If you dare to approach the Soulslike genre, it can quickly become intimidating and overwhelming. MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth has been playing Dark Souls, Elden Ring & Co. for over ten years and shares six tips for new players below.
Every beginning is difficult. When I started Dark Souls 1 over ten years ago completely unprepared, I had no idea what I was getting into. However, the rude awakening followed quickly: The game was incredibly difficult and explained almost nothing.
Only on my second attempt did I fall in love with the game and an entire genre that was still on the brink of a major breakthrough at that time. Since Elden Ring, however, Soulslikes have become widely known and have entered the gaming mainstream.
Over the years, I have learned a lot from these games and now want to offer new players six tips to make their first steps in a Soulslike easier.
Recently, FromSoftware released the big DLC Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring. Here you can see the story trailer:
1. Learn the combat system and the mechanics
Even the first tip may sound trivial, but it is essential if you want to succeed in a Soulslike. Genre-typical are the demanding battles, and the boss opponents are often very difficult. Therefore, familiarize yourself with the combat system right from the start.
There are usually light and heavy attacks, the ability to block with a shield, or to dodge attacks with a roll. The latter requires some practice, so I recommend starting with the shield option.
Critical hits like backstabs shorten the battles. The same goes for parries with a shield followed by a critical counterattack – but good timing is required here. Practice on simple standard enemies.
The goal here is to internalize the combat system, which basically consists of only a few options. You need to master it in your sleep to react to the various attack patterns of your opponents at any time. Therefore, take your time at the beginning and practice. This brings us to the next tip.
2. Try out different weapons and builds
At the beginning, you will select a starting class. However, in most Souls games, this is not really relevant. You can freely customize your character, and any class can, if properly built, use any weapon. And you should do just that.
The Souls experience can vary greatly depending on which weapon and build you play. Don’t stick with the first sword that comes your way; change your weapon frequently. Only then can you find your personal playstyle. This is important to progress more easily.
Don’t like the slow move set of a great sword? Why not try a fast rapier or switch to magic?
3. It’s okay to die
If there is one thing Soulslikes are known for, it is the difficulty and the numerous deaths that come with it. Don’t be discouraged if you bite the dust a few times at the beginning. Don’t worry, that’s completely normal. It takes a little while to understand the systems of these games.
Playing Soulslikes also means learning a little with each death. The next time you try, you will know about the nasty attack of that one boss. You’ll realize that you should rather run away in a certain situation than roll. You will become a bit smarter.
If you persevere, you will begin to understand how these games work. Suddenly, you will defeat bosses much more quickly and progress through areas more easily. This is incredibly satisfying, believe me. You just need to be somewhat resistant to frustration and grit your teeth.
Let’s continue on page 2.
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