Elden Ring has not replaced Dark Souls, of course, but it’s not hard to make the argument that it can be considered Dark Souls 4. The game took everything from FromSoftware’s modern Souls games and remixed it into an intricate open world. Surprises were around every corner, and some gameplay complaints regarding spell strength and build viability had been addressed. However, in the long lead up to Elden Ring’s launch, some passionate fans managed to beat FromSoftware to the punch. Using the Dark Souls 3: The Convergence mod, players can experience much of what made Elden Ring a success without having to leave the Dark Souls series proper.
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Mods are a Major Part of the Dark Souls Community
Ever since Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition came to PC, fans have taken matters into their own hands to create fresh experiences out of these action-adventure classics. One of the most famous mods early on was DSfix, a patch made by prominent modder Durante to optimize the PC version. From there, all kinds of mods were made for every FromSoftware game, ranging from changing the text and assets to adding new mechanics. This occasionally went hand-in-hand with malicious hacking, but a Blue Sentinel mod was developed to help with that too. Even the console-exclusive Bloodborne got in on the action with new bosses and a 60 FPS patch.
However, modders were desperate for the kind of transformative experience that only a new Souls title could bring. Nowadays, randomizers feel like the tamer overhaul mods. Projects like Dark Souls Remastest, Dark Souls 2: Seeker of Fire, and even Sekiro: Long May The Shadows Reflect include new bosses, abilities, and sometimes even modes. Dark Souls: Daughters of Ash, its upcoming sequel Dark Souls: Nightfall, and the ever-changing Dark Souls 3: Cinders mods are especially impressive. However, when discussing Dark Souls’ best mods, one name is often raised as a contender.
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Dark Souls 3: The Convergence Feels Like a Natural Extension of the Game
Created by CouchJockey, TigerG92, AronTheBaron, SinloreKain, Freemathieuroy, and Karma over the course of a few years, Dark Souls 3: The Convergence ended development in February 2022 with the release of its 2.2.1 update. In the middle of June 2022, the mod’s official Twitter account announced that the team would be moving on to Elden Ring: The Convergence, which got fans excited. The original DS3 mod should not be ignored in the meantime, though. A lot of time and effort went into creating a mod that allows for countless new play styles, not to mention ways to progress through the game. Convergence and Cinders are often compared as two of the most prevalent Dark Souls 3 mods, with Convergence winning for some because of its strong commitment to a single vision.
That vision can be best described as a more fleshed-out magic system coupled with more routes through the world alongside optional challenges. The variety present was like nothing seen in a modded Souls title before. Right away, the game greets players with thirty-one class options, many with beneficial Covenants and rings already equipped. Most of these classes play differently, and a new Covenant reward system has been implemented to encourage players to invest in specific paths. Combined with dozens of weapons, over one hundred spells, and plenty of new teleport points to make the world feel like Dark Souls 1, Convergence resembles a unique Dark Souls game all its own.
The Convergence Turns Dark Souls 3 Into Its Own Sequel
It would be enough if the mod’s basic premise for overhauling magic and FP was all it accomplished, but The Convergence goes the extra mile by changing every aspect of Dark Souls 3. Players will quickly notice that Lothric looks completely different. Actual map edits are used sparingly, but new assets and filters are employed to make old areas look brand new. The Convergence takes after FromSoftware in how it uses items, enemies, visual elements, and even newly recorded voice lines to craft its own story, organically building Druids and other elemental factions into the world. Even in moments where the altered bosses are broken up by a new entity, the game still flows in ways that make sense.
Ultimately, Dark Souls 3: The Convergence makes a strong argument for returning to Dark Souls 3. It doesn’t create an expansive open world, but it is more open than the original game and includes a lot of Elden Ring’s improvements. Comparing the two games, it seems like both of them took a similar approach to evolving the Dark Souls formula. What Convergence lacks in optional content, it makes up for by offering incredible replayability in a condensed environment, as well as new features and conveniences. This isn’t even going into the boss refight system, the roguelike gauntlet mode, and the viability of both item-crafting builds and the game-changing take on the Deprived class. Everyone itching for another Souls game after Elden Ring should consider giving The Convergence a shot.
Dark Souls 3 is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The Convergence is available for download on PC.
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