A closer look

FromSoftware didn't just build a map; they built a towering architectural metaphor for depression. The entire world of Lordran is vertically stacked to represent its own mythology. The lofty, sunlit peaks of Anor Londo are exclusively reserved for the gods, while humanity, rot, and despair literally drain downward into the poisonous swamps of Blighttown. You aren't just descending stairs; you are walking down the game's social hierarchy.