Dark Souls

[Ginga]

You don't have to think creatively in Souls games, you have to think like a pussy. Afraid to take 1 step incase something 1-hits you, in my eyes that doesnt make a fun game.

There's a difference between a challenge and a piss-take, this is the latter.

It's probably only hard for you because you've gotten used to games being so easy or just haven't been into games for long enough. Like Eli says, they used to be a lot tougher and were incredibly unfair into the bargain.

I don't think I played the hard-as-fuck era of games like a lot of you guys on here did so you may be right.

I didn't even finish Demon Souls, got about 3/4 the way through then just got bored of dying.

[Ginga]

[Eli Vance]

Put it this way: a huge dragon jumped on top of me last night and my man had his entire, full health bar zapped in that one hit, as you might expect. I learned to get out of the way the next time.

I've been playing this for about 3 hrs now. I wandered into 'Valley of Drakes' and found what I thought to be a dragon corpse, still don't believe I fell for it. I went back and gave it a right good kicking though; 1- Dragon Scale, 3000 souls, Astoria Sword, Dragon Crest Shield and a Proud Knight soul (2000 souls)... just for that enemy... bargain . Those blue mini dragons were a little too tough so I sacked it there and went elsewhere .Can't use that Astoria sword yet which is perhaps a good thing the Rapier I have decimates Undead Berg guards.

I've just wellied that Black Knight (Undead Berg) and recieved a piece of Titanite.

Quick question: Are there specific places where you can use the Titanite and Dragon Scales?

I do prefer Dark Souls bonfire system to Demon Souls hub and levels set up. It was a real pain having to restart from the very begining of a level in Demon Souls. The bonfire system adds an extra level of mystery to the world and an element of strategy. I also like the human/hollow mechanic; kindling bonfires to increase the amount of Estus flasks yielded also adds a little strategy.

I don't think this game is as tough as its being made out to be. Not that the game isn't challenging, its just not a convential type of challenge. Dark Souls offers a more focused and methodical challenge than other games, imo. I don't get the hate being being slung at it when making a little effort to learn what your doing goes a long way and often pays off handsomely.

[Dan Howdle]

Titanite, Dragon Scales and other crafting items are usable at Blacksmiths to upgrade your weapons and armour.

There are two Blacksmiths within your current range. One by taking a right through the church at the top of the Undead Parish, the other down the stairs in Firelink Shrine next to the NPC who sits there musing things at you. Once down there, follow the right wall 'til you see some stairs going down to your left. He's at the bottom in a prison cell.

There is also a fun Covenant for Dragon Scales called The Path Of The Dragon. Joining it allows you to intermittently invade the worlds of other players carrying Dragon Scales in their inventory, kill them and take them from them. There are rewards in the covenant simply for winning a lot of them, though that of course makes you a bigger target for others

[Eli Vance]

And here was me thinking I was going to win retard of the year award as it could be done at bonfires.

Muchas gracias..

[Biggs]

Put it this way: a huge dragon jumped on top of me last night and my man had his entire, full health bar zapped in that one hit, as you might expect. I learned to get out of the way the next time.

I've been playing this for about 3 hrs now. I wandered into 'Valley of Drakes' and found what I thought to be a dragon corpse, still don't believe I fell for it. I went back and gave it a right good kicking though; 1- Dragon Scale, 3000 souls, Astoria Sword, Dragon Crest Shield and a Proud Knight soul (2000 souls)... just for that enemy... bargain . Those blue mini dragons were a little too tough so I sacked it there and went elsewhere .Can't use that Astoria sword yet which is perhaps a good thing the Rapier I have decimates Undead Berg guards.

I've just wellied that Black Knight (Undead Berg) and recieved a piece of Titanite.

Quick question: Are there specific places where you can use the Titanite and Dragon Scales?

I do prefer Dark Souls bonfire system to Demon Souls hub and levels set up. It was a real pain having to restart from the very begining of a level in Demon Souls. The bonfire system adds an extra level of mystery to the world and an element of strategy. I also like the human/hollow mechanic; kindling bonfires to increase the amount of Estus flasks yielded also adds a little strategy.

I don't think this game is as tough as its being made out to be. Not that the game isn't challenging, its just not a convential type of challenge. Dark Souls offers a more focused and methodical challenge than other games, imo. I don't get the hate being being slung at it when making a little effort to learn what your doing goes a long way and often pays off handsomely.

Glad to see you 'get' it too. I couldn't really get into Demons' Souls beyond the first world because of the Nexus, the campfire system is much better.

Titanite shards you can use at a blacksmith to level a normal weapon up to +5. Titanite chunks you can use to ascend weapons once they're +5 and there are other types of titanite (white, shimmering, green) that do all sorts of stuff. There's a blacksmith just down from Firelink Shrine: go down the lift into that spooky place whose name I can't remember, then head off to the right as far as you can go to find some steps. Go to the bottom of the steps where it drops off into a chasm and you'll see a cell window in the wall on your left. Chat to the bloke there, he's a blacksmith.

No idea about the dragon scales, I've ony poked my nose into the valley of drakes briefly, got scared then ran out again. (that's another thing I love about DS - I've put about two days of my life into it so far and I still haven't done stuff I could have encountered within three hours of the start, but in a different direction).

[Eli Vance]

Cheers for the heads up on the Smith guys. The heavy soul arrow made short work of the Taurus boss.

@ Dan : I found the White Covenant near Firelink Shrine haven't clue what its for other than obtaining miracles.


@Biggs.

The corpse looking dragon in Valley of Drakes is quite a way down to the left after you've crossed that plank like bridge. Firebombs and Soul arrows from a distance or theres an upward path to get above it, on your right as you near it. If you go right and into the cave follow it to the end as the chest there contains a key for Newe Londo ruins haven't a clue exactly where in New Londo it opens it though. There are only three enemies in this cave so getting to the chest isn't too much hassle.

[Dan Howdle]

Cheers for the heads up on the Smith guys. The heavy soul arrow made short work of the Taurus boss.

@ Dan : I found the White Covenant near Firelink Shrine haven't clue what its for other than obtaining miracles.


@Biggs.

The corpse looking dragon in Valley of Drakes is quite a way down to the left after you've crossed that plank like bridge. Firebombs and Soul arrows from a distance or theres an upward path to get above it, on your right as you near it. If you go right and into the cave follow it to the end as the chest there contains a key for Newe Londo ruins haven't a clue exactly where in New Londo it opens it though. There are only three enemies in this cave so getting to the chest isn't too much hassle.

Covenants are all about online interaction. The Way Of White - the one you mention - allows its members to randomly assist other players, it's pure good.

Here's a linky you should read thoroughly.

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/covenants

[Eli Vance]

Cheers Dan.


That Dragon on the Undead Parish bridge has been giving me some grief until I realised about item weight slowing me down. And as an added bonus I also found a little shortcut from right underneath the dragon back down to the bonfire no more having to scrap it out.


@ Biggs.

You were on about that spooky place by the smith thats New Londo Ruins (down the lift from Firelink Shrine). Have you tried going in there?

Its full of ghosts you have to curse your character to fight them. I made a run for it and got a fire keeper soul which upgrades the estus flask. One death that was well worth it.

[Biggs]

Cheers Dan.


That Dragon on the Undead Parish bridge has been giving me some grief until I realised about item weight slowing me down. And as an added bonus I also found a little shortcut from right underneath the dragon back down to the bonfire no more having to scrap it out.


@ Biggs.

You were on about that spooky place by the smith thats New Londo Ruins (down the lift from Firelink Shrine). Have you tried going in there?

Its full of ghosts you have to curse your character to fight them. I made a run for it and got a fire keeper soul which upgrades the estus flask. One death that was well worth it.

Didn't realise there was another fire keeper soul down there. Already upgraded my Estus once, but I think I'll come back from Darkroot Basin to check it out.

Those shortcuts, BTW, will pop up quite often. You'll tough it out through an area, then end up following a route to a door, portcullis or ladder that you had no access to before. The map design is really well-thought out like that.

[Eli Vance]

Didn't realise there was another fire keeper soul down there. Already upgraded my Estus once, but I think I'll come back from Darkroot Basin to check it out.

Those shortcuts, BTW, will pop up quite often. You'll tough it out through an area, then end up following a route to a door, portcullis or ladder that you had no access to before. The map design is really well-thought out like that.

Yeah, I think it would be easier to get from Firelink Shrine its not that far from the lift.

From the lift head down to the bridge across the water and pop the vase here to get the transient curse, you can't damage the ghosts without it. As you head out over the bridge look right and you'll see the glowing white object. Once across the bridge deal with the two ghosts and follow the right wall and there is a slightly submerged walkway that leads to it. Once you have it just run.

That red dragon is worth 10,000 souls if you haven't nailed it already. The tower near the portcullis (black knight at the top) gives a birds eye bow and arrow view (Undead Parish). Takes quite a few arrows mind.

I've not long cleared the Undead Parish and now all the shortcuts are becoming available it completely changes the game. I don't think I've ever seen such an intricately crafted open world. This is on a completely different level to any other rpg I've played.

It's a five-six hour hump. Get over the hump and it's one of the finest games ever crafted.

Dark Souls is also a 10/10 game, but needs to be given a chance to seep in.

Bang on the money.

I think anyone who has already given up should invest a little more time. Once you start opening the shortcuts up you never that far away from a bonfire.

[Dante3000]

This is undoubtedly a game which would suffer from releasing a demo but.... will it have a demo?

[Johnny Shoulder]

This is undoubtedly a game which would suffer from releasing a demo but.... will it have a demo?

On disc?

[Eli Vance]

As much as I do indeed like the look of Dark Souls, had to laugh at this article.

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/119/1196353p3.html

Such. Bullshit.

I hate to say it and I know its subjective but if Skyrim turns out to be a combination of Oblivion and Fallout 3 with added bells and whistles. The writer of this article will have a point.

[conkerconquer]

I think it's an example of mistaking variety/difficulty for quality and intent for ineptitude.

Both games are offering very different experiences so again it's slightly unfair to compare them. However, the writer of that article seems to me be missing much of the point of Skyrim versus Dark Souls.

Does Skyrim need multiplayer? No. Will it make it a better game? Not necessarily. Does a dozen different types (some utterly ridiculous) of dragons bolster the scale and magnitude of Skyrim's free roaming and well integrated ones? Nope. Will the size and detail of Dark souls world truly compete with Skyrim's? I highly doubt it. As for the whole DLC thing...that stems from From Softwares idiotic phrasing of the term. They're not cutting content. Nor will Skyrim I suspect. The only difference, as we've seen with Fallout and Oblivion, is they'll be expanding things sometimes poorly), so I'm not sure how Dark Souls lands a victory there.

I also don't see how being difficult marks a revolutionary title. Hasn't gaming been doing that for years?

All in all, I doubt Skyrim will be much more than a vast improvement on whats gone before. But here's the thing. I think the Elder Scrolls has continued to do things that few if any games really do, let alone well. With each improvement, I genuinely believe the Elder Scrolls series marches towards that perfect game that combines everything that makes gaming whole and good. Exploration, challenge, investment and freedom.

Anyways, I have literally no doubt in my mind as to what will be the better game, so being as biased as I am I'll go no further. Suffice to say, I disagree.