Demon’s Souls – Review
Genre: RPG (Role-Playing Game)
Developer: From Software, SCE Japan Studio
Publisher: Atlus, Sony Computer Entertainment, Namco Bandai
System: Playstation 3
Release Year: 2009
Once in a while, your inner gamer spirit calls for a challenge. You’re tired of the same old game that practically beats itself for you. What you really want is a game you can beat to call yourself a real man… or a really, really butch woman. Sure, beating video games aren’t really accomplishments, but the illusion of accomplishment is what counts.
Pick your class, and then, pick your poison. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. You’ll be getting a lot of this when you embark on the journey that is Demon’s Souls. You’ll die, and then you’ll die some more. Said by many to be one of the most challenging and frustrating games to be released in years, Demon’s Souls is a true test of how much discouragement, or punishment you can really handle. You may drop the remote, and return the game within the hour, but if you want to spit… no, if you want to piss in the face of danger, welcome aboard.
In the Kingdom of Boletaria, King Allant XII’s search for ultimate power came back to haunt him, ultimately dooming the land with moving corpses, creatures, and of course, fire breathing dragons. With the guidance of the Maiden in Black, and the help of your weapons, miracles, and spells, you, the hero of all heroicness (no exaggeration when it comes to this beauty), must save us all by visiting five areas throughout the land. It could have been six (you will see why in a place called “the Nexus”), and many are glad it is not (although many hope for future DLC).
Brings a whole new meaning to “Hulk Smash!” doesn’t it?
Consider yourself the doe, and consider everything else a nuclear warhead—suddenly Bambi’s mom didn’t have it so bad, eh? You will be emasculated (even if you’re a girl) with each step you climb during the first stage of the game. You will spend the majority of the game in soul form (a state of having reduced maximum health). The way to get out of soul form is to kill a boss, an item called Stone of Ephemeral Eyes, or, of course, invading another character’s game and killing him or her, thus stealing the soul.
That’s right ladies and gentlemen! When you are in body form (which you won’t be often), other players in soul form can invade your game at any time when you are not in the Nexus. Very close to killing a hard enemy? Trying to complete a side quest? Well, our resident black phantom (an invading player) will be more than happy to help the enemies make you cry with just another death to the tally. You can play offline to avoid this, but what’s the fun in that?
They are as ugly as they are creepy…like Cabbage Patch Kids from hell.
The good news is that as you play through the game, things will get easier. You’ll master the fighting system, and discovering strategies will become second nature. If you’re really working your brain, you will discover ways of leveling up faster by killing yourself (I did, as did many). I guess you could say the other good news is that the death screen lasts a few seconds, unlike Final Fantasy VI or Too Human, so you have very little time to let the anger settle in before you head forth to die again.
Outside of the frustration, the game is a lot of fun. The graphics are appealing and the enemies, in all their roaring glory, are fun to fight. The battle system, which is hack ‘em, slash ‘em (not turn-based), is nothing new or original, but the combination of switching weapons and using two types of magic (miracles and spells) will keep you involved in the game.
Sadly, this guy is the least of your worries.
If you haven’t thrown your T.V. out the window, broken all your controllers in half, or checked yourself into an institution, playing the game the second time (or third, or fourth… if you’re nuts, like me) has an increased difficulty, lets you complete missed events/quests, learn spells and miracles, and create other weapons. Needless to say to you trophy hunters, multiple plays is a necessity.
Although you will know the ins and outs of the game, going through it again will still be a treat, even if the story isn’t something to write in your diary about (this game is about hackin’ up the baddies, not about the hero’s long lost teddy bear, or some other gooey nonsense). Plus, there is a second, easy to get ending if you want to do it yourself and not rely on YouTube (That’s me telling you to grow a pair, unless you’re a woman, and do it all again).
No matter how you slice it, the challenge beckons. Are you gamer enough to answer that call? If you are, “You come back alive… I need ya business!” -Blacksmith Boldwin
Story: 2/5
Graphics: 5/5
Game Play: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Replay: 4/5
Total Score: 21/25: The Golden Stool (Outstanding–an absolute must-play)
Demon’s Souls and all related properties are ™ trademark and/or © copyright of Playstation, Atlus, Sony Computer Entertainment, and related parties.
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There are 2 Comments to "Demon’s Souls – Review"
This game was epic but man it was friggin hard as shit. I spent like 10 hours just getting passed the first damn stage.
They made this game hard at points for the sake of being hard. I understand they wanted to make game a pain in the ass but not at the expense of fun.
and the story could have been better