Chapter 597: Official Release!
Players all over the world entered the prequel to *Dark Souls* with anticipation, hoping to reconstruct the full picture of the original game. Many were eager to experience the ancient war and uncover the secrets hidden behind *Dark Souls*. Some even fantasized about battling legendary figures like the Sun King Gwyn or the Witch of Izalith, reaching the pinnacle of an undead’s journey.
However, they were soon tortured to death...
On the official *Dark Souls* forum, countless posts appeared on the day of release, all sharing a unified theme: "This difficulty is absolutely insane!!"
Many players had mentally prepared themselves before diving in, thinking they could calmly endure the suffering. But once they actually entered the game, they realized they were still too fragile...
Just like many players had experienced in the demo booths, these players thoroughly tasted Chen Mo’s malice in the *Dark Souls* prequel—even stronger than in the original *Dark Souls*!
Many players thought they had fully adapted to Chen Mo’s tricks, but after playing the prequel, they understood: what tricks were those before?
This was the real "torture without mercy 2.0 version"!
Repelled by the Asylum Demon.
Lost in the Firelink Shrine.
Taught a lesson by the Hollow Sword Saint.
...
Many players had already cleared *Dark Souls* and came to challenge the prequel with soaring confidence. Yet, within an hour of starting the game, they were drenched by a bucket of cold water, chilled to the bone...
What pissed them off the most was finally understanding the meaning behind the theme song Chen Mo had chosen for the *Dark Souls* prequel.
All those who overanalyzed the song were completely wrong. In fact, the song *Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Miles* had absolutely nothing to do with the story background of *Dark Souls* itself. The only commonality was the lyrics.
Why was this song chosen as the theme? Because while playing the *Dark Souls* prequel, players spent most of their time running!
The terrain of the entire *Dark Souls* prequel was interconnected, with vast environments that could almost be called a complete small world. According to the prequel’s setting, players couldn’t teleport via bonfires before obtaining the Lordvessel, and there were no mounts. So, when players needed to travel between two distant locations, they had only one option: run!
What’s more, in *Dark Souls*, sitting at a bonfire would fully respawn all monsters. For players, fighting through every area was too time-consuming, but parkouring past them was too risky...
Often, a single mistake meant starting all over again...
Many players, as they played, suddenly grasped the meaning of the theme song.
"Three hundred and sixty-five miles, from hometown to a foreign land"
"Three hundred and sixty-five miles, from youth to gray hair"
"How many three hundred and sixty-five miles, crossing spring, summer, autumn, and winter"
"Three hundred and sixty-five miles, how could I let it be wasted?"
Many players complained, "This song is damn fitting!!"
Running that far—it really was three hundred and sixty-five miles, really from youth to gray hair—no mistake at all!
Many players even voluntarily played this song while running, feeling it perfectly captured their mood at that moment...
And *Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Miles* was even being sung by many players. The level design of *Dark Souls* was already excellent, but the prequel’s level design was even better! I think if bonfires could teleport freely, the beauty of this level design would be severely diluted."
"Oh, and one more thing: when everyone reaches Anor Londo and meets the big-chested princess, you’ll get the Lordvessel, and then you can teleport freely. That feeling—wow, it’s absolutely explosive! So, everyone, don’t be so quick to rage. Chen Mo designed it this way for a reason. I hope you all experience it with your hearts."
After this post was made, it did have some effect. Many players gradually calmed down and said they would properly appreciate Chen Mo’s art of level design.
But even more players asked: "Big-chested princess?? Where?!"