It's widely known that Dark Souls has established itself as one of the most atmospherically memorable series of all time. From the grimdark flits of its horizon to the imposing motley ruins that struggle to stand beneath it, no part of Lordran can be deemed unworthy of remark.

Some areas, however, are far more enduring. Perhaps the most singularly striking locale of the inaugural Dark Souls game is Anor Londo, over which a perpetually setting sun looms large. It lies in stark contrast to the decrepit caverns populated by all manner of rats, basilisks, and beyond, and offers a degree of pristine elegance that is difficult to see elsewhere in the game.

Once presided over by Lord Gwyn, King of Lordran, the monumental city of Anor Londo has long since been deserted. However, if you venture to the spectacular cathedral at the heart of this divine metropolis, you'll quickly — and somewhat unfortunately — discover that it is still guarded by Dragonslayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough, renowned as two of the most formidable and deadly enemies in the entire Dark Souls series.

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Anor Londo, despite being just as precariously dangerous as other Dark Souls' areas — if not even more so — is distinct from the rest for a number of reasons. While it's normal for the world of Dark Souls — as well as those of Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — to vary greatly in terms of their tone, scale, and architecture, Anor Londo's unique atmosphere remains inimitable to this day. For every dark abyss, decrepit lair, and treacherous settlement sporadically dotted across Lordran, there is only one Anor Londo, perfect and peerless in quiet sublimity.

Via Polygon

Unlike much of the game's desolate environments, Anor Londo appears to be — at least ostensibly — relatively untouched. Knights remain on guard inside glistening structures, untainted by the blemishes that are so prevalent in the rest of the game.

Of course, none of this exonerates you in the eyes of the inhabitants who stubbornly refuse to leave this haven. From grotesque gargoyles to tantalizing but razor-toothed treasure chests, what ultimately convinces you that this is still part of Lordran is the fact that every being capable of drawing breath is hellbent on draining your last.

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It's also essential to remember that your time in Anor Londo concludes with one of the most singularly impressive boss fights in the history of video games — which also happens to be one of the most notoriously difficult ones in the Souls series. The aforementioned Ornstein and Smough are infamous among Souls fans for their collaborative brutality. After you finally manage to successfully defeat one, the other merely absorbs their essence in order to gain an immense amount of power — it's a turbulent but climactic end to one of the most memorable chapters in Dark Souls.

ornstein & smough boss from dark souls

It's almost disappointing when you're eventually required to leave Anor Londo. While it's teeming with infuriatingly tenacious enemies hellbent on killing you, it still somehow manages to elicit a sense of comfort that's seldom felt elsewhere in Dark Souls. It's no wonder that it reappeared later in the series, shrouded in snow and usurped by a foe that makes even Ornstein and Smough look docile by comparison.

There are plenty of stunning locales in Dark Souls — from Dark Souls 2's Drangleic Castle, to Dark Souls 3's Boreal Valley, the franchise features an abundance of mesmerizing environments. But Anor Londo, having appeared in the iconic series' inaugural entry, stands apart from the rest. And to this day, it's likely what its endlessly influential level design can most accurately be attributed to.

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