I’m taking a break from reviewing the Shadow of the Erdtree so I can talk about difficulty. Why? Because it’s fucking FromSoft, and people want to talk about it ad nauseam. The difficulty, I mean. Mostly the hardcore onebros who have way too much of their egos tied up in beating the games in the exact way they deem most pure. And correct.
I have said ad nauseam that the rotten core of the FromSoft community needs to STFU already. Maybe not in that exact way, but I am stalwart in my belief that they are a detriment to the community at large. Not because they play the games the way they do–but because they are so vocal and adamant that it’s the only way to play. Whether it’s without a shield or without armor or without leveling up or without magicks or without summons or–there are a lot of things they insist make you a pussy if you do or use–YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME THIS WAY, NOOB GIT GUD ONEBRO FOR LYFE!!!!!!
It’s been happening since the first game, and it’s only gotten worse. I think that Elden Ring being more for the general public just exacerbated the toxic fans because how dare FromSoft try to pander to the masses?
FromSoft is a company. Their goal is to sell games. I mean, creative vision and all that, but it makes sense that they would want to get more eyes on their games. That’s the whole point–make the game you envision and hope that a lot of people like and buy it. I know that people want the thing they love to never change, but that’s not how life works. In fact, none of the games are exactly the same as the one before. This is as it should be. Otherwise, you could just play the same game over and over again. Which, I mean, FromSoft fans do that, anyway. I always have a From game on the go. Currently, that’s Elden Ring, but it was Dark Souls III for a long time before that. I play mostly From games with indie games sprinkled throughout. Mostly cozy games, but also roguelike/lites.
I am so tired of the difficulty debate, but I think it’s only going to get worse. Why? Because FromSoft has dared to tell it’s most rabid fans that maybe, just maybe, they had to change how they played the games if they wanted to have fun with them. You see, so many people who pride themselves on soloing the bosses, are mad that the bosses of Elden Ring were designed around the spirit summons. It meant that soloing some of the bosses was nigh on impossible, especially with all the other restrictions these players put upon themselves. Not using a shield for one. Or magicks. Or or or.
This is what it means to be a Western white dude, writ large, quite frankly. Not the no shield thing, but the ‘this should be made exactly for me, otherwise it’s bad and wrong’ thing. Everything is pretty much calibrated to that ‘normal’ white dude, so it’s jarring to them when something isn’t. Especially something as beloved by the ‘git gud’ crowd as FromSoft games. They are the same people who were quick to point out that Miyazaki should be allowed to make the games the way he wanted whenever the question of an easy mode came up, but now, he should not be allowed to make the bosses center around spirit summons.
I don’t have an argument with them wanting what they want. Obviously, we all have different subjective things we are looking for in–well, anything. So I have no qualms with people wanting From to focus on making bosses soloable again. But, as they are so fond of telling the rest of us, suck it up, buttercup! Git gud and learn to adapt to the game!
I know it’s naive to expect them to do that because they are not capable. It’s a sad fact. Am I being condescending and fatastistic? Yes. But just as I will never be able to consistently parry, they will never be able to think of anyone other than themselves. It doesn’t help that they are surrounded by people who repeat back to them exactly what they feel/think/say.
This is probably my least -favorite thing about being a fan of these games–the gatekeepers. It’s one reason I don’t actually involve myself in the community at large–so many toxic dudes. And women who think they have to match the dudes. Back when I first started playing the game,s I would dip into the forums now and again to get tips. Every single goddamn time, one of the first comments would be ‘git gud’ and another would be how to do the boss with a totally different build. Even when the OP specified their build. “I’m a dex!” “Well, go strength.” This was in the first game in which you can’t respec, too.
You can respec in Elden Ring, and I did it when I entered the DLC just so I had 60 Vigor. I might try to respec for more Arcane so I can use Bayle’s two incantations. Or just farm for the levels. There is a spot that has two great farming situations. One is killing a big bird with an arrow–or rather, getting him to run off a cliff to net 11,000 Runes (more with the Golden Scarab). The other is to kill all the Albinaurics in that area for around 40,000 Runes. In NG+, killing all the Albinaurics gives me nearly a hundred thou per pop. A level for me is close to 500,000 Runes. So six runs of this Murder Row can get me another level. That’s wild.
One great thing about the DLC is how much new shit you get. But, as a caster on my first run through, I did not use many of them. I stuck with my two weapons from the main game, even though I tried a few of the DLC weapons. See, I was a caster. What did I want with a new sword? I did mix up my incantations and there were a few neat ones in the DLC. I have messed around much more with the weapons with my strength character. It’s fun as hell!
I’m tired. I got my shingles shot yesterday, and it’s kicking my ass. More tomorrow.