How to See Both Endings in Dark Souls 1: A Comprehensive Guide
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Want to experience all the conclusions Dark Souls 1 has to offer? This classic action RPG, known for its difficulty and cryptic storytelling, actually presents players with two distinct endings. Unlike some games where you might need a separate save file, Dark Souls 1 allows you to view both endings in a single playthrough. This guide will walk you through the steps, avoiding major spoilers but providing all the information you need to achieve both outcomes.
Getting Both Endings in a Single Playthrough
The key to experiencing both endings lies in understanding how Dark Souls handles game progression and saves. Your save data is stored in the cloud, so even if you delete your current character’s progress, the saved data will still be present. The method relies on manipulating the end-game choice after defeating the final boss, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
Here’s the process in a step-by-step format:
- Reach the Final Boss: Play through the game as normal until you defeat Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
- The First Ending Choice: After the fight, you’ll find yourself in the boss arena with a bonfire. DO NOT INTERACT WITH THE BONFIRE YET! This is the critical moment for accessing both endings.
- Backup Your Save: Close the game. Find your Dark Souls 1 save file (usually in your documents folder in a subfolder). Copy and paste this folder to create a backup folder. Name it something you will remember (Example “Dark Souls 1 Save Before Endings”).
- Delete the game Save Folder: Find your Dark Souls 1 save file (usually in your documents folder in a subfolder). Delete it.
- First Ending – “Link the Fire”: Restart the game. Your data will be pulled down from the cloud. Go back to the bonfire in the Gwyn’s boss arena. Choose the “Yes” option to “Link the Fire”. This triggers the first ending sequence.
- Second Ending – “The Dark Lord”: After viewing the first ending, exit the game again. You will need to delete your save folder again. Your data will be pulled down from the cloud and you will start in the Gwyn Boss Room again.
- The Second Choice: This time, you must walk away from the bonfire. By doing so, you’ll trigger the second ending, in which you do not link the flame.
By following this method, you’ll be able to experience both unique endings of Dark Souls 1 without having to replay the entire game from scratch. This takes advantage of the cloud save feature of the game, allowing you to return to the precise point before you made the crucial decision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dark Souls 1 Endings
Here are some commonly asked questions to give you a deeper understanding of the game’s conclusions.
1. Does Dark Souls 1 Have Multiple Endings?
Yes, Dark Souls 1 has two distinct endings. The ending you see depends on the choice you make after defeating the final boss, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
2. What are the two endings of Dark Souls 1?
The two endings are:
- Linking the First Flame: In this ending, your character sacrifices themselves to rekindle the First Flame, prolonging the Age of Fire.
- Becoming the Dark Lord: In this ending, you choose not to link the fire, ushering in an Age of Dark.
3. Is there a “true” ending in Dark Souls 1?
No, there is no official “true” ending. Both endings are valid, and FromSoftware has intentionally kept the lore ambiguous. It’s up to player interpretation as to which path is better or worse.
4. What is the best ending for Dark Souls 1?
There is no objectively “best” ending. Both endings have their own implications for the world. Linking the Fire appears to perpetuate the existing order, while refusing to do so ushers in a potentially chaotic and unpredictable new era. The “best” is subjective to each player’s own view of the games complex and lore rich world.
5. Is linking the First Flame a good ending?
The “Link the Fire” ending is often interpreted as a “good” ending as it saves the world, but it’s not so clear cut. In this ending, the player essentially perpetuates the cycle that Gwyn started. While it keeps the world alive, it also continues the burden of the Undead Curse.
6. What is the Dark Lord ending?
The Dark Lord ending is achieved by not interacting with the bonfire after defeating Gwyn. This results in the Age of Fire fading out and the Age of Dark beginning. This is seen by some as a betrayal to Gwyn’s original plan, where he sacrificed himself to link the fire.
7. How do I trigger the “Link the Fire” ending?
To trigger the “Link the Fire” ending, you must interact with the bonfire in the Gwyn boss arena after defeating him and select “Yes”.
8. How do I trigger the “Dark Lord” ending?
To trigger the “Dark Lord” ending, you must simply walk away from the bonfire after defeating Gwyn. Do not interact with it.
9. Can you get both endings on the same character?
Yes, as outlined in the steps above, you can view both endings in a single playthrough. This is achieved by using the cloud saving feature of the game and copying/deleting the save file from your PC.
10. Does the ending choice affect future playthroughs?
No, the ending choice does not affect future playthroughs in terms of starting at the end game point. New Game Plus (NG+) will begin from the start of the game.
11. Is it important to backup my save file before the endings?
Yes, backing up your save file is crucial to experiencing both endings without playing the game from start to finish again. The technique relies on being able to reload from a point before the first ending is chosen.
12. What happens if you summon the Fire Keeper before choosing your ending in Dark Souls 3?
It is important to note that this specific action of summoning the fire keeper is not in Dark Souls 1, but in Dark Souls 3. In Dark Souls 3, summoning the fire keeper before the end choice will trigger a special ending which is not available in Dark Souls 1.
13. Which is the canon ending in Dark Souls 1?
There is no official canon ending. Both endings are equally viable and are up for player interpretation. The developers have left the lore and choice of the endings vague and ambiguous intentionally.
14. Does Gwyn consider the Dark Lord a bad ending?
Gwyn did fight tirelessly to extend the Age of Fire and is likely not a fan of the Age of Dark beginning. However the Dark Lord ending is left ambiguous as to whether it is a negative outcome for humanity as some believe that they should be able to rule themselves.
15. Which is longer, Dark Souls 1 or Dark Souls 3?
On average, a first playthrough of Dark Souls 1 takes around 42 hours to complete. This compares to Dark Souls 3 which takes on average 32 hours for a first playthrough.