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[Disciple of MSSP]

Obviously this is very opinion based, but I'm curious what the gaf community thinks. And I omitted Bloodborne and Sekiro because I'm considering the "sword and shield" iterations of the games... Also Bloodborne would definitely win.

So which is your favorite and why?

Personally, mine is Dark souls 3. The level Design, mood, story, and atmosphere are just perfect to me. Also, DS3 reinvigorated my love for games when I beat it in 2021. I bought it when it was released and gave up bc it was both too difficult and I didn't understand how some of the systems work. But I came back to it and am now addicted to games that are challenging. Recently I've gone back to beat Sekiro and I'm at the owl currently. Hopefully I can get BB on my PC so I can beat it too.

But yeah, that's why DS3 has a special place in my heart.

Edit: I got my answer, so have your Bloodborne in the poll lol

 

[The_hunter]

I liked it when they were more focused on dungeon crawling and puzzle boss fights.

So weirdly my favourite for me is demon's souls remake.

 

[HRK69]

Dark Souls 3

 

[SJRB]

Tossup between Elden Ring and Bloodborne.

Elden Ring is a game like I've never experienced before. The sheer scale of it all was overwhelming. I'd love to be able to play that game again for the first time. Amazing, amazing game.

Bloodborne because that game's atmosphere, lore and design is second to none. To this day people still discover secrets, lore implications or discuss stuff. It's such an insanely dense and layered game if you go out and read the item descriptions and think about the lore and the things that are happening to you. lore wise it is without a doubt Miyazaki's magnum opus and I honestly don't know if he's ever going to surpass this.

Edit: permaban OP for including DS2 in the poll and not Bloodborne

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

I liked it when they were more focused on dungeon crawling and puzzle boss fights.

So weirdly my favourite for me is demon's souls remake.

I just couldn't get into that one. I need to give it another try but wasn't a fan of the progression. And how you pick where you can go. I like a little more linearity. Probably why ER wasn't amazing to me either.

 

[El Hee-Ho]

For me it's either Dark Souls 1 or Elden Ring.

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

Tossup between Elden Ring and Bloodborne.

Elden Ring is a game like I've never experienced before. The sheer scale of it all was overwhelming. I'd love to be able to play that game again for the first time. Amazing, amazing game.

Bloodborne because that game's atmosphere, lore and design is second to none. To this day people still discover secrets, lore implications or discuss stuff. It's such an insanely dense and layered game if you go out and read the item descriptions and think about the lore and the things that are happening to you. lore wise it is without a doubt Miyazaki's magnum opus and I honestly don't know if he's ever going to surpass this.

Edit: permaban OP for including DS2 in the poll and not Bloodborne

I did it for the meme of it sorry. But I did give bloodborne it's props. It's next to DS3 for me and I haven't even beat it yet.

 

[Danjin44]

From that list I go with Elden Ring because it gives you so much freedom how build your character.

I do like Dark Souls mostly because of its level design more than the actual boss fights.

 

[Lokaum D+]

For me Dark Souls 2 it may not have the best level design in the series but the build variety is topped only by Elden RIng, it was my first DS game and it has a special place in my heart, also it has the best hub music of any souls game and imo the best DLC ( aside maybe from Elden Ring )

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

From that list I go with Elden Ring because it gives you so much freedom how build character.

I do like Dark Souls mostly because of its level design more than the actual boss fights

Do you not like the boss fights?

 

[falconhoof]

Dark Souls - no contest. Took the great from Demon's Souls and gelled it together into a single (mostly) world that really could be used to learn where you need to go if you paid attention.

Elden Ring was copy+paste.

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

For me Dark Souls 2, it was my first DS game and it has a special place in my heart, also it has the best hub music of any souls game and imo the best DLC ( aside maybe from Elden Ring )

Yeah I feel like that's how it goes for Souls games. DS3 was my first. And that DS2 hub music

 

[Luipadre]

Another Bloodborne thread.... guys, its not happening

 

[existensmaximum]

Dark Souls - no contest. Took the great from Demon's Souls and gelled it together into a single (mostly) world that really could be used to learn where you need to go if you paid attention.

Elden Ring was copy+paste.

This

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

Another Bloodborne thread.... guys, its not happening

 

[Kurotri]

For me it will be Elden Ring. Of all the great experiences I've had with FROM's games, I hold (especially my second playthrough together with the DLC) that experience as the most magical one to me. But Dark Souls 3 is *right* behind it. Fantastic game and definitely the best of the Dark Souls trilogy.

 

[kevboard]

I like Elden Ring the most, but I think I have to vote for Dark Souls 3, because it is overall the more tightly designed game. it is hard to say anything negative about DS3.

I think the people saying Dark Souls 1 are people who constantly restart DS1 but not finish it... because the last ¼ of that game is just awful. DS1 strats out as an 11/10 but turns into a 6/10 towards the end.

 

[Bernardougf]

Bloodborne/sekiro> demons souls >dark souls 1 / dark souls 3 >>>> dark souls 2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>elden ring

 

[Danjin44]

Do you not like the boss fights?

I recently replayed Dark Souls remastered and most of the boss fights were too easy, I died more from environments and tricky enemy placements more than actual bosses.

And Gwyn was such anticlimactic boss fight, there no proper instructions cutscenes, no dialogue and the fight is over before you know it because you can parry him to death and parry is super easy in original Dark Souls compare to Elden Ring.

 

[Spukc]

Hello kitty world

 

[Rocinante618]

Elden Ring, not even a comparison.

DS3 though is very close to my heart, I was going through a lot IRL and shut myself and played this. It taught me to push, try again and again.

The moment I got out of the dark, gloomy cave/path/chambers ( fuck those enemies with brands/hot iron) and saw Irithyll of the Boreal Valley was purely magical, no other game has come close to this. Literally shivers.

 

[MagiusNecros]

DS1. Level Design.

Hot Take. Sekiro. It's more Tenchu then Souls but it's more fun then Standard DS/ER will ever be.

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

I recently replayed Dark Souls remastered and most of the boss fights were too easy, I died more from environments and tricky enemy placements more than actual bosses.

And Gwyn was such anticlimactic boss fight, there no proper instructions cutscenes, no dialogue and the fight is over before you know it because you can parry him to death and parry is super easy original Dark Souls compare to Elden Ring.

Yeah you're right it was very easy

DS1. Level Design.

Hot Take. Sekiro. It's more Tenchu then Souls but it's more fun then Standard DS/ER will ever be.

I agree! I am going back to a lot of souls likes I never beat. That's why I fell in love with Lies of P again bc of the way combat works

 

[The Cockatrice]

Elden Ring

 

[thuGG_pl]

I didn't play DS2, my ranking: ER, DS3, DS1, Daemons Souls

 

[Hohenheim]

Dark Souls 3

 

[Danjin44]

Hot Take. Sekiro. It's more Tenchu then Souls but it's more fun then Standard DS/ER will ever be.

I LOOOOOOOVE Sekiro, it's one of my favourite FROM game.

 

[Nocty]

Dark Souls 1 for me.

At the time it released there was really nothing else like it, even Demons Souls wasn't on it's level. The purity of it's game and level design was something we sorely needed in a time of stagnation or at least that is how I felt about it.

I distinctly remember the first time I killed Ornstein and Smough after smashing my head against them for hours on end, and finally giving in to summoning help. It was at that point that I knew this was an all time great game, since it reminded me that multiplayer can be so incredible. It was the kind of game I dreamed about playing as a kid hoenstly, before internet connected consoles even existed.

Sharing the experience with other players, learning the world and the secrets and discussing it on GAF was a special time. I never really felt it with any of the subsequent games, Bloodborne came close but it still didn't quite hit that level. Elden ring I just hated the open world, really burnt out on that one fast.

 

[Nintendo's Witch]

OG Demon's Souls. Nothing beats the original

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

Dark Souls 1 for me.

At the time it released there was really nothing else like it, even Demons Souls wasn't on it's level. The purity of it's game and level design was something we sorely needed in a time of stagnation or at least that is how I felt about it.

I distinctly remember the first time I killed Ornstein and Smough after smashing my head against them for hours on end, and finally giving in to summoning help. It was at that point that I knew this was an all time great game, since it reminded me that multiplayer can be so incredible. It was the kind of game I dreamed about playing as a kid hoenstly, before internet connected consoles even existed.

Sharing the experience with other players, learning the world and the secrets and discussing it on GAF was a special time. I never really felt it with any of the subsequent games, Bloodborne came close but it still didn't quite hit that level. Elden ring I just hated the open world, really burnt out on that one fast.

Bro I forgot how fucking hard Ornstein and Smough were. I raged so hard. The only one that made me rage harder was Lothric/Lorian and Morgott. Absolute rage.

 

[Josemayuste]

Hey, where is Bloodborne?

 

[Mister Wolf]

Bloodborne

 

[NeverYouMind]

Elden Ring before they nerfed everything cool and added a filler DLC.

 

[Nocty]

Bro I forgot how fucking hard Ornstein and Smough were. I raged so hard. The only one that made me rage harder was Lothric/Lorian and Morgott. Absolute rage.

That's what I'm talking about, the raw emotions that game pulled out of me was second to nothing else I can think of. The joy of beating a boss, discovering a new item, area, secret. The dread of seeing that red player invaded text for the first time, the music and atmosphere, the incredible lore hidden away in the world and the item descriptions, piecing it all together. I really could go on for days about why I love it. When your only place of safety (firelink shrine) is taken away by the fucker that steals it and you get stuck in the hell hole that is Blighttown for the first time was another highlight.

As for boss difficulty, I think it peaked for me with OandS personally, at least in the Dark Souls 1 game. As for overall series bosses some of the fuckers in Bloodborne made me seethe, mainly because door sized shield and tank builds were not an option I had to actually git gud. I remember my landlady getting complaints from me shouting 'fuck you nigga!' over and over at full volume at 3 AM when I finally downed that fucking orphan of kos shit.

Me pronouncing the F's in that Fuck You Nigga I swear to god, I was shouting so loud lmao

 

[semiconscious]

OG Demon's Souls. Nothing beats the original

yep. if you imported/played the chinese import all those years back, everything since's been a little anti-climactic (tho i've enjoyed it all, as well). talk about first impressions...

 

[Antwix]

kudos for not including bloodborne

 

[Nocty]

yep. if you imported/played the chinese import all those years back, everything since's been a little anti-climactic (tho i've enjoyed it all, as well). talk about first impressions...

I imported it too from that fucking weird ass site someone shared right here on GAF. I remember watching those janky ass Korean and Japanese streams at the time wondering what the fuck the game even was, since everything was in a language I couldn't understand translating it all was hilarious. It just added to the insanity.

 

[Peter303]

it is hard to say anything negative about DS3.

My save game corrupted on DS3 after 30hrs and lost everything, it's a common problem apparently. I couldn't be bothered investing time in it again just to lose it again.

 

[Melfice7]

Out of those, the best at time of release was demon's souls, it was a fresh and incredible experience in 2009

 

[Peter303]

Elden Ring was my first so is my favourite. DS1 just seems clunky after ER. I can appreciate why people love it but I found it too frustrating and gave up somewhere around Blighttown. DS3 was great until I lost my save.

 

[HRK69]

Elden Ring was my first so is my favourite. DS1 just seems clunky after ER. I can appreciate why people love it but I found it too frustrating and gave up somewhere around Blighttown. DS3 was great until I lost my save.

Dark Souls 1 does feels a bit clunky compared to the modern From Software games.

I've beaten every major From Software title multiple times, and Sekiro is hands down my favorite game of all time. But for some reason, I just can't seem to finish (or even make much progress) in Dark Souls 1

 

[skit_data]

Elden Ring is the best overall because there's just so much more of everything that make the series so good.

But, to me personally DS1 will always be the entry closest to my heart. Its interconnected world/level design is so damn impressive.

I'm one of those people that really like DS2 as well for what it is. At times it feels more like a very hardcore Zelda game or something, especially The Sunken King DLC.
And I love Demon's Souls as well of course! Bloodborne as well! Bloodborne is probably the best from a narrative perspective tbh. I really like them all as if they were my children...

...then there's DS3 which is probably my least favourite. Lordran and Drangleic collapsed into a singularity and interesting lore ceased to exist together with the poise mechanic.

 

[xanaum]

I don't think sword and shield are what make a Souls game. You can actually play and finish most of the games in that poll without a shield. I'm not even a big fan of using shields in these games.

Bloodborne is the best Souls game. With it missing because of the poll's limited options, Elden Ring is the best one for me

 

[HRK69]

You can actually play and finish most of the games in that poll without a shield

You can finish all of then with no weapon at all

 

[kevboard]

My save game corrupted on DS3 after 30hrs and lost everything, it's a common problem apparently. I couldn't be bothered investing time in it again just to lose it again.

really? never heard of that.

I only played through it 3 times, on PS4 (and half a playthrough on PC), so I am not a large sample size...
BUT...
my brother is an insane FromSoft nut, he must have played through DS3 at least 30 times on PS4 alone (I am not exaggerating) plus a few times on Xbox since the 60fps patch dropped (and it's even "worse" with him and Elden Ring), and he never had that issue (I just texted him to ask)

is it a PC specific issue or something? (wouldn't be surprising given fromsoft's past with PC ports) or does it happen on all platforms?

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

Hey, where is Bloodborne?

First paragraph

 

[NeverYouMind]

it is hard to say anything negative about DS3.

I will start. Huge input delay. Jumping, sprinting, and dodging mapped to the same button. Horrible upgrade system with useless infusions. Awful covenants and associated rewards. Bosses are RNG damage sponges. Linear progression with dumb gating. Really poor stat bonuses for expensive upgrades. Very few weapons useful in endgame. The many swamps turning traversal into a slog or hop skill spam. Really convoluted quests with failure points showing no rhyme or reason. Really crappy ring collection with good ones relegated to DLC. Forgettable supporting cast. Boring endings. Weak magic.

 

[kevboard]

You can finish them with no weapons at all

no weapons and with not getting hit once even... theoretically.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Dark Souls 1 IMO. I haven't played it in years and I still know that whole map like the back of my hand. The level design is so insanely good.

Of course it all kinda falls apart after you get the lord vessel but damn. Such an incredible game.

 

[HRK69]

no weapons and with not getting hit once even... theoretically.

True! I've seen the no-hit god runs.

All Souls games back to back without getting hit. Those runners are dedicated.

I managed a no-death run once but that's about it haha