Dark Souls

[ItsThere]

I like the way the Magic is apportioned now, limiting the uses per spell prevents spamming by high level magic users. Generally there is more content on offer in Dark as well, there are more areas but I don't think the areas are better as a rule of thumb.

I've already mentioned the Tower of Latria but the Nexus in itself with the Maiden in Black gave players a far greater sense of belonging. Despite Blightown basically being the same as the Valley of Defilement, the VoD was just so much better, the last area boss in particular had a real sense of weight for me.

Realistically the endgame of Dark is basically

->Open Spoiler<-

stage x-3 of each of the area of Demon's only more annoying because you have to effectively go through x-1 and x-2 in various guises to get there

. I have to say again that the story is utter bollocks in comparison to the first as well. Neither have a particularly strong narrative thread but Demon's had a properly explained end. Dark does not. Despite that, Dark ends up feeling more linear once you have seen everything, there is more of a set progression that you are 'supposed' to do. Demon's opened up after the first level and was like - off you go, do whatever you want, see you at the finish.

Things that Dark does better:

Better variation of standard enemies;
More and more varied magic;
Overarching world map (but better

->Open Spoiler<-

warping

would have been nice);
Better weapon upgrade system;
Focus on hand to hand combat is better at lower levels - a more balanced start to the game.

Things that Demon's does better:

Overall setting and atmosphere;
Complexity of world system;
Better NPC character integration;
Tighter focus but also less linear.

All of the above - IMO of course, I love both games and will do another 3 playthroughs of Dark back to back I think. Then another couple after a few months for proper reflection time. I think I put 140 hours into Demon's so would expect a similar total playtime to Dark.

[Silvergun X]

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?.

Apparently it has an amazing ranged attack on it. Yup, a shield with a ranged attack. O.o

[rmoxon]

I like the way the Magic is apportioned now, limiting the uses per spell prevents spamming by high level magic users. Generally there is more content on offer in Dark as well, there are more areas but I don't think the areas are better as a rule of thumb.

I've already mentioned the Tower of Latria but the Nexus in itself with the Maiden in Black gave players a far greater sense of belonging. Despite Blightown basically being the same as the Valley of Defilement, the VoD was just so much better, the last area boss in particular had a real sense of weight for me.

Realistically the endgame of Dark is basically

->Open Spoiler<-

stage x-3 of each of the area of Demon's only more annoying because you have to effectively go through x-1 and x-2 in various guises to get there

. I have to say again that the story is utter bollocks in comparison to the first as well. Neither have a particularly strong narrative thread but Demon's had a properly explained end. Dark does not. Despite that, Dark ends up feeling more linear once you have seen everything, there is more of a set progression that you are 'supposed' to do. Demon's opened up after the first level and was like - off you go, do whatever you want, see you at the finish.

Things that Dark does better:

Better variation of standard enemies;
More and more varied magic;
Overarching world map (but better

->Open Spoiler<-

warping

would have been nice);
Better weapon upgrade system;
Focus on hand to hand combat is better at lower levels - a more balanced start to the game.

Things that Demon's does better:

Overall setting and atmosphere;
Complexity of world system;
Better NPC character integration;
Tighter focus but also less linear.

All of the above - IMO of course, I love both games and will do another 3 playthroughs of Dark back to back I think. Then another couple after a few months for proper reflection time. I think I put 140 hours into Demon's so would expect a similar total playtime to Dark.

I agree about the NPCs being user better ok demons souls. I liked how when you saved people they would keep poping back up in signifficant ways but besides that one thing I think everything else you mention is better in dark souls. I actually find it far less linear than demon's, the way the world is designed means you can complete multiple sidequests in the same place in any order you like. Speaking of sidequests they are implemented a lot better here than in the first game where they were also very small scale in comparison.

[jimtendo]

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?.

It aint rubbish. For blocking yes. For attacking, no.

Anyone using it for blocking is using it wrong. Use it for attacking purposes only. I've got it as my secondary left hand option, so I've got x3 methods of attack. Granted, when used it chips away at the durability (I think about 20 or so) but it's extremely powerful, and makes the game somewhat easier. The damage scales to the power of the weapon you're holding in your other hand.

I currently use it with my pyro golve (upgraded all the way to +15, then again to +5) and it gives out 642 damage to the clams in

->Open Spoiler<-

Ash Lake

, so I usually 2 shot them. It makes the process of farming for twinkling titanite slightly less tedious, though I'm not flush enough to carry homeward bones to make it even more quicker.

Though the shield does have wonky aiming when the enemy is on stairs, or uneven ground, so it's best when it's level, other than that, Captain America shield for the win.

[Sane]

Had another great session on this yesterday. Having beaten the

->Open Spoiler<-

Iron Golem in Sen's Fortress

the day before I started out in

->Open Spoiler<-

Anor Londo

. Didn't take long before I found the

->Open Spoiler<-

huge painting

and was transported to the world inside it. What a place! One of my favourite locations in the game. Didn't have too much trouble with the enemies there, even the dragon went down in a few tries.

When I got to the boss I was surprised I could

->Open Spoiler<-

talk to her and even more surprised when she said something like 'let's not fight, just jump off that ledge' . So I figured I'd have a look at said ledge and of course a cutscene started when I approached it transporting me back outside. I wasn't going to leave that easily though, so I went back in and attacked her. Turns out she's rather tough and invisible. After a few times getting my ass handed to me I decide to leave it for now and come back later. So I try to jump off the ledge again and promptly died

. Being stuck there I try to summon someone, So I use a humanity, reverse hollofication...and instantly get invaded. Annoying guy that was stealthed so I couldn't lock on to him. He backstabbed me twice and that was that. So I try again only to get killed on the way to the boss with my summoned helper not being very helpful at all.

Long story short, eventually with 2 summoned helpers I kill the boss and am free to move on in Anor Londo. Forgot I was human though and of course I get invaded again while carrying 30k souls . Now this guy spawns quite far away so I try to bore him to death by keeping away. He's having none of that though and has a sit down between 2 giant knights I have to get past. After a bit of fighting where I'm rolling around trying to dodge the knights and his magic I see a summon sign on the ground so I make a break for it and summon. This was the best part of the evening, me and my helper proceeded to hunt the invader throughout a large portion of the level, picking off the enemies one by one. Eventually we ended up on a narrow ledge with 2 archers shooting from both sides and we managed to kill him by pushing him off! Of course my last spear thrust made me fall off as well .

[ItsThere]

It aint rubbish. For blocking yes. For attacking, no.

Anyone using it for blocking is using it wrong. Use it for attacking purposes only. I've got it as my secondary left hand option, so I've got x3 methods of attack. Granted, when used it chips away at the durability (I think about 20 or so) but it's extremely powerful, and makes the game somewhat easier. The damage scales to the power of the weapon you're holding in your other hand.

I currently use it with my pyro golve (upgraded all the way to +15, then again to +5) and it gives out 642 damage to the clams in

->Open Spoiler<-

Ash Lake

, so I usually 2 shot them. It makes the process of farming for twinkling titanite slightly less tedious, though I'm not flush enough to carry homeward bones to make it even more quicker.

Though the shield does have wonky aiming when the enemy is on stairs, or uneven ground, so it's best when it's level, other than that, Captain America shield for the win.

How did you ascend your pyro flame past +15?

[jimtendo]

->Open Spoiler<-

There's a second pyro trainer in blight town, that's sitting by the pillars in the swamp near the cartwheel and rock throwing people. She will ascend the glove, at a high price. I'm assuming you've sent Laurentious to his doom by mentioning your new found skills. so your other bet for getting your glove to +15 is the eggman next to Queelag.

[ItsThere]

@Jimtendo.. I've got the glove to +15 already - can you get it above that?

->Open Spoiler<-

the Eggman offers me nothing, not even any spells! Do I need to join the covenant for him to help me?

['Press Start']

Every time I die my eyes shift in the direction of Batman.

I am at those 2 golden bosses with spear and hammer in Ando Londo. I heard the rumours they were tough so I gave them a shot before going to bed. I thought I would try and cheese them so I poison fogged them and hammer man went down to just under half health. It was taking too long though so I tried toe to toe and got smashed up!

I think

->Open Spoiler<-

I'll tank them to death with Havel equipment, Iron skin, Stamina Regen and Health Regen

. Strange how you think of these things whilst away from the game.

Oh look Batman.......

[ItsThere]

Every time I die my eyes shift in the direction of Batman.

I am at those 2 golden bosses with spear and hammer in Ando Londo. I heard the rumours they were tough so I gave them a shot before going to bed. I thought I would try and cheese them so I poison fogged them and hammer man went down to just under half health. It was taking too long though so I tried toe to toe and got smashed up!

I think

->Open Spoiler<-

I'll tank them to death with Havel equipment, Iron skin, Stamina Regen and Health Regen

. Strange how you think of these things whilst away from the game.

Oh look Batman.......

I'm not sure that tactic will work... Concentrate on taking

->Open Spoiler<-

one down first

you'll see why...

['Press Start']

I'm not sure that tactic will work... Concentrate on taking

->Open Spoiler<-

one down first

you'll see why...

Let me guess,

->Open Spoiler<-

the other one gets vexed and becomes hyper?

I'll try my tactic and go for the spear one first. I'd rather tank the slow one in when he is in hyper mode (if that is what happens). Failing that I will consume all souls in my inventory (a lot) and level up. Maybe I should get a boss soul weapon forged? any advice on where or how to get it done? I have found a Blacksmith in Ando Londo & Catacombes but no boss soul weapons could be forged?!

Anyone tried the shock wave attack on bosses? the one that just pushes enemies back?

I might mosey back to firelink and see what big hat logan is selling too.

[ItsThere]

Let me guess,

->Open Spoiler<-

the other one gets vexed and becomes hyper?

I'll try my tactic and go for the spear one first. I'd rather tank the slow one in when he is in hyper mode (if that is what happens). Failing that I will consume all souls in my inventory (a lot) and level up. Maybe I should get a boss soul weapon forged? any advice on where or how to get it done? I have found a Blacksmith in Ando Londo & Catacombes but no boss soul weapons could be forged?!

Anyone tried the shock wave attack on bosses? the one that just pushes enemies back?

I might mosey back to firelink and see what big hat logan is selling too.

Lol, pretty much! Suggest taking out the spear one first if you can

[briareos_kerensky]

I have found a Blacksmith in Ando Londo & Catacombes but no boss soul weapons could be forged?!

You need a normal +10 weapon of a certain type, the correct soul and they will be listed under the last (IIRC) category of "modify weapons".
[edit] and this can only be done with the giant blacksmith in Anor Londo. Worst thing is that the giant blacksmith won't modify weapons from +5 to +6; this can only be done by Andre if you give him the correct ember.

I might mosey back to firelink and see what big hat logan is selling too.

Logan only sells you spells if your INT is 15 or above (at least, in Firelink; in other places...)

Lol, pretty much! Suggest taking out the spear one first if you can

Hyper mode Ornstein is a laugh. You just need to stay right between his legs. The stomp attack he gains from Smough is easily avoidable, even with a lighting AoE.

[SUMIRE]

I'm at the end now, just been trying the final boss which is rather annoying.

['Press Start']

You need a normal +10 weapon of a certain type, the correct soul and they will be listed under the last (IIRC) category of "modify weapons".

Cheers, I have int 14 too so Big hat might be handy.

So in theory I can unmodify my lightening spear to spear 10+ then use a boss soul on it?

What is a Captain America shield? it sounds handy!