Talking more about The Duskbloods (FromSoft), let’s expand out for a minute. The announcement of the new Switch 2 coincided with the president’s announcement of the new tariffs he was enacting. I’m not going to get political in this post, but I will note that the tariff announcement affects everything, so of course that includes video games. Arguably, that’s one of the least-important things affected by the new tariffs, but it still matters. Here is my post from yesterday, and I want to expand on my very mixed feelings on this new FromSoft game.
Miyazaki was interviewed about the game by Nintendo. It’s funny how they do an intro about him like he was an unknown or an indie dev, but it’s because the Nintendo crowd aren’t likely to overlap that greatly with the From fans.
I want to reiterate that Miyazaki and From can do wahtever they want. Obviously, they don’t need my blessings or anything like that. They have given me thousands of hours of entertainment, and that can’t be taken away. I can put on any of the games I have by them and get lost in the world. In fact, I’ve been doing that on a daily basis, albeit with varying games. Right now, it’s Elden Ring including the DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. I must say, I’m on NG++ with my current character, and the DLC is much more tedious than NG+. I would say the bosses weren’t that much harder, until I reached a certain boss that has never given me trouble. This time around, even with human summons, I was struggling. This is with my strength-int-faith character, heaviest on the int. I’m building up the strength and endurance beacuse I don’t like how I’m hitting at the moment.
I’ve been cruising along with not much difficulty. With the help of NPC summons, human summons, and Mini-Me, I wasn’t having much difficulty with the DLC. Until this boss. As a caster, this boss isn’t that big a deal. However, while I’m still a caster with this character, my magicks do significantly less damage in NG++. And I have less Mind (blue stuff/mana) to cast my spells/incantations. I’m not squishy, exactly, but I can definitely feel it when I’m battling a particularly tricky enemy.
This boss has three phases. Before, I got it in five or less tries. It really hasn’t been an issue. Until this time. I summon two people and we got it down to half the last health bar. Then, we all died one by one, and I didn’t even get to the third life bar for several more tries. Normally, the human summons I get have been fantastic. For this boss, they were more miss than hit. Some did not even make it out of the first phase. And, one jerk peaced out near the end of the second (or maybe third?) phase. I have gotten than many times in Elden Ring, especially the late game–human summons leaving the fight. Sometimes, I’m sure it’s connectivity, but sometimes, it seems like they’re choosing to leave. It’s very frustrating.
After trying human summons several times, I decided to try Mini-Me. I had them doing incantations, and one thing that really frustrates me with the DLC especially, but that also happened in the base game, is that the bosses tend to ignore the spirit ashes while focusing on you. In addition, the summon won’t fight if you get too far away from them. Obviously, this limits how you can use the spirit summons.
Back to The Duskbloods. I have included a video by VaatiVidya above because he is the god when it comes to explaining FromSoft content. Really. He is beyond compare, and everyone waits to hear what he has to say before forming an opinion.
Plus, he has a really soothing voice. Very easy on the ears. Anyway, I’m listening to the video now (and watching it, of course), and I’m not comforted by what he’s saying. His voice, yes, but it just confirms that the game is not for me.
Again, I want to reiterate. I know that not every game is for me. I am fine with that. Not every game has to be. However, I am allowed to be disappointed about it, too. I get really uncomfortable when fans shout down every negative opinion.
Side note: there’s a purple armor set in this game that is very much like my favorite armor set in Dark Souls II/III. Very stylish and sleek. With a Chinese tea hat to top it off. I love me an interesting hat in a From game. I would wear that regardless of the stats for the entire game. If the game ever comes to the PC, I’ll buy it.
One thing Vaati says is that the consumer loses with this because most From fans probably weren’t going to get the Switch 2. And to play this one game, you have to buy the Switch 2, pay monthly for the Nintendo connectivity pass or whatever it’s called, and the game itself. I was surprised that Vaati was so honest about the fact that this was not going to be.nefit the consumer because this seems to be glossed over.
Again, to reiterate, I know not every game is for me. But, I have been a FromSoft fan for a decade, and it would be nice to feel like I matter as a fan. I have never felt like I’m valued as a fan, and I feel it more and more these days. I bought Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon, but could not play it. I played and finished Sekiro, but could not do it now (and did not enjoy it). I will buy and play Nightreign, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to fall off it hard fairly soon after, if I can play it at all. Oh, and let’s not forget Bloodborne was also a console exclusive (Playstation 4). Vaati mentioned that they should have gotten shit for that as well.
I’ve said that if this is what allows FromSoft to make another highly bespoke high fantasy game, well then, so be it. Vaati seems pretty confident that this is the case. I mean, that FromSoft is not completely abandoning it’s bread and butter. I hope he’s right, but I’m not sanguine about it. We’ll have to see what happens.