Man, what a great video. The way that you just “get it” and are able to articulate your appreciation and criticisms is such a delight, and hearing you say that this is one of your all time favorite games makes me so happy. You’re totally right about how combat is both a conversation and a puzzle, and that puzzle extends to exploring the world and piecing together the lore. The way you’ve fully engaged with these parts of the game is really satisfying to see, and I think trying to truly piece everything together and speculate is a very underrated part of the experience that many sadly don’t bother with. Anyway, I empathize a lot with people being kinda awful. It’s easy for people to say that you should just ignore it, but it’s rarely that easy especially when you account for the volume of comments. With that in mind, I fully accepted that I wouldn’t get the chance to hear your thoughts on Fromsoft titles any more, so seeing this video was such a great surprise. I hope you’re not too discouraged from tackling similar projects in the future because every friend, content creator, and video essayist I know who is familiar with your work consistently recognizes you as the best.
It really is great how Elden Ring managed to bring back those more diverse, complex elements that made Demon's Souls as well as Dark Souls 1 & 2 so special, by leaning into the old school RPG vibe of giving you lots of tools for each situation, something that I think Dark Souls 3 failed to accommodate for in favour of just combat options. If anything, Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2 both share so many of those same principles of giving you lots of options, from various items to optional directions to level yourself up, to summon and equipment. That is where their design is strongest, I think, even though so many people refuse to see FromSoft's SoulsBorneRing games as nothing but grueling singleplayer "true gamers only" boss-rushes.
Your Dark Souls videos are some of your *best* work. I’m not shocked they got backlash - real egos staked on fake video game achievements tend to be extremely fragile - but it bums me out thinking we might miss out on more great analysis of similar games because of it.
"Real egos staked on fake video game achievements tend to be extremely fragile." I'd like to report a murder in the comments section. Perfect way to describe those weirdos.
Man I have called these games cozy and relaxing since dark souls 1. It’s wild to me that people aren’t able to accept or see how that could be, but you are not alone, and your insight and critique resonates loudly among so many players of these games. Thanks so much Noah.
The steady, methodical work of the Souls games (starting with DemSo just before DS1 first released) genuinely unlocked part of my brain that made coping with depression and (then undiagnosed) ADHD somehow much more manageable. I fully agree that they’re cozy, even at their most stressful.
Gene, love your work. It's such a spot on thing to say. Every time I'd hit a wall in the DLC I'd do what the base game taught me, go explore and upgrade. And it really made the DLC a fun journey of gaining strength and exploring this dense hidden world. Some of it was thrilling, but it was super cozy to play. I can't wait for my second run of the DLC.
@@hollandscottthomas I've been saying this for years, even the messages urging you forward and ability to call in a mysterious stranger who is doing it to help you are so heavily about overcoming depression.
it's unfathomable to me that people hate your past soulsborne videos. the inheritors video truly is one of my favorite ever posted to youtube, i return to it frequently. much love noah, i hope that backlash never happens again.
Love that video and completely agree that it's very well done. I could never get into the Souls games themselves, but Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring are fantastic and hooked me before I even tried playing.
I enjoy all of Noah's work, and the soulsborne reviews as much as anything else he's made, but there's no question that the chip on his shoulder about some vocal minority is a constant detractor. I'd much prefer a version with that edited out entirely with only his commentary about the game itself and not the community. The opening of this video shows how much he loves the games and that's great but I really wish he'd just ignore those people and moderate his comment section rather than double down on whatever flame war those people are horny for.
@@GypsumGeneration Yeah, it is pretty sad how he dedicated so much of the video to aswering to those people. It really shows that they got to him, which I understand why, it is clear that he has a bit of inferiority complex. But those comments are by far the minority, I have scrolled a lot and I see all positive comments. I don't know what kind of insecurities Noah has, but I hope the positive comments help him to not give a shit.
@@tofadeldesdot he's spoken numerous times about having quite serious depression, and as someone who also has severe depression, i totally understand how those minority voices can eat away at you because your depression convinces you they're correct.
I had no idea people responded negatively to your previous fromsoft videos. I thought they were a beautiful and eloquent way to present your experience with the games. An experience that probably isn't that uncommon, but rather, a less often talked about one. So I was really happy to see that perspective portrayed by such an excellent essayist like yourself because, as you said on those videos, the difficulty of these games is so often missrepresented that it keeps players away because of that reputation alone. Which is criminal. Seeing those videos of yours pop-up on my feed was such a pleasant surprise and a welcomed addition to your already amazing collection of work.
The people that were negative to noah about those were just the usual suspects who felt like noah accurately describing the series they claimed to like made them loose big kid points.
His videos are the ones I recommend to people new to souls games or who aren't interested in playing but want to understand why people love them so much. They get the sense of wonder and the vibes from the games better than any 8hr lore dive ever could
I want to add my voice to this particular pile, because a) dadgummit, I *loved* those videos, and b) I actively cheered when Noah described feeling the same way about the difficulty of those games that I did. Perhaps this stems from a conversation I had before the video came out. I was speaking with a close friend (who is definitely cleverer than me, and whose opinion I have very rarely found to be entirely without merit) who had never played the games, but HAD absorbed the Loud Internet Fuckwit take on them. When I indicated my experience in re: the contrast between the reality of the difficulty and the 'internet take' on it, he responded that, at some point, if the 'internet take' is sufficiently ubiquitous, it will become accepted truth for anybody prior to entry, and may continue to hold true for those people even in the face of contrary evidence when they DO play the games. I reluctantly accepted that he might very well be right (he's largely a better judge of human behavior than I am), but held (albeit ineffectually) that contradictory evidence was an absolute defense. Noah's video on the games, then, made me overwhelmingly glad that it *wasn't* just me, as it so often seemed to be, and that other people could see the thing in the same way I did when entering with fresh eyes, and for that I have always loved it. (It's not my 'NCG comfort food' video - that's the one about Star Wars and the KOTOR games, with the Tyranny video as a runner-up - but my god I loved the Fromsoft Video Duology all the same. Also, now that I think about it, it feels a bit weird to have an 'NCG comfort food' video, but such are the ways of my brain, I suppose.)
Hey, just in relation to the segment about the feedback on the last Elden Ring review, I just wanted to let you know that that video has become one of my favourite of all time, and I frequently use it as a comfort watch when I've had a rough day. It's not only phenomenally made and written, but it changed how i view Souls games, and let me come at them with a more peaceful angle, helped me reccomend them to friends, and, as an aspiring/hobbyist developer, changed how I think about game design. So I just wanted to thank you, for helping me in ways i never would have expected. Your work has been genuinely touching and affecting for me, and i do a little giggle every time i see a new video youve made, or spot a new article you wrote in the wild. Thank you.
This exactly. I went back and engaged with Sekiro in a way I hadn't in years because of his review, and it went on to be in the top of my Fromsoft list. I've completely stopped caring about the hardcore Souls players opinions (at least when it comes to "the right way to play") and enjoy these and many other games much more because he articulated the reasons to play the way the game wants you to play. I was incredibly sad when it looked like Noah was going to retreat from all of this because of a bunch of trolls online, so much so that I was worried he was going to stop making essays altogether. I hope he's able to kick that little depression-fueled voice in his head in the ass every time it comes up from now on, because no one deserves to feel that poorly about something so well done.
It didn't affect me quite that profoundly but the ending segment about how the game provides you with the tools to beat it was what convinced me to buy the game, and then okay the whole thing basically in co-op with a friend. It was a great time, and even after the couple of months it took us to beat that way, we've kept talking about the world, the story, and themes until this day. Especially after the dlc, I expect it to come up now and then when we chat for years.
I second all of this. Hearing Noah be down on himself and the video was a little shocking to me, because it is truly one of my favorite talking-about-games videos of all time, and really helped me shape how I see From's games.
Gods yes, sad swordsman simulator is a perfect genre title and we can also lump anything made by Yoko Taro into the genre as well as a side benefit!! To hell with lumping these games together based on similar combat mechanics and world building, lets just put all the game creators who want to wring the tears out of you like a sopping dish rag all into one genre.
To be a bit glib/cheeky, the name for the "sad swordsman" genre is just dark fantasy 😛 Also, do yourself a favour and google Elric of Melniboné, arguably the original sad swordsman with a soul-stealing sword (SSwaSSS?)
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I do challenge runs of this game so I feel like I'm enough of an authority to emphatically say, no, you are not playing the game wrong. There's no wrong. Some of my viewers pointed me in your direction and I'm glad they did because this is a refreshing take. It's really important to have someone in the discourse that actually uses the things that are in the game. Keep at it and thanks. Don't let the weirdos keep you down. Edit - OOF! I just got to your bit about interpretations. I'm writing something on this right now. I couldn't agree more. The fact that we still don't know the answers to essential questions like "why did Marika shatter the Elden Ring" is so important. These aren't mysteries to be solved. They're mysteries to make us feel very very small and ignorant about things that are much much bigger than us. They're philosophical questions. Not riddles.
For what it's worth, it's your videos on the FromSoft games that actually got me to finally try Dark Souls after assuming that they weren't for me, a mostly strategy/turn-based RPG player. Your essays on the series feel like the most accurate and honest takes after the massive inflation of difficulty these games have received in online discourse.
I hope you don't actually believe your previous videos were actually hated. It is true some hate them but far more people feel seen and enlightened by your experience. To this day they are my favorite videos from you and have given me a brand new way to see these games, a way a part of me I discovered already knew of, but the rest of me needed to be told about.
@@ZeroDarkMidnight Noah reacts very strongly to a very small number of comments. I've seen it happen with a lot of content creators. There is an ocean of positivity, but he laser focuses on the drop of negativity. I can understand the reaction, but I think he should really look at the sheer number of people singing his praises. I don't doubt negative comments exist, I just haven't seen them on the videos.
Its possible some of the hate came from less public means. But could also just be like myself where a little bit of hate can easily blot out a lot of good in one's perception. It sucks and takes active effort to avoid that trap
is weird to me the feedback he noticed the most was not even the criticism but aparently the hate comments he got from his video, assuming if wasnt that big as he made it lool like kinda shows the guy has an inmature side, specially in the way he responded, if a kid insult you, you basically ignore it, otherwise why lowering oneself if isnt really nothing to gain from people that just came to insult, even weirder because doesnt seem he adressed the criticism that was also in the comments, but i guess the ouder voice wins always.
@@setiem13 I think you may have mistaken my comment. I wasn't trying to call him out on "his immaturity". People have depression, there are better and there are worse days and it can make it impossible to see positivity even when its right there in front of us. It's not an issue of maturity but that of mental health and as a content creator he has to deal with far more hate than the average person. I simply hoped to highlight that despite it maybe appearing to him that the video was overall hated, it was in fact likely just a small group of people who decided to hate on it because they lack introspection and empathy.
Cozy is right. You know how I played SotE? I got fucking blazed and went through the dlc at a SNAIL’S pace. I took three hundred pictures, I wrote dozens of funny and thematic messages which got thousands of reactions, I changed my build in name, look, theme, and stats every time I found a new weapon I loved. I was a Knightly Dragon Cult Apostle, a Beastly Cleric, an undead Paladin, a Frenzied Monk and a Fencing Valkyrie. I leveled up my dlc spirit ashes and used them in thematic and interesting ways. I spent entire evenings just helping people kill Mohg, just so I could see them excitedly SPRINT to Miquella’s cocoon. It was an incredible experience. It’ll always be among my fondest gaming memories.
Man, this is just more thoroughly convincing me that I need to play Elden Ring. My only Soulslike so far (unless you count 2D metroidvanias that people say are like Dark Souls) is Bloodborne, and I played that game VERY differently than most people in that I proceeded through it slowly, methodically -- people often talk about Bloodborne like you have to be rushing through it in a frenzy, but it's really just the combat itself that's fast-paced. I enjoyed walking through an area for the first time, carefully evaluating enemy placements and capabilities, coming up with a plan of attack, then QUICKLY executing on my plan in line with the game's quick pace. It's extremely flattering to my ego to be able to throw myself into what looks like a frenzied, wild situation, while actually just executing on a thoughtful plan and having that actually work out for my slow ass. Before, I had an impression of Elden Ring that it would be like my attempt to get into Dark Souls 1, where it felt like I would spend a full five minutes circling around those guys with spears and shields waiting for an opening after I had already cleared out all of their friends. Now I'm getting the impression that the snail-like shield playstyle is available in Elden Ring, but it's also a wide enough system that it probably accommodates my preferred playstyle of making a plan from safety, dipping in, playing fast and vicious, then dipping out to re-evaluate.
I had genuinely forgotten how fun all the multiplayer elements were. I loved leaving messages, being summoned for bosses, the sense of everyone trying to figure out where all the secrets were. For all the talk about how "hardcore" these games are, the true joy really is in jolly cooperation.
Noah is everything I want to be as a TH-camr, I envy him immensely, especially his writing talent. But man, I sincerely wish I could share with him some of my complete indifference to criticism. Soulsborne elitists are just... so eminently ignorable, I hate to see that they've so irked him. But as he suggests, that's probably more down to his depression than anything else.
@@technoboop1890 Nah. It's relevant to Noah's experience and enjoyment of these games. It definitely warrants mentioning. And considering how polite and inoffensive he normally is I'd say he's more than earned a comeback.
@@DodderingOldMan True that, I think ultimately it would have been best to ignore them but I guess if it helps get it off his chest then thats fine too
I have never written to you before. Just need to mention that although i watch each of your videos about two times a year, and your FromSoftware videos are my favourites. They are so inspiring. I am a Swedish author, I publish every year and sell well. Listening to you and these FromSoftware essays in particular, gets me writing. It helps me come up with books which tens of thousands will buy and read. That puts food on the table for my kids. If you ever deleted these videos, I would be devastated. Love you man, you bring me such joy in life.
On the second to last fight with all the NPCs, I found it to be the most emotionally compelling part of these game. It felt genuinely heart wrenching. I think it’s meant to drive home how unrealistic Miquellas vision of the future is. He wants a world free of strife and governed by kindness. Forcefully imposed kindness. And that kindness is palpable when its effect are full throttle on the NPCs under his spell. But the MOMENT that his charm is broken all of these fairly pleasant people are broken in some inconceivable way. It could only end in bloodshed bwcauae these people haven’t had a chance for so long to govern their own lives. Kindness must be found in the world around you, in your friends, you environment, and most importantly in yourself. Miquellas kindness was always a false one so ofcourse these psople would abandon it the moment it abandoned them
The thing that truly doomed Miquella to a road of villainy was the fact that he removed St Trina from himself. His vision of an era of "kindness" was already suspect to begin with due to how trigger happy he is to use his great rune and mind control people, but the thing that truly made me realize how much of a monster he was was reading his cross in the stone coffin fissure. Trina is the physical manifestation of his love, and he threw her away for the sake of obtaining godhood. Without love, how could you ever be truly kind?
@aydenlindsay8295 Eventhough the BB hunter fights annoyed me as well, the difference is that those fights were actually manageable cos u could interrupt their attacks more easily and heal from it. And u could separate the hikers if they were in a group. The npc fights in ER r all the same bs. They all come at u at once and even if u separate them, u can barely get a couple of attacks in before they start running towards u again.
I am looking forward to their next game because this dlc made the NPCs so much more active to the story as a whole. all the side characters are great in these games but this is the first time since sekiro where I felt everyone was not just part of their own smaller narratives but linked to everything else in the world. I mean the two npcs you bring to the final boss both get intro and death dialogue!
When I first played Elden ring it's world made me think "this is the world as Don Quixote imagined it". the somehow coherent dream logic of it all, the tragedy, the scale, such a good game. And it is a cozy series, idk how ppl don't see it, once you learn it's movement and to accept the tools it gives you it is so cozy.
I genuinely thought the same thing once I realized charging at the fire golem was the exact same thing as charging a windmill: a comical failure resulting from overestimating one's capacity for victory, ending in a Monty Python-esque "RUN AWAY!" The world is fantastical, strange, and grand, but also quite funny in certain ways, often due to the player's own folly.
8:50 - 11:52 EXTREMELY RELATABLE. Sorry you had to deal with those utter dafties. Your previous videos on Souls games were fantastic, and I'm super happy to see this one pop up too. Keep up the great work pal.
With more than ten hours of videos and god only knows how much more time writing up drafts, editing, and playing through this game *four* times, I'd say that Noah has spent far more time thinking about these games than any of these twits. I mean, my goodness, there are some games that I *love* and would love to be able to play from a blank slate again, but I think the last game that I've played that many times was... Ocarina of Time?
Tragic that people who talk about these games aren't allowed to enjoy these games on their own terms according the loud, non grass touching, online minority that are git gud souls fans. You can only enjoy them exactly as they did to avoid their incessant caterwauling.
@@habadasheryjones Please trust me they're a minority. The majority don't gaf about how anyone else plays these games as long as they're enjoying themselves
9:09 Dude- the internet is infinite in idiots with bad takes. Haters gonna hate. I think your Patreon speaks for itself in how appreciated your videos are.
@ileutur6863 I wouldn't say that vocal unhinged minority proves anything about the community which I found to be one of the most friendly and helpful ones out there. Like op said, other metrics speak for themselves, depends on where you what to focus on I guess.
Speaking as a "No Summons Allowed" guy, I want to thank you for your previous Elden Ring video. I binged your whole Souls series just before this DLC came out, and it changed the way I approached SotE for the better. You spoke a lot about frustration rising to a point where it sapped the enjoyment out of the games. I took that to heart and for the DLC I allowed myself to use summons. I still abstained from using them on main bosses, because ultimately I am that guy who enjoys bashing his face against Gaius for 4 hours. But it was so nice to allow myself to fast forward past the umpteenth dragon fight or a particularly tedious catacomb boss, and quickly get back to the fun of exploring. It really upped my enjoyment, and in hindsight avoiding them is probably why the base game left me feeling so burnt out.
Noah, your Dark Souls video was my favorite. I really loved the delivery of your story with the fume knight. I put it on whenever I have the opportunity to. A long drive, can't get to sleep, burning the midnight oil on a project. I love that video. Whenever I watch it I get something new out of it but I always ALWAYS have that feeling of "Damn, this guy really knows how to THINK about video games" as you offer many insights or note details that I didn't absorb in my own playthroughs. Sorry this comment was so late. Thank you!
That intro has real, "I'm gonna talk about the story of the Quake games, and there's nothing you fuckers can do to stop me" energy and I've never been more here for an energy than I have for this.
Especially given how there is now a literal cottage industry talking of DOOM lore... a game where even its creators' state is about as strong and deep as tissue paper.
57:59 I sorta disagree that the final boss fight doesn't tell us more about Miquella. He started his story arc because he wanted to save Melania, because he loved her. When we fight him all he says about her is that she'll be remembered. In most people's games she is still alive at this point. But Miquella has already moved on to his glorious destiny, and without his "love" he no longer cares for a sister he has no use for. As such he has lost his very reason for becoming a god in the first place. I would argue that his choice to resurrect Radahn but not Leonard is another sign that he doesn't understand Radahn at all, by the end. The General's compassion was one of the things Miquella most admired. But instead of bringing back a caring man, and the mount he so cared for, Miquella brings back the caring man so that he can become Miquella's mount instead. Objectification writ large. And a compelling illustration of the tyrant that Miquella has become.
Have you seen that idea floating around that the Putrescent Knight is actually a manifestation of Radahn and Leonard by St Trina? The Promised Consort really does feel like a childhood ideation of Radahn, and not the Starscourge whom we gave a glorious death.
Same. Was on an amphetamine-fueled coding sesh frenzy but immediately dropped it for this upload. It's generally hard to peel me off when in this state.
It's so strange to me that people get mad at you for your Souls opinions, I've been a fan of these games since Dark Souls came out and I find myself agreeing with almost every word you say. I find these games unbelievably relaxing, and honestly they were a massive help in some of the toughest times of my life. Don't let anybody tell you how to play these games, the correct way to play them is the way you have the most fun.
People take themselves far too seriously. I also think they're my comfort game(s). Have happily spent hours lit af just riding around on Torrent or chilling in Majula.
The most infuriating thing about the negativity is that he's completely right about there being that subset of Souls players. It's shrunk over time, but I started playing with the US release of Demon's Souls, and every forum in the world hammered home how the only true way to say you had beaten the game was to do it in melee. Shields and Magic were frowned upon, summoning was unheard of, and any time anyone asked a question about how to beat something, at least half the replies were "Git Gud." Even if they went on to give actual advice, the overarching message was "if you can't beat this in one specific way, you aren't really beating it." It's truly hampered my ability to enjoy these games for a while, even though I loved playing them I felt actual guilt about the few times I did have to summon or rely on magic to get through sections. People claiming now that that never happened just weren't around in the early days, or are purposefully ignoring it. Noah specifically got me to realize how dumb it was to feel guilty about using the mechanics in the game to enjoy it, and I'm forever thankful because it's extended to other games as well (I don't feel bad about not beating a game on the Hard difficulty anymore). I hope he can accept that the negativity exists, it isn't specific to him, and can continue to enjoy things the way he likes.
Can I say that it's cool that you're one of the only youtubers I've seen that have footage of themselves *doing co-op*? Like, even just summoning other players is something I've never seen happen, and yet my strongest memories of the DLC all have come from getting fed up with a boss and calling upon the power of friendship and these 8 cerulean flasks worth of Heal From Afar I found.
Yeah, I remember the deluge of maidenless comments in response to your previous video. The fact that this dlc proves your experience to be the correct one over the self-imposed challenge running crowd is so satisfying. Oh, and this video is lovely too. No one writes about games the way you do. Which is a shame, but it makes every one of your videos feel like a little treat.
“A suffering that grew from a small clearing in the land of shadow into the sinister, glowing glory of the Erdtree itself.” And yet I cannot but be absolutely rocked by the poignancy of the Shaman’s Village. It is perhaps my most favorite location in the entire series. Somehow the weight of the history there, the spring-stone of all that pain that would flow out into the Lands Between, it feels as heavy to me as Ash Lake did in Dks1.
@@itsaUSBline Yeah I was galloping through the area on Torrent and as soon as that music faded in I fucking slowed to a walk and got chills. They did so much with so little
Riding into Shaman Village for the first time gave me such a complex punch in the gut. The only thing I can compare it to was entering Leyndell, Capital of Ash for the first time and seeing how much it had changed - and seeing the Erdtree burning. What a haunting little moment.
Pausing the video as you're talking about people's reactions to your previous FromSoft entries. I'm genuinely heartbroken to hear that's how people received your work. I think that your videos are without question some of the best additions the the community our there. I've listened to them multiple times and pushed them on anyone who would listen. It's the internet, people have their opinions, you can't hug every cat and all that, but I wanted to express just how much I've appreciated everything you've written and shared about a series I adore
It isn't. Go read the comments on the videos. It is endless positivity and appreciation. I have no idea where he's pulling this seemingly strong negative reaction from.
@@DemonLordSparda literally just went to check, latest comment from 23h ago complains that noah is imagining the git gud crowd, third from last comment is whining about "mischaracterization" of dimwits' favorite babygirl mauler lol there are lots of commenters who appreciate noah's perspective, but there are absolutely people who just cant let go of their snobbism even all this time after. i can't blame anyone for getting upset at that
@@DemonLordSparda I remember seeing a lot of it when the videos came out, and on twitter too especially (who'd have thunk?). Obviously popular opinion has gone in his direction, probably always has been, but the git gud dogmatic folks are vocal little pricks.
For what it’s worth, I hadn’t properly played a video game in decades before I watched your two previous Dark Souls videos in February, and now I own a PS5 and have played all of them (except Sekiro, which is in the post). Found your videos, and then the games an extremely profound experience, so regardless of how many other people hated them, those videos demonstrably, tangibly, literally improved my life.
Charo is one letter off from Charon, which is the name of the Mariner who operates the Ferry across the River Styx in Greek Myth; given the presence of a Tibia Mariner I reckon this is an specific nod to Charon being dead in this world, as natural death has been altered, causing death to wash ashore rather than be guided, thus the hidden grave of the ferryman himself. Closest I could come, thanks to the lack of direct mention of Charo anywhwre in game.
I have watched and/or listened to both your FromSoft essays a cumulative ten times at this point. Perhaps some people didn't enjoy them, but I hope it brings you some small comfort to know that those who do enjoy them treasure them as something near and dear. I'll never forget the heart-soaring elation I felt watching through that first time to find that you truly *got* why I love these games. I'll never forget it, because you're so eloquent and thoughtful that I still feel it every time I watch.
Your dark souls videos have helped me approach my own unconscious perspective on the “right” way to play them; I often unconsciously make things more difficult for myself. I have chronic pain and sometimes am kept awake by it-your dark souls videos have kept me company on many a difficult night. I am very glad it exists :)
The sheer, palpable joy I have right now not only seeing a new Noah video in my feed but seeing that it's a continuation of his analysis of Fromsoft's body of work is absolute
Just wanted to say that I appreciate all of your videos, and I love your perspective and humility and the ability to get this perspective even if I don't have enough time to finish or even start these games. It sucks so many people are awful to you about from soft games, especially when you have such a wonderful and warm way of spelling out what makes them so resonate, I really do appreciate it. I know it's not really possible to drown out the bizarre gamer anger or fully ignore it, but I hope I can add a little heartfelt message of appreciation here; I'd like to think most of your viewers feel the same as me.
I also see this game as a very cozy time. Sometimes I'll boot up the game on a day I don't feel like doing much, pick one of my many meme builds, and spend a couple of hours roaming around and grabbing Golden Seeds or killing certain bosses I've got the download on. Other days I'll be fighting a colossal, energetic boss, in the gamer stance on the edge of my seat, but the real beauty of Elden Ring is that both modes of play are well catered for.
To contrast the bizarre hatred from losers who disliked your experiences with the Fromsoft games, I'll say that this whole journey has been nothing short of an excellent delight for me to watch, rewatch and rewatch again. The insight you have for these games is interesting, the honesty you have as you both retell your initial feelings and later analysis of the games and yourself, the delightful moments of humour and the same relaxed feeling I have with the videos that you mention with your cozy experiences with the games.. Seeing this video recommended had me immediately watch it, because doing otherwise was something that I didn't even consider. They have given me deeper appreciation for the Soulsborne games, especially the ones I have played (perhaps one day I'll pick up Sekiro or the old Demon's Souls). While far more than just one, I'd like to say that your words have resonated deeply with me and likely far more people than those that would pointlessly deride you for sharing some wonderment, joy, frustration and thrills you had with it all. Thank you, Noah. You really were the Dark Souls of Dark Souls players.
Personally I really like your dark souls videos, I think I've listened to the whole thing like 8 times now. It's funny that you bring up your depression because your videos are actually a great help to MY depression. They're amazing comfort-content, on top of being just really insightful.
Noah - your previous two FromSoft videos are some of my all time favourite things you've put out on this channel. Your philosophy and approach to the Dark Souls games are what finally got me into them! People on the internet can be just so fucking awful - so I want you to know how much those videos meant to me and how much I appreciate everything you said in them.
Your excitement for these games is contagious. Watching this video I just wanted to play it all the way through again. The first time I played Dark Souls it was way back when it came out and I didn’t have internet, and nobody in my high school knew what it was. It was one of the loneliest, and most interesting gaming experiences I ever had. And i loved being lost in it, trying to make sense of the gameplay and the history of the world, the worldbuilding was overwhelming. I’m really glad you got to get lost in it all too.
I am only 6 minutes in and you've mentioned one of my favorite elements of souls games, and one of Elden Ring's greatest strengths which culminates from years of FromSoft perfecting these games: these games are evocative of how things *feel*, realism is cast aside for a dreamscape, for aiding emotional and an almost spiritual entanglement. It's beautiful. It's why we get so immersed in these games. Elden Ring does this beautifully, the DLC only adding to that. What an achievement!
The OG Demons' Souls was the first game I imported because it wasn't available in Europe. I had no idea what it was. I just read Kevin Van Oord's glowing review and it clicked with me. When I sat down to play it I hadn't a clue what to do. I was dying on the first stairs in the oBletarian palce. As I played through I found various things to help me like being able to summon other players for bosses or specific items that could turn the tide on a boss. All these little additions to the game WERE the game for me. You had a baseline difficulty that, if you were skillful enough, could probably get through. But the joy, however, was being able to overcome something that most players would consider unsurmountable by using the various things on offer. To me that's the beating heart of these games. These games are not particularly designed for a level 1 no hit playthrough. If they were then they would not provide so many ways of overcoming bosses and enemies. I find the people who think there is only one "real way" to play these games among the most insufferable, gatekeeping and joyless assholes in all of gaming.
Noah, your FromSoft videos are my favorite of your library. They made me realize that the lore of Dark Souls and Elden Ring are malleable just as the character build is. They gave me a new appreciation for, not only FromSoft games, but lore in games in general. I am happy you made a follow-up for Elden Ring. Thank you for all your hard work.
This is easily one of the best essays you’ve ever written. Not because you’re saying something that hasn’t been said, or your writing (which are the reasons I love your journalism in general) but this time around it’s the PASSION that you can feel from just listening you to talk. 100% nerdy in the best way possible.
I rewatch your Soulsbourne videos at least once a year - so masterfully have you captured, interpreted and explained the thematic resonances that the games are built upon. I was mostly a Bloodborne fan, but gave Souls games another shot because of you. I have started quoting the fire sermon you quoted in the video to people sometimes. In other words - I was and still am deeply, deeply moved by your work, and having followed you since 2017, I think it stellar and one of the best, as well as genuinely THE best Dark Souls video on the internet. What is so precious about it is that you do not let the difficulty discourse define the entirety of the game, that these gameplay elements do not become the end-point of the game itself. Feels like people focus on that the same way people often focus on the plot of the movie when critiquing it, when the movie itself is all of the shots ordered in a specific fashion and arranged, as well as coloured, scored and so on. So, in other words, I think from the point of view of art criticism, if we take the formalist approach seriosly, then many, many hundreds of "git gud" commenters are simply illiterate and wrong, missing the forest for the trees, and you have demonstarted perfectly how the games could be read, and if they refuse... Well, you can't teach people to broaden their horisons against their will. Thank you for your work all these years!
As someone who had a few disagreements with your dark souls video, It is fucking WILD to hear how incredibly UNHINGED people get when you have an opinion about a game they like. Your writing on games has Impressed and inspired me consistently over the years, so much so that I would struggle to pick something you've written that I genuinely don't like, I hope that you continue to make in depth content like this and have confidence that what you make is truly quality.
@@noobsplooge101 he intentionally acts provocatively, even while writing the video, before anyone could have reacted negatively too it as if hes reponding to hate he hasnt gotten yet, while he fully knows exactly what people mean and why they respond with such critisism to similar takes that he feels like he needs to spend a significant portion of his videos justifying it firstly to himself then to the audience. Then he pulls some text that directly contradicts the games philosophy makes some deranged interpratation that he validates by the sheer power of him being right and you wrong
@@greekcomenterperson446 Uh, sorry, I wasn't able to hear you over the screeching about how large a hole he made in your butt and typos. Could you find a clue and try again? Preferably after you git gud and learn to inventory, scrub?
@@greekcomenterperson446 The only way you would find what he says provocative is if you feel personally called out by it, and by your comment you seem the type to have offered "criticism". The type of comments he's talking about always come from the worst parts of the Soulsborne community. Whether it be on reddit or twitter there are sad and annoying individuals that feel these games can only be played one way, and feel they intimately know "Miyazaki's Vison" of the games he's directed. Grown adults that soil themselves over how another adult plays these types of games "wrong" and don't understand them like they do have disappointingly always existed. I've seen both videos he's made several times over the years, and have played the core of the Fromsoftware catalogue previously including Elden Ring and SOTE solo and with summons/ashes(Because I feel that's somehow important to you to know). I've found nothing he's said in his videos on this topic "deranged" or "contradictory" to the the perceived game philosophy. He's said nothing crazy that takes mental gymnastics to justify, especially since he very clearly presents his points of view as just that, his personal view. The core of what Noah says in all three of these Soulsborne videos is that anyone can play these games, anyone can beat these games, and anyone can learn to love these games despite the lack of perceived skill by using everything at their disposal. To interpret what he said as dogmatic and heavy-handedly telling other people how wrong they are and how correct Noah himself is, is either being intentionally obtuse about it or if you feel particularly called out and need to, as you put it, "validate" their preconceived ideas on the one true way to play and understand these games.
So glad we got this. I was a little disappointed the whole time playing Shadow of the erdtree that I wasn't going to get to hear how the experience impacted Noah's thoughts on elden Ring now that it is complete.
This isn't the place for me try and to re-litigate how you feel about the art that you yourself produced, but I do want to say that your two previous Fromsoft series videos convinced me to try two games that I'd previously written off - Dark Souls 2 and Sekiro. I ended up falling in love with them, to such an extent that they're now my favorite Fromsoft games, ever. Your work directly led to a great deal of both engaging with art that deserved it, and the resulting joy that sprang from me enjoying just that. As for your Elden Ring analysis, the main portion and the DLC included, you produced insightful, fresh commentary that didn't discount or hand-wave away the Difficulty Arguments, but instead met them on their own ground and provided evidence as to why these games aren't simply masochism simulators, and in fact have many, many things to say that get covered up by the metaphorical noise outside of them. I love your videos, Noah, and eagerly watch every single one that comes up in my subscription feed, and I'm happy that I got to hear your thoughts on these specific games. You're an amazing critic and artist in your own right, and I mean that.
Noah, thank you for publishing this video. Your thoughts, as always, cut the heart of what it means to play and love Elden Ring and you have put to words a lot of the intangible feelings I had while playing the DLC. It's upsetting to hear that you were disheartened by some of the comments on your other videos about your skill with these games. I want you to know that I, like many others, am here for your incredible writing and insightful commentary ABOVE ALL ELSE. I do not care one single bit about HOW you play these amazing games, only that you do and that you continue to share your insight with all of us. Please keep up the amazing work.
"Prepare to Die" as a marketing campaign has done more to shape the fandom's reality of a series of games than any comparable example I can think of. It's happened to deeply frustrating effect, precisely for the reasons you outlined in an earlier video: it makes people miss the flexibility and openness of these games to meet players wherever they are. But to that, I'd add another contributor is likely the cottage industry of Soulsborne playthroughs, no-hit runs, and gimmick runs (e.g., broken sword only or level-1 games). With this content being such a sizeable majority of related fan content, I have to assume this is why so many Soulsborne "fans" are closer to being Kaizo Soulsborne fans. It's like they insist on playing a different game than the one they have in front of them, a game which is afforded by the base game but still distinct from it.
In fairness to those folks, most people doing those sorts of runs seem to be chill. The problems mostly come from the mass of people not posting videos, which makes it hard not to suppose that a lot of the people yelling at everyone are those who place absurd amounts of their self-worth in their ability to beat video games and wish they were good enough to do some absurd no-hit no-heal blindfold run and are taking out their frustrations that they aren't.
Honestly I think it's a misinterpretation of tone. I've always felt like a lot of the original "git gud" or "you're not really playing unless (X)" comes from miss reading of jokes or sarcasm. Even "prepare to die" sounds like an on the nose joke. They feel like a joking way of saying "there is no cheat, only refining your play" and "everything can be learned and played around regardless of gear" Instead of being jokes they started to become actual terms/phrases people began to believe in and use as gatekeeping. It seems to have found residence in the area of gamers who make their accomplishments part of their personality. It's only gotten worse as the games become accessible because it adds more people who become indoctrinated into that way of thinking.
@@Nanoqtran its a time and place thing, "git gud" and "just dodge" aare deeply unhelpful unintresting unproductive statements to someone asking for actual help and advice while deep in frustrations
Something I really enjoy about videos discussing FromSoft games, especially this video where you now have several hundred hours in Elden Ring alone, is seeing just how diverse and different any given players experiences with the same game can be (even despite the gamers™ who think you are actually going to Hell for not recommending a NG+7 RL1 playthrough to new players). My experience with my mostly blind play through of the base game was a perpetual death march that was really enjoyable, albeit with highs and lows. So when I picked up the DLC I decided to look up proper "Elden Ring Builds" and with hindsight it's easy to say that the reason I had so many problems is because nothing about my character made any fucking sense. I was under leveled, my attributes were disjointed at best, I used zero incantations or spells, my talismans were awful, my flasks were hardly upgraded at all, hell I never even bothered to mix my Wondrous Physick past the basic full heal. Really I was playing the game like an unoptimized challenge run because I wanted to whack bosses with a comically large unwieldy pizza wheel and the game let me do just that. It allowed me to run with my desired, albeit extremely suboptimal play style where I was barely denting enemies with a funny looking weapon that takes eighty years to swing. So once I learned just how much was available in the game following the DLC's launch, Elden Ring quickly became one of my favorite games and I'm having so much more fun with it. My play style didn't change much in practice, like even with everything I know now I still prefer to roll with straightforward "physical builds" (Vigor, Dexterity, Strength, and Endurance only) with quality weapons because I heavily dislike prebuffing in RPGs, but just knowing what all is available and experimenting with all of the various ways to play the game completely transformed Elden Ring into a strangely relaxing game where I enter a flow state the second I load into the world. It's a genuine masterpiece.
OMG a new drop. I've been crushing NCG's back catalogue... friend, you write so well, and your ideation and reasoning so crisply moves from idea to the best next idea. Your essays are curious articulate soaring baritone explorations of the human experience as it happens alongside the playing of videogames. I recommend you collate them as published written anthologies to make their ideas safe from youtube's overhanging internet-impermanence.
You found the secret weapon that many Fromsoft players never find! It's the weapon that breaks the chains that bind you to a correct way to play the games for the optimal feeling of reward. I find it fascinating that many players won't use a summon in a pickle but do use sleep potions or bows cheese without letting it register how arbitrary those self imposed rules are. The relentlessness of the attacks in the DLC are Miyazaki's way to mess with their heads. Sure! Don't summon! Spend 9 hours on a boss! And then act as if you ran a marathon. Thing is, I never felt good when I finally killed Melania with just a sword and I dropped the pretense right then and there and the DLC boss design strongly suggests that Miyazaki agrees.
I think the problem also is that people have unironically started to believe that the 'unga bunga' memes are the only way to play the game. I feel like the Dark Souls community had largely moved away from that stuff, only to see the older mentality (though I'm definitely not asserting there weren't always people there to espouse them in full seriousness) reincorporated by the newer fans without a lick of humor. People seem to have forgotten the lesson it took the Souls community 3 games to learn: these games are RPGs. Build variety has only grown higher and is also an integral part of the game--especially with four talisman slots, buff stacking, and more lenient equipment. Restricting yourself to ONLY big sticks and i-frames should honestly be considered a challenge run at this point. I think people made such a big deal over how OP some builds (early bleed is a big culprit) were that they refused to interact with them altogether.
I have never in my entire life been so overjoyed to see a video drop. I was sad rewatching the Souls Inheritors video towards the end because I was wishing I could know your thoughts in relation to Shadow of the Erdtree. Thank you so much for what you do.
I cannot tell you how happy it made me to hear you stand your ground on your previous Dark Souls video. I am tremendously grateful that you decided to say fuck it. I hope it felt as good to say as it was to hear
When I saw the notification, I swear I did a full on heart clutch like Sanford going “This is the big one! I’m coming for you Elizabeth!” I’m SO excited you made this!
I've been an avid fan of your channel ever since I watched the Half Life video you made waaaay back when. I remember you talking about how you would probably never play a Souls game because you simply didn't consider yourself a skilled enough player to be able to handle them. I was incredibly (and pleasantly) surprised when I saw you upload the Dark Souls video, and your commentary on it was absolutely perfect and spot on. Since then seeing you tackle EVERY SINGLE game, including Sekiro, has been an absolute delight. I *really* hope you are able to ignore the spite-fueled ichor that people seem to spew at you, because I know for a fact that those guys are in the minority and the work you do is phenomenal. And honestly, the fact that these obsessed nerds are review bombing Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam because it is too hard and seeing you say it was easy breezy makes grin from ear to ear. Keep on being a great person! I know I speak for most of us here when I say that we love your work.
Your fromsoft videos are genuinely some of my favorite video game essays of all time. They were transformative for my experience of the games. I welcome more anytime 🎉
Just to echo a lot of other comments I'm seeing, I found your videos on From's games to be some of the best essays on games as a whole. I think you're a phenomenal writer and getting to hear your thoughts on one of my favourite series was excellent. I return to the videos often and just like I continue to find more facets of the games to enjoy, I find more in your essays to enjoy with each rewatch. I hope you can continue to ignore and see through the petty facade of anyone who continues to deride the way you've played and enjoyed the games. You are the best video game essayist around and I think the community is always in for a treat when you drop a video and we all benefit from your insights. Keep on keeping on bud :)
I had no idea people were so negative about your videos on FromSoftware titles before. I just want to say I adore them, and they are some of my favourite video essays on youtube. They're the videos that really made me enjoy and love your writing style, and you managed to capture so many important facets of why those games are so beloved really eloquently. They were also very funny and thoughtful, the little pro-wrestling bit about HOURAH LOUX in particular sticks out, as does how you described your enjoyment of Dark Souls 2's narrative. The fanbase is, as Stephanie Sterling put it, fucking exhausting, but I'm glad you enjoyed these games so much and I'm really happy you decided to do a video for Shadow of the Erdtree too. I'm not even ten minutes in yet and (one writer to another) I'm loving how you discuss it! ^_^
The burned in wood title card was an excellent touch. Also I love your souls videos, your perspective and experience have made me have such an easier time recommending these games to my friends who have been put off by the air of difficulty surrounding them. I’ve been returning to those videos frequently because of that, most people don’t point out how badly these games WANT you to win. I personally know 3 people who have a new appreciation for the series and consider themselves fans after watching your videos. So thank you!
To my delight, Hell has frozen over and Noah has released a video I never thought would see the light of day. If this keeps up, we may even get "How Does Postal 4: No Regerts Compare to Previous Postals?" at some point! (Kidding.)
Noah your Dark Souls/Elden Ring videos are probably the best video essays about those games, period. And that's saying a lot considering that a Dark Souls piece is a mandatory assignment for Video Essayist 101.
Haven't finished watching this video yet, but as someone who usually plays FromSoft games melee only and whatever other handicap I feel like makes the game more fun for me, I never would've realized that people would view your previous videos negatively. I did not realize that so many people still missed the point of these games. I think your videos about the games really capture the essence of how FromSoft games toy with traditional ideas of game difficulty and player agency in way that makes their worlds feel more immersive and their fights feel more satisfying. I loved your previous videos, especially overcoming your expectations about how difficulty would work and coming to love the games. They really gave me a better perspective as someone who generally picks up games like this easily and helped me better understand why I feel the way I feel as well. Keep up the wonderful work!
I'm so onboard with the idea that these games are cozy, like yeah they're very grim and sad but there is a very tangible degree of coziness present in the series that i just love; I've been using your Dark Souls vid as eepytime comfort content for years now (Its one of my faves), and im so happy to hear you love Elden Ring. I also find it extremely warming to know that you've gone from summoning help to beat O&S, and now you're freelancing to help people through some of the hardest fights FromSoft has ever designed. It's come full circle, I love it
I’ll take his as sign. My last video didn’t take off as much as I hoped and was I feeling down about it. I asked if I should continue TH-cam as a hobby? Then you showed up! One of my inspirations to start TH-cam in the first place. Yea, I’ll continue doing this.
Midras manse is my favourite fromsoft content, the entire thing is peak from start to finish. The beautiful paintings we have to destroy to proceed, the boss. Chefs kiss. Perfection.
The fact that the paintings themselves can be interpreted as a subtle telling of the history of the Abyssal Woods and Midra's Manse before the corruption is such an incredible touch too The first painting you go through depicts a kind of warm look into what the Manse once was, you can subtly see that it isn't corrupted and burned by the frenzied flame, yet the painting itself is taken by the sickly yellow of decay. If you've ever looked at an old picture book or an unkempt painting you would see that same color creeping from the edges and slowly but surely taking the entire image - a memory - over. This serves as a kind of telling of what happened to the Abyssal Woods - that this place was once a perfectly normal display of life now burned to sterile rot and cinders - and it aludes to Midra's suffering as well: as time passes, his reasons for enduring the endless torture of the Hornsent fade - his inherent kindness that leads to him warning the tarnished away, his promise to Nanaya - and the sickly color of decay takes over: the shade of yellow the frenzied flame adopts. For me, this place more than anything else in Elden Ring paints the Frenzied Flame as a sort of inevitable outcome. As long as sorrow persists in life and the passage of time it is inherently subjected to, there will be someone or something for the frenzied flame to feed on. In this sense, Frenzy stands as such an antithesis to the Crucible - something which forces life to sprout no matter what - that it by itself explains the sheer disgust the Hornsent display towards its believers. They don't want to *end* those who dabble in the physical manifestation of entropy, the Hornsent want to *punish* them, which ironically enough is what leads Midra to become a Lord of the thing they feared most. In a sense, Midra's tale is a mirror to Marika's: the ritualistic violence of the Hornsent sowing the seeds for their eventual downfall as a society and to be slaughtered in Messmer's hands. If only Marika didn't go on to reproduce the dogmatic violence that was inflicted upon her people.
It baffles me that Noah gets any flack for his Fromsoft videos, they're some of my favourite videos I've watched. I previously had attributed much of my enjoyment of the Souls games on the challenge, but they really illuminated that the challenge is really one of the lesser of the 'positives' to them and how similarly others' approaches to the games, approaches that I thought would somewhat lessen the value of the experience, can create a nigh identical resonance with them. I'm super stubborn in my playstyle and I do think it is, for me, the "right way to play", but it is fantastic to hear about the experiences of someone who approached the series from the opposite direction to me yet found an equally deep enjoyment in them.
9:10 men I am sorry. At some point I was that kind of person. But now I see things diffrent. Elden Ring chaged my opinion, and I hope that after 2 yeas it changed some peoples too. Play the game, have fun and enjoy yourself. I am sorry for the toxsic comunity. But I am glad that your spiryt is strong. Be well. You are a wonderfull person
Thank you so much for doubling down. When I picked up Dark Souls 1 for the first time I was fully in the mindset of “I need to play it melee with no summons and no magic” I got as far as the beginning of blighttown after 3 different characters and stopped, and when I went with a 4th I went fully into magic. I had a fun time and the game finally clicked with me. I don’t play these games because they’re tough as nails challenges, I play them because they’re really tight, really smartly designed RPGs. It’s really telling about the fans that the fans are now crying foul about difficulty now, when you know damn well the same people complaining are the types to be like “oh you’re playing it wrong if you’re not doing a strength/dex solo build”
“Buckle up buttercup. not only are my opinions bad but i have a lot of them.” that is my new favorite quote. it beats even Steinbeck and Tolstoy haha. i am a sweaty try-hard in these soulsborne masterpieces and i love the challenge of them but i loved your videos on the game. it’s always refreshing to see a contrasting opinion to my own so articulately expressed. you took me on a journey through Souls again which i can only call transitory. thank you for your work. on top of the conciseness and comprehensiveness of the writing you also have a soothing voice and it helps me sleep at night, knowing also that there is passion aplenty for these games. you are truly one of the best so please keep making these videos. if nothing else they make for wonderful meal-time shows and the world would be missing something without them.
I'm extremely surprised to hear that you got negative feedback from your other Dark Souls videos. I hold them in high regard as fantastic pieces of analysis on the games, and your opinions about them being 'cosy' struck a chord in the same tune as myself as I had held that same opinion. I've watched them multiple times for this reason - they are enjoyable videos to watch.
Finally beat the dlc myself and i wanna say thank you Noah! Your insight and ability to feel the emotions both thematic and gameplay driven really make you amazing to watch in my own journeys!
It's important to note that the jars of the base game and the jars of the DLC do not follow the same rules. In the Shadow Realm, the jars were created from the flesh of shamans melded with other beings in a twisted effort by the Hornsent to ascend their victims' bodies to sainthood. The jars of the main game, however, are simply filled with the innards of great warriors. There is no punishment involved, and it is seen by everybody, including those placed in them after death (also important, as the jars of the DLC are very much alive during their torture), as a great honor. Marika allows this new practice very begrudgingly, as stated in an item description which I can't remember.
It isn't sainthood that shadow jar practice is about. According to what people found when checking the Japanese, it's making them become Good People, not saints.
@@AerinndisThat's super interesting. Although I seem to remember something (don't know the item description) describing the saints/good people as being "worshipped"?
@@jankdotTV They aren't. Saint comes with religious connotations that Good Person does not. If in the original japanese there are no religious connotations to the use of "Good Person" then its a rather poor localisation choice. Even if there are some religious connotations, you have to check what those are to see if it actually fits. For instance if its about redemption and rehabilitation for ill deeds in the eyes of a religion, you'd not use the term saint to describe the successful result. You'd just say they were redeemed. Being a saint doesn't require you to be a good person either at the end of the day. You just need to have been declared so by a relevant christian church, who's qualifications will no doubt vary heavily from denomination to denomination.
1:07:32 The Crucible Knights... I don't believe they ever served Godwyn. The Crucible Knight's armor says it's the "Armor of the Crucible Knights who served Godfrey, the first Elden Lord." Godwyn is Godfrey's son, and a different person. The Death Knights were former guards of Godwyn, who only became Death Knights once Godwyn had been slain, so they especially could not have been precursors, seeing as Godwyn's death happened near the end of Marika's reign, while the age of the Crucible from which the Crucible Knights arose was before the Erdtree.
Your Dark Souls videos are awesome- I think they fundamentally changed the way I think about the FromSoft catalogue and it informed a lot of my opinions about Elden Ring way before you made your first video on it. I especially really liked your take on the Buddhist symbolism that features so heavily in DS, so I think it's really funny to hear your interpretation about Miquella in here in the Shadow of the Erdtree. Rather than Love being something he shouldn't give up and this process being flawed from the start, I read it instead as Miquella's journey to becoming an Enlightened One. Miquella gives up the things that tie him to the world- his love and attachments, his fear and negativity, his 'eye' of power, and even his body. Everything is illusory and a distraction from his final goal of understanding and caring for everything equally. Once he is able to do this he, in a literal sense, becomes a god and in a thematic sense becomes a Buddha-like figure that can teach the world and end its suffering. His remembrance even says he became a being that could accept everyone. But like you said as well in this video, there's enough room for anyone to make an interpretation of their own. Keep up the amazing work!
I usually never comment but I just wanted to say, wonderfully put! You summed up the MAIN reason I love these games; the immersive worlds and fragmented storytelling that piques my curiosity and leaves me thinking about it long afterwards. Please don't listen to the haters, art enjoyers greatly appreciate your takes! Btw, your dark souls video was one of my FAVORITES on the subject, so I was surprised to hear the reactions you got, but keep going, I would love to see more!
I don't comment often, but your videos, with your incisive and insightful writing, have brought me incredible joy. I just found your videos this year and you both capture my own attitude towards games while also deepening my appreciation. It's been a hard year and you've helped me through it; thank you, Noah.
So many people returning to the base game for the DLC all over again has been such a joyful experience to share. I went into the DLC a day after release because I'd started another new game plus cycle on my main character and had to run through Radhan and use Varre's quest line to rush to Mohg, only to get around 3/4 of the way through the DLC and realize I wanted to start all over again and enter the DLC on a brand new character, who doesn't already have the levels and means to dual wield all of the unique weapons and so on. And it has been so much fun, I'm currently level 102 and making my way through the capital after exhausting the underground besides Moghwyn Palace. Having to go through the patient motions of leveling up strength and endurance enough just to be able to two-hand a Giant Crusher has been just as rewarding as it was the first time around. I don't know if it is my truly number one favorite game of all time, but it is so close that it may as well be and is purely circumstantial.
I can't believe people ragged on your Souls videos. They actually got me to have another go at Elden Ring after getting frustrated and giving up back when it first came out, and I ended up having an absolute ball because of it - largely because your analysis made me rethink my approach to the game and its mechanics. I hope you continue enjoying the Fromsoftware games and I look forward to more videos from you. I also really hope you do an Amoured Core video one day, because I really enjoyed those and would love to hear your thoughts and analysis.
Another excellent work. I'm not on social media at all so I wasn't aware of the backlash to your other FromSoft works, but it doesn't surprise me. Gamers when combined with over-use of social media are often extremely malicious and put quite a lot of effort into achieving the kind of psychological effect it had on you, its why I don't I really engage in video gaming communities at all. Countless positive-in-passing interactions are always outweighed by occasional but highly aggressive, targeted, and usually quite charged personal attacks. I'm very glad you've taken to this series of games so well. They reward your style of engagement extremely well, and its very similar my own way of playing (though sometimes my fixations with executing certain particular kinds of playing in fromsoft games ends up with me cheating-). You make some mistakes/oversights here with the setting and narrative aspects, but thats completely fine and you also have done that on your other Fromsoft works. Miyazaki's breadth of inspiration is extremely particular and niche, and you usually either need to be a weirdo like me who has a similar cone of interests in fiction, or literally just have a degree in art history. Some of your mistakes are a little more of a "failing" though, for instance the bit about the Death Knights was just wrong and I think it comes from a very simple misreading; The Crucible Knights predate the Death Knights by an incredible span of time. The Crucible Knights served Godfrey, not Godwyn. Their names are similar so I understand the mistake. The Crucible Knights via their item descriptions and various descriptions of things related to Godwyn and the Crucible in general, are implied to have been the personal cadre or "friend group" of Godwyn's closest warrior comrades, particularly evoking the imagery of the Roundtable Knights in Arthurian legend, and then given their armor and weapons and abilities via their association with the primordial Erdtree, the Crucible. The Death Knights were Godwyn's personal closest warriors, members of the Capital Dragon Cult (like the Leyndell Knights, and the Malformed Sentinels, not the Dragon Communion cultists), and Godwyn was Godfrey's first son. The item and weapon descriptions seem to imply that they weren't always "Death Knights", and likely had another name or names before Godwyn's death, and the lack of other Death Knights also supports the implication that most of Godwyn's knights abandoned loyalty to him when he was killed, and the ones we see in SOTE are the only ones who did not. By the point we see them, they are ancient and have evolved a veneration for Death on top of their existing dragon cult and knightly abilities. The Crucible Knights though are prehistoric, and largely completely unrelated to the Death Knights I would say.
Already on the 3rd watch and, oh boy. You sir have a gift when it comes to writing. Every word, every sentence, perfectly placed. Elden ring might be your favorite game, just as this is my new favorite essay on videogames
16:23 hate to do this but you said "Hideo Miyazaki" was the creator of Elden Ring et al. But his name is Hidetaka Miyazaki. At any rate I agree with you on difficulty regarding FROM Games. Instead of putting a difficulty setting in the game, they did it organically through summons and cooperation and you have the option to not use these tools for added difficulty, and that's fine! I prefer to use em, it makes the game more fun for me. I'd be "cheating myself" out of an experience if I stubbornly decided to not use them, get frustrated, and quit the game.
Your pieces on the modern Fromsoft catalog are some of my favorite videos of yours and my favorite pieces of writing on these games in general. Your perspective on Dark Souls 2 literally transformed how I see that game. One persistent little thought of mine on finishing the DLC was "damn I'd love to hear what Noah thinks of this." Glad to see you’ve come back ❤❤
Beautiful. Like other people here, I never tried this type of games because the general consensus was that they were very hard (that, and spending 50+ bucks hoping that the game suits me never seemed like a good idea). +1 voice of support against negative comments. Stay strong, we love you Noah! (I'm learning to use that word, it's going well, I think).
It's funny how little I can understand the people who take issue with how you play. Your videos are the only reason I decided I COULD try Elden Ring. Now I'm obsessed and commissioning art of me and my friend's characters because the time the three of us have put into the game, together, has meant so much. I don't understand the "get good" mentality. I'm playing a game to have fun and boy howdy is it. Glad I found your videos to convince to give these challenging games a try.
I have played the souls series since 2016-ish and am one of those people who feel the most ammount of accomplishment when I beat the boss without summons. I'm still not really good at the games, just very patient with them. That's the way I handled the DLC (I did use the scadutree fragments though bc there's no need to make your first run a SL1) Your videos on the souls series are some of my favourite videos on the series precisely because of how different our ways of playing those games are. I wasn't even aware of the negative reception for your souls essays because 1) the like to dislike ratio is good 2) I don't use twitter because it geniuenly makes me angry and less well adjusted. As a long time fan of the series and your content I think the videos are great and 15 minutes in this one sounds great too. I'd hate for you to avoid expressing your opinions because of a demonstrably small group trying to express it's superiority.
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Man, what a great video. The way that you just “get it” and are able to articulate your appreciation and criticisms is such a delight, and hearing you say that this is one of your all time favorite games makes me so happy. You’re totally right about how combat is both a conversation and a puzzle, and that puzzle extends to exploring the world and piecing together the lore. The way you’ve fully engaged with these parts of the game is really satisfying to see, and I think trying to truly piece everything together and speculate is a very underrated part of the experience that many sadly don’t bother with. Anyway, I empathize a lot with people being kinda awful. It’s easy for people to say that you should just ignore it, but it’s rarely that easy especially when you account for the volume of comments. With that in mind, I fully accepted that I wouldn’t get the chance to hear your thoughts on Fromsoft titles any more, so seeing this video was such a great surprise. I hope you’re not too discouraged from tackling similar projects in the future because every friend, content creator, and video essayist I know who is familiar with your work consistently recognizes you as the best.
Absolutely heartwarming to hear someone like Pine say this
Thank you for saying what I wanted and tried to say to Noah much more eloquently.
Fore sooth, the Ferrous Fruit speaks true
what a suck up...
It really is great how Elden Ring managed to bring back those more diverse, complex elements that made Demon's Souls as well as Dark Souls 1 & 2 so special, by leaning into the old school RPG vibe of giving you lots of tools for each situation, something that I think Dark Souls 3 failed to accommodate for in favour of just combat options. If anything, Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2 both share so many of those same principles of giving you lots of options, from various items to optional directions to level yourself up, to summon and equipment. That is where their design is strongest, I think, even though so many people refuse to see FromSoft's SoulsBorneRing games as nothing but grueling singleplayer "true gamers only" boss-rushes.
Your Dark Souls videos are some of your *best* work. I’m not shocked they got backlash - real egos staked on fake video game achievements tend to be extremely fragile - but it bums me out thinking we might miss out on more great analysis of similar games because of it.
Agreed Geoff.
Praying for videos on the other souls games ^^
"Real egos staked on fake video game achievements tend to be extremely fragile."
I'd like to report a murder in the comments section. Perfect way to describe those weirdos.
I started with the Dark Souls videos and absolutely loved them, then went on to more videos afterwards. They are so very good.
agreed, I paused the video out of shock for exactly that reason
"I love this game more than you could ever _possibly_ hate me for playing it wrong" is a hell of a reason to make a video and I am _here for it._
Man I have called these games cozy and relaxing since dark souls 1. It’s wild to me that people aren’t able to accept or see how that could be, but you are not alone, and your insight and critique resonates loudly among so many players of these games. Thanks so much Noah.
The steady, methodical work of the Souls games (starting with DemSo just before DS1 first released) genuinely unlocked part of my brain that made coping with depression and (then undiagnosed) ADHD somehow much more manageable. I fully agree that they’re cozy, even at their most stressful.
Gene, love your work. It's such a spot on thing to say. Every time I'd hit a wall in the DLC I'd do what the base game taught me, go explore and upgrade. And it really made the DLC a fun journey of gaining strength and exploring this dense hidden world. Some of it was thrilling, but it was super cozy to play. I can't wait for my second run of the DLC.
So strange yet heartwarming to see all my favourite gaming writers converge in one place like this
Lazy boring and repetitive is what these game truly are…dark souls in a giant empty open world how revolutionary
@@hollandscottthomas I've been saying this for years, even the messages urging you forward and ability to call in a mysterious stranger who is doing it to help you are so heavily about overcoming depression.
it's unfathomable to me that people hate your past soulsborne videos. the inheritors video truly is one of my favorite ever posted to youtube, i return to it frequently. much love noah, i hope that backlash never happens again.
Delighted to see you here, Ro. And I couldn't agree more 🫶
Love that video and completely agree that it's very well done. I could never get into the Souls games themselves, but Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring are fantastic and hooked me before I even tried playing.
I enjoy all of Noah's work, and the soulsborne reviews as much as anything else he's made, but there's no question that the chip on his shoulder about some vocal minority is a constant detractor. I'd much prefer a version with that edited out entirely with only his commentary about the game itself and not the community. The opening of this video shows how much he loves the games and that's great but I really wish he'd just ignore those people and moderate his comment section rather than double down on whatever flame war those people are horny for.
@@GypsumGeneration Yeah, it is pretty sad how he dedicated so much of the video to aswering to those people. It really shows that they got to him, which I understand why, it is clear that he has a bit of inferiority complex.
But those comments are by far the minority, I have scrolled a lot and I see all positive comments. I don't know what kind of insecurities Noah has, but I hope the positive comments help him to not give a shit.
@@tofadeldesdot he's spoken numerous times about having quite serious depression, and as someone who also has severe depression, i totally understand how those minority voices can eat away at you because your depression convinces you they're correct.
I had no idea people responded negatively to your previous fromsoft videos.
I thought they were a beautiful and eloquent way to present your experience with the games.
An experience that probably isn't that uncommon, but rather, a less often talked about one.
So I was really happy to see that perspective portrayed by such an excellent essayist like yourself because, as you said on those videos, the difficulty of these games is so often missrepresented that it keeps players away because of that reputation alone.
Which is criminal.
Seeing those videos of yours pop-up on my feed was such a pleasant surprise and a welcomed addition to your already amazing collection of work.
The people that were negative to noah about those were just the usual suspects who felt like noah accurately describing the series they claimed to like made them loose big kid points.
His videos are the ones I recommend to people new to souls games or who aren't interested in playing but want to understand why people love them so much. They get the sense of wonder and the vibes from the games better than any 8hr lore dive ever could
I want to add my voice to this particular pile, because a) dadgummit, I *loved* those videos, and b) I actively cheered when Noah described feeling the same way about the difficulty of those games that I did.
Perhaps this stems from a conversation I had before the video came out. I was speaking with a close friend (who is definitely cleverer than me, and whose opinion I have very rarely found to be entirely without merit) who had never played the games, but HAD absorbed the Loud Internet Fuckwit take on them. When I indicated my experience in re: the contrast between the reality of the difficulty and the 'internet take' on it, he responded that, at some point, if the 'internet take' is sufficiently ubiquitous, it will become accepted truth for anybody prior to entry, and may continue to hold true for those people even in the face of contrary evidence when they DO play the games.
I reluctantly accepted that he might very well be right (he's largely a better judge of human behavior than I am), but held (albeit ineffectually) that contradictory evidence was an absolute defense.
Noah's video on the games, then, made me overwhelmingly glad that it *wasn't* just me, as it so often seemed to be, and that other people could see the thing in the same way I did when entering with fresh eyes, and for that I have always loved it.
(It's not my 'NCG comfort food' video - that's the one about Star Wars and the KOTOR games, with the Tyranny video as a runner-up - but my god I loved the Fromsoft Video Duology all the same.
Also, now that I think about it, it feels a bit weird to have an 'NCG comfort food' video, but such are the ways of my brain, I suppose.)
Like all the top comments were super positive and I guess I never scrolled down. I assumed everyone loved it as much as I did
@@kevinwillems8720the angry virgins no cap
Hey, just in relation to the segment about the feedback on the last Elden Ring review, I just wanted to let you know that that video has become one of my favourite of all time, and I frequently use it as a comfort watch when I've had a rough day. It's not only phenomenally made and written, but it changed how i view Souls games, and let me come at them with a more peaceful angle, helped me reccomend them to friends, and, as an aspiring/hobbyist developer, changed how I think about game design. So I just wanted to thank you, for helping me in ways i never would have expected. Your work has been genuinely touching and affecting for me, and i do a little giggle every time i see a new video youve made, or spot a new article you wrote in the wild. Thank you.
The section on sekiro is one of my favourite passages from any essay.
This exactly. I went back and engaged with Sekiro in a way I hadn't in years because of his review, and it went on to be in the top of my Fromsoft list. I've completely stopped caring about the hardcore Souls players opinions (at least when it comes to "the right way to play") and enjoy these and many other games much more because he articulated the reasons to play the way the game wants you to play. I was incredibly sad when it looked like Noah was going to retreat from all of this because of a bunch of trolls online, so much so that I was worried he was going to stop making essays altogether. I hope he's able to kick that little depression-fueled voice in his head in the ass every time it comes up from now on, because no one deserves to feel that poorly about something so well done.
It didn't affect me quite that profoundly but the ending segment about how the game provides you with the tools to beat it was what convinced me to buy the game, and then okay the whole thing basically in co-op with a friend. It was a great time, and even after the couple of months it took us to beat that way, we've kept talking about the world, the story, and themes until this day. Especially after the dlc, I expect it to come up now and then when we chat for years.
I second all of this. Hearing Noah be down on himself and the video was a little shocking to me, because it is truly one of my favorite talking-about-games videos of all time, and really helped me shape how I see From's games.
His from videos are some of my favorites on TH-cam
Old and Busted: Soulslike
New Hotness: SSS - Sad Swordsman Simulator
Gods yes, sad swordsman simulator is a perfect genre title and we can also lump anything made by Yoko Taro into the genre as well as a side benefit!! To hell with lumping these games together based on similar combat mechanics and world building, lets just put all the game creators who want to wring the tears out of you like a sopping dish rag all into one genre.
To be a bit glib/cheeky, the name for the "sad swordsman" genre is just dark fantasy 😛
Also, do yourself a favour and google Elric of Melniboné, arguably the original sad swordsman with a soul-stealing sword (SSwaSSS?)
That old busted hotness ...
Bro it that a Men in Black 2 reference? My man.
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I do challenge runs of this game so I feel like I'm enough of an authority to emphatically say, no, you are not playing the game wrong. There's no wrong.
Some of my viewers pointed me in your direction and I'm glad they did because this is a refreshing take. It's really important to have someone in the discourse that actually uses the things that are in the game. Keep at it and thanks. Don't let the weirdos keep you down.
Edit - OOF! I just got to your bit about interpretations. I'm writing something on this right now. I couldn't agree more. The fact that we still don't know the answers to essential questions like "why did Marika shatter the Elden Ring" is so important. These aren't mysteries to be solved. They're mysteries to make us feel very very small and ignorant about things that are much much bigger than us. They're philosophical questions. Not riddles.
Nice to see you like noahs Videos
For what it's worth, it's your videos on the FromSoft games that actually got me to finally try Dark Souls after assuming that they weren't for me, a mostly strategy/turn-based RPG player. Your essays on the series feel like the most accurate and honest takes after the massive inflation of difficulty these games have received in online discourse.
Same here - I completed dark souls 1, 2 and 3 because of this guy's video
Same here
I hope you don't actually believe your previous videos were actually hated. It is true some hate them but far more people feel seen and enlightened by your experience. To this day they are my favorite videos from you and have given me a brand new way to see these games, a way a part of me I discovered already knew of, but the rest of me needed to be told about.
Someone clear this up for me - hated by who? Where? He never really says and I can't even find any negative comments on the other video.
@@ZeroDarkMidnight Noah reacts very strongly to a very small number of comments. I've seen it happen with a lot of content creators. There is an ocean of positivity, but he laser focuses on the drop of negativity. I can understand the reaction, but I think he should really look at the sheer number of people singing his praises. I don't doubt negative comments exist, I just haven't seen them on the videos.
Its possible some of the hate came from less public means. But could also just be like myself where a little bit of hate can easily blot out a lot of good in one's perception. It sucks and takes active effort to avoid that trap
is weird to me the feedback he noticed the most was not even the criticism but aparently the hate comments he got from his video, assuming if wasnt that big as he made it lool like kinda shows the guy has an inmature side, specially in the way he responded, if a kid insult you, you basically ignore it, otherwise why lowering oneself if isnt really nothing to gain from people that just came to insult, even weirder because doesnt seem he adressed the criticism that was also in the comments, but i guess the ouder voice wins always.
@@setiem13 I think you may have mistaken my comment. I wasn't trying to call him out on "his immaturity". People have depression, there are better and there are worse days and it can make it impossible to see positivity even when its right there in front of us. It's not an issue of maturity but that of mental health and as a content creator he has to deal with far more hate than the average person. I simply hoped to highlight that despite it maybe appearing to him that the video was overall hated, it was in fact likely just a small group of people who decided to hate on it because they lack introspection and empathy.
Cozy is right. You know how I played SotE? I got fucking blazed and went through the dlc at a SNAIL’S pace. I took three hundred pictures, I wrote dozens of funny and thematic messages which got thousands of reactions, I changed my build in name, look, theme, and stats every time I found a new weapon I loved. I was a Knightly Dragon Cult Apostle, a Beastly Cleric, an undead Paladin, a Frenzied Monk and a Fencing Valkyrie. I leveled up my dlc spirit ashes and used them in thematic and interesting ways. I spent entire evenings just helping people kill Mohg, just so I could see them excitedly SPRINT to Miquella’s cocoon. It was an incredible experience. It’ll always be among my fondest gaming memories.
Sounds lame
@@vladgabrielsandu9174 🤣
Man, this is just more thoroughly convincing me that I need to play Elden Ring. My only Soulslike so far (unless you count 2D metroidvanias that people say are like Dark Souls) is Bloodborne, and I played that game VERY differently than most people in that I proceeded through it slowly, methodically -- people often talk about Bloodborne like you have to be rushing through it in a frenzy, but it's really just the combat itself that's fast-paced. I enjoyed walking through an area for the first time, carefully evaluating enemy placements and capabilities, coming up with a plan of attack, then QUICKLY executing on my plan in line with the game's quick pace. It's extremely flattering to my ego to be able to throw myself into what looks like a frenzied, wild situation, while actually just executing on a thoughtful plan and having that actually work out for my slow ass.
Before, I had an impression of Elden Ring that it would be like my attempt to get into Dark Souls 1, where it felt like I would spend a full five minutes circling around those guys with spears and shields waiting for an opening after I had already cleared out all of their friends. Now I'm getting the impression that the snail-like shield playstyle is available in Elden Ring, but it's also a wide enough system that it probably accommodates my preferred playstyle of making a plan from safety, dipping in, playing fast and vicious, then dipping out to re-evaluate.
sounds awesome, more power to you!
I had genuinely forgotten how fun all the multiplayer elements were. I loved leaving messages, being summoned for bosses, the sense of everyone trying to figure out where all the secrets were. For all the talk about how "hardcore" these games are, the true joy really is in jolly cooperation.
Noah firing back all the shade he can against the people who tormented him with the other video is DELICIOUSLY satisfying.
It seemed a little unnecessary to me but I can see where he's coming from
Noah is everything I want to be as a TH-camr, I envy him immensely, especially his writing talent. But man, I sincerely wish I could share with him some of my complete indifference to criticism. Soulsborne elitists are just... so eminently ignorable, I hate to see that they've so irked him. But as he suggests, that's probably more down to his depression than anything else.
Elden Ring elitists really need to get over themselves.
@@technoboop1890 Nah. It's relevant to Noah's experience and enjoyment of these games. It definitely warrants mentioning. And considering how polite and inoffensive he normally is I'd say he's more than earned a comeback.
@@DodderingOldMan True that, I think ultimately it would have been best to ignore them but I guess if it helps get it off his chest then thats fine too
I have never written to you before. Just need to mention that although i watch each of your videos about two times a year, and your FromSoftware videos are my favourites. They are so inspiring. I am a Swedish author, I publish every year and sell well. Listening to you and these FromSoftware essays in particular, gets me writing. It helps me come up with books which tens of thousands will buy and read. That puts food on the table for my kids. If you ever deleted these videos, I would be devastated. Love you man, you bring me such joy in life.
On the second to last fight with all the NPCs, I found it to be the most emotionally compelling part of these game. It felt genuinely heart wrenching. I think it’s meant to drive home how unrealistic Miquellas vision of the future is. He wants a world free of strife and governed by kindness. Forcefully imposed kindness. And that kindness is palpable when its effect are full throttle on the NPCs under his spell. But the MOMENT that his charm is broken all of these fairly pleasant people are broken in some inconceivable way. It could only end in bloodshed bwcauae these people haven’t had a chance for so long to govern their own lives. Kindness must be found in the world around you, in your friends, you environment, and most importantly in yourself. Miquellas kindness was always a false one so ofcourse these psople would abandon it the moment it abandoned them
The thing that truly doomed Miquella to a road of villainy was the fact that he removed St Trina from himself. His vision of an era of "kindness" was already suspect to begin with due to how trigger happy he is to use his great rune and mind control people, but the thing that truly made me realize how much of a monster he was was reading his cross in the stone coffin fissure. Trina is the physical manifestation of his love, and he threw her away for the sake of obtaining godhood. Without love, how could you ever be truly kind?
A shame the fight is complete shit even with summons.
@@anonisnoone6125 maybe I’m built different cuz of the Bloodborne Hunter fights and how jank they could be but I really liked the group fight
@aydenlindsay8295 Eventhough the BB hunter fights annoyed me as well, the difference is that those fights were actually manageable cos u could interrupt their attacks more easily and heal from it. And u could separate the hikers if they were in a group. The npc fights in ER r all the same bs. They all come at u at once and even if u separate them, u can barely get a couple of attacks in before they start running towards u again.
I am looking forward to their next game because this dlc made the NPCs so much more active to the story as a whole. all the side characters are great in these games but this is the first time since sekiro where I felt everyone was not just part of their own smaller narratives but linked to everything else in the world. I mean the two npcs you bring to the final boss both get intro and death dialogue!
When I first played Elden ring it's world made me think "this is the world as Don Quixote imagined it". the somehow coherent dream logic of it all, the tragedy, the scale, such a good game. And it is a cozy series, idk how ppl don't see it, once you learn it's movement and to accept the tools it gives you it is so cozy.
I genuinely thought the same thing once I realized charging at the fire golem was the exact same thing as charging a windmill: a comical failure resulting from overestimating one's capacity for victory, ending in a Monty Python-esque "RUN AWAY!" The world is fantastical, strange, and grand, but also quite funny in certain ways, often due to the player's own folly.
a cozy series. well said
genuinely such a beautiful and strange way to put it /pos
“Whether windmill or vile Wyrm, my LANCE STRIKES FORTH!”
sad swordsmen indeed
8:50 - 11:52 EXTREMELY RELATABLE. Sorry you had to deal with those utter dafties. Your previous videos on Souls games were fantastic, and I'm super happy to see this one pop up too. Keep up the great work pal.
With more than ten hours of videos and god only knows how much more time writing up drafts, editing, and playing through this game *four* times, I'd say that Noah has spent far more time thinking about these games than any of these twits.
I mean, my goodness, there are some games that I *love* and would love to be able to play from a blank slate again, but I think the last game that I've played that many times was... Ocarina of Time?
Tragic that people who talk about these games aren't allowed to enjoy these games on their own terms according the loud, non grass touching, online minority that are git gud souls fans. You can only enjoy them exactly as they did to avoid their incessant caterwauling.
WritingOnGames and Noah Caldwell-Gervais is the crossover I didn't know I needed in my life. Two of my favourite video essayists! 🙌
@@habadasheryjones Please trust me they're a minority. The majority don't gaf about how anyone else plays these games as long as they're enjoying themselves
9:09 Dude- the internet is infinite in idiots with bad takes. Haters gonna hate. I think your Patreon speaks for itself in how appreciated your videos are.
I mean I like the guy but those "haters" were absolutely right about his excessive whining in those videos about the community.
@@luciusdebeers6176 nah they just proved him right
@ileutur6863 I wouldn't say that vocal unhinged minority proves anything about the community which I found to be one of the most friendly and helpful ones out there. Like op said, other metrics speak for themselves, depends on where you what to focus on I guess.
@@luciusdebeers6176It was in the past Elden Rings fostered community is shit and full of idiots
I read comments all the time, and never ever ever did i stumbled upon anything, but praise. Could you somehow point me to them?
Speaking as a "No Summons Allowed" guy, I want to thank you for your previous Elden Ring video. I binged your whole Souls series just before this DLC came out, and it changed the way I approached SotE for the better. You spoke a lot about frustration rising to a point where it sapped the enjoyment out of the games. I took that to heart and for the DLC I allowed myself to use summons. I still abstained from using them on main bosses, because ultimately I am that guy who enjoys bashing his face against Gaius for 4 hours. But it was so nice to allow myself to fast forward past the umpteenth dragon fight or a particularly tedious catacomb boss, and quickly get back to the fun of exploring. It really upped my enjoyment, and in hindsight avoiding them is probably why the base game left me feeling so burnt out.
Noah, your Dark Souls video was my favorite. I really loved the delivery of your story with the fume knight. I put it on whenever I have the opportunity to. A long drive, can't get to sleep, burning the midnight oil on a project. I love that video. Whenever I watch it I get something new out of it but I always ALWAYS have that feeling of "Damn, this guy really knows how to THINK about video games" as you offer many insights or note details that I didn't absorb in my own playthroughs. Sorry this comment was so late. Thank you!
All your videos bring me such joy and comfort, Noah. Thank you for what you do. You're the best.
That intro has real, "I'm gonna talk about the story of the Quake games, and there's nothing you fuckers can do to stop me" energy and I've never been more here for an energy than I have for this.
Truly an all-timer of an opener
Especially given how there is now a literal cottage industry talking of DOOM lore... a game where even its creators' state is about as strong and deep as tissue paper.
> Buckle up buttercups, because not only are my opinions bad, I have a lot of them.
What a god damn battlecry.
57:59 I sorta disagree that the final boss fight doesn't tell us more about Miquella. He started his story arc because he wanted to save Melania, because he loved her. When we fight him all he says about her is that she'll be remembered. In most people's games she is still alive at this point. But Miquella has already moved on to his glorious destiny, and without his "love" he no longer cares for a sister he has no use for. As such he has lost his very reason for becoming a god in the first place. I would argue that his choice to resurrect Radahn but not Leonard is another sign that he doesn't understand Radahn at all, by the end. The General's compassion was one of the things Miquella most admired. But instead of bringing back a caring man, and the mount he so cared for, Miquella brings back the caring man so that he can become Miquella's mount instead. Objectification writ large. And a compelling illustration of the tyrant that Miquella has become.
Imagine if the gate malfunctioned and he only resurrected prime Leonard.
Now THAT'S a boss fight, Loretta 2.0 with miquella doing magic on horseback
He has a childish mindset. When something doesn't work the exact way that he intended he abadons it (Malenia's needle, the Haligtree, etc.)
Have you seen that idea floating around that the Putrescent Knight is actually a manifestation of Radahn and Leonard by St Trina? The Promised Consort really does feel like a childhood ideation of Radahn, and not the Starscourge whom we gave a glorious death.
You make good points but why TF do people keep struggling to spell "Malenia" correctly.
Good comment.
"Not only are my opinions bad, but I have a lot of em" is exactly the type of stuff I come back to this channel for. Great work, as always.
Dropped everything for this. Literally. My floor is so messed up you'd think Miyazaki made a new poison swamp.
Same. Was on an amphetamine-fueled coding sesh frenzy but immediately dropped it for this upload. It's generally hard to peel me off when in this state.
I shit and piss and came and vomited, simultaneously. My body looks like one of those cartoon firecrackers that blow out both of their ends.
Death light swamp lesgo
A sleepless night means I get to peep your work quite early! Always happy to see you continue to do The Work. Hope you're well!
Oh hey, we're in the same boat my good friend.
Hope you get some rest, going to sleep after an all-nighter is absolute shit
It's so strange to me that people get mad at you for your Souls opinions, I've been a fan of these games since Dark Souls came out and I find myself agreeing with almost every word you say. I find these games unbelievably relaxing, and honestly they were a massive help in some of the toughest times of my life. Don't let anybody tell you how to play these games, the correct way to play them is the way you have the most fun.
People take themselves far too seriously. I also think they're my comfort game(s). Have happily spent hours lit af just riding around on Torrent or chilling in Majula.
Big same. And when I disagree, I know WHY I disagree, because Noah explains his opinions so thoroughly.
Elden piss fanboys not just regular people
The most infuriating thing about the negativity is that he's completely right about there being that subset of Souls players. It's shrunk over time, but I started playing with the US release of Demon's Souls, and every forum in the world hammered home how the only true way to say you had beaten the game was to do it in melee. Shields and Magic were frowned upon, summoning was unheard of, and any time anyone asked a question about how to beat something, at least half the replies were "Git Gud." Even if they went on to give actual advice, the overarching message was "if you can't beat this in one specific way, you aren't really beating it." It's truly hampered my ability to enjoy these games for a while, even though I loved playing them I felt actual guilt about the few times I did have to summon or rely on magic to get through sections. People claiming now that that never happened just weren't around in the early days, or are purposefully ignoring it. Noah specifically got me to realize how dumb it was to feel guilty about using the mechanics in the game to enjoy it, and I'm forever thankful because it's extended to other games as well (I don't feel bad about not beating a game on the Hard difficulty anymore). I hope he can accept that the negativity exists, it isn't specific to him, and can continue to enjoy things the way he likes.
Can I say that it's cool that you're one of the only youtubers I've seen that have footage of themselves *doing co-op*? Like, even just summoning other players is something I've never seen happen, and yet my strongest memories of the DLC all have come from getting fed up with a boss and calling upon the power of friendship and these 8 cerulean flasks worth of Heal From Afar I found.
Yeah, I remember the deluge of maidenless comments in response to your previous video.
The fact that this dlc proves your experience to be the correct one over the self-imposed challenge running crowd is so satisfying.
Oh, and this video is lovely too. No one writes about games the way you do. Which is a shame, but it makes every one of your videos feel like a little treat.
“A suffering that grew from a small clearing in the land of shadow into the sinister, glowing glory of the Erdtree itself.”
And yet I cannot but be absolutely rocked by the poignancy of the Shaman’s Village. It is perhaps my most favorite location in the entire series. Somehow the weight of the history there, the spring-stone of all that pain that would flow out into the Lands Between, it feels as heavy to me as Ash Lake did in Dks1.
The music does a lot, it's instantly recognizable as the main theme of the game.
@@itsaUSBline Yeah I was galloping through the area on Torrent and as soon as that music faded in I fucking slowed to a walk and got chills. They did so much with so little
I was struck by that same spot - a moment to reflect on the experience as a whole.
Riding into Shaman Village for the first time gave me such a complex punch in the gut. The only thing I can compare it to was entering Leyndell, Capital of Ash for the first time and seeing how much it had changed - and seeing the Erdtree burning. What a haunting little moment.
Look at the pwetty flower “10/10 massapiece”
Pausing the video as you're talking about people's reactions to your previous FromSoft entries.
I'm genuinely heartbroken to hear that's how people received your work. I think that your videos are without question some of the best additions the the community our there. I've listened to them multiple times and pushed them on anyone who would listen.
It's the internet, people have their opinions, you can't hug every cat and all that, but I wanted to express just how much I've appreciated everything you've written and shared about a series I adore
It isn't. Go read the comments on the videos. It is endless positivity and appreciation. I have no idea where he's pulling this seemingly strong negative reaction from.
@@DemonLordSparda literally just went to check, latest comment from 23h ago complains that noah is imagining the git gud crowd, third from last comment is whining about "mischaracterization" of dimwits' favorite babygirl mauler lol
there are lots of commenters who appreciate noah's perspective, but there are absolutely people who just cant let go of their snobbism even all this time after. i can't blame anyone for getting upset at that
@@DemonLordSparda Do you honestly, I mean HONESTLY believe he's making it up? Like, to WHAT END?
I wonder if the never knows best review made the vitriol worse for Noah?
@@DemonLordSparda I remember seeing a lot of it when the videos came out, and on twitter too especially (who'd have thunk?).
Obviously popular opinion has gone in his direction, probably always has been, but the git gud dogmatic folks are vocal little pricks.
For what it’s worth, I hadn’t properly played a video game in decades before I watched your two previous Dark Souls videos in February, and now I own a PS5 and have played all of them (except Sekiro, which is in the post). Found your videos, and then the games an extremely profound experience, so regardless of how many other people hated them, those videos demonstrably, tangibly, literally improved my life.
Wow what a gaming comeback experience that must have been!
@@piotr78 it's been a real journey!
Charo is one letter off from Charon, which is the name of the Mariner who operates the Ferry across the River Styx in Greek Myth; given the presence of a Tibia Mariner I reckon this is an specific nod to Charon being dead in this world, as natural death has been altered, causing death to wash ashore rather than be guided, thus the hidden grave of the ferryman himself.
Closest I could come, thanks to the lack of direct mention of Charo anywhwre in game.
I have watched and/or listened to both your FromSoft essays a cumulative ten times at this point. Perhaps some people didn't enjoy them, but I hope it brings you some small comfort to know that those who do enjoy them treasure them as something near and dear. I'll never forget the heart-soaring elation I felt watching through that first time to find that you truly *got* why I love these games. I'll never forget it, because you're so eloquent and thoughtful that I still feel it every time I watch.
Your dark souls videos have helped me approach my own unconscious perspective on the “right” way to play them; I often unconsciously make things more difficult for myself. I have chronic pain and sometimes am kept awake by it-your dark souls videos have kept me company on many a difficult night. I am very glad it exists :)
❤
Don't you dare go hollow ❤🫶
As someone who's been a diehard FromSoft fan for a decade, please know that your videos on these games are perfect. Thank you, Noah.
The sheer, palpable joy I have right now not only seeing a new Noah video in my feed but seeing that it's a continuation of his analysis of Fromsoft's body of work is absolute
Just wanted to say that I appreciate all of your videos, and I love your perspective and humility and the ability to get this perspective even if I don't have enough time to finish or even start these games.
It sucks so many people are awful to you about from soft games, especially when you have such a wonderful and warm way of spelling out what makes them so resonate, I really do appreciate it.
I know it's not really possible to drown out the bizarre gamer anger or fully ignore it, but I hope I can add a little heartfelt message of appreciation here; I'd like to think most of your viewers feel the same as me.
I also see this game as a very cozy time. Sometimes I'll boot up the game on a day I don't feel like doing much, pick one of my many meme builds, and spend a couple of hours roaming around and grabbing Golden Seeds or killing certain bosses I've got the download on. Other days I'll be fighting a colossal, energetic boss, in the gamer stance on the edge of my seat, but the real beauty of Elden Ring is that both modes of play are well catered for.
To contrast the bizarre hatred from losers who disliked your experiences with the Fromsoft games, I'll say that this whole journey has been nothing short of an excellent delight for me to watch, rewatch and rewatch again. The insight you have for these games is interesting, the honesty you have as you both retell your initial feelings and later analysis of the games and yourself, the delightful moments of humour and the same relaxed feeling I have with the videos that you mention with your cozy experiences with the games..
Seeing this video recommended had me immediately watch it, because doing otherwise was something that I didn't even consider.
They have given me deeper appreciation for the Soulsborne games, especially the ones I have played (perhaps one day I'll pick up Sekiro or the old Demon's Souls). While far more than just one, I'd like to say that your words have resonated deeply with me and likely far more people than those that would pointlessly deride you for sharing some wonderment, joy, frustration and thrills you had with it all.
Thank you, Noah. You really were the Dark Souls of Dark Souls players.
Personally I really like your dark souls videos, I think I've listened to the whole thing like 8 times now. It's funny that you bring up your depression because your videos are actually a great help to MY depression. They're amazing comfort-content, on top of being just really insightful.
Noah - your previous two FromSoft videos are some of my all time favourite things you've put out on this channel. Your philosophy and approach to the Dark Souls games are what finally got me into them! People on the internet can be just so fucking awful - so I want you to know how much those videos meant to me and how much I appreciate everything you said in them.
Your excitement for these games is contagious. Watching this video I just wanted to play it all the way through again. The first time I played Dark Souls it was way back when it came out and I didn’t have internet, and nobody in my high school knew what it was. It was one of the loneliest, and most interesting gaming experiences I ever had. And i loved being lost in it, trying to make sense of the gameplay and the history of the world, the worldbuilding was overwhelming. I’m really glad you got to get lost in it all too.
I am only 6 minutes in and you've mentioned one of my favorite elements of souls games, and one of Elden Ring's greatest strengths which culminates from years of FromSoft perfecting these games: these games are evocative of how things *feel*, realism is cast aside for a dreamscape, for aiding emotional and an almost spiritual entanglement. It's beautiful. It's why we get so immersed in these games. Elden Ring does this beautifully, the DLC only adding to that. What an achievement!
I've never soulsed but as a casual gamer your essays have done more to sell me on the genre than a thousand soulslike fans
The OG Demons' Souls was the first game I imported because it wasn't available in Europe. I had no idea what it was. I just read Kevin Van Oord's glowing review and it clicked with me. When I sat down to play it I hadn't a clue what to do. I was dying on the first stairs in the oBletarian palce. As I played through I found various things to help me like being able to summon other players for bosses or specific items that could turn the tide on a boss. All these little additions to the game WERE the game for me. You had a baseline difficulty that, if you were skillful enough, could probably get through. But the joy, however, was being able to overcome something that most players would consider unsurmountable by using the various things on offer.
To me that's the beating heart of these games. These games are not particularly designed for a level 1 no hit playthrough. If they were then they would not provide so many ways of overcoming bosses and enemies.
I find the people who think there is only one "real way" to play these games among the most insufferable, gatekeeping and joyless assholes in all of gaming.
Noah, your FromSoft videos are my favorite of your library. They made me realize that the lore of Dark Souls and Elden Ring are malleable just as the character build is. They gave me a new appreciation for, not only FromSoft games, but lore in games in general. I am happy you made a follow-up for Elden Ring. Thank you for all your hard work.
This is easily one of the best essays you’ve ever written. Not because you’re saying something that hasn’t been said, or your writing (which are the reasons I love your journalism in general) but this time around it’s the PASSION that you can feel from just listening you to talk. 100% nerdy in the best way possible.
I rewatch your Soulsbourne videos at least once a year - so masterfully have you captured, interpreted and explained the thematic resonances that the games are built upon. I was mostly a Bloodborne fan, but gave Souls games another shot because of you. I have started quoting the fire sermon you quoted in the video to people sometimes. In other words - I was and still am deeply, deeply moved by your work, and having followed you since 2017, I think it stellar and one of the best, as well as genuinely THE best Dark Souls video on the internet.
What is so precious about it is that you do not let the difficulty discourse define the entirety of the game, that these gameplay elements do not become the end-point of the game itself. Feels like people focus on that the same way people often focus on the plot of the movie when critiquing it, when the movie itself is all of the shots ordered in a specific fashion and arranged, as well as coloured, scored and so on.
So, in other words, I think from the point of view of art criticism, if we take the formalist approach seriosly, then many, many hundreds of "git gud" commenters are simply illiterate and wrong, missing the forest for the trees, and you have demonstarted perfectly how the games could be read, and if they refuse... Well, you can't teach people to broaden their horisons against their will.
Thank you for your work all these years!
Legendary work on a legendary game. Every word of this. "It is not, primarily, an action game. It is a puzzle game." 10000%
As someone who had a few disagreements with your dark souls video, It is fucking WILD to hear how incredibly UNHINGED people get when you have an opinion about a game they like.
Your writing on games has Impressed and inspired me consistently over the years, so much so that I would struggle to pick something you've written that I genuinely don't like, I hope that you continue to make in depth content like this and have confidence that what you make is truly quality.
@@noobsplooge101 he intentionally acts provocatively, even while writing the video, before anyone could have reacted negatively too it as if hes reponding to hate he hasnt gotten yet, while he fully knows exactly what people mean and why they respond with such critisism to similar takes that he feels like he needs to spend a significant portion of his videos justifying it firstly to himself then to the audience. Then he pulls some text that directly contradicts the games philosophy makes some deranged interpratation that he validates by the sheer power of him being right and you wrong
Your*
@@greekcomenterperson446 Uh, sorry, I wasn't able to hear you over the screeching about how large a hole he made in your butt and typos. Could you find a clue and try again? Preferably after you git gud and learn to inventory, scrub?
@@Leiliel1 r u off yur meds?
@@greekcomenterperson446 The only way you would find what he says provocative is if you feel personally called out by it, and by your comment you seem the type to have offered "criticism". The type of comments he's talking about always come from the worst parts of the Soulsborne community. Whether it be on reddit or twitter there are sad and annoying individuals that feel these games can only be played one way, and feel they intimately know "Miyazaki's Vison" of the games he's directed. Grown adults that soil themselves over how another adult plays these types of games "wrong" and don't understand them like they do have disappointingly always existed.
I've seen both videos he's made several times over the years, and have played the core of the Fromsoftware catalogue previously including Elden Ring and SOTE solo and with summons/ashes(Because I feel that's somehow important to you to know). I've found nothing he's said in his videos on this topic "deranged" or "contradictory" to the the perceived game philosophy. He's said nothing crazy that takes mental gymnastics to justify, especially since he very clearly presents his points of view as just that, his personal view. The core of what Noah says in all three of these Soulsborne videos is that anyone can play these games, anyone can beat these games, and anyone can learn to love these games despite the lack of perceived skill by using everything at their disposal. To interpret what he said as dogmatic and heavy-handedly telling other people how wrong they are and how correct Noah himself is, is either being intentionally obtuse about it or if you feel particularly called out and need to, as you put it, "validate" their preconceived ideas on the one true way to play and understand these games.
So glad we got this. I was a little disappointed the whole time playing Shadow of the erdtree that I wasn't going to get to hear how the experience impacted Noah's thoughts on elden Ring now that it is complete.
This isn't the place for me try and to re-litigate how you feel about the art that you yourself produced, but I do want to say that your two previous Fromsoft series videos convinced me to try two games that I'd previously written off - Dark Souls 2 and Sekiro. I ended up falling in love with them, to such an extent that they're now my favorite Fromsoft games, ever. Your work directly led to a great deal of both engaging with art that deserved it, and the resulting joy that sprang from me enjoying just that. As for your Elden Ring analysis, the main portion and the DLC included, you produced insightful, fresh commentary that didn't discount or hand-wave away the Difficulty Arguments, but instead met them on their own ground and provided evidence as to why these games aren't simply masochism simulators, and in fact have many, many things to say that get covered up by the metaphorical noise outside of them. I love your videos, Noah, and eagerly watch every single one that comes up in my subscription feed, and I'm happy that I got to hear your thoughts on these specific games. You're an amazing critic and artist in your own right, and I mean that.
Noah, thank you for publishing this video. Your thoughts, as always, cut the heart of what it means to play and love Elden Ring and you have put to words a lot of the intangible feelings I had while playing the DLC.
It's upsetting to hear that you were disheartened by some of the comments on your other videos about your skill with these games. I want you to know that I, like many others, am here for your incredible writing and insightful commentary ABOVE ALL ELSE. I do not care one single bit about HOW you play these amazing games, only that you do and that you continue to share your insight with all of us.
Please keep up the amazing work.
"Prepare to Die" as a marketing campaign has done more to shape the fandom's reality of a series of games than any comparable example I can think of. It's happened to deeply frustrating effect, precisely for the reasons you outlined in an earlier video: it makes people miss the flexibility and openness of these games to meet players wherever they are.
But to that, I'd add another contributor is likely the cottage industry of Soulsborne playthroughs, no-hit runs, and gimmick runs (e.g., broken sword only or level-1 games). With this content being such a sizeable majority of related fan content, I have to assume this is why so many Soulsborne "fans" are closer to being Kaizo Soulsborne fans. It's like they insist on playing a different game than the one they have in front of them, a game which is afforded by the base game but still distinct from it.
In fairness to those folks, most people doing those sorts of runs seem to be chill. The problems mostly come from the mass of people not posting videos, which makes it hard not to suppose that a lot of the people yelling at everyone are those who place absurd amounts of their self-worth in their ability to beat video games and wish they were good enough to do some absurd no-hit no-heal blindfold run and are taking out their frustrations that they aren't.
Yes! And I think to take it a step further, I think when FromSoft leans into the whole "Prepare To Die" hype that lead to their worst content.
Honestly I think it's a misinterpretation of tone. I've always felt like a lot of the original "git gud" or "you're not really playing unless (X)" comes from miss reading of jokes or sarcasm. Even "prepare to die" sounds like an on the nose joke. They feel like a joking way of saying "there is no cheat, only refining your play" and "everything can be learned and played around regardless of gear"
Instead of being jokes they started to become actual terms/phrases people began to believe in and use as gatekeeping. It seems to have found residence in the area of gamers who make their accomplishments part of their personality. It's only gotten worse as the games become accessible because it adds more people who become indoctrinated into that way of thinking.
@@Nanoqtran its a time and place thing, "git gud" and "just dodge" aare deeply unhelpful unintresting unproductive statements to someone asking for actual help and advice while deep in frustrations
Particularly, I do love when you inflict your opinions on the world. Welcome back, I was really eager to see your take on this.
Something I really enjoy about videos discussing FromSoft games, especially this video where you now have several hundred hours in Elden Ring alone, is seeing just how diverse and different any given players experiences with the same game can be (even despite the gamers™ who think you are actually going to Hell for not recommending a NG+7 RL1 playthrough to new players).
My experience with my mostly blind play through of the base game was a perpetual death march that was really enjoyable, albeit with highs and lows. So when I picked up the DLC I decided to look up proper "Elden Ring Builds" and with hindsight it's easy to say that the reason I had so many problems is because nothing about my character made any fucking sense. I was under leveled, my attributes were disjointed at best, I used zero incantations or spells, my talismans were awful, my flasks were hardly upgraded at all, hell I never even bothered to mix my Wondrous Physick past the basic full heal. Really I was playing the game like an unoptimized challenge run because I wanted to whack bosses with a comically large unwieldy pizza wheel and the game let me do just that. It allowed me to run with my desired, albeit extremely suboptimal play style where I was barely denting enemies with a funny looking weapon that takes eighty years to swing.
So once I learned just how much was available in the game following the DLC's launch, Elden Ring quickly became one of my favorite games and I'm having so much more fun with it. My play style didn't change much in practice, like even with everything I know now I still prefer to roll with straightforward "physical builds" (Vigor, Dexterity, Strength, and Endurance only) with quality weapons because I heavily dislike prebuffing in RPGs, but just knowing what all is available and experimenting with all of the various ways to play the game completely transformed Elden Ring into a strangely relaxing game where I enter a flow state the second I load into the world. It's a genuine masterpiece.
OMG a new drop. I've been crushing NCG's back catalogue... friend, you write so well, and your ideation and reasoning so crisply moves from idea to the best next idea. Your essays are curious articulate soaring baritone explorations of the human experience as it happens alongside the playing of videogames. I recommend you collate them as published written anthologies to make their ideas safe from youtube's overhanging internet-impermanence.
You found the secret weapon that many Fromsoft players never find! It's the weapon that breaks the chains that bind you to a correct way to play the games for the optimal feeling of reward. I find it fascinating that many players won't use a summon in a pickle but do use sleep potions or bows cheese without letting it register how arbitrary those self imposed rules are. The relentlessness of the attacks in the DLC are Miyazaki's way to mess with their heads. Sure! Don't summon! Spend 9 hours on a boss! And then act as if you ran a marathon. Thing is, I never felt good when I finally killed Melania with just a sword and I dropped the pretense right then and there and the DLC boss design strongly suggests that Miyazaki agrees.
Isshin Ashina style. "Just win your battles. That alone is the most important rule."
I think the problem also is that people have unironically started to believe that the 'unga bunga' memes are the only way to play the game. I feel like the Dark Souls community had largely moved away from that stuff, only to see the older mentality (though I'm definitely not asserting there weren't always people there to espouse them in full seriousness) reincorporated by the newer fans without a lick of humor. People seem to have forgotten the lesson it took the Souls community 3 games to learn: these games are RPGs. Build variety has only grown higher and is also an integral part of the game--especially with four talisman slots, buff stacking, and more lenient equipment. Restricting yourself to ONLY big sticks and i-frames should honestly be considered a challenge run at this point. I think people made such a big deal over how OP some builds (early bleed is a big culprit) were that they refused to interact with them altogether.
I have never in my entire life been so overjoyed to see a video drop. I was sad rewatching the Souls Inheritors video towards the end because I was wishing I could know your thoughts in relation to Shadow of the Erdtree. Thank you so much for what you do.
I cannot tell you how happy it made me to hear you stand your ground on your previous Dark Souls video. I am tremendously grateful that you decided to say fuck it. I hope it felt as good to say as it was to hear
When I saw the notification, I swear I did a full on heart clutch like Sanford going “This is the big one! I’m coming for you Elizabeth!” I’m SO excited you made this!
dammit i thought i was being original with the sanford heart clutch, but you beat me by half an hour. i tip my hat to you!
I've been an avid fan of your channel ever since I watched the Half Life video you made waaaay back when. I remember you talking about how you would probably never play a Souls game because you simply didn't consider yourself a skilled enough player to be able to handle them. I was incredibly (and pleasantly) surprised when I saw you upload the Dark Souls video, and your commentary on it was absolutely perfect and spot on. Since then seeing you tackle EVERY SINGLE game, including Sekiro, has been an absolute delight.
I *really* hope you are able to ignore the spite-fueled ichor that people seem to spew at you, because I know for a fact that those guys are in the minority and the work you do is phenomenal.
And honestly, the fact that these obsessed nerds are review bombing Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam because it is too hard and seeing you say it was easy breezy makes grin from ear to ear.
Keep on being a great person! I know I speak for most of us here when I say that we love your work.
1:47 "I had a wonderful time today, Loathsome Dung Eater. We should do this again."
Your fromsoft videos are genuinely some of my favorite video game essays of all time. They were transformative for my experience of the games. I welcome more anytime 🎉
Just to echo a lot of other comments I'm seeing, I found your videos on From's games to be some of the best essays on games as a whole. I think you're a phenomenal writer and getting to hear your thoughts on one of my favourite series was excellent. I return to the videos often and just like I continue to find more facets of the games to enjoy, I find more in your essays to enjoy with each rewatch.
I hope you can continue to ignore and see through the petty facade of anyone who continues to deride the way you've played and enjoyed the games. You are the best video game essayist around and I think the community is always in for a treat when you drop a video and we all benefit from your insights. Keep on keeping on bud :)
I had no idea people were so negative about your videos on FromSoftware titles before. I just want to say I adore them, and they are some of my favourite video essays on youtube. They're the videos that really made me enjoy and love your writing style, and you managed to capture so many important facets of why those games are so beloved really eloquently. They were also very funny and thoughtful, the little pro-wrestling bit about HOURAH LOUX in particular sticks out, as does how you described your enjoyment of Dark Souls 2's narrative. The fanbase is, as Stephanie Sterling put it, fucking exhausting, but I'm glad you enjoyed these games so much and I'm really happy you decided to do a video for Shadow of the Erdtree too. I'm not even ten minutes in yet and (one writer to another) I'm loving how you discuss it! ^_^
The burned in wood title card was an excellent touch.
Also I love your souls videos, your perspective and experience have made me have such an easier time recommending these games to my friends who have been put off by the air of difficulty surrounding them. I’ve been returning to those videos frequently because of that, most people don’t point out how badly these games WANT you to win. I personally know 3 people who have a new appreciation for the series and consider themselves fans after watching your videos. So thank you!
To my delight, Hell has frozen over and Noah has released a video I never thought would see the light of day.
If this keeps up, we may even get "How Does Postal 4: No Regerts Compare to Previous Postals?" at some point!
(Kidding.)
God I hope he talks about the Postal movie in it too.
I didnt even know that movie was based on a game. I watched it stoned as hell wity my friends in high school @itsaUSBline
Noah your Dark Souls/Elden Ring videos are probably the best video essays about those games, period. And that's saying a lot considering that a Dark Souls piece is a mandatory assignment for Video Essayist 101.
You're my favourite video essayist on this website, don't you dare go anywhere
Haven't finished watching this video yet, but as someone who usually plays FromSoft games melee only and whatever other handicap I feel like makes the game more fun for me, I never would've realized that people would view your previous videos negatively. I did not realize that so many people still missed the point of these games. I think your videos about the games really capture the essence of how FromSoft games toy with traditional ideas of game difficulty and player agency in way that makes their worlds feel more immersive and their fights feel more satisfying. I loved your previous videos, especially overcoming your expectations about how difficulty would work and coming to love the games. They really gave me a better perspective as someone who generally picks up games like this easily and helped me better understand why I feel the way I feel as well. Keep up the wonderful work!
I'm so onboard with the idea that these games are cozy, like yeah they're very grim and sad but there is a very tangible degree of coziness present in the series that i just love; I've been using your Dark Souls vid as eepytime comfort content for years now (Its one of my faves), and im so happy to hear you love Elden Ring.
I also find it extremely warming to know that you've gone from summoning help to beat O&S, and now you're freelancing to help people through some of the hardest fights FromSoft has ever designed. It's come full circle, I love it
I’ll take his as sign. My last video didn’t take off as much as I hoped and was I feeling down about it. I asked if I should continue TH-cam as a hobby? Then you showed up! One of my inspirations to start TH-cam in the first place. Yea, I’ll continue doing this.
Midras manse is my favourite fromsoft content, the entire thing is peak from start to finish. The beautiful paintings we have to destroy to proceed, the boss. Chefs kiss. Perfection.
The fact that the paintings themselves can be interpreted as a subtle telling of the history of the Abyssal Woods and Midra's Manse before the corruption is such an incredible touch too
The first painting you go through depicts a kind of warm look into what the Manse once was, you can subtly see that it isn't corrupted and burned by the frenzied flame, yet the painting itself is taken by the sickly yellow of decay. If you've ever looked at an old picture book or an unkempt painting you would see that same color creeping from the edges and slowly but surely taking the entire image - a memory - over. This serves as a kind of telling of what happened to the Abyssal Woods - that this place was once a perfectly normal display of life now burned to sterile rot and cinders - and it aludes to Midra's suffering as well: as time passes, his reasons for enduring the endless torture of the Hornsent fade - his inherent kindness that leads to him warning the tarnished away, his promise to Nanaya - and the sickly color of decay takes over: the shade of yellow the frenzied flame adopts.
For me, this place more than anything else in Elden Ring paints the Frenzied Flame as a sort of inevitable outcome. As long as sorrow persists in life and the passage of time it is inherently subjected to, there will be someone or something for the frenzied flame to feed on. In this sense, Frenzy stands as such an antithesis to the Crucible - something which forces life to sprout no matter what - that it by itself explains the sheer disgust the Hornsent display towards its believers. They don't want to *end* those who dabble in the physical manifestation of entropy, the Hornsent want to *punish* them, which ironically enough is what leads Midra to become a Lord of the thing they feared most.
In a sense, Midra's tale is a mirror to Marika's: the ritualistic violence of the Hornsent sowing the seeds for their eventual downfall as a society and to be slaughtered in Messmer's hands. If only Marika didn't go on to reproduce the dogmatic violence that was inflicted upon her people.
It baffles me that Noah gets any flack for his Fromsoft videos, they're some of my favourite videos I've watched. I previously had attributed much of my enjoyment of the Souls games on the challenge, but they really illuminated that the challenge is really one of the lesser of the 'positives' to them and how similarly others' approaches to the games, approaches that I thought would somewhat lessen the value of the experience, can create a nigh identical resonance with them. I'm super stubborn in my playstyle and I do think it is, for me, the "right way to play", but it is fantastic to hear about the experiences of someone who approached the series from the opposite direction to me yet found an equally deep enjoyment in them.
9:10 men I am sorry. At some point I was that kind of person. But now I see things diffrent. Elden Ring chaged my opinion, and I hope that after 2 yeas it changed some peoples too. Play the game, have fun and enjoy yourself. I am sorry for the toxsic comunity. But I am glad that your spiryt is strong. Be well. You are a wonderfull person
Thank you so much for doubling down. When I picked up Dark Souls 1 for the first time I was fully in the mindset of “I need to play it melee with no summons and no magic” I got as far as the beginning of blighttown after 3 different characters and stopped, and when I went with a 4th I went fully into magic. I had a fun time and the game finally clicked with me. I don’t play these games because they’re tough as nails challenges, I play them because they’re really tight, really smartly designed RPGs. It’s really telling about the fans that the fans are now crying foul about difficulty now, when you know damn well the same people complaining are the types to be like “oh you’re playing it wrong if you’re not doing a strength/dex solo build”
WOOOOOOOO A Noah video is a rare treat, a Noah video on a game I know and love is even rarer!
“Buckle up buttercup. not only are my opinions bad but i have a lot of them.” that is my new favorite quote. it beats even Steinbeck and Tolstoy haha.
i am a sweaty try-hard in these soulsborne masterpieces and i love the challenge of them but i loved your videos on the game. it’s always refreshing to see a contrasting opinion to my own so articulately expressed. you took me on a journey through Souls again which i can only call transitory. thank you for your work. on top of the conciseness and comprehensiveness of the writing you also have a soothing voice and it helps me sleep at night, knowing also that there is passion aplenty for these games.
you are truly one of the best so please keep making these videos. if nothing else they make for wonderful meal-time shows and the world would be missing something without them.
I'm extremely surprised to hear that you got negative feedback from your other Dark Souls videos. I hold them in high regard as fantastic pieces of analysis on the games, and your opinions about them being 'cosy' struck a chord in the same tune as myself as I had held that same opinion. I've watched them multiple times for this reason - they are enjoyable videos to watch.
Finally beat the dlc myself and i wanna say thank you Noah! Your insight and ability to feel the emotions both thematic and gameplay driven really make you amazing to watch in my own journeys!
It's important to note that the jars of the base game and the jars of the DLC do not follow the same rules. In the Shadow Realm, the jars were created from the flesh of shamans melded with other beings in a twisted effort by the Hornsent to ascend their victims' bodies to sainthood. The jars of the main game, however, are simply filled with the innards of great warriors. There is no punishment involved, and it is seen by everybody, including those placed in them after death (also important, as the jars of the DLC are very much alive during their torture), as a great honor. Marika allows this new practice very begrudgingly, as stated in an item description which I can't remember.
It isn't sainthood that shadow jar practice is about. According to what people found when checking the Japanese, it's making them become Good People, not saints.
@@AerinndisThat's super interesting. Although I seem to remember something (don't know the item description) describing the saints/good people as being "worshipped"?
@@Mr_Unibruh Not that I can remember in relation to the jar stuff, but someone more knowledgable would have to tell us.
@@Aerinndis aren't "Saint" and "Good Person" pretty synonymous? Seems a fair localisation choice
@@jankdotTV They aren't. Saint comes with religious connotations that Good Person does not. If in the original japanese there are no religious connotations to the use of "Good Person" then its a rather poor localisation choice. Even if there are some religious connotations, you have to check what those are to see if it actually fits. For instance if its about redemption and rehabilitation for ill deeds in the eyes of a religion, you'd not use the term saint to describe the successful result. You'd just say they were redeemed.
Being a saint doesn't require you to be a good person either at the end of the day. You just need to have been declared so by a relevant christian church, who's qualifications will no doubt vary heavily from denomination to denomination.
1:07:32 The Crucible Knights... I don't believe they ever served Godwyn. The Crucible Knight's armor says it's the "Armor of the Crucible Knights who served Godfrey, the first Elden Lord." Godwyn is Godfrey's son, and a different person.
The Death Knights were former guards of Godwyn, who only became Death Knights once Godwyn had been slain, so they especially could not have been precursors, seeing as Godwyn's death happened near the end of Marika's reign, while the age of the Crucible from which the Crucible Knights arose was before the Erdtree.
"Buckle up buttercups because not only are my opinions bad, I have a lot of 'em!"
How can such a soft spoken guy drop a line this hard?
No but forreal, when he said that I heard the Bill and Ted guitar riff in my head it was such a banger 😂
Your Dark Souls videos are awesome- I think they fundamentally changed the way I think about the FromSoft catalogue and it informed a lot of my opinions about Elden Ring way before you made your first video on it.
I especially really liked your take on the Buddhist symbolism that features so heavily in DS, so I think it's really funny to hear your interpretation about Miquella in here in the Shadow of the Erdtree.
Rather than Love being something he shouldn't give up and this process being flawed from the start, I read it instead as Miquella's journey to becoming an Enlightened One. Miquella gives up the things that tie him to the world- his love and attachments, his fear and negativity, his 'eye' of power, and even his body. Everything is illusory and a distraction from his final goal of understanding and caring for everything equally. Once he is able to do this he, in a literal sense, becomes a god and in a thematic sense becomes a Buddha-like figure that can teach the world and end its suffering. His remembrance even says he became a being that could accept everyone.
But like you said as well in this video, there's enough room for anyone to make an interpretation of their own. Keep up the amazing work!
I usually never comment but I just wanted to say, wonderfully put! You summed up the MAIN reason I love these games; the immersive worlds and fragmented storytelling that piques my curiosity and leaves me thinking about it long afterwards. Please don't listen to the haters, art enjoyers greatly appreciate your takes! Btw, your dark souls video was one of my FAVORITES on the subject, so I was surprised to hear the reactions you got, but keep going, I would love to see more!
I don't comment often, but your videos, with your incisive and insightful writing, have brought me incredible joy. I just found your videos this year and you both capture my own attitude towards games while also deepening my appreciation. It's been a hard year and you've helped me through it; thank you, Noah.
So many people returning to the base game for the DLC all over again has been such a joyful experience to share. I went into the DLC a day after release because I'd started another new game plus cycle on my main character and had to run through Radhan and use Varre's quest line to rush to Mohg, only to get around 3/4 of the way through the DLC and realize I wanted to start all over again and enter the DLC on a brand new character, who doesn't already have the levels and means to dual wield all of the unique weapons and so on. And it has been so much fun, I'm currently level 102 and making my way through the capital after exhausting the underground besides Moghwyn Palace. Having to go through the patient motions of leveling up strength and endurance enough just to be able to two-hand a Giant Crusher has been just as rewarding as it was the first time around. I don't know if it is my truly number one favorite game of all time, but it is so close that it may as well be and is purely circumstantial.
It's okay to type less, or at least more concise
@@jarlwhiterun7478It's okay to not reply
@@jarlwhiterun7478 Imagine, the very idea!
I can't believe people ragged on your Souls videos. They actually got me to have another go at Elden Ring after getting frustrated and giving up back when it first came out, and I ended up having an absolute ball because of it - largely because your analysis made me rethink my approach to the game and its mechanics.
I hope you continue enjoying the Fromsoftware games and I look forward to more videos from you. I also really hope you do an Amoured Core video one day, because I really enjoyed those and would love to hear your thoughts and analysis.
Another excellent work. I'm not on social media at all so I wasn't aware of the backlash to your other FromSoft works, but it doesn't surprise me. Gamers when combined with over-use of social media are often extremely malicious and put quite a lot of effort into achieving the kind of psychological effect it had on you, its why I don't I really engage in video gaming communities at all. Countless positive-in-passing interactions are always outweighed by occasional but highly aggressive, targeted, and usually quite charged personal attacks.
I'm very glad you've taken to this series of games so well. They reward your style of engagement extremely well, and its very similar my own way of playing (though sometimes my fixations with executing certain particular kinds of playing in fromsoft games ends up with me cheating-).
You make some mistakes/oversights here with the setting and narrative aspects, but thats completely fine and you also have done that on your other Fromsoft works. Miyazaki's breadth of inspiration is extremely particular and niche, and you usually either need to be a weirdo like me who has a similar cone of interests in fiction, or literally just have a degree in art history. Some of your mistakes are a little more of a "failing" though, for instance the bit about the Death Knights was just wrong and I think it comes from a very simple misreading; The Crucible Knights predate the Death Knights by an incredible span of time. The Crucible Knights served Godfrey, not Godwyn. Their names are similar so I understand the mistake. The Crucible Knights via their item descriptions and various descriptions of things related to Godwyn and the Crucible in general, are implied to have been the personal cadre or "friend group" of Godwyn's closest warrior comrades, particularly evoking the imagery of the Roundtable Knights in Arthurian legend, and then given their armor and weapons and abilities via their association with the primordial Erdtree, the Crucible. The Death Knights were Godwyn's personal closest warriors, members of the Capital Dragon Cult (like the Leyndell Knights, and the Malformed Sentinels, not the Dragon Communion cultists), and Godwyn was Godfrey's first son. The item and weapon descriptions seem to imply that they weren't always "Death Knights", and likely had another name or names before Godwyn's death, and the lack of other Death Knights also supports the implication that most of Godwyn's knights abandoned loyalty to him when he was killed, and the ones we see in SOTE are the only ones who did not. By the point we see them, they are ancient and have evolved a veneration for Death on top of their existing dragon cult and knightly abilities. The Crucible Knights though are prehistoric, and largely completely unrelated to the Death Knights I would say.
Already on the 3rd watch and, oh boy. You sir have a gift when it comes to writing. Every word, every sentence, perfectly placed.
Elden ring might be your favorite game, just as this is my new favorite essay on videogames
Your videos are more effective meditation than a lot of things, at least how I feel tight now. Thank you Noah, fantastic video as always.
16:23 hate to do this but you said "Hideo Miyazaki" was the creator of Elden Ring et al. But his name is Hidetaka Miyazaki.
At any rate I agree with you on difficulty regarding FROM Games. Instead of putting a difficulty setting in the game, they did it organically through summons and cooperation and you have the option to not use these tools for added difficulty, and that's fine! I prefer to use em, it makes the game more fun for me. I'd be "cheating myself" out of an experience if I stubbornly decided to not use them, get frustrated, and quit the game.
Yeah that part caught me off guard at first
Hideo Miyazaki, creator of quite difficult story driven games known for their intense boss fights and long cutscene exposition dumps
can rot bloom on a battlefield?
How dare he raise Kojima's name in vain like this.
Who care about his name he stolen ideas from berserk
Your pieces on the modern Fromsoft catalog are some of my favorite videos of yours and my favorite pieces of writing on these games in general. Your perspective on Dark Souls 2 literally transformed how I see that game.
One persistent little thought of mine on finishing the DLC was "damn I'd love to hear what Noah thinks of this." Glad to see you’ve come back ❤❤
What a wonderful surprise to wake up to
Beautiful. Like other people here, I never tried this type of games because the general consensus was that they were very hard (that, and spending 50+ bucks hoping that the game suits me never seemed like a good idea).
+1 voice of support against negative comments. Stay strong, we love you Noah! (I'm learning to use that word, it's going well, I think).
It's funny how little I can understand the people who take issue with how you play. Your videos are the only reason I decided I COULD try Elden Ring. Now I'm obsessed and commissioning art of me and my friend's characters because the time the three of us have put into the game, together, has meant so much. I don't understand the "get good" mentality. I'm playing a game to have fun and boy howdy is it. Glad I found your videos to convince to give these challenging games a try.
I have played the souls series since 2016-ish and am one of those people who feel the most ammount of accomplishment when I beat the boss without summons. I'm still not really good at the games, just very patient with them. That's the way I handled the DLC (I did use the scadutree fragments though bc there's no need to make your first run a SL1)
Your videos on the souls series are some of my favourite videos on the series precisely because of how different our ways of playing those games are. I wasn't even aware of the negative reception for your souls essays because 1) the like to dislike ratio is good 2) I don't use twitter because it geniuenly makes me angry and less well adjusted. As a long time fan of the series and your content I think the videos are great and 15 minutes in this one sounds great too. I'd hate for you to avoid expressing your opinions because of a demonstrably small group trying to express it's superiority.