So I had this really weird dream last night about a Dark Souls game that was completely different from the usual formula. In this version called ‘Dark Souls: Celestial’, the whole gameplay was focused on exploration and item collection rather than fighting enemies. You basically had to traverse through all the different areas and zones while gathering various items and treasures, but the twist was that you could avoid all combat encounters entirely. The only mandatory fight in the entire game was against a single boss character named ‘Stranger Bob’ at the very end. Has anyone else ever had gaming dreams that completely changed how a familiar game series worked? I’m curious if this kind of pacifist Dark Souls concept would actually be interesting to play or if it would remove too much of what makes the series appealing in the first place.
Sounds like it could work as a walking simulator with souls vibes
Honestly that sounds pretty relaxing compared to regular Dark Souls. I’d probably enjoy wandering around without getting murdered every five minutes, though fighting just Stranger Bob at the end would feel so anticlimactic after all that buildup.
Your dream basically turned Dark Souls into a treasure hunting game which is kind of brilliant. The series already has some of the best world design in gaming so removing combat would let you actually appreciate all those details without constantly worrying about getting backstabbed. Though I’m dying to know what made Stranger Bob so special that he’s the only fight worth keeping.
That’s actually a fascinating dream concept. A pacifist Dark Souls would be such a weird departure but I can see the appeal. The exploration and environmental storytelling are already huge parts of what makes those games work. Removing the constant threat of death might let you really soak in the atmosphere and lore without the stress. Though ‘Stranger Bob’ as the final boss name is hilarious and completely breaks the usual gothic naming conventions.