In Tibetan Buddhism, there is a practice of creating detailed patterned mandelas out of colored sand. They spend days weaving these intricate patterns of profound beauty.
And then they destroy it. Sweep it up. Hours upon hours of labor gone. It's done to symbolise impermanence. How nothing lasts forever. And, without saying too much, I think dark souls 3's story manages to encapsulate that wonderfully.
The aesthetic is another thing.
Ash on top of ash. A bleak smouldering flame casts a boundless shadow on a vast nothing. Mounds of dust pile up on a bleak, dead world. The grey palette of this world accentuates this fact. And yet, there's beauty in it, beauty in the faded colours of tattered tapestries and stone monuments from a bygone era. The struggle of the worlds inhabitants, their hollowed bodies like broken down machines, their ideals and aspirations long gone, as their flesh twitches and moves by instinct alone. The mangled corpse of this world has been violated, moulded into an unrecognisable shape by forces that resist change. Something that was meant to burn with vigor and grace has now become unsightly cinders, begging to be snuffed out.
This is not even mentioning the combat. Being a zombie clad in rusted armour and tattered clothing has never felt this good. With each swing of my exile Greatsword, you feel the weight of the unwieldy hunk of steel. But the animations make you feel like it's something one can hold with grace. The swings cut through the air, and feel responsive and chunky. The bosses, giant figures that tower over you. Which makes it all the more gratifying when they get staggered when hit by a tiny undead carrying a comically large weapon. The combat, while not as tight as sekiro, still has a rhythm to it. The boss fights are the best out of any souls game, with the worst of them still being memorable experiences, but the best feeling like a dance. They swing, you roll. It takes two to tango, and Gael needs a dance partner. The responsive combat and fluid animations making it all the more satisfying to get in a fight.
The combat is tight. The story, a fitting for a conclusion to this long running saga. And the world is a sight to behold. I could not ask for a better conclusion to the series.
And then they destroy it. Sweep it up. Hours upon hours of labor gone. It's done to symbolise impermanence. How nothing lasts forever. And, without saying too much, I think dark souls 3's story manages to encapsulate that wonderfully.
The aesthetic is another thing.
Ash on top of ash. A bleak smouldering flame casts a boundless shadow on a vast nothing. Mounds of dust pile up on a bleak, dead world. The grey palette of this world accentuates this fact. And yet, there's beauty in it, beauty in the faded colours of tattered tapestries and stone monuments from a bygone era. The struggle of the worlds inhabitants, their hollowed bodies like broken down machines, their ideals and aspirations long gone, as their flesh twitches and moves by instinct alone. The mangled corpse of this world has been violated, moulded into an unrecognisable shape by forces that resist change. Something that was meant to burn with vigor and grace has now become unsightly cinders, begging to be snuffed out.
This is not even mentioning the combat. Being a zombie clad in rusted armour and tattered clothing has never felt this good. With each swing of my exile Greatsword, you feel the weight of the unwieldy hunk of steel. But the animations make you feel like it's something one can hold with grace. The swings cut through the air, and feel responsive and chunky. The bosses, giant figures that tower over you. Which makes it all the more gratifying when they get staggered when hit by a tiny undead carrying a comically large weapon. The combat, while not as tight as sekiro, still has a rhythm to it. The boss fights are the best out of any souls game, with the worst of them still being memorable experiences, but the best feeling like a dance. They swing, you roll. It takes two to tango, and Gael needs a dance partner. The responsive combat and fluid animations making it all the more satisfying to get in a fight.
The combat is tight. The story, a fitting for a conclusion to this long running saga. And the world is a sight to behold. I could not ask for a better conclusion to the series.
Oshha
3 months ago