I'm contemplating picking this up when I get off work in an hour.

Yea or nay?

Still only halfway through Dragon Age, and I only get a couple hours a week to play. So this will probably end up as a Christmas purchase. May be hard to wait though. Demon's Souls was one of my favorite games ever, and this looks like more of the same.

Amazing game so far. Mind bendingly difficult...but in an absolutely refreshing way. I love being challenged for once.

Took me a while to get past the first boss in Undead Burg, but it was a great feeling when I did, especially out of healing potions (forget what they're called). Of course, I got flattened by the dragon promptly after that, but not having to fight the demon was nice.

Demon's Souls was a game that created such a huge feeling of accomplishment when you finally find a shortcut or defeat a boss and that was what made that game so great. Dark Souls has definitely maintained that and so far they seem to be better about avoiding exploits. I mean, did anyone else linger too long on the balcony above the tutorial boss and get flattened? I definitely did and found myself laughing at the whole thing. Even when I feel on the cusp of getting completely frustrated and wanting to quit, I find myself wanting to give it just one more shot and that just makes the game that much more rewarding.

I also love how the hub is actually physically connected to the different areas instead of the player having to teleport there. It gives the feeling of one huge world that I felt the original lacked, and helps with immersion. The environments are, of course, gorgeous; if I wasn't worried about getting killed, I'd take more time to sit and admire the scenery.

If you haven't gotten this or played the original, do yourself a favor and give it a shot. Don't let the talk of high difficulty deter you, it's not as hard as you'd think if you approach it with the right mindset.

Got past the first boss and the dragon. This game gives you a feeling of accomplishment that others just can't. So much fun to watch myself visibly get better and react better.

Started yesterday on the 360. Wow! Made it through to the first boss (Taurus) on the burg fairly easily and now i'm stuck there. Was real close to beating him a few times, but one ill timed roll and you get stomped. Decided to play sorcerer with master key bonus.

I think I am going to get this game today.

My xbox is neglected and I haven't played a truly hard game in a long time. It will be interesting to see if I stick it out or throw the controller across the room.

I'm stuck on Tarus right now, but I started out with a thief so I can't hold the larger weapons that well and I have no magic. Right now I'm just farming souls and making my guy a little stronger. I've killed those skeletons so many times that I got a whole aresenal of Swords, Spears, Bowguns, and armor now.

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Of course, I got flattened by the dragon promptly after that, but not having to fight the demon was nice.

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Ha, me too.

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Demon's Souls was a game that created such a huge feeling of accomplishment when you finally find a shortcut or defeat a boss and that was what made that game so great. Dark Souls has definitely maintained that and so far they seem to be better about avoiding exploits. I mean, did anyone else linger too long on the balcony above the tutorial boss and get flattened? I definitely did and found myself laughing at the whole thing. Even when I feel on the cusp of getting completely frustrated and wanting to quit, I find myself wanting to give it just one more shot and that just makes the game that much more rewarding.

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Totally agree. It is not like any other experience this generation (other than Demon's Souls)

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I also love how the hub is actually physically connected to the different areas instead of the player having to teleport there. It gives the feeling of one huge world that I felt the original lacked, and helps with immersion. The environments are, of course, gorgeous; if I wasn't worried about getting killed, I'd take more time to sit and admire the scenery.

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Some reviewers called this game similar to Castlevania for the NES, and I now understand what they meant. It progresses in much the same manner.

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If you haven't gotten this or played the original, do yourself a favor and give it a shot. Don't let the talk of high difficulty deter you, it's not as hard as you'd think if you approach it with the right mindset.

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+1

Glad some of you guys are picking this up. This is currently in the running to topple Demon's Souls as my favorite game of the generation. And thus, top 5 ever.

This thread has me seriously interested in this game. I didn't play the first one (don't have a PS3), and I'm not sure if the famed difficulty will kill it for me.

I might rent it from Red Box to check it out.

Bryan98:

It is difficult to be sure, but usually it is because you get impatient and didn't think it through.

You think, "ah, well I will stay patient." Let me assure you, the game will test this time and time again.

Glad you are giving it a shot, and don't forget, if you get stuck as questions here or get on the internet.

I know myself and bluefire are playing.

delivered today

After spending a couple hours trying to beat the skeletons near the beginning of the first zone (right past some treasure chests) I realized I was in way over my head and found more level appropriate enemies. Doh!

Anticipation is still growing here. I think I'll Redbox it tomorrow. Last night I was up starting a new PC build for BF3, etc. Haven't done that in a long time. I think I've reached the age where that's not fun anymore. XD

Playing Dark Souls will continue my long, sad tradition where, once a new PC is built, I dive into a game that I didn't need a new PC for.

Walter, well....what do you think?

PMD03
Happened to me too.



Bryan98, DO IT! Of course you will probably not like it until you get a solid 5 hours into it. Seems to be about the average people either put it down for good or keep on truckin.

i've got maybe three hours in so far and i've never died so many times in any game. ever. it is difficult, but remembering to block and roll and use a flask and swing an axe (pyromancer) and switch weapons on the fly isn't something that i'm used to yet. the controls seem a bit funky and not so intuitive, but i'll get used to it. so far so good. i tried to kill the beginning beast a few times without getting my gear first. terrible idea. i'm doing a little research on demon souls to plan out the character build.

Ha, nice Walter.

I take it you never played Demon's Souls?

I think the controls become quite natural pretty quick. I like the control scheme. Im at the boss before the first bell tower. Its tough as nails.

Never played demon souls. I played for a few more hours yesterday and today and I'm leaning towards sending this one back to GameFly. Too much frustration. The only incentive is to play on just so I can say I beat it. There is no joy while playing this.

After trying a couple classes I learned that my reflexes aren't quick enough to do all the dodging around. I settled on a warrior and have been putting points into defensive stats. For me, it is easier to let the enemies expose themselves after glancing off my shield than rolling around for backstabs.

So I am in the depths area and there is a prisoner stuck in a barrel or box. He asks to be freed so no I think "No problem, let me smash that barrel and get you right out". Apparently my sword also nicked the ungrateful ******* and he proceeded to kill me. I come back to retrieve my stuff and the ******* still wants to kill me, so I put him down. He was a pyromancer I assume as he cast fire spells and had an axe. He did not drop any gear so I am hoping I am not screwed by killing someone I was not supposed to.

Just an FYI, for anyone who may be having trouble or wants to get a better feel for the game, here are a couple of solid wikis that have good tips:

http://darksoulswiki.wikispaces.com/
http://darksouls.wikidot.com/

PD there is some NPC that you talk to that will make basically calm down the NPC;s pissed at you.

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Never played demon souls. I played for a few more hours yesterday and today and I'm leaning towards sending this one back to GameFly. Too much frustration. The only incentive is to play on just so I can say I beat it. There is no joy while playing this.

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Well, you are certainly not alone in this. I recommended the game to a buddy of mine and he was having the same reaction...After about 10 hours, him finally figuring out the mechanics and character build he wanted, he is totally hooked in the game.

Not saying you have to like it. It certainly is a very specific type of game designed to invoke very specific responses from the player. "Joy" is not one of them. Confusion, frustration, irritation, discovery, and VICTORY is what the game tries to convey.

Well blue, how ya comming?

Is it safe to say this game is only half a game if you don't have x box live?

Didn't play too much this weekend due to football, but put in a couple of hours this afternoon. Beat the gargoyles at Undead Parish (had no trouble at all), went back and killed the dragon on the bridge in Undead Burg, spent a little time leveling and exploring, then went down into Darkroot Gardens. Got killed a couple of times by the Moonlight Butterfly and decided to give it a rest for the night. I discovered with Demon's Souls that if you are having trouble with an area, it greatly benefits you to quit playing for a little while and coming back with a clear head. I was on a nice little roll, though, and felt like I made a ton of progress in the short time I played.

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Is it safe to say this game is only half a game if you don't have x box live?

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Not really. To me, the multiplayer is more of a bonus. If you're stuck on a boss or area, summoning another player is like a "get out of jail free" card, where you can get yourself a little help getting over the hump. Just attempting to co-op with a friend takes a lot of coordination and a little luck because of how it's set up.

I beat Demon's Souls without ever summoning another player (though I was invaded a few times).

Not really sure where I am in the game. I rang the bell in the church after the gargoyles. After that I just kind of followed wherever it led me with keys. I ended up in New Rondo ruins and ended up draining the water. That opened up an area with some very badass black knights. Between the knights and the ghosts, I am assuming I have bypassed a lot of stuff as I have not ventured into the gardens area yet.

Neat things: I found the drake sword after some not so subtle hints left by other players. The entire floor was covered with "Try projectile, Weakness: tail, awesome trasure ahead, etc". I also was invaded yesterday while in blight town. While I was still trying to figure out what was going on, the guy rushed me with some HUGE two handed sword. Luckily, I got my shield up to deflect him and then took him out with a few hits. Got ~9,000 souls from him.

Blue, I tried going back to that dragon since the black knight shield I am using has high fire resist but still get stomped. I just figured it was unkillable but now I will try again.

I am really enjoying this game. I die a lot, but it is not really frustrating since souls and humanity seem easy to farm.

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went back and killed the dragon on the bridge in Undead Burg

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How did you do it?

Arrows? How many? From where?

Im working through the depths right now.

Well, I did rent the game this weekend, and despite getting my rear end handed to me repeatedly, I'm planning on buying it.

I started playing Saturday night, and so far all I've really done is kill the Taurus Demon. Progress is such a weird concept in this game; by the time I collect enough souls to level, I'm far enough away from the bonfire that I don't want to go back to it to level up because I don't want the enemies to respawn.

Any tips on builds? I kind of randomly started as a Wanderer, but I'm really using a block and counter playstyle instead of rolling. And I figured I should get some magic, because my crossbow really isn't cutting it as a ranged weapon.

I know I'm probably not far in enough to worry about my progress, but I hate the idea of starting over with a different class. That said, I know I could get to (and probably beat) the Taurus Demon again in my sleep...I've gone from the bonfire to him so many times already.

Anyway, please give me tips on builds/classes/etc. Thanks, Gig 'Em!

Bryan, I did the same thing with wanderer and switched to a warrior. They start with a 100% block shield which is nice.

With a lot of the fighting being done in close quarters, I think heavy armor and shield is easier than dodging/rolling.

The undead burg fire through the 4 shield zombies before the taurus demon's tower is a decent run netting around 800 souls. I did that a lot(mostly corpse retrieval from the fatty at the bottom of the tower) to farm souls. For all the zombies, just let them get one attack off your shield, then own them. The ones with the spears, just walk up, kick the shield out of the way, and hack em up.

Very challenging game...switched to pyro and am glad for the change. beat the taurus and moved through the burg. struggling with the gargoyle but loving the challenge. Actually screamed at the tv in victorious rage a few times...love it.

I started off trying to shoot it from the side of the bridge, but then found a better spot.

Go down beneath the bridge to the tunnel leading to the giant rats (kill them of course). Go past the tunnel and stand at the corner of the ledge. You have a clear shot to the dragon.

I had 16 Dexterity and it took me around 230 arrows combined for the tail and the dragon itself. Started out shooting the head, but it actually did more damage shooting it in the belly when it leaps from its perch, and you can get 2-3 easy shots each time it does that.

Played a bunch tonight and bought a bow, then Soul Arrow. Man, I can only imagine how much easier parts would have been with Soul Arrow from the beginning!

Also grabbed the Drake Sword, which I don't have the STR for yet. Job one tomorrow night will be farming souls to level STR to 16.

Trust me, getting your strength up for the Drake Sword is well worth it. My average damage per hit more than doubled with it.

Got the Twin Gargoyles last night after about 15 tries. The sad thing is I felt like it was more luck than skill. The second one just stayed back and blew flames at me while I finished off the first one. Up to that point they had both been coming in to melee attack.

I tried killing the dragon with arrows last night. After 300 I gave up. I was only doing 13-15 damage per hit and it seemed like the health bar did not move. I did knock its tail off though... I gave up on the arrows and attempted hand to hand combat. With the shield up, I could withstand its fire. I got close enough to loot the first item on the bridge which was a decent sword. Then the dragon sat on me and killed me in one shot.

I went back to the graveyard area in Firelink Shrine and got revenge on the skeletons that owned me as a newbie. It is odd that they have such tough enemies that close to the beginning. Found the catacombs zone behind them and may try that next. also while farting around Firelink I found the way to get back to the tutorial zone and got owned by the asylum demon 2.0.

Where is the second bell anyways? The first one wasn't hard to find but now I have three ways open to me: Catacombs, New Rondo ruins, Darkroot gardens.

Saw this posted on some forum.

Thought it captures the game percectly for a beginner.