Chapter 188: Death Mode!
During the global success of Dark Souls: First Flame, the number of players who completed the game continued to increase. While the map design is more hostile than in the previous game, it should be noted that, after the release of the strategy guides, the experience for new players has improved significantly.
First, there is the first boss that players face: the Undead Asylum Demon. In the previous game, it was practically impossible to escape the Jue of Cinders Gundyr. Even with warlocks and mages with ranged attacks, they had to be careful, as the Jue of Cinders Gundyr could quickly close the distance. Destroying the Black Flame Pot, the burial item with which he is generated, only allowed him to enter his second phase, not kill him instantly.
However, things are different in Dark Souls: First Flame. A single death with a jump at the beginning could instantly reduce the Undead Asylum Demon's health by half. With the Black Flame Pot, a few blows would be enough to finish it off.
Unlike previous games, where increasing the amount of talismans was incredibly difficult and required searching for Talisman Fragments to gradually increase it, in Dark Souls: First Flame, players can inject humanity into a bonfire, increasing its amount of talismans from 5 to 10. While each bonfire is unique, it is not difficult to cultivate humanity. After defeating three clans in the catacombs and learning the Fire Infusion technique, this increases the amount to 20, significantly improving the gaming experience.
Combined with the strategies to obtain the Grave Lord's Sword and the Guan Dao, players can acquire these high-damage weapons from the beginning. Although it is still easy to die at the hands of monsters and bosses if you are not careful, instead of only two blows, now you can take them down with 20. Having these weapons in the first game is incredibly satisfying.
For many players who have been frustrated by the hostility of the map, this is undoubtedly a relief. After all, this is Dark Souls!. You can even experience the feeling of defeating a boss with only ten blows! What kind of experience is that?.
Precisely thanks to these strategies and the availability of powerful weapons from the beginning, many players who did not previously stay in Dark Souls now persevere in the more hostile environment of the prequel.
In a residential complex in the capital, Tom, Mike, and Sarah were meeting. They were joined by Ethan, who had injured his foot during a business trip, and Chloe.
"See? If you want the Grave Lord's Sword, roll down and run inside. Be careful with the Wedge Demons; you'll have to pull twice. After you get it, hide inside the coffin and trust in luck so they don't detect you. Once inside, sign a contract with the Grave Lord to get the Grave Lord's Sword. Then, use the bone fragments to return to the Firelink Shrine. Well, now it's easy."
Tom was sitting there, demonstrating the game's initial strategy to Ethan and Chloe. Although it was almost two weeks until the game's release, the two had been busy and had not paid much attention.
Upon seeing Tom's maneuvers, they couldn't help but praise him: "Brother Tom, you're amazing!".
"Yes, what a fluid movement!".
Mike, standing next to him, grumbled: "Come on, he's been practicing this technique in countless new levels. A first-round enthusiast never does a second or a third, how could he not be familiar with it?".
"I'm just accumulating experience over time. Besides, the maps and bosses won't change between the second and third rounds. Once I familiarize myself with them, it will be easy to advance to higher levels." With two silent coughs, Tom defended his actions.
"Besides, this game is a lot of fun. Sometimes I play Agility, sometimes Strength, and even a mage can try it."
He repeatedly challenged the first game, first getting the Grave Lord's Sword, then deploying his unparalleled skills. This was his style.
Besides, this game has so many genres, and not all of them have the same style of play.
He also tried his luck in the second game. Although the improved weapons easily defeated the monsters, their damage instantly increased. Especially against a creature like a rabid dog, two of them together would have been a real threat.
In short, the second game brought back a familiar feeling, a familiar "Souls flavor."
"Hey! It seems there has been an update! And it's quite big!". Tom, after finishing showing the Grave Lord's Sword, was about to exit the game and open Fall Guys to join everyone in a fun party game when he suddenly noticed something unexpected.
Dark Souls: First Flame had received an update, and it was quite substantial. If it were a purely online game, he would not have been too worried about the update or its size.
But Dark Souls: First Flame is for a single player!.
How could it suddenly receive an update, and a big one at that?.
"What's wrong? An update?". Mike and Sarah were stunned by Tom's words and leaned in to look at his computer screen.
Curious, Tom clicked on a preview of the new version in the Nebula store interface.
"Death Mode," a new game mode for Dark Souls and Dark Souls: First Flame, is now available and offers a new challenge to the undead.
"Feel the dance of swords and the beat of your heart again in Death Mode."
"Fight such renowned figures as the Sun King Gwyn, Artorias, and the Witch in their prime?".
"Do you wonder how much more powerful Yhorm the Giant would have been if he hadn't gone crazy?".
"This new Death Mode will satisfy all the regrets of the Firelink Bearers. The details of this update are as follows:".
After reviewing the entire update list, Tom, Mike, and the others generally understood what Death Mode was.
This new Death Mode is essentially the same as the Random Mode from the previous game, with the addition of a unique mode for players to experience.
The surprising thing is that the previous game, Dark Souls, also included this mode, while the new game also added a more entertaining Random Mode.
This Death Mode is similar to an arena-style game, allowing players to freely challenge specific bosses from Dark Souls. Defeating them will grant them special items. There will also be a dedicated leaderboard to record the players' records.
They can play alone or in a multiplayer group, with teams of up to three players.
According to the announcement, the bosses in this version will use the latest AI performance technology from Nebula Games. Health, stamina, and other stats will also be improved. In group mode, the monster's health will increase proportionally to the number of players.
However, unlike Random Mode, where players create a new save file, Death Mode requires players to use their own save file. Of course, Death Mode requires a complete internet connection, and weapons and stats will be adjusted in Death Mode.
Characters with higher levels and more powerful weapons will not perform worse than those who have just completed the first round.
In short, it's more about skill, not just stats.
Unlike Random Mode, which is simply for fun, Death Mode has added a classification system, which makes it much more attractive to many players. The first list of deaths for each boss, along with The fastest number of casualties and their corresponding ID will be displayed in a corner of the Firelink Shrine for the next players to see. The entrance to Death Mode is also located there.
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