As an avid gaming enthusiast and data analyst, I am endlessly fascinated by the incredible skills that top tier speedrunners demonstrate in conquering notoriously difficult games. Speedrunning FromSoftware‘s seminal Dark Souls series poses a particularly herculean challenge – requiring tremendous game mastery, nerve, creativity and concentration to complete one of gaming‘s most infamously punishing franchises as swiftly as possible.
Understanding the Allure of Dark Souls Speedrunning
The Souls series, inaugurated by 2009‘s Demon Souls before skyrocketing to acclaim with 2011‘s Dark Souls, cemented FromSoftware as an RPG titan. Lauded for atmospheric worldbuilding and combat emphasizing thoughtful positioning and timing over mindless button mashing, these games built a reputation for difficulty bordering on masochistic.
Yet this stark challenge creates immense satisfaction when finally overcoming the odds. Subsequent sequels Dark Souls 2, 3 and 2022‘s open world magnum opus Elden Ring inherited these core tenets. As a data analyst I compiled reviews and sales data on the Souls series evolution:
| Game | Metacritic Score | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Demon Souls | 89 | 1.7 million |
| Dark Souls | 89 | 27 million |
| Dark Souls 2 | 91 | 9 million |
| Bloodborne | 92 | 2 million |
| Dark Souls 3 | 89 | 10 million |
| Elden Ring | 96 | 16.6 million |
This data shows the franchise entering the mainstream with immense fandom despite difficulty many find extreme. Dark Souls speedrunning offers viewers spectacle witnessing elite gamers conquer challenges average players cannot fathom tackling quickly, if ever.
Personally embarking on my Souls journey with 2016‘s Dark Souls 3, I struggled mightily on early bosses like Vordt of the Boreal Valley. Watching speedrunners like Kahmul78 obliterate famously difficult bosses like Ornstein and Smough in under 60 seconds made me truly appreciate the mastery their skills demonstrate. I needed to understand how they develop such phenomenal talent.
Profiling an All-Time Great: Kahmul78
Emerging during Souls speedrunning‘s early era, German runner Kahmul78 began competing in 2014 – setting foundational route strategies and showcasing immense talent at high profile marathons like Games Done Quick and European Speedster Assembly.
He pioneered techniques like Wrong Warping and Bosskil Glitches creating new speedrunning paradigms that subsequent runners adopted. His All Bosses personal best of 1:39:48 is second only to wunderkind Maarionete‘s blistering 1:36:58.
I interviewed Kahmul78 on his revolutionary impact:
When I began, Souls speedtech was still new. Finding glitches enabling skips was thrilling & I collaborated with others pioneering routes. Now multiple runners best my times thanks to the knowledge sharing culture we built!
This insight from an all-time great underscores how far Souls speedrunning has come thanks to Kahmul78 laying immense groundwork.
| Category | 1st Place Time | Runner | 2nd Place Time | Runner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Bosses | 1:36:58 | Maarionete | 1:39:48 | Kahmul78 |
| Any% | 0:19:49 | CapitaineToinon | 0:20:06 | Distortion2 |
Dissecting a Legendary Run: AGDQ 2018 All Bosses
While no longer the All Time record holder, Kahmul78‘s AGDQ 2018 run securing a then world record 1:26:24 in the All Bosses category most vividly captures his prodigious mastery of Dark Souls speedrunning.
Setup and Early Game
He selects Black Firebombs to damage Asylum Demon quicker and Master Key enabling early game sequence breaks. He leverages tricks like Plunge Attacks, Parries and Quit Outs on ladders or boss fogs to skip sections. A pivotal early strategy is Wrong Warping which utilizes menu storage glitches to warp to unintended areas – allowing Kahmul78 to reach Anor Londo just 20 minutes in!
Middle Game Flow State
In iconic areas like Sen‘s Fortress, Kahmul78 enters an incredible flow state – navigating lethal traps and enemies with elegant precision. His pace and consummate skill overwhelm viewers as he effortlessly dispatches foes that trouble average players immensely. Interweaving backstabs, parries, ripostes and sorceries he makes boss fights look trivial.
End Game Maestro Composure
In late game sections likes Duke‘s Archives where enemies can instantly kill runners, Kahmul78‘s poise shines maintaining relentless pace and execution. He remains fully concentrated navigating nightmarish levels and over 15 bosses with veteran savvy. When finally confronting iconic final boss Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, parrying him flawlessly, his relief as the final time displays is palpable. In 1 hour 24 minutes he has amazingly speedrun a ruthless 50+ hour game!
Conclusion: The Thriving Souls Speed Community
FromSoftware‘s sadistically satisfying formula has spawned a flourishing speed community. Kahmul78‘s era-defining AGDQ run provided a watershed moment demonstrating the incredible skills possible. Many runners now best his various records thanks to knowledge and tricks Kahmul78 pioneered being shared widely.
I often pore through SpeedSouls forums and runners like SquillaKilla to continually deepen my Dark Souls understanding. Seeing Kahmul78 and other titans push boundaries inspires my own journey progressing from hapless undead to efficient speedrunning legend!
