Dark Souls

[Kaido]

I killed it in an epic face off on the bridge

->Open Spoiler<-

at level 30 - you can hide from its fire behind the wall closest to it, so left side when dragon is left side and right side when dragon is right side, then turn it over as it walks past. I was using magic damage though.

It wasn't visible from the black knights tower, this was my first plan

[ItsThere]

Damn.

Still better than a lot of stuff on the market

[Blaiz0r]

So was I. I think that, on reflection, Dark Souls is probably a poorer game overall than Demon's Souls. There are things that it does better like the overarching world map, the streamlined weapon upgrade system (having all the ore variations on one name makes it easier for me!) and a slightly easier challenge (if you want it) what with summoning NPC's as helpers.

But the atmosphere is less intimidating, the world is less complicated, there is more backtracking (due to the new world structure) and there are less "Oh Sh*t" moments. The dragons in Demon's Souls, including the Dragon God were incredible, there really isn't much of that scale in Dark Souls and the

->Open Spoiler<-

Bed of Chaos

is nothing on the Dragon God, the Storm King or even the Tower Knight. It isn't as challenging either, apart from

->Open Spoiler<-

Ornstein and Smough

I don't think there were any really difficult bosses. The

->Open Spoiler<-

last boss

in particular is a bit of a weiner.

I miss the world tendency system, it effected proceedings in a tangible way that you could affect, the changes to the world in Dark Souls are all story scripted and not player driven. The covenant system is a poor imitator.

Lastly the story in Demon's Souls was far more involved with better NPC's and events. Probably even better areas, I don't think anything compares to the Tower of Latria for me. The story linking made sense in Demon's. Here, it is so shrouded in mystery and obfuscation that it doesn't really make sense. Both endings come from nowhere with no proper hints or explanations as to why they happen.

Dark Souls is a very good game and I am really enjoying it but I think that Demon's is better overall. Anyone who hasn't played it should seek it out and if you like Dark and only have a 360, get a PS3 borrowed or bought and play the original.

Personally I prefer Dark Souls, the combat has evolved successfully, there are more situations where you're outnumbered, and coop has become much more viable than in Demon's Souls, I don't feel like I'm backtracking so much as just passing through, Demon's Souls often felt to me like Groundhog day as you returned to your Nexus and reiterated each world.

I found many areas in Demon's Souls frustrating, in Dark Souls the level design is better, Sens Fortress is genius, a level that really relies on player skill.

I also love the covenants, though admittedly they don't quite work properly yet due to what appear to be bugs that the developers can fix and likely will, they have really increased the online aspect of the game that was missing from Demon's Souls, I don't see the covenant system as a replacement for World Tendancy, but as a new game device.

[rmoxon]

Dark souls is better than demons souls, it is very similar but much more refined and has improvements in every area.

There's more to do, more to see and it even feels better to play. It is quite simply a big step up from what was already an amazing game.

Well that's what I think anyway.

[fuse]

I never really played Demon's Souls (killed Phalanx and that was about it), but I'm very tempted to go back to it given how much I'm enjoying Dark Souls.

Regarding Anor Londo boss -

->Open Spoiler<-

I found a pretty good method with my pyromancer. With light gear on (gold-hemmed black fabric set) I would just keep backing off with my shield up, using Great Combustion on Ornstein when his attacks whiffed / were blocked and Smough was still out of range. It's a quick enough attack that you can sometimes get in two, and can usually block any surprise attacks after one if you get caught off guard. Once it was just Smough, I managed to keep him stuck behind one pillar the entire time. As (s)he(?) tried to circle around it I'd circle the opposite way, but if I then moved in close enough it'd bait an attack. Then it was just a case of stepping back, and moving to the side just enough to throw a fireball/fire orb/chaos fireball around the side of it before resuming the circle dance around the pillar

.

Considering I didn't start playing till late, doing that, getting a few more covenants, and the rite of kindling felt pretty good. Keep on truckin'.

[Bort]

Absolved for my sins last night. 148k. >
I think interest is added over time as the last time I popped by it was lower.

The only routes open to me at the moment are the catacombs and Sen's fortress. Orange mist or closed gates are blocking everything else.

From now on I'm just going to pump my lvl's into Attunement. My pyro is devastating and I need to stack more balls and orbs.

[crocky-chocky]

Regarding the Red Drake: I get the impression he only stays visible from afar if you've shot the chaps tail awf. Weird I know, but that's how it works out for me....He used to disappear as soon as I went along the battlement where you fight Taurus too.

Haven't tried one arrowing him from the tower yet. But I'll give it a go as I've yet to luck out like that on the bosses so far!

[Neon Ignition]

I think it's going to come down to being one of those marmite things. Personally, I'm enjoying Dark Souls more than I did Demon's but then again my mate loved Demon's and isn't gelling with Dark. To me, the only area it struggles with is when there are multiple enemies closing in as the combat system is still very one on one orientated though not unmanageable, it just leads to lots of enemy baiting whereas as it was less common in Demon's.

[Brad]

Prefer Demon's but most of that comes down to the fact that this a sequel.

[rmoxon]

Regarding the Red Drake: I get the impression he only stays visible from afar if you've shot the chaps tail awf. Weird I know, but that's how it works out for me....He used to disappear as soon as I went along the battlement where you fight Taurus too.

Haven't tried one arrowing him from the tower yet. But I'll give it a go as I've yet to luck out like that on the bosses so far!

No, I never shot his tail. So that's not it.

[Btang84]

Not made so much progress on this in the last few days, though I did take advantage of the souls farming glitch in Darkroot Gardens and levelled up a fair bit. Am in

->Open Spoiler<-

Anor Londo. Seemed to take me forever to get past the two black knights, then the numerous white demons that have lightning spears and then some bastard archers that are deadly! One hit when you're on the narrow ramps/bridges and you'd get knocked off. Thankfully have done all of that and will be fighting the boss soon. From this thread and other forums, I'm expecting the hardest boss fight in the game yet.

Also found the 3rd blacksmith. Really don't know what to upgrade my shield to. I have options of lightning, crystal shield or Greatshield of Astorias? Anybody got any ideas which ones are good? How does the lightning on a shield even work? Does it work when I only parry or bash or everytime I defend successfully with the shield? And is the shield made with the soul of the

->Open Spoiler<-

Butterfly

a normal crystal shield? Isn't that just a shield I could have bought from a vendor previously and one I cannot repair?

[rmoxon]

Not made so much progress on this in the last few days, though I did take advantage of the souls farming glitch in Darkroot Gardens and levelled up a fair bit. Am in

->Open Spoiler<-

Anor Londo. Seemed to take me forever to get past the two black knights, then the numerous white demons that have lightning spears and then some bastard archers that are deadly! One hit when you're on the narrow ramps/bridges and you'd get knocked off. Thankfully have done all of that and will be fighting the boss soon. From this thread and other forums, I'm expecting the hardest boss fight in the game yet.

Also found the 3rd blacksmith. Really don't know what to upgrade my shield to. I have options of lightning, crystal shield or Greatshield of Astorias? Anybody got any ideas which ones are good? How does the lightning on a shield even work? Does it work when I only parry or bash or everytime I defend successfully with the shield? And is the shield made with the soul of the

->Open Spoiler<-

Butterfly

a normal crystal shield? Isn't that just a shield I could have bought from a vendor previously and one I cannot repair?

Its a different crystal shield, but its rubbish and only has 80% physical damage reduction, it does however have 100% magic reduction so might be handy for people atempting the hydra?.

[Golgo]

Yeah, I'm one of those struggling to love it as much as Demons. The grind there was strangely - perversely - fresh. Helped me overlook the negative stuff like shortcomings in the AI. Now it just seems a grind, is no longer fresh, and failings elsewhere are much more apparent.

[briareos_kerensky]

I have options of lightning, crystal shield or Greatshield of Astorias?

Crystal upgrades increse the weapon's base damage but remove a lot of durability and they can't repaired.

The Greatshield of Astoria is an excellent shield, though it doesn't have the fire and lighting cut rates of other greatshields. It gives, however, enhaced protection against abnormal conditions, though only against attacks blocked by the shield (it won't enhace poison protection in the swamps, for example). Plus it's very stable and durable.

so might be handy for people atempting the hydra?

The hydra's ranged attacks are purely physical and a full barrage will guardbreak even a greatshield. Each "shot" also has an area of effect when hitting an obstacle, so it' better to dodge them.

[rmoxon]

The hydra's ranged attacks are purely physical and a full barrage will guardbreak even a greatshield. Each "shot" also has an area of effect when hitting an obstacle, so it' better to dodge them.

Really? I thought it was a magic attack... well there goes that idea then.

Yeah, I'm one of those struggling to love it as much as Demons. The grind there was strangely - perversely - fresh. Helped me overlook the negative stuff like shortcomings in the AI. Now it just seems a grind, is no longer fresh, and failings elsewhere are much more apparent.

Dark Souls has alot less grinding than Demon's. Not only is it easier to get souls for leveling up purposes but things like upgrading weapons (which was ooften a chore in the first game) have been made much easier to accomplish, its now alot more fun to experiment and level up different weapon types as it doesnt take 10000 hours to get what you need to upgrade them.

The structure of the game has helped greatly too, the world is just alot more enjoyable to explore now, and theres so much more of it. You are often traveling through areas you have been before but also finding new places at the same time and collecting souls all the time along ethe way. The hub structure in Demon's Souls was flawed becuase you really had to go back through the previous levels and grind if you didnt want a painfully rough ride through the game. In dark souls it feels like youre always getting the oppurtunity to level up, get new equipment ect without even trying for it becuase of the way the world is laid out.