DARK Souls III has so many excellent locations to explore that it must have been a Goliath task to figure out which ones to include.
In fact there are certainly many locations that From Software had in mind before it chose the final cut.
I believe one of these cut locations has partially made its way into the game.
To find evidence of this, pay a visit to the view point at Vordt of the Boreal Valley (top).
This is a great viewpoint as it maps out the majority of the game. Apart from the underground areas, the city of Lothric, the Irithyll (too deep in the valley to see) and some other smaller sections, everything can be spotted from this point.
Every location you can see, from here, you can visit. Well all except one.
If you pull out your binoculars, you will be able to spot something just to the right of the mountain in the centre.
This to be precise…
Let’s zoom in a bit there…
There we go. Apologies for the resolution, but you can see it right?
I’m not going mad, there is definitely a town there. It even has its own distinct architecture with fat round towers, white walls and grey pointed roofs.
Somebody has deliberately designed this place to look different to all the other places in Dark Souls III.
It could be easy to dismiss this collection of buildings as a backdrop, but if it is, then it is the only backdrop of its kind in the entire game.
From this viewpoint, every building you can see is either one you can visit or part of a place you can visit. I mean, I know there are buildings in the Undead Village that are just for show, but they are part of the village. They match its aesthetic and make it look like a larger place.
This is not like that, it is also extremely far away from any other part of the game. The only other destination this far away into the distance is Archdragon Peak.
This leads me to believe that this secret town may have something in common with Archdrgon Peak.
They are both hidden areas.
I hypothesize that there was once a method of reaching this secret town, much in the same way of reaching the peak, perhaps with an emote.
Data miners have found the remnants of cut locations in both previous Dark Souls titles so it is likely that the same can be said for Dark Souls III.
It is also worth noting that apart from locations we already know a lot was cut from Dark Souls III. Digging into the code, people have found icons and even models for a staggering amount of lost items.
Weapons, armour and many other items have been discovered. Some hint at missing bosses and potentially cut areas.
Couple this with how From Software never make meaningless backdrops and I find myself a firm believer in the Secret Town.
To further support my theory I am in the process of breaking down what you can see from all of Dark Souls III’s major viewpoints. Just to point out that From Software never create something without purpose. Article to come.
DLC maybe?
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That’s a top shout there but I don’t think it’s the Ashes of Ariandel. That’s in the painted world. Maybe the next one though.
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