55 hours. That’s how long it took me in the end. By some accounts, compared to most people I’ve spoken to, I breezed through Dark Souls II. It wasn’t easy but, in the end, it wasn’t as difficult as I expected. Or as memorable.

“Hey honey, how was your day?”

“Oh, so you’re just going to go straight into it then.”

Yep. I’m just going to go straight into it.

On Saturday I had a realisation. I had been playing Dark Souls games, almost non-stop, for about two months now, to the exclusion of all other games.

You need to have the right equipment.

The right equipment is more important than leveling or souls. Making sure you’ve optimised the gear you’re carrying; that’s always been the difference between life and death for me. That and technique. The right strategy.

I did it. I did it. I DID IT!

This week has been a slog. A real slog.

I literally can’t see two feet in front of myself, but I have to walk myself home. The outline of the pedestrian crossing is no longer representative a jovial little green or red man. Just a blurred pool of light oozing towards my retina. Green means go. Red means stop.

These are not my glasses.

Dark Souls II gave me a viral infection.

I am very tired.

Late last night; one of those dizzying moments of realisation that often come after physical and mental exhaustion. "I finally understand. It's all connected." I woke up this morning and tried to remember what that realisation was, but like a weird, partially remembered dream I could only grasp at fragments.