Demiath's Unboxing, Part #22 - Dark Souls: Limited Edition
4By far the most important game of 2011 that I didn't buy during its release year was Dark Souls. This surprising omission was partly due to From Software's latest RPG being a very similar experience to its predecessor Demon's Souls (which I already own), and partly due to my gaming habits these days not being very conducive to the methodical, time-consuming process of playing such a challenging exploration-based RPG. I obviously play a ton of games (as evidenced by the content on this YouTube channel), but tend to do so in short sessions of about 30-90 minutes each, which - if Demon's Souls is anything to go by - might not be enough to make substantial progress in a game like Dark Souls.
That said, a Limited Edition for roughly 30 bucks from an online store was just too good to pass up on. Apart from the admirably precise and skill-based combat, what I like most about From Software's approach to action RPG design is the refined and subtle artistic vision which characterize their work as well as the detailed, believable environments they are able to craft. Both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls look painfully generic at first glance (and the underlying tech is modest at best), but actually playing these games means embarking on a monumental journey into a melancholic world of dark, gruesome beauty which represents a far more mature take on the well-established fantasy genre than just about any other video games have to offer. Actual plot development is minimal but the meticulously constructed, seamless and genuinely believable environments all feel like they have a long history stretching back several centuries, and From Software know perfectly well how to build a thick atmosphere with a tangible sense of dread and despair even when nothing in particular is happening on screen.
Of course, none of the exploration of these inhospitable worlds would be as engaging as it is without the specific gameplay mechanics which ensure that there's actual risk involved in venturing too far into the dark, dank dungeons. In an age of incessant checkpoints and ever-decreasing difficulty, Demon's Souls and Dark Souls raises the stakes considerably and shows what it really means to value your life...