Kragg
08-04-2010, 02:55 PM
Title: Demon’s Souls
Platform: PS3
Platform Reviewed: PS3
Offical Website: Demons-Souls.com (http://www.demons-souls.com/)
Developer: FromSoftware (http://www.fromsoftware.jp/en//)
Publisher: Atlus (http://www.atlus.com/)
MSRP: $29.95
Original Release Date: 10/9/2009
Writer: Ben 'kragg' Daniels
Demon’s Souls Backlog Review
Abandon dignity, all ye who enter here...
So you’ve heard a lot about this game Demon’s Souls for the PS3, but you’re wondering why you should play it and what all the fuss is about? Spoken about with much praise and adoration from its cult following of “hardcore” (see: obsessive) followers, and generally skirted by the general gaming public as being too difficult to invest time into. Well, ole Kragg is here to tell you why it is worth your time, and maybe we’ll all learn a little bit about ourselves in the process.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/DemonS1.jpg
To get it out of the way immediately, yes, Demon’s Souls is a very challenging game. However, it is not exactly the ”oh my god I want to smash my controller and set my head on fire!” level of difficulty you probably heard about in its initial reviews. I’ll let you in on a secret: the game simply requires patience and thought. Maybe those reviewers lacked that, but you and I are chock full of the stuff, and that’s why we’re not afraid to devise strategies and die a few times in the process. One of the main points that makes this game so great is that its lack of checkpoints and stamina system force you to think about each and every move you’ll make.
Aside from it’s math-y statistical leanings, the game plays more like a “hack n’ slash” than your traditional RPG. This is no Dragon Age or Diablo however, where you can just run into the fray recklessly mowing down everything in your path. A few poorly timed swings and you’ll receive a Brooklyn beat down from even the lowliest enemies. I was victim to this until I finally came to grips with the fact that I was playing the game wrong. After taking the time to study the rhythm of enemies attacks (which the game advises in the tutorial and I promptly ignored) I learned to successfully parry and counterattack, delivering spectacular impalement's; the kind normally reserved for the adult film industry.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/DemonS2.jpg
Probably the most outstanding reason to suggest Demon’s Souls is its highly lauded multi-player system. Atlus recently announced they will keep their multi-player servers online until “at least” March of 2011, and while the core game will function after this time, it’s a disservice to play this game offline. In a time when people claim that multi-player modes are simply tacked on to artificially extend replay value, this is the antithesis. Demon’s Souls multi-player is both unique and elegantly executed to supplement the single player story. The ability to see fleeting ghosts of other players, drop messages which the community can rate to grant you random health boosts, and the use of stones that allow players to arbitrarily cross into other peoples “worlds” as benevolent or malevolent spirits has created some of the most enjoyable online play I have come across in years. What is most intriguing is that the game integrates the online features in a way that enhances the atmosphere of the world, making it seem like you truly are one of many spirits trapped in a personal purgatory fighting an army of demons. The limited control you have over how the online portions play out (such as not being able to choose to play with your friends specifically) only creates more perceived tension. It’s not for everyone, but for people who enjoy a certain element of surprise, it’s a unique experience.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/DemonS3.jpg
To paraphrase one of my peers “In a world where basically any game can be looked up online to be walked through in a sterile fashion, it’s nice to know something exists that still makes you say ‘What the HELL is going on?!’ “
This basically sums up Demon’s Souls perfectly, because it forces you to make strategic decisions without handing you all the pieces to the puzzle. Again, this isn’t everyones cup of tea, but if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind not having everything in a game laid out simply for you, this one is definitely worth picking up at its reduced $30 price point.
The Good
Gorgeous graphics, an interesting world that is fully realized with a classical style
Challenging levels, devious traps, truly epic boss battles
Immersing multi-player that adds a unique style of depth to the campaign
The Bad
The style of gameplay and challenge may not appeal to a wide audience
At some point, ya’ll gonna get griefed!
The Ugly
This SFW foot fetish site dedicated to ’the maiden in black’ (http://virtualsoles.blogspot.com/2009/06/maiden-in-black-demons-souls_19.html)
Platform: PS3
Platform Reviewed: PS3
Offical Website: Demons-Souls.com (http://www.demons-souls.com/)
Developer: FromSoftware (http://www.fromsoftware.jp/en//)
Publisher: Atlus (http://www.atlus.com/)
MSRP: $29.95
Original Release Date: 10/9/2009
Writer: Ben 'kragg' Daniels
Demon’s Souls Backlog Review
Abandon dignity, all ye who enter here...
So you’ve heard a lot about this game Demon’s Souls for the PS3, but you’re wondering why you should play it and what all the fuss is about? Spoken about with much praise and adoration from its cult following of “hardcore” (see: obsessive) followers, and generally skirted by the general gaming public as being too difficult to invest time into. Well, ole Kragg is here to tell you why it is worth your time, and maybe we’ll all learn a little bit about ourselves in the process.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/DemonS1.jpg
To get it out of the way immediately, yes, Demon’s Souls is a very challenging game. However, it is not exactly the ”oh my god I want to smash my controller and set my head on fire!” level of difficulty you probably heard about in its initial reviews. I’ll let you in on a secret: the game simply requires patience and thought. Maybe those reviewers lacked that, but you and I are chock full of the stuff, and that’s why we’re not afraid to devise strategies and die a few times in the process. One of the main points that makes this game so great is that its lack of checkpoints and stamina system force you to think about each and every move you’ll make.
Aside from it’s math-y statistical leanings, the game plays more like a “hack n’ slash” than your traditional RPG. This is no Dragon Age or Diablo however, where you can just run into the fray recklessly mowing down everything in your path. A few poorly timed swings and you’ll receive a Brooklyn beat down from even the lowliest enemies. I was victim to this until I finally came to grips with the fact that I was playing the game wrong. After taking the time to study the rhythm of enemies attacks (which the game advises in the tutorial and I promptly ignored) I learned to successfully parry and counterattack, delivering spectacular impalement's; the kind normally reserved for the adult film industry.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/DemonS2.jpg
Probably the most outstanding reason to suggest Demon’s Souls is its highly lauded multi-player system. Atlus recently announced they will keep their multi-player servers online until “at least” March of 2011, and while the core game will function after this time, it’s a disservice to play this game offline. In a time when people claim that multi-player modes are simply tacked on to artificially extend replay value, this is the antithesis. Demon’s Souls multi-player is both unique and elegantly executed to supplement the single player story. The ability to see fleeting ghosts of other players, drop messages which the community can rate to grant you random health boosts, and the use of stones that allow players to arbitrarily cross into other peoples “worlds” as benevolent or malevolent spirits has created some of the most enjoyable online play I have come across in years. What is most intriguing is that the game integrates the online features in a way that enhances the atmosphere of the world, making it seem like you truly are one of many spirits trapped in a personal purgatory fighting an army of demons. The limited control you have over how the online portions play out (such as not being able to choose to play with your friends specifically) only creates more perceived tension. It’s not for everyone, but for people who enjoy a certain element of surprise, it’s a unique experience.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/DemonS3.jpg
To paraphrase one of my peers “In a world where basically any game can be looked up online to be walked through in a sterile fashion, it’s nice to know something exists that still makes you say ‘What the HELL is going on?!’ “
This basically sums up Demon’s Souls perfectly, because it forces you to make strategic decisions without handing you all the pieces to the puzzle. Again, this isn’t everyones cup of tea, but if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind not having everything in a game laid out simply for you, this one is definitely worth picking up at its reduced $30 price point.
The Good
Gorgeous graphics, an interesting world that is fully realized with a classical style
Challenging levels, devious traps, truly epic boss battles
Immersing multi-player that adds a unique style of depth to the campaign
The Bad
The style of gameplay and challenge may not appeal to a wide audience
At some point, ya’ll gonna get griefed!
The Ugly
This SFW foot fetish site dedicated to ’the maiden in black’ (http://virtualsoles.blogspot.com/2009/06/maiden-in-black-demons-souls_19.html)