiple enemies in a boss fight before, time after time, but never fighting one another.
Other than Iudex Gundyr, the first tutorial boss, and the Abyss Watchers, the bosses in the game have been lacklustre so far in comparison to past instalments. There is a chance that I am still so enamoured by Bloodborne and the fights in that game that I am biased. Orphan of Kos, for example, is my favourite fight in The OId Hunters DLC and the base game. Not only is it challenging, but completely unpredictable for new players. Orphan, in my opinion, has no broken hitboxes, stupid attacks or cheap, one-hit-kill grabs, (the latter of which we see way too often in Soulsborne games). Every move is perfectly telegraphed and the arena in which you fight is gargantuan.
This isn't the first Soulsborne post I've written, and it probably won't be the last. And I'm fine with that. It seems the best of my writing comes out when it comes to gaming. I hope you all have a great week, and I'll try to update on Friday.
Signed,
Elijah.
Meta Sentience.
03/07/2018
Showing posts with label Dark Souls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dark Souls. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 July 2018
Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Life as a Bloodborne Cooperator: Part 1
Hello there, my name is Skuttle and I am a cooperator. Today is my first day on the job, and I'm praying all goes well. My aim is to impress so I'm wearing my best attire and ringing my charming little bell, lying in wait. I'm going to help people. That's what I'm here for, it's what I was made to do. Running into the heat of battle in a world infested with blood-drunk monsters doesn't scare me, if anything it has the opposite affect. I feel invigorated, powerful and most of all, unbeatable. Nothing will best me, I won't let it. No beast, ghoul or hunter will prevail, no matter how equally matched they are, or even how outmatched I am. I will find a way.
Oh, here we go! I've been discovered! My little bell resonates with a beckoner in need of assistance and it is finally time to show my worth! I see the green glow before me and-
... Wonderful. I appear to have fallen off the bridge I was summoned upon and I'm returning to my own world. Perfect start to my first shift.
I remain,
Skuttle.
Signed,
Elijah.
Meta Sentience.
30/01/2018
Oh, here we go! I've been discovered! My little bell resonates with a beckoner in need of assistance and it is finally time to show my worth! I see the green glow before me and-
... Wonderful. I appear to have fallen off the bridge I was summoned upon and I'm returning to my own world. Perfect start to my first shift.
I remain,
Skuttle.
Signed,
Elijah.
Meta Sentience.
30/01/2018
Friday, 22 December 2017
Play Style: Git Gud
As quite the prevalent gamer, somebody who has been playing video games as far back as my memory will allow me to remember, (I'm an old man), I want to pose a question to you. This blog was never intended to become centred around gaming, but seeing as it's so esoterically built into who I am, I suppose it's something I should've expected.
But yes, my question; is there a right or wrong way to play a game? Most people read that and immediately thought, 'yeah, you dumbass, of course there is. That's why rules and shit exist', but what exactly is it within the game that makes it playable? Should it depend on the level of the player, or should it be accessible for anybody regardless of their skills? Does any of this contribute to how much enjoyment can be wrenched from a game's core?
... am I making any sense at all?
You have to remember that every opinion of what makes up a good game is totally subjective, therefore the experience will be subjective too. There's always going to be somebody that believes a certain game just isn't for them, which of course doesn't make that particular game bad. Then again... it totally could be.
I think it's important to discuss the types of play styles when talking about a game's playability. For example if we look at a game like Skyrim, there's insurmountable options - plenty of classes to play as, and interchangeable aspects in how you decide to play. Every single one can lead to success regardless of the difficulty level, whereas if we look at a franchise like Dark Souls, (and Bloodborne), it's safe to say there is a way to play that is far more effective in terms of both fun and playability. The hardened strategic baseline of the Souls series I think is what contributes to a lot of people finding the games completely unplayable. But is the game unfair or are they playing it wrong?
It's possible to progress in Skyrim with so many different skill sets and builds. You can be a sneak-thief khajiit, a sword and shield wielding nord or an arrow shooting elf, and the options don't end there. Despite all the options in Dark Souls, (and believe me there are a fuck-tonne - different weapons, etc), there's only a few combinations that really get the job done. The first two Souls games give you a shield pretty much at the beginning, yet anybody that's played them learned the hard way that using it is more detrimental than anything else.
Personally I believe that a person's unwillingness to experiment and leave their comfort zone, a place usually built on so many other gaming experiences, is what ultimately renders a game unplayable for those specific individuals. It isn't necessarily the game's fault or the designer's being unfair, but the player's inability to adapt. Just, y'know, don't be afraid to parry and side-roll the fuck out of your comfort zones in order to GIT GUD!
Signed,
Elijah.
Meta Sentience.
22/18/2017
But yes, my question; is there a right or wrong way to play a game? Most people read that and immediately thought, 'yeah, you dumbass, of course there is. That's why rules and shit exist', but what exactly is it within the game that makes it playable? Should it depend on the level of the player, or should it be accessible for anybody regardless of their skills? Does any of this contribute to how much enjoyment can be wrenched from a game's core?
... am I making any sense at all?
You have to remember that every opinion of what makes up a good game is totally subjective, therefore the experience will be subjective too. There's always going to be somebody that believes a certain game just isn't for them, which of course doesn't make that particular game bad. Then again... it totally could be.
I think it's important to discuss the types of play styles when talking about a game's playability. For example if we look at a game like Skyrim, there's insurmountable options - plenty of classes to play as, and interchangeable aspects in how you decide to play. Every single one can lead to success regardless of the difficulty level, whereas if we look at a franchise like Dark Souls, (and Bloodborne), it's safe to say there is a way to play that is far more effective in terms of both fun and playability. The hardened strategic baseline of the Souls series I think is what contributes to a lot of people finding the games completely unplayable. But is the game unfair or are they playing it wrong?
It's possible to progress in Skyrim with so many different skill sets and builds. You can be a sneak-thief khajiit, a sword and shield wielding nord or an arrow shooting elf, and the options don't end there. Despite all the options in Dark Souls, (and believe me there are a fuck-tonne - different weapons, etc), there's only a few combinations that really get the job done. The first two Souls games give you a shield pretty much at the beginning, yet anybody that's played them learned the hard way that using it is more detrimental than anything else.
Personally I believe that a person's unwillingness to experiment and leave their comfort zone, a place usually built on so many other gaming experiences, is what ultimately renders a game unplayable for those specific individuals. It isn't necessarily the game's fault or the designer's being unfair, but the player's inability to adapt. Just, y'know, don't be afraid to parry and side-roll the fuck out of your comfort zones in order to GIT GUD!Signed,
Elijah.
Meta Sentience.
22/18/2017
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