So, I’m almost there. Dark Souls 2, my final hurdle. The last bastard standing between me and the ultimate bragging rights—platinuming every single Soulsborne game FromSoftware has ever made. It’s been a journey filled with rage quits, triumphs, and far too many hours staring at ‘YOU DIED’ screens. But now that the end is in sight, I can’t help but feel… a bit lost.
The thing is, Dark Souls 2 has always been the weird one of the bunch. The odd cousin at the family reunion who does things just a little differently. The mechanics are familiar, but the movement feels slightly off compared to its siblings. The world design, while still full of that signature oppressive atmosphere, has this disconnected feeling that makes it stand apart from the beautifully woven landscapes of Dark Souls 1 or Elden Ring. And yet, here I am, grinding through the last few trophies, committed to finishing what I started.
Platinuming a Souls game is no small feat. Anyone who’s gone for it knows it’s not just about ‘beating the game.’ Oh no, it’s about getting every spell, every ring, every weapon. It’s about committing to multiple playthroughs, figuring out obscure questlines, and sometimes, just sheer dumb luck with drop rates. Dark Souls 2, of course, had to take it up a notch with those covenant rewards that make you grind your soul into dust (I’m looking at you, ‘Grim Reaper Simulator’ a.k.a. the Pilgrims of Dark).
I won’t lie; there have been moments where I’ve questioned my life choices. Farming sunlight medals in Dark Souls 3, hunting down every weapon in Demon’s Souls, cursing Bloodborne’s chalice dungeons (seriously, f*** Defiled Chalice), and now trudging through the last remnants of Dark Souls 2. But at the same time, this insane, self-imposed challenge has kept me hooked for years. The moment when that final trophy pops is euphoric, like summoning the perfect jolly co-op companion just before a boss fight and watching them tear through the enemy like a goddamn superhero.
But what happens after that? That’s the part I haven’t quite figured out yet.
FromSoftware games have been my gaming anchor for so long. No matter what else I played, I always came back. There was always something to master, some new build to try, some challenge run to embark on. These games are more than just brutal fights and cryptic lore—they’re a rite of passage. A place where suffering is inevitable, but the satisfaction of overcoming it is unmatched.
I guess the big question is: What’s next? Do I go back and try an SL1 run in Dark Souls 1? Do I attempt a ‘no-hit’ challenge? Or do I step away completely, let the dust settle, and wait for whatever unholy creation Miyazaki dreams up next? Because let’s be real—he’s cooking something, and we all know it’s going to be pure, glorious pain.
For now, though, I just need to finish this damn game. One more platinum, one last dance with the worst-hit detection in the series, and then maybe—just maybe—I’ll allow myself to rest. Or, more likely, I’ll start up Elden Ring again and tell myself it’s ‘just for fun’ while secretly plotting another 100-hour adventure.
Either way, the end is near. And it feels… weird.