I’ve been loosely following the drama surrounding the Switch 2, otherwise known as the SwIItch and a bunch of other cute names. I was never going to get one because one, I don’t do consoles*, and especially not hand-held ones. I do all my gaming on a PC, which is so much more comfortable (to me). Then came the news that the next FromSoft game which nary a word was breathed** was going to be a Nintendo exclusive and my heart dropped to my stomach.
I’ve reacted to it already, but I have more to say. Not so much about the game (though I will touch on that), but on the discourse about the game. Which, funnily enough, mimics the discourse around the Switch 2 itself.
The opinions are so divided, and you can’t stake a claim somewhere in the middle. Either it all sucks and is the end of gaming, or it’s the best thing ever and shut up with any/all of your criticisms. As a species, we tend to do go to extremes, but it is just getting worse and worse. In the Discord I’m in, there are a few guys (and, yes, all guys) who make these really declarative statements and discourage others from speaking up. I know they don’t think they do that, but it has that effect. I’ve seen other people get shut down and just never come back.
I’ts not about the opinions, but the fact that there’s definitely an in-crowd who dominate the discussions. I am not part of that in-crowd, by the way. I’m on the fringes. I’m not an outsider, but my voice is not important enough, loud enough, or male enough to be influential.
The conversation/argument/debate over the Switch 2 is not where I’m going to jump in. First, I’m not buying one. Second, I just don’t want to get into the arguments when both sides are camped firmly in their opposing viewpoints and won’t budge. It’s not a discussion; it’s a drawing of sides. I have no interest in that, and I don’t want to put my neck on the chopping block–especiall when the subject isn’t something that affects me.
When it comes to The Duskbloods (FromSoft), though (and, yes, I know I said I was not writing another post about it, but I had more to say), I have so many thoughts on it. I was watching a video by TopicArlo, someone who is torn about the game in much of the same way I am. For whatever reason, I decided to look at the comments. I normally don’t look at comments because they are so toxic, but I was curious–I don’t know why.
The comments fell into a few distinct camps. One, the “Trust Fromsoft no matter what. How dare do you question them????” Another was the, “FromSoft is done. There is nowhere to go but down from here. I am so done with them. How very dare they?” Another was, “Git Gud.” Seriously. There was a few people who just left that comment. Were they being serious or just memeing the hell out of TopicArlo? I’m not sure, but the sentiment is still strong even if the actual phrase has faded.
To me, it’s somewhere in the middle. FromSoft absolutely has the right to develop whatever game they want. Full stop. I am not out here saying they should only do single player action adventure games with light RPG mechanics. Even though they are hands down the best at making soulslikes, they can (and should) noodle around all they want.
However, with that said, I also don’t believe that anyone is above criticism. Not even FromSoft. They have the right to do whatever they want. I have the right to say how I feel about it. That’s the way opinions work. And, believe me, From is fine. They can withstand me saying something negative about them. I don’t know where that critical mass is, but we’re not there yet (when all the negativity will actually adversely affect them).
I want to stress that I am not mad at FromSoft for making this game or saying they don’t have the right. I’m just personally deflated because nothing about the game is why I play a From game. I hate PvP and I can’t emphasize it enough that it’s a matter of can’t not won’t when it comes to PvP. I know Americans (and Brits) don’t reeeeeeally don’t like the idea that there are things you can’t do if you just try hard enough. PvP is one of those things.
In Elden Ring, there’s a boss fight (the second to last one that you have to do) that is just a big ol’ PvP free-for-all. Depending on which NPC questlines you do, you can have up to five (on the other side) versus four (including you and your spirit ash). These are NPCs and not humans. I just did it, and it had me cursing in frustration because I am absolute shit at PvP. Also, I tried to do it melee and made Mini-Me melee. I could not do it until I switched to using Knight’s Lightning Spear (a DLC incantation that is OP and the best journeyperson incantation in the DLC, and, maybe the whole game) exclusively. Which means firing them from afar.
I have no interest in PvP. But, if this game were on PC, I would buy it, anyway. And this is still my biggest issue with the game. I hate that it’s a Nintendo exclusive. Many people who are FromSoft fans are not Nintendo fans, too. I’m not sure what’s the Venn diagram is for FromSoft fans and Nintendo fans, but I’m guessing not as big as the Venn diagram for FromSoft fans and PC users.
I just Googled. There have been 150 million Switches sold worldwide. That’s a ton of Switches. But how many are going to play The Duskbloods? I think it’s also the fact that it’s a shitty shitty time to be an American right now. I could have used the emotional boost of a new FromSoft game.
I’m done for now. More tomorrow.
*I only bought the PS4 several years after Bloodborne came out so I could play that one game–and it was at a very cheap price from a relative (of sorts). I did try to play a few other games on the PS4, but I hate the DualShock 4. It feels so terrible in my hands, and I just do not like playing on a console.
**Yes, theer’s Nightreign, but that’s coming out very soon–and we al know about it. I’m talking about the next ‘what? we didn’t know that!’ I have to give Nintendo for snagging the exclusive because it’s quite a coup. I do not blame Nintendo for going after it, although it’s a bit off-brand for their family friendly platformers mostly theme.