GRcade plays... Soulsborne

DLC #3 (Ivory King) spoilers.


I thought the DLCs were very good overall. Sunken King > Ivory King > Old Iron King based on overall fun, IMO. Particularly, Sunken King has some of the cleverest and most interactive level design in the series. But Old Iron King had my stand-out favourite boss (Fume Knight) so swings and roundabouts.

Going to take a little break then try Darklurker again. I'm out for revenge!

EDIT: I beat up Darklurker.

site23 wrote:...Going to take a little break then try Darklurker again...

site23 wrote:...EDIT: I beat up Darklurker.

. That was a little break! It kinda sounds like you really enjoyed Souls II, site? The game is often mentioned as being a weaker title in the series but it seems that there are elements that you really dug?

Oh, and are you thinking about getting Elden Ring around launch?

jawa_ wrote:It kinda sounds like you really enjoyed Souls II, site? [...] it seems that there are elements that you really dug?

Yeah, I thought it was a good game! It wasn't afraid to remix old ideas or to introduce brand new ideas, so I thought that made it an interesting, fresh experience.

I particularly like the effort to make the environment more interactive. It might sound small, but being able to light a torch, carry it with you, and use it to light sconces around dark levels was really cool, particularly when the game starts reacting to that change (like if the flame unlocks a path, or a kind of monster hates light, or so on!). There are even bits in the DLCs (particularly the first) that have so many environmental puzzles it ends up giving serious Zelda vibes!

jawa_ wrote:The game is often mentioned as being a weaker title in the series

I definitely think it has around three or four frustrating moments where it feels like they told the work experience kid "make this bit harder!" and he gleefully deleted a bonfire or pasted an extra six enemies into a room. I was able to move past them and enjoy the other 95% of the game, but I do understand why a different person might take a harsher view of the game for them.

I don't personally think the game deserves any reputation as a black sheep it might have. So it has a few janky bits - so what? So does DS1, and that's a masterpiece. (I stand by my controversial ranking: 1 > DeS (PS3) > 2 > 3 > BB. ) It's totally fine if someone doesn't like it though, obviously - I know it's all subjective!

jawa_ wrote:Oh, and are you thinking about getting Elden Ring around launch?

Yes, I wanted to finish off DS2 before Elden Ring launches

please spoiler that ranking

<]:^D wrote:please spoiler that ranking

No, and I'm not sorry for it. I think it's honestly a bit weird how upset people get that Bloodborne wasn't my cup of tea - particularly as I have a lot of positive things to say about the game still.

site23 wrote:I stand by my controversial ranking: 1 > DeS (PS3) > 2 > 3 > BB.

j/k I think they're all pretty great games just with different strengths and weaknesses - none of them come close to being in any way bad!

BB LAST?!!?!

Alan Saying "No no no no! Stop getting rankings wrong!".mp3

Bloodborne had a really well put together world. I just prefer slower-paced combat - greatshield and greatsword, or picking off monsters with bows or spells - so it was never going to be my favourite to play.

1 is definitely the best though

I'd say:

Demons, 1, BB, 3, 2

site23 wrote:Yeah, I thought (Dark Souls II) was a good game! It wasn't afraid to remix old ideas or to introduce brand new ideas, so I thought that made it an interesting, fresh experience...

I'm glad that you enjoyed it, dude. I've yet to tackle it and, of the Souls games I've played, my order would be DS1>BB. I like 'em both but I, too, preferred the slightly slower battling of DS1 over BB; although I haven't played a ton of BB yet and plan on giving it a proper play in the future

site23 wrote:...I wanted to finish off DS2 before Elden Ring launches

Yep, here we go... ten days until the launch .

I with Karl here! (I mean not on his BB opinion) but DS2 is a decent Souls game! I don't see why it gets such a bad rep either. I have been enjoying my time with it a lot!

I also wanted to finish DS2 before Elden ring, but unsure if I'll quite do that! Will give it a couple more hours tomorrow night methinks!

BB->DS1->DS3->DS2
havent played DeS

The PS3 version of DeS emulates really well if you don't have a PS5 for the remake.

yes im just lazy and havent bothered setting it up

Thought I'd post in here after jawa pointed me in this direction following my post in the 'Currently Playing' thread. After a couple of previous attempts, I think this has finally clicked, so I thought I'd share my thoughts and progress so far.

Started out easily enough, the Asylum Demon took me a couple of attempts, and then onwards to Firelink Shrine. Bit of exploring around here and gradually made my way to Undead Burg. I quite like this area, it's a good chance to get a feel for how combat works, with different enemy types and plenty of chance to practise. Got up to the Taurus Demon, which I think took four or five goes, and then through to the bridge and the dragon. Lowered the ladder down into Undead Burg, and then went through the sewer area, up into the area with the armoured boar thing, which I guess is a mini-boss or something. That took a couple of attempts, but then it was fairly straightforward progress, exploring that whole area. I like how interconnected everything is, and slowly and steadily exploring and piecing together where leads to where, and which area to explore next.

Went down to the bottom of the building where the blacksmith is, and upgraded my weapon a bit, noped out of facing the thing down there shooting lightning at me, and then went back up to the church. There are a couple of tricky enemies in and around here, some of which can be a right bugger if you're careless, but I killed those without too much issue, as well as the guy upstairs with the staff who liked to re-animate the enemies I'd just killed. As an aside, unlocking shortcuts or ways back to previous areas is something else I like, and finding the lift down to Firelink Shrine was pretty cool.

Anyway, onwards and upwards to the gargoyles on the roof. I've had a couple of goes so far, and while I can get one of them down to barely any health, I inevitably get caught by the fire. One would be easy, but having two of them obviously makes it tricker. It definitely feels do-able, just need to figure out a strategy. This is where it gets frustrating for me though, because I'm already finding it tedious having to traipse back to the boss from the bonfire, and deal with the enemies along the way. I hate re-doing what I've already done, but it's a mindset I need to change for this game, because I know there's a lot of that.

I went back to Undead Burg and killed the knight (the one just before the Taurus Demon) just for a bit more combat practise, and that was pretty straightforward, and then I thought I'd attempt the guy at the top of the tower when you come up through the sewers from under the bridge. Up the spiral staircase, big knight guy...almost instantly wiped me out, as my blocking appears to do nothing

That's my progress from a couple of sessions though, and I've enjoyed it for the most part, without too much frustration or many difficult sections. I've no idea if I've chosen the right character, am levelling up the right stats, am using the right equipment, or anything like that. I also haven't touched anything to do with humanity, kindling, etc. I'm trying to go through as much as I can without guides or pointers, so I've no idea if I'm somehow making things difficult for myself by not using these things, or by levelling up or using the wrong things.

One question I have, is there anywhere to sell items? I'm amassing all kinds of armour and weapons, and I don't know if I've got a limitless inventory, or if there's a chance to sell any of this crap I don't need.

Enjoying it so far though, although I have to admit that the prospect of going back to the game is a lot less appealing when it's "oh I've got to re-trace my steps and die at that boss again" rather than "oh cool I can't wait to explore the next area and make some more progress!"

There is a way to sell items later in the game, but you get very little in terms of souls for anything so it's only really useful for tidying up your inventory.

Glad you're enjoying it Lotus, always nice to welcome more people in to the Souls fold!

Sounds like you might enjoy Dark Souls 3 more, selling items is unlocked from the first area and you can teleport to any bonfire in the game.

I will say that overcoming the same enemies over and over does improve your combat naturally, and you'll probably find yourself overpowered in the second half of the game, which will make things less repetitive. Stick with it, the Gargoyles is a tough fight which a lot of people give up at. Get past that and you'll be much more motivated I think.

more heat than light wrote:Sounds like you might enjoy Dark Souls 3 more, selling items is unlocked from the first area and you can teleport to any bonfire in the game.

I will say that overcoming the same enemies over and over does improve your combat naturally, and you'll probably find yourself overpowered in the second half of the game, which will make things less repetitive. Stick with it, the Gargoyles is a tough fight which a lot of people give up at. Get past that and you'll be much more motivated I think.

The items thing isn't something that's hampering my enjoyment, I was just curious really. If I can get a few souls for them at some point I don't mind hanging onto them, but if there's going to be an adverse affect (like impacting my weight or agility) then I can probably drop them.

And yeah, it's a mindset thing really, approaching those enemies as opportunties to practise and get better, rather than being bothered by the tedium of it.

Jenuall wrote:Glad you're enjoying it Lotus, always nice to welcome more people in to the Souls fold!

Glad it's finally clicked with me