The 'hollowing' in Dark Souls is a central and tragic concept. Essentially, as characters in the game die repeatedly, they gradually lose their humanity and become 'hollow'. This is a slow process of degeneration. For example, the Undead in the game start to show physical and mental changes as they hollow. Their appearance becomes more and more desolate, and their minds are filled with a sense of emptiness and confusion.
One key element is the repeated death. Every time an undead dies in Dark Souls, it accelerates the hollowing process. Another element is the loss of humanity. As the character hollows, their humanity fades away, and they become more like mindless husks. For instance, the way their eyes become dull and their movements become more erratic.
The stories of Dark Souls 1 and 2 are not directly connected in a simple linear way. However, they share the same overarching theme of the undead curse and the cycle of life and death. In Dark Souls 1, the events are set in Lordran, and in Dark Souls 2, it's in Drangleic. But both worlds face the consequences of the undead problem.
Dark Souls 1's story has you exploring Lordran. You encounter various bosses like Gwyn, the Lord of Cinder. His actions in the past are related to the state of the world now. In Dark Souls 2, there are different areas like Heide's Tower of Flame. The story unfolds as you interact with the strange characters and face the challenges they present, all while trying to deal with the overarching curse that plagues the land.
Well, the duration of the Dark Souls 3 story really depends. If you rush through the main quests, it could be around 20 hours. But if you take your time, explore every nook and cranny, and do side quests, it could easily stretch to 60 hours or more.
Overall, the story of Dark Souls 3 is profoundly immersive. It has a rich backstory, mysterious characters, and requires players to piece together clues to fully understand its depth. There are various theories and discussions among the gaming community about its true meaning.
To not tell a story poorly in Dark Souls, you should avoid overexplaining everything. Let players discover and piece together the story elements themselves through exploration and interaction. Also, don't rely on cliche plot devices or tropes.