Dark Souls and Skyrim, two entirely different forms of RPGs, have recently been compared to each other by more and more video games sites. Fans of both series are already getting annoyed by this, and I count myself as one of them.
First, let me start off by saying that I believe that, for me, Dark Souls is going to be the only one of the two that I will play. I cannot claim to be unbiased here, but even I know when not to compare two completely different games. Both will be great in their own ways, I’m sure, and this trend with comparing them has really got to stop.
Personally I'm looking so forward to this.....
First off, they are both entirely different games. Skyrim aims for immersion in its story and lore, while Dark Souls aims for challenge and gameplay to motivate its players. Each appeals to a different crowd, and while both sides can definitely enjoy the other game, they generally do not need to be competing. Dark Souls also puts an emphasis on multiplayer as part of the experience, while Skyrim is aiming for a completely single player experience.
Another thing that I see is people comparing the length of the two. Let’s be clear, both games are going to be long. Each has their own ways in creating their length, as well. Skyrim will have tons of quests, dungeons and dialogue to discover. Dark Souls will make people have to learn the system and many of the hours spent will be from intense fights, multiplayer battles, and trekking through the many dungeons you must complete to beat the game. Each has their own appeal for people seeking a time sink, and hundreds of hours can be spent on both.
Other, less important, aspects have been used to compare the two as well. From one’s inclusion of the DLC scheme to the inclusion of dragons in both games. These comparisons are petty, and ultimately pointless. People do not really care about if they have DLC or not, or if there are certain types of monsters in them. People should only care if they will be enjoyable to them, and any other comparisons are obviously only to garner unnecessary attention and conflict.
...but that doesn't mean that I should care if it's "better" or "worse" than Skyrim.
Ultimately, these types of comparisons are bad for both series, really. They aren’t really competing (well, in a general sense they are but, you know what I mean), and fans of both games can enjoy the other, I’m sure. The only end result of this is immature comparisons and a pointless flame wars. In the worst case, it can cause a person to lose interest in the games while the best case results in both sides looking immature. Expressing one's opinion is fine and all, but doing so in a what that causes such an immature argument should not be commended.
Author’s note: I apologize if I offend anyone interested in Skyrim in any way. While not a game I plan on getting, I do not want anyone to get angry or think I was trying to insult the game they are looking forward to. I honestly hope both games are great.
Articles in question:
IGN article
XBM Article
Raiding Party Article
Ckarasu's blog
Follow
RSS
Contact
And that IGN article is hilarious. There's no other way I can interpret that piece than as flame bait and controversy for controversy's sake.
"lol, let's make a versus list where Dark Souls wins every time!"
Does it matter? No. They appeal to the same customer base in two completely different ways. It's like arguing if apples and oranges are similar. They aren't, but they are fruit and in all likelihood a person who wants an apple could probably eat an orange and be satisfied.
Look at the Dtoid show and see how many more hits on average a Skyrim episode gets. I know if I were making a game, I'd want the gaming press to bring it up in the same sentence as Skyrim as often as possible, just so all the millions of Elder Scrolls fans could see that my game even exists.
Do you think that’s why EA are constantly bringing up Modern Warfare in comparison to Battlefield? Though sometimes that smacks of “Genesis does what Nintendon’t”
Like you say, I’m sure the exposure is good for them but it’s still kind of confusing with these two games, it’s like comparing CSI and Scooby Doo because they’re both about solving mysteries. I’m actually kind of surprised there hasn’t been more of this with Resistance and Gears 3 coming out within weeks of each other.
Look at how many great games have been left unnoticed because something bigger was released around the same time. As much as I love COD or that person loves Battlefield, neither should have that sole foothold in the industry.
Don't humor any attempts to make two video games fight each other for the masses?