Brutal Combat and RPG Systems – Dark Souls
Inspirations God of War Takes From Other Big Games
God of War’s combat is where the majority of the Dark Souls comparisons are likely to crop up. In a preview video featured on the PlayStation YouTube channel, Creative Director Corey Barlog explains that while they didn’t want to copy the combat in Dark Souls exactly, they did want to capture the strategic and cerebral elements that it champions. This shines through in the finished product in that every single enemy, no matter how large or small, must be approached carefully and intelligently. Players are going to die, over and over again towards the start of the game, because, in order to beat an enemy, you must first study its movements. It’s classic Dark Souls fare and extends to the game’s troll bosses too. They each have a particular set of moves, weaknesses and attack patterns.
Much like in the Souls series, players must first watch these attacks play out before even attempting their first move. It’s a much slower affair than previous God of War games, and Kratos is much more vulnerable, which places emphasis on strategy rather than button mashing. The game is definitely harder than it’s ever been, which is a good way to ensure players stick to the new style of play, as everyone who has played Dark Souls knows, one wrong move can mean death.
While definitely being a narrative-focused experience first and foremost, God of War is also an RPG this time. The game features a detailed Codex and Bestiary section, purchasable upgrades and customizable armor available to the player. These new systems are akin to those in the Dark Souls games, with players able to imbue weapons and armor with elemental energy and items which bolster certain stats and abilities. The game does a great job of offering the player just enough options to suit their play-style, without ever feeling overwhelming. This balance is a fine line to walk and is something which Dark Souls thrives at.
