Which Soulsborne Game Had The BEST ATMOSPHERE?
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2023
- Ranking Demons Souls, Dark Souls Trilogy, Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring based on the best atmosphere. This video breaks down several key points in what makes up atmosphere in an experience and from my personal experience goes from least to greatest. I want you to comment what your ideal order OR number 1 game would be for atmosphere the soulsborne series. Check out more videos like this in the playlist below and all my social media platforms in the pinned comment of the video.
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Definitely Bloodborne
Sekiro for me. Sucker for the far east aesthetic
Nah ds1
Not a contest at all imo. Bloodborne
Demon’s souls Ps3
BRO!💀 BRO!!💀 BRO!💀💀 BROOO!💀 BRO!☠️ BRO!💀
I really like Dark Souls 3's atmosphere a lot. From the opening cutscene it is established that this is a world that is dying and you really feel it all throughout the world. Lothric is in shambles, Farron Keep is in chaos. Irithyll and Anor Londo are cold and hollow. The Undead Settlement is a corpse. Everything is dying and cascading in on itself, which is heavily felt in both DLCs. It is a shell of its former self.
I agree. The atmosphere was so damn depressing and i loved it. DS3 had the best atmosphere imo closely followed by Bloodborne.
@@lacesensor3358I feel the exact same way.
FR it’s so consistent through out and the music is great
meh... literally all darksouls feels exactly like that.
@@baronnashor158 ye but it’s not consistent
Demon's Souls' atmosphere is hella underrated imo. Every archstone felt distinct and had a unique atmosphere. It really felt like you were seeing pockets of a massive fantasy world. I do like the PS5 remake, but I vastly prefer the style of the original PS3 version.
That is true. It is even more underrated because a lot of people base their view about Demons Souls on the Remake which absolutely butchered a lot of the atmosphere and created a new more generic one.
Same thoughts here! Somehow the Demon's Souls PS3 atmosphere caught me the most.
Totally Agree. The original DeS would probably top my list for atmosphere, with only the possible exception of DS1.
To add, while reimagining the old sound design was appreciated, ultimately the PS5 ver. sound is indicative of a very samey same overly designed direction I see modern games take. Every sound is textured and layered with heavy low end. While the PS3 ver., while less detailed, was more distinct in its editorial choices. An example of a game that sounds similar to DeS PS5, is the new Mortal Kombat game.
it was kind of disappointing (and ironic) how the video focused so heavily on the remake, since the remake basically ruined the atmosphere lol
DS1 is inconsistent but the vibes are so immaculate that it still has my favourite atmosphere
I agree I think bloodbourne is super overrated
super, n pvp was god awful compared... all in all major letdown for me @@ilyjesusable
@@ta_______________00000the base game is literally bad in my opinion
DLC is amazing but still doesn’t makes bloodborne a masterpiece while it has a lot of problems
@@saudf5921 average blood borne meat rider
@@IncelCherub me ?
Absolutely not because BB is the second least favorite of mine in all from software games
To me Bloodborne’s atmosphere is perfect for what the game gives you and how it unfolds throughout. The world of Yharnam will be one that stays with me for as long as I game.
except the unplayable framerate
@@xXRunDeathXx What unplayable framerate? I have 500 hours in this game and the number of times there were hiccups with the framerate can be counted on one hand.
@@JMB_Smashsame here. Only times I’ve ever had significant frame drops is when one of the giant bosses like amygdala or one reborn explode. Even then it only lasts a couple seconds
@@xXRunDeathXx Average gamer when a game doesn't run on 14k+ fps
@@JMB_SmashI’ve got about 1200 hours. Honestly, I might notice it for the first couple minutes if I’ve just been playing a newer game, but after that I don’t even think about it. It’s really nothing detrimental. Honestly, people just sound spoiled when they complain about shit like this, especially if they throw the word “unplayable” around
I just love the ethereal atmosphere of dark souls 2. It just hits a dark fantasy vibe that i love…i wish it had been its own series
Hot take, Dark Souls 2 was a better sequel than DS3 in terms of atmosphere, because it was a better payoff to the plot thread of reality coming undone and the undead going Hollow. 3 is my favorite game in the series, but 2 did some brilliant things with the setting that were dialed back (but still present) in 3. Meanwhile, this video starts with missing the symbolism at play like so many others. RIP nuance
I think the surrealistic nature of where you are in DS2 (compared to the strange, but ultimately more firmly grounded-in-reality settings of DS1 and DS3) is the reason why I not only don't mind the abrupt thematic transitions between areas, but think they serve the game quite well. It feels like you're living in a dark dream or some sort of purgatory, with Majula being your lonely but eminently peaceful respite. I'm glad other people recognize the highlights of DS2's atmosphere, while it's not my all-time favourite, I always felt that it was criminally underrated in that regard.
@@dufflebagg I totally agree with all the comments above. But I think they missed a great opportunity with the earthen peak transition. It would have actually been amazing and more surrealist if the elevator took you very far down to iron keep rather than up imo. I bet it would be very positively received if that were the case.
Dark Souls 2 is anything but ethereal.
"Ethereal" would apply to intricate, fragile, and delicate things of unnatural appearance. Like morning haze (ethereal, in fact, comes from a greek word for "air").
Ds2's designs, on the other hand, are simple, and the architecture is quite brutalistic. There isn't much of anything ethereal about it. Save maybe for the Shrine of Amana.
"Ethereal" seems to apply much more to the likes of Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne, with their intricate gothic tone and the general slenderness and apparent fragility of their design.
Irithyll, for example, is the most striking instance of an ethereal place in FS games, from the design of ennemies to the architecture.
Maybe you were thinking of some other word. "Dreamy" or "vague" is maybe the term you'd want to describe Ds2.
@@remilenoir1271 Dreams are, themselves, ethereal, and a dreamlike world collapsing in on itself is peak ethereality
Hard question. For me, Dark Souls has that inherently comforting, warmth about it. The npcs have that certain charm about them, even if they're up to no good. It is also the entry that means the most to me personally, so I give it top slot, but also the world design is incredible and you feel like you're on a real adventure alone (especially in the first half.) Plus, the music is gorgeous.
Haven't had the chance to ever play Demon's Souls sadly, but DS2 is also very comforting, but you know you're alone and Majula really sums that feeling up well. As much as I love DS3, it is missing much of the charm of the previous 2 entries.
Bloodborne has an incredible atmosphere, story, lore, world, music, so that definitely ranks 2nd for me.
So for me: Dark Souls, Bloodborne, DS2, DS3, Elden Ring, Sekiro.
I'm playing it through it right now for the first time and just reached all the DLC before the final boss and yeah this game is something special. Like Bloodborne, it just has a vibe to it that I resonate with. I am taking my time getting to the end because I kind of don't want the journey to ever be over. lol
@@NeutralGloomBot haha, yes I completely understand! I faffed about sooo much in Dark Souls because I didn't want it to end. Also, I always play my first playthrough offline, as I am an immersion freak yes lol, but mostly because I didn't want to see any spoilers in messages in-game. I even found the secret areas by myself just by paying attention.
I hope you're having a blast. The Artorias of the Abyss dlc is incredible! 👏
Ds2 is ass cheeks
I personally love the atmosphere of Ds2 the most, it’s hard to describe but the game just feels so nostalgic and cozy
Majula
DS2 … wonderful depressive … Majula ❤️
Demon's Souls will always have the best atmosphere for me. (Original, that is.) From the horrific imposing darkness of Latria, to the gross and barren halls of the Valley of Defilement, to even the picturesque islands and tombstones from the Shrine of Storms, the game is oozing with visual and auditory detail. Another thing that brings Demon's Souls up for me is its soundtrack, which is my favorite out of all of the games. Tracks like Maiden Astrea, Fool's Idol, Tower Knight, etc may not be the most bombastic or exciting, but they serve a greater purpose in setting the scene. Even then, the non-boss tracks are also better than all of the others, the only one that compares for me is Firelink Shrine's theme and the song that plays in Vendrick's room in Dark Souls 2. One Who Craves Souls manages to be supremely empowering and melancholy without any forced emotions, and Maiden In Black says so much with so little. Ultimately, I firmly believe that the remake has soured the overall opinion on Demon's Souls, as it portrays the game as such a generic fantasy, when I think it's so much more than that.
well said
I only know the remake but I also love DeS's areas to pieces.
@@lloydirving6209 common Marxist W
It does but he factored in gameplay which is why it's not really ranked on Atmosphere so much and just an amalgamation of irrelevant factors. Imo DeS and Ds1, and also BB have the best atmosphere.
You wrote exactly what encapsulated me and other people with Demon Souls (Ps3) and why the remake was so disappointing. It is truly a gem of a game that was polished to a superb degree in the artistic sense
Dark souls 2’s adventurey feeling to me is the best. Compared to the other two souls games it feels really unique. The journey through places like the iron keep, grave of saints, the dragon aerie, the rainy and dark drangelic castle and the mystical shrine of Amana. Like everyone just mentions Majula but there’s so much more. The dlcs are just dope all 3 bangers. If it were remade I truly think people would see a lot of the overlooked wonders of dark souls 2. Burnt ivory king is the GOAT, I rest my case.
i completely agree. Dark Souls 2 has vastly more areas than the other games (minus elden ring). most are smaller but with the amount in there it helps give it that adventurey feeling youre talkin about. its a got dam journey.
I wish I had never played these games so I could experience them all over again... DS1 was my first and still has the best atmosphere for me 😊
Me too 🤣
This. DS1 set the tone for me. I do not dislike the others, but there is nothing like the first time. No PS so I haven’t been able to check out Bloodborn, but it looks like it would come in second from what I have watched. Oppressive and scary.
i have never found ds1 atmosphere that great same goes for the song and i have finished this game three time and one time SL1 ng+7
@@SquillaKilla i disagree with your saying about dark souls 2 music , i think than aldia and especially sinh from a musical perspective beat every boss music in ds1 escept maybe artorias for aldia , i also think than gwyn ost don't really match with the boss fight and than aldia ost do a better job at be tragical character ost , i also don't think than be linear or not is a point to have a good atmosphère for me this is more like an immersion thing , i think than the setting and the design of each map , the design of monster (which i think ds2 beat ds1 ) ,the npc and the story , the music contribute much more to the atmosphere
Great question to look at. I will say, at the very least, Majula is my favorite home base. The music is nice and calming, and it feels like a real, lived in place rather than a campfire that everyone just happened to meet up around.
Just gotta watch out for those damn mini pigs. Why they take so much damage lol?
Bloodborne and DS1 hold a special place in my heart. Something about their level design and the NPCs in those games just resonated with me a lot more than others.
I knew that DS2 would take the last place. I knew it wouldn't be DeS or DS3. Why? It's simply most of the people dislike or even hate DS2 (a much more strategic game than DS1 or DS3). DS3 has a few great moments e.g. the first time you enter Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. Then you enter Irithyll, and all the teased atmosphere vanishes. So what do we have then undead settlement? Road of sacrifices? Farron Keep? The way into the Cathedral of the Deep is cool but once you enter its interior you become disappointed once again. The high wall of Lothric is very boring at the beginning but becomes much better once you enter Lothric castle. The Dreg heap looks cool, and the Ringed City is excellent. DS3's world design is very boring: It's linear with minimal branching. DS2 is much closer to DS1 than DS3 is to DS1. Yes, the bosses are all in all better, and the fighting system feels much improved. DS2, however, sends you through a great journey in a semi-linear world. "Running through the forest and then all of a sudden after a short tunnel it's all of a sudden dark and raining" - This isn't weird, it is damn fucking cool. Suddenly it is dark and raining, and you see the massive castle in front of you. Inside the castle you take the elevator up to the top where you fight against the Looking Glass Knight, take the elevator down, and you are in the Shrine of Amana which you would have never expected. At the end, you take another elevator down which leads to the undead crypt. It's just an awesome journey with a great atmosphere. By the way, Majula is the best-designed hub area that conveys an amazing atmosphere. So the "correct" order is DeS < DS3 < DS2 ;)
I`m torn between Sekiro and Bloodborne. I honestly could not pick a favorite. For me both have an amazing atmosphere for, obviously, very different reasons. Although I can agree Bloodborne's Yharnam oozes style and world cohesion at every corner, Sekiro's unique mix of beauty of feudal Japan, sadness/ misery of a post war land and mysticism of it's folklore make a strong case for me.
Sekiro = Ninja Scroll videogame
Dark Souls 2 will always pull you back in with its mystical, magic and sorrowful vibes, every single area just feels grand and mysterious, yet soothing
I'm so tired of people hating on it, it's literally superior to original Dark Souls in almost every way possible exept the music
@@felixcote1697 facts my fellow brother, and yeah the music isn't as good it does have some awesome classics like Majula, the menu song, Sir Alonne and Ivory King
@@felixcote1697depends on what you want from the game and few mechanics (notably adaptability/agility) are huge downgrade from 1, even if the idea behind them wasn't bad at all. I find combat to be worse, because of longer recovery time after attacks. I only played sotfs and I've heard the next issue I'm gonna bring up isn't nearly as bad in base ds2, but enemy placement in locations was very unfair and not fun, paired with no s for the most of entering mist animation I given up on trying to beat smelter demon until way later in the game (and I only beat it, because I needed souls to level up adp some more). There's also a lot of bosses in ds2, which leads to it having many not very memorable bosses, or straight up bad bosses (like gank squad). I also think ds2 gets too much bashing, but I still find it to be the worst out of dark souls trilogy. I enjoyed my playthrough, but while I do plan to replay ds1 and ds3 some time in the future (I rarely replay games) I can't say the same about ds2
@@tomaszzajac1765 I mean I personally heard of the adaptability thing before playing the game so I leveled it up early and had a blast. But I agree the game must be a nightmare for someone who doesn't know about it and avoids any type of tutorial/guide/tip video or wiki
What irks me the most is that it's the one that tried to be the most experimental and different, and people criticize it for it, and when Dark Souls 3 was made i can agree with some of the "fanservice" criticism and it kind of failed with the characters only having a handful mamorable ones
I don't really agree with it being its own series, i think it's a very good sequel as the elements of the first game are kept in the world, forgotten and mutated, which gives that feeling of nostalgia
DS3 of course being excessively more linked to DS1 kind of fucks up this beutyful idea as there's a 1:1 copy of areas like Anor Londo, it wouldn't bother me as much if DS2 was last in the timeline with DS3 in mind (imagine how cooler it would be with elements of Lothric as well)
I end this note with saying that despite the lack of a connected world like DS1 and big mistakes like the path that leads to the Iron Keep, DS2 it's the ones that made me look at the landscape the most, it's the most varied and beutyful ones, as much as the valley of dragons perfectly connects various areas, it is boring as fuck
Even though DS2 was a mixed experience, I still smile everytime I glance at an art piece of Majula I have in my office. Loved that place. And yeah, Bloodborne ❤
One thing I feel bears pointing out about Bloodborne is that its soundtrack is, to my knowledge, the only one recorded live and in a location (in Bloodborne’s case, a church), with all other games’ OSTs recorded in separate parts in a studio before being edited together. The difference in sound quality and cohesion between different parts of the orchestra that came as a result of this upgrade in environment cannot be overstated.
Demon's Souls atmosphere is superior to every single game imo. It's so goddamn immersive
second this for ps3 version. The remake shit the bed so bad it looks and feels like diablo.
@@lugubriousgrabber2494 OG Demon's Souls is so good it's actually insane. What an amazing gem
@@faultyaxiom it was so good they made it 5 more times
@@lugubriousgrabber2494 Incorrect. Remake still is leaps and better than Ds3. Then again pretty much anything, Miyazaki started to fall flat around that era until George helped with Elden Ring
majoras masks atmosphere is still better. It’s so much more than just “immersive”
I fucking love elden rings openworld design. Its perfect. Exploration has never been this enticing.
Dark Souls 3, especially the dlc, even more specifically, Gael's arena. Such a tremendous amount of atmosphere all wrapped up in one little spot.
Original Demon's Souls has my favorite atmosphere of these games. I love it so much
I'm going with Sekiro, mainly because i love the aesthetic (biased of course, as i'm an Asian myself) and vibrant colors, it makes everything feel so alive. Not that i dislike the atmosphere of any of From's other games, but my preferences just align with Sekiro more, i suppose.
Demons Souls, and easily. Tower of Latria and Valley of Defilement in particular.
Dark souls 2 will always have one of the best atmosphere in the series for me, It just feels like a fever dream, It feels lonely and empty (In a great way), and truly hopeless yet beautiful and colorful, even in the weakest designed areas there is something unique about their atmosphere, and the somber and relaxing music helps with that too since a good atmosphere for me goes with music that can truly make you feel at peace, like you're a true part of the world and themes like Majula, Aldia, Fire keepers etc... Does it perfectly, honestly it's just too good and it deserves to be far higher imo, atleast higher than DS3 and DeS because it offers more uniqueness and good vibes.
My favorite place being the shaded woods, something about that areas feels distinct, unique and just oozes with atmosphere and i can't really point out why exactly, but it just does it perfectly with the silence, fog and enemies.
So my list will be:
1- Elden Ring
2- BloodBorne
3- Dark souls 2
4- Dark souls 1
5- Sekiro
6- Dark souls 3
7- Demon's souls
Based and correct list. W king
yeah ds2 unintentionally nailed the 'dreamlike' atmosphere
Well said, this makes me want to cover more Dks2 content
Very interesting list with some solid arguments. For me it's: Bloodborne = Dark Souls III > Elden Ring > Dark Souls II > Dark Souls > Demon's Souls
But it's extremely hard for me to rate because whenever I think to put one above the other, I find myself thinking back on how much I loved so many of their areas during my first playthrough. So honestly, they're all within 10% of each other. I was just impacted the most by Dark Souls III while I found Bloodborne to be the most enthralling, so those two take it for me. Still, Caelid and the Shrine of Amana can never be called inferior atmosphere wise to anything from the other games. Watching that burned wall in Caelid lock off the rest of the area, passing it to see giant corpse crows and rotting walking bodies while that terrifying soundtrack sets in that sounds like literal flies caressing dead meat. God it was awful. Meanwhile in the Shrine of Amana, I found myself taking a break inside one of the ruined towers to just listen to the singing. Beautiful experience.
Dark Souls 2 was trying to be Elden Ring before Elden Ring was even possible.
Man you should love Lies of P. It is dripping with atmosphere, has a great smooth combat style, terrific graphics for both characters and world, linear but still explorable maps and some great music.
Yes, especially at the Cathedral when there is the church symphony, and we also hear a monster’s growling underneath. And with Cecile’s creepy facial expression. Absolutely atmospheric.
I felt like it it was a bit too bland in terms of atmosphere. Performance was buttery smooth. Graphics were good it just lacked imagery. It looked too much like the real word.
@@Jinxyoutoheaven I get it. For me, I loved the Baroque and Rococo French art style. It definitely does not have the "souls-like" iconic look like Lords of the Fallen went for, but I still think it is stunning in its own way.
Im really enjoying it
The original Demon’s Souls’ atmosphere was by far one of its strongest points, it’s something that hasn’t been recreated in future games, and shamefully not properly remade in the remake.
What I really liked about Elden Ring is that I didn't feel depressed after finishing the story. Can't say the same for either of the Souls titles. I love depressing endings too. But I needed some change
Depends on the Ending you got lmao
@@halloweenjack95 It doesn't. You need to go out of your way to get Frenzied Flame or Dung Eater's ending. In Dark souls you get a sad ending no matter what. Even if you're trying to fix things.
Personally thats what was missing for me, not the depressed part but in general never gave the same feeling as the other games. Simply due to how open it was. Never hit the same.
@@glorytoukraine5524i somewhat agree but i feel like if for example any of bloodbornes endings were happy it would take away from the terror and desperatiok that haunts the player throughout the game
@@pacula_the_addict And? I didn't say the formula didn't work in those games. I said I liked that ER changed it.
Bloodborne had so much going for it, the world building and design seem coherent and make sense and the enviromental storytelling was superb.the turn into eldritch horror was so good
Dark Souls 2 is far from my favorite game in the franchise, hell it might just be my least favorite. But i always felt like the world brought an impeccable vibe that felt Ethereal at times. Like I'm visiting the graves of one kingdom after another, a world that never stays whole. Vengarl was honestly the highlight of my playthrough, he really tied the themes of the game together. Who knows how long he's been a head stuck there, how many battles he's scene, how he's scene the earth change around him, how he saw even the forest in front of him grow.
Ethereal isn't a good adjective to describe Ds2.
Ethereal qualifies things that are fragile, vaporous, intricate, and of an unnatural appearance.
Now, this is far from Ds2, with its simplistic designs and quite brutalistic architecture.
If you want an example of a truly ethereal atmosphere, look at Irithyll from Ds3. Now try to find something that makes you feel similarly in Ds2.
@@remilenoir1271 I mean.... not gonna lie I imagine Irithyll is a lot more sturdy than some of the locations in Dark Souls 2. The world of Dark Souls 2 never felt solid to me, especially since areas just didn't make sense location wise. But for me that sort of added to the atmosphere of the land feeling like a massive graveyard. This only works for DS2 because DS2 is just fundamentally different from the rest of the souls games, although Demon Souls also gives off the same sort of vibe. A good example of what I'm talking about is Heide's tower (or something like that i forgot the name of the locations)
@isenhelldtheskunk1899 I can see what feeling you are talking about. But I can't really describe it as "ethereal."
On the contrary, I find the world of Ds2 extremely grounded and concrete. Of course, the world doesn't make a lot of sense in itself, but the individual design of areas, enemies, and buildings doesn't match the delicate fragility and intricacy of something "ethereal." Unlike an area like Irithyll, with its dim blue haze, slender buildings and residents, and cold moonlit sky. It feels like Irithyll is an illusion; that any building would turn into mist should the sunlight come.
The tower of Heide does have the slender gothic elements, but the whole "sunset on the sea" environment prevents it from being ethereal, in my opinion. It is dreamlike, though, for the same reasons.
On that point, most Ds2 fans describe its atmosphere as "dreamlike" because the layout of the world doesn't make sense, as though imagined by someone sleeping and ignoring the basic concepts of geographical coherence. Though I don't think this was necessarily intended by the developers and is more a result of time constraints, I find it more fitting than "ethereal."
@@remilenoir1271 Well then maybe i mean dreamlike
Demons souls had great atmosphere for me. It was my first FS game, so that has a lot to do with it. Ds1 early game was great then lost it all once I got to demon ruins. Elden ring completely immersed me cuz of its consistent atmosphere. It’s crazy cuz each area I think perfectly captures its atmosphere
But bloodborne just hit different in every way
agreed
it's not my favorite but each Archstone felt completely unique which really sells it for me. not only that but there's consistent enemy of variety and I feel like the other games rely a lot on reusing enemies from beginning to end sometimes (not necessarily a bad thing) but I prefer the variety demons souls has in that regard.
For me it has always been Dark Souls 3! I was (and still am) so in love with the theme of the game and the incredible soundtrack that I'd go to sleep at midnight and then irresistibly wake up 4 hours later with the main theme of the game playing in my head and then I'd boot up my PC and play.
I think they all had incredible atmosphere, so no answer is correct or incorrect. Atmosphere is a staple in these games. I’ve played them all and love them all and I’d rank them equal.
Ok actually I change my mind, it’s probably Elden ring. You step into a meadow and you’re greeted with the sound of wind, grass and trees swaying, leaves falling and branches breaking. Wildlife running around, distant enemies patrolling their area. All of the places on the horizon that you can venture to. The world feels alive.
I’d say bloodborne has the best music. But most of the world and feel of the game is “samey” to me.
It also helps that unlike their previous games, Elden Ring has a soundtrack for every location and most of them are very fitting. For me Siofra River Well had one of the best atmospere of my whole gaming history.
I also remember very well when I went to activate my first great rune in Limgrave and it was as a rainy night at the time. The route to the divine tower combined with it's soundtrack was something else man.
@@valentinvas6454I instantly knew what you were about! These solemn bells when you approach the tower and the world is grey and rain is falling. Makes the sharp transition from Stormveil and it feels surreal, overworldly.
A sign of good atmosphere is being consistent, and elden ring’s is
Agreed this coming from someone who loved bloodborne and is hoping for a remaster. Elden had all these awesome different areas that made you really feel like your on an adventure….especially when you chosen your Eden and you didn’t listen to the maiden about 3 fingers…and then your now on a personal quest to the halig tree. Like that was so awesome.
Ds1 and ds2 are the best for me in terms of pure ambiance
Absolutely unique footage 💪 A sentimental return to the atmosphere of these worlds... Thx SquillaKilla 😁
I don't have a personal favorite FromSoft game I've always viewed it as each game being better than the rest at one thing and that one thing for Bloodborne has always been Atmosphere, well done sir.
Bloodborne for sure! It's my overall favorite game and the atmosphere plays a big part in it. It's so otherworldy and eerie.
Dark Souls 2 has the vibes of an old stag film I used to watch called "Blacks On Dads 9" and I've never found that feeling anywhere else and its a damn shame.
I really enjoyed the enviroment of OG Demon's Souls.
The fountainhead palace atmosphere in Sekiro is up there
Agreed, the ambient flute music of the enemies suddently going so hard when you start a fight and just going back to ambient when you return to stealth was so smooth and fantastic
Making this list sounds really hard because I think nearly every single entry could’ve ranked first place depending on who you ask. It’s interesting to see you placing DS2 so low because in other lists I saw it placed first. It’s not one of those rankings where you already know Gael is number so before even starting the video and I love that.
The music at firelink shrine is something that always gets my attention and instantly gets me into that mood. It's so hard to be honest, demon's souls nexus was really good as well fuck and then almost everywhere in bloodborne but I'm going to have to say the feeling of excitement and mystery that I felt on my first playthrough of elden was better than any other game I can think of, I was there it was like I could smell the air and feel the breeze and I loved it everything just came together to make the perfect storm for me.
Elden Rings theme is absolutely god teir and I love it way to much and Radagons theme is just pure perfection it’s more grand and is so good Radagon is still my favorite boss after playing through all the other souls games BUT OMG DS3 MAIN THEME honestly such a contender it hits harder being blasted into ur ears lol I don’t know which is better sometimes I think Elden Ring is like just a little tiny bit higher than DS3 theme but it’s so hard to choose
For me Bloodborne or Elden Ring has the best atmosphere Elden Ring was my first souls game so I’m supper bias but Bloodborne’s Victorian cosmic horror theme is unmatched but than again I do love the Medieval theme more 😭😭😭 Such tough decisions!
But fun decisions at the same time.
Elden ring has the least memorable music what are you talking about!
Hm maybe i don't remember any because i only finished the game once while the rest of the games 15+ times
Because it's an unbalanced tedious mess
I think ds2 would have done better as a stand alone or spin off rather than a sequel. Instead of a crumbling world fight to survive and needing to be saved like ds1 ds2 is a confused world going out with a whimper and fighting back when provoked but even the monarchs are dead and dieing. Vindrik fights back only when attack and as he has gone completely hollows dosnt want to fight or survive just like the world its self. Still I think the game being a sequel lead to it have difficulty trying to live up to ds1 and I understand why it got last place but it's still my favorite in the series. Maybe not last but better than demon souls would be my preferred placement but I get why it was so low
Sound track was weak but I still love the game despite its weakness which are many
What I like with DS2 is the melancholy and the loss of memories. It is sad but soothing in a way.
Mine is Dark Souls 1 by a landslide. It's the only game that feels like that to me. It's so important to me...
DS3, the absolute hopeless and depressing vibe the game gave off was soenthing I had never experienced before. The world is rotted, crumbling. The lords are a shadow of there former selves, I’ll and corrupted. All kingdoms have collapsed. Just made me feel a certain way my whole first play though.
I feel the same! Unforgettable atmosphere.
Tbh that is nothing special, all souls games have those vibes but better
Ds3 is so unoriginal, its basically ds1 with a pinch of Bloodborne, sure the combination might work for some people, especially if its ur 1st game into the series but if its ur 5th it would basically come off as the most unoriginal thematically, music is a banger in ds3 tho ngl, the ashen theme made the game too grey and thus dull at times
I agree with Bloodbourne at #1, but the callback to the title music during the Radagon fight gave me the biggest chills of any game ever.
love ur vids man
Awesome video, thanks Squilla!
Ds2 man. Beautiful times
Suggestions welcome!
For me it has to be a toss up between Dark Souls 1 and Elden Ring. I've never been so encapsulated by the lore and the world in any form of media like I am with Lordran and the Lands Between
Bloodborne being my first souls like game was an experience like no other. I'm 31, so I have played plenty of games, but Bloodborne felt fresh and magic, it made me feel as excited as when I was a kid and I was playing something I had never played before. One of the best games I have ever played.
honestly had alot of fun watching this good stuff.
They're all very close for me, From does some real magic with their worlds, but I think it will always be Bloodborne for me. All of them have amazing and consistent and believable aesthetics and flawless internal logic holding it all together, they're all beautiful, but Bloodborne just resonates with me and I can't quite put my finger on it.
I'm going to go with Elden Ring. I'm a fan of variety, and its setting has lots of different cool aesthetics without any of them feeling out of place among the others.
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i dunno it's pretty bland
Would ya look at that it’s three lame comments in a row!
Interesting topic, well presented, cheers from Germany
I think Sekiro is fairly underrated in atmosphere.
It doesn't do a ton with what it has- what it has being a historical edo-esc Japan, but that snowy autumn that bathes the upper parts of the world really, REALLY works for me- mixing especially well with the other colors the game presents- the red and black of Ashina, the smooth purple of the interior ministry, Wolfs orange robe, the white of the Apes fur.
It's not the most inventive setting, but I think it uses what it does have incredibly well- which is something you could say about a lot of Sekiro.
The monk temple during sunset is right up there for most aesthetically pleasing areas in fiction for me. Fromsoft doesn't optimize well but it was a masterclass in using the resources available. Wish you could take Sekiro out of the image and it'd be a fantastic wallpaper.
To me would be (worst to best)
DS2, DS3, demons souls, sekiro, bloodborne, DS1, elden ring.
Also I think you should've taken the original demons souls in consideration, instead of the remake. Cause the remake wasn't made by from
4:53 Speaking of DS2's soundtrack, I HAVE to mention "Nashandra" which we sadly don't get to hear because she dies in less than a minute. It's a beautiful, haunting rendition of "Queen of Drangleic" which is in the OST but wasn't used in the game :(
Also, "Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon" (EPIC AF), "Zallen and Lud" (Great main theme, shit boss), and "Sir Alonne" (first DS3-level of choir) were good :)
DS1 easily imo. I can remember clearly thestrange feeling after such a long and hard journey through undead burg, blighttown, the depth,... then I found shortcuts lead to the Firelink Shrine, with that soft, beautiful and iconic music, all NPCs that I share my empathy with ( even Patches), sitting in there for the last moment before they going hollow. It is absolutely the most unique thing about the original Dark Souls, and I really adore it
Great video 👏🏻
It personally goes DS2, DeS, then Bloodborne. I have a spot spot for depressing and fantastical worlds. Bloodborne does scratch that dark Victorian vibe though.
elden ring being at the top 2 and demon souls being bottom 2 is the funniest thing ive ever seen
DeS, BB, and ER all have the best atmosphere
@@BlacklistedSoup ER has the worst atmosphere of all the games its not even close
Saying its better than demon souls and dark souls 1 is an actual crime
@@Soulsball lol. You’re hating on it for no reason. It has some of the best atmosphere, if it’s not for you that’s fine but it’s hard to believe since it has similar atmosphere to the rest. Believe what you want to believe but just saying “it’s bad lol” is not a concise way to put things.
@@BlacklistedSoup never said its bad, i just believe it to be the least immersive game in the franchise thats all
No other game has left me in more awe than Elden Ring. It’s the most beautiful looking game I’ve ever played, and the music always matches the moments.
I contend that after the gameplay loop, atmosphere is up there in importance. Wanting to spend more time in a game because of it's atmosphere is a big deal
I have to say Bloodborne.
Bloodborne has the best *everything*, but atmosphere especially. But honestly, I love the feeling of the world of DSII. The whole place feels so somber, like every step you take is just tragic. Nobody wants to be there, nobody wants to do what they're doing, but they are and they do because that's how it has to be. And when you get the story, and especially when you meet Vendrick, you realize how this whole attitude of the whole world and that feeling that's pervaded the entire experience is the whole point of the story, it's the themes of the narrative made tangible in the atmosphere of the areas and the whole vibe of the game. It's almost like DSII is what you get when someone tells the story of DSI as a folk tale that's still being retold a thousand years later, and the details have gotten all screwed up and warped by time and retelling, but the purpose of the story is so vivid and so impactful that it still persists, and it's infused everything, right down to the bones.
That's just insanely disingenuous. Bloodborne is atrocious in the bulk of its game design. I too find its atmosphere top notch, but it definitely doesn't have the best everything. Hitboxes, quality of life, performance, optimization, enemy design, variety, spells, builds, armor, playstyles, music, all of those DS3 and Elden Ring absolutely curb Bloodborne in. Hell even DS2 does minus the music.
@@TheStraightestWhitest You took my “everything” more literally than I meant it. Mechanically, while I still prefer it, you’re correct that Bloodborne is objectively problematic in numerous ways. I only meant that I prefer everything about it *aesthetically* . I definitely disagree about the music, enemy design, and armor, and calling it “atrocious” is itself insanely disingenuous. Flaws and all, Bloodborne is one of the best games ever made by anyone.
i agree with you, nowadays there is only two things that makes bloodborne still peak and those are the atmosphere and the weapons. @@TheStraightestWhitest, we got ludwig ost that is peak but almost very ds3 theme its peak too, sekiro combat to me its better, demon souls and dark souls 1 have better level design, npc are great but ds3 and elden ring have better ones and finally the hunters dream its a special place but Majula so far with his song have the best hub atmosphere made by fromsoft.
@@joebykaeby That's a much more reasonable take. Thanks for clarifying. And I never meant all of it was atrocious. But much of it is. Blood gem farming, double loading screens for every single time you want to warp, horrible framerate issues, no storage auto fill, no respecc, no character makeovers, gear/hair clipping, no omnidirectional sprinting while locked on, having to manually warp out of the Gehrman/MP fight just to not get sent into NG+, jumping tied exclusively to O meaning sprint rolling isn't a thing which is made even worse by the brutal counter damage the game inflicts during a jump.
And that's just off the top of my head. I'm forgetting a lot no doubt. Bloodborne is the most flawed game FromSoft has made along with DS1.
@@kaic5225 I'm very surprised to see Squilla's community being so objective about these things. It speaks measures about him as a content creator I suppose. Most just mindlessly dickride Bloodborne to no end and pretend it's perfect. It's one of those niche games that gathers an absolute cult around it that won't tolerate ANY criticism no matter how objective.
To me I think it’s Elden ring. The location that stands out the most is the Atlas Plateau from its mountainous Volcano peaked west giving its restless feeling of anxiety pretty much throughout the area fitting that of an area surrounding an active volcano to the regal east, a city caressed with gold and nobility only to leave you with a sense of abandonment as its streets remained nearly empty. Even the small little windmill village near the northern west part left me with a feeling that I was a returning adventurer, finally making his way home only it too was abandoned, left in a peaceful sense rather untouched however, lonely at the peak of the coastline. I could keep going for most other areas in Elden ring however, I found myself enjoying the environment way more than in any other previous souls game. It might not be my favorite but, it damn sure has the most work put into for aesthetics.
Great video!
A small defense of dark souls 2. I will say that the areas by themselves are really nice. Unfortunately they don't work together to create a cohesive world.
wrong DS2 is actually the best. you been brainwashed
@@ChrisOluwole I was literally defending ds2. What are you waffling about?
I like the idea of you being in a dreamlike world and your mind and body slowly deteriorating creating a not clear sense of distance and direction, obviously it went through developmental hell, but this was always my headcannon and fits narratively with how DS2 depicts hollowing (think Lucatiel and even the in game mechanic of losing your hp and hollowing more and more with each death.)
Majula supremacy
@@lontar4789best hub area all other games can hold their Ls
Why is it even a question? Ofc Bloodborne had the best atmosphere, not gonna go deeper into that.
Best video Ive seen in a while man
Relying on my memory of the initial impact these games left. Dark Souls 2 was my first souls game and while there was nothing in the atmosphere of the game that drew me in, as ds2 is perhaps the most video gamey in the franchise, the very first thing I did was beat the lost sinner without knowing the controls on my brothers profile and I was hooked on such an exhilarating gameplay experience. It felt like being in a ufc cage, that 1v1 humanoid boss fight.
Going into Ds1 however I was wowed by fire link and the upper burg, the music tracks, thr lighting effects through the trees... how there was no magic teleport tunnels like ds2. The fact I could walk everywhere in this sad hollowed land and not go wait what the fuck how is the lava in the sky?? 😂
Ds3 while probably being my favorite of the dark souls trilogy for the most accurate guts build and great blood effects, has a feeling of hollowness to it that isn't the pun I uses for ds1. It feels like ds3 wasn't a passion project imo and maybe it's the drastic story line changes that happened and all the shuffled assets that make me feel like i'm playing a hobbled together game but none the less it's the easiest for me to go back to and play to completion as well as enjoying the pvp.
Bloodborne was a seriously magical experience for me. The voice actors, the setting, the easily accessed plot and even the deeper lore. And despite bloodborne having itself thrown around much like ds3 I never felt like the story was letting me down or not making sense.
For example, instead of mindless hollow knights who are just standing frozen or walking in circles, or hollows growing into trees or being burned in massive piles without context, you get to yarnam and see a massive beast hunt under way, crucified werewolves being burned at the stake. You're attacked for being an outsider and a threat (and later learn even more about them actually being in bloodlust from the transfusions and morphing themselves) it just felt so much more ... visceral 😏
Every interaction held a stronger link to a reason why for me instead of "fire fade, man go zombie, zombie eats...only player character...."
Sekiro was also a greatly atmospheric game as they removed all rpg elements and gave people a single player story to go through. Fighting living breathing people trying to stop you with their own minds intact. Gorgeous eastern environments and an incredible learning curve that was without a doubt the most rewarding "i get it now" moment across the series.
I never played either og or remake demons souls nor did I play Elden Ring so disregarding them,
TL;DR
I would have to place bloodborne at the top of atmosphere list, followed by Sekiro, and then DS1.
I'm torn between DS2, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring for my favorite in conveying atmosphere.
DS2 really nails that surreal dream-like feeling, and the absurdity if Iron Keep being above Harvest Valley just adds to it for me. Bloodborne has that keen emphasis on dread, the unknown, and abject body horror with a lot of it, given how people can become beasts or be experimented on to become kin-like, or even become an eldritch being yourself. Elden Ring has that sheer, vast scale, and captures desolation with a lot of its ravaged world, especially underground with the air of mysticism in Siofra, or the sheer contrast of the Nameless Eternal City compared to Nokstella or Nokron because of its false night sky being robbed by Astel, potentially.
I'm just touching upon these three because its so hard to choose.
Weakest to Strongest
DS2
DS3
ER
Sekiro
BB
DS1
DS1 by far is the one that I was feeling that I am inside the game it was really something, I guess due to the fact how the sound was made and how warping wasn't a thing you get from the start it lead to this feeling of omg Where I am how do I keep on living what to do, do I do this or that WTF is that omg I don't wanna die in the depth again.
Why Demon's souls isn't on the list because I couldn't get a PS5
You better get a ps3😂
OG's Atmosphere ist much better. Especially the Music
DeS , DaS , Bloodborne . The back to back early Miyazaki trilogy. With DeS having the thickest , richest of the three . Theres just something about them being made in that older , golder space-time that could never be duplicated nowadays
Bloodborne it is for me! A survival horror game hidden under an action RPG. True horror which goes under your skin, not cheap jump scares. I'll never forget the scene after Rhom's fight, I wish i could experience it all over again for the first time 🥺
Bloodborne got me reading Lovecraft, so that's great. However I'm always amazed at the sheer quality of Sekiro's world. Every time I replay it it's almost like the first time, everything just fits together.
Demon's Souls will always have a special place in my heart. I've read a great deal of essays on the lore of DeS, as well as Dark Souls, and they both have such interesting worlds.
Elden Ring is just pretentious nonsense through and through, in my opinion. Great game, mechanically excelent and very very fun, I'm actually replaying it right now, but I can't really care about the story. There's some interesting NPCs, but the grand scheme of what goes on in the game is meh IMO.
Great video my man, the effort really shows! I don't agree completely with your ranking but, of course, it boils down to personal preference. Having said that... Bloodborne is the absolute king of atmosphere!
What’s the song used in the beginning of the video?
My nr1 spot is tied between Dark Souls 1 and Bloodborne. Spot nr2 is Elden Ring. Past that I don't know. c: Very cool video Squilla!
i like all of them,cause every game has unique atmosphere,to be able to create different emotions when you delve into them is really amazing,but,the hardest impact on me has King's field 4. The moment you first came into the tower area and,when you first time realize the scale and the beauty of it,you can feel hardship of those folks,their greed and consequences of their actions they couldn't see but you can feel now,and experience it on your own. And the most profound thing i've found in souls games,if you don't like something innit,it's not the game fault,its just your preferences and imagination. If you feel a lil bit tired or like anxiety strikes you bad you will see that in your gameplay.
1. Bloodborne
2. Demon’s Souls
3. Dark Souls
4. Sekiro
5. Elden Ring
6. Dark Souls 3
7. Dark Souls 2
A few thoughts on every game:
Bloodborne was the first game I completed. The aesthetics are unique - beautiful and scary at the same time. The creatures in it still send a shiver down my spine. Blood-starved Beast. The Brain of Mensis. Orphan of Kos. I remember getting a heartattack when I saw the the blood-starved beast and the Shadows of Yharnam as regular enemies in the game. As bosses, they gave me nightmares and seeing them in the levels triggered that. Great move, FS.
What ranks Demon’s Souls for me so high is the atmosphere. Yes, it doesn’t have the best, most refined gameplay, but the atmosphere of despair is unmatched and only topped by my #1 Bloodborne.
Yes, Demon’s Souls has no connected world, like Dark Souls 1 has, but the different arch stones with their worlds cover a lot of different asthetics. The tower of Latria and the Valley of Defilement were great, because they created the feeling the character had when travelling there. And the hub music is great.
Dark Souls’s interconnectivity and enemy placement is great. Ending up in Firelink shrine after struggling throught he undead burg was a big magic moment for me as an open world fan. The Shortcuts in Bloodborne were amazing, but Dark Souls was another level of that.
For the longest time Sekiro was my least favorite game with the least appealing atmosphere, but after beating the final boss and 2-3 playthroughs I learned to appreciate the world and atmosphere.
Elden Ring was too big for me. Usually, I love open worlds and I enjoyed Elden Ring, but some of the magic from more closed FROM SOFTWARE games was gone.
Dark Souls 3 has one of the best soundtracks, I agree. And I enjoyed the faster combat, but the world isn’t as interconnected as in Dark Souls.
Dark Souls 2 wasn’t as refined as other FS games, but it has the best hub in my opinion (Bloodborne close second). I felt so relieved after returning to Majula.
Loved the video. I watched all of it without skipping ahead. I was intested in your thoughts, compairing them to mine.
Second half of Tower of Latria is one of the greatest gaming experiences I had. Mysterious, but enchanting. Horrorful, but welcoming. Definitely in the top 10. Crazy to think FromSoft pulled off such a level of quality in a 2009 first-time souls game, that was initially thought to be a failure upon release.
That whole area is nightmare fuel lol even back then they were making terrifying eldritch nightmares
Only souls have I haven’t played is ds2. They are all great but honestly Elden rings atmosphere was so magical and immersive. Caelid was such a vibe. I think the skins design added so much more to it.
DS1, BB, and DS3 all have amazing atmosphere and I honestly don't know if I could pick between them. Coincidentally those are also my favourite games in the series lol.
I feel like DS2 had the best atmosphere, Majula and Vendricks' theme summarised you, the ai actually had a brain, and the game centred way more around the undead curse, dark souls 2 feels just like... Dark Souls. I know some of the transitions sucked but I love it. Majula just has that unique nostalgia.
The atmosphere of Yharnam, the city in Bloodborne, has a comforting feeling akin to being at home, and for a while, I would create time just to wander around Yharnam while streaming Lo-fi music on Spotify.
What's the beginning background music?
Elden Ring. I really think that’s FromSofts masterpiece. Several environments and the reveal of those environments are top tier. From Limgrave to Liurnia to when I first discover Nokron.
BB is my favorite vibe, but I prefer the diversity of DS1 and ER. The stark contrast from Lake of Rot to Noct City is soooo funking cool. Not to mention, the many spots around Lake of Liurnia that has SO MANY screenshot moments. Especially at night or twilight hours.
When talking strictly about atmosphere, i would give the title to the first Dark Souls. I think they really nailed this feel of a lonely, broken and sad world here the best. Or at least, its still the game that yells "you are not welcome here" the loudest, while being so quiet most of the time.
As a whole game package though, i prefer Sekiro and Bloodborne
What song is playing in the first minute?
I feel like a lot of this video is discussing things totally unrelated to atmosphere
21:00 at that moment when the Cockroach remembers it can fly and you will be more afraid of it than it is of you.
I don't know up to what extend JapanStudio was involved in the development of Bloodborne but i think they had alot to do with the art style of the game. JapanStudio gave us ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Gardian , games with unique art style and atmosphere.
You know nobody’s said Elden Ring and I think part of the reason for that is that the scope of Elden Ring’s world and lore is so vast, it defies the feeling of a single vibe or atmosphere. It makes something like Bloodborne more cohesive but Elden Ring is capable of conjuring so many different feelings and atmospheres in its world that it’s a marvel of its own.