Someone once said this "after you beat a souls game, try creating a new character and go killing some bosses again, you will realize that it wasn't your character that got stronger, you did".

@Rexsar813

2 жыл бұрын

This. After I beat Elden Ring and started a new character, and the bosses and enemies I struggled with seemed easier. I'm a lower level than I was when I fought them the first time. I learned how to play.

@halcy0n-585

2 жыл бұрын

after struggling with Margit for over two hours, my first victory over him was at over level 50, with a +4 Somber weapon My second was at level 21, with a +2 (standard) weapon. and the Erdtree watchdog, which killed me 20 times in a row due to its janky movement, now barely ever gets hits on me (except when I get greedy after the slam move)

@TizzmantineUK

2 жыл бұрын

Going back and starting sekiro again. 11/10 we were told to get good and we did.

@thewizardninja

2 жыл бұрын

On my second Elden Ring run I tried heading straight to Margit just to see if I could do it. Only took 3 tries and it was a true solo as well. To think I spent like 5 hours the first time despite having better armour, upgraded weapons, a spirit distraction and twice as many levels.

@lmgwinner6812

2 жыл бұрын

@@halcy0n-585 jeez thats a rough first victory, I haven't really struggled with any boss except the one I'm on right now, hoarah loux/godfrey.

You know what makes me happy about these games? When I defeat a boss after hours of trying and I read the messages on the floor saying “I did it” or “good job” it makes me feel like I am part of a group that struggled together and made it through.

@LIGHT-SEEKER

2 жыл бұрын

Good job !

@Dieselous

2 жыл бұрын

the best one yet was "didn't expect weak foe" after the mimic tear fight

@kevinburrell3359

2 жыл бұрын

it helps make you feel good and boost your self esteem

@Bittamin

2 жыл бұрын

@@Dieselous yes that’s hilarious!!!

@colehaney8836

2 жыл бұрын

Seeing the “good job!”s just keeps me going, man

you know, the fact that i tear up at the phrase "don't you dare go hollow" really shows how much of a impact this game had on me.

@magmatic8445

5 ай бұрын

IM NOT THE ONLY ONE? I THOUGHT I WAS GOOFY AS HELL FOR DOING THAT

@meatbasedvegan4859

4 ай бұрын

manugayaflmo

@xanderskaggs5537

4 ай бұрын

if i remember correctly the quote comes from the pyromancer in ds1

@iHaveTheDocuments

4 ай бұрын

​@@magmatic8445 It's a known, common thing

@112523

3 ай бұрын

That shit still hits me to my core

I just love how this game is set in such a depressing atmosphere of hopelessness, and yet the community is one of the most supportive and lively ones around

@nimacyrus8444

7 ай бұрын

Because you must seek light or balance within darkness that's how life is. You must see the pain to be able to cure it rather forestall it .

@Anonym-yr4qn

4 ай бұрын

Some can be very toxic by being overcompetitive and petty. But yeah... Most of them are good examples. ( I think)

@talunae.8924

4 ай бұрын

Honestly, I can't play the Souls series (or Elden Ring for that matter) because of the dark atmosphere. It's too anxiety-inducing for me. I like watching other people play, but I'd really need a lighter version. Not easier, but less depressing.

@Bot17....

4 ай бұрын

@@talunae.8924 struggling through it is what teaches you to overcome anxiety. I used to not like any souls games because it felt like I was less happy, but eventually forcing myself to beat one taught me that its about persevering through fear to be better.

@Yorikoification

4 ай бұрын

@@talunae.8924​​⁠Yeah don't play Dark Souls, this video right here is biased as all hell. There are many other games that give you the same or more challenge with a greater hit of dopamine once you clear them. Play Dragons Dogma, it's a fantasy game, similar to DS in a lot of ways, also drawing upon the influences of Berserk. However it has a more fun combat system that actually lets you be cool once you master it. The story and themes it explores are fantastic If you're looking for a hardcore challenge in terms of combat you could try Sifu, it's a hand to hand martials game with some mystic undertones. As a veteran of many melee games, even I got my butt handed too me at first. However the satisfaction of overcoming adversity is unrivaled there. Story is straightforward, ye olde tale of revenge.

You don't lose when you die, you lose when you give up, dark souls taught me persistence.

@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganime

4 ай бұрын

You people really need to stop exaggerating. Get a load of these bitches below me.

@rendog9346

4 ай бұрын

@@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganimeur username is hating, ur comment is hating, why comment when u know no one is gonna take ur opinion seriously?

@fameus4423

4 ай бұрын

@@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganime What exactly is the exaggeration here?

@jkloveyourself

4 ай бұрын

​@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganime W username W comment

@Killianwalsh75

4 ай бұрын

@@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganimebased on your profile name and picture, I assume you are a very pessimistic person. I hope you can find some happiness in your life for you own sake and those around you. Spread positivity and be kind to everyone.

Back in 2020, i was diagnosed with Leukemia. For those who haven't witnessed the treatment process, it's brutal. Everything hurts, you get pumped with poison until the disease is gone, and then they double back. Friends and family came and went, but at the end of every day, all i had was DS3 and my thoughts. I remember when i finally beat Aldrich, and i audibly celebrated. When the battle music fades, you become so conscious of the hospitals silence. It was in that moment i realized that this battle was my own, the disgusting sludge that was the beast, was my disease. Gwnn succumbed to the mass, but i would not. With my confidence and Artorias' trusty blade, i went and kicked the Dancer's ass too. I am now 2 years in remission 🧡 Beautiful video!

@SuperDeadRex

8 ай бұрын

I’m so glad you’re here to tell the story, you made your own Souls journey and here you are, even though life tried its best to knock you out, you just simply couldn’t go hollow. I’m proud of you, keep fighting the fight stranger, ♥️

@runfreeauto

8 ай бұрын

​@SuperDeadRex thanks friend ❤

@zade8586

8 ай бұрын

Well wishes!

@Townes.VanZandt

8 ай бұрын

Damn man, pretty gnarly stuff. The strongest souls are seared with the deepest scars. Stay tough!

@rydonwunali

8 ай бұрын

damn,made me tear up

One ds2 quote (it was my first souls game) got me by surprise and still hits to this day: "My blade may break, my arrows fall wide, but my will shall never be broken". Truly inspiring.

@Estoc_Bestoc_

8 ай бұрын

"Seeker of fire coveter of the throne. Seek strenght... the rest will follow"

@user-qe7bt9dz1l

7 ай бұрын

EPIC.

@CHRISTOSANESTI2023

5 ай бұрын

@@user-qe7bt9dz1lits why deep down, Dark Souls 2 is the best one

@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganime

4 ай бұрын

Why are you people trying to make this franchise deep when I not? I played a few souls games but I really don't see the big deal so settle down.

@CorporateClimbers

4 ай бұрын

You just dont take any effort to immerse yourself into the game. the same could be said for a game like assassins creed, that the game is not deep but when you truly try to ​immerse yourself into the game it changes the whole experience@@Onepieceistheworstfuckinganime

I've been telling myself "don't you dare go hollow" for years now, I didn't know it was so widespread... I feel like a part of something bigger, thank you dark souls

@cheese_vision5761

4 күн бұрын

I've been on both sides, except i've been numb for a while, i constantly tell people who ask for my advice not to follow my path, my path has turned me hollow, i have used the words "dont go hollow like me" to try to help my depressed friends

@issue_1337

Күн бұрын

@@cheese_vision5761 Hey man... I hope you are doing okay. As long as you still wake up in the morning, it is a good fight.

"These games provide a provocation. They insist that they can't be bested and they dare you to try and prove them wrong." This sentence is kind of hilarious because it's pretty much the same feeling leading to people complaining about how Pokémon rivals today are too nice and how they want a smug rival who rubs his ego in your face again. Dark Souls is the Gary Oak of video games.

@4ncientGu150

2 жыл бұрын

Underrated comment XD

@nathancarter8239

2 жыл бұрын

Very cool of you to turn "the Dark Souls of X" on its head like that.

@thanquolrattenherz9665

2 жыл бұрын

dark souls is the ripped 7 foot tall gary oak with an prostetic arm challenge you to a duell.

@DarylTalksGames

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, I also think it's a big reason people add difficulty to Pokémon thru nuzlockes and other self-imposed challenges. They want pokemon, but they also want beating it to actually mean something.

@jirehtheprovider

2 жыл бұрын

while agreeable, i believe that there is a reason why Miyazaki's game design philosophy is something that most other bigger publishers Do not dare to create and market to general audiences.

I know it sounds silly, but when i went to upgrade my weapons once again after 80 hours of ingame time and Master Hewg greeted me with: "I knew you'd be back" instead of assuming i'd died, i got a little emotional. It felt like someone actually believed in me after i have proven myself

@srossiter81

2 жыл бұрын

Master Hewg is the greatest souls blacksmith

@DodgyDaveGTX

Жыл бұрын

Still doesn't make him any less of a dickhead though.

@plugshirt1762

Жыл бұрын

@@srossiter81 this would be true if my main man Andre didn’t exist

@WayneRoberts72

Жыл бұрын

@@plugshirt1762 He appears in the first and third.

@plugshirt1762

Жыл бұрын

@@WayneRoberts72 yes he does

I’m a 19 year old kid that struggled with depression for the last 5 years. I was a loner, I denied party invites, hangouts, a few relationships and even friendships all because my mental health was absolutely at its all time low. And sure, I’ll admit that I’m not fully healed. But souls games have saved me. I was close to quitting on my first play through of Elden Ring because of the difficulty the game put into their bosses and even minions. But it taught me that it’s easy to give up. But those that keep on trying. Those that give it their all and push forward. Those people are the ones that truly live. I was so lost in my own head that I honestly believed I was meant to be alone. I didn’t feel like a leader nor a follower. I felt like I was just there. But fighting these bosses multiple times and constantly stressing made me realize that I had a fire in me. A passion for wanting to keep on trying until I get better. It showed me that I was more than just a hollow. This world is cruel, there’s no denying it. But the fact that it allows you to constantly lose until you win is just so amazing to me. There’s beauty in the struggle. It’s a gift to be able to try again. Realizing this, truly made me a happier and more grateful person. I’ve gained the ability to feel. To cry. To be sad. To be happy. A quote that also opened my eyes was, “Every man has two lives, and the second starts when he realizes he has just one” - Confucius. I’ll always be grateful to souls games for saving me.

@EricGranata

3 ай бұрын

❤️ 💪

@beeela5787

2 ай бұрын

There’s Beauty in the struggle. Very well said.

Nobody in MY LIFE made me as proud of myself as the Nameless King. The feeling of conquering that mountain after 150+(i stopped counting) deaths was like nothing I've ever felt. Thank you Miyazaki for your works, for as much as you are hated by scurbs you are loved by those who beat the games.

@Mafia18822

6 ай бұрын

I felt the same beating Ishin Sword Saint in Sekiro. Absolutely transcendental experience being able to surpass something that seems absolutely impossible at first. And the first victory over them is always so sweaty, your heart pounding in your chest as you see the boss' HP reaching lower and lower, the adrenaline coursing through you because you know that this is it, after all this suffering THIS TIME is the one you will be able to beat it. Absolutely divine

@Villager-

5 ай бұрын

This is me except its pontiff sullyvahn. I never had a hard time with nameless king because i know how to engage and disengage camera which makes the fight 80% easier.

@zeehero7280

2 ай бұрын

Someone needs to make fan art of Nameless King the supportive big bro! OH maybe draw him like Kamina! Believe in the me that believes you can beat me!

@VoidySan

24 күн бұрын

God bro, the nameless king fight is so awesome.

I don’t know why but hearing this story and hearing that community say “don’t you dare go hollow” brought me to tears. I’m not going through anything hard in particular but hearing the power behind those words just feels so powerful, thank you so much for this video

@ultimaxkom8728

2 жыл бұрын

Some people may call it corny and cheesy, but for me it is one hell of a good line that everyone should follow. *For losing a thousand times is not a sin, but giving up yourself is.*

@mamamiab22

2 жыл бұрын

Damn I was just hearing the video and heard those words, and immediately some tears fell of my eyes. Didn’t understand why at first. Now I understand how meaningful those words are for some of us.

@mitchelltaff7255

2 жыл бұрын

Same, started to get really emotional with that phrase

@CaIypso5150

2 жыл бұрын

LMFAO

@teratoma.

2 жыл бұрын

dark souls' world is absolutely genius from both thematic and gameplay standpoint

There’s a reason why generally I’d say 80% of the fanbase is extremely friendly and helpful, it’s a certain type of person tht enjoys these games

@YokoDavi

Жыл бұрын

Until Elden Ring now the fan base how some people that aren’t true fans

@Ronam0451

Жыл бұрын

@@YokoDavi boohoo

@Daniel-zg5mb

Жыл бұрын

I'd even say 90%. Unfortunately, it's the 10-20% that is loud enough to be the face of the fanbase

@user-lr7fv6td5y

Жыл бұрын

it’s called “dark souls” for a reason

@user-vp5xf6fm5p

Жыл бұрын

@@Ronam0451 found one

"dont you dare go hollow" is the most wholesome quote that is applicable to so much and normal people would probably get something out of it but it can always make a souls player crack a smile

@BroLuk83

7 күн бұрын

Crack a smile with tears in eyes!

one thing i really like about soulsborne games is the messaging system. it reminds me that we're in this unforgiving world together and after beating a boss and reading a little "i did it!" message i just take a step back to appreciate everyone who came before and who will come after me. that mentality bleeds into real life and it genuinely does wonders

The quote that hit me the most from the Souls serie was from Karla the witch in DS3. ''Oh, are you lost on your journey. No matter. today's lost are conquerors tomorrow. It only demonstrate the making of a champion.'' That quote made it's way back to me on the edge of suicide. Saved my life. Made me a better man.

@abandonlife111

Жыл бұрын

better man/bitter man.

@DepressedCrow

Жыл бұрын

​@@abandonlife111 A better man is made from bitter men

@abandonlife111

Жыл бұрын

@@DepressedCrow agreed.

@bladelazoe

Жыл бұрын

Well said, champions are only Made from being lost on a journey of adversity.

@matthird3961

Жыл бұрын

Karla hit you with the “todays tears lube the cheeks we clap tomorrow”

I knew that "And Don't you dare go hollow" was coming, but It still hit me like an emotional truck. Loved this one.

@lucashilcenko9165

2 жыл бұрын

Same

@gabrielvieiramoura5943

2 жыл бұрын

I just finished the video and was going to comment that, and yours is the fisrt one. Damn... Such a powerful simple phrase

@cherrydragon3120

2 жыл бұрын

@@gabrielvieiramoura5943 its the same with Git gud. It is not only about getting good at the game. Its about learning from mistakes, getting mote confident in your own abilities and inteligence. If you figure out a bossfight and beat the boss. You didn't just git gud. You struggled and bested an otherwise permanent obstacle. But trough hardship and trial and error you managed to beat the boss. You got better. And next time, you know how to fight this boss. And perhaps write Bout it on reddit speading around how to fight the boss for those who weren't as fortunate to figure it out themselves. You just got gud.

@cloudshifter

2 жыл бұрын

@@cherrydragon3120 You don't need to git gud, you need to get smart. Most people willing or unwillingly severely handicap themselves and then wonder why the game is too hard when it can be a cakewalk as intended.

@plugshirt1762

Жыл бұрын

@@cloudshifter I mean it’s not nearly as fun if you use everything available to you. The games all very directly let you choose your own difficulty so choosing to use everything available is the same as putting it on easy mode the same as playing soul level 1 would be hard mode

With these games, there’s a question asked by them that I think no other game does and think it’s not “Can you beat the boss?” It’s “Will you beat the boss?” It’s a question of perseverance. The game awaits you, until you are ready

Learning to speed run sekiro and really feeling that sense of mastery once I stopped dying and again once I stopped getting hit is one of the biggest confidence boosts I’ve ever received from anything. I still remember my first no hit sword saint and just crying to myself afterwards because I had truly mastered something and that meant I could master whatever I wanted to

@Daedaefer

7 ай бұрын

I felt that one brother

@Mafia18822

6 ай бұрын

Sekiro to me is the absolute epitome of all of this. I played through DS1, 2 and 3 before playing Sekiro and when I finally did the game felt SO incredibly difficult, so much so that I actually started doubting that I was even capable of beating it. I struggled SO MUCH at the Ogre, the headless Ape, freaking sandpeople with rifles, and Ishin.. Sword Saint Ishin seemed so incredibly impossible that I almost gave up on it. But hey, I went through THE WHOLE GAME, won't stop on the last boss, right? And so I did, took me dozens of tries but eventually I was able to beat it. It felt absolutely amazing. And then.. Months later I decided to replay the game. And like... I couldn't even believe what was happening.. The ENTIRE GAME felt incredibly easy. Like parries, mikiri counters, jumping to dodge, breaking posture on bosses instead of slowly whittling them with damage and cheap combos.. Somehow, the entire game was trivial. It was such a beautiful realization, to see such unapologetic growth in my skill.. It was sublime.

@samsoneffect

4 ай бұрын

@@Mafia18822 Sekiro truly boils down 'GIT GUD' to its barest essence, and I love it. OP is talking about a no-hit though, and I'm like...dude, I was just stoked to score a deathblow on Genichiro before needing to heal!

"Don't you dare go hollow" has always felt like a warning for real life. With depression, you feel hollow. The correlation almost feels intentional.

@leocheung8860

Жыл бұрын

imo "going hollow" is more like losing yourself in the process, rather than being depressed itself. In most souls games each character has their own struggles, just like how each one of us have our own difficulties in life. Whatever our struggles are, what's always the most important is to not give in to the hollowness, to not give up our very own soul in the process. You can fight, you can grieve, you can be sad, you can feel lost and not know what to do, but you can never give up. Once you give up for good, you are gone. Lost to the nothingness that is hidden deep within every single one of us. You must fight, you must struggle, no matter how hard it is. Only then you will persevere. It's a common struggle within the souls universe, and it's a struggle we all share in the real life. It's a reminder for us that it is ok to feel sad, it is ok to feel helpless, it is what defines us, what makes us human after all. But no matter what we do, we must NEVER let the hollowness take us. Do whatever to maintain the struggle, for if we give up, if we become numb, and, hollow in the process, the very definition of our humanity is truly lost.

@SurveyingBTS

Жыл бұрын

@@leocheung8860 Well said. That's pretty much how I feel about it myself.

@HasegawaRayven

Жыл бұрын

So far as I remember it, in the lore of (At least the first) dark souls, Hollows are still just like you, dying and resurrecting at bonfires constantly. The key difference being that they've eventually "given up". That the trauma of constantly dying, being beaten down by the world, and seeing the madness all around them constantly got to be too much for them, and their resolve broke, losing their sanity in the process. To paraphrase a JoJo reference, "...Eventually, stopped thinking." Hollows aren't just some mystically raised zombie, they're people that gave up on their rationality and stopped existing as a thinking person because of the horrors they were exposed to. People hanging on to their memories by their metaphorical fingernails, as each death makes a little more slip away from them, until they no longer care enough to keep trying, and all that's left is a shell that operates on animal logic and instinct.

@chainclaw07

Жыл бұрын

It's literal in darksouls, when an undead loses purpose it loses itself and over time becomes hollow. Which is literally the feedback loop that people with depression often find themselves trapped in. In darksouls 1 the undead find themselves in the land of the gods. Where there is purpose and obstacles to overcome. So look around and pick a purpose and make it your own. Make your soul burn as bright as the grossly incandescent sun.

@DepressedCrow

Жыл бұрын

​@@chainclaw07 well said friend \[T]/

Ok but there's one interesting thing about the souls games that helped my anxiety that wasn't quite touched upon but I think is worth discussion. Dark Souls requires and fosters a healthy relationship with failure. The subtitle of the first game "prepare to die" is not a warning or a challenge, its damn good advice. You will fail at some points, thats unavoidable, but it's not always a bad thing, when you die and drop souls you're encouraged to go back there to collect them, to try again, sometimes when you struggle with a boss, it's good to have runs where you don't nessasarily aim to win but instead to learn their patterns and experiment. Failure can be devastating when you lose all your souls but you can't just load a previous save, you have to move on. And something I've taken surprisingly to heart, us that sometimes failure is unavoidable, that sometimes it will hurt, but we always need to keep moving, and most importantl of all sometimes failure is the first step to success Also I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about Taz the Tasmanian Devil sounds surprisingly a lot like the real world animal

@Rexsar813

2 жыл бұрын

Failure is a part of life, and finding peace with it and living with it is healthy. After all, there would be no victory without failure.

@xANTHQNY

2 жыл бұрын

taking shots aiming to fail but to learn the patterns along the way is the biggest one for me

@BlakeTheDrake

Жыл бұрын

I kind of get this... I've never been good at dealing with failure, to the point where it's been known to send me into a mental downwards spiral all by itself. But once I started playing Elden Ring, I was forced to find ways to cope with it. Because sometimes, you ARE going to lose all your hard-earned runes. Even if you git gud at the fighting, you're gonna mess up a jump at some point and take an instant-death drop, and then do it again a bit earlier as you're trying to get back to where you died last time. What I learned was two things: Firstly, recognize when you're about to do something risky, and take steps to minimize how much you put at stake. (That is, spend your Runes so you can't lose them.) Secondly, I know where the game's prime grinding-location is, and if I lose a large number of runes, I go there and run a few rounds of it to make up for the losses - in other words, knuckle down and just work a bit harder to compensate for the loss. Both, I think, very applicable in real life as well.

@DodgyDaveGTX

Жыл бұрын

The most irritating but also logical feature of Elden Ring on PC is its ability to circumvent simply pressing 'Alt-F4' and instantly killing the program the _instant_ you die in hopes of restarting back at the previous auto-save instead of dying, by somehow quickly autosaving while killing the process. It's sneaky, but clever: ALT F4 is a trick (well more like a lazy cheese) I often find myself falling back on in other games when I typically fuck up & promptly rage quit. But no. From Software have thought of everything - and I'm left with a mixed response of saying "FUCK YOU" to the devs while simultaneously tipping my hat at them.

@Torpax_

Жыл бұрын

@@DodgyDaveGTX lol the "I hate you, but damnit I respect you"

This video made me cry. Thank you for putting words to a feeling I didn't know how to explain anytime someone asked me why I liked Souls games. It really made me think about how every time I went into a Souls game it was to escape reality but when I came out it was to confront reality.

I discovered this video just now, on a night when I am honestly struggling. This year has been the hardest year in my life for a multitude of reasons…but it was also the year I discovered souls games. They gave me an escape, and tonight watching this video gave me the same feeling it does to play these games. For everyone else going through a hard time rn, know you are not alone

“don’t you dare go hollow” I remember saying this to myself while escaping the worst job in my life and succeeding it. I've finished DS1 at that time. And while having a mild ptsd and having anxiety of looking for a new job I played and finished whole DS2.

@apolloeggo3677

2 жыл бұрын

Gonna make me cry man, godspeed

@TheRiolan

2 жыл бұрын

Literally the situation I'm in now. Seeing your message helps a lot.

@theduckaholicgamer7976

Жыл бұрын

Struggle on, friend. Stay safe, and dont you dare go hollow.

@chillplanet8269

Жыл бұрын

Stay safe friend don't you dare go hollow

@invertebrado

Жыл бұрын

Oh mate, I feel really sorry for you, is something nobody should ever have to deal with. To play DS2 is, truly, the worst thing to happen to a soul

"don't you dare go hollow" is one of the greatest lines to come from a video game

@Dark_Peace

2 жыл бұрын

Is it from the game itself or the community ?

@ChojinKagura

2 жыл бұрын

@@Dark_Peace it's from the first Dark souls. One of the npc's says it and now its been used by the community. Its amazing

@Dark_Peace

2 жыл бұрын

@@ChojinKagura i see thx

@jordanhatt6824

2 жыл бұрын

@@Dark_Peace I believe it's a line by siegward an npc friend

@jironamos7650

2 жыл бұрын

@@jordanhatt6824 Actually its Andre the blacksmith, usually he says that when you are leaving the shop.

as a psyc major, i love the involvement of self efficacy and self esteem in this video! great job

@MichaelKroska

4 ай бұрын

along with locus of control and the amygdala. genius

When i was homeless during covid lockdowns i had dark souls on my switch and after work every night id play that game. It helped me keep going and made me feel like even though life was hard at the time i can get through it. I have found my career as both a handyman and a chef. I live in a house (renting better than having one). And im happy. Thank you Miyazaki for your masterpieces.

This fanbase is incredibly supportive. They remind me of the type of people that won’t criticize an overweight person for going to the gym, but instead feel proud of them for going.

@k1xnt

Жыл бұрын

but when you stop showing up to the gym for a few weeks and they see you at Walmart buying garbage food they give you that look that says 'come on bro, you're better than that'

@Forsen807

10 ай бұрын

Git gud casul

@randomdude4946

10 ай бұрын

@@Forsen807get good at spelling 😂

@caketits2723

10 ай бұрын

​@@Forsen807 Lol this is actually the fan base.

@onliner_

10 ай бұрын

@@k1xnt this is a metaphor for summon users right?

Years ago when I got my chance to play and beat Dark Souls for the first time I had a profound realisation about the concept of hollowing in that game. The reason your character never goes full hollow in that game is because YOU as a player never gave up. So in essence all the players who ever played Dark Souls and eventually gave up actually became hollow. My personal head canon is that every player that quit Dark Souls is represented in the game by one of the countless hollow undead you encounter in it. Only by overcoming the challenges and beating the game can you escape that fate.

@junepaulcaballero9818

2 жыл бұрын

fk thats dark, dont worry my guy I left on Ds1 due to elden ring, Ill be back for you after this

@labakrapscalio451

2 жыл бұрын

That's actual cannon. Facts

@RealMonkeyDKirby

Жыл бұрын

That's pretty much exactly the point

@zvkronos

Жыл бұрын

Wow, thats right on the money

@josephray6264

9 ай бұрын

I thought our character was already hollow because the look like beef jerky zombies

I studied psychology back in college and was very familiar with self-efficacy but it was eye-opening when you said whether I attribute my success to my skill or external factors such as luck. I often attribute my failure to my skill inadequacy, but almost never attribute my success to my own skill mastery, especially in test. Most of the time, I thought that the test was asking easy questions, I was 'lucky' to remember a certain passage from the book, the teacher has particular way of grading test and as long as I follow their 'rule', I will pass the test, etc. Ever since I was a kid, I was already a bright student, but my parents often told me not to be arrogant or let the good grade get into my head, although at that point, I don't remember I was very arrogant about my grade. 'Be humble' was the message they want to teach me, but growing up, all I absorbed was 'my success isn't due to my skill, do not be too proud of myself'. Maybe that was why my self-efficacy is kinda feeble. I attribute my failure to my internal locus of control, but I attribute my success to my external locus of control (I understand there are certainly both internal and external explanations for failure and success, but I want to point out the stark black and white thinking in my head). I need to reflect this a bit more. Life sure is difficult when you cannot even believe in yourself. Edit for grammar

One year has passed and is still my favourite video on the internet. Still means a lot to me

I just beat Dark Souls for the first time and I literally cried tears of joy. Because I realized I was so happy because of my own actions, not because of drugs, not because someone else was propping me up, but because I actually did something. And I know it's just a game, but it really does put things into perspective. You can accomplish anything if you just keep trying, never give up, never go hollow.

@leightstadb9164

11 ай бұрын

The point is… its not ‘just a game’. Well done.

@bowichan2407

10 ай бұрын

This comment made me tear up a little.

@narfdc2043

9 ай бұрын

Honestly it’s such a good game. I used to be such a quitter, in a lot of ways. I just didn’t try, didn’t put effort in. I remember my first souls game I put myself through in a last ditch effort to try. Dark souls remastered. God how I raged. And when I got to ornstein and smough. 13 hours. It took me thirteen hours to beat them. After that fight, I was a changed man. Really, I was. I’d never put so much effort into anything. I always ran and hid from my internal pain, my emotions and problems, because it hurt too much to face it. And most of all, I ran from my sexuality because embracing it meant losing people close to me. dark souls taught me to face my problems down head on, and to never stop until I have overcome it. It’s helped me heal, because I’ve faced the darkness from my past. I was never depressed or suicidal, but it affected me in a different way. And it also made me proud, like you, of accomplishing something. I’ve beaten most of them now, a series most people fear to even try, and I’ve beaten them all.

@relevation0

8 ай бұрын

​@@narfdc2043😂

@antoni1201

8 ай бұрын

“A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but because of its persistence.” James N Watkins.

I'm going to add my story here. I'm an addict and I also have bi-polar. I've always been a gamer but I always played on easy or normal. I loved the style of from"s games but always felt it was going to be too hard. Anyway throughout my 20s I was homeless in la and when I finally decided to get sober I went to rehab for 6 months and when I got out I Started playing games again. I played Iike I always had easy or normal and I was working a dead end minimum wage job. At first I was in "the honeymoon" stage of my Sobriety but after 2 years I hit a major wall and felt directionless and disappointed. I was like is this all I got sober for? I started to think about relapsing. This is around the time seciro came out. I decided that I was going to try it. I had also played just about everything. It was hard, I got frustrated, but it taught me that the harder the challenge is the better the reward mentally. It taught me to keep going and every time I felt like using I played. By the Time I finished it I had a complete change in my psyche. Now Im a veterinary assistant and I'm still sober. I played every game by From Software since. Each time I feel better and Stronger. Thanks

@Void-Realm

2 жыл бұрын

I can relate r.e. addiction and mental health. I'm still addicted and the idea of withdrawing scares me but I'm trying to taper down. My addiction has come from loneliness and having no friends, I'm sure my addiction has exacerbated that but I definitely think playing games has made me feel less lonely even though I am alone. I still need to try a souls game. Good for you for getting sober and finding your career.

@rahtsnake144

2 жыл бұрын

yoooo this is beautiful

@rougezero1317

Жыл бұрын

"Just go out and kill a few beasts. It's for your own good."

@glitchward7225

Жыл бұрын

Sekiro saves lives, amazing game glad it helped you through your strife and made it. You gotta mod that bitch, and become one with the shadows. I'm telling you shit really pushes you to the limit.

@matthewjalovick

Жыл бұрын

@@Void-Realm I hope you’re doing okay. It’s been a few months since you posted this and I wanted to check in on you :)

This is the 4th time I've watched this video and it makes me cry evey time... I found out why. Not only is this an extremely well made video with lots of learning studies etc, it also is about 20 minutes of uplifting stories, constant statements that inspire hope. Thank you so much for this video.

@jackalreeves4161

4 ай бұрын

The line "after beating Artorias?..." sends me back to the time when I was sobing and spiraling hard, only to remember; "I beat O & S, I've gone through sens how many times without being hit, I've beaten darksouls. I can beat this"

It gives you the sensation of "i will do better this time and beat this thing" and when you have done it, you will have that tangible example of being succeed. It's a such a great reward to have that feeling. It changed my mentality also my sleep patterns. Besides this, all the people i have encountered in this game have somewhat different plance in my heart. Like when i summoned someone or got summoned, i felt like helping my own brother or when i got invaded, the invader was the most geniuely hated man in my life in that point. Maybe i exaggerated some of these things but these series always have a different place in my heart

“Don’t you dare go hollow” got me through the hardest part of my life so far, I’m so thankful for these games and the community we’ve built.

@YokoDavi

Жыл бұрын

Literally Man

@perenti666

Жыл бұрын

same here

14:43 "There is no luck" The Ultra Greatsword I got from that Black Knight on my first playthrough begs to differ on this specific point.

@jawaherimohammed7955

Жыл бұрын

F U G S

@Apex_Yonko

Жыл бұрын

Yeah there is still a good amount of luck involved

@waleed.197

Жыл бұрын

You just get your reward for beating a hard mini boss in the game you will still die to some boss but you will learn there attached and overcome them and believe me when you play multiple souls games you will get better at the next one without you even notice (happening for me right now in elden ring ) and when you see yourself beating bosses faster then anyone else you will build your self efficacy even more then before cuz you now know that this wasn't just about luck it's also a pure skill you got

@plumbummusic2051

10 ай бұрын

I spent at least 3 hours when I took upon fighting the tower black knight in DS1. Don't even remember if I killed it or had to come back the next day. Luck can only come through once you are able to defeat it.

@lethalweeb4415

9 ай бұрын

T R U E It also doesn’t automatically win the game. You still had to be good to make it through

My journey was somewhat tangential to this, but still had a big positive impact on my life. I grew up with (I thought) this monstrous, out of control temper that would explode at the slightest provocation... in my mid 20s at university I was given my diagnosis of being on the spectrum. One of my biggest takeaways from that was that my "monstrous, out of control temper" was just my brain not being wired to handle frustration properly. This was something that really led to me look back and be able to re-contextualize myself, to look at myself in a kinder light. But now I had this thing, this problem with frustration, staring me in the face... and this happened at the time where I was trying to get into Dark Souls, I had tried a couple of times but bounced off, the pay-offs just weren't worth the negatives. But, with the help of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate things finally started to click. And I was finding as I played Dark Souls, and then in the future other titles of the series... I *HAD* to learn how to handle and manage my frustration. I had to learn coping strategies. I had to learn to recognize when it was getting to a point that I just needed to put the controller down and walk away for a while. My diagnosis showed me I wasn't a monster. But Dark Souls showed me that once I knew what the problem was, I could overcome it. I honestly believe I would not have the level of control over my frustration that I do now where it not for the Souls games. And it is something that has indirectly done a lot of good for my mental health. Thank you Dark Souls.

Playing the Dark souls series, Sekiro and Bloodborne has changed me forever. Accomplishing those games is something I am so proud of. Challenging yourself can be a good thing, that's what these games have taught me and also to never give up. At the end of all the anger, pain and frustration the reward awaits.

Demons' Souls Stockpile Thomas had a line that stuck with me. "You have a heart of gold. Don't let them take it from you." It's my favorite version of the motivation the souls games put in you. I believe whatever souls game you play first you'll appreciate the quotes from most.

@Morraak

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely one of my favorite lines too.

@DravenThegloriouscat

2 жыл бұрын

Ds 2 “Seek strength, seek adversity, the rest will follow” stuck with me since I was 16

@EGH666

2 жыл бұрын

@@DravenThegloriouscat you mean "Bear.. seek. seek. lest.."

@_krbrs_

2 жыл бұрын

DeS was my first Souls, before i really loved Souls. I remember vividly Stockpile Thomas's quote.

@Cpt.Cappuccino

Жыл бұрын

mine was dark souls 2, but the first one i beat to completion was ds1. "don't you dare go hollow." that shit stuck with me.

The SoulsBorne games, or the from soft games, are an amazing example of how a game doesn't need to rub its message in your face and actively explain it. The message is absorbed by the player in the experience, while overcoming the challenge. Great video as always

@GoGoTomoko

2 жыл бұрын

dont go hollow

@FelipitoBolito

2 жыл бұрын

@Zinc Deficiency Stop making me try to defeat the goat demon thing my pc would die Edit, cause dumb: Playing darksouls has made me try a little harder. While, well, I was playing it- I can say I stopped trying to do a lot of stuff once I dropped dark souls because of, well, dying everytime i saw the caprademon and those damn dogs and how I need to use someone else's pc to play it. Drawing is hard and living too, guess I got hollow once I stopped trying so hard in darksouls Not that much But a bit, for sure

@FelipitoBolito

2 жыл бұрын

@Zinc Deficiency Yeah, it's pretty much on the "no pain no gain" path I believe? The more you try, the more chances of getting what you want or need. Killing a boss in dark souls gives the same energy of finally finishing some job irl, at least for me

@Researcher_Jim

2 жыл бұрын

You need to make the mother of all omelettes Not sure why I wrote this, I think it was because I was looking at metal gear rising revengance memes and happened to stumble upon this video. Not sure what it was in response to.

@UnaturalShadows

2 жыл бұрын

It's called "ludo narrative"

I discovered Souls when I was struggling with alcoholism and I always thought it was instrumental in saving me, made me tear up knowing so many people thought the same

I struggle with suicidal issues and depression as well Thank you for making that video. You really help me.

Another huge contributing factor is, at least in my mind, the very particular way Souls games handle multiplayer and how that's weaved into the narrative. In all Souls games, while the world as a whole is lonely you are yourself never truly alone. It's your journey and it's your victories but there are always others, fleeting ghosts from other worlds, passing by on their own journeys. Souls games are a surprisingly communal experience. Even when you're not actively summoning other people into your world the landscape is filled with notes from your fellow Chosen Undead, guiding you and cheering you on. The asynchronous multiplayer features of Souls games build a sense of shared suffering, a sense that the world may be dark but together we can carve our way towards the light, that there are always others who are on the same journey as you. Even the lore reinforces this, you are not the only Chosen Undead, not the only Bearer of the Curse, not the only Ashen One. You are but one of many and are given the tools to help your fellow travelers succeed. It's not by accident that the item used to enable online features is "Humanity". Because that is what's at the core of being human, to care for each other. To help those in need, to pass down knowledge, to survive *together*. Depression often results in loneliness and often times that loneliness is precisely what's keeping you from healing. You have no one to lean on, no one who can help you. Souls games can remind you that there are other people out there, that they want to help you, that this world does not need to be braved alone. Don't you dare give up, don't you dare go hollow. We've got your back if you need us, you can do this.

@airhead3409

2 жыл бұрын

Beautifully written.

@Duplicitousthoughtformentity

2 жыл бұрын

Don’t give up, skeleton!

@GluttonPeach

2 жыл бұрын

Fuck yeah man, couldn’t have said it better myself

@chuckled125

2 жыл бұрын

I'm playing through dark souls 1 right now, sad that the network is disabled so I'm actually alone

@scarzs69

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the beautiful words fellow Tarnished.

I don't know why, but the last part with "don't you dare go hollow" is exactly what i needed to hear right now. Never could i imagine that i needed someone to tell me those words. I feel relieved and that i am not alone to struggle. Thank you

@thesunthrone

Жыл бұрын

You only lose when you give up. Keep marching forward!

@biggie2chainz

Жыл бұрын

Don’t give up, skeleton😉

@1234dptk

8 ай бұрын

Surprisingly I found this video on the top of my recommendations exactly when I needed to hear those words.

@maximusdiximus-4827

2 ай бұрын

You are never alone.

"sometimes trying to believe a positive thought is like trying to start a fire in a rainstorm". This one hit. It really hit home. Sometimes I feel like I've been running on sense of duty and the desire to be someone to be proud of for a little too long. I have purpose, I'm just not happy with myself all the time.

Dark Souls 3, specifically the DLCs, helped me to become a better person. I had quite a few unhealthy obsessions that I wont dive into. Witnessing my friend Gael go from a chill dude with a funny hat to a man driven far past insanity in search of something he cant have really fucked with me. I saw myself in Gael, and after beating him, I realized what I was becoming.

I showed this to my mother who has Multiple Sclerosis and despite the fact she doesn’t play any video games it seemed to truly lift her spirits. I explained to her the meaning of “don’t you dare go hollow” and she seemed to really resonate with the concept. I’m usually not so open when it comes to sharing these sort of things but I just wanted you to know all your hard work has had a profound effect on both me and my mother. Thank you Daryl

@SOMNIUM.

2 жыл бұрын

Wish your Mother and you an amazing life ahead mate!

@dandykuma

2 жыл бұрын

@@SOMNIUM. thank you 😊 we are taking it just one day at a time.

Well.. Have been dealing with a debilitating illness for 6 years which is getting progressively worse, guess I'll give Elden Ring a try. Hope it helps me better deal with my mental health. Thanks for such a quality video, Daryl!

@LADoesVideoGames

2 жыл бұрын

This game series saved me in my life more than I’m willing to admit. I really hope you enjoy it!

@LeTtRrZ

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck. Elden ring taught me patience above everything. It’s going to feel shitty but that’s part of the therapy.

@GeekRaj

2 жыл бұрын

Just don't get mad or get yourself to rage over dying. Just keep thinking you are learning the boss moves more and more as you keep dying and failing. Failures are the pillars of success and this game teaches you that.

@rustmw2459

2 жыл бұрын

This game genuinely makes my want to end mine and others, especially the race of the devs.

@Vapor.Steve77

2 жыл бұрын

dont you dare go hollow

"So keep on FIGHTING that fight, be safe FRIEND and don't you dare go HOLLOW.."

I completely agree. These games actually teach you a lot about life and also about yourself. You learn what mindset you are able to beat things with, I take that in to everything in my life

I have recently learned that I will be permanently injured and in moderate pain for the rest of my life. It's been really hard to cope. I can't do many of the things I enjoy anymore. This video really helped me with my mindset. It won't be easy, far from it, but I have to keep going. I'll do my best not to go hollow.

@SoulReaperIsHere

2 жыл бұрын

Don't give up skeleton!

@Syenthros

2 жыл бұрын

Try finger, but hole Oh wait, shit, wrong message! Uh... Don't you dare go hollow!

@cherrydragon3120

2 жыл бұрын

Stay strong mate.

@mustaqimhassan7824

Жыл бұрын

chest ahead

@jotaiyokai

Ай бұрын

be well friend, and know that you are loved

I teared up a few times while watching this. Like many other, the Souls games have had a profound impact on my life and my worldview. Don't you dare go hollow friends.

By minute 2:00 I've forgotten this was a dark souls video

Thanks a lot for this video. I felt my depression coming back and your video helped open my eyes to see that im a lot stronger than I remembered

Sekiro really helped me because of the themes mixed with sekiros character just resonated with me. In Sekiro, the more sekiro dies, the people he has made connections with start getting sick with an illness called dragon rot. It is really deadly and they start coughing up blood. I like this concept because it makes me think that if I do end up dying like sekiro, I’ll just give people dragon rot. AKA people that I made connections with will be affected negatively if I follow through. And the saying “do what must be done” is said a few times through the game and it’s a good saying with a lot of drive, because it means to do what must be done to accomplish your goals and you need to keep going to do that. Sekiro will always be one of my favorite games for the many themes it presents, how much I can relate to sekiro himself, and the amazing story and world of the game.

@h4zrd-rs252

2 жыл бұрын

I know it's a meme, but the phrase, "Hesitation is defeat" is something I tell myself when I'm unsure of what to do

@iamranch

2 жыл бұрын

@@h4zrd-rs252 it really is meaningful phrase outside of sekiro, I hadn’t really thought about it

@Mr.BlurryEyes

2 жыл бұрын

Wow I didn't think about that it's Soo True!!

@CptSourcebird

2 жыл бұрын

Damn, you actually make a good point about that. Even if I am in a better place, I am happy that I actually got to understand that bit of Sekiro.

@talosgak1236

2 жыл бұрын

@@h4zrd-rs252 Yea it helps me a lot with my social anxiety because in social situations hesitation is really defeat. If you hesitate too much the conversation will just end. Or the chance of talking to someone you want to goes away.

Honestly, I was feeling super depressed lately and kept doubting music and couldn’t even be in public with breaking down, but after watching this video, I actually feel a lot better. Dark souls was never a game that I thought I would like but your videos always have something about them that make me feel relaxed and feel like I can do anything

@SystemBD

2 жыл бұрын

Keep going, keep trying. I am researcher who often has to give presentations in front of a public composed of experts in my field... I often fail, but thanks in part to having played all SoulsBorne games, I recover and get progressively better. And if there is something out of my control that destroys my plans (say, a pandemic or a war), I cry/scream for some hours, go to bed... and the very next day I start again with another mental "build".

@deathless2554

2 жыл бұрын

Don't you dare go hollow friend

This video essay is amazing, really well researched and interesting throughout

Amazing video. The amount of work and the tightness of the script is awe-inspiring. Very informative and inspiring. Thx!

I won't lie. My first ever playthrough of DS1, when Laurentius said "don't you dare go hollow", I cried. Because it perfectly encapsulated how I was feeling at the time. I was in a really bad depression, and it truly felt like I was hollow. Emotionless, just kind of existing. But those words not only pushed me to win, and beat the game, they forever changed my life. I still struggle with depression, but now I have a tattoo of those words on my arm, as a constant reminder that no matter what mountain lies ahead of me, I can always overcome it.

@az-cv1ql

Жыл бұрын

Talking to Laurentius still hits me in the feels every time I replay DS1 :')

@Adraas410

11 ай бұрын

Good luck as well, don't you dare go hollow

@redmotto5415

10 ай бұрын

“Praise the sun” :)

@zorkhan9695

9 ай бұрын

The line literally had me crying too cause it was the moment I understood what the game was really trying to say. Ill never forget the moment I got dark souls, it changed my life

@Gelato41_

5 ай бұрын

just take xanax

"Souls games save souls," literally made me tear up. Beautiful. I think this goes beyond just the difficulty, though. It's not just overcoming a hard boss that is part of the confidence building, but learning how to even play the game and figure out the story. The game gives you nothing for free, you have to earn everything, and you have to spend a decent amount of time being confused and just carrying on anyway. I think that translates to real life quite well, as it's often confusing, full of uncertainty, and we usually don't know what the best answers are but we HAVE to carry on regardless. I think a lot of mental health issues today stem from how comfortable most of us in the western world are in terms of our basic needs being met. Mere survival isn't really a struggle anymore. Yeah, we have to go to work and grind, but pretty much everyone knows where their next meal is coming from and only 0.2 percent of the US population is homeless. We've got it pretty fucking good. Dark Souls helps mental health for the same reasons that hitting the gym hard, or choosing to take a walk in sub zero temperatures, or taking a cold shower, or writing a novel, or fasting, or building a bookshelf from scratch, etc. does. Humans are DESIGNED TO STRUGGLE. We NEED to be exposed to healthy levels of stress that we are capable of pushing through and overcoming. Being comfortable is literally killing us. It's making us fat and it's making us fucking depressed. As someone who has struggled with depression my entire adult life, my best advice is always just go do something difficult. Run a marathon, climb a fucking mountain, hit the gym really hard every single weekend, go build something, go practice talking to women, and yes even beat a difficult video game. You need to forcefully assert your agency upon the world, you need to punch the fucking universe in the fucking face as hard as you goddamn can to say, "I'm here, I exist."

@Mr.BlurryEyes

2 жыл бұрын

Perfectly said. Also atmosphere certain areas to me almost accurately depict depression, suicide, anxiety ext.

@Skyjengi

2 жыл бұрын

Beautifully said

@canyongamble8487

2 жыл бұрын

"Just who the hell do you think we are"

@kanseidorifto2430

2 жыл бұрын

Well stated.

@askiia8713

2 жыл бұрын

@@canyongamble8487 PIERCE THE HEAVENS GIGA DRILL- wait wrong series

I found dark souls years after beating depression, but by then I had the mentality of overcoming adversity. Listening to your video, it reminded me of how it felt before and it helped me realize how far the journey has taken me and I am glad that I didn't give up. I'm proud of each step I have taken and I am proud of my achievements in these games.

Videos like these keep me enjoying KZread and content within it. Thank you for opening my eyes to this psychology💯

For me, I didn't get these games until I started watching a streamer so challenge runs off dark souls 3, I love the atmosphere and the music, and having grown a lot since trying dark souls 1 I have it a try. The feeling of being able to see my growth with each boss as I got better, and having a sense of agency at a time in my life where I had almost no agency, it helped me get through a lot, and so these games will always have a special place with me. As always this was an awesome video and I look forward to what's next.

@tommistheeldredgeone3006

2 жыл бұрын

How did you comment 18h ago

@BleachedGhostfiles

2 жыл бұрын

@@tommistheeldredgeone3006 Patreons get access to the videos a day early, plus a bunch of other great things like Daryl mentions in the video.

@MsCunningLinguistic

2 жыл бұрын

I'm the exact same! Soulsborne games seemed like everything I would hate in a video game until I watched Ellen from Outside Xtra play Dark Souls for the first time, with guidance from her fellow streamer (and longtime Soulsborne fan) Luke. Watching her start out unsure and mildly terrified of the hostile world of Lordran, growing steadily in confidence until Luke was more of a passenger than a guide, it felt wonderful to be a part of. It's a huge reason why I bought Elden Ring when it came out, and what do you know, I absolutely ADORE it.

@spliter88

2 жыл бұрын

Sekiro or Bloodborne are a better starting point into souls games than the souls themselves. Especially the first Dark Souls, they yeach you to play very passively/defensively since they start you off with a shield, meanwhile thes games are at their most fun when you put yourself at risk and either parry or roll dodge, which is something Sekiro and Bloodborne teach you from the start.

I knew i had a different relationship with fromsoftware games than with other games, but didnt know why. I think i got my answers through this video. I was depressed after i split up with my friends....but playing dark souls probably cured my depression. I usually dont comment in youtube videos, but i had to express my feelings....

@DaRealKovi

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for doing so, man. Some people might be in the same place as you were.

@cheothegeo2742

2 жыл бұрын

express them more. you'll be a happier person :)

I've come back to this video like 5 or 6 times already but it still gets me all teary eyed at the end. Simply brilliant.

Im using this video as great inspiration for my senior thesis project, very well done. Thank you

As someone who is struggling mentally, I can't say I've experienced this phenomenon with gaming. However, as a musician, I've experienced that same feeling while writing music. The feeling of accomplishment and discovering that I'm capable of more than I thought is an amazing experience, and it's kept me going with writing music, no matter how frustrated I get.

Ive literally never played dark souls. My partner does though. The dialogue is so so raw and often makes me go into thought spirals. Hearing "Don't you dare go hollow" while he played genuinely made me stop and ponder what its truly means. Even if i have never played the games, i think i can testify that its effects, specifically from that iconic line, are very widespread.

@iota-09

2 жыл бұрын

It does mean a lot of things... While the basic meaning is "don't give up hope" it is much more than just hope, its isn't simply the desire to not stop retrying, it's desire to not stop period. Sure you may not beat that one big boss that's keeping you from acessing that new area, but it's not the only thing left to do, don't go hollow, don't stop, farm, explore elsewhere, learn the boss's moves, engage in pvp or co-op, talk with others in-game or online, anything. But don't stop, if not for a short rest. Don't go hollow. That at least it's how i interpret it.

@DisgruntledPeasant

2 жыл бұрын

Characters "go hollow" when they let go of whatever their "quest" is. For some characters like merchants, its their ability to be useful to others. For other characters it may be their relationship with another person (Lucatiel is on a quest to save her brother, goes hollow when she finds he is beyond saving). The broader story tangles with heavy questions, even going as far as to suggest that our personal quests are nothing but white lies, and that it would be better to go hollow, it fully explores that raw nihilism, offering the solution of absurdism; reality is so godamn bizzare that why not develop a healthy relationship with the illusiory world of our quests, so they can drive us forwards but also not destroy us when they fail. When characters in DS1 ask you not to go hollow, its not just for your sake, but for theirs. so many characters souls are dependent upon yours, and i think thats the big meta-message of the souls series. it may well be a solitary experience to chase whatever is holding you together, but you're never alone. you matter to other people even though you cant see it.

@masonchapple7669

2 жыл бұрын

To put it simply, to me the phrase "Don't you dare go hollow" means don't lose yourself, don't lose the essence of who you are. And as someone who has struggled with depression and found help and solace in these games I can tell you that when you have depression it does become very hard to hold onto the things that bring you happiness, and those quirks, hobbies, and loves that make you who you are. You can't justify giving yourself those things because you are unable to deal with many ordinary necessary tasks, and you begin to lose the essence of yourself. These games not only helped my self efficacy, they helped me hold onto the things I love that make me the person I am.

@raedonspartalis1234

2 жыл бұрын

i saw it as don't give up and keep going

I think something that wasn't emphasized enough in the video about why souls games are so meaningful for people is simply the tone of the games. When not in a boss fight, the music and environments aren't particularly attention grabbing. Instead, these games do an excellent job at creating a sense of atmosphere that doesn't care at all about your presence in the world, and there's something very serene about that, even when the environment is dark or dreadful. I would argue that this serene sense of aloneness is much of the reason that when that difficult boss is finally conquered, that feeling of accomplishment that we all love these games for is allowed to flourish in a way that wouldn't be possible otherwise. This is also the reason that the sense of accomplishment when beating a fight is cheapened with summons or help from others.

Dude, your words at the end of the video made me cry...thank you

My marriage ended a bit before Elden Ring released. And it's been a real mental struggle to not obsess over the depressing thoughts. I tried a bunch of games but nothing could really distract me. But Elden Ring is the first time in awhile where something can just take my focus and mental energy so much that I forget all the stresses of the world. Being immersive and difficult really sucks me in. Other games (which I enjoy) don't always do that. They're something about the Fromsoft formula that takes the entirety of my focus and I can't ever just play it on autopilot. And having a deep story but little in cutscenes and exposition means I'm not getting distracted watching something and thinking about my life. Elden Ring just gives me a few hours a day to get lost in another world where my problems are physical monsters I can defeat as opposed to mental ones in real life. And there's a real sense of accomplishment and growth with these. I'm so glad Fromsoft makes the games they do. It's been such a help in my life and especially now.

@Axxxel_in_Harlem

2 жыл бұрын

You got this dude. Hoes are temporary, gaming is forever 🎮💪

@zombiemachinery4868

2 жыл бұрын

Stay strong. Just don't get married again.

@Axxxel_in_Harlem

2 жыл бұрын

@@zombiemachinery4868 Terrible advice.

@zombiemachinery4868

2 жыл бұрын

@@Axxxel_in_Harlem, do you want him to get run by a car twice?

@leo_ping4045

2 жыл бұрын

@@zombiemachinery4868 bruh

I used to have crippling writer's block, for years, that drove me to alcoholism. The reason was toxic perfectionism, the kind that makes you terrified to even try. I got over it due to various processes but Dark Souls 3 definitely helped: I realised soon after I started playing it that it's OK to write shitty drafts, as OK as it is to die in a Souls game. You just get up and try again...and you grow. That ability to try again, however many times it takes, revealed how perseverance is probably the most important driver of growth, and thus success, in almost any endeavour. If you think about it like this: the games are infinitely stacked in your favour. The bosses have to win every time - you just have to win once. Just like if you can truly solve a problem of life: now it's dead, and you're alive, because you are in a sense immortal as long as you persevere.

@pizza.doctor

Жыл бұрын

You sound like a good writer

@anodyneliniment2326

Жыл бұрын

@@pizza.doctor You gigachad

@tonoornottono

Жыл бұрын

@@pizza.doctor this is a fantastic example of grace

@Zorlafsky

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this. This is really profound to me and hit me deep in my core.

@haydenford3794

Жыл бұрын

this quote of "the bosses have to win every time and you just have to win once" really defines the soulsborne games because you have to go against something meant to be difficult but you can try over and over and over but once you do it, its done you have done it and you can move on

Damn the end part, its like an old friend embracing you and you finally feel that you really are NOT alone. Thanks for the video, didnt know i needed this.

I was 13 when I first discovered dark souls…. A game that was like no other, dark, brutal, yet comedic in a sense and at times fulfilling. That sense of hopelessness and hope dance with each other in every scenario you face because you know you can die even to even the starter enemies if you wished so, hitting a boss for the first time and watching that victory was even possible fills me with something I’m not able to find anywhere else and has me running back to a game that really did make me a wiser person. I’m 22 and I recently completed a soul level 1 run in DS2 SOFTS

I'm actually in the middle of the hardest breakup after the hardest decision I've ever made in my entire life and without Elden Ring I honestly don't think I could handle it. Don't you dare go hollow.

@dia9665

2 жыл бұрын

You're gonna need this to become the Elden Lord then. 👑 Keep your head up, king.

@ashuranero5721

2 жыл бұрын

How did you feel when you were called maidenless in the game?

@mattr.1804

2 жыл бұрын

@@ashuranero5721 lmao nooo

@shtcoinmaxi1367

2 жыл бұрын

@@ashuranero5721 😄😄

@PrithviFrisbee

2 жыл бұрын

@@ashuranero5721 you did him dirty bruh 😭

I’m currently in a depression stump that is slowly killing me and playing elden ring and listening to the lore has honestly kept me going for the last couple weeks. I just want to go home and get stronger on my character and not focusing on my issues. And being able to overcome something even just a boss after so many attempts has brought some measure of joy back into my life. I’m not a good gamer by any stretch so I’m especially bad at these games which makes beating bosses all the more rewarding and is honestly helping me more then my pills have thus far let’s hope it keeps getting better even little by little

@SuperDeadRex

8 ай бұрын

Every day you decide to get out of bed and tackle your day, it's already a win. Anything else is extra runes to level yourself up. Regardless of how a day went, it's 1 less fight ahead and 1 more day of experience in fighting. It can kick ass for a long time, but at some point you develop a thick skin, and even dare to push back a bit. When you realize it, there’s no more kicking, it's just you. You can only get closer to the end of the forest if you decide to take the next step. Keep fighting stranger, I’m proud of you

@jshklt

5 ай бұрын

Sounds trite but make sure you're taking care of your body too man. Eat as well as you can manage and at get out for at least a few walks. Your brain will thank you. But also keep on grinding ER, you've got that too. Hang in there!

@PuddleLP

5 ай бұрын

It’s nice to be able to take a break. Still, maybe view life the same way. The troubles you’re facing are in a very real way huge bosses you have to try to fight and fight again in your head until you got so good you can do it hitless. Sone day the self loathing one many feel, will be so introspected and fought that you can start believing in yourself.

@sophiedyke17

3 ай бұрын

Oh same here buddy. I am by no means good at this game and sometimes I rage quit but I can’t help but go back and try again -something that I wouldn’t have done in the past with other failures. It’s taught me a great deal, and I love elden ring so so much. :))

I won't know why, but the phrase "don't you dare go hollow" never fails to bring a surge of emotion to my chest.

I always come back to this video when I'm feeling down because this video somehow helps me. Thank you Daryl

When I saw you start streaming Dark Souls I knew we were gonna get one hell of a video, but damn. Having recently completed a couple of these kinds of brutal games, I definitely understand what makes them so appealing. You really feel an unrivalled sense of pride and satisfaction with your accomplishments. I'm really glad with Eldin Ring, it seems like they've made the games even a bit more approachable to people, because despite their unapologetic nature, I feel that a lot of people could benefit from trying them out. Hell, if my friend hadn't helped me through Dark Souls 3 in multiplayer and explained how it worked to me, I probably wouldn't have given FromSoft games another chance.

@DarylTalksGames

2 жыл бұрын

You’re absolutely right, Elden Ring does a great job of being more approachable to Fromsoft newcomers. I like that it does that to hook you and THEN gets absurdly difficult down the stretch haha.

@benjamindunne8132

2 жыл бұрын

@@DarylTalksGames Yeah, it's the FromSoft version of accessibility. "We'll make a lot of the game a fair amount easier, but believe me we'll make you suffer for it later." I love that so much!

@jgkitarel

2 жыл бұрын

@@DarylTalksGames It doesn't take long for the difficulty to ramp up to levels that anyone familiar with Soulsborne games know and love. In this case: Margit or the Tree Sentinel even sooner. Both of which are there to basically tell you that you don't have to go straight to the objective, but should explore the game's absolutely beautiful world and get stronger in terms of your level, but also in terms of what you've found. Yes, the game has an objective, and you eventually get to doing it. But the game is all about the journey there. What's down that path? What will happen if I go into those not so obviously spooky woods? How does doing this pan out?

I'm currently doing a masters degree in psychology and my hope even before finding this channel today was that I'll be able to look into this sort of thing for my dissertation. I believe for some video games cam be used as viable treatment for many disorders. Most studies at the moment focus on visuospatial capacity benefits of gaming but I sincerely hope that by looking more at specific content and structure of games such as dark souls benefits in other areas can be found.

@BruttiF27

2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps an experience with vr might help. Though no game has been created to treat disorders as of now, I'd think it possible to make some significant progress on the matter.

@decorumlopez9147

2 жыл бұрын

When some real life goals are beyond reach or problems eem insurmountable, choosing a weapon, learning to wield it, understanding a boss enemy and beating it can inspire confidence, warmth, light and hope. But, alas, the very moment the true power of narrative, level and monster design and snippets of dialogue is analyzed, interpretation and explanation before the subject had time to ponder on it themselves may prevent any and all beneficial capability. You don't hand out crossword puzzles or sudokus that are already completed. We lack inspiration. We hunger for substance, not just empty calories and happy pills.

@bachiak1

2 жыл бұрын

FS games are good therapy. Its like fighting your own demons

@platosfavoritestudent6509

2 жыл бұрын

Ik its not anywhere even in the same realm of comparison as a Masters, but i did my first semester final essay for my HS psych class on the way different games can affect people. For example, Skyrim fosters adventure, which incites curiosity, Life is Strange tells a beautiful story that really makes you think about things and analyze it, and how Doom Eternal triggers flow state, and how if used properly these can have positive effects per a certain situation.

@jasonbeckstrand5553

2 жыл бұрын

The book "The Gaming Mind" by Alexander Kriss is really interesting, I haven't read the whole thing, but I figure it might prove useful.

This is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. I watch a lot of video essays to help me grow and I think this has been the most beneficial for that.

This is the most beautiful video about games I have ever seen. I’m literally in tears. I played dark souls one whenever it first came out back in college fell off had a really bad break up and a friend commit suicide and I also tried to commit suicide now that I’m out of rehab I picked up dark souls one again and this is just such a beautiful explanation about why despite its difficulty I still continue to choose to live and continue to play despite how punishing this game can be. You’re right it’s not for everybody and thank you for speaking on this so succinctly you’ve got my subscription in my likes from here on out. Thank you for sharing this. This was so beautiful thank you thank you

It’s comforting to know that the hours I spent getting mauled by bosses and resisting yelling at the TV are worth something

I recently came to the realization that playing through Elden Ring and then BloodBorne is what got me out of my state of depression. I was never able to figure out why, but it did get me out of a really low place. FromSoft games will always hold a special place in my heart

Thank you for this video. It is very well made and you commentary is superb. I own most from soft souls games but was too scared to play them. I will now and won’t stop until I finish all of them.

I Just had tears in my eyes about youre last words. Thank you my friend for reminding me not to go hollow. I will keep fighting and overcome this dark part of my life. Thank you for reminding me.

This is actually my favorite "Psych of Play" so far. And that's saying A LOT. Well done, sir.

Near the end "...that you are not alone in your struggle" I think the phantoms in Souls games and especially in the more vast open world of EldRing are so important to that feeling. Being stuck in a dark cave with moaning ghouls with elongated arms and a hundred hands seems daunting. And then you see another players phantom swinging away or running or even just standing there thinking like you are. It always makes me feel better, they're still pushing on, and that makes me want to get through the endeavor even more. And rating messages like "I did it!" "Behold, Victory" is such a unique experience to the souls games, shared celebration of overcoming an obstacle.

This was such an unexpectedly beautiful and wholesome video. Thank you.

This is fucking beautiful and I love you dude. Made my cry, I'm truly glad you're still with us in this world

Bloodborne was the battle of a lifetime for me. When I continually failed at Father Gascoigne, I was so low that if I had bought a physical copy of the game, I would have returned it. I'd never sunk to such depths of depression playing a game before, simultaneously knowing that thousands of git gud bros online wouldn't have my back. Then I watched some lore videos and talked to my friends who were also playing it, and decided I wanted to see the things that the game was hiding from me. I went back, eventually beat Gascoigne, and *much* later the whole game. I can't say getting to see what Bloodborne had to offer completely justified throwing me into a pit of anguish every few hours, but I can say that I did get through it. I just had to search for positive voices to encourage me and find the murderous will to keep going.

@hugofontes5708

2 жыл бұрын

Ay, a hunter is never alone, right? I'm sorry you felt the community wouldn't support you then

@doconnell565

2 жыл бұрын

@@hugofontes5708 The souls community is pretty awful much of the time. I wonder honestly if this same theory the video covers ends up rising already doing well on the self efficacy turn a little bit into jerks *OR* start externalizing their success. The people who are *GOOD* at souls games are the worst part of souls games. They treat everyone poorly.

@mrguy124

2 жыл бұрын

@@doconnell565 No, Elitists are the worst part. There are many good players that love some Jolly Cooperation.

@doconnell565

2 жыл бұрын

@@mrguy124 As best as I can tell thats 80% + of the community

@uthergoodman401

2 жыл бұрын

@@doconnell565 They are just a very vocal minority. Ignore them

This is the way. I think certain survival horror games also do this. Resident Evil being the series most notiable. You start off often alone, no real way to fight back, and by the end, you've learned to overcome the hardship. Gotta love it.

@kit8588

2 жыл бұрын

and rocket launcher. can't forget the rocket launcher.

@utisti4976

2 жыл бұрын

No wonder I've been getting into Resident Evil, let alone Fromsoft titles, in the past couple years. They are very visceral and harsh towards the player, but I can't help but feel they are a very spiritual experience for me. A test of will. That description is very dramatic, I know, but I will never forget the moment I beat Dark Souls 3 for the first time. Ever. I distinctly remember sitting on my chair, watching the credits roll, listening to the beautiful music while on the brink of tears. After years worth of bullshit and hopelessness I had to go through before I started playing, that moment was a moment of pure ecstacy for me, and it was just a stupid game. And a brilliant one at that. It changed my perspective on life. Then I played Sekiro. That did the same thing. Then I read Berserk, the inspiration behind Dark Souls, and that ended up doing the same thing. This video even more so. I wished I had enjoyed that blissful moment for just a bit longer. I decided to help my parents with something, but I really do wish I sat down at the computer for just a little bit longer to savor my little victory. It makes all the difference and I can't believe just how significant it was to me until now.

@TheL1arL1ar

2 жыл бұрын

@@utisti4976 Funny you mention dark souls 3…I was playing that game right before I went away to prison for a year…I was literally at the end of the vanilla game…and I was at the I believe the end of the painting…I went down to fight that wolf before I went toward the castle. (Bloodborne is one of my favorite games ever and it takes me back to a time when things where great…my family was complete. Now struggling with life and finally being able to rent a place again with my 4 children…single..and after all I’ve been through I’m ready for some elden ring…

This video appeared on my home page when I was having a hard day. Thank You.

"Don't you dare go hollow" is a quote that helped me a lot. When i was in dark times of my life, when i almost killed myself, I just remembered the quote out of nowhere. It saved me. Now, everytime I feel like giving up, I tell myself "Laurencius asked you something. Don't go hollow"

15:00 "These games provide a provocation. They insist that they can't be bested and they dare you to try and prove them wrong." 16:35 "By climbing out of the pit that FromSoftware games throw you in, you're provided with first hand evidence that you can in fact overcome those demons. And you can do it on your own merit."

For some reason, the phrase “don’t you dare go hollow” almost brings me to tears whenever it’s used. Also, just hearing the idea of “whenever that dark cloud came, I just imagined I was fighting a really tough bloodborne boss” really stuck with me. I think applying the same kind of determination I used to fight someone like Malenia will help me. It’s not an insurmountable mental challenge, it’s just a tough boss. With enough work and effort to improve, I can beat that guy with time. Thanks for this dude :)

First video of the day was a win. Thank you!

This was a beautiful video. I really needed this today. Thank you so much.