Dark Souls (360)

[webdanzer]

I am really, really curious to see this game's US sales report, especially on the 360. I'm not sure the majority of today's gamers have the stomach for this sort of thing, but I hope I'm proven wrong and this becomes an inspiration for developers.

Though my Dark Souls is still in the wrap, Demon's Souls was one of my favorite games of this generation, easily.

[TCrouch]

I thought Demon's Souls was pretty cool, but I wasn't fond of the hub aspect and zoning into an area repeatedly. It's not like Dark Souls is actually much different--you just find different routes and paths back to the hub camp and it's one big explorable world. But it's infinitely more enjoyable for me personally, so I'd recommend unwrapping that sucker and trying it, web.

[XXXIV]

I thought Demon's Souls was pretty cool, but I wasn't fond of the hub aspect and zoning into an area repeatedly. It's not like Dark Souls is actually much different--you just find different routes and paths back to the hub camp and it's one big explorable world. But it's infinitely more enjoyable for me personally, so I'd recommend unwrapping that sucker and trying it, web.

Yes. The difference is the improvements made with the bonfires and things like the estus flask which makes playing the game a little more pleasant. Though its still a bit linear its more open world than Demons once you get past the Undead Burg and ring the first bell. The game play and the frequent deaths are pretty much the same and knowing that really helped keep me at the start.

If you liked Demons Souls you will get a kick outta this one.

[webdanzer]

I thought Demon's Souls was pretty cool, but I wasn't fond of the hub aspect and zoning into an area repeatedly. It's not like Dark Souls is actually much different--you just find different routes and paths back to the hub camp and it's one big explorable world. But it's infinitely more enjoyable for me personally, so I'd recommend unwrapping that sucker and trying it, web.

Oh yeah, mine is still in the wrap because I simply didn't have time to start it, yet!!!! Definitely a keeper, I'm sure!!!

[Phototropic]

The game is a lot of fun. I've hit my first wall at the Capra Demon after ringing the first bell. Very demoralizing, but I think I'm going to level up some more (21 currently) so I have more stamina to block his attacks in the initial part. This is the first fight I feel is somewhat cheap due to the small area you are fighting within, but I'm going to work on my guy for a bit before getting too frustrated.

I've seen a lot of videos where people have what seems to be a maxed out shield, indicated by a green up arrow under the stamina bar. Can I upgrade any shield to +5 for this, or is there something more specific? I've been using the Knight Shield as I think it is the best I have for now, but don't want to waste the souls/grinding on that if I'm wrong.

[XXXIV]

The game is a lot of fun. I've hit my first wall at the Capra Demon after ringing the first bell. Very demoralizing, but I think I'm going to level up some more (21 currently) so I have more stamina to block his attacks in the initial part. This is the first fight I feel is somewhat cheap due to the small area you are fighting within, but I'm going to work on my guy for a bit before getting too frustrated.

I've seen a lot of videos where people have what seems to be a maxed out shield, indicated by a green up arrow under the stamina bar. Can I upgrade any shield to +5 for this, or is there something more specific? I've been using the Knight Shield as I think it is the best I have for now, but don't want to waste the souls/grinding on that if I'm wrong.

I am using a Hollow Soldier Shield which is surprisingly better than the Knight Shield. It weighs less and has equal to better stats. The most important shield stats for a melee battle such as this one are Physical damage reduction at 100% and Stabilty which dictates the amount of stamina used when blocking. These two numbers are equal on the two shield but the HSS being 2.0 lighter gives it the advantage. It can be upgraded using titanite shards at the blacksmith at the Undead Parish. I have mine at +4 right now. The upgrade raise the stabilty of the shield.

The capra demon has the dogs right? You can make the area bigger by using the stairs....Hints....Block his first attack. Try to run by him and get up those stairs and heal if needed. Then go along the ledge and drop down. Kill the dogs! ( when you are not dodging or blocking for your life).
Remember if you can hit it you can kill it....Good luck.

EDIT. One more tip. Try and have your equipment load at less than 50%. This allows you to move much quicker. You may need to boost your endurance stat. What type of armor you are using and or will be using will dictate how many level points you will need to pump into endurance.

[Phototropic]

The game is a lot of fun. I've hit my first wall at the Capra Demon after ringing the first bell. Very demoralizing, but I think I'm going to level up some more (21 currently) so I have more stamina to block his attacks in the initial part. This is the first fight I feel is somewhat cheap due to the small area you are fighting within, but I'm going to work on my guy for a bit before getting too frustrated.

I've seen a lot of videos where people have what seems to be a maxed out shield, indicated by a green up arrow under the stamina bar. Can I upgrade any shield to +5 for this, or is there something more specific? I've been using the Knight Shield as I think it is the best I have for now, but don't want to waste the souls/grinding on that if I'm wrong.

I am using a Hollow Soldier Shield which is surprisingly better than the Knight Shield. It weighs less and has equal to better stats. The most important shield stats for a melee battle such as this one are Physical damage reduction at 100% and Stabilty which dictates the amount of stamina used when blocking. These two numbers are equal on the two shield but the HSS being 2.0 lighter gives it the advantage. It can be upgraded using titanite shards at the blacksmith at the Undead Parish. I have mine at +4 right now. The upgrade raise the stabilty of the shield.

The capra demon has the dogs right? You can make the area bigger by using the stairs....Hints....Block his first attack. Try to run by him and get up those stairs and heal if needed. Then go along the ledge and drop down. Kill the dogs! ( when you are not dodging or blocking for your life).
Remember if you can hit it you can kill it....Good luck.

EDIT. One more tip. Try and have your equipment load at less than 50%. This allows you to move much quicker. You may need to boost your endurance stat. What type of armor you are using and or will be using will dictate how many level points you will need to pump into endurance.

Thanks for the tips. I believe I have the Hollow Soldier Shield, so I will check my inventory. It's definitely just a matter of stamina and/or stability for me right now as I can't always block the few hits that buy me enough time to get rid of the dogs.

[TCrouch]

I decided to try a different approach at lunch, and I'm astonished at how open this game is. Sure, the progression through areas is pretty linear, but the tools you're given to do so is wide open. I found the Valley of Drakes earlier on a previous toon and saw that I could loot a nice sword and dragon shield from there--with a guaranteed death since the dragon corpse hanging on the ledge wakes up and roasts me the minute I loot.

I decided to try to roll a Cleric since the sword required 14 faith to use, and I went down and grabbed it before going anywhere. By the end of my lunch, my cleric was now level 12 (starts at level 3), and he had this plethora of moves to use:

The sword could pretty much 1-hit everything early on with a strong swing. It would hit for 126 on a normal zombie as long as they weren't blocking, which could clear all the way up to the 1st bonfire with 1-hit kills.

I got enough souls to purchase the soul arrow spell and a sorcerer's catalyst from the smith down the stairs from fire link shrine. So I have my sword as my first right hand weapon, and a catalyst as the backup.

My left hand has the dragon shield (100% physical block) and a light bow, but I swap that with a healing talisman when I want to cast one of my 5 healing miracles.

What this leads to is complete control over the battlefield. I can single-pull mobs with an arrow shot from a mile away. I can burn down bosses with soul arrows when I stay back. When I lose the ranged advantage, I switch to my sword and start annihilating stuff up close. I can block 100% of physical damage currently, so until I start to run into magic users later on, my defense is impenetrable as long as I don't overextend my offense.

I'm curious to see how I can develop this guy, because I have so many options as a sword-wielding, arrow-shooting, magic-arrow-slinging, self-healing juggernaut that I actually feel very strong in the world, instead of scared of the next corner.

[XXXIV]

I'm curious to see how I can develop this guy, because I have so many options as a sword-wielding, arrow-shooting, magic-arrow-slinging, self-healing juggernaut that I actually feel very strong in the world, instead of scared of the next corner.

Its very cool the freedom you have to shape your character. You are by no means locked into your original class. He is yours to do anything you want.

By the time I got to the final boss in Demons Souls it was no contest. I wasnt sure the final battle was easy because of the hell I had been through or because I was so damn super powered due to the hell Id been through. All that dying sure made you tougher, quicker and smarter. What does not kill you permanently only makes you stronger

[Danimal]

I guess I am either taking too long to get by that first demon or totally missing areas. Only place I can find is undead burg and I can't get out of it LOL

[TCrouch]

There are so many nooks and crannies in this game that it's probably one of the only ones I can recall where I investigate every pathway, corner, barrel, and ledge. So many times I'll break a barrel only to reveal a ledge I can hop down and collect a hidden item. Or a ladder that runs me back up a wall and across rooftops, where I end up collecting something I saw before, but from across a chasm or something and I had no idea how to get to.

The simplest way I've found to grind is at that first bonfire. I leveled up to 20 before I ever even approached that Taurus Demon last time. The Drake Valley is down towards the ruins where the ghosts are--there's another stairway leading right back up after you get off the elevator, and there's a tiny bridge crossing another chasm that had the drake and a huge cave with some big, beefy looking dudes in it. I haven't gone very far into that cave yet, but that's next on my "to explore" list.

Hey, all it can do is kill me, right?

[XXXIV]

Hey, all it can do is kill me, right?

Exactly right!...Plus you dont have to put another quarter in to resume play.

[ScoopBrady]

The wait is killing me.

[XXXIV]

Its official....I hate Blight Town.

O(!@*~TEO)*!@*

[XXXIV]

Just rang the second bell. Woo hooo!

Thats the good news. The bad news is that I think Im going to be seeing Blighttown in my sleep. Those will not be pretty dreams.

Forza saturday...I think Im going to give this game a rest for a day or two. Maybe. If I can

[Rodster]

I never played the first. Is this game as frustrating as Ninja Gaiden? I was going to TRU tomorrow. Was going to get Batman and Forza 4. I need a third game.

[Danimal]

I never played the first. Is this game as frustrating as Ninja Gaiden? I was going to TRU tomorrow. Was going to get Batman and Forza 4. I need a third game.

Haha someone just asked me this today. My answers was yes and no.

Dark Souls is a tough, if not tougher then NG but it isn't always frustrating in the same way. Typically once you get going when you die in this game it is your fault. In NG not so much.

[XXXIV]

Definitely not for the faint of heart.

I never played NG so I have no perspective that way but it can be very frustrating. It does try to break your spirit not only with the difficulty, the grinding, and deaths but the games visuals, though well done, are not generally very uplifting either. Creepy ambiance.

It does feel very rewarding, more so than most games, though when you accomplish something or anything in the game.

[Rodster]

OK thanks Dan. Yeah my biggest beef with NG was the numbers of baddies it threw at you. I may get DS then.

Definitely not for the faint of heart.

I never played NG so I have no perspective that way but it can be very frustrating. It does try to break your spirit not only with the difficulty, the grinding, and deaths but the games visuals, though well done, are not generally very uplifting either. Creepy ambiance.

It does feel very rewarding, more so than most games, though when you accomplish something or anything in the game.

Yeah I read it's a scary game, is it?

[TCrouch]

It definitely doesn't overwhelm you with baddies unless you trudge willy-nilly into an area you're unfamiliar with. You'll almost ALWAYS die if you do that in Dark Souls.

The minute you don't respect a particular monster...no matter how easily you can kill it...is the minute you die. Every single enemy in DS must be treated as something that can kill you, because they generally can.

[Rodster]

OK so i'm getting my ass kicked by the Asylum Demon. Any tips because whatever it is, it's HUGE and it's pissed. Wish me luck.

EDIT: OK so I figured out I can't beat this thing and need to flee. There's a door but it's locked, need to find the key to escape, but where?

[XXXIV]

I dont remember well. He was slow. Block,dodge and get behind him.

The first time through I ran by him to the nearest available exit cause all I had was a broken sword.

You are supposed to die. learn from it.

Oh. Its not scary. Its creepy.

Good luck.

[TCrouch]

If you still have the broken sword, then there's a small door you need to run through to escape him.

If you have your weapons and are meeting him for the second time--you CAN beat him. You just have to work at it. Run in, take your shot after you make him miss you. Back up, get out of range, run in when he misses again, etc. And block. A lot. Never use your last bit of stamina trying to swing "just one more time". Only attack when you leave yourself a defense.

[Rodster]

Yeah I now see what you guys and the reviews were talking about regarding the addictiveness of Demon and Dark Souls. I can't explain it either but even when you get handed a beatdown you want to go back and try, try again and again.

I still haven't beaten that Asylum Demon yet as I mercifully keep dying but trying Terry's approach has helped win other fights for me much easier. I do like how you are always lured into the one more swing and i'll get it only to see "You Died" on the screen and it's back to the Bonfire.

OK so a few questions:

1) After you die and go back there's this green mist is that the souls you lost? It says recovered when you get it.

2) Wrt blood stains and the image of someone dying. Is that a replay of where you died?

3) Read message, is that a game prompt or did another gamer leave that for you?

4) Sort of referring to question#3. I've read about the online aspect. How do people leave messages for you. How can you tell if it's the game or a gamer who died there?

[XXXIV]

1) After you die and go back there's this green mist is that the souls you lost? It says recovered when you get it.

2) Wrt blood stains and the image of someone dying. Is that a replay of where you died?

3) Read message, is that a game prompt or did another gamer leave that for you?

4) Sort of referring to question#3. I've read about the online aspect. How do people leave messages for you. How can you tell if it's the game or a gamer who died there?

1) Yes. If you can get to the green mist you get the souls and the humanity points you had back. It does not restore you to human fornm though. You have to use a humanity pt at a bonfire to get back to human form. Im hardly in human form as I dont want to blow the humanity points.

You do need to be human for certain things, Like upgrading a bonfire, summoning help from NPCs or other humans in certain areas or having certain events happen.
The downside to human form is that if you are indeed playing online (why would you not be?) you can be invaded and killed by another human player aka black phantoms. They can be indicted if the belong to the wrong faction and you have the proper form. I dont know bout the groups so dont ask. Demons souls had something called world tendency which was different.

2)The red stains are replay images of another player who has died there recently.

3) At the beginning, as tutorial help, there are a few I think the game left as to how to use the controller and stuff but yes they are left by other players. Dont always believe them.

4) I dont know if they died there before but the messages look like they were burned into the ground. Havent written one but I think you use an orange soapstone.