Dark Souls … Not So Dark

So I’ve recently started playing Dark Souls on the Xbox, and I noticed that the game is much less dark than Demon’s Souls. In that game, I was apprehensive to take two steps into a dark, forgotten alleyway. In this game, however, I run into a hoard of enemies like it’s no big deal.

And truthfully … it isn’t as hard as they say.

Don’t look at me like that. It’s true.

Everyone is always saying that this game is super hard, the bosses are insane, and blah, blah, blah. It’s really not that bad at all. So far, I’ve only died once and it was because I pressed a few wrong buttons against a giant black-armored foe.

The game is easily enough to understand. Right triggers/bumpers are for right-handed weapons, and left triggers/bumpers are for left-handed weapons. I had a rough time getting used to this at the very start of the game because I was playing Jak and Daxter the day before and attacks on that game are the square and circle buttons.

Bonfires are used to restore health, level up, and make yourself human again (amongst other things). I must admit, even though the game saves everywhere (even right in the middle of death, apparently), I feel a little safer when I reach an area with a bonfire.

The bosses are all huge, with even huger weapons. Two or three swings and you’re dead, so make haste and roll away from them!

I found the winged spear to be a great weapon in the game. In order to get it, you have to run through the graveyard near the start of the game (right after you get through the undead asylum). You can both block and attack, so it’s a great defensive weapon.

Co-op I discovered was lame. Up to three people can join your world, but they are only there to help you kill the bosses. There is no free-roaming, like I had hoped. Once the boss is dead, your friends go back to their own worlds, but at least with their rewards from the fight.

I had expected a little more from this game, to be honest. I really wanted to see some sort of resistance place, a town of some sort, that had normal people and not things that tried to kill you. Perhaps it could have been hidden away and you would have to discover it, and while you were there you could rest and stock up on items. But no, so far there is just undead as far as the eye can see.

Another annoying feature is when you kill something and walk over it, the body seems to dance around on the ground like a rag-doll, as though there was no gravity.

Despite these things, however, I do enjoy the game. It has a beautiful world (even though it’s very grim [but that's the point]) with lots of twists and turns. I would have liked it to be more open, but I think it’s fine the way it is. I mean, if it were like Skyrim, for instance, that would be ridiculous. But the world does justice to the grim theme. It’s ruined and eerie, filled with many types of things that want to destroy your humanity.

I like that your flasks (basically health restorers) refill whenever you get to a bonfire. It makes the game much more easy to navigate when you don’t have to worry about picking up health items.

Overall, I liked it, and perhaps I should give Demon’s Souls another run.

Well, maybe. I don’t like being scared.

~ Sandra

Squidoo

So I joined Squidoo, an interesting site for writers. I’m not sure how it completely works yet. Still getting the hang of these “module” things.

If anyone wants to check it out, you can go here: http://www.squidoo.com/the-grimmest-thing-on-tv

The worse part about this is the trophy earning. Not that trophy earning is a bad thing, but when you’re as obsessed with completing things as I am, well … it really is a bad thing.

Honestly, my favourite part about the Xbox is the fact that I can earn awards from every game.

Well, that’s all I wanted to say, I guess.

Oh! Except my book proof came in. And it’s beautiful.

Printed copies will be on their way very soon.

Anyway, tootles!

~ Sandra

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

So I’m not sure how many gamers are out there, writing and/or reading blogs, but I figured I might as well write in my thoughts on various games. I play a lot of video games so it only makes sense to write up a few posts from time to time.

What I – along with many others – am looking forward to next month is the fifth Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim. I played through the fourth game not too long ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. There’s something about having free control over every single thing you do that I really like about this series. I loved Oblivion, and Skyrim promises so much more, according to the developers.

I watched the various game reviews on youtube, all commentated by the makers of the game, and was very surprised (and very much excited) at all the new content available. The graphics have all been improved, making the game look and feel much more realistic than before. Dungeons have been given a new engine, each one different from the other, unlike Oblivion, where every fifth dungeon you entered was the same as the first.

There are new races and new guilds to check out, as well as an interesting new feature called “dragon shouts”, which you can collect throughout the game in various locations. These shouts are all different and there are over twenty of them in the game. They give you special powers, such as invincibility, ice that can freeze enemies, and the ability to summon your own dragon to help you fight.

Speaking of dragons, there are a LOT of them in this game. You will have to fight and defeat dragons in the wild, and even in cities! You will befriend a single dragon to help you in your quest, who can even fight other dragons! Your character is Dragonborn, which means “born with the soul of a dragon”. This allows you to collect dragon souls, which are obtained after killing a dragon and can be used to unlock the dragon shouts.

Your character in this game can wield two weapons now instead of one! Or two spells. The third person perspective is improved significantly, making it more fun to play in that mode instead of first person. The weapon actions look better, as well as movement. Since I like playing in third person more, this is quite exciting for me.

There is also the new level up feature. In this game, you can shape your character the way you want him/her to be shaped. Instead of picking a class at the beginning, you choose (over the progress of your adventure) how you want your character to grow. I really like this new feature. I think it will be much better than the old way.

Skyrim’s release date is the 11th of November, which is about two weeks away. I know I’ll be there on that day to pick up a copy. I also know that it’s going to consume lots of hours of my life for a few weeks. Oh well.

Check out the trailer at “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjqsYzBrP-M” to see for yourself! Trust me, it’s a must buy on your list of games!

~ Sandra