Regarding random enemies, in fact, Soul 1 and Soul 3 in previous versions have similar MODs. However, these MODs have a few bugs and constraints, such as terrain restrictions. Specific terrain-restricted bosses, like Overlord Wolnir. They loose their impact and become less challenging in other locations.
In comparison, the random setting for items is much easier to implement. Except for specific quest items, no changes are needed as long as the player's quest progression and main storyline remain intact. For everything else, randomness works fine.
This kind of randomness lacks a specific balance. It's purely based on chance. With some luck, a player might start with a variety of powerful artifacts. Conversely, bad luck might prevent someone from even getting past the Road of Sacrifices.
That said, this unique mode isn't intended to be the core gameplay of Dark Souls. Instead, it's designed as a small gift for players—a source of light entertainment and fresh experiences. However, this mode won't be officially released immediately. The plan is to wait until a group of players has successfully cleared the main storyline of Dark Souls.
Although the idea was clear, it wasn't immediately shared with Qin Yi and the rest of the team. Developing this new mode in the future wouldn't require much effort since it's based entirely on the existing content of Dark Souls. Additionally, the team's current workload is already quite heavy, with employees working overtime to meet deadlines. To address this, the development team was given some time off.
At the office of Neon Games, Chen Xu met again with the representative from the target software company. The two sat down to discuss the terms of their agency partnership.
An hour later, Chen Xu shook hands with the representative, a smile on his face. "Happy cooperation, Mr XYZ" he said.
"Happy cooperation, Mr. Chen," the representative replied.
Two days earlier, Chen Xu had made several requests, which the target software company had discussed internally before returning with a unified decision. Neon Games retained control over the game's creative direction, with the target software company handling publishing duties. Additionally, overseas releases of the game would require Chen Xu's input.
The commission terms for the agency remained unchanged, but the target software company introduced a new condition. They requested priority to sign the next three large-scale games developed by Neon Games, assuming equal conditions for other agencies. Furthermore, they proposed releasing some of Neon Games' previous indie games to overseas markets, following the same distribution terms as Dark Souls.
Chen Xu agreed. Handling everything internally at Neon Games would have introduced unnecessary complications, making the partnership beneficial for both parties.
For a few days, Chen Xu was quite busy. Most of the time was spent signing relevant agency contracts with the target software. However, the main focus remained on Dark Souls. This included overseas channel promotion and game content translation. To streamline operations, Chen Xu also assembled a team to manage the handover process with the target software.
Meanwhile, on the Internet, the first batch of players who began Dark Souls had advanced to the later stages of the plot, except for those struggling with the gameplay. Zhang Yi, sitting in front of the computer, had reached the final scene—the Kiln of the First Flame.
His girlfriend, Wang Han, sat beside him, watching closely his conquest as he eternaly restart the game. This save had become Zhang Yi's exclusive after the first day, primarily because their earlier arrangement of alternating turns upon death was too inconvenient for this game. Before one could even warm the chair, it was already time to switch. Reflecting on his journey through Dark Souls, Zhang Yi felt a surge of emotions.
It had been anything but easy. From the very beginning, where he faced the lizard and repeatedly died against Guda, to finally nearing the great moment of spreading the fire, it had been an arduous journey. As he stepped onto the map called the Kiln of the First Flame, the weight of the experience hit him.
In the distance, the empty rift spread wide under a darkened sky. A blood-red sun, nearly consumed by darkness, cast a dim, haunting glow over the ruined royal city. Twisted trees and countless antiquated buildings dotted the landscape, alongside abandoned weapons scattered across the ground. Bloodstains painted the area, a familiar sight by now.
In Dark Souls, a map devoid of bloodstains from other players' trials would be a strange anomaly. Even the supposedly safe fire-proof sacrificial ground bore the marks of countless players' failed provocations against the disheartened Gouda.
Zhang Yi advanced slowly and eventually confronted the final boss. The figure stood there clad in armor nearly charred to charcoal, wielding a flaming spiral sword—a reflection of every fire-bearer who had come before.
There was no need for words. The battle began.
The King of Cinders was as imposing as expected, boasting a set of skills that encapsulated the essence of every player class. His weapon shifted forms, transforming into a greatsword, a straight sword, and others depending on the situation. Despite Zhang Yi's consistent leveling throughout his journey, he still struggled. Facing the final boss, he suffered many defeats.
But after nearly a hundred hours in the game, Zhang Yi was no stranger to failure. In fact, he often joked that if he didn't die at least twice a day in Dark Souls, something felt off.
Finally, after numerous attempts, victory was his.
"NICE! Finally cleared!" Zhang Yi shouted in excitement as the boss's health bar depleted. While many players online had already cleared the game, the sense of accomplishment still felt overwhelming.
On-screen, Zhang Yi's character stood beside the Initial Fire. The flames engulfed him, spreading across his entire body as he slowly sat down beside the blaze. The camera zoomed out toward the distant sun, nearly swallowed by darkness. Then, the screen faded to black, leaving only the game's title, Dark Souls, displayed prominently in the center.
The game's first cycle had ended.
"Not going to lie, this game gave me chills at the start," Zhang Yi said to Wang Han, who was watching beside him.
"It was frustratingly tough at first, but the more I played, the more fun it became."
He meant every word. At the beginning of his Dark Souls journey, the game had seemed absurdly difficult. Yet, as he endured countless deaths, he discovered its addictive charm. The further he progressed, the deeper his appreciation grew for its unique gameplay.
From the seemingly uniform classes to the variety of weapon options, each brought a unique playstyle with endless possibilities for exploration. Above all, the thrill and sense of achievement after defeating a boss were unparalleled—something Zhang Yi had only experienced in Dark Souls.
"The only thing I regret is not understanding the plot better. I just know there's a lot more to it." he admitted, scratching his head.
The fragmented storytelling of Dark Souls was one of its defining features. Chen Xu had focused on prioritizing the narratives from all three games in the series while leaving room for players to delve into the rich lore of the first game. Yet, many players, Zhang Yi included, found themselves cutting through enemies and spreading fire without truly grasping the story's depth. For players who skipped the finer details, countless mysteries about the world of Dark Souls remained unanswered.
For example, where did the initial fire come from? Who was the original king Gwen? Who is the nameless king atop the ancient dragon? What is the origin of Pope Sullivan? What was the peak of the Age of Fire like?
After spending a week struggling to progress, the player's focus shifts to defeating bosses. However, once the game is cleared, the plot becomes intriguing, albeit confusing. Most players only grasp its surface-level meaning.
Why spread the fire? Why did King Xin refuse to do so? The vast, intricate story of the Dark Souls universe remains a mystery to many.
Wang Han, standing beside Zhang Yi, who appeared puzzled, remarked, "That's because you only cared about beating the bosses. You didn't pay attention to the plot at all."
"Then tell me the plot," Zhang Yi retorted.
"I haven't cleared it yet," Wang Han admitted.
"But based on online rumors, apart from the fire ending, there seems to be a separate ending. It's even possible that the game Dark Souls will have a sequel," she added, coughing lightly.
The plot of Dark Souls remains unclear to most players.
Whether it's the difficulty, gameplay settings, or storyline, Dark Souls defies traditional ARPG conventions. The only certainty lies in the hints scattered across items, props, and legacy legends, suggesting this is the end of an era.
What was the world like at the dawn of the age? It's obvious Chen Xu hasn't even created the relevant files yet!
"You don't even know that, and you're lecturing me?" Zhang Yi pouted, clearly unconvinced. After all, he had already cleared the game!
"That's because the story and world-building in Dark Souls are too immense!" Wang Han defended himself.
"And all you did was hack your way through to clear the levels. Do you even know the endings of Thief Brother? Or the storyline of Onion guy? What about side quests like Disheartened Brother or the Holy Maiden? I bet you didn't complete any of them!"
Listening to Wang Han, Zhang Yi scratched his head. "What! This game has side quests?"
Of course, Zhang Yi was joking. As one of the first players to experience Dark Souls, he was aware of the side quests. However, awareness didn't mean participation—he hadn't completed any of them.
This experience reflects that of most players.
Unlike other ARPGs, where players are guided to complete side quests alongside the main story, Dark Souls takes a different approach. All tasks, including the main storyline, are left for players to uncover independently.
Without understanding the main story, progression becomes impossible. Yet side quests are often entirely missed.
Many players finish the game without realizing the existence of numerous branching storylines. Only later, when they delve into the narratives behind these quests, do they gain a deeper appreciation of Dark Souls.
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Author note [ Ignorable ]
Please forgive me for the mistake in the translated narrative. The original MTL is too jumbled and filled with slangs and thing related to the country owns culture. Which i don't get. But yeah the narrative of Fromsoftware game are always killer especially in souls game.