If you've ever thought that games these days have become too easy *coughElikacough*, From Software's awkwardly-titled Demon's Souls is the for you. It will gladly eat your face, like any properly challenging game would, and spit out an incredibly satisfying dungeon-crawler experience.
I don't say this lightly, either. I've said before that I'm not really into difficult games, but Demon's Souls has me hooked, and for reasons beyond just the sadistic face-eating.
First, there's the design work. The inimitable Jim Sterling said it best as he noted how "not enough games put you in a full suit of medieval armor", and Demon's Souls really rocks it in that respect. Even Oblivion, once the place to go for reasonably realistic medieval fantasy, flat-out refuses to hide your character's ugly mug behind a plate mail helmet. Not so here, for without a protective metal mask your face would be eaten off quite handily. A few concessions are made to Japanese sensibilities, with an extra-large greatsword here and there, or a large shield painted up with pictures of saints, like a fresco on a cathedral ceiling. Oh, and speaking of shields, you can dual-wield them. Even better, it's a perfectly valid strategy!
The intro video and tutorial + some early gameplay. It's cute that the VO sounds like native Japanese-speakers were asked to read lines written in ye olde English in whatever they thought sounded like a medieval European accent.
The environments, too are a creepy sight to see. If you've ever complained about how large the light radius seems in the latest screens of Diablo III, you'll find ample comfort here. Your little crystal torch is about as effective in a claustrophobic castle passageway as a cellphone-screen backlight, and you're left to listen for heavy breathing, shuffling sounds, or other telltale clues to find out if some face-eating monster sits around the corner or if there's an Indiana Jones-style rolling boulder trap's set up at the top of the incline.
The enemies are also pretty tough. There are Cthulu-faced monsters, grim reapers, giant floating stingrays that throw spikes the size of telephone poles at you, and these screaming armored skeletons that somersault their way towards you like gymnasts from hell. Carefully is how you play the game.
And you will be pretty careful, as Demon's Souls is fucking harsh. Getting killed in a stage spawns you back at the nearest waypoint, but all of your soul points (cash for buying levels and loot) are left at your bloodstain, which you have to get back to and touch. Worse still, you're respawned in "phantom form", which means your health is capped at 50% (75% with a special item), and all the enemies have been restored to their places. To add insult to injury, the only way to get your body back (and remove the cap), is to kill a boss! And those bosses are pretty epic. Just check it out below.
Imagine if all the colossi in Shadow of the Colossus were as pissed off as that guy. That's what a boss fight in this game is like.
Well, you can also get your body back through multiplayer. Demon's Souls' online mode is pretty interesting. You know Fable II's online, where you could see friends who were playing their own game walking around as glowing orbs, and you could summon them as a random character to do some co-op? Demon's Souls takes it a few steps further.
When playing online, you can see white ghosts, which are other players (within a certain level range) playing in the same area in their own games. You (and they) can leave messages on the ground which can be seen and read by everyone. The messages are canned, and usually read "treasure here," "beware of fall," "boss here", or "cute foe ahead" (seriously). You can read and "rate" messages (basically a thumbs-up), and rating messages refills the health of the poster, so areas before boss fights are usually plastered with messages that say "I'm dying, please rate this message."
An interesting little aside is that other players' bloodstains are also visible in your game, and touching them activates a kind of "kill-cam", where the last ten-seconds or so of that character's life is shown scurrying around the stage as a red-tinted ghost. Some of the deaths, particularly the ones to accidental falls, are as hilarious as they are informative.
If you're alive can summon up to two phantom-form players as "blue phantoms" to play some co-op. If those blue phantoms help you kill off a boss, they get rewarded with a free revival and are returned to their game. The best part, though, is that the summoning isn't just limited to co-op. You can also choose to become a "black phantom" and force yourself into another player's game, in which case your job is to HUNT that player! It's sanctioned griefing! Killing your victim gets you get your body back, but getting killed wipes out all your soul points and can even level you down in some cases. One of the best boss battles in the game isn't even against the AI. Once you enter the room, a random player from the same area is summoned in to be the boss, and you two have to fight to the death, ala' Thunderdome.
It's not perfect, though. There's very little hand-holding going on. Other than killing all the bosses at the end of each area, you're given nothing in the way of an overarching goal. You just enter a dungeon, explore it, pick up loot, eat faces and get your face eaten off, and maybe find a switch or two that opens the gate to the boss. The dungeons are well designed and relatively easy to navigate, even without a map or objective compass, but the premise is a bit simple-minded. There be demons in them thar dungeons, go in there and kill 'em. Also, there's no quicksave, so there's no reloading if you got killed by the giant ooze monster with a shield for a face.
Anyway, it's nice to see a game on current-gen systems that hasn't sacrificed challenge for accessibility, but it's weird that no one's announced a US release! The asian version of the game is in full English, text and speech, and the multiplayer is already global. And yet they announced and demoed Ninja Blade.
I hear that Japan is really loving this one. It looks really cool, but I doubt From's track record and don't have any cash for importing. I'll keep an eye on it though, thanks for the review!
As always, great writing! Should this ever make a US debut, I'll definitely check it out.
A challenging game with the freedom to rock two shields simultaneously in a full suit of armor with Co-op? Sounds good to me!
Looks too annoying to be fun for me... it's like a really bad monster hunter remake. Multiplayer sounds fun though, I mean... what isn't fun about killing big ass dudes with a bunch of your buddies?
Wow, this game really sounds amazing. I wish it was for the 360 though. Just another reason to get a ps3 I guess :) I might get a ps3 over the summer and this will probably be the first title I pick up. You mentioned its pretty import friendly but on a scale of 1-10 how import friendly is it? I'm just wondering because it doesn't look THAT import friendly in the videos but I could be wrong. Also how is Linger in Shadows? I'm curious about that game.
Sure, there's monster hunter in there, but the single-player is more robust IMO, since you can (and are generally meant to) play alone. MH is stupid outside of multiplayer, but you can play this offline and still have a blast.
@Seigfreid
I'd put it at an 8. All the text is in English, as is the voice acting, tough the manual is in Chinese, which generally leaves it up to you to figure out what each stat means. Thankfully, rabid fans have put up a wiki.
It's also import friendly in that it doesn't give you any obvious goals at all, no matter the language. Go into the dungeon, explore, kill dudes, eat faces, clear the boss, go further and grab some loot. There's story to be found, but it's generally outside of the immediate gameplay experience.
@A New Challenger
The feedback is quite visceral though. If you attempt a roll in full plate armor, the controller vibrates, and the sickening crunch when you pull off a backstab or parry is quite satisfying.
I really want this game, and I'm so tempted to import it, but I held out for Armored Core For Answer and I think I can hold out for this. I know if I imported it and then there was a localized release, it would kill me to have the "wrong" version. Still, want!
It's in full English. Given From's track record they may not actually bother to "re-localize" a potential US release, given that they already DID that for the Asian rollout.
Besides, with the PS3 being regionless, there's no real "wrong" version. And because the messages and emotes are canned, there are few communication issues playing global between Japanese, Asian, Korean players, either.
DO IT.
@Thecleaningguy
Yeah, Japan's really been snapping it up in spite of the mixed reviews (mainly due to the difficulty). In fact it was on top of Famitsu's "game satisfaction" survey, out of all platforms, just above Yakuza 3.
Yes, it will play perfectly. You'll even get the trophies, which will be translated into English automatically.
@Puppy Licks
Randoms. You don't see them all the time, usually only players in your immediate vicinity, so it's not as if you'll be walking through an area teeming with ghosts. You might see a lot of summoning markers sitting around a boss battle, since some folks want to go co-op to fight a boss and revive.
Asia, Asia/China ONLY. The Japanese version has English voice but JAPANESE text. The Korean version is Korean-language only, but the ASIA/CHINA release has full English, text and voice.
I think it's good. The packaging shows box art that you'd NEVER see in a US release. You know a game is going to be hard when the cover art shows the player as a dead corpse :P
As for translation, the dialog is surprisingly well-done, even if a few of the "ye olde" flourishes seem a little misplaced.
The text translations are a little clunky, in the sense that you can tell it wasn't a native speaker that wrote it. A couple of mistranslations on some items can confuse. An item that's described as "turns you into a soul" actually means that it gives you extra soul POINTS.
Since the manual is in Chinese, you might have to figure out some of the stat requirements and game concepts for yourself, but there's a whole wiki for that.
English release date NOW SOFTWARE ( as many armored core games I have bought I thought you were my peoples ) I fear no difficult game. LET THE FACE EATING COMMENCE.
Hey Unangbangkay... I just tried looking for it in approximately 10 different game stores. No dice.
This game is like an ultra-rare pokemon card made of sex and chocolate. Of the ten I checked, only 3 had a copy, and of those three, all of them had only a single copy to sell.
Oh, another thing I forgot to ask... Can you actually back your save up to an SD card or USB device with this game? Not by using the backup utility, but by actually copying the individual save, the way you're supposed to (I'm looking at you, Resident Evil 5).
I know, right? The Asian version went out Feb 24th, and Play-Asia got hit with such a supply shortage that they could only honor the preorders that were made back in AUGUST.
I only got lucky because someone tipped me off to a bunch of swarthy Australians that had 10 copies to send out on eBay.
It's been surprisingly successful given the mixed reviews (mostly over the difficulty).
@Pedrovay2003
I've never tried it myself, but I'll let you know.
Got mine off Ebay for $65 shipped, got it 9 days later. Not bad. Put a few hours into it last night (got it yesterday) and I second everything said here. I've yet to take out the first "boss" as I'm just getting used to the mechanics are farming souls from enemies, but the game is indeed epic.
PSN: CronosBlade if anyone wants to add me to do co-op. Once I unlock it, that is.
Well, I wouldn't say it's THE reason to get a PS3, given that its appeal is so divisive, but with stuff like the Resistance and Killzone franchises, MGS4, LBP, SOCOM (to an extent), everything in the PS2's library if you have one of the backwards-compatible models (hint: the 60gb and the 80gb MGS4 bundle models), Valkyria Chronicles, plus some of the stuff coming out and the weird PSN games, I'd say the PS3 is a perfectly valid choice if you only want to get one. Plus, everything else worth getting is already multiplatform, so you won't really need to worry about missing out on too much.
I've wanted this and White Knight Story/Chronicles since the first gameplay videos hit the internet. Sony needs to get on the ball and deliver these stateside! 0_o
this game sounds awesome, i just wish the 50% health thing wasnt in it. i mean if its hard as everyones saying, why make it hard by give you less HP? it kinda just seems like a way to force people to use the ghost form thing.
to bad im gonna have to wait since everyone is out of stock.
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about me
I'm Josh "unangbangkay" Tolentino, and this is my cry for attention.
I also write for Japanator. Come visit, and see me gush about things not directly related to video games. Or not. But hey, diversifying interest in me is definitely something I wouldn't mind.
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
I hear that Japan is really loving this one. It looks really cool, but I doubt From's track record and don't have any cash for importing. I'll keep an eye on it though, thanks for the review!
This game sounds and looks like it would be SO much fun!
Hopefully it makes its way out here
As always, great writing! Should this ever make a US debut, I'll definitely check it out.
A challenging game with the freedom to rock two shields simultaneously in a full suit of armor with Co-op? Sounds good to me!
Looks too annoying to be fun for me... it's like a really bad monster hunter remake. Multiplayer sounds fun though, I mean... what isn't fun about killing big ass dudes with a bunch of your buddies?
Something about the dude's animation bothers me. It looks (or sounds, perhaps) too floaty. Good job highlighting this game.
Wow, this game really sounds amazing. I wish it was for the 360 though. Just another reason to get a ps3 I guess :) I might get a ps3 over the summer and this will probably be the first title I pick up. You mentioned its pretty import friendly but on a scale of 1-10 how import friendly is it? I'm just wondering because it doesn't look THAT import friendly in the videos but I could be wrong. Also how is Linger in Shadows? I'm curious about that game.
@Jozo
Sure, there's monster hunter in there, but the single-player is more robust IMO, since you can (and are generally meant to) play alone. MH is stupid outside of multiplayer, but you can play this offline and still have a blast.
@Seigfreid
I'd put it at an 8. All the text is in English, as is the voice acting, tough the manual is in Chinese, which generally leaves it up to you to figure out what each stat means. Thankfully, rabid fans have put up a wiki.
It's also import friendly in that it doesn't give you any obvious goals at all, no matter the language. Go into the dungeon, explore, kill dudes, eat faces, clear the boss, go further and grab some loot. There's story to be found, but it's generally outside of the immediate gameplay experience.
@A New Challenger
The feedback is quite visceral though. If you attempt a roll in full plate armor, the controller vibrates, and the sickening crunch when you pull off a backstab or parry is quite satisfying.
I like the fact that you have to go back to your bloodstain to get your loot. That takes me back to Diablo II. Ah, good times.
I really want this game, and I'm so tempted to import it, but I held out for Armored Core For Answer and I think I can hold out for this. I know if I imported it and then there was a localized release, it would kill me to have the "wrong" version. Still, want!
@Trev
It's in full English. Given From's track record they may not actually bother to "re-localize" a potential US release, given that they already DID that for the Asian rollout.
Besides, with the PS3 being regionless, there's no real "wrong" version. And because the messages and emotes are canned, there are few communication issues playing global between Japanese, Asian, Korean players, either.
DO IT.
@Thecleaningguy
Yeah, Japan's really been snapping it up in spite of the mixed reviews (mainly due to the difficulty). In fact it was on top of Famitsu's "game satisfaction" survey, out of all platforms, just above Yakuza 3.
Ok, so if I import this from Japan it will play on U.S. PS3?
Hmmmm sounds pretty cool, are the other players you see randoms or exclusively people on your friends list?
@Ninja Gamer
Yes, it will play perfectly. You'll even get the trophies, which will be translated into English automatically.
@Puppy Licks
Randoms. You don't see them all the time, usually only players in your immediate vicinity, so it's not as if you'll be walking through an area teeming with ghosts. You might see a lot of summoning markers sitting around a boss battle, since some folks want to go co-op to fight a boss and revive.
Does it matter which version I get, Asia or Japan? I heard that both have the English language implemented, but I may be wrong. Guide me Unangbangkay!
Asia, Asia/China ONLY. The Japanese version has English voice but JAPANESE text. The Korean version is Korean-language only, but the ASIA/CHINA release has full English, text and voice.
Sweet game. The animations are a bit clunky, but that's not so bad.
You say this is an asian version of the game rather than a US release? If so, then I should be able to buy this in my home country! :D
If this is really all English, then I may have to grab it. Is the quality of the Asian version good? Like the packaging and everything?
I may have to pick this up through Play-Asia, or if you have a suggestion of a different place to grab it.
I want this game badly but lack the money to import it.
@Victor Stillwater
You should!
@Pedrovay2003
I think it's good. The packaging shows box art that you'd NEVER see in a US release. You know a game is going to be hard when the cover art shows the player as a dead corpse :P
As for translation, the dialog is surprisingly well-done, even if a few of the "ye olde" flourishes seem a little misplaced.
The text translations are a little clunky, in the sense that you can tell it wasn't a native speaker that wrote it. A couple of mistranslations on some items can confuse. An item that's described as "turns you into a soul" actually means that it gives you extra soul POINTS.
Since the manual is in Chinese, you might have to figure out some of the stat requirements and game concepts for yourself, but there's a whole wiki for that.
English release date NOW SOFTWARE ( as many armored core games I have bought I thought you were my peoples ) I fear no difficult game. LET THE FACE EATING COMMENCE.
want. but don't have ps3 so darn.
I dunno still looks like a maybeh to me
Hey Unangbangkay... I just tried looking for it in approximately 10 different game stores. No dice.
This game is like an ultra-rare pokemon card made of sex and chocolate. Of the ten I checked, only 3 had a copy, and of those three, all of them had only a single copy to sell.
Oh, another thing I forgot to ask... Can you actually back your save up to an SD card or USB device with this game? Not by using the backup utility, but by actually copying the individual save, the way you're supposed to (I'm looking at you, Resident Evil 5).
I really want to import this =[
@victor stillwater
I know, right? The Asian version went out Feb 24th, and Play-Asia got hit with such a supply shortage that they could only honor the preorders that were made back in AUGUST.
I only got lucky because someone tipped me off to a bunch of swarthy Australians that had 10 copies to send out on eBay.
It's been surprisingly successful given the mixed reviews (mostly over the difficulty).
@Pedrovay2003
I've never tried it myself, but I'll let you know.
Got mine off Ebay for $65 shipped, got it 9 days later. Not bad. Put a few hours into it last night (got it yesterday) and I second everything said here. I've yet to take out the first "boss" as I'm just getting used to the mechanics are farming souls from enemies, but the game is indeed epic.
PSN: CronosBlade if anyone wants to add me to do co-op. Once I unlock it, that is.
http://demonssouls.wikidot.com/ is a good source of info as well.
Oh and you can also regain your body by helping someone kill a boss in co-op OR killing another player when you invade their world.
Would this game be the reason to get a PS3?
Well, I wouldn't say it's THE reason to get a PS3, given that its appeal is so divisive, but with stuff like the Resistance and Killzone franchises, MGS4, LBP, SOCOM (to an extent), everything in the PS2's library if you have one of the backwards-compatible models (hint: the 60gb and the 80gb MGS4 bundle models), Valkyria Chronicles, plus some of the stuff coming out and the weird PSN games, I'd say the PS3 is a perfectly valid choice if you only want to get one. Plus, everything else worth getting is already multiplatform, so you won't really need to worry about missing out on too much.
Thank you for telling me why I should care about the game. I saw some footage, and it looked intriguing, but I was never quite sure what it was about.
Hey Unangbangkay, I managed to score a copy of the game.
Man, this game is tough. I need to farm souls to get stronger, but have no idea how to kill bosses to access new stages outside of the first areas.
HELP!
I've wanted this and White Knight Story/Chronicles since the first gameplay videos hit the internet. Sony needs to get on the ball and deliver these stateside! 0_o
this game sounds awesome, i just wish the 50% health thing wasnt in it. i mean if its hard as everyones saying, why make it hard by give you less HP? it kinda just seems like a way to force people to use the ghost form thing.
to bad im gonna have to wait since everyone is out of stock.