Dark Souls is an Old-School Masterpiece

Forbes is publishing quite a few gaming-related editorials lately, and, more recently, seems to have focused its sights on From Software’s Dark Souls, with a second editorial dedicated to explain why the game is an “old-school masterpiece” after one where its storytelling was compared to Skyrim’s. Here’s a snip:

In Dark Souls there is no money and no experience points. Everything you want you purchase with souls. This universal currency changes how you think about leveling up and buying weapons and spells. You have to decide how you want your character to improve and progress, and you have to actually sacrifice to do so. Nothing comes cheap here.

Moments after killing the Knight I encountered the Taurus Demon. I hit him once before he floored me. Bosses in this game are gargantuan. I knew I was dead the moment he landed, and so I ran. Surely he can’t follow me up the ladder?

Then suddenly the words (Victory Achieved!) flashed across the screen.

The demon was gone. He’d fallen right off the cliff before he could kill me. Oh the smugness that inspired in me as I waltzed across the ramparts. I even did a (joy) gesture, which made my knight look like he’d just scored a touchdown.

Not to worry, my pride was soon shattered. I was dead two minutes later in a gush of flame from a very unexpected Red Wyvern. And by Wyvern I mean a massive, fire-breathing dragon like nothing I’ve seen in a game before. The inferno this beast unleashes scours the entire span of the bridge flame gushing over and around you in one inescapable flood of death. Skyrim’s winged lizards pale in comparison.