Dark Souls Impressions - The FINAL Update

I'll read all that orange tomorrow

goodnight

On the topic of durability, I have to say that I don't think you're far enough into the game to fully understand the impact it has on the player. You're talking about it being completely incompatible with the game's format without having done any PVP, any summoning or co-op and haven't even rang the first bell yet. And that's absolutely not an insult or an argument to demean your opinion, but it is true that you can't understand its full impact yet. You're obviously still free to disagree, but here are a few of the reasons I think that the durability mechanic does work for the game.

I mean, frankly, I think I get the idea. There's some things you just don't need to be exposed to too much in order to completely understand it, and I think I understand the function of the system well enough. I mean, I guess you're not wrong--and the rest of the points in your post seem reasonable enough (except for one, which I'll be responding to next). I'm just saying--I don't see my opinion on this particular facet of the game changing very much right now.

I might be mistaken, but it seemed to me that you were extremely pleased with yourself and the solution you devised when you improvised, ditched the scimitar and went for the morning star. If i wasn't for the durability mechanic, you probably wouldn't have even found the merchant selling all those items and you definitely wouldn't have invested in new skills and weapons (winged spear, for example) that have now become your favorites. Chances are that you would still just be on your scimitar now if it wasn't for the durability mechanic.

That's a pretty solid point, except for one thing--people who want to stick with one weapon are going to do so regardless, and people who like to experiment with weaponry in games would've done so anyway. I can tell you right now that I certainly would have--I'm a bit of a hybrid of those two types of player. I do like to experiment, but only insofar as I find what works best for me. Once I find something that works, and I like how it feels, I tend to stick with it.

Like you said--the Winged Spear is my favorite weapon right now, and no amount of weapon degradation is going to change that--at least, until I find a weapon I like even more. So, from that standpoint, I don't appreciate being essentially coerced or bullied by the game into using other weapons I couldn't honestly give a shit about at this juncture. I'm an adult--the game's rated M--I can make decisions for myself.

If I want to use one weapon for the whole entire game, I should be able to without being hassled. I would've ended up using the Morning Star regardless of the durability system, on my own volition--and I'd have much preferred that, rather than being essentially forced. Finding shiny new weapons should be enough to incite you to test them out. Not degradation.

There's nothing wrong with encouraging players to explore every aspect of your game--I'm all for that, but I think games should try to do that by using more positive methods of reinforcement, rather than negative methods.

I know asking for positive reinforcement from a game like Dark Souls is beyond futile, but that's all I'm saying.

One of the main things that distinguishes them from other weapons is that they often have special attacks.

Yeah, yeah. I've already sort of covered this in one of my earlier rants on the system. In my opinion, if the durability system must be there, it shouldn't apply to regular attacks--only the special attacks. Because that actually makes a little bit of sense. You shouldn't be able to use super powerful attacks all hither and thither.

There's more to level 1 playthroughs than just that, though. Doing less damage is just one aspect of it.

Well, yeah, of course. But so what? That still doesn't mean I'm wrong when I say that it's no more of a "challenge"--again, it simply takes longer.

- Being locked out of most weapons just means that you're going to be striking your enemies a lot more, because it's going to take much longer to kill them, which isn't more challenging--it just extends the game.
- Having your HP extremely low, again, isn't necessarily more of a challenge--it's simply the inverse of having your enemies take longer to kill. In order to play as a level 1 Depraved, you basically have to learn to never take any hits anyway, so your health is essentially rendered to a non-factor, all things considered. You simply can't take hits. What's the difference between having 9 million HP and killing an enemy without taking a hit, and having 5 HP and killing an enemy without taking a hit? None. The only difference is that it'll probably take you a lot more tries to beat the game with piddly HP than if you had a reasonable amount. In other words, no challenge--just game extension. Because you shouldn't be taking hits anyway--especially in a game about not taking hits.

I'm not gonna keep belaboring the point, but just know that the same thing could be said of every single one of your stats. Enemies do not change their attack patterns when you're a lower level--neither do bosses, presumably. Hazards don't change their patterns, either. Once you learn the patterns and strategies, not taking a hit is trivial--and the same could be said of playing the game at level 542. The only difference is that the level 542 player will beat the game noticeably faster.

There ARE arguments for your position here, but you've made none of them. In particular, you could've argued very well that playing the game at level 1 requires the player to have extensive knowledge of the game's hitboxes, frame data, etc. The player must be consistent, prepared, and focused. Maintaining your composure while fighting a tough enemy (that normally takes four or five hits to kill) is indeed a skill that a lot of people would have to acquire to do well in that sort of playthrough.

But once you achieve that level of expertise (which is a challenge, I'll give you that), the only difference between a level 1 playthrough and a regular playthrough is the time it takes to beat it.

If you choose to level up your character you're playing easy mode. If you choose to upgrade your equipment you're playing easy mode. If you use souls you are playing the game on easy mode.

The game allows you to improve your stats because it is difficult. They don't make easy for you to make the game easier.

Git fucking gud.

They don't make easy for you to make the game easier.

Except the game doesn't get easier. It maintains the same difficulty throughout. The only difference is the time it takes to win, period.

Git fucking gud.

Kill yourself.

They don't make easy for you to make the game easier.

Except the game doesn't get easier. It maintains the same difficulty throughout. The only difference is the time it takes to win, period.

Wrong, I can quite easily beat the game with upgraded weapons and stats.

It is undeniably easier to beat the game with a larger health pool, while doing more damage.

This applies especially when facing one or more enemies, the longer it takes to kill each enemy the likelier the chance of being hit.

Wrong, I can quite easily beat the game with upgraded weapons and stats.

It is undeniably easier to beat the game with a larger health pool, while doing more damage.

This applies especially when facing one or more enemies, the longer it takes to kill each enemy the likelier the chance of being hit.

Only if you suck.

The game isn't any easier. You're wrong.

Wrong, I can quite easily beat the game with upgraded weapons and stats.

It is undeniably easier to beat the game with a larger health pool, while doing more damage.

This applies especially when facing one or more enemies, the longer it takes to kill each enemy the likelier the chance of being hit.

Only if you suck.

The game isn't any easier. You're wrong.

There is a certain boss you'll meet later on that proves my point pretty well. The longer you fight it, the harder the battle gets, until it is damn near impossible.

One boss with one gimmick isn't gonna be enough to prove your point, but okay.

Unoffical, self imposed rules aren't gonna stop me from making myself as powerful as possible to kill everything in the game.

Go nuts with your stats if you want. There's not much reason not to if you're like me and stick with single player.

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

One boss with one gimmick isn't gonna be enough to prove your point, but okay.

It's not about one boss, and I wouldn't call it a gimmick but I don't want to spoil it.

People make mistakes, the longer you spend on an enemy the higher the chance that you will make one.

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

...How? You can't get past Sens Funhouse without ringing both

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

How? You cheesing the forest?

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

...How? You can't get past Sens Funhouse without ringing both

I haven't gotten into sense fortress yet

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

How? You cheesing the forest?

I haven't died on this character yet and I hadn't spent my souls at all, after I beat the big bad wolf I cashed it all in (I did some farming and a lot of ganking, but I love ganking.)

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

...How? You can't get past Sens Funhouse without ringing both

I haven't gotten into sense fortress yet

You just been farming forest PvP or something?

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

...How? You can't get past Sens Funhouse without ringing both

I haven't gotten into sense fortress yet

You just been farming forest PvP or something?

see above

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

...How? You can't get past Sens Funhouse without ringing both

I haven't gotten into sense fortress yet

You just been farming forest PvP or something?

see above

I was backflip ninja'd

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

How? You cheesing the forest?

I haven't died on this character yet and I hadn't spent my souls at all, after I beat the big bad wolf I cashed it all in (I did some farming and a lot of ganking, but I love ganking.)

That's still insanely high, I generally beat the game at 120

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

How? You cheesing the forest?

I haven't died on this character yet and I hadn't spent my souls at all, after I beat the big bad wolf I cashed it all in (I did some farming and a lot of ganking, but I love ganking.)

That's still insanely high, I generally beat the game at 120

just means you need to get good fam

My guys level 150 or something and I've only rung one bell.

How? You cheesing the forest?

I haven't died on this character yet and I hadn't spent my souls at all, after I beat the big bad wolf I cashed it all in (I did some farming and a lot of ganking, but I love ganking.)

That's still insanely high, I generally beat the game at 120

just means you need to get good fam

I guess so

That just means he cheesed the game and overleveled so it's all so damn easy for him.

that sounds incredibly boring

That just means he cheesed the game and overleveled so it's all so damn easy for him.

that sounds incredibly boring

*her

also this is the longest few days ever

i might just keep playing, fuck it

That just means he cheesed the game and overleveled so it's all so damn easy for him.

that sounds incredibly boring

I didn't even mean to, it just sorta.... Happened.


Also it's still pretty damn fun.

so how about that smash update tomorrow 

oops wrong thread

so how about that smash update tomorrow 

oops wrong thread

gg

That just means he cheesed the game and overleveled so it's all so damn easy for him.

that sounds incredibly boring

*her

also this is the longest few days ever

i might just keep playing, fuck it

I can't keep up anymore

My package is downstate now. Maybe I'll get it a day early.

My package is downstate now. Maybe I'll get it a day early.

Lucky you.

I ordered a graphics tablet on monday only to find out today that I don't have enough money in my account to buy it so my order was cancelled, so I have to go put some money in my account next week to get it ;-;

THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME