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SoulsERA |OT| So the world might be mended

Which game do you find holds the most replayability?

  • Demon's Souls

    Votes: 36 11.6%

  • Dark Souls

    Votes: 105 33.8%

  • Dark Souls II

    Votes: 44 14.1%

  • Dark Souls III

    Votes: 93 29.9%

  • Bloodborne

    Votes: 95 30.5%

  • Sekiro

    Votes: 17 5.5%
  • Total voters
    311
Reader mode

Deleted member 8861

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 26, 2017
10,564
I think I'll be laying off from playing Dark Souls III for at least a month.

I really rather like the beginning by all accounts- the High Wall of Lothric is a cool level (so big, almost as much as Central Yharnam, holy shit) and I'll be creating a DEX/FTH build (played DS1 as dex/pyro and DS2 as dex/int, so this is only fitting).

That said, it wasn't exciting to play through in the slightest. I don't know if it's because how light everything feels or because I played through the first couple areas in 540p on my old computer about a year ago, but I usually really quite enjoy the beginning areas of Souls games (even Dark Souls II was fun in the beginning). Perhaps it's just because BB is better.
 
SunhiLegend

SunhiLegend

The Legend Continues
Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,573
lXhQcEH.gif
 

Deleted member 2317

User-requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,072
Man, I'm just gonna have to get an amiibo huh?

Also, call me a sucker but I just bought a copy of the Future Press Old Hunters guide. Their guide for BB is one of the best I've ever seen in decades.
 
Sub Boss

Sub Boss

Banned
Nov 14, 2017
13,441
Im playing with the Dark Sword (Katana ?) Just because i wanted a new sword (was getting tired of the standard long sword) and i found the way you get it funny.

Tried the pontiff knight sword but it was below the long sword in some stats even if upgraded and the storm ruler looked cool as hell but you need weird stones to upgrade it.

It has been reilable so far but getting a new weapon is not easy
 
Vadara

Vadara

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,565
Van Bur3n said:
He secretly enjoys playing it. He knows this to be true.
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I didn't, really. Bloodborne invokes the same kind of negative feelings in me that Ds3 does. I explained why in a post on another site:

I got Bloodborne in the PS+ promotion and, having played Dark Souls 1, I really feel like you have to play literally perfectly in this game or you die. There's no other way to put it. The only viable defensive options in this game (rolling and parrying) get you hit if you fuck them up. And getting hit once = you die. Blood vials being non-replenishable means my supply is always in danger of going out and if I die then all the ones I used are wased. The result is one of the most aggressively unfun and exhausting games I have ever played in my life. I feel like I can do everything right and then I make one mistake and die. Plus, the levels are far more confusing and lamps are far stingier than bonfires resulting in each time I play being an exhausting journey that results in me getting three-shotted 20 minutes in and losing all of my progress and my literal experience points. Dark Souls 1 was tough, but it was nowhere near as brutal as this game. You can get hit a few times in DS1 and still survive.

I'm trying to give this game a chance, but it feels like I literally cannot make a single mistake, no matter how tiny, or I die. Health might as well not exist, because it is utterly worthless.

////

I'll post this in the BB OT, later I guess.

This "play at TAS level perfection all the time or you die" thing applies to DS3 as well imo.
 
ChemicalWorld

ChemicalWorld

Member
Dec 6, 2017
1,742
Vadara said:
I didn't, really. Bloodborne invokes the same kind of negative feelings in me that Ds3 does. I explained why in a post on another site:

I got Bloodborne in the PS+ promotion and, having played Dark Souls 1, I really feel like you have to play literally perfectly in this game or you die. There's no other way to put it. The only viable defensive options in this game (rolling and parrying) get you hit if you fuck them up. And getting hit once = you die. Blood vials being non-replenishable means my supply is always in danger of going out and if I die then all the ones I used are wased. The result is one of the most aggressively unfun and exhausting games I have ever played in my life. I feel like I can do everything right and then I make one mistake and die. Plus, the levels are far more confusing and lamps are far stingier than bonfires resulting in each time I play being an exhausting journey that results in me getting three-shotted 20 minutes in and losing all of my progress and my literal experience points. Dark Souls 1 was tough, but it was nowhere near as brutal as this game. You can get hit a few times in DS1 and still survive.

I'm trying to give this game a chance, but it feels like I literally cannot make a single mistake, no matter how tiny, or I die. Health might as well not exist, because it is utterly worthless.

////

I'll post this in the BB OT, later I guess.

This "play at TAS level perfection all the time or you die" thing applies to DS3 as well imo.
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Then you clearly aren't making use of all the systems that the game provides you with. If you get hit the first thing you should do is roll around and get a hit or few hits in to rally your health. If that isn't an option dash out of range and use a blood vial. Learn how to gun parry (very easy to get used to fighting the Ogre enemies). The game has a very destinct feel to it, and it can take a bit of getting used to but it made the combat in the series feel fresh again. And I don't miss shields anymore.
 
DrDamn

DrDamn

Member
Oct 27, 2017
466
Vadara said:
The only viable defensive options in this game (rolling and parrying) get you hit if you fuck them up.
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One of the other key defensive options is attack. It rewards measured aggression. Use that and you will find your Blood vial issue starts to go away too. When you are hit your health drops but the health bar shows a section that can be regained by doing damage. So a lot of times attack is the best form of defence. Backing out, healing and regrouping is safer but burns through your resources.

Make sure you are fully utilising your weapon tricks too. Transform it during combos for some really effective attacks, and use charge attacks where you can (hold R2 until you get a "ting").

It is a very tough start to the game. Cope with it, learn and work your way through and it will set you up well for the rest of the game though.
 
Strafer

Strafer

The Flagpole is Wider
Member
Oct 25, 2017
29,378
Sweden
How come they haven't shown any footage of the PS4 and Xbox version? I thought for sure they would post it after the Switch one.
 
Vadara

Vadara

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,565
ChemicalWorld said:
Then you clearly aren't making use of all the systems that the game provides you with. If you get hit the first thing you should do is roll around and get a hit or few hits in to rally your health. If that isn't an option dash out of range and use a blood vial. Learn how to gun parry (very easy to get used to fighting the Ogre enemies). The game has a very destinct feel to it, and it can take a bit of getting used to but it made the combat in the series feel fresh again. And I don't miss shields anymore.
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In my experience you have to be so frame-perfect with the gun parry that I don't even go for it anymore when the punishment for fucking it up is getting either one-shotted or ganged up on to death (Same problem I have with parries in DS3).
 
Jimnymebob

Jimnymebob

Member
Oct 26, 2017
19,636
Vadara said:
In my experience you have to be so frame-perfect with the gun parry that I don't even go for it anymore when the punishment for fucking it up is getting either one-shotted or ganged up on to death (Same problem I have with parries in DS3).
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You don't need to be perfect at all with gun parries. They're just behind Demons in terms of ease.

I beat the final DLC boss by just standing in front of it and shooting the hell out of it pretty much, because screw that boss to hell, and I was bound to catch it out eventually.
 
Noema

Noema

Member
Jan 17, 2018
4,908
Mexico CIty
There's a flash sale going on on NA PSN , with SotFS for $10 and DSIII for $18.

I assume most people on this thread already own both but it's a pretty nice discount. Sucks for me since I bought both games on disc recently for considerably more.

Now I'm wondering if I should pick up the Deluxe Edition of DSIII since it goes for the same as the Season pass. Has the DLC for DSIII ever been on sale?

But hopefully Bloodborne on PS+ and these discounts will motivate more people the play From games.
 
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Vadara

Vadara

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,565
Jimnymebob said:
You don't need to be perfect at all with gun parries. They're just behind Demons in terms of ease.

I beat the final DLC boss by just standing in front of it and shooting the hell out of it pretty much, because screw that boss to hell, and I was bound to catch it out eventually.
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This is just a flat-out lie, parries in this game have be practically frame-perfect in my experience especially since they take a billion frames to come out.
 
ChemicalWorld

ChemicalWorld

Member
Dec 6, 2017
1,742
Vadara said:
This is just a flat-out lie, parries in this game have be practically frame-perfect in my experience especially since they take a billion frames to come out.
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All dependant on the type of weapon you are firing. If you use the blunderbuss for example you have an easier timing window for pulling off the parry. When I first started playing Bloodborne back at launch I was terrible and at that point I had full experience with Demon's Souls/Dark Souls and the original version of Dark Souls 2. But it really doesn't take long to get into the groove of Bloodborne and it becomes as rewarding if not more so than the Souls games. But hey each to their own.
 
Vadara

Vadara

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,565
Well I trained myself on the father G fight and they're not as hard as I thought. Second phase is murdering me though.
 
Vadara

Vadara

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,565
Tried invading in DS3 today, both times I got matched up with people with twink friends. What's the point of invading if you're just gonna be in a 1v2 or even a 1v3?
 
Red Liquorice

Red Liquorice

Member
Oct 27, 2017
9,078
UK
Parries in BB tend to be earlier than in Souls. Like in DS1 you'd hit L2 at the last second as you see the enemies weapon coming down towards you, where as in BB - take the Ogres for example - you want to hit L2 way earlier in their animation. Some enemies like the spooky guys in trench coats in Cathedral Ward have such an obscenely long parry window, it's harder to fuck up than it is to get a successful parry!
 

Deleted member 8861

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 26, 2017
10,564
I've got a few lategame-ish things I wanted to ask your opinion on about Bloodborne (I haven't fully finished the game yet so please mind your spoilers in that regard). I love the game, it's almost certainly in my Top 10, but there are some issues/nitpicks I have with the game and I'm curious if you agree. These nitpicks are really bothering me because they're making me question if I'm enjoying this as much as I expected to (and the question itself's troubling me).

Does anyone else feel annoyed by how the game kind of looks samey everywhere during the night phase? Especially Cathedral Ward/C. Yharnam/ O. Yharnam look really samey to me (besides some distinct objects- caskets, tombstones During the red moon phase, similarly, Yahar'Gul looks very similar to Central Yharnam/Cathedral Ward.
This has started to bother me deeply. (Funnily enough, I'm not sure if I like the color palette or dislike it, because while samey, it also makes the game look extremely cohesive. I'm not sure if I like or dislike the game's aesthetics due to this. It makes me question to myself if I like these levels' designs or not and I'm really not sure, because on the surface I have these criticisms about the aesthetic and yet the game's atmosphere directly draws me in every time I play it and I can play without feeling bored for way more than 10 hours straight)

Also, I've realized that BB focuses a LOT on shortcuts within levels instead of shortcuts that connect parts of the world together. It's pretty linear as far as world design goes in that regard. Do you like this aspect of Bloodborne's design, or do you think that it hurts the game to focus on "clearing" an area and not using it for traversal? I am conflicted, especially because of how little verticality there seems to be in the game, and how rarely you need to traverse an area after clearing it.

Did anyone else find the late game areas pretty disappointing? I'm only up to the Nightmare of Mensis, which doesn't seem very interesting layout or design wise. I've cleared Nightmare Frontier and I was not impressed by its design. I felt like they could've taken the concept of cosmic horror in many more interesting directions instead of "desolate, isolated rocky and grassy ground with tombstones and poison strewn around". Yahar'Gul is extremely generic to me, it felt like I was playing through the Cathedral Ward or Central Yharnam (during sunset) again

Are you happy with the design of the Hunter's Dream? Unlike Dark Souls hubs, barely anything (besides the post-Rom change) ever changes in the Dream and the only NPC is the Doll and sometimes, Gehrman. Did you like the more eventful hubs of previous games?

Are you happy that there are far fewer NPCs in Bloodborne than in Souls games?

Do you feel that the game's atmosphere is somber or sorrowful? Do you feel that the atmosphere is hopeless? I'm asking this because I played BB mostly with other people around and in daylight, and I didn't really feel this depressing, hopeless atmosphere- just felt like a desolate and emotionless hunting ground. The game and its atmosphere is interesting, and sometimes exciting, but not depressing or emotional. Is this the intended atmosphere or am I ruining the atmosphere for myself?

Lastly, do you like the music overall? I pretty much only like the Hunter's Dream theme and maybe Moonlit Melody. What's your favorite pre-Mensis?
 
Vadara

Vadara

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,565
The more I play DS3, the more I feel that it's biggest problem is that it can't decide if it wants to be DS1 or Bloodborne. I really do prefer Bloodborne going all-in on the speed and when I play DS3 I just miss the super-fast dashes and Rally. Which would be fine except DS3 wants to be a super-speedy aggrofest too but I don't feel like I have all the tools necessary to make that possible.

Combat-wise, BB is easily the best of the five games, imo, though I haven't played DeS.
 
Red Liquorice

Red Liquorice

Member
Oct 27, 2017
9,078
UK
Funyarinpa said:
Also, I've realized that BB focuses a LOT on shortcuts within levels instead of shortcuts that connect parts of the world together. It's pretty linear as far as world design goes in that regard. Do you like this aspect of Bloodborne's design, or do you think that it hurts the game to focus on "clearing" an area and not using it for traversal? I am conflicted, especially because of how little verticality there seems to be in the game, and how rarely you need to traverse an area after clearing it.

Are you happy with the design of the Hunter's Dream? Unlike Dark Souls hubs, barely anything (besides the post-Rom change) ever changes in the Dream and the only NPC is the Doll and sometimes, Gehrman. Did you like the more eventful hubs of previous games?
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The level design is more linear than DS1&2, but I think they were going for a call back to DeS with the disconnected hub. What bothers me more are the unnecessary loading screens going back to the Hunter's Dream just to warp somewhere else - Warping from lamps would've been so much player-friendlier, but as you say the hub is so bare bones in this game, one less reason to go back makes it even less useful.

Funyarinpa said:
Are you happy that there are far fewer NPCs in Bloodborne than in Souls games?
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One of the criticisms of the game was that the NPC questlines aren't as developed as in previous games, which I agree with. Some of them are great characters like Eileen but there's very little to do with most of them.
 
gosublime

gosublime

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,432
Funyarinpa said:
I've got a few lategame-ish things I wanted to ask your opinion on about Bloodborne (I haven't fully finished the game yet so please mind your spoilers in that regard). I love the game, it's almost certainly in my Top 10, but there are some issues/nitpicks I have with the game and I'm curious if you agree. These nitpicks are really bothering me because they're making me question if I'm enjoying this as much as I expected to (and the question itself's troubling me).

Does anyone else feel annoyed by how the game kind of looks samey everywhere during the night phase? Especially Cathedral Ward/C. Yharnam/ O. Yharnam look really samey to me (besides some distinct objects- caskets, tombstones During the red moon phase, similarly, Yahar'Gul looks very similar to Central Yharnam/Cathedral Ward.
This has started to bother me deeply. (Funnily enough, I'm not sure if I like the color palette or dislike it, because while samey, it also makes the game look extremely cohesive. I'm not sure if I like or dislike the game's aesthetics due to this. It makes me question to myself if I like these levels' designs or not and I'm really not sure, because on the surface I have these criticisms about the aesthetic and yet the game's atmosphere directly draws me in every time I play it and I can play without feeling bored for way more than 10 hours straight)

Also, I've realized that BB focuses a LOT on shortcuts within levels instead of shortcuts that connect parts of the world together. It's pretty linear as far as world design goes in that regard. Do you like this aspect of Bloodborne's design, or do you think that it hurts the game to focus on "clearing" an area and not using it for traversal? I am conflicted, especially because of how little verticality there seems to be in the game, and how rarely you need to traverse an area after clearing it.

Did anyone else find the late game areas pretty disappointing? I'm only up to the Nightmare of Mensis, which doesn't seem very interesting layout or design wise. I've cleared Nightmare Frontier and I was not impressed by its design. I felt like they could've taken the concept of cosmic horror in many more interesting directions instead of "desolate, isolated rocky and grassy ground with tombstones and poison strewn around". Yahar'Gul is extremely generic to me, it felt like I was playing through the Cathedral Ward or Central Yharnam (during sunset) again

Are you happy with the design of the Hunter's Dream? Unlike Dark Souls hubs, barely anything (besides the post-Rom change) ever changes in the Dream and the only NPC is the Doll and sometimes, Gehrman. Did you like the more eventful hubs of previous games?

Are you happy that there are far fewer NPCs in Bloodborne than in Souls games?

Do you feel that the game's atmosphere is somber or sorrowful? Do you feel that the atmosphere is hopeless? I'm asking this because I played BB mostly with other people around and in daylight, and I didn't really feel this depressing, hopeless atmosphere- just felt like a desolate and emotionless hunting ground. The game and its atmosphere is interesting, and sometimes exciting, but not depressing or emotional. Is this the intended atmosphere or am I ruining the atmosphere for myself?

Lastly, do you like the music overall? I pretty much only like the Hunter's Dream theme and maybe Moonlit Melody. What's your favorite pre-Mensis?
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Will try to have a go at this and keep spoilers to a minimum!

1) I think one of the strengths of Bloodborne is, as you've mentioned, the cohesiveness. I have a theory that this game was made to be a really focused, short experience. I liken it to an author's novella - it's not as varied as some longer works, but everything is very tightly wound. It feels like Miyazaki almost went 'What if I make a whole game like the Undead Burg?' (I know there are other areas - Forbidden Woods for example - but it feels like that at times) This works but it does make it feel samey.

2) I would love to have another Dark Souls game design - the shortcuts across levels in that game are nothing short of amazing. It's those that make Dark Souls and Bloodborne pretty much equal for for top spot in my listing. However, the fact is that none of the other Souls games have really done that. I think that it might have been a lucky accident or just too hard to do.

3) Completely agree with this. If there is a Bloodborne 2, this is what I want more of. There won't be as much need to keep it as a late game twist so I think they could do a lot more with it in a sequel.

4 and 5) Love the design of the Hunter's Dream, but (and this is linked to the NPC point) there isn't much to do there. Again, Bloodborne seems to be focused on a very specific experience and other aspects of the game are cut to make it easier to create that atmosphere.

6) And this is where the experience comes to the fore. I'd always recommend playing Bloodborne on your own, with headphones if possible and in a dark room. The desolation of the nightmare, the loneliness of the Hunter's Dream (your only consistent companion is a doll), the sounds of people wailing and moaning around you and the sheer oppressive nature of the place are pitched pretty much perfectly. Even little things - the way Byrgenwerth is built up as some kind of cool place that will help answer your questions and then turns out to be a small, couple floored library - work together to unsettle you. Freud would have a field day with the whole childbirth angle, the way Hunters like Djura are completely aware of the dream and the doll. I even spent ages think Father G, the dude who gives you the contract at the start of the day and Gerhman were actually the same person which added to the whole nightmare aspect of the game...

Basically, I love this game for that atmosphere. It's got something that just works and got me hooked on the Souls series. There are bits that bug me but if someone like Solaire popped up here it just wouldn't work. But - and this is the issue with atmosphere - it can just not grab you. It did me and so I know I'm a bit biased towards Bloodborne.

Oh, and I'm never really good at noticing music. Odd sounds, yes, but tunes never really stick with me!

So, basically I agree with your points but think they are the point of the game.
 
CenturionNami

CenturionNami

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Nov 2, 2017
5,230
Has anyone tried Prepare to die AGAIN? Apparently it overhauls the boss fights, if anyone's played it can you tell me a few examples?
 
Metanoia Prime

Metanoia Prime

Member
Oct 26, 2017
4,158
California
Funyarinpa said:
If you mean the fellow after Iudex, he's meant to be very OP and should be returned to later. That, or you can kick him off and reload the game to get his loot.
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Firewithin said:
ah the katana dude. cheese him so he falls off the edge :p
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Ended up kicking his butt the normal way. When I equip the katana, though, it has a red x on it. What does this mean? Am I too heavy with it? Also, the gear that dropped from that dude also have way less overall stats compared to my knight's gear. Any reason I should switch?
 
Red Liquorice

Red Liquorice

Member
Oct 27, 2017
9,078
UK
Metanoia Prime said:
Ended up kicking his butt the normal way. When I equip the katana, though, it has a red x on it. What does this mean? Am I too heavy with it? Also, the gear that dropped from that dude also have way less overall stats compared to my knight's gear. Any reason I should switch?
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You don't have the required stats to wield the weapon. Check the weapons stats page in the items/equip menu.

Equipment weight has an effect on your movement and roll speed. Also some lighter armour sets might have better resistances (like to say fire, or poison) so heavy/high physical defence isn't always best, it can be situational.
 
Dance Inferno

Dance Inferno

Member
Oct 29, 2017
1,999
Metanoia Prime said:
Just picked up DS3 during the Flash Sale on PSN.

I'm getting my ass kicked by this little brown dude after the intro area. Send help.
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I played a pyro and just BBQ'ed him from a distance.

I'm early in BB, but one thing I miss already is magic. I always play a pyro in DS and it kinda sucks that I don't have any good ranged magic options to play around with.
 

Deleted member 31817

Nov 7, 2017
30,876
Vadara said:
In my experience you have to be so frame-perfect with the gun parry that I don't even go for it anymore when the punishment for fucking it up is getting either one-shotted or ganged up on to death (Same problem I have with parries in DS3).
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Parries are easiest in Bloodborne, I don't bother with them in any of the Souls games but they're crucial for BB. The shotgun is easier than the pistol to parry for me too.
 
Metanoia Prime

Metanoia Prime

Member
Oct 26, 2017
4,158
California
So I just picked up DS3 + DLC from the recent sale and played some (just defeated Vordt.)

I also have BB and just bought the DLC for it. I don't have a BB save, as I had played it physical over a year ago, so if I started now, it would be a fresh run.

Should I continue to play DS3 or should I go back and do BB first? Is there a reason to play one over the other, specifically in terms of game mechanics that one has and the other doesn't, which would otherwise spoil me?
 

Deleted member 31817

Nov 7, 2017
30,876
Metanoia Prime said:
So I just picked up DS3 + DLc from the recent sale and played some (just defeated Vordt.)

I also have BB and just bought the DLC for it.

Should I continue to play DS3 or should I go back and do BB first? Is there a reason to play one over the other, specifically in terms of game mechanics that one has and the other doesn't, which would otherwise spoil me?
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Not really, but I'm not done with DS3. Souls has better build and environmental variety but BB has its perks too.
 
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