When I tell people that Dark Souls is one of my most-loved games, sometimes I get a weird look. A lot of people ask “Why? What’s so great about it?” I’ve been able to tell them the basics — the combat is smooth and authentic, the atmosphere is engrossing, the gameplay is punishing but fair, and the sense of achievement after winning a fight or discovering a bit of lore is bar none in modern gaming.!
I think for most Souls fans, our appreciation of the games goes deeper than that. Even though the story isn’t pounded into your head, there’s a sense that the developers are communicating these profound messages to you, the player. Whether those messages are intentional or not, the stories and mythos surrounding the Souls games goes deep. To some, the Undead’s slow and inevitable descent into madness is a striking depiction of mental deterioration brought on by old age. Others view the slow fade from light into darkness as an economic and environmental message, comparing Lordran’s dependence on Souls and Humanity to the developed world’s dependence on oil. Many view the story of one or both Souls games as parables about greed.
The Souls fanbase has written at length on these theories. There’s something about the games that allows us to come together and communicate in ways we normally wouldn’t — especially on the internet. The fans magnify the best parts of the series. (Sometimes they magnify the worst parts too, but let’s gloss over that today).
It’s hard for somebody from the outside looking in to understand that. It would be difficult to explain how Youtube users Quelaag, EpicNameBro orVaatiVidya have increased the amount of enjoyment we get out of these games. Writers, video-makers and other content creators have encouraged hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people to think about Souls from a different angle. That depth of enjoyment is the next level, so to speak — below the surface. But I don’t think that’s the core of what Souls is, or why it’s so well-loved by so many people around the world.
Before I go on, I want to clarify that I don’t presume to speak for everyone. I’m not saying you’re shallow if you only enjoy Souls for the reasons above — or if you haven’t gotten into the lore or PvE or PvP at all. The greatness of the Souls franchise isn’t contained by any one specific aspect.
I think, whether we’re conscious of it or not, a lot of the fans see the Souls franchise as a symbol. My 360-PS3-PC purchases of Dark Souls and my purchase of Dark Souls II was, in my mind, a reply. My support as a meager content creator and purchaser is a letter to game makers who churn out samey shooters and never-ending sequels. I imagine it’s not one they’ll notice, let alone pay attention to, but it’s a message nonetheless.
Souls isn’t just a symbol for the gaming audience though; it represents the solution to the problems many people have with modern entertainment at large, and how media seems to view today’s audience. Yes, this may be most evident in hand-holding video game tutorials, but we see it all the time in TV and movies. Media makers know that not everyone is smart, reasonable and emotionally mature. By trying to make every piece of entertainment into a triple-A game, blockbuster movie or bestseller, big time publishers tend to cater to the lowest common denominator. It’s gotten to the point where our media is targeted at a market that is so unintelligent, unreasonable and emotionally crippled that the ideal buyer is 4 years old.
I want you to think about something for a second. This year, a game was released with a tutorial that tells you how to move.
Think about that. Push the left stick forward to move. Somebody, somewhere, in some office, thought someone playing the game might be so inexperienced that they wouldn’t know that already. And not only has this imaginary player never played a game before, but they’re unwilling to try moving the most prominent feature on the controller: the thumbsticks.
Now think about a typical TV show. Many times each episode will start with a recap of the last episode and end with a preview of the next one. Particularly dumb ones — those marketed toward the widest audiences — will actually summarize what happened after every commercial break. The Biggest Loser is a great example. This is the producers’ way of telling us that there’s no way our tiny brains can remember what just happened literally 10 minutes ago. In most non-reality shows, everything is wrapped up predictably so that none of the events from this particular episode will have a measurable impact on what’s to come.
Contrast this to something like Arrested Development. The fandom surrounding this sleeper hit appreciates the deep plot, foreshadowing and in-jokes that span episodes and even entire seasons. The show’s rewards are reserved for those who pay attention and fit the pieces together. It’s one of those rare shows that can’t be watched as background noise. When you’re watching Arrested Development, you’re watching Arrested Development. Much like when you’re playing a Souls game, you’re playing a Souls game. You do not pause, and you do not rewind.
In short, mainstream entertainment asks us to stoop to its level. Measured against that, Souls — and precious few other media — are the opposite. It’s a game that requires you to stretch your capacity. To become a better player. It is the archetypical stern master, not showing mercy or leniency for one moment. By the end of a Souls game, you will have failed or learned to deal with it on its terms.
I keep wanting to refer to this as media-identity. The media isn’t defined by you, the consumer; it’s defined by the creators. Worse entertainment is an amorphous blob; by trying to meet the demands of everyone, it never really stands out to anyone.
Souls is a symbol. It’s a rallying cry. For everyone who’s tired of the assumption that players, viewers, readers and listeners are stupid, emotionally crippled drunk children. Hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, you understand what the hype is all about just a little more.
Thanks for reading.
