We’re nearing the end of 2024 now, and somehow despite it being such a great year for video game fans there’s still a lot left to look forward to.
The Game Awards are returning to crown another Game Of The Year, and the competition is fierce with heavy-hitters likeAstro Bot, Metaphor ReFantazioandElden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree. If it were up to me almost all of the nominated games would be walking away with wheelbarrows full of rewards, but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.
Many were surprised to seeElden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtreemake the cut, but come on, how could it not?
It did get me thinking though, thinking about my connection to games and the impact they leave on me once I see the credits start to roll. I’ve got a big long list of games I’ve curated over the years that I’d consider to be masterpieces, some of which released this year, but the only one Ialwayshave time for isDark Souls(2011).
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Dark Soulsto me is what Christine Palmer is to Doctor Strange in the sense I love it in every universe and I’d wholeheartedly say that it’s my Game Of Every Year, and I don’t think it’ll ever be beaten.
Bandai Namco
From landing in Firelink Shrine all the way to the end credits you’re taken on a whistlestop tour of the horrors of this land, andnot justbecause of the Undead Curse bending souls out of shape. The true antagonists of Dark Souls aren’t the demons, witches, or dragons you’ll meet on your journey, it’s the Gods, specifically Gwyn. The mad king ruled his kingdom of Anor Londo with malice and ego, essentially enslaving humanity so they couldn’t overthrow him. When the First Flame eventually did begin to falter, rather than let it die out Gwyn sacrifices himself to the flame to keep the Gods in their position of power, which completely throws off the natural order and ushers in the Undead Curse, as well as other problems.
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As we progress through the game we see first-hand some of the other devious activities Gwyn and his cronies were up to, but it’s only aroundDark Souls 3where we get a clearer picture of how much of a menace he and the other Gods were. The world is broken, mutated and deteriorating, yet after Gwyn’s defeat at the end of the game we’re expected to link the flame again, burning our bodies in the hopes this time something will change.
It doesn’t sound optimistic, and that’s largely the point. Your choice at the end of the game is either kindle the flame and hope things are better this time around or let the world die but essentially sticking a middle finger up at the Gods who wanted it to continue. I almost always link the flame though, much to the confusion of my friend who’s of the firm opinion that the world ofDark Soulsisn’t worth saving, and I adore how opinions differ depending on who you ask.
When I playDark SoulsI see the mistakes that were made that warped the world out of shape, and while that should sway me from linking the flame that’s not all I see. For me it’s the characters you meet on your journey. There’s Oscar in the asylum who trusts you enough to continue his quest, Solaire who’s there to find his “sun”, and Siegmeyer looking for stories and glory, a hero’s life.
Bandai Namco
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This. This is why I love this game with all my heart. The world ofDark Soulsis twisted and decayed, itshouldbe laid to rest before it can do more harm and it’d be so, so easy to let the flame die out but that’s exactly why we shouldn’t. All it takes is one person to have hope for a better tomorrow to will one into existence. We save and leave Solaire to wallow in his self-pity all to find we can call upon him later, not knowing if he’s simply returning the favour or if he’s found new purpose in a land lacking in sunlight. We’ll never know for sure, but we do know he wouldn’t be there if we hadn’t lent him our aid when he needed it most.
Bandai Namco
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Dark Soulsto me, is a game about finding hope in hopeless situations, a message that hits harder than ever in the world we’re currently living in. InElden RingMelina says: “However ruined this world has become, however mired in torment and despair . . . life endures. Births continue. There is beauty in that, is there not?” It’s the same philosophy inDark Souls, as it takes the whole world to let the First Flame fade away, but justonedefiant hollow to reignite it, not because it’s easy but because it’s right, because the world deserves the chance to continue and do better.
Perhaps it’s all just wishful thinking and perhaps the world ofDark Soulsis beyond saving but that’s what I find so compelling about it, it’s so open to interpretation. I’ve never been enamoured with a game quite likeDark Souls, and if it ever gets remade I’d be interested to see if the endings are expanded upon in any way. I’m hoping not as it’s nice to fill in the gaps how you see fit but I wouldn’t be opposed to an ending directly tied to bringing Solaire into the final battle with you, purely because I love the character so much.
I’m hoping this has explained why I’d considerDark Soulsto be my Game Of Every Year, as I genuinely don’t feel any other game past, present or future will even come close to having the impact on me that this series did. Doesn’t seem like an exaggeration to say I’ll be playing it until the day I die and still making a case for why it’s one of the greatest games ever made. I’ll go hollow before I say anything different.
Topics:Features,Dark Souls,Fromsoftware,Bandai Namco,Elden Ring
