Bloody, Brutal, Brilliant
With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice only a few months away from release, gamers won’t have to wait long before getting their Dark Souls-esque fill. Though this time, instead of skulking around gothic structures filled will unholy evils, they’ll be jumping all over the place on a wire a la Batman in order to land swift and efficient attacks on unsuspecting enemies. Here’s hoping this departure can land it a spot alongside these legendary titles.
#5: “Demon’s Soulsâ€
Serving as the first entry in the “Souls†series, “Demon’s Souls†was unlike anything in gaming at the time. You control an unnamed soldier who enters Boletaria, an area where mortals are being hunted and killed by unimaginable beasts. Critics and audiences alike praised the game for its beauty and sense of wonder, but it also challenged them in ways that few modern games could. It was unforgiving, but it was also so terrifying and imaginative that we forced ourselves to push on and to get better. While the series would improve with time, “Demon’s Souls†was a mesmerizing introduction to FromSoftware’s signature franchise.
#4: “Dark Souls IIâ€
A lot of people like to hate on “Dark Souls II†as an entry in the “Dark Souls†series, but there’s no denying that it’s a fantastic game when played on its own terms. “Dark Souls II†took what was great about “Demon’s Souls†and the first Dark Souls and improved upon them with a more powerful engine and better artificial intelligence, both of which helped make the imaginative enemies, areas, and boss battles all the more captivating. It presented gamers with another hypnotic world that yearned for exploration and discovery, and it helped cement the “Souls†series’ reputation as one of the best in modern gaming.
#3: “Dark Souls IIIâ€
If “Dark Souls III†is indeed the final game of the “Souls†series, then FromSoftware bowed out on a definite high. The game takes place in the Kingdom of Lothric at the end of the Age of Fire and the beginning of the Age of Dark. “Dark Souls III†presents an accumulation of what made the “Souls†series so memorable, including its most wondrous world yet, populated with the most imaginative and challenging bosses of the series. By this time, FromSoftware had perfected the “Souls†formula, presenting us with “Dark Souls†in all its challenging and inventive glory.
#2: “Dark Soulsâ€
While “Dark Souls III†may be the better game in terms of polish and technicality, it wouldn’t even exist without “Dark Souls,†and for that, we must rank it higher. “Dark Souls†took what made “Demon’s Souls†such a success and cranked everything up to 11, including the difficulty. While many critics noted its insanely difficult gameplay, many also spoke of the highly rewarding and cathartic rush one experienced when overcoming a particularly frustrating challenge. It wasn’t for everyone, but those who did play it experienced the type of awe-inducing wonder that only video games can create.
#1: “Bloodborneâ€
“Bloodborne†is arguably FromSoftware’s masterpiece, as virtually everything about this game is flawless. The city of Yharnam is both dripping with dread and meticulously crafted. The enemies are all fun to battle, and the Lovecraft-inspired bosses are some of the most original and terrifying in all of gaming. And the gameplay, in a break from typical “Souls†fashion, is fast-paced and aggressive, which results in some of the most heart-pounding moments you will experience in gaming. It is FromSoftware’s greatest accomplishment and a masterpiece which will go down in history as one of the greatest console exclusives of all time.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Soul Series Bosses.
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