Dark Souls is one of the most important video game series of the last decade.
Today, we call them first-person shooters.
Today, we call those sandbox or open-world games.
Of all these cases, however, few are more interesting than the genre being created byDark Souls.
They were bleak, they were ominous, they were vague, and they were exceedingly difficult.
That last one tends to be a sticking point for some when talking about the legacy of theSoulsgames.
To be fair, thats a very well-reasoned argument.
However, it is a bit dismissive of the brilliant way thatDark Soulsmade difficulty appealing again.
Difficulty inDark Soulsisnt a deterrent, its a teacher.
Only by learning from your mistakes and building upon that knowledge can you find success.
With the exception of its opening cinematic, much ofDark Souls story is merely suggested at.
The difficulty ofDark Soulsfrom a narrative and gameplay standpoint is indeed its most important aspect.
Its unapologetic difficulty screamed directly into the face of the gaming industry, and demanded to be heard.
The most notable recent examples of this approach have beenTitan SoulsandHyper Light Drifter.
They dont use the same art style, combat, or mechanics.
In that regard, its similar to howPortalput a first-person-shooter twist on the puzzle genre.
Hyper Light Driftermay be even more interesting.
The game highlights both exploration and combat, while also adding role-playing elements to the weapons and character.
Preston put an emphasis on telling the games story through visuals than dialogue, not unlikeDark Souls.
It is through these games that the true legacy ofDark Soulsis revealed.
Speak Friend and Enter
See, in these games,Dark Soulsisnt just a name-dropped influence.
This isnt to say there isnt a value to the more obviousDark Souls-inspired games.
In fact,Salt and Sanctuaryis actually one of my favorite games of the year.
We dont know for sure what the future of theDark Soulsfranchise will be followingDark Souls III.
There are worse things in the world than being called Dark Souls-like.
Matthew Byrd is a freelance contributor.
