Key Takeaways
- Black Dragon Kalameet is FromSoftware’s first true dragon boss, setting a high standard for future dragon encounters.
- Kalameet’s multiphase approach remains unmatched, requiring players to face him multiple times in a complex and challenging fight.
- The ferocity and lethality of Kalameet’s attacks set him apart, influencing future dragon boss designs in the Souls series, though the original arguably does it best.
As a seasoned gamer who’s battled my fair share of beasts and bosses across numerous realms, I can confidently say that Black Dragon Kalameet from Dark Souls holds a special place in my heart (and occasionally, my sanity). This fearsome foe stands tall amongst the pantheon of dragon bosses, setting the bar high for future encounters with these fire-breathing titans.
It’s not surprising that the dragons are among the toughest and most thrilling battles in the Dark Souls series, given their significance in the game’s storyline. From Seath the Scaleless in Dark Souls, to the Ancient Dragon in Dark Souls 2, and Darkeater Midir in Dark Souls 3, dragons have been a defining feature of FromSoftware’s games, a tradition that continues in Elden Ring. Despite Elden Ring offering an impressive collection of dragon bosses, one dragon from the original Dark Souls stands out as the best: Black Dragon Kalameet.
The penultimate encounter of Dark Souls‘ Artorias of the Abyss DLC expansion, Black Dragon Kalameet stands head and shoulders above other FromSoftware dragon bosses by just about every metric. Between his challenging and complex move set, excellent arena and boss theme, and relatively easy run-back, Kalameet is one of the pinnacle boss encounters in Dark Souls, setting a high bar for quality that only a few other dragon bosses in the FromSoftware catalog come close to meeting. Not only is Kalameet the template for FromSoftware’s subsequent dragon fights, the encounter itself established the benchmarks for challenge and mechanical depth in the studio’s future DLC expansions.
Black Dragon Kalameet is FromSoftware’s First True Dragon Boss
Previous dragon battles in the single Dark Souls DLC expansion had more to do with simple tricks or eye-catching presentations rather than engaging mechanics and tough combat. The Dragon God fight began this trend in Demon’s Souls, as it was essentially a puzzle segment disguised as a boss battle, and things didn’t improve much in the main Dark Souls game. Seath the Scaleless and the Gaping Dragon were impressive battles, but they both had slow-moving targets that were easy to strike and used only a few basic attacks.
Compared to other dragon boss fights in the Souls series, Kalameet stands out as one that truly embodies the fierce and deadly nature of these beasts. Kalameet is swift, packs a powerful punch, and boasts an extensive repertoire of moves that range from physical assaults to breathing fire and even lethal grabs. Getting too close to Kalameet is a risky move, often resulting in disaster for players who must remain vigilant about their distance from the boss while learning its attack patterns and capitalizing on the rare opportunities to inflict damage. The lessons learned from battling Kalameet have greatly influenced future dragon bosses created by FromSoftware (with some notable exceptions), as they tend to deliver heavy blows followed by periods when players can maneuver around the enemy, exploiting their size against them.
The Multiphase Approach to Kalameet is Unmatched by Other FromSoftware Dragon Fights
One of the best elements of the fight against Kalameet is that players come face to face with the foe multiple times throughout the Artorias of the Abyss DLC before they eventually encounter him. And, with a little exploration in the Oolacile Township following the fight against Artorias, players get access to a key that grants them an audience with Hawkeye Gough. By completing a few short steps that amount to a sort of “mini” side quest, Gough can permanently ground Kalameet, transforming the fight from nigh-impossible to an encounter where skilled players can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the unique and unparalleled battle experience that the Kalameet fight offers, one that has yet to be mirrored in other FromSoftware games. The closest approximation might be the occasional flight maneuvers of certain dragon bosses in Elden Ring, but even that falls short.
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2024-09-01 17:05