The Alchemist on 12/10/2009 at 06:34

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Man, this is one hard game.

I think I died a total of 20 times trying to get -to- the Tower Knight boss. Now that I finally got the hang of this shit, I actually make it to him alive, now here's to trying to kill him... Anyway, I realized I had some gems that would let me get back to the Nexus and level my character instead of almost always dying trying to get back to the portal, and thus losing my leveling souls. So I did that, and then I realized that I had these "unknown hero" soul items that apparently can be used for 1000 souls a piece. Oh so fuck me. I just went from level 10 to level 17. And it did fuck all. My +2 to my longsword helped me out more than the leveling did. Whatever. I'm loving the game, I just need to stockpile on some town portal stones (whatever they're called) because I died so many times today that if I die again I might just break down and cry.

CCCToad on 12/10/2009 at 10:35

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This proves the commonly accepted notion that if you are still hanging around TTLG you are a masochist of some sort.

foldy on 12/10/2009 at 15:36

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I haven't been so into a gaming experience in quite some time. I found out about this game the evening of its release. Because I'd fallen totally out of love with grind-heavy RPGs (Fallout 3, Mother, and the Mario RPGs are the only ones I've been able to really, really get into since the Black Isle days), I initially felt that this game wouldn't be for me.

However, I went ahead and traded in that soon to be obsolete, very dusty PSP of mine, and what I got in return is a game that has impressed me and immersed me more so than any game since the days of Looking Glass Studios and my early experiences with Ultima Online. This is one of those games where people will look back and say, "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

I think the difficulty and the great sense of accomplishment the game can provide really adds to the experience. Carefully exploring the dark, creepy environments, being afraid of anything and everything that lurks around the corner, there's always this huge sense of danger. Yeah progress is slow, but once you get a handle on things, it's steady. It's not a revolutionary game, but it feels fresh and gives you that sense of wonder that I don't think today's weekend rental-length, hand-holding extravaganzas provide.

Can't recommend it enough.

The Alchemist on 12/10/2009 at 17:30

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Oh, you'll cry. Not because you'll play late. No. You'll cry because you're going to die, and you're going to die alone. The rest of us, yeah, we're dying. We suffer. Our eyes glaze over and our souls slowly darken as, just as we reclaim our physical forms from defeating some great foe, a tiny folly, a tiny slip up -- a slight underestimation of that one mobs ability leaves you stumbling, with no stamina left to raise your shield in defense. And in horror you watch as that last, fatal blow comes down, almost as if in slow motion, doing away hours of hard work, knowing you can only reclaim your lost souls by fighting through that very same horde all over again. And knowing that your physical form is now lost again until you defeat another major demon, or use up another precious stone. Yes, we fight and we die. But we do so together, constantly reminded of this shared plight are the ghosts of other players activity, the cautiously helpful notes abundantly placed around the world, the blood stains where others have died. Their souls forever reliving their last moments for passer-bys. These are the things that comfort me when I rise again, a tireless soul, at the Nexus, all too aware of the horrors that await me all over again.

No, you will cry because when you play we will have moved on. The collective effort will have ended. No lost souls will populate your corridors, no fresh blood stains will remain on the altar of your sacrifice. No. You will die alone, in vain, again and again. Alone against the terrible odds. Your only refuge will be dusty old messages left behind by soldiers of past, warriors before you that came and conquered what you could not. Heroes that survived what you can barely comprehend.

Oh, you will cry.

Edit: Also, this is the first game in a -decade- that I've actually read the manual for. I had to, in fact. *cry*

The Alchemist on 12/10/2009 at 17:50

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Triangle button is "cut yourself."


Also griefing might get popular in this game. Not sure how it works per se, but I have the stones that let me become a "black phantom", allowing me to invade another players game. If I can successfully slay them, I am rewarded with my physical form. I just dont have the heart to do that to someone else though. And man am I going to be pissed if someone ever does that to me.


*presses triangle button repeatedly*