![ps4 preparing to ps4 preparing to](https://cdn.images.dailystar.co.uk/dynamic/184/photos/395000/936x622/1524395.jpg)
The influence of Dark Souls shows no sign of diminishing. Dark Souls particular genius was being the right game at the right time, a perfect vehicle for the burgeoning streaming and YouTube community, and of course brilliantly combining elements from existing games, including early titles from FromSoft itself.
#Ps4 preparing to software
Of course, From Software didn’t invent any of those mechanics. A difficult game, a game with huge hulking bosses or a death/rebirth loop or healing bonfires or consumables: just another Dark Souls clone. A game with a stamina bar and combat dependent on parrying or dodging and rolling: oh, that’s definitely a Soulslike. A game with gauzy, mystical lore: Soulslike. It is an exception now when a game doesn’t include some mechanic cribbed from Dark Souls, Bloodborne or Sekiro. Ten years ago, we definitely wouldn’t have predicted that an obscure action game with opaque lore, so-so graphics and seemingly punishing combat would become one of the most influential games of all time, creating its own subgenre (“Soulslikes”) that has become the default template for third person action games. There’s a small, critical voice that always asks, is this as good as Dark Souls? Or Bloodborne?
![ps4 preparing to ps4 preparing to](https://i1.wp.com/pbs.twimg.com/media/B5bnYqrCEAA5Z5n.png)
And while I was already writing about and reviewing games 10 years ago, Dark Souls and the entire franchise has continued to contextualize (for me) action RPGs and game mechanics in general. Praise the SunĪlthough it didn’t entirely create the medium, Dark Souls certainly helped popularize Let’s Play videos on YouTube and streamers on Twitch, and I spent many hours watching the hilariously inept Jeff Green, the meticulous Kay Plays, and the encyclopedic Vaatividya (among many others), giving me a real sense of community around the game I loved.
![ps4 preparing to ps4 preparing to](https://gamernetwork.bbvms.com/mediaclip/3417189/pthumbnail/384/216.jpg)
Yes, sainthood is just around the corner, no thanks required. And I have a rule: any time I use a summons, I pay it forward multiple times with other players. I’ve been pissed at invaders and incompetent summons, but also grateful to better players for their help and guidance. I’ve exulted in hard-earned victories over bosses, which as Souls players know, is a very particular feeling of accomplishment that almost no other game offers. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but the games have certainly strengthened those muscles. I’ve learned patience, perseverance, the power of cooperation and altruism from playing Dark Souls.
#Ps4 preparing to free
Provided I can get past the goddamn archers, I can usually finish the back half of the game death free as well. I’ve never intentionally done a speed run, or a challenge run, but in particular with Dark Souls I’ve played it so many times I can pretty easily make it to Anor Londo without fatal incident. I’m not even a particularly good Souls player. I’ve played all the Dark Souls games in all their iterations and tried dozens of player-made mods, and pretty much purchased a PS5 solely for the purpose of playing the Demon’s Souls remaster, which didn’t disappoint in the least. My Souls journey began with Demon’s Souls, a game which I purchased as an import from Japan after hearing about it on the Gamers With Jobs podcast. For the math challenged, that’s 200, 24-hour days over the past 10 years, because today marks the tenth anniversary of the release of Dark Souls. If Steam is to be believed, I have spent approximately 4,000 hours of my quickly diminishing lifespan playing the Dark Souls trilogy and Sekiro, and at least another 800-1000 hours playing Bloodborne and Demon’s Souls on the PlayStation. To the extent that videogames have changed my life - and they have - Dark Souls and its From Software brethren have been one the most important agents of change.