"Prepare To Die"

That's what I saw as I looked at the back of the box for Dark Souls. 

I'd heard that this game offered up a real challenge. So much so, in fact, that the developers felt confident enough to boast about it's toughness on the box itself. But first I needed to complete Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. 

Peace Walker is an interesting entry in the Metal Gear franchise. The narrative is split into separate missions, a structure born as a result of the game's original handheld release, and is an interesting change that worked surprisingly well. It wasn't as long and convoluted as previous entries in the series, and is designed more for returning to time and again to complete and perfect the many missions. As I was somewhat rushing through it due to my looming deadline I look forward to revisiting it in the future to fully experience all that it has to offer. But at the time I couldn't dawdle. My mind was elsewhere. I knew that I needed to focus on Dark Souls.

So, after reading the back of the box (or the game's own title screen if you've bought this new version), and preparing myself for death, I started to play. I then saw this screen a lot:

This is a crushing, punishing game. But in a good way! Patience and perseverance are rewarded. Small gains are momentous, reaching the next save point is a rare and monumental occasion. The world is unique and intriguing, full of horrible beasties and exciting combat. 

It tells you almost nothing about how to play it, leaving so much to trial and error that you feel overwhelming pride and joy to make even the smallest of realisations or discoveries. And then it smacks you back down if you start to get cocky and think you've got its number. It really is tough. And that's why I'm sorry to say I haven't completed it. I didn't leave myself enough time. 

I was talking to a guy on a video game forum who said that he was on his second playthrough and he was only halfway through after putting in 62 hours. He's already beaten it, knows what he's doing, and yet he still has dozens of hours ahead of him before finishing. This is definitely not a game to play against the clock.

But I don't feel bad. It's like reaching the World Cup final and getting beaten by Brazil; there's no shame in it. I completed 49 out of 50 games from my pile of shame, and I was beaten by the hardest game out there. 

No, that's not exactly right. I wasn't beaten by it, I just didn't anticipate how long it would take for me to master and eventually beat it. And I will complete this game. One day. But before that happens I imagine that I'll be seeing this screen a lot: