Chapter 129: Full of Malice
Honestly, the monsters encountered after crossing the Lothric Wall, including bosses like the Rotted Greatwood that fell into the pit, seemed even easier to defeat than smaller monsters like the Black Knight.
The elite monsters encountered on the path, such as the Icy Knight, the Black Knight, and the Giant Crab, could be ignored. While common monsters were a little more difficult than before, the difficulty did not increase exponentially. Once players understood the attack patterns and monster mechanics, they were not difficult to defeat.
However, the most crucial point is that the price to pay before mastering them is death.
Additionally, players are often not only faced with enemies in battle, but also have to deal with the terrain and environment of the map. For example, in Farron Keep, the choice is whether to endure the toxins or simply roll. The combination of map traps and monsters has made countless players cry.
Many even feel that facing the Man-Serpent and the "Shampooer" in Farron Keep is more difficult than defeating bosses.
However, the players who had reached this point, apart from various complaints about the grotesque map design, did not direct their criticism at Dark Souls. After playing the previous levels, they already clearly understood what kind of game Dark Souls was. They had also experienced its unique charm. Instead, they were more likely to point fingers at Alex.
After all, he was the true mastermind behind the scenes.
"I'm dying of laughter! What kind of person could design a map like Farron Keep?"
"Look at my emoji, it's him!"
"Honestly, Alex's design is truly grotesque!"
"Haha! I knew Alex's character when he created Outlast, and now it's exposed! A love warrior, but clearly a sinister warrior!"
"Well said! But, the one above, I saw your Nebula gaming platform verified account. Why did you buy all of Alex's games? And link your foreign platform authentication. And you've really played Mirror for 420.1 hours? Have you been using this for the past year?"
"Ahem! Resources were scarce, and I was young and ignorant."
Thanks to the Farron Keep map, countless players joined the forum community.
However, what surprised many was that, at that moment, Alex re-posted an official blog entry from a player complaining about Farron Keep's difficulty and then commented on it. The official message was simple: Farron Keep is really difficult, a top-tier map.
Upon seeing Alex's response, countless players were speechless. And one knew that this map was designed with malicious intent!
But after a brief complaint, many players regained hope. Since Farron Keep's malicious intent was top-tier, if they persevered, things would probably be easier later on, right? Of course, some players thought that things would not be so simple.
After getting through the Farron Keep stage, they quickly understood as the content progressed. Indeed, Farron Keep was a top-tier setting for malicious intent. But that did not mean that later maps were necessarily inferior!
After defeating the Farron Street Dancers... no, it should be the Farron Undead team, the entrance to the catacombs opens. Inside them, players fully appreciate the meaning of "love." Not to mention the handsome skeletons with machetes and the huge hordes of skeletons.
The traps in this scene have left countless players bewildered. As you walk, a row of crossbows suddenly shoots out from the wall, tearing you to shreds. As you walk, a gigantic skull ball falls from the sky behind you, sending you flying. All kinds of bottles and flasks are placed there, and you, with your ADHD, roll around in them.
Then, a strange fog appears, forcing you to learn how to write "you are dead" again.
For the more talented and dedicated players, reaching the Profaned Capital and the Dungeon will be even more challenging. Beyond the various sinister and malicious traps, the monsters and environments here will make even the most timid players tremble with fear, reminding them of their first days in Outlast.
The giant-headed babies' screams, the Man-Worms, and the human cages reveal the essence of mental pollution, and even corpses scream when you pick them up. Killing them with a pack of rats and giants might even result in excrement.
Seven jailers, wielding red-hot irons, form a seven-man formation to kill kindling, demonstrating the true essence of a butt-roasting expert.
Many players, after initially withstanding the challenge of Gundyr, the Judge of Cinder, persevering on the Lothric Walls, getting motivated in the Undead Settlement, and finally completing their transformation in Farron Keep, have become completely timid here, vowing to accompany Brother Desperate.
'Anyone who wants to share this fire can do it!'
Compared to the average player, if they no longer want to play, they simply quit. However, streamers on major platforms feel tormented and happy at the same time. The pain comes from the game's widespread hostility, coupled with its extremely high difficulty. The joy comes from the fact that players love to watch.
Players who have been discouraged from playing especially enjoy watching streamers play, feeling empathy. Even when the streamer dies, being able to throw in some sarcastic comments is incredibly satisfying.
Similarly, the popularity of live streaming and video platforms has driven the soaring sales and popularity of the game, attracting waves of new players. After all, we all know that playing and watching are two different things.
Many players, after witnessing streamers suffering mental breakdowns from the abuse, have felt a complete indifference. Then, after buying the game, they discover that it's the complete opposite. The reactions of these players vary.
Some simply request a refund. Others choose to buy but not play. Others persevere, discovering a unique quality and experiencing the unique quality and charm of the Souls series.
While everyone else was suffering, Alex, in Nebula Games' office, beamed as he watched his points go up.
'In Dark Souls, the harvest of emotions is unstoppable!'
At first, many players contributed with resentment. Later, defeating powerful enemies and getting better weapons brought them a new sense of joy and happiness.
This is the hallmark of Dark Souls: it's not a game designed solely for torment. Beyond the overwhelming resentment, once players truly immerse themselves in the game, they can reap many rewards. The joy of getting stronger, the joy of discovering the developer's insidious traps, the joy of discovering new strategies.
It can be said that Dark Souls is a true emotion harvester.
"The resentment bar is overflowing!"
Looking at the golden item he had drawn earlier in his backpack, the four progress bars, the one with the lowest level of resentment, was already full. Clearly, if it could be described, it was overflowing. Happiness was still a little short, and anger and sadness were closer, about a sixth of the way.
However, judging by the progress of the observation, it was almost only a matter of time.
Alex was reclining in his office chair, watching with great satisfaction, when there was a knock on the door and he heard his assistant, Lynn's, voice.
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