Dark Souls Trilogy

If there is a trilogy that is as controversial as it is beloved by its fanbase, it would be the Dark Souls trilogy. With this trilogy, developer From Software have cemented their foundation which were first showcased in 2009's Demon's Souls on PS3 (From Software were previously known for the Armored Core franchise, completely unrelated and way outside the RPG sphere) . The Dark Souls trilogy took what was learned from that game and tweaked it into a formula that would become the "Souls-like" subgenre. Few developers can even claim to have a games whose namesake would become an actual subgenre, that alone is a feat in and out of itself.

I always found it quite hard to pinpoint what exactly made that happen. Everything the Souls formula embodies is featured here: punishing difficulty, epic boss fights, breathtaking vistas clashing with desolate, fear-inducing and claustrophobic enclosed areas and atmosphere so thick you can cut it with a knife, often boosted by the OST which is oft-quiet and sparse in its peaks but when it does peak (mostly during boss fights), it gives off an incredible epic vibe. Of course, the gameplay systems are all here as well such as the many upgradable stats and their various effects on your character, the sempiternal "souls" which you accumulate by killing fiends to use as both currency to buy items and upgrade your character and the deliberately slow risk/reward methodical (which some would call clunky) and mostly melee-focused combat. The games have been made into countless memes and have been the source of a seemingly endless number of videos on social media, so much so that they almost have become a phenomenon through social media alone (cue the now-famous "git gud" meme which has now spread beyond From Software's games).

As someone who has played multiple times through each of the Dark Souls games, there is an odd, unexplainably addictive quality to the games which made me revisit them several times despite me being the type to beat a game and never play through it again save for some very special cases. That's not to say the same is perfect, it has its low points but when considered as a trilogy, each Dark Souls game is of such quality that it's hard to dismiss them. Given that this is a trilogy, I will now do a quick break down of each game, their highlights and low points.

Dark Souls (2011) :

The original which set the standard. Those who would play the original Dark Souls in 2022 would perhaps find it a bit rudimentary after playing Dark Souls 2 or 3 as it did not yet benefit from the implementation of the systems which would further enhance the other games. The framerate was also quite bad but thankfully that was remedied in the "Remastered" version which was released in 2020, making it the definitive edition to play for newcomers, as it features full 60 fps, upgraded textures and all DLC. it should be noted that while Dark Souls featured some of the series' most memorable boss fights, it also featured some of the worst environments in the series (Blighttown, I'm talking about you). A classic, to be sure.

Dark Souls 2 (2014):

The second installment of Dark Souls at first glance seemed to not do much different from the first game but the major difference is the level design is miles ahead. Some of the boss fights fall a little flat to me but the levels are much more fun to traverse and the addition of a new type of sorcery (hexes) which although slightly overpowered are quite fun to use. The overall atmosphere is quite different too. The first time you enter Majula (which could be considered the "hub world"), you get greeted with a beautiful vistas you would not expect from a Dark Souls game. You get several moments like that throughout the game and although Dark Souls 2 has its frustrating moments (Black Gulch, Shrine of Amana), to me there are less than in the original game and overall, is probably my favorite of the trilogy. The trilogy includes the Scholar of the First Sin version with all DLC, which are quite good again, if extremely challenging. It should be noted that the DLC areas are to leave for very last, as they will test your wits and patience!

Dark Souls 3 (2016):

The final game of the trilogy could be widely considered the easiest as far as the main game is concerned, IMO. I'm not sure if it's due to my experience but asides from a few very frustrating areas, the overall game seems to be a little toned down, especially if playing as a magic-user. The latter half of the game is definitely more difficult (starting from Smoldering Lake, I would say) but nothing like Dark Souls 2's main game which is far more punishing. However, Dark Souls 3 made up for that in its DLC, which is by far the most difficult content of the trilogy. In fact, I never fully completed it myself, I simply could not muster the patience or will to put myself through it. To its credit, I will say that those who play as magic users will find 3 to be a fun ride, as it features much more choices and possibilities when it comes to caster gameplay. The OST should be mentioned here again, some of the series' best compositions are here, most notably the Abyss Watchers which in addition to being one of the best boss fights of the entire series feature a sweeping boss theme.

In closing, you'll notice I mentioned little of the story. That's both on purpose to avoid spoilers but also because the Dark Souls series are very light on actual story. There is of course a main line of direction but part of the content is fairly non-linear and can be done in any order. Also, a particularity of the Dark Souls series, much like Demon's Souls (and ulterior From Software games Bloodborne and Sekiro), is that a big part - arguably the better part - of the story is told through highlighting the items in your inventory. It's an unusual way to deliver it which some would say is too cryptic but the Dark Souls games and their cousins have always been this way, making the gamer work for fulfillment, for better or for worse.

One funny observation I like to make for someone who never played the Souls games to give an idea of what to expect is that although From Software's mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki shares no family ties with anime Studio Ghibli's legendary Hayao Miyazaki, both could be said to share similar visions in their respective mediums, in that the Souls game feature the same kind of surreal, often phantasmagorical, chimerical worlds that Studio Ghibli's movies do, with the difference being that while Ghibli movies are whimsical and oft playful, the Souls game opt for a more Lovecraftian visual approach.

And so, all this is what makes the series daunting and even unapproachable for many however if given time and proper attention, the trilogy has an incredible amount of quality gameplay to offer for anyone willing to let these worlds encroach their grasp upon them.