12-08-2012, 06:56 AM | #1 |
formerly known as Prince.
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Imminent Despair - Let's Play Dark Souls Again.
Let me take you on a trip. It's not going to be pleasant. We'll likely die.
Hello everybody and welcome to Dark Souls. One of my favorite games of all time. About the game: Dark Souls, released in October 2010 and available for PS3, XBox360 and, more recently, PC is notorious for its high difficulty and being relatively inaccessible to new players. It may be more difficult than your average modern game but it's never unfair. It's pretty heavy on gameplay and seemingly low on story, but if you dig around and read the flavour texts of various items you'll discover that Dark Souls has a rich Lore. I'll be playing the PS3 version of the game. Hey, you, person who has never played the game! The game has a rather steep learning curve, I admit, but figuring out the systems is part of the fun. It is an action RPG in which the player's skill is worth more than the number next to the character's name. Dark Souls has a very dense atmosphere that is greatly enhanced by the challenging nature of the game. Players may feel fear as they carefully step into an empty room with their raised shield, anticipating a surprise attack. This can create a truly harrowing experience at times. What I am trying to say with this is: If you haven't played the game yet and think you would enjoy that part of the experience you should turn around now and play the game for yourself. I would also like to say that if you are watching this LP and at any moment think "Hey, this seems like a cool game I might enjoy" you should just go play the game right then before watching any of this. Because in my opinion the best way to experience Dark Souls is to be unprepared. What you will see: I will play through the entire game and also show the expansion "Artorias of the Abyss" which adds four new bosses and areas to accompany them. To make it more interesting for people who already played through the game as well as myself I will try to show off as many different playstyles as I can and switch around equipment. This will require grinding on my part that would not be necessary if one played the game normally, of course, you won't see any grinding in this Let's Play. I'm also going to show at least one ending of each of the three game-spanning sidestories. In addition to that I might talk about the lore a bit because it's actually fairly interesting and has some good stuff. The first episodes will probably be more gameplay focused, though. I'll also try to show all of the covenants and the online play associated with them. But are you even good at the game? I consider myself a fairly skilled player, but you will still see me die. Some deaths will be intentional, but you'll probably be able to tell which ones those are. The rest, well, since the tagline of the game is "Prepare to die" I will show them, but I'll cut straight back to where I died. Also, due to the way the game's save system works I'm not able to redo areas until I get a perfect run, so there's that. Don't worry, though, I know the game well having played through it about 10 times so far. Also: I already got some footage recorded in advance, but if there's something you really want to see I'll try to show it. (Click for playlist) Note: Videos that feature actual areas and bosses from Artorias of the Abyss will be marked with [AotA], however, be aware that even after the DLC is cleared I might casually mention events from it and also use weapons, armor and spells that can only be found in the additional content. Another Note: The audio quality gets better by Episode 13 and further improves from there because I'm getting used to a new mic. Yet Another Note: If you've already played the game or for some reason just care for a quick fix just scroll straight down to the extras section for a lighter, more humorous take on the game during a quick playthrough. Episode 01: Undead Asylum To start our undead pilgrimage we first have to break out of an asylum. Episode 02: Undead Burg Now it's time to go some place and kill some thing and also learn some lessons on the way. Episode 03: Undead Parish This one is FILLED with exciting, deadly encounters. Also featured: A quick showcasing of co-op. Episode 04: Lower Undead Burg Just a casual stroll through town. Episode 05: The Depths Do you like Sewer levels? No? This one is pretty okay, actually. Or at least I say so. Episode 06: Darkroot Garden & Basin Before heading to deadly swamps let's go to a relatively pleasant forest and also stop by the lake. Episode 07: Undead Asylum Revisited Let's go back to where it all started to end it once and for all. Except this isn't even the halfway point yet. But since this is an area we've already seen we'll watch Steven go through it on a New Game+++ Episode 08: Blighttown Let's traverse everyone's favorite deadly swamp. Episode 09: Coming Home In this episode I go on about how terrible the whip is on our way out of Blighttown. In the end there is also a MURDER MYSTERY to solve. Exciting! Episode 10: Sen's Fortress Sen's Funhouse! Get chopped, crushed, eaten or find your speedy downward motion come to a very sudden halt for the low price of just your life! Episode 11: Anor Londo Pt. 1: City of Gods Praise the sun! Some Details of the first part of Anor Londo: Spear Statue Hammer Statue Voluptuous Statue Episode 12: Anor Londo Pt. 2: Gwyn's Keep I've been waiting for this. Tales of times long past, vengeance and my favorite boss fight Paintings from the two bedrooms Statues from the boss room Episode 13: Painted World of Ariamis Art is best appreciated from the inside. Episode 14: The Great Hollow & Ash Lake Bottom of the world, ma. Bottom of the world Sadly, there isn't much to talk about when it comes to lore here, because while it's really interesting the only thing I can do is point out things that are immediately apparent. Episode 15: Darkroot Woods We explore what's left of Darkroot Garden and hate on curved greatswords. This is also the longest episode so far, but the last 3 or so minutes are just a bonus. Still the longest episode even without that. Episode 16: New Londo Ruins There's something strange in the neighbourhood. Episode 17: The Catacombs For some odd reason I feel compelled to talk about Lautrec while we go through this area that has nothing to do with him... except for the fact that all the people there are dead. Like him. Oh, and since I didn't really get to show any Gravelord covenant action for... reasons... here's something else. [AotA] Episode 18: Valley of the Drakes In addition to the Valley of the Drakes we'll be seeing the first bit of the additional content that came with the Prepare to Die Edition for PCs and Artorias of the Abyss for consoles. [AotA] Episode 19: Royal Woods A trip to the past of Darkroot Garden. Something bad is happening in Oolacile and we're here to check it out. Here's some comparison between Artorias and Guts I made. [AotA] Episode 20: Oolacile Township My favorite area from Artorias of the Abyss. It's another casual stroll through town... into the heart of darkness. [AotA] Episode 21: Chasm of the Abyss Let's get down to the root of it all and beat up some old dude chilling in a cave. [AotA] Episode 22: Knighthood's Highest Calling Let's go and talk to the most awesome NPC in the entire game. And then fight a pretty awesome boss as well. With awesome music. God, this is so awesome. Episode 23: Demon Ruins We descend to the depths of Norfair in this update of "What if Metroid were set in a medieval dark fantasy universe" We fight at least three Ridleys. Episode 24: Tomb of the Giants Tomb of Giants. Balls-out hard for first timers, simple if you know what to do. Or rather, know into which pit not to jump because god damn that's a lot of skeletons down there. Episode 25: The Duke's Archives Tonight the world will be soaked in rainbow. Episode 26: Crystal Cave What appears like a cave to us is actually Seath's bling. Now the stuff you all care about: Prism Stones Google Spreadsheet (Screenshot for posterity) Episode 27: Lost Izalith More of Lower Norfair and the shittiest Ridley of them all. Episode 28: Loose Ends Just taking care of some unfinished business The boss weapon I forgot to show in the video Mercy for All without the music (and some extra scenes). Episode 29: Kiln of the First Flame Fear of the Dark and family drama, that's how you know the guy was awesome. If you manage to get through the game you will inevitably end up in a New Game+. This is how such a New Game+ can go: New Game+ Doesn't really change much. You basically get to keep your equipment and the enemies get leveled up and give more souls when defeated. Some people were apparently led to assume that this is the pinnacle of difficulty and that making even the slightest mistake can cost you your life. Well tough shit, they say that about the regular game as well. Truth be told NG+ is not really that hard. True, the enemies are stronger but you also get to keep all your equipment. If you keep leveling up you will get through a NG+ with relatively little trouble. Probably. Fellow LPFers Krimsh and JunpeiHyde join me for the following videos, which offer a lighter take on Dark Souls. Episode A: Worst Speedrun Ever Covers episodes 1 through 9 Special guest Krimsh who's never played the game joins me for this episode which shows a little alternate route you can take if you feel like skipping half of the early game. It's also a New Game+, by the way. Episode B: Giant Lightning Covers episodes 10 through 12 Krimsh and JunpeiHyde join me this time for the Dark Souls New Game+ in which we kill things and set them on fire. Well, I kill them and set them on fire, my co-commentators are not to bla... err, take credit for that. There are also alternate banners because I couldn't decide on a title at first: Man-Serpent ******* PG-Rated Let's Play Episode C: Three Canadian Dollars Covers episodes 17 and 24 I don't kill anyone in that video. Don't believe me? Well, all the enemies are skeletons, so they're already dead. I might cause one NPC to break a few bones but he'll live. Or will he? We'll never know for sure. Episode D: I Am the Sun! Covers episodes 23 and 27 Yeah, no, he really isn't. Episode E: Violinist Extraordinaire Covers episodes 15 and 16 Swordwolf and Ghostbusters Episode F: Canadienne du lait Covers episodes 25 and 26 Blame it on google translate [AotA] Episode G: Optical Shot Covers all the other episodes except 29 It's a livin' Here's Junpei's take on it Episode H: So, Fire, huh? Covers episode 29 We wrap up the Dark Souls New Game Plus Saga. It's been fun. Maybe this will happen again some time in the future. Other Stuff (videos) [AotA] Episode 8==D: 30 hours of fighting the same two things over and over condensed into 23 minutes (Boring version that is somehow shorter) Only few people ever take that fight as many times as it takes to win it. Some people, though, just have too much time on their hands. More other stuff (images) EP 12 Ornstein got moves, so do we EP 21 Just a little Adventure time EP 22.5 Junpei captures limitless glory in one tiny gif EP G Junpei outdoes himself
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Last edited by A Zarkin' Frood; 06-22-2013 at 12:36 PM. |
12-26-2012, 07:36 AM | #2 |
formerly known as Prince.
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right here, with you >:)
Posts: 2,395
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Episode 05: The Depths
Do you like Sewer levels? No? This one is pretty okay, actually. Or at least I say so. Episode 06: Darkroot Garden & Basin Before heading to deadly swamps let's go to a relatively pleasant forest and also stop by the lake. Episode 07: Undead Asylum Revisited Let's go back to where it all started to end it once and for all. Except this isn't even the halfway point yet. But since this is an area we've already seen we'll watch Steven go through it on a New Game+++
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12-26-2012, 10:36 AM | #3 |
Keeper of the new
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Yes! Keep me from having to spend time, money and frustration on the game myself. I hear it's excellent. I'll try actually watching some of this when I'm sober and have time.
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01-06-2013, 07:09 AM | #4 |
formerly known as Prince.
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Episode 08: Blighttown
Let's traverse everyone's favorite deadly swamp. Episode 09: Coming Home In this episode I go on about how terrible the whip is on our way out of Blighttown. In the end there is also a MURDER MYSTERY to solve. Exciting!
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02-25-2013, 05:52 PM | #5 |
formerly known as Prince.
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right here, with you >:)
Posts: 2,395
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I uh... I kinda forgot to post these. Not like anyone here cares.
Episode 10: Sen's Fortress Sen's Funhouse! Get chopped, crushed, eaten or find your speedy downward motion come to a very sudden halt for the low price of just your life! Episode 11: Anor Londo Pt. 1: City of Gods Praise the sun! Some Details of the first part of Anor Londo: Spear Statue Hammer Statue Voluptuous Statue Episode 12: Anor Londo Pt. 2: Gwyn's Keep I've been waiting for this. Tales of times long past, vengeance and my favorite boss fight Paintings from the two bedrooms Statues from the boss room Episode 13: Painted World of Ariamis Art is best appreciated from the inside. Episode 14: The Great Hollow & Ash Lake Bottom of the world, ma. Bottom of the world Sadly, there isn't much to talk about when it comes to lore here, because while it's really interesting the only thing I can do is point out things that are immediately apparent. Episode 15: Darkroot Woods We explore what's left of Darkroot Garden and hate on curved greatswords. This is also the longest episode so far, but the last 3 or so minutes are just a bonus. Still the longest episode even without that. Episode 16: New Londo Ruins There's something strange in the neighbourhood. Also these Bonus vids. Episode A: Worst Speedrun Ever Covers regular episodes 1 through 9 Special guest Krimsh who's never played the game joins me for this episode which shows a little alternate route you can take if you feel like skipping half of the early game. It's also a New Game+, by the way. Episode B: Giant Lightning Covers regular episodes 10 through 12 Krimsh and JunpeiHyde join me this time for the Dark Souls New Game+ in which we kill things and set them on fire. Well, I kill them and set them on fire, my co-commentators are not to bla... err, take credit for that. There are also alternate banners because I couldn't decide on a title at first: Man-Serpent ******* PG-Rated Let's Play
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06-22-2013, 12:38 PM | #6 |
formerly known as Prince.
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Okay, so I finished this thing a couple weeks back. And since I want to have it ended in all of the three places I posted it in I just updated the OP and bam, finished LP.
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