#SoITried Dark Souls 3: A Great Gateway Into the From Software Franchise

I typically enjoy chill, casual games. They don’t stress me out, and I can progress at my own pace. I remember buying Dark Souls 3 during a summer sale way back in college. I tried it out for 30 minutes, died a bunch, and never touched it again. Fast forward to recent times and I have been craving story-driven games. I breezed through games like Red Dead Redemption, Hi-Fi Rush, Metro, and other titles. 

From Bandai Namco Official Website 

With only Assassins Creed titles left in my library, I thought to myself, “Why not give Dark Souls 3 another try?” 

For those unfamiliar, Dark Souls 3 is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. This awesome title is set in the gothic world of Lothric. Players take control of the “Ashen One” a warrior tasked with linking the fire to prevent the Age of Darkness. Dark Souls is known to be insanely difficult with great combat systems, note-worthy level design, a hearty soundtrack, and deep lore. 

From Bandai Namco Official GIPHY

Initial experience

It took me a long time to safely navigate through the Wall of Lothric. I was not acquainted with its fighting systems and thought I should just demolish everything before progressing. There was a constant fear of losing one’s stack of souls which impeded my mindset towards the game. 

The solution? Don’t worry too much about the souls, they will return to you—just keep going. 

After my victory over Vordt of the Boreal Valley I was elated. It took me five runs of dying to learn his attack patterns and windows of attack. It was then I discovered that fast attacks were not for me and slow harder-hitting weapons were better; at least personally. 

From Steam Official Website 

I felt two things: “Man this sucks” and “This is thrilling.” I hated it and loved it at the same time. Frustration was common, but the feeling of overcoming challenges was better. The game then opened itself up after that. The world expanded, the story became more engaging, and the arsenal of equipment improved. 

60 hours later…

Wait, it's been 60 hours already? Time flew by just like that. I tried my best to not look up spoilers but I did check out weapon feasibility. There were times that the game gave a quick scare to make sure I was paying attention fully. 

If you are looking for a game to test your skills and intellect (yes, intellect is involved too!),  Dark Souls 3 is a great starting point. I never thought I’d enjoy a Souls game which is why I just recently purchased Elden Ring alongside its DLC. 

From Bandai Namco Official GIPHY

Who knew difficulty was the secret sauce to an enjoyable playthrough? Overall, the music and the ambience is what made me stick to my guns initially. What made me persevere throughout the whole game, yep I finished the game twice, was the genuine happiness I got from winning over my opponents. 

A quote I saw somewhere in a Reddit perfectly captures the experience: “The boss can beat me as many times as he wants, all I need is to win once.” Talk about a transformative quote, right? 

Speaking of transformative…

If you want to transform your house into a seamless experience with smart devices that work for you, discover your next gadget at the Next Upgrade Shop. Be it smart lights, headphones, or vacuum cleaners, the perfect device fit for you awaits here, all at the best prices!