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How about an easy mode for Elden Ring?

Blond

Banned
An easy mode completely makes sense in the kind of cinematic gaming experience Sony produces for its hardware, for example.

The absence of an easy mode completely makes sense as a statement, as a manifesto and as part of your game's aesthetics if .you wish so - like the Dark Souls games did when they incorporated difficulty into the core experience - and the mystique - of the games.
You don't have to cater to the lowest denominator if you don't want to.
You can be as challenging as you want, as long as you keeps it fair.
You don't have to be "inclusive" because bullies told you so, or facilitate the gentrification of gaming by the urban/pseudo-leftist parasitic bourgeois class who need another economic domain to colonize with "reviews", "critical theory" and consulting jobs because they can't create anything by themselves.
I honestly don’t get it, if it want to play a souls game your best bet it’s waiting a month. They’ll be guides on builds that make the game a cake walk. I loved Demons Souls but I practically speed ran it because magic in that game is so overpowered it’s retarded
 

drotahorror

Member
Not including easy mode is dumb as shit, let people decide how to play there game.

U want a hard experience, put the game on hard. done.
Balancing a game around several difficulty levels is usually increased damage taken and enemies with more health. That's the laziest approach. Balancing a game the way you envision it being played is the best route.

If people really want an easy mode in souls games, they should keep the difficulty how it is and just give players a god mode. Maybe disable achievements if matters to a lot of people.
 

Kenpachii

Member
Balancing a game around several difficulty levels is usually increased damage taken and enemies with more health. That's the laziest approach. Balancing a game the way you envision it being played is the best route.

If people really want an easy mode in souls games, they should keep the difficulty how it is and just give players a god mode. Maybe disable achievements if matters to a lot of people.

Dude balancing isn't that hard.

U can strip like 5 of his 6 attacks away, and reduce the hp by 10 times so he dies in 5 hits. This is how many games do things. It will still be insanely hard at harder difficulty's. It's not hard to do and takes barely any effort.

Let people play how they want to play, these elitisme of u can only do it this way is fucking dumb.

It's like me saying, oh divinity 2 can only be played with no honour mode, glass cannon, 1 character and perm death.

Who will beat it? me and 10 other people, who will not bother? everybody else.
 
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kiunchbb

www.dictionary.com
An easier soul game is just a very slow dynasty warriors. Even if it became more accessible, it would ruin their first time experience. The soul game are growing thanks to word of mouth, making an easy mode would damage that reputation.

It is like making horror game less scary so more people can finish the game, what the heck is the point?

Souls game are already really easy to begin with, not speaking as elitist, just an casual fan. I recently replayed Bloodborne, and it only took me two hours to get to the part that took me 20 hours in the first playthrough. Soul games are all about trial and error, once that's gone it is a really short game.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
Let people play how they want to play, these elitisme of u can only do it this way is fucking dumb.
I feel like broken record.....Let developers make what they want to make. At end of the day its your money if you think the game is not for you then don't buy it, there are 1000 other games out there with low difficulty if you want.

Fun for this game comes from people asking each other for advice or give advice if they get stuck on boss or difficult dungeon, easy difficulty take all that away and for what? for people who don't like Souls series in first place? Is that reasonable?

Its like me asking FPS games have 3rd person option just because I don't like FPS games.
 

mr.dilya

Banned
I would guess because adding the easy mode does not take away the challenging mode for those that like it? Whereas the no easy mode does remove the option for them?

At the end of the day, I don't personally care. I have played and completed the souls games I liked and left behind the ones I didn't. I just think options for consumers are better than not. As I said before though, FROM and any other software company is allowed to make their choice. Me, as a gamer/consumer, would never criticize those that want access to the story and environment without having to play in a way that makes it inaccessible to them.

It's nice to want things. Maybe if the Souls game were unsuccessful or losing steam and they were looking to gain more fans they would consider adding an easy mode. But that is FAR from the case.....so people need to stop demanding an easy mode and MOVE ON. The formula is proven and successful. If it's too hard for some BOO-HOO and too bad.
 

Ladioss

Member
I honestly don’t get it, if it want to play a souls game your best bet it’s waiting a month. They’ll be guides on builds that make the game a cake walk. I loved Demons Souls but I practically speed ran it because magic in that game is so overpowered it’s retarded

To say nothing of co-op, which is explicitely here to help people.
 

DonF

Gold Member
You know what. I was thinking how do you successfully implement easy mode in a from software game like sekiro.
Give the main character double health?... I bet someone who sucks at gaming will not be able to defeat some bosses even with double the health. So give the player double damage... Still some people will not be able to pull enough damage to break a posture, having bad reflexes and not memorizing attack patterns.
Both double damage and double health? I can bet that polygon reviewers would still have problems with the game.
Fromsoft games require more from the player, and if they actually dumb down the attacks, the game would lose it's essence.
 

TonyK

Member
Alternatively, they don't agree with you, and they don't think the developer should have to waste time and resources tailoring his vision to the lowest common denominator when his games can clearly succeed without trying to be all things to all people. This is coming from someone who generally finds Souls games too slow and obtuse to be worth bothering with, not any sort of macho alpha (and the idea that anyone can be macho or alpha about games is hilarious, even though I'm sure it happens all the time).

Anyway, try not to make broad, sweeping generalizations that fail to consider any point of view other than your own.
i.e. Don't stroke your ego, use your head.
You're right, in fact, we are all right and wrong at the same time. It's impossible to arrive to an agreement because we all have a valid opinion from our point of view.

But, for me, the main point in this discussion is that adding an easy mode doesn't remove the standard difficulty mode, so usual fans should not be affected. So then, why don't consider that option?

For me, the topic about easy mode in From games is the equivalent of Sony exclusives in PC. If a PC version of your game doesn't invalidate your console version, why don't reach more people and allow new players to enjoy the games you love?

Again, I feel it as some sort of elitism. You can say I'm making a generalization, but maybe the person that has an elitist thinking can't see it in himself, and then he will find other excuses.

The main point here is: why is a problem to add something that doesn't affect your own experience? I mean, if Miyazaki himself doesn't want an easy mode that's totally fair for me, I don't want that him changes his mind about his work. My problem is people that are not the creators and feel easy mode like an insult to Miyazaki's work, that can't even consider that possibility.

I really think that if Miyazaki adds an easy mode in Elden Ring there would be people that will feel as betrayed as when Sony released Horizon Zero Dawn in PC.
 

TonyK

Member
This is not like ND games with cinematic story and cutscenes, you spending most of time exploring and fighting with little bit of lore in between.
I don't agree. For me, Miyazaki's games are pure playable lore. A level of Dark Souls, even a boss, has more visible ingame narrative lore than a regular RPG with tons of text. More of that lore will occur unconsciously in your mind meanwhile playing but that's the magic of his games. At least for me.
 

DryvBy

Member
Not including easy mode is dumb as shit, let people decide how to play there game.

U want a hard experience, put the game on hard. done.

Some people just want to see the story.

How about play the game as it was intended? If you're not skilled enough, then there's plenty of clickers and walking simulators out there for people to play.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
The main point here is: why is a problem to add something that doesn't affect your own experience?
But it does, like I explained in my last post, this is a type of game that community come together asking for advice or give advice to overcome challenge together and even summon someone to help them, with easy difficulty thats all gone.

I tell you another thing, Souls game's combat are not flashy or fast, they are deliberate and slow. Even if they add easy difficulty, your average person will get bored and put the game down because the combat is too slow for them.

This fucking happens even flashy game like Bayonetta and DMC, someone plays that game on either normal or easy and says the combat too button mashy and wont bother play the rest of the game.


Its pointless to cater to people who are not fan your game in first place.
 

mortal

Gold Member
Not including easy mode is dumb as shit, let people decide how to play there game.

U want a hard experience, put the game on hard. done.

Some people just want to see the story.
Not every game is designed from the ground up with sliding difficulty modes in mind.
Not every game is made to appeal to the widest audience possible.
You want an easy experience, play a game with an easy mode. Simple.

Miyazaki directed titles are primarily known for their uncompromising game design. The story and lore are supplementary to the experience, not the main draw.
Hell, even the style of storytelling in his games are known for being more esoteric than conventional storytelling.
They generally require more effort and investment from the player and most would agree the experience is considerably more rewarding for it.
 

reinking

Gold Member
It's nice to want things. Maybe if the Souls game were unsuccessful or losing steam and they were looking to gain more fans they would consider adding an easy mode. But that is FAR from the case.....so people need to stop demanding an easy mode and MOVE ON. The formula is proven and successful. If it's too hard for some BOO-HOO and too bad.
Let me ask you this. Since we have no confirmation either way, will it bother you if Elden Ring does have a difficulty setting to appeal to more people?
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
Elden Ring does have a difficulty setting to appeal to more people?
People who are not fan of the game in the first place it won’t make any difference. SMT Nocturne has merciful difficultly but most your average person won’t bother finishing the game......so pointless.
 
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NahaNago

Member
I'm all for a difficulty setting for souls games. I'm aware that it isn't going to happen so I just don't buy the games for the most part. I do think the game looks amazing.
 

reinking

Gold Member
People who are not fan of the game in the first place it won’t make any difference. SMT Nocturne has merciful difficultly but most your average person won’t bother finishing the game......so pointless.
People who are not a fan of the game in the first place are not asking for a difficulty setting. It seems there are some people interested in the games but not willing to sink time/frustration into them. My question is, if FROM does decide to add a difficulty setting is it going to turn those that are against it away? Just trying to figure out if A. Is it elitism? and B. Would FROM lose as many customers as it gained by adding and easier setting?
 
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Ladioss

Member
People who are not fan of the game in the first place it won’t make any difference. SMT Nocturne has merciful difficultly but most your average person won’t bother finishing the game......so pointless.

The absurdity of catering to non-nerd people who have zero interest for gameplay or tinkering with systems, in your nerdy system-driven or gameplay-driven game.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
The absurdity of catering to non-nerd people who have zero interest for gameplay or tinkering with systems, in your nerdy system-driven or gameplay-driven game.
These games asking the players to engage with its system and if players are not willing to do that then no amount of difficulty setting will help them.
 
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Kenpachii

Member
I feel like broken record.....Let developers make what they want to make. At end of the day its your money if you think the game is not for you then don't buy it, there are 1000 other games out there with low difficulty if you want.

Fun for this game comes from people asking each other for advice or give advice if they get stuck on boss or difficult dungeon, easy difficulty take all that away and for what? for people who don't like Souls series in first place? Is that reasonable?

Its like me asking FPS games have 3rd person option just because I don't like FPS games.

How about play the game as it was intended? If you're not skilled enough, then there's plenty of clickers and walking simulators out there for people to play.

Not every game is designed from the ground up with sliding difficulty modes in mind.
Not every game is made to appeal to the widest audience possible.
You want an easy experience, play a game with an easy mode. Simple.

Miyazaki directed titles are primarily known for their uncompromising game design. The story and lore are supplementary to the experience, not the main draw.
Hell, even the style of storytelling in his games are known for being more esoteric than conventional storytelling.
They generally require more effort and investment from the player and most would agree the experience is considerably more rewarding for it.

U guys have no argument man. Its not hard to form a argument why it can't happen. But u guys fail miserable at it.

The whole thing "its not intended that way, and u can't slide difficulty's guys" is just laughable at this point, specially if you actually played a bunch of games. ( the last guy sommnium seems to get it tho partly tho )

Difficulty is also subjective.

If you want to actually form a argument and actually want to know the REAL reason why there is no easy mode that u all don't seem to see ( besides the last guy somehow ). Is that the game has no content if people blast through the bosses because that is the content. They will have to introduce a ton of filler in order to get some gameplay hours going or flesh the game out more, for people to not refund the game the same day. The boss fights difficulty is there delay mechanic.
 

TagZ

Member
U guys have no argument man. Its not hard to form a argument why it can't happen. But u guys fail miserable at it.

The whole thing "its not intended that way, and u can't slide difficulty's guys" is just laughable at this point, specially if you actually played a bunch of games. ( the last guy sommnium seems to get it tho partly tho )

Difficulty is also subjective.

If you want to actually form a argument and actually want to know the REAL reason why there is no easy mode that u all don't seem to see ( besides the last guy somehow ). Is that the game has no content if people blast through the bosses because that is the content. They will have to introduce a ton of filler in order to get some gameplay hours going or flesh the game out more, for people to not refund the game the same day. The boss fights difficulty is there delay mechanic.
It's been a while how do I put a Laugh at your comment emoji?
 

YukiOnna

Member
Doesn't work since it's designed with that challenge in mind (which I find is exaggerated because you really just need to understand the move pattern of the boss). Overcoming the challenge is tied to the game design and how the lore is presented in the first place since you experience everything from nothing to becoming something. Even in the more story oriented Sekiro.
 

ScHlAuChi

Member
A food journalist enters an Indian restaurant and orders some curry.

After trying some, he starts sweating and his head turns red and calls for the chef.
FJ: Why is the food so goddamn spicy?
Chef: This is an Indian restaurant sir, we serve authentic Indian food!
FJ: Cant you just make it less spicy?
Chef: No sir, cause then it wouldnt be authentic Indian food anymore!
The food journalist leaves the restaurant.

The next day the food journalist decides to write an article in his blog:
"10 reasons why Indian food being too spicy is a problem and how restaurants could easily fix it"

Disclaimer:
All characters and events in the text above are fictional - any resemblance to games journalists are entirely coincidental!
 
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Megatron

Member
Because the fucking developer has said for over a decade that he wants you to get satisfaction from overcoming a challenge. Have you never in your life achieved something that you had to put a lot of effort into, feeling extremely good but also relieved about it afterwards? You don't get that feeling by coasting through on easy mode - THAT'S WHY THERE ISN'T A FUCKING EASY MODE. It's straight out the director's mouth:


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And have you ever been through a hardship in your life, say a difficult exam, but were able to talk about it with friends afterwards knowing they all experienced the same as you? That's another important feeling the game is trying to capture in the community:

LgYBmnv.png


I don't understand why all of this is so hard for smoothbrains to grasp. Maybe they never achieved anything worthwhile in their lives and never experienced these feelings. Maybe they have no concept of delayed gratification. Maybe they are the ones who don't actually treat games as an interactive art-form, preferring to just blindly run through, gawping at all the pretty colors and 'the story' instead of actually engaging with it - then onto the next game.

Honestly it says a lot about a person's immaturity when they keep demanding shortcuts in these games.
I see. So this is a ‘you cheated the game and yourself‘ post?

And let’s get something clear. You’re not achieving anything. You are not richer, you are not smarter, you are not more famous, you didn’t do any good for anyone in the world. You played a fucking video game. If this is an achievement to you, you need to get some perspective.

I play video games to relax, but I am always worried about syncing too much time into them and missing out on the real world. A game that encourages you to dump hundreds of hours into it to ’get gud’ is The antithesis of this.

if you want to dump hundreds of hours into a Souls game so you can feel like you accomplished something, I guess that’s your choice. But don’t begrudge people who have healthier life outlooks than you who experience ‘feelings of achievement’ through something other than video games.
 

Saber

Gold Member
Not including easy mode is dumb as shit, let people decide how to play there game.

U want a hard experience, put the game on hard. done.

Some people just want to see the story.

Thats why youtube exists. There you can watch games just for stories.

What people can do is:

-Find a streamer or youtube game walkthrough
-Connect your controller to your PC
-Pretend you're playing
-Have fun
 

RileyPust

Neo Member
I see. So this is a ‘you cheated the game and yourself‘ post?

And let’s get something clear. You’re not achieving anything. You are not richer, you are not smarter, you are not more famous, you didn’t do any good for anyone in the world. You played a fucking video game. If this is an achievement to you, you need to get some perspective.

I play video games to relax, but I am always worried about syncing too much time into them and missing out on the real world. A game that encourages you to dump hundreds of hours into it to ’get gud’ is The antithesis of this.

if you want to dump hundreds of hours into a Souls game so you can feel like you accomplished something, I guess that’s your choice. But don’t begrudge people who have healthier life outlooks than you who experience ‘feelings of achievement’ through something other than video games.

Saying you play games to relax but deciding that Souls games need to find a better way to be more relaxing so that you can play them is like saying you watch movies for the humour so the next John Wick needs to be a comedy.
 

Megatron

Member
Saying you play games to relax but deciding that Souls games need to find a better way to be more relaxing so that you can play them is like saying you watch movies for the humour so the next John Wick needs to be a comedy.
Metaphors are difficult and this isn’t a good one. Watching an action movie like John Wick can certainly be relaxing. You know going in it will be 2 hours to complete it.

The only way this metaphor works is if to finish the John Wick movie you have to keep restarting earlier chapters over and over and over again for a hundred hours or more. At that point I wouldn’t find the John Wick movie all that relaxing.
 
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RileyPust

Neo Member
The only way this metaphor works is if to finish the John Wick movie you have to keep restarting earlier chapters over and over and over again for a hundred hours or more. At that point I wouldn’t find the John Wick movie all that relaxing.
No the metaphor (simile, really) works fine. In my example there's something about John Wick you don't enjoy. The only thing that sounds ridiculous is expecting the next movie to cater to your personal preferences.

Play a relaxing game.
 

reezoo

Member
An easy mode will break the game most likely. I tried playing demon's souls on PS3 then give up now trying again on ps5 and beat flamelurker on 4th try. I think boss fights in souls game are not that difficult. Real issue is you have to torture yourself and be really patient to reach them spening a lot of time and then they 1 shot you and you have to waste time again reaching them. If boss fights starts again when you die, you will discover patterns / attack moves and other things very quickly. An easy mode will break this loop. Formsoft then has to do something similar to Sigrun to make boss fights actually harder. You can fight her right after she kick your ass but she's still difficult. Another example is Lionels from BotW.
 
I doubt it's ever going to happen. It's simply not required and the fans enjoy the challenge. Some games are designed to be played a certain way instead of trying to please everyone. Just phone a friend or look up a walkthrough if you're unable to progress further.
 

linkent

Member
Hasan beat Nameless King.


This is why Souls games dont need easy mode.
You just dont get these feeling without the struggle.
 

tommib

Member
I see. So this is a ‘you cheated the game and yourself‘ post?

And let’s get something clear. You’re not achieving anything. You are not richer, you are not smarter, you are not more famous, you didn’t do any good for anyone in the world. You played a fucking video game. If this is an achievement to you, you need to get some perspective.

I play video games to relax, but I am always worried about syncing too much time into them and missing out on the real world. A game that encourages you to dump hundreds of hours into it to ’get gud’ is The antithesis of this.

if you want to dump hundreds of hours into a Souls game so you can feel like you accomplished something, I guess that’s your choice. But don’t begrudge people who have healthier life outlooks than you who experience ‘feelings of achievement’ through something other than video games.
You're really calling Souls fans losers that have nothing better to do? On a gaming forum? Stay classy.
 

Dacon

Banned
Some of those players will be willing and able (able being the operative word here) to really master what this new adventure requires of them and push on. Others will not be so lucky. Do we really leave those people behind? Do we really tell players who are stuck on a ludicrously demanding boss battle that they don't get to explore anymore of this brand-new open-world game? One of the most-anticipated releases of 2022, at that? I'm not sure about that. I'm not sure about that at all.

For people who cry about how entitled gamers are all the time, this sounds really fucking entitled.
 

HYDE

Banned
Rare to find those who understand the feeling of accomplishment, after struggling through something difficult. Sense of fulfillment is outstanding in Miyazaki’s games.
 
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Metaphors are difficult and this isn’t a good one. Watching an action movie like John Wick can certainly be relaxing. You know going in it will be 2 hours to complete it.

The only way this metaphor works is if to finish the John Wick movie you have to keep restarting earlier chapters over and over and over again for a hundred hours or more. At that point I wouldn’t find the John Wick movie all that relaxing.
Isn't that often a feature of videogames though? Revisiting levels and getting good at using the games mechanics etc.

If the question is "why doesn't this specific game give me the specific experience I want right now" then surely the answer is "play a different game"?

Kinda feels like game design would be a nightmare if the developer needs to ask questions like "what if the player wants to play something else".

The player sits down at the end of a tough day and looks through their game library. "I don't feel like playing Doom Eternal tonight, too fast and loud and bloody, that's not my mood, how about a wee game of Stardew Valley just to chill out for a bit."

We are surely not suggesting here that the developers of Doom Eternal should have considered a mode for people who aren't in the mood for Doom?
 
I play video games to relax, but I am always worried about syncing too much time into them and missing out on the real world. A game that encourages you to dump hundreds of hours into it to ’get gud’ is The antithesis of this.

if you want to dump hundreds of hours into a Souls game so you can feel like you accomplished something, I guess that’s your choice. But don’t begrudge people who have healthier life outlooks than you who experience ‘feelings of achievement’ through something other than video games.
What's the difference between dumping 100s of hours into 1 game or spending the same 100s of hours on 20 games? Besides the financial difference?

You make gaming sound like a chore or a job.

Maybe if a game isn't to your exact tastes you should just play a different game.

Its laughable to think that your argument is basically "I prefer to engage with the real world and have a healthy lifestyle so games should have an easy mode". It's not a very compelling argument I have to say.

"Put in an easy mode so players can get your game downloaded, played and deleted again as quickly as possible. These people have more important things to do than play your silly game."

Amazing.
 

KiNeMz

Banned
Reward is given to those who work hard. That's the philosophy of from games. It's actually a prominent philosophy in Japanese culture. Hard work, discipline and respect results in reward, self discovery and accomplishment.

In the west everyone gets a participation medal. No one strives to excel because everyone wins. Reward is expected. No sense of accomplishment gained.
 

Horatius

Member
You're right, in fact, we are all right and wrong at the same time. It's impossible to arrive to an agreement because we all have a valid opinion from our point of view.

But, for me, the main point in this discussion is that adding an easy mode doesn't remove the standard difficulty mode, so usual fans should not be affected. So then, why don't consider that option?

For me, the topic about easy mode in From games is the equivalent of Sony exclusives in PC. If a PC version of your game doesn't invalidate your console version, why don't reach more people and allow new players to enjoy the games you love?

Again, I feel it as some sort of elitism. You can say I'm making a generalization, but maybe the person that has an elitist thinking can't see it in himself, and then he will find other excuses.

The main point here is: why is a problem to add something that doesn't affect your own experience? I mean, if Miyazaki himself doesn't want an easy mode that's totally fair for me, I don't want that him changes his mind about his work. My problem is people that are not the creators and feel easy mode like an insult to Miyazaki's work, that can't even consider that possibility.

I really think that if Miyazaki adds an easy mode in Elden Ring there would be people that will feel as betrayed as when Sony released Horizon Zero Dawn in PC.
the artist is not considering that option because the artist is choosing not to consider that option. it is antithetical to the goal and philosophy of the series to do so.

look, the games are fairly carefully balanced and composed to achieve certain specific goals, and the main one, with the souls series, was to engender a sense of accomplishment in the player. one of the tools utilised was the difficulty of the games, because overcoming challenge is a great way to instill in players the feeling that the developer wanted them to have.

removing that balance is removing a core element of the thing itself. it's directly affecting it as a game and, if you think games can be art, as a work of art. that's why, for its fans, asking for an easy mode is gross, is stupid, is unworthy of the series. if you were playing it with an easy mode you would not actually be playing it. just the existence of an easy mode changes the game into something else.

there isn't an equivalent in other mediums because the ways in which the souls games are art are tied very much to their existence as video games. the best analogy i can think of is going to a shakespeare play and demanding the actors give you a spark notes version to watch because you're having trouble following the plot and dialogue. that would be ridiculous, no? but that's what the incessant droning for an easy mode sounds like to people who actually like and understand and respect the games the way they are.

the souls games are unique and should be cherished for this. not many game developers are brave enough to follow their instinct in creating a specific vision that they want to achieve, and not sacrifice core elements at the altar of accessibility and theoretical commercial gain. i'd rather they stay that way. the entire point isn't that an easy mode would impact my enjoyment, the point is that it would impact the enjoyment of the people who are playing the damn easy mode. fromsoft is literally protecting them form themselves. either play the games as they are or don't play them. that's all there is to it, thank the lord.
 
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Dacon

Banned
Honestly the Souls games aren't even that fucking hard. People are such fucking babies.

All it takes is slowing down, some awareness and patience. People are so used to immediate gratification they can't survive without a teat to suckle on. Fuck I'm tired of this shit.
 
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