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Soulslike - Discussion, News, Memes
This is a community for discussion, news, and memes pertaining to the video game sub-genre "soulslike".
Given Lemmy's size, the definition of soulslike may be treated relatively loosely. While games like the numerous FromSoft titles, the recent Star Wars Jedi games, Lies of P, Nioh and similar games should be the focus, games that incorporate soulslike elements - like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous, for example - may also be discussed here.
Basic Lemmy-quette applies. Additionally, since flairs don't exist yet, please do make sure to include a marker to denote what game your post is about in square brackets for clarity's sake. An example could be:
[BB] This enemy is so difficult!
or
[DS1] Anyone struggling with the gargoyles?
Friends:
Should you have any questions, please do let me know.
- Druid
I mean, I agree that an NPC giving you a whole monologued spiel in response to you saying "hello" is also not immersive. I just don't think the Fromsoft way is particularly immersive either. To me it just feels like a design choice that Miyazaki or whoever wanted because it adds friction, like every part of the game has to actively fight the player. It adds to the sense of "this game is weird and difficult", but (for me at least) not really to immersion.
But then I don't really get that progression feel either. If it was the case that there was a timer built in, then yes I could see it. Coming back later and the conversation progressing because time has passed. But again, that is not what is happening in practice. What is happening is just going up to everyone and pressing A repeatedly until they tell you to go away. Maybe an indicator would be better, but I mean... in itself it's kind of unimmersive that you can mind read that the NPC has run out of dialogue. Though honestly, in a game that does not have dialogue options and has a completely silent protagonist I am unsure how immersive it is even possible to make NPC dialogue full stop. It may just be an unsolvable problem.
Also, none of this has anything to do with the quality of writing or voice acting. I really enjoy the characters in Fromsoft games, they're charming, unique and interesting, even small things like tending to end with laughter in various ways definitely adds a lot to the "strangeness" of these games and their distinctive vibes and atmosphere. Fromsoft do have a way of writing that evokes a mood that very few others can emulate. Closest I've felt to it was Withering Rooms. But that has nothing to do with the way it's integrated into the game mechanically.