Chapter 183: The Difference Between Reality and Imagination
After clearly understanding that these catacombs were not a suitable place to stay from the beginning, and that his involuntary bonfire had created a dead end, Tom considered trying to save the situation, hoping to find a way out.
After all, having played the previous Dark Souls, he was relatively familiar with the game. Whether it was the bosses or the level design, although certainly frustrating and exhausting, it was not completely unresolvable.
There was no turning back, and since the catacombs were present from the beginning, there must be a way to get to another place, perhaps even back to the Firelink Shrine.
So, with the last glimmer of dignity he had left as a veteran of the Flame, Tom decided to investigate further.
After wandering through the dark catacombs for a long time and suffering countless deaths, he finally decided to face reality and start over.
Tom had fully perceived the malice of the game.
So far, apart from the demon boss at the beginning, which could be killed by the terrain, he had not run into any real bosses, much less renowned gods like Gwyn, Nito, the Witch, and the white dragon Seath. The terrain and the minions alone had already dealt him countless intimidating blows.
Driven by his last vestiges of pride, Tom determinedly chose the Knight class after starting a new game. Despite knowing that the Knight class's initial disadvantages were an overwhelming task, he chose the now unknown Skeleton Key as his starting item.
With his previous experience, the journey through the Undead Asylum was a piece of cake. In less than five minutes, he gathered everything he could and reached the Firelink Shrine.
The only small relief for Tom was the puddles of blood on the ground in the online mode, a testament to the many players who shared his suffering. Even within the Firelink Shrine, he saw quite a bit of blood.
Upon clicking on it, he was amused.
Clicking on the bloodstains clearly revealed that these players were not killed by monsters or by provoking the Crestfallen Knight on the sacrificial ground. Instead, they died by falling to the ground. The sacrificial ground is full of shiny white objects, but some are at a high altitude, nestled among the ruins of broken walls and eaves, which makes them vulnerable to falls.
For the Firelink Bearer, falling is possibly the biggest threat. Even in the previous game, when players activated modifiers, death by falling was a significant threat.
After admiring the various unnatural deaths of the new players in the Firelink Bearer Sacrifice, Tom wandered for ten minutes before finally reaching a cave-like tunnel. After taking out some skeletal minions and some sewer rats, a new world unfolded before him: the Undead Parish, on the outskirts of the City, the same map that Mike had mentioned to him before.
At the entrance there were only two zombies armed with shields and axes. Compared to the unsettling cemetery full of skeletal minions, this scene was heavenly.
"This is the right path, right? What have I been doing before...". Tom felt tears in his eyes as he contemplated the new map.
Clearly, the previous maps were a complete tactic of Alex's, who deliberately placed various high-level maps near the spawn point to trick the player and force them to enter.
And thinking about it, Tom felt even more cheated.
He had no idea what the Little Londo ruins that Mike had mentioned were like, because he hadn't found them yet.
But the catacombs were a complete rip-off!.
The skeletons in the cemetery served as the first line of defense. The exploding skulls and skeletal minions on the steps that led to the cave were the second line of defense. The skeletons that rolled down the stairs to the catacombs were the third line of defense. Finally, the zombies with lanterns in front of the bonfire, who threw fireballs upon entry, served as a last resort.
New players usually died on the way, returning to the Firelink Shrine. Only veteran undead who had played the previous game would probably enter and light the bonfire.
So this high-level scenario next to the Firelink Shrine was for veteran players!.
With a sigh in his heart, Tom also started a new map. However, with the new exploration, Tom completely forgot about the previous paradise.
Since he didn't know if it was his imagination, the little soldiers in the Undead Parish were much more enthusiastic than the soldiers on the high wall of Lothric.
He didn't even need to get close, just a little closer and these little soldiers were like hospitable villagers, running towards him with swords and axes in hand. And it was a combination of movements that left anyone dead or crippled.
Before playing, Tom had imagined a truly impressive character. A graceful somersault, a backstab, a swift parry with the shield. With a flick of his wrist, he would get through any obstacle in the path of the fire.
But in reality, it was all the other way around!.
In addition, Tom discovered that the monsters in this Undead Parish were much more agile than in the previous game.
Even after lighting the first bonfire, Tom ran into a Black Knight with a sword and shield in the hallway. Remember that the Black Knight first appeared in the small room under the Path of the Living Sacrifice, and he was not one to block the way.
But now, had this Black Knight completely replaced the role of a spear knight in the previous game, becoming an obstacle, or was he in this narrow hallway where only one person could fit?.
"Maybe his stats have been nerfed?", Tom speculated.
As a skilled Undead, he had already fought Black Knights in the previous game. Facing an old acquaintance should be easy, right?.
Fixing on him, he approached and stabbed him with his sword. The health bar above his head went down slightly. Then, the Black Knight turned and attacked.
He raised his shield to block it, and his energy bar instantly disappeared.
"You're dead!".
Tom, resurrected at a nearby bonfire, returned to his starting point, looked at the motionless Black Knight, and was silent for a moment.
"Goodbye! Then I'll get a Havel suit and fight another Black Knight. I'll definitely come back to fight you."
With that harsh comment, he continued moving forward. He narrowly dodged a powder keg pushed by a zombie and entered a scene that looked like a watchtower. There, Tom discovered that his skeleton key was really useful, opening a door in the watchtower.
Behind the door was a hallway that led down, and he ran all the way down. At the end, Tom saw the Havel suit he had been so longing for.
However, someone else was wearing it now. And this guy was holding a large dragon fang. He didn't even need a second hit to kill him. With a single hammer blow, Tom saw his health bar plummet.
Those familiar words, "You're dead!", echoed again.
Resurrected at the bonfire, Tom decided to take a break. Leaning back in his chair, he silently took out his phone and browsed the forums. He found a new post with a question:
"Could someone tell me how Dark Souls: First Flame compares to its predecessor?".
There were no answers yet. Looking at the time and reflecting on his own gaming experience, Tom silently replied:
"Different details, but a map design just as ingenious!".
"Different timelines, but with the same familiar experience!".
"A must-have sequel for Dark Souls players!".
Reading his own message, Tom nodded with satisfaction. There wasn't a single lie. I'll show you some high-level maps at the beginning, full of insidious traps. Aren't they ingenious? A familiar feeling. Look at that "You're dead!" screen after you die. Doesn't that sound familiar? You've already played Dark Souls. Doesn't that mean you came here to be abused? Why don't you get in the game and experience the thrill of being defeated?.
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