Dark Souls 2 is probably the least loved entry in a much-loved franchise, from its differing controls, copy-paste boss fights, and various giveaways in the level designs that make it clear it wasn’t directed by series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki. But I’d argue it’s grossly underrated, undeserving of its scorn, and has some serious storytelling chops. The series is no stranger to tragedy–from the fall of Artorias into the abyss to the lonely fate of Yhorm the Giant–and for all it’s idiosyncracies that have turned away fans, the second entry injects that tragedy into its narrative to deliver one bombshell of a plot twist. Join me as we dive into the harrowing revelation of Dark Souls 2’s great subversion.
Like most Souls games, the protagonist is a human cursed with undeath, and if they aren’t able to find a way to break their curse, they will soon become ‘hollow’–a sad shell of a human being, with no motivations or even memories.
In order to break this curse, you, the “Bearer of the Curse” make your way across a derelict and perilous land called Drangleic. You’re approached by a woman known as the Emerald Herald, who tasks you with collecting four Great Souls, which can only be obtained by defeating Old Ones–formidable beings of extraordinary power. After this task is achieved, the Herald informs our character to “Seek the King” within Drangleic’s capital.
After fighting your way into the aforementioned capital, you interact with Queen Nashandra, who reveals that King Vendrick has fled his kingdom after failing in his duties and tasks us with slaying him.
So you go forth on your king-slaying journey, defeating monstrous entities of great power and crawling through dungeons brimming with murderous spirits. As your trials and tribulations amass, you start to imagine what our grand battle with the king will be like. Will it be a beautiful crescendo like Lord Gwyn’s duel at the ending of the first Dark Souls, or the climactic battle with Old King Allant in Demon Souls, where the fate of the world is decided? Every boss the Souls games have thrown at us has been a showdown of near-Lovecraftian heights: from a great wolf that wields a sword, to a flying stingray behemoth god ripped straight out of legend.
As you descend into the Undead Crypt where the king is residing, your expectations for the showdown start to build. This feeling is amplified by the many nefarious enemies standing in your way. From undead prisoners prowling the halls, to Leydia witches, who utilize all manner of spells and magic to stop you, all the way to towering Royal Guards, who are just as resilient as the Black Knights who guarded your path to Lord Gwyn in the first Dark Souls.
But before the king awaits Velstadt–a loyal vessel in gold armor wielding a giant chime-hammer. Velstadt is a looming, intimidating figure that serves King Vendrick and his fighting skills display his position. Hammer strikes mixed with spells that boost his attack power, he is relentless and does not leave his back exposed for too long, forcing you to bob and weave through his attacks to land your blows.
With Velstadt’s slaying, the fog wall he was guarding fades away, revealing a dark hallway. You enter it to find…Vendrick. At first, you cautiously approach him as he lumbers forth, unsure of whether to prepare for combat, yet the combat never comes. Is this the king you were tasked with slaying? This passive hulking zombie? Instead of feeling intimidated, you feel sad–a feeling heightened by the somber melody that plays out as you approach him. All your expectations melt away when laying eyes upon the hollowed lord as he shambles across an empty arena.
With Velstadt’s slaying, the fog wall he was guarding fades away, revealing a dark hallway. You enter it to find…Vendrick. At first, you cautiously approach him as he lumbers forth, unsure of whether to prepare for combat, yet the combat never comes. Is this the king you were tasked with slaying? This passive hulking zombie? Instead of feeling intimidated, you feel sad–a feeling heightened by the somber melody that plays out as you approach him. All your expectations melt away when laying eyes upon the hollowed lord as he shambles across an empty arena.
We soon discover that it was actually Nashandra behind the downfall of the king and his kingdom. Long ago, she approached Vendrick as an outsider and coaxed him into launching an attack overseas against a race of Giants. While Vendrick was successful in claiming the Giants’ untitled power, they sought revenge and brought ruin to his kingdom. With his home now crumbling and realizing Nashandra’s treachery, Vendrick stowed himself away in the Undead Crypt before eventually turning hollow. He still plays a major role, as he’s the one behind the roadblocks on your journey, laying out the challenges that help you prepare for your eventual fight with Nashandra.
When I first encountered Vendrick in his decrepit state, I couldn’t help but draw a contrast to my first encounter with lord Gwyn. The latter duel was set amidst an ashen wasteland titled Kiln of the First Flame, and just like Undead Crypt, you fought through tough knights to get to the king. But when you meet Lord Gwyn, he’s all in his full glory– flaming sword ablaze and ready to greet you–doing all he can to prevent your destiny. King Vendrick is the exact opposite–his hollowed state becoming a grisly reminder of what we could become if we fail in our journey. Hollows and the hollowing process are a Souls staple, and I believe Dark Souls 2 has the best example of it. I’ve seen and slain a thousand ordinary hollows, but I’d never seen a great lord reduced to a shell of his former self like this. Not only is it a ghastly sight, but it also stabs into your soul when you realize you’ve been misled into going after this hollow lord who sacrificed his humanity to stop his evil spouse.
Many fans hate this game for how it differs from other Souls entries, but for me, the deviations makes it more unique. Instead of following the usual Souls formula, the second entry injects that trademark tragedy directly into the narrative, delivering one kick of a plot-twist that makes you question everything you knew about Drangleic.
