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Article: Is Dark Souls II The Worst Game Ever Made?

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"Well, you've found yourself a demon's soul have you? I'm impressed...yes, indeed I am. Stay the path, and you'll soon be a monster yourself..."
 
Afrodium said:
Only click of you want to see Michael Thomsen masturbation. Here's a synopsis:

Dark Souls II (and Dark Souls) are the worst games ever made because when players spend countless hours killing everything in every possible way, they have nothing to show for it - they have simply beaten a video game. The experience and knowledge learned throughout the game is meaningless. Sure, you know how to beat a certain boss in Dark souls now, but is that really knowledge? Who gives a shit? In the end, Dark Souls games are just time sinks that make the player feel like they're accomplishing something while achieving nothing, and therefore they are the worst games ever made.
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So how is this a complaint toward DSII if it can literally be applied to any game in existence?

Reeks of childish bitterness. "OH YEAH YOU'RE SO GOOD AT THE GAME HUH WELL YOU'RE PLAYING A VIDYA GAEM IDIOT HOW DO YOU LEARN ANYTHING FOR REAL LIFE IDIOT LOL IT'S JUST A GAME"
 
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Afrodium said:
Only click of you want to see Michael Thomsen masturbation. Here's a synopsis:

Dark Souls II (and Dark Souls) are the worst games ever made because when players spend countless hours killing everything in every possible way, they have nothing to show for it - they have simply beaten a video game. The experience and knowledge learned throughout the game is meaningless. Sure, you know how to beat a certain boss in Dark souls now, but is that really knowledge? Who gives a shit? In the end, Dark Souls games are just time sinks that make the player feel like they're accomplishing something while achieving nothing, and therefore they are the worst games ever made.
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DEEP
 
Aeana said:
After actually reading the article, I'm left wondering if he's trying to be clever, because it reads like a love letter cloaked in hatred.
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I'll probably need to return to the article after I've slept, but I think this is much more interesting from a writing perspective than it is for what the writer intended, something I'm still unsure of. The verbose descriptions merely serve in obfuscating his point and ironically, as you've mentioned, making it seem as if he's positively describing numerous aspects despite trying to criticise them (EDIT: Unless it's meant to be positive). My best interpretation of the article is that he's trying to claim that the vast array of content, the freedom provided to the player, and the somewhat repetitious nature of the content is an exercise in futility as nothing of merit is learnt from the game, and that all of the knowledge one acquires pertains solely to the game itself. He seems to view Dark Souls, and its sequel, as a representation of flaws with video games that promote obsessive tendencies while lacking a 'meaning' to them. This criticism has been distilled to such a large extent by how he's written the piece, seemingly more intent on trying to display his ability to write competently, that it falls flat. It's almost ironic that he states he has "come to embody the incoherence I wished to project onto the world" as his criticism is quite incoherent given how he has written this article, and that's ignoring the extreme hyperbole in it being the "worst game ever made", something particularly bizarre given the lack of comparisons with other games.

More than anything, I think the article actually is constructive in providing an example of how trying to write in an impressive manner can immensely subtract from the message, or, indeed, contradict it, as he continuously refers to positive aspects while being unable to clearly articulate why he feels they are negative (even if he tries to do so very much). Admittedly I can't really say anything about how valid any of the criticisms (?) are as I've not yet played the sequel, but I think this is the criticism he's trying to make, and it raises the question of whether his complaint is towards video games in general or simply the Souls series.

EDIT:
EatinOlives said:
So how is this a complaint toward DSII if it can literally be applied to any game in existence?

Reeks of childish bitterness. "OH YEAH YOU'RE SO GOOD AT THE GAME HUH WELL YOU'RE PLAYING A VIDYA GAEM IDIOT HOW DO YOU LEARN ANYTHING FOR REAL LIFE IDIOT LOL IT'S JUST A GAME"
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It's unclear. The writer's prose betrays his clarity and he spends so much time trying to demonstrate a command over the English language while ignoring that he needs to actually deliver his message. An example to this:

It’s hard to even identify what a videogame is–both a physical disc storing a collection of files, edited and manipulated over the course of years, assembled inside a specialized computer, and then projected on a screen. The videogame is the perfect 21st object in that its essence is nowhere to be found in any of its physical manifestations–even the spirit of a game like Dark Souls II can be ruined in a few instants by hacking its code to make one’s character invincible, reducing a struggle of weeks into a few minutes of effortless floating from beginning to end.
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Is he trying to link his (unclear) message to video games in general as it seems? Is he just trying to further expand upon how arbitrary Dark Souls 2 is? Is he ignoring the non-physical aspects such as the determination, commitment and deductive reasoning required to succeed (which he views as irrational, ignoring the mathematical component he cites)? He comments about its essence and spirit, so is he trying to say that these are positive or negative aspects of the game were the ability to '[hack] its code' removed? Does he believe the same about other forms of media which are non-physical such as films or music? He jumps from point to point because of how he's written this, making so many links that what he's trying to say is made almost incoherent in my opinion.
 
I tried reading the article, but it's so poorly written with its purple prose that I can't make sense of his argument. Is this just a giant troll?
 
This guy has been writing a series of articles on DS2 over the past few weeks. I have been reading them, and find his perspective interesting.

It's unfortunate that most of the comments in this thread are people shitting on this guy's opinion. There is no need to be insecure about the fact that someone has a different opinion than you. Personally I find it more interesting to get this kind of take on the game, from someone who is playing it a lot differently than most people on GAF. Don't get me wrong, I really disagree with his viewpoint, but it is kind of fascinating to see how someone can approach the game so much differently than most of the traditional gamers did.

One of the biggest differences is that from the very beginning of the game, this guy learned about enemy despawning, and came to the conclusion that the way to play the game was to just repeat every area until he had despawned all the enemies. Of course this made his character really overleveled, and so he has been complaining about how easy all the bosses are.
 
I will admit that the game has some rather stupid design decisions for the PC port, like Xbox 360 commands on permanently and the rather terrible UI design, but overall I'm really enjoying the game. My new 770 can handle anything I throw at it now, and using Durante's downsampling mod is just wonderful.
 
tokkun said:
This guy has been writing a series of articles on DS2 over the past few weeks. I have been reading them, and find his perspective interesting.

It's unfortunate that most of the comments in this thread are people shitting on this guy's opinion. There is no need to be insecure about the fact that someone has a different opinion than you. Personally I find it more interesting to get this kind of take on the game, from someone who is playing it a lot differently than most people on GAF. Don't get me wrong, I really disagree with his viewpoint, but it is kind of fascinating to see how someone can approach the game so much differently than most of the traditional gamers did.

One of the biggest differences is that from the very beginning of the game, this guy learned about enemy despawning, and came to the conclusion that the way to play the game was to just repeat every area until he had despawned all the enemies. Of course this made his character really overleveled, and so he has been complaining about how easy all the bosses are.
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I'd be more sympathetic if it wasn't poorly written with its absurdly overwrought and purple phrasing. Reading it I couldn't tell if it was satire or not.
 
I have no desire to play this one. Feels like they went into milking mode. Watching some streams of people playing it pretty much confirmed it. Rehashed bosses, plain ridiculous looking clothing / hair. Music is pretty bad. Graphics are atrocious.

I'll wait for the next one .....
 
That was the best gaming-related piece of critique I've ever read. I have to go reread it again just to absorb all of the connections he makes there, what with tying it into Modernism and the like.

What I especially like is that his choice of words-- "worst game"-- doesn't at all mean what you think it means when you start reading the article. It's a brilliant piece of critique.
 
I just read something similar to this on Gameinformer by a Mr. Matt Helgeson. Only the opposite, the writer threw every stereotypical complaint at the game at once, to the point I wondered breifly if it was satire.

Link here, and here's some choice excerpts-



At times, I get a whiff of a bit of Stockholm Syndrome in what's said about the game. It's not difficult for the sake of being difficult; it's just trying to make you a better gamer! It's not like these watered-down modern games; Dark Souls II's difficulty is just the stern discipline you need. Having played the game, I understand where they are coming from. After a few days of being hungry, the guard who comes by with a bowl of white rice seems like a hero.
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And here's where he loses his mind-

Guess what? Maybe I don't want to be a better gamer. Ever think of that? I'm just going to sit here and be the same old crappy gamer I've been my whole life - just keep those endless lives, recharging health bars, and frequent checkpoints coming, video game industry! Most days, I've got a couple of hours a night to game after my wife goes to bed and before I nod off, so I'd prefer to spend that time making progress in a game, not dying endlessly. If that makes me a video game wimp, so be it.
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You know this article is a real shame.

He makes some valid points about the series' shortcomings and failings that could be ameliorated and revised in future installments.

Instead he takes those veritable criticisms and simply goes on a tantrum and diatribe. Turning his complaints into whining and completely discrediting every reasonable argument he proposes.
 
Afrodium said:
Only click of you want to see Michael Thomsen masturbation. Here's a synopsis:

Dark Souls II (and Dark Souls) are the worst games ever made because when players spend countless hours killing everything in every possible way, they have nothing to show for it - they have simply beaten a video game. The experience and knowledge learned throughout the game is meaningless. Sure, you know how to beat a certain boss in Dark souls now, but is that really knowledge? Who gives a shit? In the end, Dark Souls games are just time sinks that make the player feel like they're accomplishing something while achieving nothing, and therefore they are the worst games ever made.
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Thank you very much. As a drunk, non native english speaker, I was having a hard time understanding both the writing and the meaning of this paper.
I was just cheking gaf after my first two (extremely enjoyable) hours with DS2, now think I should rather go back achieve nothing in the worst game ever created.
 
mrchampipi said:
Thank you very much. As a drunk, non native english speaker, I was having a hard time understanding both the writing and the meaning of this paper.
I was just cheking gaf after my first two (extremely enjoyable) hours with DS2, now think I should rather go back achieve nothing in the worst game ever created.
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Yeah, that final point is totally preposterous. Achieved nothing? You don't achieve anything of tangible substance in any other game either. Does that make those games horrible?

He could've made a more credible point by stating that games should be about having fun and not punishing difficulty and therefore the Dark Souls games are a time waster, because it simply takes you longer to get things done.

However, that argument is subject to one's own interpretation of whether the game's challenges are rewarding and gratifying enough to be worth the trials and tribulations necessary to prevail in them.

To many, these hurdles; daunting as they are, are worth all the effort you must invest to surmount them.
 
Word vomit. It was tougher getting through that article than Dark Souls 2, and I understood it even less. Perhaps that was the point, though.
 
try to read the article - it's a garbage bin of $100 words and i'm sure the author thinks himself quite clever for being above all this videogame nonsense.

It's basically about how obtuse and unexplained dark souls 2 is and how all that knowledge you obtain is useless and the game itself is meaningless.

A bunch of vocabulary wankery and snobbishness about the game.

Obviously if you're looking for some kind of meaningful lessons or knowledge in dark souls 2, you're in the wrong place. It's basically a high fantasy story that's BARELY presented among an action game with deep RPG elements. The story is so lightly presented that many players won't even know it's there.

If there's any lesson that Dark Souls 2 teaches it's patience and perfection by practice. That's more useful than a Left Trigger Right Trigger shooter game or a game about baseball or something.

I don't know what he wants or what his real problem even is, or if he actually loves the game even though he says it's "worst".

If i get the meaning of his article correct wouldn't games like World of Warcraft or Everquest be the "worst ever" because they perpetuate dark souls' "sins" a thousand fold greater.

Furthermore his point about hacking the game and floating through to the end is useless because even the deepest, most meaningful book, painting, or film has the same problem - someone could just read the last chapter, look at it for 30 seconds and walk on, or fast forward to the end, and not experience any of the artwork's carefully constructed sections.

How do people like this get paid to write?
 
Superflat said:
Good god that was a long article. I didn't learn anything new after reading it. Worst article ever made.
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Best post.

More seriously, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Too much flourish in his language makes the whole argument feel fuzzy and unnecessarily weepy about modern society and the effect videogames or other digital things may have upon it.

EDIT: Apparently in his twitter feed he claims Demon's Souls is one of the best games ever made. I'm now officially confused.
 
It's like he purposefully obscured his own arguments in ridiculous language so that they would be harder to refute. He has committed the same crime that he has accused Dark Souls 2 of: needless obscurity and being ultimately pointless.

Games such as Farmville are so much more overtly guilty of being empty time-wasters that to call Dark Souls 2 the worst game ever is completely absurd. The title of the article has crossed the line from being provocative to being clickbait, and overall I think less of Forbes for having published it.

In any case, I fundamentally disagree that you get nothing out of mastering the systems. Patience and persistence are lessons that more passive media rarely teach. Not to mention the fact the mere act of playing and admiring the design, both visually and mechanically, is enjoyable.
 
This literally sounds like a lie. Enemies vanish after you kill them 10x. How is he running up those stairs for 5 days?

Complete bullshit.
 
sniperpon said:
That was the best gaming-related piece of critique I've ever read. I have to go reread it again just to absorb all of the connections he makes there, what with tying it into Modernism and the like.

What I especially like is that his choice of words-- "worst game"-- doesn't at all mean what you think it means when you start reading the article. It's a brilliant piece of critique.
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This. What's funny is watching a bunch of people skim over it and then fall over themselves defending Dark Souls' honor.

7DollarHagane said:
try to read the article - it's a garbage bin of $100 words and i'm sure the author thinks himself quite clever for being above all this videogame nonsense.

It's basically about how obtuse and unexplained dark souls 2 is and how all that knowledge you obtain is useless and the game itself is meaningless.

A bunch of vocabulary wankery and snobbishness about the game.

Obviously if you're looking for some kind of meaningful lessons or knowledge in dark souls 2, you're in the wrong place. It's basically a high fantasy story that's BARELY presented among an action game with deep RPG elements. The story is so lightly presented that many players won't even know it's there.

If there's any lesson that Dark Souls 2 teaches it's patience and perfection by practice. That's more useful than a Left Trigger Right Trigger shooter game or a game about baseball or something.

I don't know what he wants or what his real problem even is, or if he actually loves the game even though he says it's "worst".

If i get the meaning of his article correct wouldn't games like World of Warcraft or Everquest be the "worst ever" because they perpetuate dark souls' "sins" a thousand fold greater.

Furthermore his point about hacking the game and floating through to the end is useless because even the deepest, most meaningful book, painting, or film has the same problem - someone could just read the last chapter, look at it for 30 seconds and walk on, or fast forward to the end, and not experience any of the artwork's carefully constructed sections.

How do people like this get paid to write?
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Case in point.
 
I am not trying to defend dark souls, I'm just saying his complaints apply to any game with lots of lore or mechanics.

And that his writing style obscures his point more than dark souls obscures its lore.
 
i don't even know what to say...

"worst game ever"

seriously? The game isn't any where near a condition in which asking such a question even makes the remotest shred of sense. I just hope most of you didn't click on the link as it's very clear, it's all the author wants.
 
Worst video game ever? Even if you detest the game, you cannot think this is the worst game ever made with some of the stuff that came out on retro consoles that were unplayable. Call it average, frustrating, amazing, lackluster, underrated, overrated, but worst game ever? What games has he played? Did he really spend 300 to 400 hours playing DS2? Hmm....interesting. Was it really that bad. I know I couldn't play a HORRENDOUS game like Shadow Warriors for 3DO for 300 to 400 hours.
 
Despite Thomsen's obvious effort at prose, there are enough grammatical and/or spelling errors that I question if he even proofread this piece.
Also, I'm currently playing through Dark Souls 1 and it is an amazing game.
 
Romars202129 said:
I just read something similar to this on Gameinformer by a Mr. Matt Helgeson. Only the opposite, the writer threw every stereotypical complaint at the game at once, to the point I wondered breifly if it was satire.

Link here, and here's some choice excerpts-




And here's where he loses his mind-
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... and this guy is paid to reviews and evaluate video games? His opinion matters to some people?

Good grief.
 
TheRedSnifit said:
This. What's funny is watching a bunch of people skim over it and then fall over themselves defending Dark Souls' honor.
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Read some of his responses to comments, he actually did hate Dark Souls II. Him calling it the worst game wasn't a case of the silly plebs on NeoGAF not understanding his brilliant use of antipharsis.
 
What's that rule again? Never been truer XD

saunderez said:
In respect to the title. No, no it's not. Not by a long shot. I don't see how anyone could even make that claim unless Dark Souls 2 was pretty much the only game they have ever played.
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Even so it would be among the best, not worst :P
 
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