A tribute to the Souls Games

This is a small tribute to a series of games that I love more than any other: the Souls games. They spark love and hatred, deep discussions about challenge, skill, what is fair and what is just frustrating. And I've slayed dragons from Baldur's Gate to Skyrim, but in my humble opinion the highs - and lows - of the Souls games are unmatched by any other.

Below are a few of my stories that I wanted to share. Feel free to share your own :)

(fyi, this post won't contain spoilers)

Demon's Souls

The game that started it all. I remember seeing a trailer of it, and that I needed it from that moment on, a thing of dreams. Since the game was only available in China and Japan at that time, I got a ch/en copy from ebay.

Unlike its successors, Demon's Souls had character and world "tendency" (a form of good vs evil) that affected the world; If you were bad, it actually got harder.

Dark Souls 1

Dark Souls continued with the mechanics of its predecessor, but initiated a separate story that is mostly unrelated to the world of Demon's Souls - or so I believe at this time ...

What I remember most dearly is setting up skype with a friend, and getting to summon eachother (by trial and error) for some jolly cooperation and serious ganking.

As fast-travel was not an immediate perk, the game posed some serious challenges before you could roam around more freely, but the interconnected world was a joy to traverse and a sight to behold.

Dark Souls 2

While widely regarded the black sheep of the series, I think I've spent most of my time in this particular game. With the addition of the DLCs, Dark Souls 2 offers an immense world with rediculously frustrating bosses that you genuinely feel proud of when beating them. Lud and Zallen, I hate you!

Dark Souls 2 introduced better dual wielding and power stance, improving over the combat of the previous games.

We've held a few Dark Souls parties - I've infected my wife and most of my friends - where we did speed runs, and I've personally completed a soul level 1 run (you don't level, ever), done lots of PVP and ultimately got the platinum trophy as well.

At level 305, this game has my highest level character.

Bloodborne

As the first Souls-like game on the PS4, this was our reason to get a PS4 :) While the mechanics are largely the same, the stats and gear system was simplified, and (most notably) a side-arm allows for ranged parries unlike the dangerous shield parry system.

The no-blocking and health-regain systems make for a much faster game, but the best part about Bloodborne is perhaps its story. I won't spoil any of that though.

As it's easier to get than the other games here, we quite quickly obtained the platinum trophy. As my heart is with the medieval themed games, I'm not planning any speed or challgenge runs on this one.

At about 160K, I've lost the most souls from death in this game.

Dark Souls 3

Darks Souls 3 is the final chapter of the story that part 1 started. I have no idea how it ends, as I'm not done yet. But I've already experienced so many epic moments, rediculous bosses, terrible invaders and hilarious deaths, that I'm sure I will come to love this game as much - or more - as the others.

We're playing blind, but we've already found several secret areas (we're thourough), we also have a lot of questions still though.

And if you made it till here: thanks for reading :)

edit: As mentioned in the comments: King's Field by From Software deserves an honorable mention as the spiritual predecessor to Demon's Souls!