It's a tale as old as time: For as long as there have been FromSoftware games (at least ones people played), there have been people complaining they're too damn hard. This has set up a long-standing rivalry between people who wish the games were "more accessible" and the git gud crowd, culminating in an exhausting difficulty in video games conversation with the release of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Last week's release of Elden Ring elated the gaming community, and by nearly all player and critic accounts, it's basically a masterpiece. One notable exception, however, is Twitter user @MichaelDoesLife, who fell on the sword and became the first viral "Elden Ring is too difficult" complainer.

I was honestly ENJOYING my time with Elden Ring thus far UNTIL I got to my first boss. I was reminded how STUPIDLY difficult these games are. Why would I want to play something that's just NOT fun? Why doesn't this have an OPTIONAL "easy" mode? It's 2022---not 1999. Refunded. pic.twitter.com/d0ZFRCBFpH

— Michael Does Life (@MichaelDoesLife) February 24, 2022

The tweet is a perfect (though some might say too perfect) summary of the anti-FromSoft argument. Michael claims he was enjoying his game until he encountered the game's first boss (the Erdtree Burial Watchdog) before he remembered how "STUPIDLY" difficult FromSoft games are. He then complains about wanting an "OPTIONAL" easy mode before saying he "refunded" the game. The "optional easy mode" was a massive point of contention when Sekiro game out, particularly after Forbes writer Dave Thier set the gaming community ablaze by arguing for an easy mode in the game.

Michael added a clip to demonstrate how the game was too difficult. FromSoft veterans immediately recognized the many mistakes with which Michael approached the battle: he ran directly at the boss and immediately started mashing the attack button, refusing to deal with the boss' attack patterns. He also "heavy rolls," meaning he was overloaded with equipment relative to his stamina stat, making his dodge roll effectively useless. He quickly gets demolished.

FromSoft fans immediately started piling on, as Michael had taken on the title of Elden Ring's first viral "filthy casual."

Lmao pussy https://t.co/Pags3MYc9f

— EMG Max Ketchum @ The Hidden Temple (@MaxKetchum_) March 1, 2022

“Mad cuz bad” is a red flag personality trait IMO https://t.co/iJGQ84Tzic

— HugS (@HugS86) March 1, 2022

try dodging the attack to take less damage https://t.co/sICZXHEM8j

— Skooch (@SkoochLoL) March 1, 2022

Love how this is unintentionally a tutorial for Souls newbies--everything to NOT do, only in 20sec:
✅Rushed boss w/o knowledge
✅Bad spacing w/ current weapon (too close)
✅Tried to attack after getting hit (in disadvantage)
✅Panic rolled after hit
✅Fat-rolling (70%+ gear load) https://t.co/60HNq7lmWI

— trihex @ Elden Ring (@trihex) February 27, 2022

bro no amount of reduced damage or bigger health bars is gonna save you from being that fucking bad at the game. https://t.co/MpJjyxyxy9

— StrongMoist COMMISSIONS OPEN CHECK PINNED (@StrongMoist) February 27, 2022

Others suspected the tweet was too perfectly tuned to rile up FromSoft fans and that it might be a troll. The callback to the Sekiro "optional easy mode" controversy and Michael's some-might-say-astoundingly poor gameplay led some gamers to call bait.

this is the greatest bait ive ever seen and everyone is biting at it like filet mignon lmao ive seen the worst gamers in the world (confirmed, IGN rated worst) go at this game and none of them are this bad. you guys are fools for feeding this troll!!!!!!!! lmao https://t.co/PuHhERFwvR

— berd (@berdyaboi) March 1, 2022

Has to be a troll https://t.co/G5MoXZL6x5

— Eric July (@EricDJuly) February 26, 2022

If anyone deserves the title or Master Baiter, it's this man. https://t.co/F9qxiFcEjU

— Cynical Reviews (@Cynical_CJ) February 26, 2022

I need yall to know when bait is bait https://t.co/VKuFI0SEGk

— SuperRAD 🍋 (@SuperRADLemon) February 26, 2022

Michael's YouTube channel also supplies convincing evidence for his tweet being a troll. His "review" of Elden Ring is a short, unhinged rant featuring a subtle Trump impression, and commenters there seem more widely convinced he was trolling. He's also streaming the game on Twitch, where he seems to be enjoying himself, even as he endures the classic Souls experience of running into a boss for two hours.