Dark Souls (The Original) Really isn't that good.

[Runa216]

Well, I'm done with that! Finally beat Dark Souls and beat all of the DLC and all of the bosses, optional and mandatory.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed in the late game difficulty. Basically, everything post Ornstein and Smough I breezed through. Even Manus, Father of the Abyss, I only died to a few times despite him being billed as one of, if not THE hardest boss in Souls-Borne. (Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, Bloodborne).

Seriously, once I made it to the DLC, Artorias of the Abyss, I beat the Sanctuary Guardian, the entire Royal Wood, and Knight Artorias in one life. Without returning to a bonfire to replenish my estus.

I beat two of the hardest bosses in the game in one life.

Black Dragon Kalameet I only died to once, despite also being billed as one of the hardest bosses in the game.

Then Manus, whom I beat after only four deaths.

Of the game's 26 total bosses, I beat 12 of them on my first attempt (and had a real hard time on some of the simpler bosses like Quelaag). Here's my list:

Asylum Demon - 0x Deaths
Bed of Chaos - 3x Deaths
Bell Gargoyle - 5+ Deaths
Capra Demon - 15+ Deaths
Ceaseless Discharge - 4x Deaths
Centipede Demon - 0x Deaths
Chaos Witch Quelaag - 15+ Deaths
Crossbreed Priscilla - 0x Deaths
Dark Sun Gwyndolin - 3x Deaths
Demon Firesage - 0x Deaths
Four Kings - 0x Deaths
Gaping Dragon 5+ Deaths
Great Gray Wolf Sif - 0x Deaths
Gwyn Lord of Cinder - 10+ Deaths
Iron Golem - 2x Deaths
Kalameet - 1x Deaths
Knight Artorias - 0x Deaths
Manus, Father of the Abyss - 4x Deaths
Moonlight Butterfly - 0x Deaths
Gravelord Nito - 2x Deaths
Ornstein and Smough - 25+ Deaths
Pinwheel - 0x Deaths
Saeth the Scaleless - 0x Deaths
Sanctuary Guardian - 0x Deaths
Stray Demon - 5+ Deaths
Taurus Demon - 0x Deaths

Keep in mind, anything over 5 deaths got guestimated in increments of 5 deaths, so 5+ means more than 5, less than 10.

Some of the hardest bosses in the game (Sanctuary Guardian, Knight Artorias, Four Kings) I beat in one shot. Of course, Ornstein and Smough was the hardest for me. Man, Bloodborne was so, so, so much harder than this game. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yScJo3eb77c

Here's my evidence of a survey of thousands of people who voted on the rankings.

Honestly, though, I'm a little disappointed after this game's super awesome reputation. As demonstrated above (And keep in mind I did every boss solo, no summons, no co op, no multiplayer), I've gitten gud, as it were, so it's not like the challenge is a problem, but it just seemed like over half of the game was just bad level design or unpleasant to fight bosses or complete pushovers.

There were entirely too many instances where the run to the boss was just too, too long and boring. Too many levels I hated traversing. Too many bosses that were either too cheap or too easy. If I was going to let you know what parts of this game I actually liked, the list would be short.

I loved Anor Londo and Ornstein and Smough despite them being the hardest part of the game. Loved that boss, not once did I feel cheaped out and killed unfairly. GREAT boss design.

I really liked the Painted World of Ariamis, but disliked Crossbreed Priscilla.

I liked the Undead Parish and Undead Burg, but hated the lower city and hated the Capra Demon.

I liked Sen's Fortress, but I didn't love it.

I liked the level design of the Kiln of the First Flame and Gryn, even if he was much harder than the bosses that I had to fight to get to him. (I had to re-learn how to dodge since my shield didn't do shit.)

But that's about it. I liked the STORY of Sif, but the actual boss fight sucked. I disliked Darkroot Basin and Forest.

I HATED:

Blightttown
Quelaag's Domain (+Quelaag)
Demon's Shrine (+Demon Firesage/Centipede Demon)
The Catacombs/Tomb of Giants (+Pinwheel/Gravelord Nito)
New Londo Ruins (+Four Kings were super easy)
The return to the Undead Asylum (+Asylum Demon)
Darkroot Basin
Darkroot whatever else (+Moonlight Butterfly)
Crystal Cave (+Saeth the Scaleless)
Lost Izalith (+Bed of Chaos)
Lower City (+Capra Demon)
Dark Sun Gwyndolin (But I love Anor Londo)
Depths (+Gaping Dragon)

So yeah, that's far too much of the game I straight up hated. I just...I don't like enough of the game to recommend it. Now, I'm super, duper stoked for the DLC of Dark Souls III, but I never want to return to OG Dark Souls (I just didn't like it, even though I kicked it's ass.)

Yet, the second I beat it, I got a very strong, intense desire to return to it and play through new Game Plus. So, uh, yeah?


TL;DR version: I beat it, but after Anor Londo the game got super, suuuuuuper east, even beat half the DLC in one life without dying. In fact, I beat 12/26 of the game's total bosses on my first attempt.