Dark Souls is on Steam

LeninGHOLA said:
Killing his "sister" above Smough and Ornstein gets you invaded. They are two separate covenants. All killing Gwyndolin does is get you souls, items and a hostile firekeeper in Anor Londo.
Click to expand...

I thought killing Gwyndolin gets the Blade of the Darkmoon covenant angry at you and more frequent invasions by them?
 
Last edited:
anyone have any success with the Battle of Stoicism DLC area?...every time I try to enter a Deathmatch or other type of online match play I'm always by myself...and yes I'm standing on that trap door thing to activate as host
 
polonyc2 said:
anyone have any success with the Battle of Stoicism DLC area?...every time I try to enter a Deathmatch or other type of online match play I'm always by myself...and yes I'm standing on that trap door thing to activate as host
Click to expand...

Not many are using it, possibly due to lag issues. I had a couple matches that were strangely laggy. PvP anywhere else in the game has been pretty damn solid, so I dunno!
 
Took the 360 version back to the video shop yesterday. I got up to Anor Lando. One of the best games I've played in a long time.
 
Plague_Injected said:
Took the 360 version back to the video shop yesterday. I got up to Anor Lando. One of the best games I've played in a long time.
Click to expand...

It's quite funny how a lot of people that play this game hate it at first and think it's deeply overrated, but after they overcome the initial challenges and start understanding all the mechanics, it's easily GotY.
 
this game is reminiscent of the classic arcade video games where you pumped in the quarters to memorize a little bit of patterns each time
 
beat Gwyn, Lord of Cinder on my first try...I'm at Level 95...probably just too powerful now so it's best to end it and prepare for NG+...the real challenges towards the end were from PvP and not the game...all in all an excellent game despite the fact that there was pretty much no optimization for the PC

there was also no real story that I can put together...all it seemed to be was moving from one boss fight to another...seems like there are fragments of plot scattered around for folks to piece together but nothing straight forward...only thing that sticks out was ringing 2 bells...none of the NPC's or even your own character were very memorable either as they all lacked personality (Knight Solaire and that onion knight stood out from the rest though)

I give it an A overall despite all the faults because it was so much fun...leveling up, customizing weapons/armor etc...the difficulty is a bit overstated as the challenge lies more with getting comfortable with the game mechanics and layout versus the enemy difficulty

hardest bosses: Ornstein and Smough, Capra Demon, Knight Artorias (DLC)

hardest non-boss: Demon Crow (when there are 2 of them together)
 
The overall story arch is that once the 4 Lords defeated the Everlasting Dragons, they ascended to Heaven and left their Dark forms behind. These Dark "souls" of the former lords have begun to extinguish the flame of Lordran and it's up to you to light them again, or use their power to cover the world in darkness.

The areas themselves are part of the story, but as you mentioned most of it is observational and you can only piece it together from clues from NPC's or bosses.There are a lot of other storylines that run tangential to the main one, like how Oolacile was destroyed by Seath the Scaleless as he conducted his experiments with the crystals to become immortal. Gwynevere is though to be long dead, yet Gwyndolin keeps her in Anor Londo as an illusion in order to prevent darkness from overwhleming it, which explains why all the "enemies" disappear from Anor Londo when you attack Gwyenevere. They aren't really evil, they are protecting the princess. Smough and Ornstein are presumably not "evil" either, they were simply doing their job.

There's a lot of interesting stuff in there for the player to find... personally I prefer when the storyline is structured this way as it keeps you thinking about it.
 
AceCR42 said:
The overall story arch is that once the 4 Lords defeated the Everlasting Dragons, they ascended to Heaven and left their Dark forms behind. These Dark "souls" of the former lords have begun to extinguish the flame of Lordran and it's up to you to light them again, or use their power to cover the world in darkness
Click to expand...

I hear linking the fire at the end although considered the 'good' ending is really the evil ending while the 'Dark Lord' one is the actual 'good' one...it seems that linking the fires will start the cycle all over again...but like the game itself it's probably all up to interpretation...I went with the 'evil' ending though and didn't link the bonfires
 
AceCR42 said:
It's quite funny how a lot of people that play this game hate it at first and think it's deeply overrated, but after they overcome the initial challenges and start understanding all the mechanics, it's easily GotY.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's definitely a game that is hard to get into and kicks the crap out of you and any progress you have made once you start...but once you get used to it all, start developing and honing combat skills (as in good old-fashioned practice as opposed to just levelling up) and start conquering obstacles, it all comes together very well.

It reminds me of the first hour or two of STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl, when you begin the game utterly ill-equipped for the environment and plenty of deaths (first playthrough anyway) and it immediately becomes great once you finally scavenge that automatic weapon.
 
There are some really nice lore videos in youtube that explain the background of the game in detail. As long as you can listen a guy called EpicNameBro. ;)
 
I wish From Software could have made better use of the on-screen interface...takes up way too much space...and when you put more points into Vitality/Endurance, the bar grows so long that it blocks out some of the top portion of the screen...at least make it transparent if you're going to display Health as 1 giant bar across the top of the screen

example of what I'm talking about...the Health bar is blocking Gwyn's face...

 
polonyc2 said:
I wish From Software could have made better use of the on-screen interface...takes up way too much space...and when you put more points into Vitality/Endurance, the bar grows so long that it blocks out some of the top portion of the screen...at least make it transparent if you're going to display Health as 1 giant bar across the top of the screen

example of what I'm talking about...the Health bar is blocking Gwyn's face...

Click to expand...

To be fair, are you really going to notice that as you're trying to dodge his relentless attacks?
 
I really don't understand the praise this game is getting.

Boring combat
No storyline
Horrible port
No storyline
Boring combat
No storyline

Granted, I've only played for about 2 hours, but I would have quit in the first 4 minutes if I hadn't heard such good things. It's not that it's 'hard or I die to much' (I've died once, when I fell off a cliff.)

Do you guys actually find the combat fun? Block an attack, then wail on them till they recover, block their attack, wail on em some more? That's the tactic I've used so far, and it got old real fast. I'm playing with a PS3 controller BTW.

I'm pissed as I heard such good things, but to me it just looks like a terrible console port with no storyline.
 
zaxour said:
To be fair, are you really going to notice that as you're trying to dodge his relentless attacks?
Click to expand...

I do notice it though...maybe not in that specific fight but other times it does get very noticable...hit points get blocked out, enemy locations as well as other gameplay items...I end up having to move the camera angle at times...not a gigantic big deal but it would have been nice if the interface was laid out better
 
Last edited:
Loading said:
I really don't understand the praise this game is getting.

Boring combat
No storyline
Horrible port
No storyline
Boring combat
No storyline

Granted, I've only played for about 2 hours, but I would have quit in the first 4 minutes if I hadn't heard such good things. It's not that it's 'hard or I die to much' (I've died once, when I fell off a cliff.)

Do you guys actually find the combat fun? Block an attack, then wail on them till they recover, block their attack, wail on em some more? That's the tactic I've used so far, and it got old real fast. I'm playing with a PS3 controller BTW.

I'm pissed as I heard such good things, but to me it just looks like a terrible console port with no storyline.
Click to expand...

The storyline is weaved throughout the game, just like Demon's Souls you really get more of the big picture as you play through and pick and choose your battles. It's not a game where it throws story at you every level or such like modern day action games and RPGs.

It's not that your doing anything wrong, but a full play through will leave you asking questions.
 
Loading said:
I really don't understand the praise this game is getting.

Boring combat
No storyline
Horrible port
No storyline
Boring combat
No storyline

Granted, I've only played for about 2 hours, but I would have quit in the first 4 minutes if I hadn't heard such good things. It's not that it's 'hard or I die to much' (I've died once, when I fell off a cliff.)

Do you guys actually find the combat fun? Block an attack, then wail on them till they recover, block their attack, wail on em some more? That's the tactic I've used so far, and it got old real fast. I'm playing with a PS3 controller BTW.

I'm pissed as I heard such good things, but to me it just looks like a terrible console port with no storyline.
Click to expand...

Don't be proud of being incorrect.
 
daemonmf said:
If you're interested in the story of DS, check out Quelaag's Youtube channel .
Click to expand...

the lore is actually pretty interesting if you take the time to research it...the DLC does a better job of delving deeper into the mythology and helped make more sense of the game to me...the DLC while short was actually very well done...I would love to see a sequel

the game does shortchange people though in terms of story...I never even got to see or talk with Kaathe because I placed the Lordvessel on the alter...the game should have given players the option of talking with both Frampt and Kaathe before making any decisions as to how to proceed...by giving only 1 side of the puzzle the game is almost forcing people to replay to get the full story
 
I quite enjoyed not having some eight-year-old's creative writing assignment shoved down my throat while playing a game for once.
 
Loading said:
I really don't understand the praise this game is getting.

Boring combat
No storyline
Horrible port
No storyline
Boring combat
No storyline

Granted, I've only played for about 2 hours, but I would have quit in the first 4 minutes if I hadn't heard such good things. It's not that it's 'hard or I die to much' (I've died once, when I fell off a cliff.)

Do you guys actually find the combat fun? Block an attack, then wail on them till they recover, block their attack, wail on em some more? That's the tactic I've used so far, and it got old real fast. I'm playing with a PS3 controller BTW.

I'm pissed as I heard such good things, but to me it just looks like a terrible console port with no storyline.
Click to expand...

You have a different opinion of what constitutes a good game. What is there to understand?
 
polonyc2 said:
the lore is actually pretty interesting if you take the time to research it...the DLC does a better job of delving deeper into the mythology and helped make more sense of the game to me...the DLC while short was actually very well done...I would love to see a sequel

the game does shortchange people though in terms of story...I never even got to see or talk with Kaathe because I placed the Lordvessel on the alter...the game should have given players the option of talking with both Frampt and Kaathe before making any decisions as to how to proceed...by giving only 1 side of the puzzle the game is almost forcing people to replay to get the full story
Click to expand...

You can talk to both IIRC, just don't talk to Frampt first.
 
Loading said:
I really don't understand the praise this game is getting.

Boring combat
No storyline
Horrible port
No storyline
Boring combat
No storyline

Granted, I've only played for about 2 hours, but I would have quit in the first 4 minutes if I hadn't heard such good things. It's not that it's 'hard or I die to much' (I've died once, when I fell off a cliff.)

Do you guys actually find the combat fun? Block an attack, then wail on them till they recover, block their attack, wail on em some more? That's the tactic I've used so far, and it got old real fast. I'm playing with a PS3 controller BTW.

I'm pissed as I heard such good things, but to me it just looks like a terrible console port with no storyline.
Click to expand...

I haven't played it yet, so I can't say anything about the game, but this is what I was thinking when I watched gameplay videos.
 
Last edited:
There is definitely a story and it's pretty good. The combat is almost unrivaled for this type of game as well.

Anyone who has spent any time with this game can spot bullshit from a mile off.
 
The only RPG I can think of with combat that is about as good as what Dark Souls has would be The Witcher 2. It leaves the combat in games like Skyrim/Oblivion, Kingdoms of Amalur and Darksiders I and II in the dust.

It is much deeper than what videos make it look. Each weapon has different types of attacks as opposed to merely differing in power and attack speed (e.g. light swords can do thrust/stabbing attacks which is handy when fighting in narrow corridors, clubs and maces have leaping attacks, spears can be used with a shield up, greatswords can flatten enemies with heavy attacks, knocking them face-first into the ground and leaving them open for a follow-up attack). That is not to mention the different effects you can put on weapons to make them more effective against specific types of enemies. Blocking eats up stamina, and running out of stamina while blocking leaves you in an extremely vulnerable state where you can't block, attack or even move for a second or two. Simply grinding and levelling up does not provide the same benefits that other games allow. Patience, timing and maneouvring are all required to succeed at the combat at any point after the Undead Burg. If you play it like God of War, you will die.

For better combat you would need to look at non-RPGs like Batman Arkham City, Bayonetta, Devil May Cry 3 and Ninja Gaiden I (2004) and II.
 
Last edited:
LeninGHOLA said:
There is definitely a story and it's pretty good. The combat is almost unrivaled for this type of game as well.

Anyone who has spent any time with this game can spot bullshit from a mile off.
Click to expand...

Eh, usually when a game has a non-linear and minimalistic storyline, you get a lot of people complaining about this for some reason.

Another game that was affected by this was Legend of Mana on the PS1. Despite having probably the best writing and narrative out of any JRPG of the time (and probably now, still), since you had to actually piece it together yourself through gameplay, everyone complained there was no story.

It's like if they preferred gameplay interrupting cutscenes and long exposition. I honestly don't understand it.
 
Dark Souls is definitely not for everybody...takes time and patience to master...the combat is second to none in my book...you need to employ strategy versus the typical RPG/FPS dynamic of bum rushing into every battle...you need to constantly change things up as well...the strategy that worked for 1 boss will be completely ineffective against another

I disagree that grinding/leveling is not like the typical RPG...it is pretty much the same...farm a whole bunch of soals to level up your character or armor and weapons and you're good to go...I think that was sort of a cheat as having enemies respawn gives the unintended side effect of constantly giving you areas to soul farm...I also think the ability to summon NPC/other players is sort of a cheat as well...makes some boss battles much easier (Ornstein and Smough, Quelaag etc)

what they should have done was only allow summoning in NG+...or maybe the reverse, only allow it in the standard game and not NG+...because by NG+ your character most likely is crazy powerful with max armor, weapons etc
 
Last edited:
one of the problems with the bosses in this game is that it takes a god-awful long time to get to them. Lets go though here. Died. WTF? 5 minutes later. Died instantly again. 5 minutes later. Landed a couple of blows then died. 5 minutes later. Ran some then died. Shit, lets youtube this....
 
Did some humanity farming last night in the Depths near the Bonfire for that level- where all the rats are.

In less than 30 minutes I had gathered 10k souls and about 10-12 Humanity. Not a bad night!

Now I just have to decide what to spend my souls on... always a hard choice.
 
jiminator said:
one of the problems with the bosses in this game is that it takes a god-awful long time to get to them. Lets go though here. Died. WTF? 5 minutes later. Died instantly again. 5 minutes later. Landed a couple of blows then died. 5 minutes later. Ran some then died. Shit, lets youtube this....
Click to expand...

you can run past most enemies directly to the boss...only place I had to fight was the area before Capra Demon as you couldn't sprint past them...also make sure to open up shortcuts (elevator, gate etc)
 
I played through the entire game using version 0.3 of the resolution mod...I see it's now up to version 1.4 with a lot of new features added...any issues with it?...what values are people setting SMAA, SSAO, Depth of Field etc to?
 
polonyc2 said:
I played through the entire game using version 0.3 of the resolution mod...I see it's now up to version 1.4 with a lot of new features added...any issues with it?...what values are people setting SMAA, SSAO, Depth of Field etc to?
Click to expand...

I disabled HUD scaling in the mod because it messes with subtitles.

Otherwise -

2560x1440 resolution (1080p native)
SMAA 2
SSAO 2
DoF 1080
 
LeninGHOLA said:
I disabled HUD scaling in the mod because it messes with subtitles.

Otherwise -

2560x1440 resolution (1080p native)
SMAA 2
SSAO 2
DoF 1080
Click to expand...

what video card are you using?...enabling higher values (SSAO, SMAA) had a noticable impact on performance for you?
 
polonyc2 said:
what video card are you using?...enabling higher values (SSAO, SMAA) had a noticable impact on performance for you?
Click to expand...

HD5850. No real performance changes with those settings. I haven't experimented much with higher settings, so they may be fine, too.

This make the game look considerably better. I'd turn off any settings you have forced in drivers with the newer mods.
 
the mod ReadMe file states: "Don’t set your DoF resolution to the same as your vertical rendering resolution, set it LOWER than that"

I have my in-game resolution set to 1920 x 1200...and the DSFix.ini set to 2560 x 1600...so which number is my vertical rendering resolution that I should not exceed?
 
I've been able to shield tank most of the bosses so far but Seath the Scaleless (known as an easy boss) is really frustrating me. The bonfire is so far away! I keep getting stuck in the crystals and have my hp drained before I can get out.

and SSAO killed my already low frame rate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top