What Makes Dark Souls 3 Tick?
Jun. 24, 2016What Makes Dark Souls 3 Tick?
Dark Souls 3, the latest installment of the Souls series is the last from this universe according to official sources. With over two months since its release the game has managed to attract the attention of lifelong fans and newcomers alike. In addition to being the final chapter of the epic saga, to me, it is nothing short of a true masterpiece which I will look back at in a few years and without hesitation roll a new character.
Dark Souls 3 brings you into the mysterious, dark, punishing but also rewarding Kingdom of Lothric. As we are well aware, deep dialogues and a clear storyline are not the hallmarks of the game. But those searching for a thrilling title that will have you hold your breath and be on your toes for every turn you make, are in the right place.
What makes Dark Souls 3 tick however?What is it, which attracts so much attention and keeps players wanting for more, even subconsciously? Almost every aspect of the game is near perfect from gameplay to design to lore, but many fingers would point to the unique PVP mechanics, which have been inherited from the previous installments with slight adjustments, as the element of the game that creates it’s longevity and happy repetition.
As we are all aware, PVP in Dark Souls 3 comes in many forms from allowing you to simply invade other players as they progress through their game to organized duels and so called ‘Fight Clubs’. While the latter ones are governed by various unwritten rules e.g. not being allowed to drink anEstus Flask, the Invasion mechanism comes without any rules. Neither for the invaded nor the invader –and this is what makes the game tick for months and even years after release.
When an invasion takes place there are an infinite number of possible outcomes and things that can happen. The invader has literally no sense of who he/she invades, how many players are present and where or what their respective builds are.If the invader doesn’t find the invaded player (host) within a given timeframe they are sent back home and even if they do find them, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a clean, honorable duel. All parties can equally use the surrounding terrain and jump-off cliffs, go down ladders or ambush each other when least expected. The invader has a penalty of -30% HP and a halved potion stack, but is not attackable by NPCs – with the exception of NPC phantoms i.e. allies the host has summoned – so he can move around freely and track down his prey.
Let’s make this a bit more interesting though. The host can have an ally hiding behind a wall and lure the invader into a trap, or even take the invader into an area filled with NPCs and then use aSeed of a Tree Giantwhich will make those NPCs hostile towards the invader as well. Either of them can useChameleonor theYoung White Branchto take the form of an object in the environment and jump on their opponent when least expected, or even break the ropes of a bridge and send the opponent(s) to oblivion!
Think about that.Each and every PVP encounter is entirely uniqueand can go a million different ways just because of these and many other factors. Unlike most games, PVP is an integrated functionality of Dark Souls and doesn’t require you to travel to a specific location, or enter a queue to get into a PVP instance or arena. The whole world is your arena and you must be prepared accordingly. This type of challenge is rewarding, diverse and forms a huge portion of the niche identity that has defined the Souls series.
As with any PVP game however, skill does come into the equation. Skill comes in many forms in the game and one will find numerous videos and streams out there of boasted feats of masterful ability. But skill on its own is just a fragment of what will decide an invasion’s outcome. Combine all the aforementioned factors and you will easily notice how impactful these can be in various situations. This levels the playing field for the creative and ingenious and is the reason why innovation and refinement is constant in this game compared to other competitive games. There is just so much to discover, test and deploy, all in the name of competition. So much is discussed about balancing the game’s mechanics or stats but always in the name of organized play.What we often forget is how dynamic and rewarding environmental PVP really is.
In most, if not all, games there are of course some bugs, latency, overpowered builds and weapons, and even the occasional cheaters make their grating appearance. From Software has however, proven to be close to the game’s followers and takes fast and targeted measures. With every patch numerous changes are applied that re-calibrate the mechanics in an attempt to satisfy the player base. It doesn’t always satisfy everyone, but they really want to make their title work and pay attention to feedback. The problem sometimes arises when players are demanding a square peg fit into a round hole and ask for changes that suit the meta of 1v1 play, when the game is crafted as an experience of variables.When chaos is the foundation, it’s difficult to attempt control.
Fans of competitive gaming who haven’t yet taken a dive into Dark Souls 3, may reconsider everything they hold dear and come away with an entirely different view of what competitive gaming stands for. From Software has placed the bar high and it remains to be seen if they or other developers will be able to reach or even surpass that in titles to follow. Or, they may simply just outdo themselves as the 1stof 2 DLCs for Dark Souls 3 will hopefully arrive some time this year.
Between now and then, all similar-minded invaders will be lurking and patiently waiting for the time to strike.We don’t expect any pity in this cruel world. And that, may very well be what makes this world go around.
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The_Zexster
The Zexster has been a gamer since the good old Atari Altered Beast days. He has lived all around Europe from Germany and Greece, to Cyprus and finally the Netherlands where he currently resides. A full time professional in an entirely different line of business, he will still enjoy his gaming whenever a controller falls in his hands. Ever since the beginning of gaming he has been focused on PVP activity – even got his brother to smack a Sega Mega Drive controller on his head when beating him up constantly in Mortal Kombat 1. Gaming has since evolved and the Zexster has always been following these changes. A Diablo 3 hardcore PVPer, WOW duelist and LOL Platinum he has now embraced Dark Souls’ darkness. Currently he’ll play anything that is up to giving him a challenge on his XBOX, which will be admittedly hard after Dark Souls…
Sometimes I think the copy of DS3 I have is different.
He has the same copy I used to play. While I don’t agree with everything he makes some good points regarding PvP.
nice. i like this game. ill take what fromsoft has to offer without complaints. great game.
first i liked it, then i got dissapointed, then my opinion changed once again. it great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZC8-3Rb2yo
this video resumes everything i think about dark souls 3 with the exception of the gank thing i couldn’t possibly care less for invaders and 1 vs 1
That’s the most positive review of DS3 multiplayer I’ve ever read.
