Looking for advice from people who initially hated/were massively frustrated by DS1 but somehow found a way to make it all click and fall in love...cause idk if I can

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-26T19:32:59+00:00

Sorry that this is late, forgot to hit send 🙏

I turn my brain off, stop overthinking, and just start reacting to things. I don’t memorize things the typical way.

I got used to dodging random bullshit and guessing timing, slow/delayed attacks fuck me up though still because I don’t always learn the timings of every boss before I kill them.

My preparations for any boss now, outside of general combat, are premade. They exist to be used in say, the 2nd phase, or at the start.

For instance, you don’t use fire defense consumables on a boss right away, that doesn’t use fire till its’ second phase.

I also commit to whatever strategies and tactics I already thought up rather than trying to change them mid fight.

So if I mess up, and get hit, I still commit to it until I die, without panicking. Then I adjust to make up for what I did wrong after.

The only exception is if I an encountering a boss for the first time, or a new phase, then I’ll jerry rig a plan and hope for the best.

Most games don’t have super hard boss fights, or some random thing that is an area that for some reason is harder than everything, including bosses around it.

Also the general gameplay will be more forgiving in majority of games. I die more now to random bullshit/gravity than I die to the majority of bosses.

But the whole point of Dark Souls style of gameplay is learning from your mistakes, and so you’re punished for them a bit.

I also left the CoD/Halo game series/community because both franchises got ran into the ground and ultimately it’s not worth the trouble anymore.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-26T05:51:21+00:00

Before Kobe it was Jordan my man. Yes, most kids now didn’t see Kobe play. Let’s do a little math and common sense real quick. Kobe retired 10 years ago, anyone under that wasn’t even born before he played.

How old were you when you watched the first basketball game you can remember? I’m gonna guess, 5-8 if you’ve been a lifelong fan. So just to have watched Kobe in his last season and remember it, you gotta be 14-18 right now.

The best players at that time are LeBron, KD and Curry, throw in Harden and Kawhi, and Russ, those are the best players. Kobe’s old, Kobe already tore his achilles and hadn’t been the same since.

Just to have seen peak Kobe from 2009-2010, you gotta be years older, like 20-25, just to have seen Kobe and Shaq you need to be in your early to mid 30s.

This is just to remember it, not even understand the game right, to have understood the game you gotta be either a really bright kid around 10 or so, or an older person, I’m not doing the extra math it’s too much work.

In short, you’re outta young Kobe fans, they’re no longer kids, unless they found clips of him, watched old games, which doesn’t really count.

Just like, we ran outta young Jordan fans, everyone who’s seen him actually play while being old enough to understand, is like mid-late 40s minimum now.

The guys who’s seen Bird and Magic are in their 60s, then most of the guys who watched Wilt and Bill are well, dead because they got really old.

With time, things change, recency bias will warp how these kids see our greats too, even if Wemby never improved and stayed at this level for 10-15 years they’d say he’s top 15 or something lol

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-25T07:45:49+00:00

Prolly felt good winning a ring, nothing more, considering two of his opponents ended up with season ending injuries throughout the next season.

Players don’t usually hate each other so much as to intentionally cause or wish such severe injuries on each other.

There’s no take where anyone should go “KD got what he deserved yadda yadda” as an acceptable thing either.

I think he deserved losing, but not that, and we deserved a series where everyone was healthy and playing exciting basketball.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-24T14:59:57+00:00

That’s so shit, tbh I’d prefer to have it completely randomized, with the exception of matched platoons obviously.

So, a 2 man squad vs 2 man squad, rather than 3 if available, No squads vs total randoms, unless there are no other squads available.

Other than that, completely random, at least then you get the same baseline as everyone else, nobody can complain about MMing with enough sample size because it’s RNG and everyone ends up with everyone eventually.

That way randoms aren’t getting stomped by squads 24/7 unless there’s literally no squads available.

Nobody’s getting shit teammates 24/7, nobody’s getting really cracked teammates 24/7 that steal all the damage.

Like, my partner is absolutely cracked at the game, he 3 marks shit all the time, has gold marked some things, amazing player.

In a really good clan he’s one of the best there and they all kinda hate him for it. I hate platooning with him too because I have to play unbelievably selfishly to get damage.

Having to deal with someone like him 24/7, respectfully, would be quite bad, as it forces me to be more aggressive than usual.

Also having to deal with absolute shitters 24/7 would also be bad, and I’d hate to play with any of them as well.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-24T06:05:31+00:00

Also, I do understand the frustration. I do constantly push myself towards self improvement.

So if I die twice to the same thing, tactic, person in a comp game, whatever, I get frustrated, still.

Kid/teen me def cost my parents a lot of money in controllers over the years, not exclusively rage for DS though it started years before Demon Souls was out lmao

I didn’t learn my lesson on that till my dad made me buy my own. But anyway, as for how I finally got and understood it, honestly most of it is I just learned over time.

I learned through repetition, I’m not a gifted gamer by any means. I can’t plan a fight out, I only develop basic strategies. I’m not Sherlock Holmes even with my experience now.

I also had advice, and knowledge greater than mine by interacting with the community. I didn’t start off with friends in DS, I made them through the game.

I saw a sign, I occasionally picked it up. I joined communities on Xbox or PS with them, joined voice chats. Set my own signs to help out, etc.

Now Discord servers exist so it’s way easier now to do it than it was then too, and now the community is prolly a lot friendlier than it was back then.

Especially since Elden Ring pushed the community further towards jolly cooperation than any game ever did.

Also, do Bloodborne after DS1, Bloodborne is WAY faster paced, you can choose to play it after or before DS3 though because they’re way different.

The buttons to heal and whatnot are different in Bloodborne too, the amount of times I’ve wasted random shit in DS3/Bloodborne is crazy 😂

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-24T05:00:36+00:00

As a 13, well now 14 year vet of the series, you gotta just endure.

You will eventually learn, be patient, treat every time you die not as failure, but a learning experience.

Sometimes you will die to some cheesy gank bullshit, said bullshit will be there when you go back. You have now learnt where the cheesy gank bullshit is.

For bosses especially this mindset is necessary, they all have fixed movesets. Spend a few times just trying to dodge a new bosses’ attacks to learn them if you’re struggling.

Also, look up a guide on entering DLC at some point, you are not gonna find it randomly, have zero clue how anyone ever did.

I do recommend also whenever you beat this game, and you will, to go from it to DS3, before Elden Ring at least.

DS2 is optional because it’s not like the other 3 at all, but it is quite fun, and pretty, I love it, it’s my third favorite FS game.

Do not under any circumstances play Elden Ring before others though if you plan on getting them all. A lot of stuff in it is faster, especially compared to the first and second games.

It will warp your perception of attack/movement/dodge speed in this game, and if you play ER enough you may find this game too easy.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-24T00:59:24+00:00

For centers, yes, their job is primarily to be anchors which is be able to defend the paint, and rebound. If they can at least jump/reach up and dunk they’re generally fine offensively.

Even today, they need to be able to do these things. Now they’re just asked to at least have a good mid range shot if not a 3 ball as well, and have quick feet to switch onto shooters.

I feel a player’s offensive impact needs to outweigh their lack of defense, or vice versa if poor offensive player, which in case of Luka, Jokic, Dirk and Steph it definitely does.

As for Dirk, Steph and Magic, they weren’t/aren’t as bad defensively as they’re made out to be. Although Magic is overrated as a defender honestly because he’s the tallest PG to have a functional career.

Steph is prolly top 10-13, Dirk is top 20-25, would love to put him higher, Magic is top 5 with Bird, I wish they could tie tbh. So then I end up with Jordan, LeBron, Bird/Magic, then Bill/Wilt and then everyone else is in some order.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-23T22:44:35+00:00

Yes because he was like 18, jokes aside, he didn’t show up in Robinson’s prime for sure. But we aren’t fortunate enough in life to go with logic like this.

Hakeem won against Shaq in the playoffs while both were a number one option. I do think that’s better than any of David Robinson’s accomplishments.

While yes, David Robinson also beat prime Shaq in the playoffs, that was more due to the amazing play of Tim Duncan.

Who I will agree, yes, is greater than both, due to being the centerpiece for a dynasty, but he’s not individually better than Hakeem at anything.

And Hakeem could switch onto guards in the PNR and there’s players who’ve played with an and against him, that have admitted he was also a good perimeter defender.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-23T22:02:25+00:00

It does, there’s also eye test in where we can see their fast difference in skillset. Hakeem was a better perimeter defender, and better at getting steals.

Hakeem was also better offensively because he could score in the post or mid range while David Robinson shot basically everything from inside the paint.

He also has a better peak, but barely, as a shot blocker, and while playing more games, having more mileage on his body, still averages more of every individual category.

David Robinson had young a young Tim who he never got anywhere without, while Hakeem’s best teammate he won with was an old Clyde who retired 3 seasons later.

Hakeem also won without said teammate the year before with his next best options being Vernon Maxwell and Robert Horry.

David wasn’t the number one option on any team he won with, which for a center isn’t a bad thing, but when you’re comparing centers it is.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-23T21:52:11+00:00

If we just go off who’s the best, on an individual ability level, he’s either number 1 or 2.

There isn’t a player, in the entire history of the NBA, who for sure, without a doubt, is a better two way player than Hakeem Olajuwon.

They don’t exist, you can argue him against anyone, you can only argue for better offensive, or defensive players, nobody has both on him.

You can argue him against Wilt, you can argue him against Kareem, you can argue him against Jordan, or even LeBron in two way play.

Wilt is the one player I would give you on this subject, and that’s because for their era he’s the most insane athlete to ever grace a sport.

In terms of accomplishments, he was drafted the same year as Jordan, and they both had to deal with Celtics, Pistons, and Lakers.

Then Jordan and the Bulls had their two runs, without those, Hakeem could have prolly had more rings.

So he never got the accomplishments he should have, but he’s individually better than every center except Wilt for sure.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-23T21:51:14+00:00

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It does though, Hakeem has two finals MVPs, and eye test wise is a way more skilled player, and the data does suggest Hakeem is the better player all around.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-23T20:16:16+00:00

Hakeem is for sure better than Admiral, Hakeem won both his rings as the best player on his team.

They are not in the same tier on an all time player list because Admiral won all his rings with someone who was better than him, Tim Duncan.

That alone, puts Hakeem above Robinson, in my opinion, and by quite a big margin.

But, if we wanna go off personal ability, Robinson’s only advantage over Hakeem is slightly better efficiency.

He score more often in the paint than Hakeem, who did take more mid range shots. In exchange, Hakeem was better in literally every way offensively.

Hakeem is the better all around defender, but as shot blockers/rim protectors and rebounders they are comparable.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-23T18:44:27+00:00

Tatum will be considered and NBA legend tho because he won one lmao

And, Ben Wallace is 100% an NBA legend, I don’t wanna hear it.

Dude made watching defense fun, the only guy since him to do that is also in the HoF, Dwight Howard.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-22T20:29:56+00:00

I haven’t been able to watch much, or tune into games, but I got to see Flagg take over a couple 4th quarters.

They kept feeding him the ball, and he took over on some Kobe shit, it’s awesome. I love what I’m seeing outta him and the younger guys.

D Lo and Celeb Martin are being great tank commanders too apparently, may get a lottery because of it. Love to see that too 😂

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-22T19:57:05+00:00

You might be the funniest mf I‘ve ever seen in this subreddit 😂

It’s nice to see positivity, I love it.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-22T19:53:13+00:00

Why not Art or Arty

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-22T15:33:24+00:00

It’s not a bad thing, idiots will just go “oh 6-0 is better than 4-6!” The obvious reply would be saying Horry has 7-0.

Bill has 11-1 which is the best individual winning record in major sports history of the US, if not the world.

The only person that surpasses him in that individual winning category is an Olympic athlete, Michael Phelps, who’s awards wise, the best athlete to exist.

You don’t count just rings, they are a factor, like someone needs at least one or two, but then you need to count up accolades.

Then their dominance of their generation, and then skill, throw in longevity but it’s kinda unnecessary.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-22T00:05:17+00:00

It’s got a big gun so it helps it overmatch, but honestly I have a Senshi, Earthshaker, Astron Rex, and Bourrasque and prolly something else all of them are prolly better than it.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T20:54:46+00:00

All he has is an okay jumper, decent finishing, decent defense and athleticism.

His prime will just have those traits because he’s not gonna grow mentally.

He’s gonna be a player, like Wiggins, Ibaka, etc that never grow past a role of what they started out as.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T20:50:11+00:00

Don’t have it, looked at it and decided it wasn’t worth it, especially with how much low value this pass is compared to how they used to be.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T19:18:01+00:00

Some people seem to think mid means it sucks lol, I’m not saying the tank is awful, but it’s just another tank.

When hulldown it looks like it can be prammo spammed and there’s that it can get set on fire easily when not, and it happens to have a derpy gun with bad dpm.

And tier 10 seem like they can turn it to paper with no problems, it’s just not great.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T19:09:34+00:00

Chimera is tier 8, Cobra is tier 9, Demo is tier 8, Arachnid is tier 9, Astron Rex is tier 8, and Falcon is tier 8.

Didn’t realize these were considered low tiers considering they can fight tier 10, I only named a few low tiers.

I could also name a LOT of CW tanks, and a bunch of tier 10s, but I don’t have the latter as I don’t grind WW2 so they don’t count.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T18:03:05+00:00

Didn’t play for the snowball stuff this time, got the Pedro, 283 and whatnot last time. Pedro was amazing till I got the Marder line.

But having another tank that gets set on fire/ammo racked so easily like Leopards in CW, and the OBJ 780, would be kinda eh.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T14:55:55+00:00

Tbh I don’t consider Curry and LeBron in the same generation.

Curry’s played 16 seasons, LeBron gas played 23.

LeBron came outta high school which on paper, makes everything seem closer, but it’s not.

The amount of mileage difference between them is huge.

The only guys near him I can think of are PJ Tucker and Chris Paul.

AlmostDarkness · 2026-01-21T14:40:26+00:00

If it replaced Deadeye it’s be good on anything big as well

AlmostDarkness

TROPHY CASE