So, is DS1 harder than ER?

[Power Sword]

Because I've heard both opinions.
Some say DS1 is immensely harder because you can't overlevel content and summon spirits, and you can be stuck on a boss for hundreds upon hundreds of tries.

Others say DS1 is easier since bosses have easier patterns and don't have unfair AoE attacks that are hard to dodge.

So which is it?

[Elymnir]

I think it depends on the person you ask, as everyone has their own skillset and preferences. Personaly I find DS1 to be easier because it's slower and enemies (including bosses) have more straightforward and rigid movesets. In Elden Ring, I still have difficulties to deal with certain bosses, like Hoarah Loux.

[EF_Neo1st]

Yes and no.

Going fulll melee DS1 is a llot easier than ER
Using all toolss available ER is thee easiest of all souls-like games for single player (OP builds + mimic +10, maybe the mimic solo every boss for you and you can even tweak your build for that, it is "hotwheels difficulty").

[nfinite.recursion]

If you "got gud" at Elden Ring, DS1 will be easier. The hard part is adjusting to the slower combat speed and combat "feel". There are certainly some frustrating moments too and some surprise BS but that exists in all FromSoft games to some extent.

When I first played through ER I experienced burnout and took a break after getting to the Mountaintops. I replayed DS3 in the meantime and it was a breeze. It helped that the combat is pretty close though a tad slower and because i've beaten DS3 before, of course. I only died once to the Dancer because I got greedy and used up all my stamina during her 2nd phase while she did her sword spin. Completely my fault for not paying attention. EZ win on the 2nd attempt.

[Scuzz]

Originally posted by Sparhawk 57:

DSr is harder yes in many ways. But it's a slower clunky game compared to ER

I would probably agree with this. It can be harder in some areas and easier in others. Like in ER not all bosses are a pain but some certainly are. It is slower moving, as is DS2. But once you get used to that it is a great game.

[VERStile]

Both are "easy".

Just play! ..and git guder

Seriously they are so norm.

[Zogtar]

Elden Ring is more accessible to beginners. That's about it. Another poster was right about difficulty being subjective, otherwise DS1 is clunkier.

[Sabaithal]

Gauging overall difficulty in souls games is like an IQ test. We could attach a random number to it, but that number wouldn't mean ♥♥♥♥, would it? Its the details that matter.

At the core combat and the enemies you face, Elden Ring is without a doubt more difficult a majority of the time. Enemies react faster, there are plenty of super aggressive, very high health enemies, etc.

But the thing is Elden Ring also gives you a ton of tools and options to deal with said enemies. Options like various weapons, spells, ranged options, spirit ashes, lots of consumables, stealth attacks, terrain advantage, or just outright avoiding a lot of enemies if you don't want to deal with them. Very little in Elden Ring is actually mandatory.

Whereas Dark Souls is just going down one of several linear hallways with stuff trying to ambush you constantly. Essentially its a series of kill-rooms leading up to a boss. Classic game design, but it also means when you hit a wall (in terms of a difficult opponent) you have no choice but to try and break down said wall, and seldom do you have the option of NPC summons or anything else to assist you. In this way the more rigid nature of the game could be considered more difficult, depending on how you play.

[Tommy Wiseau]

Uh no. DS1 only real roadblock is ornstein and smough and thats only cause you fight both at the same time.

[Sabaithal]

Originally posted by Tommy Wiseau:

Uh no. DS1 only real roadblock is ornstein and smough and thats only cause you fight both at the same time.

Apparently I'm the only one who didn't find them difficult. Mostly because its easy to get one of them stuck on the indestructible pillar bases in the room, then solo the other one.

[DontMisunderstand]

ER is a broken mess, as far as balancing is concerned. That makes it a lot easier, in general, especially when combined with the general gameplay loop it reinforces, that when you struggle you stop trying and just do something else in the meantime so that it becomes easier later. DS1 is extremely balanced and always feels extremely fair even when it's hard, so it always feels like you SHOULD be able to win, which encourages you to stand your ground and "git gud" as the memes say. It makes sure that you know it's your fault when you fail, and largely it's correct about that. Whereas ER is just nonsense from front to back and relishes in how spiteful it can be toward the player, but also gives you way more powerful tools to break the game with.

[vamirez]

Ppl should also consider the difference between "it's my first Souls game" and "I've played other Souls games". The former will make any one you start with the most difficult one, and the latter will make any new one you play much easier.

DS1 PTD edition was very difficult in a major way because it was unclear how it even worked. "In Lordran kindle bonfires" - wtf does that mean? Back then there wasn't already a full wiki you could read. When I started out weapon stats were utterly mysterious.

Elden Ring is more accessible, and there is a lot more info available, but still we had many threads here from new players who were very lost at the beginning.

[pdfawc]

Starting DS1 after about 70 hours of Elden Ring, the entire game felt like it was in slow motion. Haven't gotten far enough to say for certain which is harder though.

[Weyrlock]

DS1 is basically only hard while you don't have a powerful weapon (dropped or upgraded) and if you let yourself get swarmed/ambushed. While in Elden Ring you actually need some numbers (HP or just weapon upgrades) if you're looking to clear some of the side content very early and very late of the game, unless you're planning to have some 10 min+ fights and in a very tedious way.