As the saying goes, “Every death is a lesson.” Nowhere is this more applicable than in the grueling, unforgiving world of Dark Souls. This renowned franchise has drawn in a unique audience of gamers who revel in its difficulty, intricate lore, and the in-depth exploration it offers. A dedicated group of these players, the speedrunners, have turned the art of dying into a mastery of survival, blitzing through these nightmarish landscapes at speeds that boggle the mind.
Speedrunning is the gaming discipline of completing a video game or a part of it as quickly as possible. In the world of Dark Souls, this means navigating through merciless enemies, challenging bosses, and perilous environments with exceptional skill and efficiency.
Popular Dark Souls Games for Speedrunning
The Dark Souls trilogy provides a rich playground for speedrunners, each game offering its unique challenges:
- Dark Souls: The first game in the series is a popular choice due to its interconnected world and challenging gameplay. Runners have to strategically balance survival and speed while navigating through the game’s intricate areas.
- Dark Souls II: Despite its reputation for being a deviation from the series, Dark Souls II offers its unique appeal for speedrunners. Its non-linear structure and wide array of bosses add variety to the runs.
- Dark Souls III: The concluding entry in the series brings the fastest pace of combat and movement. Its linear progression and refined mechanics make it a favorite for many speedrunners.
Milestones and Events in Dark Souls Speedrunning
Speedrunning Dark Souls has evolved dramatically over the years. The world record for Dark Souls is currently held by catalystz, who completed the game in 32 minutes and 44 seconds. Meanwhile, the fastest run of Dark Souls III stands at 33 minutes and 22 seconds, set by Distortion2.
Events like European Speedrunner Assembly and Awesome Games Done Quick often feature Dark Souls speedruns. These events raise funds for charity while giving runners a platform to showcase their skills and compete for world records.
Speedrunning Tricks in Dark Souls Games
Speedrunning Dark Souls requires a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and mastering a variety of tricks and glitches.
In Dark Souls, sequence breaking, such as the infamous ‘Sen’s Gate Skip’ which allows players to bypass a significant portion of the game, is essential. Dark Souls II features the ‘parry walking’ glitch, where the player can walk in mid-air, skipping large parts of the game. In Dark Souls III, ‘TearDrop,’ a glitch that involves using the Tears of Denial spell to survive lethal falls, can bypass large chunks of the game.
An Essential Tool for Dark Souls Speedrunning
The speedrun timer on this page is an indispensable tool for any budding Dark Souls speedrunner. With it, you can accurately track your progress, measure your split times, and identify where you can refine your strategy to shave off valuable seconds.
In conclusion, speedrunning in the Dark Souls franchise is a high-stakes game of skill, knowledge, and nerves of steel. It brings a unique angle to the game’s haunting world, transforming its brutality into a beautiful dance of death and survival. The pursuit of faster times reveals new strategies and techniques, pushing the boundaries of gameplay in this iconic series.
