This city of gods will constantly remind you of your mortality.
Their problem, then, isnt necessarily the intent of their arguments, but rather the approach.
If you truly want to understand whyDark Soulsis special, then you must venture forth into Anor Londo.
Imagine if anIndiana Jonesfilm took place in the world ofDark Souls.
For the most part, death is a teacher inDark Souls.
Here, it is a practical joke.
Why would anyone willingly wade through this madness?
Well, like in those sameIndiana Jonesfilms, there is a treasure at the end.
Yet, its all a lie.
Anor Londo is not a great city upon the hill.
Its beauty is a trap greater than any found in Sens diabolical fortress.
Most players will find a formal explanation of the evils of Anor Londo to be redundant, however.
The luring nature of the citys beauty becomes instantly apparent to them the moment they wander its streets.
After all, what city of peace needs so many giant sentinels patrolling it?
No kind and merciful god would ever reside here.
The first is a pair of archers that flank the narrow walkway that leads to your destination.
Theres no story purpose for these two archers being there, mind you.
That is nothing compared to what comes next, though.
Before you could truly claim youve bested Anor Londo, you must defeat Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough.
In another life, the tall and agile Ornstein was the captain of an elite group of knights.
They are the formal bosses of Anor Londo.
Separately, Ornstein and Smough are flawed.
One is powerful but slow.
The other is quick but comparatively weaker.
Together, however, they are able to work in perfect unison.
Just when youve altered your strategy to defeat one of them, the other punishes you for your insolence.
Around your 30th attempt at defeating this pair, youre going to start asking yourself, Why?
Why do you care if you progress past this point or not?
This isnt even the end of the game.
Further Reading: 25 Brutally Difficult Video Games
And to what end?
What has this game ever given you for all youve done?
Its at that moment the lore and design of Anor Londo become one.
Unflinchingly, and without a personal stake in your answer, it asks, Are you worthy?
The only answers are yes and no.
Anor Londo is a temple to that concept.
Its every inch was designed to intimidate and impress you.
Gwynevere is another illusion created by the god Gwyndolin to trick you.
In any other game, such an occurrence might be interpreted as a punishment.
Here, it is a sign that the city has finally bent the knee to you.
Matthew Byrd is a staff writer forDen of Geek.
You canread more of his work hereor find him on Twitter at@SilverTuna014.
