Dark Souls

November 29, 2025

A twinkly Twinkling Titanite

If this name doesn’t ring a bell or you haven’t played it yet, I’m a little envious. The first time I delved into this adventure was a complete surprise: I experienced something entirely different from anything I had tried before. A 2011 game that created its own genre, the so-called “souls-like,” and even today, almost in 2026, it’s absolutely worth discovering.

The game will test your controller skills, your courage, and your patience to the extreme… but don’t be afraid (you will be). If you persevere, it will be worth it.

The first time you face Dark Souls, you feel lost, without clear guidance, even isolated, but, believe it or not, that is precisely one of its greatest strengths.

Dark Souls immerses us in a hostile world, without a map to guide us, with a cryptic story that we must unravel little by little…but we also find moments of calm, learning to master our character and shaping them in our own style.

Over time, you will overcome enemies that initially seemed impossible and experience unforgettable moments that, I assure you, will not leave you indifferent.

This is the second time I’ve completed it, and although I started replaying it almost by chance, I couldn’t stop: it has been an absolute delight. Even remembering many details, I chose a different type of character, explored the story along new paths, and discovered places I had left behind the first time.

And finally:

Be safe, friend. Don’t you dare go Hollow. (Laurentius of the Great Swamp)

The Dragons Shall Never Be Forgotten. (Hawkeye Gough)

What I liked the most

The sound effects are absolutely fascinating, such as:
- The crackle of the bonfires.
- The fading sound when defeating powerful enemies (that aren’t bosses).
The absence of a map. It’s incredible how the lack of explicit guidance makes the paths engrain themselves in your memory. Don’t you think we’re losing this skill by always relying on Google Maps or GPS for everything? 🤔
The fact that there is only one difficulty level is brilliant. While it might seem designed only for hardcore players, the game itself offers enough tools to adapt the challenge to different playstyles.
Being able to save anywhere.
How Dark Souls encourages exploration and not taking anything for granted. It constantly challenges us, making us risk the souls we’ve collected to venture into the unknown.
The sense of immersion, which remains strong throughout the journey.
How music only appears at key moments or locations. The near absence of a soundtrack during most of the journey makes the music much more impactful when it finally plays.

What didn’t win me over

Not being able to directly compare the equipment you have with what you want to buy.
Not being able to use Humanities at the bonfire. You can’t remove the hollow status directly there, and having to go to the menu disrupts the flow.
The inventory is quite rigid. Everything is mixed together (shields, swords, clubs, bows…), without a clear way to sort by category or stats, except manually.
The lack of a “repair all” button.
Covenants didn’t really click for me. I found them confusing: several times I joined one and left another almost randomly. There’s very little information in the game itself, and it’s often unclear whether a choice will benefit, harm, or leave you unchanged.

My favorite songs

My latest journey

👀 SPOILERS: click ONLY if you’ve already played Dark Souls and want to see details of my latest journey through Lordran.

Most used equipment

Lightning Laito +5
Pyromancy Flame +10
Demon’s Catalyst
Grass Crest Shield
Brass Armor
Havel’s Ring
Wolf Ring

Stats

Level 84

Vitality: 22
Attunement: 30
Endurance: 16
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 20
Resistance: 12
Intelligence: 30
Faith: 15

Powerful enemies I defeated (in order)

Taurus Demon:
On my first playthrough it took me forever to even reach this point, this time, however, it was a pleasant stroll through the Undead Burg.
Bell Gargoyles:
More enemies that made me sweat bullets during my first encounter, but this time they were much more manageable.
Moonlight Butterfly:
The Darkroot Garden left its mark on my first run, so this time I rushed through it without lingering too much. With high Intelligence and Soul Arrows, it was super easy.
Havel:
Respect!
Capra Demon:
Even though I had terrible memories of this enemy, I decided to face it. Cornered on a ledge up above, I managed to defeat it without too much trouble.
Hydra:
I love seeing this majestic enemy from Sif’s bridge.
Golden Crystal Golem:
Once the Hydra is defeated, this golem appears at the far end of the lake. It’s a required enemy to access the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. I defeated it, although I didn’t play the DLC this time.
Gaping Dragon:
Could it be one of the easiest enemies in the game?
Ceaseless Discharge:
Oof…this one was pretty tough.
Iron Golem:
At the very top of Sen’s Fortress, which, by the way, I really enjoyed this time, I defeated this golem and finally had a free path into Anor Londo.
Pinwheel:
Before heading to Anor Londo, I went to the Catacombs to join the Gravelord Servant covenant and get the Darkmoon Seance Ring.
Asylum Demon:
I tried to go beyond the Catacombs into the Tomb of the Giants, but without light I gave up quickly and barely made it out alive (since I still didn’t have the Lordvessel). I then returned to the Undead Asylum to defeat this enemy and obtain the Peculiar Doll.
Gwyndolin:
A boss that demands speed, so I achieved victory by removing all my gear except for my sword.
Darkmoon Knightess:
After defeating Gwyndolin, this knight, also known as the Fire Keeper of Anor Londo’s First Bonfire, turns hostile, and I have to defeat her, losing a bonfire where I could take shelter.
Priscilla:
I managed to enter the Painted World of Ariamis thanks to the doll I had found earlier.
Ornstein and Smough:
I managed to defeat these two huge and relentless warriors.
Sif:
In this run I barely passed through the Darkroot Garden. In fact, I didn’t even obtain the Crest of Artorias. I only went there to enjoy the view from the bridge toward the Hydra and to face Sif.
The Four Kings:
Using Transient Curses, I fought my way through the New Londo Ruins and threw myself into the abyss with the wolf ring on.
Centipede Demon:
Before reaching it, I saved Solaire from his madness and kept him fighting by my side. With his help, I managed to defeat this creature.
Bed of Chaos:
What a horrible enemy…those sweeping attacks with its arms/branches…
Seath the Scaleless:
Deep within the Crystal Cave, the treacherous scaleless dragon awaited me. I put an end to him without too much trouble.
Nito:
I returned to the Tomb of the Giants, this time with a light source thanks to the Sunlight Maggot. Despite some trouble with Nito’s skeleton minions, I managed to defeat him.
Gwyn, Lord of Cinder:
Solaire, my best buddy and devoted sunbro, helped me finish what remained of Gwyn. He went his own way, and I chose mine, renouncing the Age of Fire and seeking the dawn of a new Age of Dark.

Enemy awards

💩 Worst boss:

Bed of Chaos, a fight very different from other bosses. More like a hellish platforming section than a boss battle itself.

🤢 Most unbearable enemy:

Skeleton Wheel, in my opinion the most annoying enemies in the entire game. Let your guard down for a second and they’ll shred you with no escape.

🐶 Boss that hurts the most to defeat:

Sif…“sadness ahead”.

🏆 Best bosses:

I can’t decide between Ornstein and Smough and Knight Artorias: both are equally tough and epic.

New areas I discovered on this second playthrough

It’s amazing how much content you can miss if you’re not paying attention, which is exactly what happened to me on my first run. On this second one, I explored the following places:

The Painted World of Ariamis: It has become one of my favorite corners of the game, not only because it’s a great place to farm souls, but also for its beauty and atmosphere.
The Great Hollow: I discovered it by pure chance while getting lost in Blighttown, which, by the way, was much more forgiving with me this time.
Ash Lake: Pushing further beyond The Great Hollow, I reached this place—so surprising and immense.

Explore the game on the shelf