Hello people, 

I got into the souls series through Bloodborne and one of the things I absolutely fell in love with was the story and lore. Granted it isn't anything new since it was a retelling of HP Lovecrafts famed story, but I found it easy to follow via what the game provided. 

Fast forward and we have are at the launch of DS3. I get my copy a week late and I start playing through the game. I know I'll have some trouble with the story as I'm new to dark souls and I'm jumping in on the final chapter. To prepare myself, I watch videos explaining the lore etc in dark souls 1&2. Fast forward 60 hours, after grinding and playing the game on easy mode (I was level 91 I think when I beat the last Lord), I beat the game and got the shit ending for which you get no trophy (where you kill the firelink maiden). So I decided Ng+ is must now for 2 reasons - trophy and story. 

Fast forward another 10 hours and I've arrived at the Grand Archives (I didn't grind out should this time nor did I bother with any of the secret areas or bosses with the exception of the cursed tree as it stops you being pelted with the giant arrows). 

In-between loading screen I decided to look at a few videos about the story since I wasn't quite so sure I was getting it and came across the video below:

https://youtu.be/usaJqeL9o4M

I know it's IGN and it's DS1 and 2 in 5 mins, but even if not entirely true, the gist of it probably is. I realised that they have essentially recycled the story more or less for 3 games, where it is possible to get the same ending again in all 3 games. They done the same in Bloodborne with 3 of the endings (circle continues with either:

- You starting the circle all over again 

- You becoming the host 

- You becoming the catalyst 

The story hasn't changed much between the 3 souls games and nor have the endings. I'm currently working my way through the Anri ending (all that's left is to beat the last Lord), and it seems to be the only ending that is different and breaks the cycle. It's almost a relief that it's there as it makes the journey seem more worth while. 

What are your opinions of the story and lore? Were you left a bit disappointed with the story of the souls games so far as they are some what repetitive? More importantly, have I missed out things that are important or very possibly got things wrong with the story? 

It's not that the cycle can't be broken, but Miyazaki has stated that before Dark Souls 3, the cycle always found a way to start all over again, after Gwyn linked the first flame.

For example, he said "he would like to believe" that, has the player chosen to leave the Kiln without linking the fire, Solarie would eventually arrive there and link it by himself. While there is more to Dark Souls 1, we can summarize it with the Chosen Undead ringing the bells of awakening to announce he's going to be the next one to link the fire. Whether he chose to trust one Primordial Serpent or the other, that's left to the player's interpretation.

Dark Souls 2, while still goes on the Undead theme, goes to a different place in a different but close timeline. The nameless hero is supposed to become the next Monarch after the previous king felt to the undead curse - the reason why this nameless hero goes to Dangrelic is to break the curse itself, but he never interacts with the first flame, and rather, had to link the primordial ones in order to reach Nasshandra -. Mind you, I've never beaten Scholar of the First Sin, but apparently, here the hero manages to travel through time, and meets the king before the Undead curse took a toll on him. By recreating a particular "king crown", he was able to break the curse, and when confronted with the final choice of taking the throne, you can choose to leave and find your own path. This nameless hero would then vanish without a trace, but he would actually be the one that prevented people from being hollowed; though the undead could still be driven mad if they lose the purpose for going on.

(I could have messed up explaining some things, but I just said it like I remember it xD)

I personally love the game's lore and story. My biggest gripe with these, and I'm also counting Demon's Souls and Bloodborne (though the later is completely unrelated to any other game in the franchise), is that they all have terrible endings. Not on the lore per se, because I guess they make sense, but the final sequences are always so anti-climatic and terribly dull that I hate they can't be bothered in making any decent ending for the player.

That makes a bit more sense. I agree with the endings though, umbilical cord ending was I felt the best I've seen so far with a hidden boss etc. 

Any idea on story behind nameless king? Even with summoning it took 5-6 attempts. He was the toughest boss by far. 

Also, if you don't mind me asking, which endings did you go for in DS3 and which one was your favourite? 

I never found the story to be very important in any souls games lol ive played and finished every one but u can't really remember the story asude from Demon's Souls.

While I have beaten the game three times (because I've killed Lord of Cinder three times), I haven't experienced the "Betrayal" ending. I want that ending trophy to be the last one I get before achieving the platinum, so I'm kind of looking for the final pyromancy and miracle before moving on. I know it has an alternative, non-trophy unlockable sequence, so I might play a fourth time to see it. That being said, I really don't like any of the endings. The "Link the Fire" feels like Dark Souls 1 ending in 1080p, and the other one wasn't that bad but they chose to abruptly end it instead of just following it a bit more and give a proper closure. It's always the same with these games. Terrible endings altogether.

The umbilical cord ending was atrocious, imo. Not because you unlock a special boss, which is awesomely fine, but the fact that it comes out of nowhere that you become a *cough* god (Not even a transformation? You just hit the final boss and voila! Doll is going to take care of a slug). Seriously From, just work to improve your endings, because they're terribly bad.

Apparently, Nameless King is either Gwyn's son that chose to ally with the dragons (So he went on exile after Gwyn killed them all), but we don't really have much info on it. He's just an optional boss that happens to be strong as heck.