Dark Souls: 10 Must Know Things For New Players

The original Dark Souls offers punishing gameplay which fans of the game adore. But these tips will help those new to the torture.

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Dark Souls is getting older and older as the years go by, but the FromSoftware classic is experiencing a second life with the release of the game’s remastered version in recent years. Many people talk about the game’s extreme difficulty and this has morphed into a cult following of the series by millions of gamers.

Every day a new person tries Dark Souls for the first time and they must enter the fray prepared for what’s ahead of them. The trilogy is one of gaming’s greatest, and the first title was a teaser for what FromSoftware would later accomplish.

10 This Isn’t Bloodborne, Or Even Dark Souls 3

Several gamers were introduced to FromSoftware and their games via the PS4 hit exclusive Bloodborne. That game is designed much differently than the Dark Souls series, and especially the first game. Bloodborne has the player pressing forward and embracing aggressive action-based play styles.

With Dark Souls it’s a game much more predicated on taking one’s time and approaching things in a calm and calculated manner where patience and understanding are the player’s best friend.

9 Pace Your Experience

When people play a Dark Souls game for the first time it often comes saddled with plenty of expectations and burdens placed upon the player. It’s best to understand that these games are rather long and there’s absolutely no shame in taking a break and maybe playing something else if a wall is hit.

Far too often these days gamers are sprinting to the finish line to complete games and the way FromSoftware designs their games will fight the player if this is the approach they take. They say the best meals are the ones that are savored.

8 The Beginning Of The End

Though Demon Souls is responsible for the meteoric rise of FromSoftware as a developer, Dark Souls is what put them on the map in terms of the general gaming consumer. It built the reputation of brutal difficulty the trilogy is known for and those who play the original will be gifted with references and callbacks in the following two sequels.

Playing Dark Souls can also provide context to those who maybe started with one of the sequels and are now looking to go back in time and experience where the trilogy began.

7 Shields & Dodging

This tip partially goes hand-in-hand with the idea of this game not being Bloodborne. There are no shields in that game, but in Dark Souls shields can be a big difference-maker. By learning when to attack and when to block with a shield players can develop strategies to overcome enemies.

It’s all about finding the playstyle that feels right. There’s a chance the player prefers two-handing weapons and in that instance, they won’t need to rely on a shield. That likely isn’t the person reading this though, so use a shield and get good with it.

6 Explore The World

FromSoftware are experts in level design and do a world-class job of intertwining the areas in their games and making them all seamlessly interconnected. By exploring the world players aren’t only discovering new areas and enemies, it can often lead to environmental story-telling and several items that could be beneficial to the overall experience.

It may appear to be a somewhat linear experience, but Dark Souls as a series offers the player plenty of chances to feel like a real explorer.

5 Patience With Enemies

Patience may sound like an annoying tip to those possibly struggling with combat, but it’s everything in Dark Souls. By having patience not only can a player prevent themselves from taking unnecessary damage, but it gives time for clarity and learning.

Understanding the attack pattern of enemies can make the difference between being stuck in an area for hours or overcoming a challenge after a couple of attempts. Some people are more patient than others, but Dark Souls will force those trying to beat it into learning it at some point.

4 Optional Areas & Bosses

Earlier the idea of exploration was discussed and how it’s a pivotal part of the overall Dark Souls experience. With exploring comes the possibility of finding optional areas and enemies that one could easily miss by accident.

It may feel liberating knowing there were challenges avoided that could have caused a headache, but the truth of the matter is every challenge provides a moment to grow and learn. Also, plenty of the optional areas in Dark Souls are gorgeous and offer some of the neatest encounters.

3 Embrace The Challenge

The idea of fight or flight is brought up whenever people discuss challenges or difficulties. It’s assumed that a person either leans towards one or the other based on their genetic makeup, but the truth is it all depends on a mindset that can be changed.

Embracing the challenge of Dark Souls may seem daunting, but there are going to be challenges in life you can’t avoid. It may sound corny, but overcoming challenges in a game like Dark Souls can help people overcome the things they face daily that they’re afraid to confront.

2 The World Design Will Surprise You

When players think of exploration they often think of new biomes or themed areas that change the vibe of the experience. In Dark Souls entering a new area often comes attached with a moment where the player’s jaw drops in awe when they realize how the world is connected.

Stumbling around 12 hours into the game they can come across a window that shows them an area they traversed during the early parts of their journey. This extends to the bonfire shortcuts that will offer up quicker ways for players to heal and get back to adventuring without covering a long path they had to endure.

1 Don’t Quit

Quitting Dark Souls is a pretty common occurrence and happens as a result of the difficulty and the chatter around said difficult swelling into an insurmountable feeling of failure. By quitting all the player is doing is proving to people who hyperbolically pitch Dark Souls as the hardest game of all time that they’re right.

Dark Souls is a hard game, but it’s designed in a way that it teaches the player how to get better and as a result instills those who overcome it with the confidence to tackle anything that challenges them in real life.

Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/dark-souls-beginner-tips/