J T wrote:Amazon has Dark Souls for $19.99 at the moment as either a PS3/X360 game or a PC activation code (must use Steam and XboxLive. yech.).
Anyway, I decided to get it and started playing. It really is hard as hell, especially when the tutorial level explains everything for an Xbox360 controller that I don't have. Still, I managed to figure things out with a bit of experimentation (most tutorials are rubbish anyway). I've only worked my way out of the introductory Undead Asylum and I'm looking forward to playing more already. It's strange, but there is a strategic appeal to having such a slow and nearly defeneseless character. The first boss alone took me about a dozen tries before I really started to see how you need to think strategically when you can't really on speed to save yourself.
Equip load affects your mobility greatly. If you stay under 50% of your equip load (so the most you can equip is 80 and you're <= 40), you move at a good moderate speed. Under 25% and you move like a ninja. You actually can rely on speed, you just don't get to wear armor with good defense (and I'm not sure I would suggest that for a first time through).
Besides that what you say is true, this game really makes you think a step ahead about its challenges and obstacles. The worst thing you can do in this game is try to rush through whatever's in your way.
