Dark Souls Might be the Last Game I Ever Play

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Written by Michael Rohde Thursday, 19 January 2012 06:00

Dark-Souls-1I’ve never felt this way about a game before but Dark Souls could be the last video game I ever play. It has consumed me. I cannot put it down. It’s not because of the insanely good graphics, nor is it the fact that the game has never hiccuped or frozen on me, it’s not because the updates have been regular in improving the game; I think it’s because Dark Souls is a game that I want to finish. And after 60 hours of gameplay with my Thief character, I don’t think I’m even close.

You might be wondering why I’m putting myself through the torture of putting so many hours into a game with the realization that I might need to put another 60 hours on top of the first 60 hours to complete it. Is it really that good? In a manner of speaking, yes it is that good.

new-londo-liftDark Souls is a game that lets you know that you can beat it. That is, if you’re good enough. And no, you’re most likely not good enough unless you put many, many hours into the game. I’m not saying “good enough” in that you need mad controller skills or insane timing abilities. I’m talking about “good enough” in that you need the Vitality, Endurance, Strength, Intelligence, etc. and the upgraded weapons and armor to make it through The Catacombs. Like I said, I’m 60 hours into Dark Souls with my Thief character and I’ve only found one camp site so far in The Catacombs. I’m starting to think that might be the only camp fire in The Catacombs. I don’t know for sure because I refuse to look up on a wiki where the next camp fire is, if it exists at all. After all, the New Londo Ruins has zero camp fires. And I still haven’t activated the lift in New Londo Ruins to drain the area so that I can start fighting Dark Wraiths to get Large Titanite chunks, which is necessary to further upgrade my weapons.

I did look up on a Dark Souls wiki where and how to find the Large Titanite chunks. From that I learned I need to activate the lift to drain the water from the area and that releases the Dark Wraiths who will drop Large Titanite chunks. I also learned that you need a key to activate the lift. To get the key you need to receive it from Ingward the NPC who is in the area. Apparently, he will either eventually give it to you (if you have cleared Anor Londo and obtained the Lordvessel) or you can kill him and get it that way. He hasn’t given it to me yet. I haven't cleared Anor Londo and I'm not even sure where that is... I suppose I should look that up next... I’m tempted to just kill him and get it over with. But I won’t do that because I can buy dirt cheap Transient Curses from him, but I don't really need those anymore because I have the Jagged Ghost Blade, but he’ll also cure me if I become cursed. And I don’t want to lose that. Besides, what if I do kill him and for some reason he doesn’t drop the key? Then I’m screwed. And I don’t want to be screwed. Not after putting 60 hours into this character. So, I keep playing.

Black_KnightI’m good enough now with my upgraded Great Axe to chop down the giant statues in the Dark Root Basin with a single swing. I’m also strong enough now to occasionally defeat the dragons in the Valley of the Drakes. But I still can’t successfully navigate The Catacombs. There’s a Black Knight down there that has it in for me. Even though I’ve killed most of all the other bosses, that guy still seems to get the drop on me when I fall through the floor. The last time, he killed me with a single swing. If you’ve played Dark Souls, you know what I’m talking about. I’m going to get that guy. Eventually. One way or the other.

While Dark Souls might consume all of my video game time for an hour or two each night, I might still occasionally slip in Modern Warfare 3. And I’m half way through Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which I want to finish as well. I also just got Guitar Hero 5 from a Goozex trade, which I want to play with my brand new replica Fender that I got for Christmas. But each night, right around 7:30 after the kids go to bed, I walk over to my Xbox 360, I open the cabinet and I grab Dark Souls. Just to level up one more time. And that repeats night after night. Right now, my favorite place to level up is right past the door that you open with the Crest of Artorias (and yes, it’s worth 20,000 souls to open that door when you buy it from the blacksmith). Those dudes in that dark, deep forest are worth one to two thousand souls a piece. It’s a great place to farm souls. And that’s where you can find me. I’m going to ramp up my levels to at least 26 in the areas that count and then I’m going back to The Catacombs. Back to the Black Knight. Back to the unknown. I may never return and Dark Souls may be the last game I ever play.

 

Comments  

 
+2 # TriangleOffense 2012-01-19 06:47
Great read. We talked often about this game on google+ in the past and you may recall my feelings towards it .... obsessed. I told you it was one of those games that if you can get past the initial difficulty that the game presents it begins to offer one of the most amazing experiences available and Im glad that you are now getting to enjoi that experience.
 
 
+1 # Radigga 2012-01-19 08:29
I want to play this game sooooo freaking bad but I know I will never be able to fit it into my back log
 
 
# Michael Rohde 2012-01-19 08:51
Thanks for the comments guys. I was a little off with the number of hours. I noticed last night that I was up to 70. I also noticed a potential new boss to fight past the Crest of Artorias door. When I found it, I was carrying 20,000 souls and didn't want to risk it. So, tonight, after I level up again and am back to 0 souls, I'm gonna tackle whatever lurks behind that glowing door that's slightly cracked open.
 
 
# Ferrari 2012-02-21 22:43
This is one game that sounds frustrating at times but immensely satisfying in the long run. Sounds like an absolutely fantastic fantasy world.

Here's to hoping the rumors that a PC version might surface are true.
 

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