Dark Souls

Dark Souls is supremely crafted, unique action RPG. Its difficulty, which is an amalgam of stamina and item management, patience during combat, and deciphering cryptic mechanics are things that are unique to this series of games. Playing through a Dark Souls game makes you feel like you accomplished something with your skill alone. Once you learn your move set with certain weapons or learn how to properly time your spells the game feels easy but not because you just mashed the correct attack button. It still feels satisfying because you learned how to beat those enemies. Boss fights in Dark Souls are an extension of that at a much larger scale though. Going up against a giant knight or Dragon and slaying them with just a sliver of health is exhilarating in a game that rewards skilled play and punishes impatience more than anything.

By now it’s hard to escape the phenomenon that is the Dark Souls series. Despite being fairly well-known among just about anyone that has played a video game, it is still seen as something of an obscure game. This may be due to its seemingly impossible difficulty, the incredibly vague narrative and sense of direction, or even its admittedly abrasive fanbase. Whatever the reason might be, Dark Souls is the game everyone has heard of but hardly anyone has really played. Whether you’ve played these games or not, one thing is hard to dispute: the Souls series has a level of aesthetic that is unmatched. From Software takes the typical, and at this point almost generic fantasy theme, and puts its own spin on it. The result is a unique and dark fantasy world, an oppressive atmosphere rivaling that of Game of Thrones, but more of an emphasis on fantastic and horrific creatures.

Dark Souls has a lot to teach us. Within the depths of its master code are mysteries, only to be discovered by the most diligent and thoughtful of gamers. It is a game that not only entertains, but can teach you something about life, death, and level design.