History VideoGame / DarkSouls

''Dark Souls'' is a series of critically acclaimed HackAndSlash ActionRPG games developed by Creator/FROMSoftware and published by Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment. The series, developed by a Japanese developer, is rooted in [[EasternRPG Eastern]] game design principles, but also has a [[WesternRPG Western]] flavor, making it very well-received on both sides of the pond.

See also ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' (a spiritual predecessor to the ''Souls'' trilogy) and ''{{VideoGame/Bloodborne}}'' (a game with similar themes and gameplay but a very different setting), both also by [=FROMSoftware=]. Together, the so called "Soulsborne" style of gameplay has [[FromClonesToGenre inspired many imitations and seeped into the broader game design culture.]]

* DualWielding: As in ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', you can equip an off-hand weapon, sacrificing your ability to parry for extra attacks, unless that weapon is something like the Parry Dagger.

* LostInTranslation: There are ''dozens'' of misconceptions and inaccurate translations throughout the main 3 games and their expansions, ranging from relatively minor things such as [[SpellMyNameWithAnS the names/titles of characters and bosses]][[note]]such as "Manus, Father of the Abyss" actually being "Manus, ''Master'' of the Abyss"[[/note]], somewhat important things such as the origin of certain spell classes [[note]]the most infamous of which is the Demon Catalyst versus Ceaseless Discharge - [[WordOfGod Miyazaki himself]] had to clarify that the latter was the first demon in a developer interview contrary to the former's item description[[/note]] to outright story-critical things [[spoiler: such as the Lord Souls [[GodNeverSaidThat never being explicitly stated to be from the First Flame; rather, they were found ''near'' it as told via official release info in Japan at the time of the original game's release]]]]. It does ''not'' help that misconceptions of lore have morphed into [[WordOfDante commonly accepted fact]] which everyone accepts despite said "facts" not being true. However, the English lore community along with the major members of it (Vaatividya[[https://www.youtube.com/user/VaatiVidya]] being the most well-known example) are coming to correct past mistakes via [[TranslationCorrection people referencing original texts to verify official ones' integrity]].

* ArcNumber: The number 4 shows up several times in the series.

** In ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'', there are four Great Souls that must be collected to open the way to Drangleic Castle.

-->--"You Died", ''Music/MiracleOfSound''

Games in the series:

ComicBooks include

TabletopGames include

* SelfImposedChallenge:

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: No matter what class you're playing as, you ''need'' a shield. It is suicide to play without one, that's why even the "Deprived," who starts off naked, gets one. DualWield builds are a common form of SelfImposedChallenge by advanced players, and players using a two handed weapon still tend to use a shield and switch stances when not attacking.

* SelfImposedChallenge: Because some people don't think the game is hard enough. Aside from the standard ones listed on the page, "Castlevania/Belmont Runs" a.k.a. Whip-only runs (which the game admits flat out on the weapons description is a JokeWeapon almost useless against anything with armor) are common.
** The entire point of the Deprived class is to make the beginning of the game harder. In the long run, class doesn't matter. The Deprived start at the highest level of any class, meaning it takes longer to get stat increases compared to the other class. They start with the absolute worst equipment of any class for any purpose. The fact they have 11 in all their stats makes them a MasterOfNone out the gate, so they need to spend points just to get one aspect of the game they are moderately good at. Due to the other class selection, absolutely any character concept would be better served by a different class selection, even weird ones without a class really designed for it. For example, Thief starts with a better combined Intelligence and Faith score than Deprived, despite that not being a focus of the class.
** The famed "Guts Run", meant to emulate the main character of ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' (no helmet, no shield, only two-hand melee weapons, only crossbows as ranged weapons, no spells outside of ranged fire spells, throwing knives and emergency dagger allowed).
** This is the only purpose behind the Calamity Ring, which doubles all the damage you take without adding any benefits whatsoever.
** The Soul Level 1 run, which is completing the entire game without ''ever'' leveling up.

** Additionally, seeing as the series owes much to ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', a boss in each game's DLC content is in some way an {{expy}} of Guts (Artorias in the first game uses his fighting style and lacks use of his right hand, the Fume Knight in ''II'' wields an {{expy}} of Dragonslayer, the Orphan of Kos in ''Bloodborne'' shares his backstory of being born from a corpse into a life of violence, and [[spoiler: Gael]] in ''III'' uses a very similar fighting style alongside an AutomaticCrossbow).

** Artorias the Abysswalker's animal was a wolf, he was one of Gywn's most powerful knights and he was an inspiration to his fellow knights and civilians. He was also accompanied by his wolf, Sif.

* BigFancyCastle: Anor Londo is a city built like this.

** Averted, if you are not participating in multiplayer. In every other moment, you can quit the game. When you reload the game, it will be (mostly) in the state that you left it.

* BrightCastle: Anor Londo is an absolutely stunning castle city, with beautiful Gothic architecture.

* BubblegloopSwamp: Blighttown.
* BurnTheUndead: Yep, pyromancy can be even more effective than sorcery against common undead.

* CharacterCustomization: You're given a choice of classes to determine your starting abilities, "gifts" that can be added to your starting equipment, and you have access to a powerful appearance editor with more options than you can shake a stick at (even though you're hollow most of the time, and you're probably wearing a [[ConcealedCustomization face obscuring headpiece]]).

* ChestMonster: The mimics. Opening one accidentally will cause them to do a massive attack that will most likely kill the player, and teach them to never open a chest without attacking it first.

* CreepyCathedral: The Undead Parish.

* DrawAggro: Through the series, tough players (such as those starting with the Knight class) and [=NPCs=] can get bosses to go after them while the ranged characters shoot them from afar.

** This even includes the DLC. While many other games would allow you to access your DLC purchase immediately, this series doesn't. The earliest parts of it are available somewhat early, but for the rest of it you may need to sink quite a few more hours into the game before the relevant parts are unlocked.

* AnimalMotifs: The Four Knights of Gwyn are themed around specific animals, which are represented by the rings they wear;

* AchievementMockery: The achievement that nobody wants, but everyone gets: It's the "This is Dark Souls" achievement you get for dying the first time.

* OutsideContextProblem: Regardless of which side you chose, the central conflict of the game doesn't become apparent until halfway through the game, and it isn't all that [[StoryBreadcrumbs apparent.]]

* AchievementMockery: The achievement that nobody wants, but it's the first achievement on most player's list. It's the "This is Dark Souls" achievement you get for dying the first time.

* ''Dark Souls: Legends of the Flame'' (2016)

* ''Dark Souls: Tales of Ember'' (2017)

* AchievementMockery: The achievement that nobody wants, but it's the first achievement on ''every'' player's list. It's the "This is Dark Souls" achievement you get for dying the first time. (There is ''no'' known player who did ''not'' gain this one first.)

* MultiPlatform: These games are published on multiple systems, and have ports to other systems.

* AndIMustScream: The eventual and inevitable fate of all those cursed with the Darksign and [[spoiler:whoever links the Fire]], the latter of which adds [[spoiler:''being burned alive'']] into the mix.

** Averted with heavier ammunition like Dragonslayer Arrows. Getting hit with one of these will do heavy damage or at least knockback targets a noticeable amount if they try to tank it. One of Gwyn's four knights, Hawkeye Gough, is able to cripple a dragon with a single greatarrow.

* TheAntiNihilist: A common interpretation of the hollowing process, [[spoiler:that Undead only keep from hollowing if they have a mission that they can dedicate themselves and stay motivated towards]], is essentially a metaphor for this. Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.

* DarkFantasy: It takes place in a Tolkein-style world, that's full of the undead, tries to stave off the age of dark while recovering from past ones, and has humanity be the potential for greatest darkness.

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''[[caption-width-right:350:[[NintendoHard Prepare to Die...]]]]''

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