Astrologers

Preface Open worlds present many more possibilities for environmental storytelling, both on a micro and macro level. Every tiny detail peppered across the vast map can build cohesive narratives on such a grander scale, you can really appreciate the history being conveyed while remaining subtle enough for players miss. Yes, picking up on the patterns […]

Caria

Preface FromSoftware is no stranger to magic kingdoms, or queendoms for that matter. However, these countries tend to have a simple, relatively bloodless history. “Simple” might still describe the Carian regime, with its one queen. Yet the tale of an organized Liurnian state is fraught with intrigue and power politics, the sorcery aspect almost superfluous. […]

Garris

Although now a necromancer, Garris was once just any other sorcerer living in Sellia. Perhaps the man of reason had unconventional sympathies to his Erdtree overlords, given that his staff and sorcery cast with it additionally require faith. Maybe he even came from a faith background; his magic flail has a gold and jeweled design […]

Liurnian Wars

Preface One of the benefits to Director Hidetaka Miyazaki expanding his formula for Demon’s and Dark Souls to an open world is the exponential potential for environmental storytelling. While many of the new details offer only vague insights into the general area, the wars impressed me with just how much we can pinpoint over a […]

Valley of Defilement

Preface C.S. Lewis once stated that he would rather live under the tyranny of robber barons than that of moral busybodies, for the latter’s conscience encourages them to never relent. While I cannot say if Director Hidetaka Miyazaki is familiar with the words of a Christian theologian, they are certainly appropriate for the story of […]

Temple of God

Preface During an interview for the original Dark Souls, Director Hidetaka Miyazaki said that he had created the character of Solaire partially to rebut accusations that he had a slant against religious people, presumably in reference to his depiction of the priesthood in Demon’s Souls. While I can understand these complaints on their surface, the […]