Or maybe popularity ? <| sep |> The first time I broke , it was after defeating the twin gargoyles . That took me so so so many tries . After I won , I knew I was supposed to ring two bells but I falsely assumed the game progressed more linearly . I had only discovered the single exit from Firelink , in the direction of Undeadburg unlike some people here . So I continued onward , into Darkroot Garden Basin , where I caved because of the atrocities I faced there as a low level novice . It kind of makes me appreciate the straight forward world designs the future iterations of Dark Souls progressively adopted . Instead of having new players finding themselves in the Catacombs or New Londo , or at the bottom of Ash Lake without the Lordvessel , you have a more guided exploration . Not to say I don ' t appreciate what Dark Souls accomplished , I loved that world , but it does have its share of issues . I remember being mystified meeting Siegward the first time , and wondering how to get that damn gate open . Good times .