A few weeks ago I posted a blog titled "Why Dead Island is One of My Games of the Year." You're probably seeing a theme in my naming conventions. Games I don't review and feel will be on my top 10 list at the end of the year are going to get a similarly titled blog. I would make one for Portal 2, but I already listed it in My Top 25 Games of This Console Generation list, so that one is more than covered.
As you are all aware, my first look at Dark Souls was the Reiner and Phil episode we filmed a few weeks prior to the game's launch date. Phil did an excellent job illustrating the game's difficulty and depth. He talked about memorizing the levels and spending hours grinding to be able to tackle some of the challenges that were thrown at him. His brief walkthrough made me a believer, not necessarily in Dark Souls, but that I could be as successful as Phil playing it. I had no idea what I was getting into. If anything, I walked away with the realization that Phil is one hell of a Dark Souls player. Despite dying more than I care to admit, I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in Dark Souls. Most of my deaths were fair and by my doing. Obviously, this isn't a game for everyone. Most successes are tied to memorizing or slowly inching through levels with a raised shield. Here are the reasons why I love it, and why you should consider playing it.
Dangerous, Yet Rewarding Exploration
At no point does Dark Souls hold the player's hand or try to funnel him or her in a particular direction. The player is dropped into the world and progress within it is based solely on exploration and combat abilities. The world is open to a degree, but more in the Zelda vein with a few avenues open at a time rather than Elder Scrolls' "do whatever you like" approach. To no surprise to anyone, discovering things on your own is more satisfying of an endeavor than following a glowing breadcrumb trailer or setting a waypoint on a map. It makes you feel like a true adventurer. On the flip side, I've spent hours trying to figure out where to go next.
Wonderfully Constructed World
I repeatedly find myself marveling at this world's design and how all of the zones are connected. Every area feels like an organic extension or piece of the world. If you see a path in the world, you know you'll be able to get there.
Slow, Smart Combat
This isn't a game where giant combos can be chained together. Instead, Dark Souls' combat is all about studying foes and learning when to attack and how to defend. Running headlong into a fight usually only brings death. Patience is the key to victory. While this may sound boring, most foes can kill you fairly quickly, if not with one hit. Dodging unblockable attacks brings a nearly unbearable intensity, especially during boss fights. It's slow but incredibly rewarding and a true test of skill.
Great Leveling System
Each foe that is downed rewards your character with souls that can be used to level up attributes, upgrade weapons, and purchase items. Determining where these souls should be invested is part of the fun.
Expansive Character Customization
For the longest time my character couldn't wear anything on his feet since his other armors combined with the footwear slowed him down too much. I'm happy to announce that he now has boots (thanks to a night of leveling). The game offers an extensive list of armors and weapons, most offering unique cosmetics.
Respect for the Shield
For the first time in a video game, I find myself loving my shields more than my weapons. They are the ultimate life saver. If my character moves, he usually has his shield drawn for those instances when an enemy leaps out from behind a corner or a trap is triggered. Shields can also be used as weapons. I now know why Captain America loves them.
WTF IS THAT THING???!!!
Almost every boss encounter begins with me saying "WTF is that thing?" From Software's monster designs are incredible, and outside of the large rat or stupid skeleton, are different from anything I've seen before. One boss can best be described as a crocodile-dragon-bat-salamander-vagina-thingy.
Covenants
As this world opens up, the player runs into NPC representatives for a variety of covenants. You can ally yourself with any of these groups. They can change the way you interact with other players, as well as your character's appearance. If you abandon a covenant that you joined, you'll be marked a traitor for another covenant that only hunts turncoats.
Unique Co-Op/Multiplayer
All throughout the game, players can leave notes that either warn players of danger or conversely steers them into the teeth of it. Some of these messages saved my life, others falsely lured me to into jumping off a cliff to my death. On top of this, players can invade other players' worlds to either help or hinder progress. You cannot invite friends into your world; rather the game forces you to team up with strangers, whose abilities you don't know. You can't communicate with them, outside of gestures.
War Stories
One of my favorite experiences with Dark Souls is sharing the war stories I experienced within it with my friends and coworkers. I usually walk away from these conversations with knowledge of new zones, strategies to use within them, the locations of rare loot, and warnings pertaining to the way my character will likely die. This game is designed to support community discussions. If you want to hear one of these talks, check out our Dark Souls podcast.