The lack of Seamless or semi-seamless co-op is a gripe - especailly after Lords of the Fallen showed how easy it coud be done while their other online systems sucked - but all you do is join a Group (or Communities in the past, which I preferred) and ask or just see where the action was. I have consistant random action, but if quiet I just ask.
Just about the first items you pick up in ER are the co-op items, the first thing next to the grace is a Summoning Pool and an NPC for Invasions (once the dialog is active). In many Souls titles previously you had a Blue Knight right there, or Solaire quickly opining about Jolly Co-operation - and if you were online you got Invaded (also NPC Invaders). I bought Lords of the Fallen and not Lies of P or Sekiro because of no multiplayer.
Until ER there were Covenants dedicated to co-op and invasions, which Bloodborne messed with the Vilebloods vs the Whoever-They-Were covenants the DLC fixed with the Hunters. DS2 had special items - not trophies - for no bonfire and no death runs., and Bonfire Ascetics and Rat Levels to set up the map the way you wanted. Speed runs, no hit runs... People make the game fun as they choose to from the code provided to them. And that's on PlayStation without Mods!
It was very obviously multiplayer from the first time I loaded up Demon's Souls all those years ago. That people can choose to NOT use the inbuilt mechanisms of the game that they play is their choice and not any special design essence by the Devs - who want to make money from their games and code. Making ER "Accessible" turned out to be marketing genius but seems to have mortally offended the "sword and board, tools and spells are cheese" crowd I laugh at. Go back and play DS1 now - the bosses are so slow it's just funny.
An online friend did the DLC at level 11 NG7 (Scadutree level 19) solo but prefers the chaos of co-op. So once again, from persoanl experience, if you are having difficulties with a Boss solo...
Git Gud. (it took 100 Rune Arcs for her to defeat Gaius, so it does take patience!)
Me and my friends are having a ball using all the gear available inbuilt in the code as well as the online communities FROM has encouraged since inception. It's a mixed bag but with these games you can determine the fun that you allow yourself. Pining for the old Dark Souls 1 solo experience is not something I have ever done.
YMMV
Just about the first items you pick up in ER are the co-op items, the first thing next to the grace is a Summoning Pool and an NPC for Invasions (once the dialog is active). In many Souls titles previously you had a Blue Knight right there, or Solaire quickly opining about Jolly Co-operation - and if you were online you got Invaded (also NPC Invaders). I bought Lords of the Fallen and not Lies of P or Sekiro because of no multiplayer.
Until ER there were Covenants dedicated to co-op and invasions, which Bloodborne messed with the Vilebloods vs the Whoever-They-Were covenants the DLC fixed with the Hunters. DS2 had special items - not trophies - for no bonfire and no death runs., and Bonfire Ascetics and Rat Levels to set up the map the way you wanted. Speed runs, no hit runs... People make the game fun as they choose to from the code provided to them. And that's on PlayStation without Mods!
It was very obviously multiplayer from the first time I loaded up Demon's Souls all those years ago. That people can choose to NOT use the inbuilt mechanisms of the game that they play is their choice and not any special design essence by the Devs - who want to make money from their games and code. Making ER "Accessible" turned out to be marketing genius but seems to have mortally offended the "sword and board, tools and spells are cheese" crowd I laugh at. Go back and play DS1 now - the bosses are so slow it's just funny.
An online friend did the DLC at level 11 NG7 (Scadutree level 19) solo but prefers the chaos of co-op. So once again, from persoanl experience, if you are having difficulties with a Boss solo...
Git Gud. (it took 100 Rune Arcs for her to defeat Gaius, so it does take patience!)
Me and my friends are having a ball using all the gear available inbuilt in the code as well as the online communities FROM has encouraged since inception. It's a mixed bag but with these games you can determine the fun that you allow yourself. Pining for the old Dark Souls 1 solo experience is not something I have ever done.
YMMV
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