FG's git.o.t.y 2022 is aunt Alison

Weird for me as I didn't get on with either Elden Ring or Vampire Survivors.

I can see the appeal of the first, the 2nd I really don't get.

Didn't you come to the conclusion after 400 hours that it's a bit shit, wunty?

Some bran and fruit and veg might help.

I'll probably have a go at some point, but as much as I liked the levels and initial combat of Demon Souls, the bosses are beyond me every time.

I know, I know. Git gud. But my gitting goes elsewhere.

Demon's Souls on the PS3 is the closest I've come to really enjoying a Soulsborne, but that's only because I cheesed the absolute shit out of every boss that I could.
I keep trying them due to FOMO, but just get frustrated and sack them off after an hour or two.

I'll probably still get caught on the hype train and buy the next one. Or maybe I'll be sensible and finally admit that they're just not for me... Nah.

Oh, you should play Kena.

No, I didn't like it.

There is a (pseudo) difficulty setting but it’s part of the game. You can make them very easy once you understand the mechanics and how to exploit them 

A test of patience rather than a test of skill

I don’t think “git gud” qualifies as a difficulty setting.

Vampire Survivors was made by some dude who works as a programmer for the gambling industry, makes sense.

link

I'm not saying I've never bought any From Software games.  I have both Dark Souls and Dark Souls III in my Steam library.  But I have since given up any hope that I will be able to play any of those games.  I have neither the skill nor the patience needed for them.  If there is any bitterness, it's because I suffer from chronic FOMO over this. 

Vampire Survivors
Elden Ring
Immortality

Have you had any thoughts of going back to the others kal, now you’re the master of the FROM formula?

You can make Elden Ring as easy or as difficult as you like. If you're finding anything too difficult there's usually half a dozen other places you can go to instead. And you can summon help pretty much as needed.

Basically, if you've ever been put off by the difficulty of this series, Elden Ring is the one to start with.

Obviously not as good as Kena: Bridge of Spirits though.

I wouldn't say they're 'try hard', really. There's actually a lot of options and leeway in terms of bringing in AI or human help and trying different things out. The systems seem pretty clever and surprisingly balanced. I did start to see some of the things people like about the games even just cheesing them.

I do think their reputation, and the general 'git gud' attitude that seemed to bubble up to the forefront during their heyday, actually did more to put me off them than then game itself. Coupled with the fact that the initial environments in Dark Souls are quite bleak, and the combat does feel a little janky to me in a way that doesn't always help, especially when people are going on about how 'hard but fair' it is. The result is that it becomes a game set up to make you feel a bit inferior if you don't get it.

I remember getting murdered by that black Knight at the top of a tower, and it was literally just get hit, fall over, never get up again while the dude just goes ham on me. I'm sure there were plenty of opportunities/strategies that I may have missed, but regardless, not much fun for me until I finally lucked out. It was fine in the end, just clearly not 100% a me game.

Elden Ring respawning at the boss will do a lot to help encourage me to keep plugging away, so I look forward to trying it out.