Dark Souls 2 and the Glimmers of Hope

Introduction

Firstly, I have to say that this article is not a review of Dark Souls 2 whatsoever. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, this article is focused on the Scholar of the First Sin edition, which has significant differences and pacing to that of Dark Souls 2 "vanilla".

This article is a focus, with emphasis on the smaller aspects of Dark Souls 2, the glimmers of hope that find a way of revealing themselves constantly within a world seemingly devoid of any retribution or salvation. Although I have been an avid fan of the complete Dark Souls series, excluding Demon's Souls, since it's initial release in 2010, Dark Souls 2 will always remain to me the most important, misunderstood and treasured game of the series.

Overcoming Adversity is Where Hope Dwells

Dark Souls 2, above all others in my opinion, encapsulates the struggle of the undead and the hollow. The facing of constant adversity, insurmountable odds and undeniable power and finding hope in the smallest of places, the humblest of people, the faintest of sights. To quote Stephen King and to truly juxtapose the aspect of endless death within Dark Souls 2: "Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever truly dies."  

Finding Hope

Within each Dark Souls game, you have a "hub location" which acts as an area of respite and reflection as well as a conduit to other parts of the world. It is at the centre of everything. Which is why in Dark Souls 2, the hub location, Majula works in such a powerfully moving way, tying in both it's geographical location with it's environment and coinciding moral message.

The Glimmers of Hope - Majula

As can be seen, Majula has a constant rising sun in the distance, which acts as no small consequence to the overall feel of Majula. Practically everywhere in Dark Souls 2 is devoid of hope. Areas are desolate, dark, devoid of life and yet, in this one area, within Majula, the one place that you will always return to, rest, recover and advance your character you are faced with the prospect of a new dawn and new hope. Almost a rebirth.

An aspect of life any one of us could relate to is that of having an awful day and being faced with the saying "things will feel clearer in the morning". Dark Souls 2 takes that saying and runs with it! Come the dawn your sorrows retreat to the shadows.

The fact that Majula, as the hub location, remains at the centre of everything also speaks to it's powerful message of hope. In pure tangible physicality it almost says to you, "no matter how far you tread into the voids of despair, I will remain at your centre a beacon of hope". This message, the hopeful uplifting environment and the music that runs in the background of Majula throughout, a soft chime of bells and strings that heralds both a sense of home, as well as feeling of mysterious discovery lying around every corner, speaks to our inner sense of home within a journey. Of hope. For life is a journey... and every journey eventually leads home...

Final words

Dark Souls 2 is considered by many "the black sheep" with some simply saying it is awful. For me, it is far more... it is the game with the greatest disparity between hope and despair, between a Kingdom that was and a dream that died. It is about hope. All about hope. And that is utterly beautiful.

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Tom - Cash Grab