What is Dark Souls 2 even about? || Dark Souls 2 Analysis

[kingofdefense]

The door opens, inside there's a throne and on it is the snail. "I knew you'd come"it says. The door closes.

[aegis]

"If only I possessed the humility to say to myself that I have seen enough for one life."

[artisticcannibalism]

And then we have Patches who manage to handle Hollowfication better than anyone else and outlive the gods themselves...

[jacobharris]

I always thought the Throne of Want was more reminiscent of a kiln than a burial mound, especially with the ash piled about its interior.

[FenrisRM]

The Grave beeing the cure is, belive it or not, the best outcome.

If you dont belive me, remember what happens at the end with Gael and then tell me you would not chose the Burialmound yourself.

[davidefittipaldi]

It is also worth noting that the "chosen undead" from dark souls 2 almost ended the curse for everyone because he was almost that powerful

[jahredharrison]

OK but the DLC cures the hollowing with hats.
Instead of dying you get a cool hat, there are even 4 unique hats to choose from to cure your hollowing in your own personal style.
You live, you die, or you flex.

[tiles]

Really Awesome Analysis but my impression of the Throne of Want is the opposite of yours. I've always seen the Throne of Want as a symbol of Avarice (from it's name, Want), it's the result of Vendrick's greediness and pillaging it from the Giants' territory. It's located near (or perhaps even a part of) Drangleic Castle, which is built upon by countless golems (again, a result of Vendrick's greed, stealing Giants from their homes to create them).

Vendrick refusing to sit on the Throne of Want can be an allegory to Vendrick realizing how greedy he has been, and how his greed has brought ruin to his kingdom. Also his realization to what Nashandra really is. So we see him in the Undead Crypt, stripped of his Armor and his Soul.

Our Journey throughout Drangleic can be seen as an act of greed. Slaying countless people and taking their souls, even Old Ones (some of which probably didn't want to be disturbed). Gathering all these souls then finally arriving at the Throne with the Giant's Kinship (we took by beating the Giant Lord), we are presented a0 choice. Whether to make a final act of Greed and take the Throne, proclaim ourselves Monarch that will choose between an Age of Light or Dark. Or tell ourselves this is where I stop and leave, kind of like what Vendrick did.

This is my interpretation, at least.

[randocalzonian]

Always been one of my favorite bits in DS. All those that go hollow, usually do so after accomplishing their goal. Those that persist have either not done what they set out to do, or have an ever present calling. Andre never hollows because he will always be needed. Patches never hollows because there will always be those to swindle.

[estrogenyumyum]

I love how the only cure is death. It’s so dark, and it fits dark souls perfectly.

[kingdomcome]

On the flip side, what do you do with yourself when you accomplish a lifelong goal? Maughglin the Armorer is one such example, as he reaches the highest tier of his shop, he starts showing signs of hollowing as he reaches his goal of expanding his shop.

"Home...? W-where is home...?".

[LORDOFDORKNESS]

I really love the extra context both endings get if you gather all crowns, and thus master the Curse.

IMHO, it's the best way any Souls game to date has actually incorporated it's extra challenges on a story level. A ludo narrative RESONANCE on why you should care about the DLC areas & the grander trials they represent.

I really wish that aspect of Dark Souls 2 got analysed more. It's a fascinating aspect to the entire series that it IS possible to achieve mastery of the Curse, but it basically being an in universe...

Well, a Legendary feat, only a Monarch among Monarchs could ever hope to achieve. A feat of taming your own Dark beyond even what The Gods of the Age of Fire or Manus himself ever came close to doing.

[vaflov]

Dark Souls 2 was my life when it came out. It was a gaming experience unlike anything I had played up until that point. I am just loving these analysis videos on the game. Keep it up! ❤

[kamchatmonk]

Throne of Want: "So you have chosen death".

[nuhuhnope]

To me DS2 has always been a story about accepting death. The world felt like purgatory, and the curse of want is the curse of life. Forever clinging to your past as it continues to fade, leaving nothing but a husk.

Drangleic and the kingdoms before it the crumbling remains of the memories of those that inhabit it.

[Tastingo]

Ive always seen the throne ending as a logical conclusion of the course we have taken in ds2. While ds1 was all about establishing the curse and giving the player the choice to rekindle the fire or usher in an age of darkness, we get to see the futility of both paths in ds2. The game shows several kingdoms which had risen and ultimately fallen only to give way to another just like it. From the Old Iron King across the 4 main bosses to Vendrick or the Sovereigns of the DLC areas...none of them changed anything about the curse. There is no reason to assume that the player character would be any different. The throne of want looks like a kiln, but we do not get to see whether the protagonist sets themselves alight or not. For it does not matter. That is the essence of ds2 for me and that is also why its my favourite title in the series. I firmly believe that it is the most tediously long title with the blandest characters and npcs on purpose. It was supposed to establish the meaninglessness of the struggles in the ds universe. Its a giant setup for ds3 where the curse will finally be broken.

[AndrewJ]

Not entirely accurate imo. I think a bigger part is that Vendrick didnt take the throne not because he couldnt but because he realized he shouldnt, and more than that, he eventually realized he couldnt risk Nashandra reaching it.

[whatsmycut]

Sitting upon the throne of want also fulfills one of the two obligations of the Bearer of the Curse, either linking the fire, or ushering in the age of dark. Donning the crowns of the kings from the dlcs subverts the undead curse, and gives the Bearer of the Curse an alternative, and allows them to sinply walk away from the throne of want, breaking the cycle.

[deathknightrevan]

So basically dark souls 2 is the player acting out the world's most traumatic suicide.

[HederaPaints]

I have to say that these analysis videos you make absolutely blow my mind and they are just so entertaining to watch