Soulsborne thead (Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne)

[Austin]

An extension of this thread here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/284134-so-dark-souls-remastered-is-out-today/?p=4221979.

 

Feel free to talk about any of From Software's "Soulsborne" games (Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and anything else that eventually comes out). Anything Souls-inspired seems like it should fit here as well.

 

I personally finished Dark Souls 1 for the first time about a year and a half ago. It was a troublesome experience that I didn't warm up to until the Remaster came out last year, where it finally "clicked" (maybe it was that framerate boost). I have since finished Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin and Dark Souls III (well, mostly, as I still have to wrap up the DLC for both). I just began Demon's Souls for the first time about two weeks ago. Let's just say, of all the ones I have played, I have some especially choice words for that one (I'll try to elaborate later).

[Austin]

Please do. Too bad you're only starting Demon's Souls now, after the servers went offline.

A friend pointed out to me the other day that there is a private server you can still join. Details here: https://www.reddit.com/r/demonssouls/comments/9j86yc/the_state_of_the_demons_souls_private_server/

 

I've never actually played a Souls game online so I'm a little mixed on starting. Based on what I hear from others, good times can be had, but people can make your life a living hell and that's not something I'm looking to deal with when I just want to go through the game normally on my own (which is usually how I play any game). Maybe down the road I'll try it.

[xenomorpher]

Out of the those games I've played, Demon's Souls is probably my favorite, and one I've put the most hours into. I think it's mainly because of the different worlds, and how it's not one huge interconnected world. I think it adds to the strange atmosphere somehow and I'd like for that style to return in a future game. It also kind of reminds me of Quake because of that, which incidentally is also my favorite of the series.

 

Bloodborne is the one I might get into next, as I heard the world is Lovecraft-like and that really intrigues me. I rented it years ago and didn't give it a fair enough chance as far as time investment. I was too caught up in other releases from the time.

[Austin]

Of the things I've enjoyed about Demon's Souls, the world is definitely one of them. Each of the areas have been unique and asides from the run up to most bosses (ugh), the areas have lots of well thought out shortcuts and loop-backs that makes progressing through them fairly fluid.

 

The Nexus is a cool hub as well and not quite as simplistic as it was made out to me by others before I jumped into the game. I like the style of it and it's nice how it fills up over the course of the game with characters you meet in the main areas.

[Lost Dragon]

For all it's flaws, i would still rate Demon's Souls higher than Dark Souls 1 and 2.

 

With the first Dark Souls game, it felt cheap in places, bosses and mini bosses thrown in just for the sake of it.

 

The Cursed mechanic in the Dark series did my head right in as well to start with.

[youxia]

I'm not an expert on this series and one to compare/judge, but Demon's is definitely underrated. Strange it had no remaster yet (especially seeing as it's an PS3 exclusive).

[Gentlegamer]

A friend pointed out to me the other day that there is a private server you can still join. Details here: https://www.reddit.com/r/demonssouls/comments/9j86yc/the_state_of_the_demons_souls_private_server/

 

I've never actually played a Souls game online so I'm a little mixed on starting. Based on what I hear from others, good times can be had, but people can make your life a living hell and that's not something I'm looking to deal with when I just want to go through the game normally on my own (which is usually how I play any game). Maybe down the road I'll try it.

 

Aside from Dark Souls II, you can be online and get the perquisites of that mode in your single player game (bloodstains, messages, ghosts, etc) without risking invasion. All of these are totally worth it.

 

In Demon's Souls, you must be in body form to be eligible for multiplayer, including invasions, for instance. This is considered a trade off of increased health and the ability to summon allies. I'm not a PVP guy, and I hated the thought of a-holes coming into my game to grief me, but I learned it's not a big deal, as long as it's not on PC where they can use cheat engine to like corrupt your save game or something.

 

I know about the private server, though I've never tried to use it. I may have to see if I can get it to work. I have a SL 40 character that I was using to co-op and do Old Monk invasions during the last days of the official server. That character also has Pure Bladestone that I have duped, and was passing out to all players so they can get the platinum much more easily. Some guy sent me a PSN message thanking me and vowing to name his children after me.

[Lost Dragon]

I'm not an expert on this series and one to compare/judge, but Demon's is definitely underrated. Strange it had no remaster yet (especially seeing as it's an PS3 exclusive).

Saving it for Playstation 5 i wonder?

[Lost Dragon]

I found the online community on Demon's Souls to be utterly fantastic when i was playing nothing but Demon's Souls..it was the most enjoyable side of online gaming on PSN since Blur for myself.

 

People were patient, extremely helpful in nursing me through some of the most treacherous areas, an utter godsend in taking out several bosses and showed me short cuts and hidden areas and items no doubt i would of blindly passed right by.

 

It's why i would feel i kinda owed fellow players a thank you, so would happily leave my summon sign outside boss fights i myself could never of done without assistance and that's something i went onto do for all 3 Dark Souls games.

 

Normally i would finish a game and move onto something new.

 

 

I think it was also the feeling of creeping dread, real reluctance at times to stray too far, too quickly, in each new area, that was balanced with a curiosity to discover just what lay further on, that kept me hooked throughout all the Souls series.

 

The lack of Online play and a pause mode on From's upcoming Tenchu inspired title has been enough to make me think it won't be for me

 

 

I've grown too comfortable with the online aspects of Souls and Bloodborne now to accept it's not an option.

[Austin]

Aside from Dark Souls II, you can be online and get the perquisites of that mode in your single player game (bloodstains, messages, ghosts, etc) without risking invasion. All of these are totally worth it.

Oh yeah, I'm aware of that. The hitch is that I'm playing on Xbox One and do not have Xbox Live Gold, so no online functionality is available whatsoever. It's truly offline for me.

[Gentlegamer]

I play Souls games on PlayStation, as God intended.

[slab0meat]

I got Demon's Souls as soon as it came out and I read about the difficulty.. figured I hadn't played one quite like it before. I didn't stick with it as long as I should have, other multiplayer games got in the way.

 

When one of the Dark Souls games was a free Xbox Gold download, I played that one as well, but again, didn't stick with it. No real explanation why.

 

I do enjoy that games are still around that don't baby the player.

[Lost Dragon]

I just want to publically express my utter gratitude to Gentlegamer. ..

 

 

Without them? I would never of taken out the last 2 bosses.

 

 

Utter legend

[Gentlegamer]

You still have one more boss, for which you need to eat 3 umbilical cords before fighting Gehrman.

 

https://bloodborne.wiki.fextralife.com/One+Third+of+Umbilical+Cord

 

Now that Orphan is put to bed, you can appreciate this clip:

 

Edited February 20, 2019 by Gentlegamer

[Lost Dragon]

Ahhh..

 

That might be impossible

Arianna was killed by the Suspicious Beggar, before she had the baby.

 

I believe i needed to kill said nightmare child to get the 3rd cord..i had 2.

 

[Gentlegamer]

What about the Clinic?

 

• 4. Dropped by Iosefka in her clinic in 1st Floor Sick Room through the entrance from the Forbidden Woods once Rom, the Vacuous Spider has been defeated, as long as you didn't kill her prior to the boss fight. (Missable)

 

Also, have you done the Chalice Dungeons? There's more unique bosses in there, including Yharnam, Phumerian Queen (trophy)

 

She's the apparition that appeared on the lake and before Mergo's Wet Nurse.

Edited February 21, 2019 by Gentlegamer

[Flojomojo]

Has anyone tried the games from 10birds? They're like Dark Souls for mobile. I think Ire is on the Nintendo Switch as well.

Animus - Harbinger
Ire - Blood Memory
Animus - Stand Alone

I forget which is which, but one is a fully fleshed adventure game, one doesn't need Internet and can be played anywhere, and there's the other one. They seem to be much beloved.

If I were to dip my toe in this genre, this is how I'd do it.

[Flojomojo]

Knowing full well that one does not simply dip one's toe into masocore games like the casual dork that I am.

[Lost Dragon]

What about the Clinic?

 

 

• 4. Dropped by Iosefka in her clinic in 1st Floor Sick Room through the entrance from the Forbidden Woods once Rom, the Vacuous Spider has been defeated, as long as you didn't kill her prior to the boss fight. (Missable)

Also, have you done the Chalice Dungeons? There's more unique bosses in there, including Yharnam, Phumerian Queen (trophy)

 

She's the apparition that appeared on the lake and before Mergo's Wet Nurse.

Yep..dabbled quite a bit in chalice dungeons..just lacked materials to create 4th headstone i think.

[Ninjabba]

I'll just drop this like a Bloodborne fanboy..

 

Ludwig & Ladia Maria boss fights were my favorites so far. Incredibly intense. The musical score during the fight with Lady Maria gave me goosebumps.

[Ninjabba]

Ahhh..

 

That might be impossible

Arianna was killed by the Suspicious Beggar, before she had the baby.

 

I believe i needed to kill said nightmare child to get the 3rd cord..i had 2.

 

 

I think you can find one more cord at the Abandoned Workshop, you'll have to do some awkward jump rolling to get to this area. In total there are 4 to be found.

[Lost Dragon]

I honestly can't remember who and where i got the 2 i had.

 

Took a YT video to show me how to reach the old workshop with ease.

[Gentlegamer]

Can OP correct the thread title or do we need to petition a moderator?

 

I suggest:

 

Soulsborne Thread: Don't be a casul

 

Edited February 21, 2019 by Gentlegamer

[Lost Dragon]

Started a NG+ on Bloodborne ( and after years of mocking my mates for playing nothing but..FIFA..Tiger Woods..COD..Halo..GTA etc, if it is not Souls or Borne...).

 

Forgot how much exploring you need to do to open shortcuts at times.

 

Opened Old Abandoned Workshop and picked up Third Umbilical Cord.

 

Forgot i had yet to kill Dark Beast Paarl in my original play through, so just put that issue to bed.

[Gentlegamer]

Here's how you get to Yharnam, Pthumerian Queen - https://bloodborne.wiki.fextralife.com/Yharnam,+Pthumerian+Queen

 

Don't eat the Umbilical Cords right away. Right before you encounter Gehrman, back up your save to PSN, then accept Gerhman's offer. Then restore your save and eat the umbilical cords before fighting Gerhman to get the real lost boss. Of course, you can just keep going through NG+ cycles but this saves time. I did it to get all three endings on NG.