Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers Andrew Kimball and Dylan Wren

The Japanese game development studio FromSoftware, has carved out a unique niche in the gaming industry with its distinctive approach to game design.

They are renowned for pioneering the ‘Soulslike’ genre, which emphasizes challenging gameplay, minimal hand holding, and a deep sense of accomplishment upon overcoming difficult obstacles.

The storytelling in their games is often indirect, allowing players to uncover the lore and narrative through piecing together environmental clues. This approach encourages player engagement and speculation, leading to a vibrant community of fans discussing theories and interpretations.

The worlds that FromSoftware create are meticulously crafted, featuring dark, immersive environments that draw the player in. The intricate level design, full of secrets and shortcuts, rewards exploration and experimentation.


Their consistent delivery of high-quality games has set a high bar in the industry. Their success with titles like ‘Dark Souls’ and ‘Elden Ring’ has not only garnered a dedicated fanbase but also influenced other developers and games.


Their dedication to challenging the status quo of game design, combined with their commitment to quality and innovation, has solidified their reputation as a developer that both respects and inspires its players. Their games are not just products; they are experiences that resonate with gamers on a deeper level, making FromSoftware a truly special developer in the modern gaming landscape.


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As fires fade and the world falls into ruin, developer FROMSOFTWARE and director Hidetaka Miyazaki continue their critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series with Dark Souls III. Fans and newcomers alike will get lost in the game's hallmark rewarding gameplay and immersive graphics. Now only embers remain…

Dark Souls III is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. The third and final entry in the Dark Souls series, it is played in a third-person perspective. The players have access to various weapons, armor, magic, and consumables that they can use to fight their enemies. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the series, returned to direct the game after handing the development duties of Dark Souls II to others.
Dark Souls III was critically and commercially successful, with critics calling it a worthy and fitting conclusion to the series. It shipped over three million copies within its first two months and over 10 million by 2020. Two downloadable content (DLC) expansions, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, were also released.


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Developed by FROM SOFTWARE, Dark Souls II is the highly anticipated sequel to the grueling 2011 breakout hit Dark Souls. The unique old-school action RPG experience captivated imaginations of gamers worldwide with incredible challenge and intense emotional reward.
Dark Souls II brings the franchise’s renowned obscurity & gripping gameplay innovations to both single and multiplayer experiences.
Join the dark journey and experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical hazards, and the unrelenting challenge that only FROM SOFTWARE can deliver.

Dark Souls II is a 2014 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. The second installment of the Dark Souls series, it was released for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. 
Taking place in the kingdom of Drangleic, the game features both player versus environment (PvE) and player versus player (PvP) gameplay. Dark Souls II was released in March 2014 after some initial delays, with the Windows version being released the following month.
It was a critical and commercial success. A remastered version of the game, titled Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows in April 2015. It contains the original game and its downloadable content with upgraded graphics, expanded online multiplayer capacity, and various other changes. A sequel, Dark Souls III, was released in 2016.


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Prepare for a new, despair-inducing world, with a vast, fully-explorable horizon and vertically-oriented landforms. Prepare for a new, mysterious story, centered around the world of Lodran, but most of all, prepare to die. You will face countless murderous traps, countless darkly grotesque mobs and several gargantuan, supremely powerful demons and dragon bosses. You must learn from death to persist through this unforgiving world. And you aren’t alone. Dark Souls allows the spirits of other players to show up in your world, so you can learn from their deaths and they can learn from yours. You can also summon players into your world to co-op adventure, or invade other's worlds to PVP battle. New to Dark Souls are Bonfires, which serve as checkpoints as you fight your way through this epic adventure. While rested at Bonfires, your health and magic replenish but at a cost, all mobs respawn.
Beware: There is no place in Dark Souls that is truly safe. With days of game play and an even more punishing difficulty level, Dark Souls will be the most deeply challenging game you play this year.

Can you live through a million deaths and earn your legacy?


Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It began with the release of Dark Souls (2011) and has seen two sequels, Dark Souls II (2014) and Dark Souls III (2016). The series was created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and has received critical acclaim, with its high level of difficulty being among its most discussed aspects, and the first Dark Souls is often cited as one of the greatest games of all time. By 2023, the series had shipped over 35 million copies outside of Japan. Other FromSoftware games, including Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, share several related concepts and led to the creation of the Soulslike subgenre.


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On this episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers, Andrew and Dylan are joined by some very special guests in order to take things back to the days of Level Playing Field! Aubrey, Abi, and Delaney join the show to answer 35 video game questions while enjoying some adult beverages. Obviously chaos ensues, and obviously Andrew regrets it all when it's time to edit, but hopefully you, the listener enjoy the ride! 
 
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Join hosts Andrew Kimball and Dylan Wren on this episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers as they delve into the captivating realm of double A (AA) video games. As the industry experiences a shift in talent and a rise in mid-tier game development, our hosts explore the impact on the gaming landscape and the attention now given to these unique titles.

From discussing the distinctions between double A and triple A games to sharing their personal experiences with discovering lesser-known gems, Andrew and Dylan unpack the allure and potential future of double A games. Listeners can expect insights into successful titles, the debate surrounding game classifications, and the rising appreciation for indie and double A games among gamers.


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