Games Inbox: What is the easiest Soulsborne game?

Metro

11-07-2025

The Friday letters page predicts the next big Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, as one reader hopes Resident Evil Requiem is the right kind of scary.
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Relatively easy
A friend asked me recently which was the easiest FromSoftware game to get into and I honestly wasn't sure what to say at first. I think Elden Ring is generally regarded as the easiest, but I'd say it's also very confusing in terms of how it's laid out, with no real instruction, and not really the game I'd recommend for a newcomer.
I've seen Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice described as both the easiest and hardest game they've done. Personally, I think it comes somewhere in the middle, but I also think it depends on how good you are at the parrying. Dark Souls 2 is also relatively easy, I'd say, but then I'd also say it's easily the worst of their games, so again not a great one to start with.
All of which leaves me with Bloodborne, which is both a great game and slightly easier, if you can say that of any From game, than some of the others. Curious to know what other readers think as I do think it depends on your experience and natural aptitude, especially with something like Sekiro.
Benson
New kid on the block
This is very strange news about Nintendo giving a newcomer the director role on such an important game as Donkey Kong Bananza. And someone that has been at the company for barely five years? I know it's not entirely certain what he's worked on before but I feel if it was something major they would've said.
So either he seriously impressed Miyamoto and co. or he's got dirt on them or something? I'm going to assume it's the first thing, so that's very encouraging about the game. Although you've got to ask again, why this information had to be dragged out of Nintendo rather than them just saying, 'Hey, we got a hot new director, but you can't wait to see his new game!'
Lentil
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Optimal scariness
Personally, I hope that Resident Evil Requiem does not have co-op, or at least hat it's not designed around it, like Resident Evil 5. I think it's neat that every time the series starts to lose its way it edges back to the slower-paced, scarier style of the very first game.
We saw it with Resident Evil 7 and that's what it looks like from the footage so far of the new game, and I'm all for that. I just hope it's not too scary. Resident Evil is always described as shlock and I think that's what Capcom needs to aim for: not too gory or serious or gross, but just scary enough to make you want to test yourself and see if you can handle it.
James
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Console wishes
I've come to find wish-listing a very useful tool.
To be alerted to games on sale, now that back compatibility makes trawling through the sale list an epic undertaking.
Also, to keep track of the smaller or indie games that catch my eye.
I do wish the console stores were as good as Steam for wish-listing though. Often that soon-to-be-released obscure indie game that has caught my eye and has been announced for console is nowhere to be found except on Steam.
I still buy a few games for my old PC but have taken to wish-listing all upcoming games on Steam then, when it's actually released, add it to the consoles wish list.
Simundo
Too good to be true
I've been reading about a lot of horrible things that companies do to their employees lately, most of it from Microsoft, but the idea of delaying a game so people don't get their bonus is next level. Although how did they ever get an agreement for a $250 million bonus?!
That's so much that there was no way any company wasn't going to do anything they could to get out of having to pay it. They don't care if it's split between 100 people, they just know they don't want it leaving their bank account. I assume this was all a deal that was made when they bought the developer of Subnautica but I think they were being a bit naïve if they thought they'd ever pay up.
Zeiss
Guessing game
My prediction is that the next big Nintendo game to be announced will be Animal Crossing. Maybe not some hardcore fans' favourite but the last one was super successful and with Metroid Prime 4 out this Christmas (presumably) I can see Nintendo wanting to go from one extreme to the other.
The fact that they dropped support of New Horizons so quickly, for no obvious reason, has been talked about a lot and while the obvious explanation is that it's so they can make the sequel we are talking about Nintendo, where nothing is what you expect.
But I do really think that it makes far more sense to release Animal Crossing sooner rather than later, since it's an evergreen game that people will be wanting through the whole console's life.
You could argue that Nintendo will stick to more hardcore franchises in the early years, when it's mostly old school fans buying the Switch 2, but I think Animal Crossing will convince more casual folks to get interested too.
So that's my prediction. When it's going to be announced is just going to be a blind guess though, as I don't think there's much to go on there. But I can see it being late in the year, as an extra incentive to get a Switch 2. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. If I'm right, I demand 200 internet points.
Blanco
Indie world
So, Microsoft is going to shut down Rare once Sea Of Thieves has run its course, right? Such a sad end for one of the most important developers in the UK. If they've canned the only other game they're working on I'm not sure what those people are going to do, because I assume Sea Of Thieves already has everyone it needs.
Maybe they'll be allowed to do something smaller and cheaper, perhaps more experimental, but I think that's probably a pipe dream. All these companies getting bought by other companies that then get bought by even bigger companies… I really wish everyone had stayed independent and in charge of their own destiny.
Tacle
Bedroom action
In the infinitely swinging pendulum that is my gaming habits, I've found myself playing my 'bedroom PS3' recently, rather than picking up a handheld. And yes, I'm so rich I have a bedroom PlayStation 3 and a gaming room PlayStation 3. It's a shame MTV Cribs ended, they'd have loved it.
Anyway, the games hold up well and I've been dipping back into my backlog while picking up a few games I missed or ignored at the time, things like MotorStorm, inFamous, and Blur. If anyone has any niche favourites from that era let me know please, gotta strike while the iron is hot.
I think that it's maybe the last generation that's really worth keeping as a retro console, given the lack of hardware backwards compatibility in PlayStation 4 and 5 means that it's still the only place to play certain games like Metal Gear Solid 4, Puppeteer, and Killzone 2 and 3 (I always liked them… wheesht) without sailing the high seas.
I guess there's the option to stream now, but that never feels quite right to me. Right, better pick up my Sixaxis and see if I can finish Resistance: Fall Of Man ~20 years after I got it and decided it was rubbish after half a level.
Magnumstache
Inbox also-rans
Has GC seen the new Lego Soundwave? It looks fantastic, with the sound brick and two cassettes included. Maybe they should do a Lego Transformers game at some point.
Euclidian Boxes
GC: That does look amazing, Soundwave was always our favourite.
Sad to think we'll probably never get another WipEout from Sony. With no new F-Zero either it seems the future racer genre… didn't have much of a future!
Dougal More Trending
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