Soulslike - Discussion, News, Memes

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This is a community for discussion, news, and memes pertaining to the video game sub-genre "soulslike".

Given Lemmy's size, the definition of soulslike may be treated relatively loosely. While games like the numerous FromSoft titles, the recent Star Wars Jedi games, Lies of P, Nioh and similar games should be the focus, games that incorporate soulslike elements - like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous, for example - may also be discussed here.

Basic Lemmy-quette applies. Additionally, since flairs don't exist yet, please do make sure to include a marker to denote what game your post is about in square brackets for clarity's sake. An example could be:

[BB] This enemy is so difficult!

[DS1] Anyone struggling with the gargoyles?

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[Discussion] What's your Soulslike origin story? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 4 months ago by v4ld1z@lemmy.zip to c/soulslike@lemmy.zip

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One way or another, we've all found our way to this truly magnificent genre of video games. We've all had our humble beginnings and first trial runs of games the genre has to offer. But how did we get here? Who introduced us to the genre? That's what I want to know from you!

My very first introduction to the genre was via PewDiePie (yuck) from like 2013 or so when he first played it on his channel. Didn't know the next thing about the genre or the game at all but wanted to give it a try since it looked fun and I was an impressionable teen. I remember bearing Taurus Demon and then getting stuck on Undead Burg, so I didn't really play a lot.

The other person that influenced me in giving the genre a try was probably my former breakdance teacher who's a huge fan of Bloodborne. I had a digital copy off PS+ and got some encouragement from him to give the game a try. It didn't click with until a couple years later, or rather I was too scared to progress because I knew of an upcoming jumpscare that I didn't want to experience (that doesn't exist btw), but yea, those were my two first instances of being introduced to the genre.

Were you introduced to the genre by someone in particular? How did you get to give it a try?

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[–] sad_detective_man@sopuli.xyz 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I tried ds2 on a lark when I was very isolated and in a new place. Didn't have internet and a friend suggested it as an offline activity when I wasn't working. The message of the story and gameplay resonated with me finding meaning in my own fears and uncertaintude. Didn't get obsessed though until Jacob Geller made a video about how DS3 was about deciding to die. After trying it From has had their hooks in me ever since.

Which is funny because before Dark Souls I was obsessed with Armored Core and didn't even realize who the developer was

[–] v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Oh wow, DS2 as a first must be crazy. How did you like the other entries compared to your first exposure to the genre via the "middle child" of the franchise?

[–] sad_detective_man@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Tried DS1 and didn't get far, it felt like I lost complexity and gained tank controls, backstabbing ambushes that I couldn't defend against. I plan to try it again some day but I'll have to be in the right mindset.

Bloodborne smashed my balls in a vice at first until I learned to stop trying to grind and rely more on parrying. Then it became the game my girlfriend at the time and I bonded over. She never played souls games but somehow learned to parry better than me just from watching. My character started as an ill conceived quirk chungus and we made up lore about all the creatures and our characters as we went. Ended as a fully vindicated and unrepentant quirk chungus. Good times all around.

Ds3 felt good when I played it but in retrospect I think it had less going on thematically. Blew my mind at the time though, think it was the first really deconstructive fantasy literature I had sunk my teeth into and I crave that. But it got me to stop using shields and that was a mistake

ER gave me back everything about DS2 I was missing. I like feeling like a dirtbag cheating my way too undeserved power and the gameplay gave me that. The story gave me that and that variety of regrets/elation that I associate with it. Didn't really follow through as much in the DLC though.

I'm not built for Nightreign. It's got so much cool stuff I should love but I can't handle time limits or not being able to explore and vibe in the world. Hope to see the mechanics adopted in new traditional titles though