Seriously though. This may be one of the most deliberately punishing video games I've ever chosen to continue playing.
But there's just so much to like!
The areas, even though you go through them ad nauseam, are cleverly arranged with lots of secrets. The setting is just so cool to me, it's some of the most atmospheric medieval city designs I've seen in a while. Even though your degree of interaction with it all is limited, it's just evocative. Reminds me a lot of how I liked Vagrant Story simply because of the city look and feel.
Items galore and I dunno, there's just something well done about the presentation, like how Zelda managed to make a handful of items look cool and feel important while they sat in your inventory.
I have a love/hate relationship with combat. At times it seems really awesome, and at others it seems full of dickery. You wade through tons of block/strike enemies, things are kosher, and then an upper level enemy will pull some bullshit right before your eyes.
And then there's the story. It doesn't make a lot of sense and I find the whole "Undead" thing a little hokey....but on the other, it's cool how desolate and forlorn and...almost dream-like, the way things are presented.
It dawned on me last night what the game truly reminds me of: Original Prince of Persia, where combat substitutes itself for the jumping. It's got the same kind of visual and twitch appeal.....and then with all the RPG and item hunting goodness thrown in.
I got some questions because the game loading screen tips go by way too quickly.
Is there any way to sell stuff? Or should I ditch all these crap duplicate weapons I've been toting around?
What does Humanity do other than increase your Estus count and (I guess) do a small amount more damage to enemies? With how often I've been dying, I don't bother to become Human again because I know I'll just lose it. Should I be taking human form more often?
Is there actual co-op or is that a euphamism for PvP?
Is Light Attack/Strong Attack/Kick/Plunge Attack/Block/Parry/Dodge/Backstab pretty much the extent of combat? Having died so often before even the meat of the game, I feel like combat is getting kind of redundant. Does it open up more later, or is it all about mastery and timing of all the stuff above for the rest of the game? (And, you know, ranged and magic.)
When, in theory, is a good time to kill this asshole:
The 2nd Black Knight you meet, just outside the Undead Parish in the big tower. I've killed the first Black Knight, but the second one is nastier if that's even conceivably possible. I'm Level 25-ish....but he's just so goddamn fast, he gives you almost no opportunity to heal or even avoid a series of attacks. I've kited him out to the open area where the Bull was...but I can't survive his attacks for shit. Should I come back later with way better gear and levels...or is there something else I'm missing? Is he one of those guys you have to dodge all of his attacks pretty much? I can take a hit or two on the shield....but when he starts attacking multiple times, I just can't stay up. I'm doing about 20 damage a hit to him with a battle axe.