From Button Masher to Boss Slayer: How I Finally "Got Gud"

I hated Soulsborne and soulslike games. The kind of games that expect you to fail over and over again. The only way to beat them is to grind and, according to the internet, "git gud"—get good. But I just couldn't get good enough.

I played Bloodborne on the PS4. After 45 minutes of getting destroyed by the first boss and making zero progress—always dying on the first hit, unable to dodge anything—I returned the game to my local game store and traded it for The Witcher 3. Which is a great game that's all about the story, not about the grueling experience of getting gud.

I bought Hollow Knight in a sale and played it for two hours before nearly throwing my controller through the TV as I got demolished by the simplest mobs in the very first area.

I played Nioh 1 and Nioh 2 when they were free on PS Plus. I got past the first boss in Nioh 2 after about 20 tries, stubbornly dying over and over to the same attacks while learning absolutely nothing.

I played Hades on easy difficulty—the mode where every time you die, you gain more damage resistance and the game becomes easier. Yet after 50 or so runs, I only managed to reach Hades (the final boss) three times, and got instakilled by him every single time. I liked the game and got a little better, but it felt like pure luck when I progressed, not skill. I just kept mashing buttons.

Then I played different types of games. And then Silksong finally got a release date.

The Turning Point

I wanted to understand the hype, so I gave Hollow Knight another go. This time, I got killed a few times, but each death took me a little further. I started memorizing enemy types and their attack patterns, figuring out ways to kill them quickly without taking damage.

Then I reached the first boss: the False Knight. And I got destroyed.

I turned to ChatGPT for help. The advice I received changed everything:

• For the first few tries, don't even try to deal damage. Just learn the boss's patterns and how to dodge them.
• Don't be greedy! Dodge an attack, get in for one swipe, get out, and wait for the next opening.
• Don't try to "beat the boss." Break it down into micro-goals: dodge that specific attack this time, get past the first phase this time. Every attempt, learn something new. After several tries, chain all that knowledge together.

Ten attempts later, following this advice, I beat him.

Instead of mashing buttons, I patiently waited for him to strike. When he was vulnerable, I lunged in for one swipe, then backed off. The fight took several minutes. It started to feel like a dance—I got into the rhythm. When I finally vanquished him, I got it. I finally understood why people loved these games. The dopamine rush of beating a boss through observation, learning, failing, and then prevailing was unbelievable.

The Promise

I made myself a promise: if I could beat Hornet—the first real skill check in the game (the False Knight is more of a tutorial boss)—then I'd buy Silksong.

It took me a couple of days and about 10 attempts, but I beat her. That dopamine rush hit again.

I've been playing Silksong for quite a bit now. I've gotten out of the first area, Pharloom, and killed several bosses. Then Hades 2 released, and I was eager to test my newfound knowledge on a new game. I couldn't beat Hades, but I was determined to beat Hades 2.

Applying What I Learned

First run: I failed miserably. I needed to get back in the rhythm, but that was alright.

Second run: reached the first boss, got instakilled.

Third run: reached the boss again, dealt a good chunk of damage, started noticing patterns.

Fifth run: beat her. Dopamine rush.

Tenth run: reached the second boss, felt like she was impossible to overcome.

Twentieth run: consistently making it past the second boss, knowing the patterns and learning builds that fit my style.

I've reached Chronos (the final boss) once now, and he got away with just a sliver of health. It's within reach—I just need one more good run. In the meantime, I'm having fun unlocking everything, learning, getting better, and having a great time.

The Lesson

To recap: I sucked at hard games, but I got good, and now I'm starting to genuinely enjoy them.

I used to think it was all about reflexes. It's not. It's about pattern recognition and patience. The moment you start button-mashing instead of thoughtfully executing your plan, you've already lost.