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[Hypron]

Actually, what's up with those fog walls randomly appearing at firelink shrine?

 

[JerkShep]

The game is remarkably consistent in terms of level design and boss fight quality, and is of a generally higher quality in that regard than any of the previous games, including Bloodborne, which had some really crappy parts (exacerbated by Frenzy being bugged at launch).

The main rough edges in the game are, in no particular importance:

- Very screwed up build and stat balance. Not as agregious as DS1 at launch, but non-scaling Magic, some shields being OP, and heavy shields / armor being almost objectively not worth it are kind of drags.
- The game lacks the Act structure that the last three games have had, which leaves the endgame feeling rushed and sudden. "Find the Four Great Souls Cinder Lords" is the entire game, without any substantial Act before or after it. The three previous games all had three-act structures. There is a three-act structure here, but it is more subtle and really only in hindsight.
- All of the replayability measures and features from DS2 have been dumped.
- PvP and Co-Op / Covenants are a bit of a step back as well, aside from Soul Level being swapped for what Soul Level was actually supposed to emulate but didn't.
- The least wiggle room in terms of boss and zone order.

I am not down on the game. Right now it is definitely in the ball of my three favorites (DS2 and BB are the others). I'm looking forward to spending time with the English PC version. But, there's definitely some disappointments, especially ones that seem rather senseless reversions.

I would add that despite being having top notch level design across the board, the areas feel a bit too "tropey" and From never really tried something new. What's not from previous souls games, it's taken from Bloodborne. Seeing the Boreal Valley from a distance for the first time wowed me, but we still have the castle, the village, the forest, the swamp, the cathedral, the catacombs, the lava level, the dungeon, the library, the high mountain level related to dragons. They are all very good, but I was a bit bummed when I found another Latria knock off. It feels a bit too safe sometimes.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

Yhorm owns.

Gimmick fights are trash especially Yhorm who dies in 4 hits. It's not as bad as the Storm King but then again nothing is.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

Actually, what's up with those fog walls randomly appearing at firelink shrine?

Pretty sure it's to hide the fact the outside hasn't loaded yet.

 

[Neoweee]

I would add that despite being having top notch level design across the board, the areas feel a bit too "tropey" and From never really tried something new. What's not from previous souls games, it's taken from Bloodborne. Seeing the Boreal Valley from a distance for the first time wowed me, but we still have the castle, the village, the forest, the swamp, the cathedral, the catacombs, the lava level, the dungeon, the library, the high mountain level related to dragons. They are all very good, but I was a bit bummed when I found another Latria knock off. It feels a bit too safe sometimes.

I feel like the Cathedral of the Deep and the Abandon Garden or whatever it is called transcended tropes, actually. The Cathedral is really, really interesting, and not at all a typical cathedral.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

I would add that despite being having top notch level design across the board, the areas feel a bit too "tropey" and From never really tried something new. What's not from previous souls games, it's taken from Bloodborne. Seeing the Boreal Valley from a distance for the first time wowed me, but we still have the castle, the village, the forest, the swamp, the cathedral, the catacombs, the lava level, the dungeon, the library, the high mountain level related to dragons. They are all very good, but I was a bit bummed when I found another Latria knock off. It feels a bit too safe sometimes.

Completely agree. The Snow Town is breathtaking but every other place was a type of aera we've been before in a Souls game.

 

[Already Torn]

I feel like the Cathedral of the Deep and the Abandon Garden or whatever it is called transcended tropes, actually. The Cathedral is really, really interesting, and not at all a typical cathedral.

The Cathedral is so cool. It felt more like Anor Londo than Anor Londo, but with a slice of Bloodborne.

 

[ponpo]

Gimmick fights are trash especially Yhorm who dies in 4 hits. It's not as bad as the Storm King but then again nothing is.

Omega Awful Taste confirmed. The occasional gimmick fight is great, especially if they reuse the gimmick weapon mechanic.

 

[JerkShep]

I feel like the Cathedral of the Deep and the Abandon Garden or whatever it is called transcended tropes, actually. The Cathedral is really, really interesting, and not at all a typical cathedral.

Yeah the Cathedral is great, probably my favorite area. Pontiff S should have been the boss of that area to elevate it to perfection.


Do you know if NPC invaders can still invade after killing the boss of the area? I missed a couple not being in ember form.

 

[ogbg]

Did anyone work out the point of hollowing? When I noticed that it was proportional to the number of times I took free levels I was like "ah... I knew there was a catch!" and was pretty worried. But then nothing seemed to be different apart from my appearance.

 

[Nova Bovington]

Did anyone work out the point of hollowing? When I noticed that it was proportional to the number of times I took free levels I was like "ah... I knew there was a catch!" and was pretty worried. But then nothing seemed to be different apart from my appearance.

Get enough free levels and story stuff happens. Otherwise, idk. I'm sure people will find out though.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

Omega Awful Taste confirmed. The occasional gimmick fight is great, especially if they reuse the gimmick weapon mechanic.

Yeah they are sooooo much fun to play and so challenging. Boy I can't wait to get to Yhorm with my sorcery build and see how different the fight is. Kappa

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

There's 5 paths from the main town. Two from the start. Any boss opens up the Gutter path (they all give enough Souls to buy the ring). Dragonrider as the first boss opens the Copse path. Then any Branch of Yore opens up the fifth branch, and the SOTFS edition adds a few more to vendors, etc.

There's, like, 10 bosses that could be the "second" boss. That's pretty damn open.

What a bullshit logic, sorry.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

What a bullshit logic, sorry.

What is wrong with that statement? It's 100% true.

 

[F0rneus]

What a bullshit logic, sorry.

It's no more bullshit than going to New Londo or the Catacombs ASAP

 

[ponpo]

Yeah they are sooooo much fun to play and so challenging. Boy I can't wait to get to Yhorm with my sorcery build and see how different the fight is. Kappa

You joke but at least they attempt to be somewhat different. As great as most bosses are, the vast majority are "dodge once then attack....oh the boss entered phase two, so dodge twice then attack." Which is what Yhorm would be if it wasn't a "gimmick" fight. At best, maybe a Tower Knight 2.0.

 

[Already Torn]

Omega Awful Taste confirmed. The occasional gimmick fight is great, especially if they reuse the gimmick weapon mechanic.

I like gimmick fights but Yhorm sucked. He doesn't have any real buildup either because Crestfallen is gone by the time you're ready to go to him.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

What is wrong with that statement? It's 100% true.

You don't spend your first 15k souls on a ring, and go to the gutter with no torches and underleveled on a normal playtrough.

In the same way, you don't kill the old lady in the first level on DS3 to reach that area sooner normally.

It's no more bullshit than going to New Londo or the Catacombs ASAP

In both cases the game is telling you:"You shouldn't be here"

 

[ogbg]

You don't spend your first 15k souls on a ring, and go to the gutter with no torches and underleveled on a normal playtrough.

In the same way, you don't kill the old lady in the first level on DS3 to reach that area sooner normally.

As far as we know that's the only order mixup you can do in DS3 though

 

[GametimeUK]

Darkmoon Tomb the room just before Gwyndolin if anyone wants to see.

https://imgur.com/60rsT6q

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

As far as we know that's the only order mixup you can do in DS3 though

There's also taking Anor Londo path or the Prison. Or taking first Abyss Watchers or the Covenant.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

You don't spend your first 15k souls on a ring, and go to the gutter with no torches and underleveled on a normal playtrough.

In the same way, you don't kill the old lady in the first level on DS3 to reach that area sooner normally.



In both cases the game is telling you:"You shouldn't be here"

Uhhhh the hole leads to the Rat Lair and Royal Rat Authority which is easy leveling and souls before you reach the gutter which is another easy area. I've done it myself, it is not hard.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

Uhhhh the hole leads to the Rat Lair and Royal Rat Authority which is easy leveling and souls before you reach the gutter which is another easy area. I've done it myself, it is not hard.

NO thanks.

 

[Hypron]

NO thanks.

lol he was referring to the royal rat vanguard

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

You joke but at least they attempt to be somewhat different. As great as most bosses are, the vast majority are "dodge once then attack....oh the boss entered phase two, so dodge twice then attack." Which is what Yhorm would be if it wasn't a "gimmick" fight. At best, maybe a Tower Knight 2.0.

He could be anything but he's not. He's a big punching bag that you are only allowed to hit in one specific way.

 

[ogbg]

There's also taking Anor Londo path or the Prison. Or taking first Abyss Watchers or the Covenant.

I guess you're right. There's basically like 2 segments that can be done in any order at the start: Princes route, Skeleton king route; and then 2 after: Anor Londo, Dungeons. Deacons can either be done before or after Skeleton King but before Anor Londo/Dungeons

 

[Jellycrackers]

NO thanks.

The point is - it's an option. DS2 is very open. Regardless of if you think it's a good idea, you can do it.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

lol he was referring to the royal rat vanguard

Vanguard Authority whatever. The multiple rat fight that is piss easy.

 

[Hypron]

Vanguard Authority whatever. The multiple rat fight that is piss easy.

Yeah that's the vanguard haha

Royal rat authority was a complete bitch at release. I don't know if they made it easier or I just adopted the right strategy but I don't find it too hard now.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

The point is - it's an option. DS2 is very open. Regardless of if you think it's a good idea, you can do it.

To me is like saying Super Metroid is super open while counting sequence breaking into account.

Only 2 places in DS2 are really counted, by design, as starting zones.

 

[Neoweee]

To me is like saying Super Metroid is super open while counting sequence breaking into account.

Only 2 places in DS2 are really counted, by design, as starting zones.

Which is, by your standards, the most in of any Souls game ever.

 

[ponpo]

He could be anything but he's not. He's a big punching bag that you are only allowed to hit in one specific way.

You don't have to use the Stormruler though?

 

[Espada]

You don't have to use the Stormruler though?

Everyone I've seen attempt that fight without Stormruler does pathetic damage to him. He has immense amounts of health.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

Which is, by your standards, the most in of any Souls game ever.

Yeah, alongside Demon Souls.

(But know that I think about it, SOFTS plagued one of the places with Heide Knights, which are a big no-no)

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

Yeah, alongside Demon Souls.

No, You have to beat 1-1 in Demon's and that's NOT even counting the real intro area. Maiden doesn't activate the other arcstones till you do.

 

[pa22word]

You don't have to use the Stormruler though?

Stand under his feet and bait the guilotine move, run under his ass and smack him in the arm.

Rinse repeat for 40 minutes.

That's how I did it on my first time against him because I didn't want to burn a homeward bone on it. Only time in the game I had to use a repair powder lol >.>

 

[ponpo]

Everyone I've seen attempt that fight without Stormruler does pathetic damage to him. He has immense amounts of health.

The damage is low but you can stagger him and get like a 2k damage visceral on his head.

Stand under his feet and bait the guilotine move, run under his ass and smack him in the arm.

Rinse repeat for 40 minutes.

That's how I did it on my first time against him because I didn't want to burn a homeward bone on it. Only time in the game I had to use a repair powder lol >.>

40 minutes? zawa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj7ZlTOe9qQ

 

[DorkLord54]

Stand under his feet and bait the guilotine move, run under his ass and smack him in the arm.

Rinse repeat for 40 minutes.

That's how I did it on my first time against him because I didn't want to burn a homeward bone on it. Only time in the game I had to use a repair powder lol >.>

I'm guessing you didn't find out about the Storm Ruler until after you were done with the fight and searched his arena?

 

[pa22word]

I'm guessing you didn't find out about the Storm Ruler until after you were done with the fight and searched his arena?

Na I picked up the sword, I just went yolo and did the fight as is. Figured he'd get wise and kill me at some point, but nope just same moves over and over again.

 

[Neoweee]

Yeah, alongside Demon Souls.

(But know that I think about it, SOFTS plagued one of the places with Heide Knights, which are a big no-no)

They are asleep when you go through it, so they don't get in the way of progress at all.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

You don't have to use the Stormruler though?

You also COULD beat the whole game at SL1 with no weapon.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

No, You have to beat 1-1 in Demon's and that's NOT even counting the real intro area. Maiden doesn't activate the other arcstones till you do.

An after that you have 3 places.

 

[ponpo]

You also COULD beat the whole game at SL1 with no weapon.

The fight is only a "gimmick" because of the storm ruler. If you fight the boss without it, then it's basically like every other boss in the game, or what the boss would be like without the sword mechanic, which is apparently a good thing for you, so you should be happy that it lasts 15 minutes!

 

[Wookieomg]

Everyone I've seen attempt that fight without Stormruler does pathetic damage to him. He has immense amounts of health.

Yeah I used a katana (not sure which one, on the PS4 JP version and I can't read Japanese lol) and baited him into two different attack animations wherein I could attack his upper body. Arms and head dealt him more damage so I was doing like... 200 damage per animation. The fight took me about 10 minutes, maybe a bit more. Battle of patience really. I didn't know about the Stormruler gimmick till like.. earlier today lol.

 

[Already Torn]

I wonder who Yhorm's friend is that the Stormruler description talks about.

 

[ponpo]

I wonder who Yhorm's friend is that the Stormruler description talks about.

Nice try Vaati.

 

[Already Torn]

Nice try Vaati.

???

 

[DorkLord54]

???

He's making a joke about you trying to lorebuild without having much else to go on except one item description, which is how people make fun of Vaatividya. While he actually isn't that awful, some of his theories have no basis within the game except for his own interpretations that are honestly really stretching it (such as his video on Pinwheel).

 

[Already Torn]

He's making a joke about you trying to lorebuild without having much else to go on except one item description, which is how people make fun of Vaatividya. While he actually isn't that awful, some of his theories have no basis within the game except for his own interpretation (such as video on Pinwheel).

Oh, that's absolutely true. There might be some other stuff though! Who knows. It's a weird description.

 

[ZeroTheShadow]

Yo I just realized Cast Speed is not a stat. It's just gone. Does that mean casters are stuck with these pathetic cast speeds?