The wide build varieties and utility of weapons, spells, and other equipment in FromSoftware titles have led many players to approach the Souls series with any amount of limitations to add an extra challenge to their playthroughs. However, few have gone the distance that Dark Souls 2 has in order to fully reward fans for diving headfirst into these difficult challenges, including the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC's boss Sir Alonne.
While the emphasis on adding additional challenges to Dark Souls 2 certainly helps to define Sir Alonne, the boss isn't so one-note as to only embody the enhanced difficulty given when imposing limitations on the player. Sir Alonne also manages to stand out as one of the most difficult bosses that FromSoftware has designed, and a unique case of how breaking the ordinary tempo of these games can elevate an enemy's design.
FromSoftware Crafted Sir Alonne by Understanding its Fans
Sir Alonne Acknowledges and Rewards the No-Hit Challenge Run
FromSoftware has a strange relationship between trying to present its games in as pristine of a presentation as possible, while also struggling to maintain a positive outlook on the Challenge Run community that has sprung up out of the fan base. With that said, Dark Souls 2 seems to have embraced this part of the fan community the most, as even the base Dark Souls 2 offered two unique rings as a reward for beating the game without dying or resting at a bonfire respectively. This is the trend that Crown of the Old Iron King continued by adding a unique death animation for Sir Alonne if players manage to beat the boss without ever taking damage.
The unique animation that Sir Alonne performs when defeated without getting hit is the ritualistic sacrifice known as Seppuku, an act that has since become a staple for several FromSoftware games either as a boss death animation or a player ability. This self-inflicted impalement is also added to Sir Alonne's weapon when rewarded to the player, offering a temporary buff to damage at the cost of a considerable portion of health. In the context of the fight, this single act works to make Sir Alonne one of the darkest moments in Dark Souls 2, as the insult of having bested the boss so thoroughly forces him to take such desperate measures to maintain his honor as he dies. It's a theme of warrior class characters at the end of their ropes that FromSoftware has continued to lean on in future games, such as with the Radahn Festival in Elden Ring attempting to give Starscourge Radahn a proper death.
Dark Souls 2 Doesn't Do One-Trick Pony's
While the unique death animation for Sir Alonne is one of the most impactful features of the boss fight, it certainly isn't the only standout of the encounter. The rest goes to the boss himself, a relentless assault of swipes from Sir Alonne's katana (which is more of a nodachi than a katana as described in-game) that all come with the mildest hesitation from telegraph to release. It isn't quite the elongated holds FromSoftware would later design into Elden Ring, but more a series of calculated feigns and misdirects that are a deliberate part of Sir Alonne's expertise in kendo. This all comes together to make Sir Alonne one of the hardest bosses in the entire Dark Souls series, as he is perfectly designed to catch players off-guard.
The overall difficulty of Sir Alonne and his steady rhythm of combat helps to reinforce the reward for winning without ever being hit, as he is one of the more difficult bosses to attempt this on throughout Dark Souls 2. However, the boss' reliance on swift melee attacks and the moderate range of his sword means that this is also one of the bosses that is the most accessible for this type of challenge. For players that have leaned heavily to the Adaptability stat in Dark Souls 2, achieving the no-hit isn't reliant on RNG like many other bosses, instead being a pure test of skill against a brutally difficult opponent.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
- Released
- April 2, 2015
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- FromSoftware
- Publisher(s)
- Namco Bandai, FromSoftware
- Franchise
- Dark Souls
WHERE TO PLAY
Gamers are in for a big surprise in DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin. An unforgettable journey awaits you in a breathtaking world where each dark corner and unexpected encounter will test your resolve. Go beyond what you thought was possible and discover incredible challenge and intense emotional reward. Whether you’ve previously played DARK SOULS™ II, or are new to the award-winning franchise, you are in for an entirely different experience with this exclusive, “Director’s Cut” version of the game.
The definitive edition of DARK SOULS™ II. DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin includes all the DARK SOULS™ II content released to-date in one package and much more!
A brand new experience and challenge. Enemy placement has been overhauled, resulting in a completely different play dynamic than experienced before. The safe zones that some players remembered are no longer safe! A new NPC invader called Forlorn will also play a key role in changing the gameplay experience. Hardened players will have to forget everything they thought they knew about DARK SOULS™ II.
Online play has been enhanced with the addition of a special item to regulate souls acquired in battle - it’s now possible to match up more consistently online. The number of players who can participate in an online session has also been increased, from 4 to 6 people, completely changing the online play dynamic.
DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin brings the franchise’s renowned obscurity & gripping gameplay to a new level. Join the dark journey and experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical hazards, and unrelenting challenge.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 36 Hours
