☠ Souls Series Symposium ☠

[Forlorn Drifter]

Now to actually answer the questions, answers being in red.

1. How did you initially react to the first Souls game you played?
I was really excited and enjoying it for a while, but got aggravated pretty quickly. Being that it was the first Dark Souls, I believe I lost my will around Anor Londo my first run.
2. If you do not enjoy this series, what are the reasons why?
N/A
3. If you do enjoy this series, what are the reasons why?
Challenge is part of it, atmosphere is the other. I like challenge in games, assuming its not done unfairly, which applies with the series. The atmosphere is great IMO, hitting a certain facet of fantasy I miss pretty often, being that of true wonder and mystery.
4. What's your greatest and/or worst memory of playing a Souls game?
Greatest: Hmm, probably when I finally beat Vicar Amelia
Worst: Any swamp levels. I hate them in ALL games.
5. What's your preferred build and weapons style?
This, methinks, is what kept me from ever getting very deep into the games- I never could figure out a build or weapons I liked. Most of it came down to either piddling on my own and doing horribly, or looking online and finding things meant for PVP or required items well into the game to be useful.
6. Do you believe the Souls games have been influential on modern gaming, or do they stand alone?
I'd say they've been influential, but I couldn't point to how. I know they've had a strong effect on the indie scene, mixed with its want of "Nintendo Hard".
7. What's your opinion(s) of the various DLC packages available?
Never have touched DLC.
8. Do you believe the reputation of extreme difficulty in this series is warranted or overstated?
Sometimes overstated. I think the main thing comes down to figuing out how to make builds and the like, or having very good reflexes, or being extremely knowledgeable about the game, all of which can be a huge slog without help.
9. Which Souls game do you believe is the best thus far?
I've played Demon's, Dark 1, and Bloodborne, and would pick Bloodborne simply because its the one I've actually beaten.
10. If you could make one change to the Souls formula, what would it be?
I'd give just a hint more direction on where to go, or if there's some hidden passage or some such. There needn't be a lot of help, just enough to keep people like me from going online and finding out I missed 1/8th of the game.
(Totally Optional Question: How many Souls games have you beaten, and what's your opinions of them?)Beaten 1, Bloodborne, and I think its great.

[CFFJR]

That demon is called Vanguard. He's actually pretty easy. You just have to make a point of staying behind him and attacking his rear. He has a fairly nasty AoE attack, but he gives an obvious tell before he does it. Just roll or back-jump out of the perimeter and you'll be OK.

You can fight him whenever. Or not at all. He's not very hard on his own - easily taken out via ranged from the wall or the pit behind him, if you don't want to dance around him. The main thing to watch for is really getting speared from the flying mantas, so take them out first.

Fair enough. I'll go back and fight him soonest then, so nothing is left undone. I did take a couple of potshots at him with arrows once. Did 10hp each, heh. Of course I've upgraded a bit since.

If you're playing without a strategy guide, then I don't think it's sad. I mean dude, I put 45 hours into DeS before I finished it. Granted, I spent a lot of time very methodically exploring every nook and cranny of all levels, trying to find every possible secret. I also put plenty of time into grinding for souls and upgrading my equipment.

No guide, and I've been trying to approach it in the same way. When my patience holds up at least. I'm already at 13 hours at this point, so...

I did that all the time.

Ha, glad it's not just me!

The stuff you've cleared so far is the easy stuff. When you start clearing the X-2 areas is where the kid gloves come off. Not that I think you won't be able to handle it, but rest assured shit gets harder.

I'm looking forward to that, and all the violent cursing that will be sure to follow.

CFFJR: Yeah, Popo myself and others keep trying to drill away at that fact about armor in this one. The Black Leather set is the only armor I wore for my entire platinum run of the game if that sums it up. The slight resistance against status effects is the main thing worthwhile about armor. Mobility is the highest importance here. It's night and day how armor works in Demon's and then Dark Souls where it actually can matter.

I've read those posts, and I guess I took it that the rolling was preferred, but didn't pick up on armor being useless. Probably a reading comprehension fail on my part.

In any case, going without at this point feels weird.

I'd say DeS is generally like that. Most of the bosses are easy - whether due to being gimmick bosses, or just fairly passive with simple AI. It's the often long paths to get to them that are more difficult. Might be different in later game cycles though, I don't know.

Makes sense, especially after the Fool's Idol and Adjudicator, one trick ponies they are. Not to say they aren't fun of course. I guess this changes with Dark Souls then?

The paths to the bosses have certainly hurt me plenty.

[Exhuminator]

About two thirds of Demon's Souls bosses are push overs, meaning they're either puzzle bosses or just squishy simpletons. But the other third of Demon's Souls bosses are serious bastards who will absolutely test your mettle. You've got lots of fun ahead. Flamelurker, Maneater, Old Hero, Garl Vinland, Penetrator, False King, Old King... you shall learn to rue these names!

[isiolia]

Fair enough. I'll go back and fight him soonest then, so nothing is left undone. I did take a couple of potshots at him with arrows once. Did 10hp each, heh. Of course I've upgraded a bit since.

Also keep in mind that arrow/bolt damage is reduced over distance, so if you can get a closer vantage point they may do better.

Makes sense, especially after the Fool's Idol and Adjudicator, one trick ponies they are. Not to say they aren't fun of course. I guess this changes with Dark Souls then?

All of the games have their pushover or gimmick bosses and their more challenging ones. However, as things progress, general AI gets better, patterns get more complicated, and more of them will rush in at you or have other arena-crossing attacks to be careful of.

Offhand, DeS is also the smallest game in the series, with I think the lowest boss count (though not the lowest required boss count).

About two thirds of Demon's Souls bosses are push overs, meaning they're either puzzle bosses or just squishy simpletons. But the other third of Demon's Souls bosses are serious bastards who will absolutely test your mettle. You've got lots of fun ahead. Flamelurker, Maneater, Old Hero, Garl Vinland, Penetrator, False King, Old King... you shall learn to rue these names!

May depend...

Old Hero is a gimmick fight. He's blind. Wear light or no armor (I think only the chestpiece counts?), and he can't track you. Just walks back and forth occasionally doing attacks.

Penetrator is easy with NPC help, which is presumably the intended way to fight him. He apparently has some AI quirks if you do it solo.

Garl Vinland is literally get on the ramp, bait attack and back up, then run in and punish. If you need time to recover, just move up the ramp. He tethers before even starting up it for some reason.

Old King certainly would be, but the normal fighting you do with him just really takes doing a few hits and backing off until he lets you take the sword.

Main three I'd really look at are Flamelurker, Maneaters, and False King, despite that Flamelurker is easy if geared (or using magic) and I personally haven't had problems with False King. Maneaters are, in part, a matter of what their AI does. If the first stays where you can hit it early on, then things are easier

[Exhuminator]

May depend...

Sure each boss fight can be made easier/simpler if you already know what you're doing. But when you first face those bosses, and don't know their tricks, you're in for a tough time. (Assuming the player is not using a strategy guide or forum tips.) I think your intimate familiarity with DeS falsely colors your perception of how hard the game actually is when you're green to it.

[isiolia]

I don't disagree that I'm looking at DeS from a very different perspective than someone new to the series would. Or, perhaps, even as someone that started with it would.

While I wouldn't consider myself particularly good at these games, I have ended up spending a good bit of time on them in the past year or so. Prior to that I'd dabbled with them, but last summer or so was when I actually sat down to try and get through Dark Souls. I followed up with finishing Bloodborne, then DS2, DS3, *cough*Lords of the Fallen*cough*, and only then playing through DeS.
I also replayed through DS1 and did the DLC, replayed DS2 and 3 on PC, replayed Bloodborne to do the DLC and wound up Platinum'ing it, and so on...DS3 DLC as it came out, Nioh, and just in the past few weeks replayed DS1 again and then DeS again. I started on a DS3 run as a mage last night

I'd say I'm looking at DeS less as someone who's super familiar with it. In terms of time played, it's the lowest for me. I think you technically have more than I do.
My perspective is more one of general familiarity with the series, and how it relatively stacks up.

Again though, you're completely right in that my perspective on it is different. I think your ranking of some of it may shift too, as you get more of the games under your belt.

[Xeogred]

In my platinum Demon's run (NG+++++ something haha), I think overall I ended up having the most trouble with the Maneaters towards the end. It was very weird though, on one run they would be easy, but then another NG+ tacked on and they would suddenly become impossible again. So many emotions with the Maneaters. At least they're one of the easiest bosses to get too once you can perfectly get down that stupid red phantom Mind Flayer on the stairs, lol.

Fool's Idol and False King are probably my favorite fights. Fool's Idol is awesome Zelda-ish. She's quite easy if you hide behind the pillars and take your time, but yeah it's just a cool fight. Flamelurker is pretty legit too.

I think False King and Flamelurker, etc, get a little easier if you go back to them after playing more of these games. Since there's definitely more fights like them ahead.

I would say Dark Souls 3 has the best bosses since Demon's for me. They were all incredible.

[Exhuminator]

My favorite bosses from DeS were Storm King and the Dragon God. Easy fights, yeah, but magnificently epic.

[Xeogred]

Big fan of those two myself, really wish there was more like them. There's a big dragon in Dark Souls like that, but there's no much of a fight to it. You'll just have to see it.

Storm King and his posse still takes the cake for weirdest enemies in general. Giant floating jellyfish things that shoot arrow spears or something... haven't seen them again in these, haha.

Also hate to say dude, I thought the skeletons ruled in Demon's. They were cunning and legit threats. Nice variety between the colors like a beate em' up, different types and movesets, weapons they had, etc... well you get some skeletons again in the rest of these games but they are a total joke in comparison. It's a weird disappointment.

I really like the Mind Flayers too.

Dark Souls has the best knight type enemies though. Silver Knight's!!!

[Sload Soap]

I'm currently playing through Dark Souls 3 and I sort of agree, though it seems From decided that every boss has to have EPIC MUSIC even if it's just some dumbass like the Crystal Sage or Ocieros. It's so EPIC in fact, that I couldn't hear Lothric give his little dying speech over the blare of chorus.

Favourite boss so far...toss up between Aldrich and Sister Fride. Both made me rage but in a good way. It makes crushing them all the sweeter. I also quite liked the Curse rotted greatwood (aka Treeballs), not sure why people rag on him.

My fave in Demon's was The False King. The gauntlet leading up to him is pure Souls and he's a great mix of heavy hitting and quick but with enough space to zone and bait him. Maneaters were fun too, gank boss done right.

My least favourite was actually Maiden Astrea. All the valley of defilement bosses are basically crap (sometimes literally) but for whatever reason Garl refused to attack me and any attempts on him resulted in that really broken looking parry. You know the one where he seems to grab and parry you 2 seconds after you actually hit him, kind of like the game is lagging in PVP. I'll admit, I ended up just cheesing her with arrows and was happy to move on.