One way or another, we’ve all found our way to this truly magnificent genre of video games. We’ve all had our humble beginnings and first trial runs of games the genre has to offer. But how did we get here? Who introduced us to the genre? That’s what I want to know from you!
My very first introduction to the genre was via PewDiePie (yuck) from like 2013 or so when he first played it on his channel. Didn’t know the next thing about the genre or the game at all but wanted to give it a try since it looked fun and I was an impressionable teen. I remember bearing Taurus Demon and then getting stuck on Undead Burg, so I didn’t really play a lot.
The other person that influenced me in giving the genre a try was probably my former breakdance teacher who’s a huge fan of Bloodborne. I had a digital copy off PS+ and got some encouragement from him to give the game a try. It didn’t click with until a couple years later, or rather I was too scared to progress because I knew of an upcoming jumpscare that I didn’t want to experience (that doesn’t exist btw), but yea, those were my two first instances of being introduced to the genre.
Were you introduced to the genre by someone in particular? How did you get to give it a try?
I first heard about Dark Souls 1 over a decade ago, years before DS3 was released, and I thought it looked neat. My nearest gameplay comparison was Monster Hunter. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a PC or Console at that time that could play it, so I forgot about it. Years later, I got third or forth hand PS4 from a family member either for free or for years of IT support. I heard that Bloodborne, a game by the same developer as Dark Souls, was a must-play for the PS4 and worth even buying the console for. The GOTY edition of Bloodborne was for sale for 20€ at that time and I thought, “Why not? Might as well buy it.” And then… I played hundreds of hours of Monster Hunter World and forgot I about my purchase. Over a year later, I had lots of time on my hand and remembered that game. I after booting it up, being slightly confused and drinking in the atmosphere I got beat up by the townsfolk. I took me half a dozen hours to just get past the pyre. But I presevered! Central Yharnam: best tutorial level of all time!
Bloodborne has IMO still the best atmosphere of any game I ever played. Gameplay wise? I still love Bloodborne and have to replay it for Xth time, but I’m currently hopelessly addicted to Elden Ring. Elden Ring has in my oppinion by far the best gameplay of any game in the Souls series.
Do you consider getting back into nightreign? I feel like with your extensive knowledge of elden ring mechanics you could absolutely demolish it solo. But I understand the repetitive, rouglite element of it is not for everyone.
I will probably get back into Nightreign eventually. The moment-to-moment gameplay was fantastic, but the gameplay loop didn’t really appeal to me. Both random and same-y, and you don’t really have a control over your build. Eventually it felt like I just had a 30 Minute runback to Tricephalos and the victory against it wasn’t very satisfying (I lucked into Siluria’s Tree). When I try it next time, I’m probably gonna watch/read a guide.
After I bullied my way all the way to NG+7 with my first save file in Elden Ring, I’ll probably give Lies of P a try, which I got here in a giveaway here (thanks). A Mage playthrough of DS2 or a third RL1 playthrough of Elden Ring also sound appealing, but I’m gonna play a totally different new game now (even though LoP is supposed to be the Souls game not by Fromsoft).
Oh yeah I get it. You do get some control over your build once get some good relics, and (at least in solo expeditions )the game comes down to exploiting ER knowledge to get that build online and, ideally stupildly strong against the boss weakness, or to improvise something that works.
Expeditions do get pretty repetitive tho. It suffers from lack of SotE content, imo. at least the base game, haven’t tried the dlc.
Hope that when you get back to it, it clicks!