So don't get me wrong, I get it. I think this game is a towering achievement in game design. Without it, we wouldn't have what is one of my favorite games ever, and likely one of the best games to ever be made (Elden Ring).
The world design Lordran is absolutely terrific. The way the world is interconnected leads to so many fascinating moments of discovery that leave me in genuine awe. The combat system and learning how to parry enemies was so much fun. Getting used to every enemy's move sets to strategically destroy them is super satisfying.
The sense of uneasiness and wonder that compound upon one another is enough to draw anyone in for countless attempts at replaying. And yet all of this praise is just to say--
I FUCKING HATE THIS DUMB GAME.
Obviously, "hate" is a strong word. I just praised it in numerous ways, all of which are my genuine feelings, but all of them also come with an extreme amount of caveats. First of all, despite the interconnectivity of the world being really well done and interesting, it does lead to some "run ups" to bosses being so fucking annoying that it makes the boss so much worse. There's a reason subsequent titles put bonfires before boss rooms as well as include fast travel. It's because walking 2 minutes and past multiple annoying enemies just to be killed immediately by two dogs that invoke bleed is not fun.
The combat is joyous to learn, but also ends up feeling like it's lacking in depth from time to time. I definitely could've spent more time learning things, but at the end of the day - it just all feels too basic. A lot of just feels clunky, and the mechanics like rolling just never feel like they worked half the time.
The game also visually looks like trash, like I get it's from 2011, but man even Demon's Souls' original PS3 version didn't look this bad. And I was playing the remaster.
This game is just tedious. People say it's challenging, but I don't really think it is. I love Elden Ring. I love a challenge now. I'm not against a hard game, but I don't feel like this game was ever challenging unless you consider being unfair a challenge. It reminds me of those "unfair" mods of games, except that's just the game.
Why is a boss locked in a narrow room with one staircase and two bleed dogs?
And maybe the real challenge and good game design comes from post-Capra Demon, but I have tried to justify continuing this game and trying to beat the Capra Demon, but my only way out was to restart the game so the merchant who sells fire bombs is alive again so I can cheese the boss by chucking them over the wall.
And just for what? So I can be hit by another one of the areas that people bitch and moan about? The Depths and Blighttown are immediately next. What's the fucking point? If someone wants to float me a save file of them in Anor Londo, I'll play it - but for now I'm done.
No score cause I ain't beat the game.
The world design Lordran is absolutely terrific. The way the world is interconnected leads to so many fascinating moments of discovery that leave me in genuine awe. The combat system and learning how to parry enemies was so much fun. Getting used to every enemy's move sets to strategically destroy them is super satisfying.
The sense of uneasiness and wonder that compound upon one another is enough to draw anyone in for countless attempts at replaying. And yet all of this praise is just to say--
I FUCKING HATE THIS DUMB GAME.
Obviously, "hate" is a strong word. I just praised it in numerous ways, all of which are my genuine feelings, but all of them also come with an extreme amount of caveats. First of all, despite the interconnectivity of the world being really well done and interesting, it does lead to some "run ups" to bosses being so fucking annoying that it makes the boss so much worse. There's a reason subsequent titles put bonfires before boss rooms as well as include fast travel. It's because walking 2 minutes and past multiple annoying enemies just to be killed immediately by two dogs that invoke bleed is not fun.
The combat is joyous to learn, but also ends up feeling like it's lacking in depth from time to time. I definitely could've spent more time learning things, but at the end of the day - it just all feels too basic. A lot of just feels clunky, and the mechanics like rolling just never feel like they worked half the time.
The game also visually looks like trash, like I get it's from 2011, but man even Demon's Souls' original PS3 version didn't look this bad. And I was playing the remaster.
This game is just tedious. People say it's challenging, but I don't really think it is. I love Elden Ring. I love a challenge now. I'm not against a hard game, but I don't feel like this game was ever challenging unless you consider being unfair a challenge. It reminds me of those "unfair" mods of games, except that's just the game.
Why is a boss locked in a narrow room with one staircase and two bleed dogs?
And maybe the real challenge and good game design comes from post-Capra Demon, but I have tried to justify continuing this game and trying to beat the Capra Demon, but my only way out was to restart the game so the merchant who sells fire bombs is alive again so I can cheese the boss by chucking them over the wall.
And just for what? So I can be hit by another one of the areas that people bitch and moan about? The Depths and Blighttown are immediately next. What's the fucking point? If someone wants to float me a save file of them in Anor Londo, I'll play it - but for now I'm done.
No score cause I ain't beat the game.