Some videos are finally rolling out and its looking bloody amazing boys!
Latest trailer from gamescom:
A 16 minute gameplay video:
Boss battle:
Oroboro the ninja answers viewers questions about the demo:
The levels remind me a lot of bloodborne, which I think had absolutely beautiful levels. The combat seems to have elements from Dark Souls, Demons souls and bloodborne combined. The rolling seems reminiscent of Demons Souls, and combat looks to be more fast-paced like in Bloodborne. The bosses also look a lot more aggressive ( a la Bloodborne). After feeling let down with Dark Souls 2 (which I went into almost completely blind), this is looking to shape up much better and true to the originals.
Looks great, I'm tentatively excited. I'm very wary of FromSoft annualizing Souls/Bloodborne, but as long as they churn out quality games I am more than happy to consume them on an annual basis. I just hope they know how to quit while they are ahead...
Now we just need a DeS remaster for PS4 so I can play through it for the first time. I went back for DS after playing DS2 on release last year and played BB on release this year, but I want to play DeS!
The level design has always been awesome but I hope this time the connection between the sections is better than in DS2. In DS2 the world just didn't fit and it was super disgusting to have a "flame world" above a huge tower.......
DoubleB, what part exactly are you referring to? I do remember certain areas seeming weirdly connected and crossing impossibly large distances incredibly quickly, but what are you thinking of? Sidenote, I really really liked the level design in the huntsman's copse/undead purgatory section. That was one of the more cogent, well-designed areas.
I think he's referring to the transition from Earthen Peak to the Iron Keep. You go up an elevator into the sky and then arrive at a castle sinking into lava, which makes no sense.
On August 08 2015 01:46 Vexon wrote: DoubleB, what part exactly are you referring to? I do remember certain areas seeming weirdly connected and crossing impossibly large distances incredibly quickly, but what are you thinking of? Sidenote, I really really liked the level design in the huntsman's copse/undead purgatory section. That was one of the more cogent, well-designed areas.
I'm not sure if you played DS1, but it is the main point of criticism that people have about DS2. It's inferior in terms of world building and level design. There are several points to this. It's very important to know, that in DS1 it was only possible to travel between bonfires towards the end of the game. And it was only possible to travel to specific bonfires.
1. Since there was no fast travel, most DS1 levels are very intricate and would constantly loop back on themselves. You usually progressed by opening shortcuts, that allow you travel faster through the level. In DS2 the level are much more linear, since you can simply travel between bonfires from the start.
2. There is a consistent overworld in DS1. Large structures can be seen from a distance and can be traveled to. The world feels much less artificial, because of that. It's also better designed and since it is consistent, there are very many different path, that allow you to travel from area to area. It just feels much more real in that sense.
Overall you will get a much better immersion from DS1. DS2 feels often like an amusement park, where things are just linked together by underground passages, because the designers were to lazy to use their brains. I especially dislike No-Mans Wharf. Why are there suddenly vikings invaders? And why do they live next to giant deformed monkeys? And why do they keep a giant malformed twin on their boat, that has nothing to do design wise with the rest of the level. Earthen Peak and Iron keep are also really bad. They just feel both so lame compared to Sen's Fortress.
The main reason for that people think is because the lead design for DS1 wasn't present for DS2. Luckily he will return for DS3. Unfortunately though I think that no amount of preview videos will help to determine if the DS1 immersion is back. There are also things which are clearly better in DS2. Hit boxes are a catastrophe in DS1 because they are only loosely linked to the actual models. So you get hit while standing completely clear from the enemy constantly.
Seems like a very reassuring interview. The only thing that worries me slightly is that apparently the director of dark souls 2 is also on the dark souls 3 team. Hopefully, under miyazakis guidance, it will work out.
The one thing I like about Miyazaki is that he is willing to experiment and try new things. Bloodborne was a faster game and they did different stuff with the combat. Now he is expanding the combat further, giving people more options. He seems to get what people like about the game, but is willing to change things up even if it makes some fans grumpy.
I’m also glad they are making Bloodborne as well, because creating unlimited darksouls games would be creative suicide. Just remember, this game is going to have frame rate issues and weird coding problems because its From Software. It is the nature of their creations.
On August 11 2015 22:39 solidbebe wrote: Seems like a very reassuring interview. The only thing that worries me slightly is that apparently the director of dark souls 2 is also on the dark souls 3 team. Hopefully, under miyazakis guidance, it will work out.
From what I've read, the director of Dark Souls 2 Yui Tanimura had to pick up the pieces left behind by the previous director Tomohiro Shibuya when he left the project, so Tanimura gets unfairly criticized when he had to piece together the crap Shibuya left behind.
If you look at the DLC which were fully directed by Tanimura, it's generally considered much better than the main game (level design, enemy placement, etc), so I wouldn't worry about his involvement at all.
Whatever the case may be, I bet I'll get sick nerd chills playing this for the first time. Nowadays I rarely get excited for games, but the Dark Souls series makes me feel that special tingling. I get the criticism that DS1 story and ambient feeling was superior to DS2, but I think people exaggerate when bashing DS2. Going so far as to not acknowledge it seems a bit silly or saying they'd rather it have never been made. IMO the game was good, not as good as DS1 but well above average speaking in entertainment value. I especially enjoyed the improved controls mechanics and responsiveness in DS2 compared to DS1, at least for mouse/keyboard. And like everyone said, the DLCs althought short, were good. Fume knight, Sinh and the Ivory King were all excellent fights and I enjoyed them immensely.
Looking at those videos from gamescom, I certainly get a DS1 vibe from it, in terms of raw mechanics. Sunny-D chugging, how the weapons hit, rollin' like a baws, backstabs and hopefully parries. The enemies seem even more aggressive and have better combos it seems. I better sharpen up my clay and zwei :D
I wonder about the story. Will it be somewhere between DS 1 and DS 2, or again a couple thousand year skip after DS 2, or will it pretend DS 2 never even happened.
There is not much known about the story except, that the old lords of cinder are coming back to life. That indicates, that the game takes place after DS1 and probably also after DS2.
There is a qualitative difference between DS1 and DS2. For example in DS2 you get told the moment you enter the castle, that the queen is evil and the right path is to defeat her. On the other hand in DS1 you might never find out, that the princess is an illusion. A prop that was created to motivate you to sacrifice yourself in the kiln (a very large prop one might say). The original DS2 doesn't really give you an option whether or not to link the flame. It just forced you to walk to the throne of want. DS1 had an entire second story wrapped inside of it, that people could slowly discover, so they would understand what the second ending actually means.
I agree though that it is silly how large the hate can get. Story wise it doesn't damage anything for me. It just felt more shallow than DS1 in so many ways, that it starts to really annoy you at some point.
On August 11 2015 22:39 solidbebe wrote: Seems like a very reassuring interview. The only thing that worries me slightly is that apparently the director of dark souls 2 is also on the dark souls 3 team. Hopefully, under miyazakis guidance, it will work out.
From what I've read, the director of Dark Souls 2 Yui Tanimura had to pick up the pieces left behind by the previous director Tomohiro Shibuya when he left the pazroject, so Tanimura gets unfairly criticized when he had to piece together the crap Shibuya left behind.
If you look at the DLC which were fully directed by Tanimura, it's generally considered much better than the main game (level design, enemy placement, etc), so I wouldn't worry about his involvement at all.
If thats the case then Im sure it will work out fine.
About the story. What BlueSpace said sounds about right. Somewhere I remember reading that in DS3 you will hunt kings instead of gods like in DS1. Since the age of man started after the age of fire, this does indicate DS3 is placed after DS1, and maybe DS2 as well.
I personally hope they discard all the story/lore in DS2, or at least create a completely separate world and story, which doesnt make references to it. I dont know for sure of course, but I imagine Miyazaki not being too happy with DS2's story.
I personally hope they discard all the story/lore in DS2, or at least create a completely separate world and story, which doesnt make references to it. I dont know for sure of course, but I imagine Miyazaki not being too happy with DS2's story.
bashing DS2 has sort of become the national pasttime as far as the community goes , just because it wasent brilliant like DS1 , but i think it was a very solid game,better than DS1 in some aspects, the story was interesting and i wouldent mind some things being expanded upon. for example the Old Souls you can collect in NG+, the role of the Emerald Herald, Raimes betrayal, stuff like that
On August 10 2015 22:20 solidbebe wrote: Namco flew some souls youtubers out to play a demo. No new gameplay footage, but oroborotheninja answers a bunch of questions:
I personally hope they discard all the story/lore in DS2, or at least create a completely separate world and story, which doesnt make references to it. I dont know for sure of course, but I imagine Miyazaki not being too happy with DS2's story.
bashing DS2 has sort of become the national pasttime as far as the community goes , just because it wasent brilliant like DS1 , but i think it was a very solid game,better than DS1 in some aspects, the story was interesting and i wouldent mind some things being expanded upon. for example the Old Souls you can collect in NG+, the role of the Emerald Herald, Raimes betrayal, stuff like that
In the end its all a matter of opinion of course, and if you enjoy DS2's story that's completely fine . Personally however, I don't consider DS2 to be canon, and I just hope DS3 will support that.
Thanks for the video epoxide! It was only a demo, so Im reluctant for now. But its really looking great so far.
I personally hope they discard all the story/lore in DS2, or at least create a completely separate world and story, which doesnt make references to it. I dont know for sure of course, but I imagine Miyazaki not being too happy with DS2's story.
bashing DS2 has sort of become the national pasttime as far as the community goes , just because it wasent brilliant like DS1 , but i think it was a very solid game,better than DS1 in some aspects, the story was interesting and i wouldent mind some things being expanded upon. for example the Old Souls you can collect in NG+, the role of the Emerald Herald, Raimes betrayal, stuff like that
I disagree and would like to hear what you think was interesting about the story in vanilla DS2? It's also completely normal, that a sequel is measured by its predecessor.
The old souls/great souls/lord souls are all the same. They are always needed to link the flame.
The emerald herald was created to stop the curse. The idea was that she would act as an everlasting fire keeper, so that the flames will never fade and the curse won't appear. Instead she is doing what Frampt did and is looking for more fuel a.k.a. you. You can also think of her as the lord vessel in the form of a red head.
Raimes had the hots for the queen. Got pulled to the dark side, betrayed his king, got his ass kicked by his former friend and sits now sulking in a giant tower with giant moving platform statues. And this is again another example of having an area that is completely disconnected from the enemy encountered within.
All these three things you mentioned are really not interesting in my opinion. The herald could be interesting, but they gave her so much exposition, that you know pretty much all you need to know about her. And unlike Frampt, there is no Kaathe to contradict her.
First I have heard about Dark Souls 3! Pretty much an insta-buy quite honestly. My ideal DS3 would have the atmosphere and feel of DeS, with the overall quality and badassery of DaS and the more stable servers of DaS2. Can't wait.