Question - New to Game - Lore and Connection to DS1/DS2

[ChrisPharmD]

I just beat DS2 yesterday, and started this today. I love it... but...

Well, let me step back. It's impossible to put my thoughts on text without creating a wall of words. Also, I'm sure this is so common of a question. I didn't want to Google it though.

Basically, this game is just like DS1/DS2. Every item I come across, every NPC I meet, even the Fire Keeper herself... I have found myself being more shocked at how similar this game than anything else. It bugs me.

Trying not to spoil anything, but when I saw the NPCs in Firelink Shrine, they all resembled the past Souls games. Even the item discovery timing is odd. That sword you get by killing the merchant in DS1? It's at the beginning of the game AGAIN!

This is turning into a wall of text. I just want to know... Please tell me that there is a good reason for all of this. I'm starting to get a little irritated by it, to be honest. This game almost runs parallel with both of the first two Souls games.

I bet this is a frequently asked question. But I'm scared to Google it because I don't want some big spoiler hitting me.

[Grimah]

It's not just you.

DK3 is just feels like some bad fan-fiction. They just ran out of story ideas or miyazaki didn't want to get a writer for it, so they just cash in on nostagia. It is no suprise that this is the last one in the series.

Both DK1 and 2 introduced new story/lore and setting, where this one just seems to be treading over the same things as DK1, even the DLC was a re-do of an older level.

Just enjoy DK3 for it's refined gameplay and better graphics. For me DK1 + 2 is what the series is (story wise, since DK2 has some design flaws). This entry seems more fitting if it was released 10 years from now.

[KuroVersal]

In DS1 you start the game as a hollow with a quest to link the fire, but at the end you can ignore it and become dark lord. Interesting part is that you just leave Kiln of the first fire for that ending. It feels like something was missing as there were no clear hints what happens to the dark lord in a long run if fire age actually ends.

In DS2 you are looking for a cure to reverse hollowing. You can choose to link a fire or walk away, but once you do all DLC's you get a blessed crown stopping hollowing upon death. In some way you found a cure for yourself and leave to wander the lands.

Let's assume in DS1 cycle ends and main character becomes a dark lord. Second game starts after dark lord is long gone and one of old firekeepers is trying to change that by luring hollows into past/alternate reality. New main character who is stuck in dark ages starts searching for a way to reverse hollowing comes across her and learns that he has to travel to Dragleic ruins. From there he travels back in time to Drangleic and starts his quest to find a cure. If you read into DS2 story it seems like Vendrick invaded Giant kingdom around the time when fire was still burning and cycle was continueing. As there are a lot of lord souls from Lordran you can only guess that Giants race conquered Lordran before getting invaded by Vendrick. Once DS2 story ends with main character finding cure timeline is pretty messed up as he doesn't go back to place he came from. Throne of want (linking the fire) wasn't taken by you and with main character wandering around for eternity seems like he might attempt to link a fire to end his life after lots of time passes.

Obviously it is just speculation, but just look how DS3 starts. You are unkindled risen from ashes who is undead with different worlds merging into one. Let's say you are same character from DS2 who later tried to link the fire later on, failed and risen again in time when revived lord of cinders refused to link the fire again. Your quest this time around is to link fire instead of lord of cinders, but you can also embrace hollowing, restore timeline by becoming dark lord and starting a new age by taking fire for yourself instead of letting it fade.

Also interesting fact is that there are three firelink shrine variations: one in sunlight (fire age is still going on), one in darkness (dark age was started) and one where whole world is crumbling & getting deformed near last boss fight. All this suggest that once main character rises from ashes he faces several timelines/worlds converging into one so locations, items and npcs are there for a reason.

In any way interpret DS3 in a way which suits your taste. You created your own story since it is not told to you directly by game, but given in random pieces you have to connect yourself to get whole picture.

[Hunubul]

Originally posted by Grimah:

It's not just you.

DK3 is just feels like some bad fan-fiction. They just ran out of story ideas or miyazaki didn't want to get a writer for it, so they just cash in on nostagia. It is no suprise that this is the last one in the series.

Both DK1 and 2 introduced new story/lore and setting, where this one just seems to be treading over the same things as DK1, even the DLC was a re-do of an older level.

Just enjoy DK3 for it's refined gameplay and better graphics. For me DK1 + 2 is what the series is (story wise, since DK2 has some design flaws). This entry seems more fitting if it was released 10 years from now.

.... DS2 and story? Also if you don't know the story of DS3 (which is a hundred times better than DS2 story), you didn't play attention. Don't talk about things you don't know/don't understand.

[ChrisPharmD]

Thank you guys for your detailed responses. I really don't know how I feel about DS3 right now. I did not play Bloodborne and I dunno... I've seen it being played. I think the mechanics may be a bit more sided with that game than DS1/DS2.

I really don't know. I really really love the polish and the beauty. I love the character creation. I love the unique bosses. But at the same time, I just feel like something is off.

I know there are probably a lot of people who really really love this game. Personally, I'm just having a hard time with it. Maybe it's an aquired taste. DS2 was kind of an aquired taste after playing DS1 and now I really really love it.

I'll just have to keep going and see what happens. I'm currently at the Curse Rotted Greatwood.

[gackie]

DS2 is the only game in the series that's really "alone". Every game in the series borrows everything from the last ones.

[gackie]

Originally posted by Grimah:

It's not just you.

DK3 is just feels like some bad fan-fiction. They just ran out of story ideas or miyazaki didn't want to get a writer for it, so they just cash in on nostagia. It is no suprise that this is the last one in the series.

Both DK1 and 2 introduced new story/lore and setting, where this one just seems to be treading over the same things as DK1, even the DLC was a re-do of an older level.

Just enjoy DK3 for it's refined gameplay and better graphics. For me DK1 + 2 is what the series is (story wise, since DK2 has some design flaws). This entry seems more fitting if it was released 10 years from now.

"redo of an older level"... No. It shares nothing except a name. DS1's DLC, on the other hand, is a reskin of an earlier game area.

[Roux]

they used the excuse that countless times come to pass between games, so they can do really whatever they want even when ds3 isn't really that original or varied.

[gackie]

Originally posted by mepp:

they used the excuse that countless times come to pass between games, so they can do really whatever they want even when ds3 isn't really that original or varied.

Neither is DS1. It's practically Demon's Souls. Sequels are allowed to be similar to their Prequels... Yano?