Souls Games and Difficulty

“You died.” A phrase so well known to gamers that at this point, I’m shocked FromSoftware hasn’t tried to copyright it. It’s also a phrase that depending on the individual, could bring a smile, a tear or even a smashed controller or two to fruition. (I’ve gotten angry at some games but thankfully I’ve never hit that boiling point) What is it about the “Souls-like” games and their difficulty that has captivated gamers for over a decade and how has their brutal and unforgiving formula translated into so much success over time? Arise ye tarnished! It’s time for another adventure in the Lands Between! Wait. That’s not right. This isn’t Elden Ring. Let’s try that again, shall we? Arise ye tarnished! It’s time for another Prowler blog! (Woof. Back to the drawing board for these introduction paragraphs, huh?)

It's hard to believe but once upon a time, there were no Dark Souls or Elden Rings or Sekiros in the world of video games. You know what us kids growing up in the 90’s had? Those damn Lion King and Aladdin games that were the most unfair, ridiculous and INSANE difficulty spiking games of all time. (Seriously. Go look up gameplay if you don’t know or don’t believe me) I’m convinced that no one has beaten those games without cheat codes and you can’t tell me otherwise! That’s obviously an exaggeration but I’m pretty sure that even the developers of those games are on record as saying they created the game to be so difficult that they wanted gamers to be forced to buy the game instead of renting it. (For you youngsters out there, renting is what us ancient beings did before the internet. Ask your parents or grandparents for more info) I must admit it’s kind of a genius move on the developer's part, but it really opened our eyes to what can make games difficult or not. It was more so a common trend to see a game progressively get more challenging as you progressed through the story or later levels. Add this factor on top of many games using a designated “lives” counter system and plenty of us gamers got accustomed to seeing “Game Over” flash across our screens. However, a certain trend was going to find its way into many games that continues to this day.

I can’t exactly recall when I first played Wolfenstein 3D but gosh darn, do I remember the shock I felt when the game asked me to select my playthrough difficulty. “Can I play, Daddy?” were the words sitting there, taunting me while showcasing the main character BJ Blazkowicz in a baby bonnet and sucking on a pacifier. Even in its pixelated form, the easiest difficulty selection was like a slap in the face to my younger self. I was no baby and I was gonna show this game just who it was dealing with! Multiple deaths and one giant temper tantrum later, I happily selected the option that adorned me in my well-deserved baby outfit. Wolfenstein 3D might not be the first game to include difficulty options, but it certainly left its mark by telling you exactly what it thought about you for selecting each one. (Anyone who has conquered “I AM DEATH INCARNATE” is an absolute madman) Like I said before, many games still use a variety of different ways for players to select how challenging they want their experience to be. For example, many sports games use variations of different levels of competition. (Rookie, Pro, All-Pro, All Madden are some that come to mind immediately for me being the big NFL fan I am) Other games still choose to increase difficult from a base setting as the game continues to progress. Then a little game called Demon Souls (The 2009 game. Not to be confused with the 2020 remake) decided to make its grand entrance and the gaming landscape was changed forever.

I was one of the many who took the plunge and bought Demon Souls when it first arrived on the Playstation 3 console. The mix of combat with swords/shields and/or magic and the promise of a grand new adventure through a fantasy world were enough to catch my attention any day of the week. Then I started playing the game. You ever see those old cartoons where the character steps on a rake and it slams into their face full force? Yeah, that was my experience running into the first freaking enemy in Demon Souls. This game hit like a ton of bricks and there was no hand holding or lowering the difficulty whatsoever. (Sure, there were guides online and tips and tricks but in order to succeed in most Souls games, you essentially “gotta get good”) However, I noticed for the first time in my gaming career that getting my booty handed to me over and over again, I didn’t let my rage and frustration carry me away from the game. It enticed me to find a way to progress or try different tactics or really think for myself how I could find new solutions to an area, boss or whatever obstacle was in my way. Demon Souls and pretty much all Souls games thereafter do an amazing job of rewarding the player with an almost euphoria type feeling whenever you conquer that dreaded part you’ve been stuck on for hours or days or weeks. In a twisted way, it could be said these games also teach patience, critical thinking and anger management. (I’m a firm believer they’ve caused more anger management than they’ve solved but who knows) The interesting thing about Demon Souls was that the initial response to the game were mostly mixed reviews. Of course, the difficulty was the main talking point in any review or discussion about the game, but it wasn’t until Fromsoftware released the Dark Souls games that gamers really started to appreciate the unforgiving series for what they were. Just take a look at Elden Ring and the incredible achievements it has accomplished to see how beloved the games and developer have become. One does wonder how much more success this genre can provide over the future but until we see Fromsoftware or other developers stop releasing Souls games or Souls-like games in general, I have a feeling the “fun” has only just begun.

So, what does difficulty mean to you? Do you consider yourself a Souls fan and thrive off the brutality and constant deaths? Or do you prefer a more relaxing experience while gaming where you can turn your brain off for a few hours? Or are you a full-on psycho who plays Lion King for the “entertainment” of it? Let me know!