Growing up with: Dark Souls
Elden Ring DLC HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED! So that means we are going to talk about the Soulsborne series. The soulsborne series is a masterpiece. There I said it! My probably not so controversial opinion is out in the world for all to hear! From the humble beginning of Demon Souls to the award-winning Game of the Year Elden Ring this series has got to be one of my favorites of all time. But what makes it that way? Well, there is a lot to unpack here. From the atmosphere, music, story, and theme to the gameplay and customization, there is just something about these games that put a smile on my face while realizing the depressing cosmic horror theme and my futile attempts to beating Malenia, Blade of Miquella.
To put it in simple terms, each one of the souls games are post-apocalyptic stories, usually about a nobody (the customized player character), struggling to survive and bring about some sort of change to the world. And that right there, is something that I feel most people don’t talk about enough: these games are about the post-apocalypse. When it comes to the atmosphere of these games, it screams this element of knowing that this is a world past its prime, the time where people thrived is over. Almost everything you come across in these games is trying to kill you, buildings are destroyed and ruined, there is trash and debris everywhere. The post-apocalyptic feeling is even complimented with the music and sound of these games. Minimum music and the constant repetitive sounds of your armor clanking with each step is a reminder that this is a dying world, mostly empty and sad. However, when faced with a more powerful enemy, the music turns into an erupting symphony that exemplifies the danger of this moment. It all is packaged together very nicely, even if you don’t know the story.
That seems to be the number one complaint about the story: “it doesn’t make sense” or “there isn’t a real story”. Let me tell you, yes there is a story, yes it makes sense, and yes, it is epic, but also yes, you have to work hard to understand it and to discover the truths behind it. I totally understand the arguments against the story, it’s like homework sometimes. Have you ever played a game that has books of full stories in it like Skyrim does? Has anyone actually read any of the books within Skyrim?! My buddy has and he tells me that they are great, but I won’t be reading them anytime soon. I recommend the same thing for the soulsborne series, have someone do the homework for you. There are tons of creators out there who explain the stories of these games in amazing detail and once understood, it really makes the games better.
However, something far more important than the story of these individual games, is the theme they all share. The repetitive cycle and the ambition and drive to never give up. Death isn’t the end in these games. You don’t have to start over or make a new character. You start from a spot nearby, welcome to try again as many times as you like. Before you picked up the controller, the worlds of these games were stagnated, unmoving, and decaying. You however are the difference to these worlds. Your ambition and drive to push the system forward and make some sort of change. Whether you do it alone or with friends. Whether you beat it the first try or the hundredth. It may be hard to remember sometimes but the theme remains: The only way to lose is to give up. Analyze, adapt, and overcome. Master the gameplay and become the change that these worlds need.
Speaking of gameplay, it seems very simple at first. Swing, block, watch your stamina. Simple right? Well, that is also part of the genius, it may be simple, but one mistake could be the difference of life and death. The key to this game, and what makes the gameplay feel so good, is the readability of the attacks. When a bad guy rears his arms back, it’s obvious that he is about to attack. You have 3 simple choices, attack before he does, take advantage of the attack, or avoid the damage. That’s it, 3 bars to keep track of (HP, FP, and stamina) and 3 choices to make. Obviously, that is way oversimplifying but it’s basically the gist. Just like real life, knowing your abilities and using them appropriately is the key to winning. So, with such a simple fighting mechanic, what makes these games fun? The customization.
These games have a ton of weapons and spells, each with their own attacks, stats, and looks. One of my favorite parts of FROMSOFTWARE games is the customization. You can wear different pieces of armor to play Fashion Souls. You can use different combinations of weapons to have combos. Upgrade your weapons to have different elements. Use different weapon arts in Elden Ring. Combine them with spells or make builds using only spells. The possibilities can seem endless. These many choices, you can try all sorts of different tactics to overcome the many obstacles these games throw at you. Even when it comes to PVP, sure you will run into try-hards who use meta builds, but you will also run into people using builds you may never have seen before, using tactics you’ve never even thought of. If you come across a weapon or build that suits you, then it comes down to honing your skills, and finally beating MALENIA! YOU LIFE STEALING CHEATER! Someone get me Let Me Solo Her’s contact info!
