From Software’s grim fantasy masterpiece Dark Souls is definitely not a game for kids, what with its sullen world, tough combat, and, of course, terrifying enemy encounters. However, when those same dreary elements are presented in a Lego brick format, it’s amazing how much more kid-friendly they become. Below, you can watch one user’s painstaking efforts to recreate Dark Souls’ iconic Firelink Shrine in Lego form, and in the process you can also show your kids just how unforgiving the game’s world is without scarring them for life.
The below video from YouTuber MythicMarty was made with the help of Lego Worlds, a digital game in which you can collect Lego bricks and use them to construct your own custom creations. According to MythicMarty’s Reddit introduction for the video, the actual Firelink Shrine environment was created entirely in-game while the custom user interface elements (the health bar and stamina gauge, the Estus Flask item icon, etc.) were created using the After Effects program and then overlaid onto the video. Finally, the voice lines you hear were ripped straight from Dark Souls itself, giving the Lego version just a little more authenticity.
The Lego Worlds version of Firelink Shrine that MythicMarty created is highly accurate and surprisingly expansive, including the shrine itself, the surrounding ruins (include a certain hidden bird’s nest), the zombie-infested staircase leading to the sewers, and even the skeleton-filled cemetery that proved to be the bane of many a fresh new player. Even better, the video is just the first in a series that MythicMarty plans to do, suggesting that we’ll see Lego Worlds versions of other iconic Dark Souls locales (perhaps the Undead Berg will be next on the list?).
Meanwhile, those who are itching to play the real Dark Souls can do so thanks to the recently launched Dark Souls Remastered, a revamped version of the original game that runs surprisingly well on low-end PC’s. Or, if you’d rather peek behind the curtain, you can also check out all of the cut content one intrepid Dark Souls Remastered player found.