The Interconnected World of Dark Souls

Dark Souls is a special game, flawed, but masterful in some respects. When I finally got around to playing the game this time last year, I was hooked instantly. It made for an immensely memorable first-time experience, because although Dark Souls’ combat and bosses are weaker in comparison to later games by FromSoftware, its strength lies in its interconnected world, something that Miyazaki is yet to replicate, or at the very least, master in the same way that he did in his breakout game. 

Finding the path forward is not always obvious, especially because you have no fast travel to rely on, and 3 directions to travel in once reaching Firelink Shrine. Stronger enemies will discourage players from going through certain areas, but the game does not restrict you from doing so. Between the intertwined areas, there are no loading screens allowing the player character to seamlessly travel through the game world. As the player explores further, shortcuts between areas and back to Firelink shrine can be unlocked. The video linked below provides an illustrated breakdown of the entirety of Dark Souls’ map.

What I find so special about Dark Souls’ interconnected world design is the options players are given when exploring. Because of the lack of fast travel, it’s easy to get lost in an area, which makes it even more rewarding to find a shortcut back to a previously explored zone. This made me feel like an adventurer carving a path through Lordran, a feeling that is lost slightly in the later games with fast travel being accessible from the beginning and hub worlds being separate from the main world e.g., Roundtable Hold in Elden Ring. In Dark Souls, nothing beats arriving back at Firelink Shrine after hours of difficult gameplay. You take an elevator down or walk up some steps, the tranquil music kicks in, you rest at the bonfire, and just for a moment, you’ve made it back to a safe place after a long journey.