Is there any way to make this series enjoyable?

[CharmHole]

I had so much fun playing Nioh 1 and 2 that playing the souls games makes me feel like im losing my humanity.

[NightmareGats]

Yes, by invading people

[JellyPuff]

Really? I always considered NIOH to be a bit more frustrating. Yokai enemies in particular feel artificial difficult. In the 2nd one, it looks like the gimmick of all Yokais is just "They can kill you in 1 hit".

Well, anyways...can't really make something you don't enjoy magically enjoyable. Some players need some time until it makes "click" for them. If even playing for hours doesn't make you start enjoying yourself and you feel like forcing yourself, then Dark Souls games just might not be for you.

Or maybe you come back in a few years and suddenly love it. Some critics back in the day slammed Demon's Souls only to become total soulsborne-nerds later.

In the meantime, give CODE VEIN a try, if you haven't. I'd say it's more similar to NIOH than Dark Souls. Same frustrating 0-frame startup enemy attacks and the lack of weight to combat, like you're LARP-ing with styrofoam weapons. NIOH and CODE VEIN were still fun, but i think i prefer Dark Souls combat a lot more.

[Bandy]

Yes, for some it does take time to click if ever. I have some serious gamer friends who bought DSR based on my rec and they have 16 and 25 min each, so I don't rec it anymore...

Coop with friend makes it more fun, but some coop limitations for some regions, and no coop if the region boss is killed.

[CharmHole]

Originally posted by JellyPuff:

Really? I always considered NIOH to be a bit more frustrating. Yokai enemies in particular feel artificial difficult. In the 2nd one, it looks like the gimmick of all Yokais is just "They can kill you in 1 hit".

Well, anyways...can't really make something you don't enjoy magically enjoyable. Some players need some time until it makes "click" for them. If even playing for hours doesn't make you start enjoying yourself and you feel like forcing yourself, then Dark Souls games just might not be for you.

Or maybe you come back in a few years and suddenly love it. Some critics back in the day slammed Demon's Souls only to become total soulsborne-nerds later.

In the meantime, give CODE VEIN a try, if you haven't. I'd say it's more similar to NIOH than Dark Souls. Same frustrating 0-frame startup enemy attacks and the lack of weight to combat, like you're LARP-ing with styrofoam weapons. NIOH and CODE VEIN were still fun, but i think i prefer Dark Souls combat a lot more.

If artificial difficulty is your issue then how you enjoy the souls games is beyond me. Every attack, parry and movement action feels more delayed than red dead redemption 2. I feel like I'm playing google stadia on a console that's halfway across the globe. Personally I dont enjoy lag in my single player games but maybe that's just me.

This series feels like its for sadists who actually hate videogames and play souls in order to lash themselves for sinning. I'd tried 3 of them so far and every single one makes me FEEL like my soul is dark. It's always the same formula: figure out attack pattern - adjust accordingly - max out main stat - hope for item drops. The likenesses to world of warcraft are not without warrant. I'm not saying its not fun, I'm saying the fun in in the sadism. It's like digitally cutting yourself.

I go back to Nioh and it feels tight, responsive, full of choices and pathways and SO many different combat styles to choose from that no playthrough is ever the same. The only drawback is no pvp nor open world. Still, whenever I fail in Nioh i feel like it's my fault for not responding accordingly. Whenever I fail in Souls I feel like its the developers laughing at me for wasting both time and money on ther product.

[m0k]

Originally posted by CharmHole:

It's always the same formula: figure out attack pattern - adjust accordingly - max out main stat - hope for item drops.

Gee, you almost make it sound like Dark Souls is a skill-based action RPG.

[CharmHole]

Originally posted by m0k:

Originally posted by CharmHole:

It's always the same formula: figure out attack pattern - adjust accordingly - max out main stat - hope for item drops.

Gee, you almost make it sound like Dark Souls is a pattern-based action RPG.

fixed that for ya

[m0k]

Originally posted by CharmHole:

Originally posted by m0k:

Gee, you almost make it sound like Dark Souls is a pattern-based action RPG.

fixed that for ya

Almost all games are based on identifying patterns and acting accordingly.
It's what's called 'problem solving', and it's mostly where the fun of mastering a game stems from.
Maybe this game is just not for you and that's okay.

[Bandy]

Originally posted by CharmHole:

...Every attack, parry and movement action feels more delayed than red dead redemption 2. I feel like I'm playing google stadia on a console that's halfway across the globe. Personally I dont enjoy lag in my single player games but maybe that's just me.

You may have a hardware issue, believe majority of us do not have lag as you describe.

Originally posted by CharmHole:

This series feels like its for sadists who actually hate videogames and play souls in order to lash themselves for sinning. I'd tried 3 of them so far and every single one makes me FEEL like my soul is dark. ...

If you were mature enough perhaps you would realize that not all games are for all people, and sure, different people have different itches. As posted, it may take a while before it clicks, maybe it never does for you.

Maybe just move on before you start to sound/post like a troll.

[CharmHole]

Originally posted by m0k:

Originally posted by CharmHole:

fixed that for ya

Almost all games are based on identifying patterns and acting accordingly.
It's what's called 'problem solving', and it's mostly where the fun of mastering a game stems from.
Maybe this game is just not for you and that's okay.

there is skill in puzzle solving yes, but some puzzles are much faster than others. souls games have slow, painful puzzles meant to deter yet here we are. nioh and rocket league have very fast puzzles which require high amounts of skill meant to reward the player.

the dopamine reward you receive from finishing souls games is your brain telling you how happy it is it doesnt have to slog through it anymore. the reward you receive from NIOH 2 is a realization of higher talent being achieved.

[m0k]

ᴏᴋ

[CharmHole]

Originally posted by Bandy:

Originally posted by CharmHole:

...Every attack, parry and movement action feels more delayed than red dead redemption 2. I feel like I'm playing google stadia on a console that's halfway across the globe. Personally I dont enjoy lag in my single player games but maybe that's just me.

You may have a hardware issue, believe majority of us do not have lag as you describe.

Originally posted by CharmHole:

This series feels like its for sadists who actually hate videogames and play souls in order to lash themselves for sinning. I'd tried 3 of them so far and every single one makes me FEEL like my soul is dark. ...

If you were mature enough perhaps you would realize that not all games are for all people, and sure, different people have different itches. As posted, it may take a while before it clicks, maybe it never does for you.

Maybe just move on before you start to sound/post like a troll.

a troll implies deceit and i can assure you there is no trickery here

[JellyPuff]

Originally posted by CharmHole:

adjust accordingly - max out main stat - hope for item drops. The likenesses to world of warcraft are not without warrant.

While reading this, it became clear, that you engage the game with a completely wrong mindset. Item drops aren't even important unless you really want to dress up as a certain enemy or want their weapons for a specific build.
It's not your typical hack 'n slash, where you're supposed to run head-first into a new area or the first group of enemies you see and just mash the attack button. Combat here is slower paced, but meaty and methodical. That's what draws many to this game. Weapons have some real oomph. It's a similar feel to using a shotgun in a FPS like DOOM or F.E.A.R.

Always be aware of your weapon and what it can and cannot do. Naturally, some weapons are slower than others but often have more range and/or damage. Most of the game is just spacing and whiff punish. Fight smart, don't just hit hard.

While the game makes it a bit difficult with it's obscurity, there are tons of tools at your disposal, some of which trivializing the game almost completely, like shields, cheesing things from distance, backstabbing, spells, poise, certain weapons or just how about simply walking past most non-boss encounters, which is even easier vs enemies weak to Alluring Skulls.
There's also no shame in getting some pointers of the internet (if a guide's telling you, that the Drake Sword is a good beginner's weapon, go read a different one instead). The devs expect you to do so, after all. Here are some pointers from me:

- If an area or specific enemy is giving you trouble, that usually means, it's something you're supposed to do later. A good example is the graveyard at Firelink Shrine right at the start.
- The lower you equipload, the more iframes and less recovery frames you get on your dodgeroll. The most important break points are below 25% of your max equipload for fast rolls and 50% or lower for mid-rolls.
- Weapon upgrades are the most important character upgrades.

[CharmHole]

ah so i dont like it cause its so slow. i get it now. i can concede that. same reason i dislike minecraft. 80% of the game is just left clicking blocks. aight gg fam

[Brooke]

Try Ico first if it’s not clicking. That was a primary inspiration for Dark Souls

[NightmareGats]

Originally posted by Brooke:

Try Ico first if it’s not clicking. That was a primary inspiration for Dark Souls

WHAT?!?!?!?
I THOUGHT IT WAS GARFIELD KART, MY LIFE IS A LIE REEEEEEEEEEE