Little did I know Id be doing the same when I discoveredDark Soulsover a decade later.
I dont know what it is about the series that makes my visual issues worse than other games.
But when a Dark Souls enemy swings, Im not seeing it clearly 80% of the time.
Why do I love inaccessible games?
Yet, both are core to the Dark Souls experience.
Theres just something about the dopamine Dark Souls provides thats different from other games.
With each tiny increment of progress, when my life is otherwise stagnant, I feel real momentum.
The gaming industry is at a critical juncture in the context of accessibility.
On one hand, studios are slowly embracing improved accessibility.
On the other, the player base is aggressively resistant to change.
The Dark Souls community is infamous for its resistance to accessibility.
Convinced that Dark Souls is uniquely difficult, the community maintains it must be played as intended.
If we want a more accessible experience, we should play something else.
Ironically, accessibility advocates arent interested in diluting developer intent.
Nor is the relationship between difficulty and accessibility as simple as many able-bodied players make out.
An easy mode in Dark Souls doesnt mean Id be able to see it.
In reality, a lack of accessibility visibility, in particular represents flawed game design.
A fact readily admitted whenCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warreleased withmajor visibility issuesthat affected able-bodied players.
But to question Dark Souls is sacrilege.
In the UK,around 21% of the population live with some form of disability.
1 in 10 suicides in England islinked to chronic illness.
Understand that when I talk about accessibility, its not just about playing a game.
The conversation around accessibility is constantly hijacked by able-bodied players and their misconceptions.
Moreover, accessibility considerations designed for disabled users actually benefit everyone.
Something able-bodied players rarely consider.
Few of us will go through life without experiencing disability.
If you have construction work nearby, youll be grateful for subtitles and on-screen prompts.
Accessibility isnt solely for the permanently disabled, its for everyone.
Studios like Naughty Dog and Guerilla Games continue to prove the tools to improve accessibility out there.
Many developers and Japanese studios are especially guilty of this just dont want to implement them.
I know there will come a day when I wont be able to play FromSoftware games.
Perhaps it will end withElden Ring.
Based on the framework ofDark Souls III, it promises to be another squintfest.
Dr Summerly is more hopeful, however.
I dont see why [visibility] should continue to be a problem for players in the future.
I hope hes right.
I love Dark Souls.
I cant see it, but I dont want to lose it.
