I’m back to have more fun with baseless speculation about the FromSoft pirate game. Why? Because why not? On a tangent to that, but somewhat related, I’m including a video below of Luke Westaway interwiving the man who translates From games into English. Well, he’s one of two who does it, and he was the first one before his team hired another guy. The idea that it was just two men who did all the English for all the From games is wild–especially Elden Ring. His name is Ryan Morris, and he speaks fondly of Solaire, the NPC from the first Dark Souls game whom everyone loves. (Ok, I had asterisked this and everything starting with ‘Except me’ below was going to be a footnote. But then it turned into the post, so let’s just go with that.)
Except me. It’s not that I dislike him; it’s just that I think he’s overrated. Everyone has him as their favorite NPC in that game, igf not in all From games. I wouldn’t put him in my top five, and I might not even put him in my top ten. He is not even my favorite NPC from that game.
Who is? Darkmoon Knightess. She’s the Firekeeper of Anor Lando, and she has a tragic life. Well, that’s pretty much everyone in any From game, really. None of the NPCs have particularly good lives, mind. It’s one of the things that From is known for. Everything is tragic and horrible, which is one reason why I love Patches so much (as I talked about in yesterday’s post. He is one of my favorites beacuse he’s in almost every game. I know the saying is that familiarity breeds contempt, but in this case, the opposite is true because everything is so bleak. As I mentioned in the last post, when Patches shows up, I smile in glee. I know what is going to happen. He’s going to tell me that there’s some wondrous treasure down a pit, and when I go for it, he’s going to kick/push me in the pit.
We have a deal, Patches and I, and I’m always happy to do my part of it, knowing he will do his. He is in my top five favorite NPCs in Dark Souls and, indeed, in Elden Ring. And DS III. Some other favorites from the games are Lucatiel (DS II), Eileen (Bloodborne), Yuria (DS III), Karla (DS III), Blaidd (Elden Ring), D (Elden Ring), and Sellen (Elden Ring). These are several off the top of my head, and I like them all better than I like Solaire.
Look. Here’s the thing with Solaire. I get why people like him. He’s a lonely ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak world. He’s on a noble quest that sounds so heroic. Which brings me to another point about Solaire. After the first game, people thought he was the first born of Gwn. There are a ton of reasons for thinking this–and a soupcon of wishful thinking.
When the third game came out, Miyazaki made it crystal clear that Solaire was not the first born son of Gwyn. People were mad, to say the least. Well, some of them. There were a few camps. The first were upset/miffed that it wasn’t Solaire. The second weren’t miffed, but they wanted it to be left open. The third were happy with who it turned out to be.
I would put myself in the third camp, but very close to the sceond. I liked the way it resolved itself in the third game, which I will not spoil. I would have been fine with Solaire being the first born, but it never really spoke to me the way it did to other people. Probably because I am not a Solaire-stan.
It’s funny. The content creator I watch who does FromSoft content asked us in a livestream, “Who is your favorite NPC in Dark Souls and why is it Soliare?” I don’t think there was one other person who didn’t agree with him. Did I say Solaire wasn’t my favorite? Yes, I did. Did I get a bewildered/shocked reaction? Yes, I did. Was I saying it to be a jerk or a contrarian? No, I wasn’t. He’s not now nor has he ever been my favorite NPC.
I think Patches is actually a better representation of the games than is Solaire. I mean, Soliare is pretty true to the ‘trying to do a quest that will ultimately fail’ ethos that FromSoft games have, but to me. Patches’ ‘ile, cheat, and steal your way. It doesn’t matter as long as you are alive at the end’ mindset is even closer to what the games are really trying to say.
I like that message beacuse I get so tired of the ‘git gud’ mentality that flows through the hardcore fans. It’s subsided somewhat (or maybe I’m just not going to those forums as much), but it’s one reason I rarely watch FromSoft content. That and the over-the-top bro-ness of so much of the content. DUUUUUUUUUD! BROOOOOOOOO! “You’re such a simp!” Ugh. Not only is it cringe-inducing, it’s boring as fuck. I mean, if you’re going to insult someone, at least make it creative.
That’s one thing I dislike about video game content–it’s usually catering/pandering to the lowest common denominator. Even the women use the male speak that is rude, crude, and eye-rolly. Honestly, it’s most content in general beacuse as with other aspects of society, the patriarchy seeps through everything. That’s why I watch very little content these days, but it’s also because I’m a grumpy old person. Kids today! *shakes fist at clouds*
It’s not really kids these days, though. It’s an age-old problem, and it’s not going to go away any item soon. In fact, in some ways, it’s getting worse. And I know that in part, I’m not helping matters by sitting around and grumbling about it. It’s just that I feel so defeated at the moment, I don’t really know where to start.
I am curious about FromSoft’s next game (after The Duskbloods). If it is a pirate game, I’m sure it’ll be a rollicking good time. I’m not a pirate person, but I’m hyped because it’s completely outside their wheelhouse. Some people want them to do a sci-fi game, but not me. I’m not into sci-fi, though I would give it a shot, of course.
At this point, I’m still enough of a From fan that I would buy any game they make as long as it’s on PC. I will pre-order it without hesitation because I want to support them. However, at this point, there’s a sliver of doubt in my heart. Or rather, a sliver of apprehension that the game will not be for me.
It’s the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head, and I know it’s going to drop on me one of these days. I’m not mad about it because I’ve known it’s coming for a couple of years at least. When I came back from the dead (twice!), I told myself I was grateful just to have another wondrous Miyazaki world to explore. (Esden Ring). That was enough for me, and it still is.