Dark Souls – Prepare to Die DLC

RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!

That pretty sums up this portion of the game.

From Software and Bandai/Namco released their first DLC /downloadable content for their successful Dark Souls game. This was available to PC gamers in the full release this year and as DLC to Xbox and PS3 game enthusiasts in late October.

The DLC takes you to Oolacile, a township not on the Dark Souls map and very far into the past, a past where the great Artorias and Gough, great knights of Gwynn ruled. Artorias, in this timeline, was turned by Manus of the Abyss and has gone crazy. Your quest is to defeat Artorias, Manus, and the wonderful dragon Kalameet.

There are a number of areas on the map: Sanctuary Garden, Oolacile Sanctuary, Royal Wood, Oolacile Township, and the Chasm of the Abyss (Oolacile Township Dungeon). Sanctuary Garden pits you against the Sanctuary Guardian, a nasty chimera who spits fire, hops around, blows air blasts, and poisons you with his tail. And you have to fight him with water. Until you get to know his moves and figure how to fight him with your character style, he’s a bitch. Cut off his tail for a new whip.

Once defeated, Royal Wood is opened. I strongly recommend running through the wood since there are the big-ass Stone Guardians, high xp, and their stupid axes/hammers do incredible damage. Almost everything here can be picked up without engaging in an enemy and it makes for fun suicide runs. Picking up a blue titanite slab and Stone Guardian armor are notable loots. There are two elevators to open for you to easily get through Royal Wood with little enemy engagement. This level opens up to the battle with Kalameet and Artorias.

This is the first boss fight against Artorias. This is a good fun fight. He’s a quick knight with some good magic. He hops, spins and hits hard. But he can be defeated. After you dispatch him, it’s on to Oolacile Township for mind-numbing fun and pain. Again, another level that you can potentially run your way through, but there are a number of pickups and you will have to fight one or two opponents. If you do this level slowly and methodically, it can be painful. The Bloathead Sorcerers use dark magic and can deal some misery. Beware the black phantom Marvellous Chester. He can be a pain in the first run through. The most annoying enemy was the chained prisoner — that damn 4×4 pole sticking out his back dealt me some hurt on a few run throughs.

Chasm of the Abyss is another Tomb of Giants. It’s pitch dark with lots of stuff that kills you. Specifically, the guys pictured below, Humanity Phantoms. I made the mistake of engaging them directly and they zipped back and forth through me in an instant death maneuver. Bastards. I recommend finding the young Sif pup who can be summoned in the boss fight and has an alternate opening in the Darkroot Garden fight. The end boss here is Manus, another Hopalong Cassidy that likes to use bitching black magic to hit you from behind and instantly kill you or smack you with his left hand of death. Be prepared for frustration. I spent an entire day trying to help people with this level and had a 1 for 10 success rate, i.e. 1 out of 10 players by my count and multiple attempts.

But the fight isn’t done here. You have to get over to Gough sitting in the tower to activate the fight with Kalameet. This is the best dragon fight ever. This is how a dragon fight should be. Low level flying, fire, spells raging physical combat. Tons of frustration, which equals fun.

If I have one complaint, it is that the DLC is glitchy graphics-wise on my PS3. The bonfires, messages, summon signs, and Humanity Phantoms blink on and off like crazy at times. A quick reinstall fixes this, but it should not be necessary. Again this might be an issue specific to my box.

I’m a huge fan of Dark Souls/Demon’s Souls, the gameplay is perfect for me and the DLC that From Software came up with is an excellent addition to the already released Dark Souls game. I can hope for more.

Remember to talk about it more here on the Fwoosh forums: http://thefwoosh.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=130&t=71851

The Author

pablolobo

Paul G. Wolf is a long time collector of toys and action figures. Starting with Micronauts, MEGO, GI Joe, Transformers and Masters of the Universe in the '80s he since graduated to Marvel Legends, DC Universe Classics, S.H. Figuarts, Monsterarts, 3A Toys, Gundam and anything else that is 6 inches and fully articulated.

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