Getting the DS games, after I've started with Elden Ring?

[Driblex™]

Hey guys, I've always liked to watch streamers who plays DS and other FromSoftware games, but I never thought I would like to play them myself, except Sekiro, but this is not a real Soulslike game, as fa ras I can tell. A few days ago I've started somehow with Elden Ring, and I love it even as a complete beginner. Would it be good for me to go "backwards" and start the DS series? I'm afraid it will not be as much fun, because it's "less" then Elden Ring. No Horse, no huge Open World, looks a little bit more clunky gameplay wise etc.

Would you recommend someone who started with Elden Ring to play older games from FS? I'm kinda unsure and afraid that it won't be as much fun, now that I got the whole package of Elden Ring.

Kind regards.

[Charlotte]

I would say it was worth it, just watch out as the older games are more "Clunky" but especially DS1 I would say the world design there was inspired. While its not so huge, it feels much more "Designed" where you can find connecting paths between areas and its all one huge dungeon in a sense!

[Stix on steroids]

elden ring is much easier to make builds and quests - the old souls are fuuuuuul of ♥♥♥♥♥, walking and walking etc. besides here comes LORDS OF THE FALLEN, so basically just play elden ;)

[Turt]

I feel Elden Ring tries to combine all of the things the previous souls games did, but as a result it doesn't do everything perfect. The older souls games on the other hand focus on specific things and while they don't do everything Elden Ring does, what they do, they excel at.

Dark Souls 1, old and clunky as it is, still offers one of if not the best world exploration in any of From Software's games.

Dark Souls 2 has the best build variety and some of the most interesting and unique features of any souls game to date.

Dark Souls 3 has the most consistent and best overall boss quality in the series.

Overall I'd say each game has something amazing to offer that Elden Ring won't ever be able to top and anyone would seriously be missing out if they didn't give them a shot.

I'd recommend trying to start with Dark Souls 1 if you can handle the changes in pace and movement, but if you find it too difficult, it may be easier to start with Dark Souls 3 as it began adapting the faster paced combat that eventually evolved into Elden Ring.

[CourtesyFlush09]

Is ER's open world the main selling point for you? If so, you likely will not enjoy the Souls games.

[Ard Galen]

i mean if you like getting your face beaten into lots of alternate shapes and colours by bosses at least three times your size you'll have a good time, because thats the most connecting element.

on a more serious note, DS1-3 are all good games, depending on what you enjoy in elden ring you'll enjoy some more, some less, and there's endless discourse about which ones are better and why. i know i am kind of displaying a minority opinion on that, but i liked DS 1 and 2, but playing through DS3 was an experience akin to self punishment to me.

to give you a more precise info before purchasing: all DS games are more linear than elden ring. that has upsides and downsides, on the one hand you'll be guided better through the game, meaning you waste less time with pointless stuff (at least that is my experience where i sod off in elden ring leaving the main bosses behind for hours on end to just go cave diving in some dungeon i found by accident), and there's still lots of secret stuff to discover, so its not like you're just pushed into every bit of content nose first.
aside of that the graphics look a bit dated compared to elden ring, though that can also bring out a certain charme, so you'll just have to figure out if thats something thats bothering you. not like they're ugly, but still something to keep in mind to avoid disappointment.
the controlls feel sometimes a bit twitchy compared to elden ring, meaning rolls are way quicker and in general your character has less "weight" in movement, which takes some time to get used to, but isn't a bad thing once you get used to it.
from DS 2 to 3 magic has changed quite bit, so if you're a magic user DS1 and 2 will be a bit of a surprise for you.

TLDR: DS 1, 2 and 3 are good games, some differences but as long as its the general game, athmosphere and dark charme of the game that you like about elden ring give them a go. if you're playing elden ring for the open world and want to avoid more metroidvania like levels with multiple looping corridors better avoid them.

[Wungus]

Be real with you. Not worth going back for them because Elden Ring is just all of them combined + popularity means online play is healthy.

But damn it was it awesome to play DS back when it started out as a relatively new genre.

[Driblex™]

Interesting to see all the opinions :) I think I'll pass DA for now, maybe grab it on a sale for a few bucks, so in worst case it would not be huge loss :)

Usually I dont care about Open Worlds, most of the time I prefer linear gameplay, because the Open World in Many AAA games are just "Clear this area" or "Collect 500 from that" and so on. But here it felt like I could really explore and do whatever I want. I mean I've been told to go to Stormveil Castle...which I did...after maybe 35-40 hours and exploring Caelid and Dragonbarrow. Had a tough time there, but in change Margit was hella easy because I was way beyond that level expectation. And that felt great. It is not must-have for me to be good game, but in Elden Ring it was great experience so far.

[Wungus]

Originally posted by Driblex™:

... But here it felt like I could really explore and do whatever I want. I mean I've been told to go to Stormveil Castle...which I did...after maybe 35-40 hours and exploring Caelid and Dragonbarrow. Had a tough time there, but in change Margit was hella easy because I was way beyond that level expectation. And that felt great. It is not must-have for me to be good game, but in Elden Ring it was great experience so far.

This is why I think Elden Ring is objectively better for new players in the genre. Dark Souls lets you do that in a way if you start with the Master Thief Key which without the experience becomes a little more linear but for veterans meant a field day because of how everything was organized.

Elden Ring does a better job at letting you "make your own" adventure like you did. On my first play through on release I got to play a completely different game too but overall its just Dark Souls 1-3 with a horse, better multiplayer, and jumping.

[Wungus]

If they go on sale and you have an appreciation for history by all means but I would say Demon Souls, the real progenitor of Elden Ring, would be more your alley.

[Driblex™]

I only wished that Demon Souls was for PC, not console only. But maybe in the future or I'll simply getting newer FromSoftware games from now on :)

[Wungus]

Originally posted by Driblex™:

I only wished that Demon Souls was for PC, not console only. But maybe in the future or I'll simply getting newer FromSoftware games from now on :)

welllll there are ways to get demon souls on your pc... ways considered... unnatural... ways you cannot learn from... a jedi

its about time for a new genre to emerge from this dark age of gaming so maybe hold off on that

[CourtesyFlush09]

Originally posted by whispery:

But damn it was it awesome to play DS back when it started out as a relatively new genre.

I'd give my left nut to experience that again.

[Yal]

Dark Souls 2 is the most "elden ring-like" game, it has the most zones and bosses out of the series (it even adds stuff unique to NG+, like scripted NPC invasions, so it's worth playing through it twice) and it's got this nonlinear thing where you can do the four main paths in any order. It's also the most optimized the game for some reason, though I guess that won't be a problem if you've got a computer that can run Elden Ring.

I can also vouch for Nioh 2 if you want a souls game with a more japanese flair - tons of really pretty vistas, tons of gameplay systems to mess around with, and again it has interesting New Game + content (you gradually unlock harder difficulties and can jump forth and back between them as you see fit, with quirks like more dark zones and added enemies in previously safe spots on higher difficulties, and then unlocking more and more overpowered abilities to help counteract the difficulty rising, including shenanigans like "once per bonfire rest, you won't die when you run out of HP" or "your spells don't consume magic") - I ended up playing through the game all the way to the end of the final difficulty because of all the extra stuff.
Though do note, Nioh 2 is a mission-based game instead of a continuous world to explore, I know that's a bit contentious.

[s0d0]

I can only talk about DS3 but this game is a close 10/10 and worth your time. You'll also feel right at home, it feels very similar to elden ring, a lot of enemies with the same movesets, same for weapons...
And some incredibly good bossfights. I'd recommend.

[Xaelon]

All of the other Dark Souls games are pretty good. You could honestly play them in order if you want.

That said the older games are slower and are generally more obtuse mechanically. The older games don't have Spirit Ash so unless you can find other players to summon you'll be on your own against some bosses (some fights do have NPCs you can summon at least).

The other big difference you should be aware of is that the older games are mostly linear. There are a few places where you can choose between two areas, but for the most part there's only one path through the game. If you played through Elden Ring by going straight from Legacy Dungeon to Legacy Dungeon you'd have an experience kinda similar to the older games in the series

I suggest starting with 1 or 3, then playing the other game. Leave 2 for last. I remember 1 and 3 having generally better boss and world designs than 2. Don't get me wrong, DS2 is still a good game it's just not quite as good as 1 and 3. The DLC for 2 is supposedly better than the base game though so maybe playing through that part of the game would change my mind.