This is my first From Software game. I avoided this developer for a very long time because I was never much of a competitive gamer. Overall I think video game difficulty is a scam. But this game seems to check all the boxes most videogames nowadays don't.
And even more important, this game doesn't have all the bad things other videogames nowadays have. It doesn't have a pointless boring open world. It doesn't have "side quests". It doesn't have difficulty settings. It's not pay2play. It doesn't have waypoints. It doesn't have "collectibles". The grind isn't really a grind like RPG grinds usually are. If you are grinding it's not because the boss is overpowered, but because you are not doing what you're supposed to do. There is a point to the grind.
This whole game is basically designed around the concept of making us let go of all the bad habits other videogames have left us with. The enemies in this game won't tolerate button-mashing. They won't stand for cowardice. They will not let you off easily. This game comes up in your face and tells you "you are either doing it my way, or you're not doing it at all". And as gamers, we must applaud the developer for making this game. It's not just a fun game. It's not a grind. It's not about the satisfaction of telling noobs to "git gud".
The game's most clear and much needed message is "this is what makes video games amazing". Yes, it could be easier. Yes, you can probably get lost if you're not paying attention. Yes, a few pointers would be nice. But then again, they'd ruin it too. Perfection will never be achieved through conformity. The only reason this game is so punishing is because it is a great game and it is great only if you play it the way it was meant to be played. If you compromise this with an Easy mode, you are stripping this masterpiece of its full potential.
In a weird way, it's not even that hard. It just doesn't forgive mistakes. Mistakes that other games are too tolerant of. If video games were music, From Software games are jazz. It rewards improvisation, but leaves absolutely no room for you to break the rules. By the end of it, you're not even fighting these enemies. You are dancing...
- Style - check.
- Satisfying combat - check.
- Level design - check.
- Atmosphere - check.
- Rewarding progression - check.
And even more important, this game doesn't have all the bad things other videogames nowadays have. It doesn't have a pointless boring open world. It doesn't have "side quests". It doesn't have difficulty settings. It's not pay2play. It doesn't have waypoints. It doesn't have "collectibles". The grind isn't really a grind like RPG grinds usually are. If you are grinding it's not because the boss is overpowered, but because you are not doing what you're supposed to do. There is a point to the grind.
This whole game is basically designed around the concept of making us let go of all the bad habits other videogames have left us with. The enemies in this game won't tolerate button-mashing. They won't stand for cowardice. They will not let you off easily. This game comes up in your face and tells you "you are either doing it my way, or you're not doing it at all". And as gamers, we must applaud the developer for making this game. It's not just a fun game. It's not a grind. It's not about the satisfaction of telling noobs to "git gud".
The game's most clear and much needed message is "this is what makes video games amazing". Yes, it could be easier. Yes, you can probably get lost if you're not paying attention. Yes, a few pointers would be nice. But then again, they'd ruin it too. Perfection will never be achieved through conformity. The only reason this game is so punishing is because it is a great game and it is great only if you play it the way it was meant to be played. If you compromise this with an Easy mode, you are stripping this masterpiece of its full potential.
In a weird way, it's not even that hard. It just doesn't forgive mistakes. Mistakes that other games are too tolerant of. If video games were music, From Software games are jazz. It rewards improvisation, but leaves absolutely no room for you to break the rules. By the end of it, you're not even fighting these enemies. You are dancing...