Enotria Borrows One of Dark Souls 2’s Most Frustrating Aspects

Enotria Borrows One of Dark Souls 2's Most Frustrating Aspects

As a seasoned Soulsborne veteran, I must admit that my heart skipped a beat when I first heard about Enotria: The Last Song. With its striking visuals and promising combat system reminiscent of the original Dark Souls, it seemed like a game tailor-made for me. But alas, as I delved deeper into its world, I found myself increasingly frustrated by its group encounters that felt eerily similar to those in the much maligned Dark Souls 2.


The debut of the game titled “Enotria: The Last Song” into the expanding Soulslike genre has inevitably sparked numerous comparisons to the creations of FromSoftware. Surprisingly, this game leans more towards adhering to the rules set by the initial Dark Souls trilogy, rather than other FromSoftware titles like Sekiro or Bloodborne. Despite its focus on combat that heavily relies on parrying, as seen in the original Dark Souls, the game’s somewhat rigid movements and animations have led many to draw parallels with the original Dark Souls. However, its enemy placements and emphasis on group encounters are more reminiscent of the series’ lesser-known Dark Souls 2.

In the original “Dark Souls”, players often find themselves in tough spots where they’re surrounded by multiple adversaries, but as the game progresses, it shifts more towards intricate one-on-one battles (starting from Anor Londo). On the other hand, “Dark Souls 2” tends to make the game challenging by throwing numerous enemies at the player, many of which are placed in ambushes or large groups. These enemies may not be particularly difficult on their own, but when encountered in groups, they can become extremely frustrating. Similarly, the game “Enotria” makes a comparable mistake with its enemy placement, and unfortunately, it is often compared unfavorably to “Dark Souls 2” due to this issue.

Enotria: The Last Song’s Group Encounters Are an Exercise in Frustration

In no time at all, Enotria’s interactions start off in earnest, as the game launches straight into action without much preamble, allowing players to jump right in. Even in the initial zone of the game, you won’t just face solitary opponents but rather groups lurking around almost every corner. Given that the game prioritizes parrying and individual encounters, these group battles swiftly transition from thrilling to irritating before the game has a chance to win over players with its charm.

It’s not just the close-combat fighters who pose a threat; rather, it’s the adversaries armed with long-range weapons like crossbows or throwing deadly grenades infused with Enotria’s various elemental forces. Individually, these enemies are feeble and can often be defeated in one strike. However, when combined with opponents that engage the player in hand-to-hand combat, they transform into one of the most formidable challenges on the battlefield. While they have little health and can easily be eliminated, the persistent disruptions caused by ranged attacks from enemy groups make it challenging to carry out attacks consistently.

How Gank Mobs Undermine Enotria’s Otherwise Satisfying Parry-Heavy Combat

Enotria Borrows One of Dark Souls 2's Most Frustrating Aspects

In many Soulslike games, dealing with multiple adversaries simultaneously is a usual challenge. However, the extent to which game Enotria relies on this aspect leaves room for critique and even unfavorable comparisons, particularly when set against some of the less appealing aspects of Dark Souls 2. This issue is exacerbated by the game’s focus on parrying over dodging. In high-pressure situations, dodging proves less effective, while parrying can become impossible after an attack is disrupted by damage from an unseen enemy. Although Enotria‘s dodge mechanic may be more practical than that in games like Lies of P, it still takes a secondary role to parrying.

In essence, the game Enotria lacks diverse, intricate combat situations beyond boss fights. Instead, it often resorts to flooding the player with enemies to overpower them, which it manages effectively. However, this undermines the potential enjoyment of the game’s combat system, as when Enotria is functioning optimally, the sensation of parrying, counterattacking, and dismantling enemies is immensely gratifying. It’s unfortunate that in numerous encounters, players find themselves searching for cannon fodder to attack at a distance rather than engaging in an exciting battle.

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2024-09-22 21:14