40°

The Escapist Review: Demon's Souls

The Escapist writes: "If you are easily frustrated, you may as well just move along, because you'll want no part of the PS3 exclusive, Demon's Souls. Even if you're not-so-easily frustrated, you may want to reconsider going anywhere near it. It's a brilliant, exquisitely crafted action RPG, one of the most unusual and rewarding gaming experiences currently available, but make no mistake: This game wants to make you cry. Not in a death of Aeris kind of way, but in a school bully kind of way."

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escapistmagazine.com
callahan095329d ago

Disagree with that teaser sentence. I'm very easily frustrated by videogames, and yet I never felt frustrated by Demon's Souls. I had a blast with it, and I got the platinum trophy. It's a challenging game, but death is such an integral part of the experience that it just isn't even frustrating, you just get used to it. At least, I did. It becomes a game where you have to be very careful, and you learn the right way of doing things. It's trial by fire, and the pay off is exquisite. It's one of the best games ever made, and I really mean that, I really mean *ever*. So I'd say: challenging, yes, frustrating, not necessarily, not if you have the right mindset.

Prototype5329d ago

There's only 4 games I've played that tested my patience to the max:

Prince of Persia Sands of time
Mario Lost Levels
Alundra
Ninja Gaiden Arcade

Demon Souls reminds me of an online game with an offline mode so ill have to see how "challenging" it can get, if people can beat it must not be as hard as they say it is

ZBlacktt5329d ago (Edited 5329d ago )

Good reply. Can I ask if anyone would know. Why is the release dates for North America so far apart from Japan? ( Feb 2009 to Oct 2009 ). Seeing that the far East version also has English as a game language.

Every single report we've ever seen talks about the no save spots or check points. Dying and having to redo the whole level again. More so dying at a boss fight. I wonder if they will ever patch the game to add those? I mean we all know at the end of the day that will hurt sells.

Not everyone is hardcore and many will give up and list it on Craigslist with in a week from buying it. The Dev see the reviews and the reviews though very nice scores. They are scaring off consumers with the "frustrating part " and who wants to spend $60 to say for get this sh*t!, lol.

lukeb4dunk5329d ago

That's just the thing, once you get into the game and learn how to play, you just end up accepting all that and loving the game for doing so. Seriously, I really don't know how to explain why, other than the reward factor of it all. I've never played a game where when I finally beat the level boss, I felt so rewarded for doing so.

No death feels cheap, because you can always see where you went wrong. At the beginning, yes, you will get frustrated for losing all those souls you worked so hard to get, but not really later after you learn what areas you can farm to get all those souls back in spades. You earn everything you get in this game (both good and bad) and that is it's best charm.

callahan09 has it about right. Once you realize that dieing is part of game, you learn to accept it and enjoy it. And like him, it is one of the greatest, most enjoyable and most rewarding games that I have ever played. I have put around 500 hours into Demon's Souls and loved 499 of them. Easily in my top 3 games this gen.

nycredude5329d ago

Yeah I agree I never got frustrated playing this game. It si NEVER cheap, like Ninja Gaiden cheap. It IS challenging, but only in the beginning when you haven't figured it out yet. But once you get to know the game and it's mechanics and level design you will become a killing machine.

All these sites calling it frustrating is doing the game and the potential buyers a diservice.

RAM MAGNUMS5329d ago

the number 1 reason why i am a gamer is for challenges. I like to win. the only game that has beaten me is ninja gaiden sigma. i can admit that.

budbundystyles5329d ago

I also can admit that. I made it to the boss fight against the gentleman with glasses and quit. Guy hits you once and goes into a ridonkulous combo sequence, and then stomps you on the ground as well. F Ninja Sigma, if that's hardcore, I never want to be.

hay5329d ago

Ninja Gaiden wasn't hardcore. It had terrible platforming elements and cheap fights. Played through almost all of it without any upgrades and when I remembered to look in the inventory, got the ninpo's and get hp tripled in comparison to the starting... Game became boring. Do yourself a favor, don't get any upgrades playing it. Much more fun that way.

budbundystyles5329d ago

Frustrating is a rather interpretable term. I have looked forward to this game for some time. Atlus deserves applause for bringing this gem to the West. In an age of auto-aim, and full skill trees spoiled on the net day one, I welcome a REAL challenge!

Guitarded5329d ago

...if you avoid "the net" while playing them. Actually, games are more fun if you avoid gaming sites, especially N4G, while playing them. This site is a cesspool and the people that run it are the toilets! HazMat suit highly recommended!

Morituri5329d ago

This was posted in another article but it merits getting spread around:

http://worthplaying.com/art...

The visuals are quite amazing/disturbing.

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240°

The best PS5 exclusives 2024

With so many PS5 exclusives to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming to pick which one to play. This is especially true for a new PlayStation gamer who has yet to experience the wonder of PlayStation-exclusive storytelling. So, here's KnowTechie's take on the best PS5 exclusives in 2024 and beyond

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knowtechie.com
Hereandthere11d ago

PlayStation is killing it with the exclusives this year. Exclusive wise, what has xbox released this year?

VersusDMC10d ago

They won't complain about Microsoft not releasing games here but put all their effort into saying that only first party counts. Games like Rebirth and Grandblue Relink don't count. Games published by Sony like Helldivers 2, Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin don't count because Sony don't own the studios.

It's some narrative building so for when Hellblade 2 come out they can say, seemingly without shame, that Microsoft is actually releasing first party games this year. And claim victory.🙃

Chevalier10d ago

Weird 1st party games didn't matter when Xbox had so little, but, now they're important again? Guess Ark 3, Stalker 2 don't count any more?

KyRo10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

ARK 3 doesn't exist and it's just a timed exclusive. It's also a game that a majority of the ARK player base doesn't want as it's a massive deviation from what people like about the original game

Abnor_Mal10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Honestly to me it doesn’t matter what they say, they are just finally getting a chance to say all the things PS fan(boy)s were saying to them for the past few years. Let them get that, they deserve a “win” for a change.

The new narrative is that suddenly first party games matter again when awhile ago they didn’t, but that was because they were struggling with the same three games with the occasional fourth or fifth. That games should be everywhere on all platforms since that’s whats happening to theirs. The consoles don’t matter just the ability to play anywhere. Whatever Xbox is doing Sony will soon follow.

They’re not moving the goalpost anymore, but rather just moving the whole damn stadium.

jwillj2k410d ago

Only a incel would care about who published what and who owns who.

If it’s not on the other consoles it’s an exclusive.

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Cacabunga10d ago

Killing what? Where are the 1st party games??
Stellar Blade and FF7 is what I’m seeing this year.. so shallow!!!!

andy8510d ago

Doesn't really matter as long as they're great games. Baffles me why people put an emphasis on 1st party. They're still games you can't play anywhere else this year

Cacabunga10d ago

Andy

PS brand is my favorite because of their stellar first party software.. currently I see absolutely nothing to go crazy for..

CS710d ago

Nonsense.

PS1 and PS2 was built on great third party exclusives like FF, MGS, GTA & Tekken.

10d ago Replies(2)
raWfodog10d ago

Of course I love the games I’ve played from PS but I don’t believe we need to limit it to ‘exclusive’ to acknowledge that Xbox will be releasing some good games this year also. In that same vein, I believe that Xbox diehards shouldn’t limit their acknowledgment of good PS games to 1st party. There are plenty of good games to go around for everybody.

Tacoboto10d ago

This is a Playstation article about Playstation games and your comment is about Xbox. Can't you just celebrate what PS has without dragging this into console war BS?

ChasterMies10d ago

I don’t think Microsoft is releasing games exclusively on Xbox anymore. They have some timed exclusives that release on Xbox first.

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Abear2110d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Returnal, Astro Bot, and Ratchet made having it since day one worth it.

GT7 free updates and Spiderman 2 and others at 60fps have made this last year more than okay.

But yeah, it’s been dry lately. BG3 and third party have made great filler, but we ready for that SOCOM or Killzone announcement and some more 1st party goodness. Crossing fingers for Ghost of Tsushima 2 announcement this summer.

Didn’t know Helldivers was exclusive! Wtf is going on at Xbox that they can’t get these games, series s strikes again.

SonyStyled10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Sony owns the Helldivers IP. The first was a PS3/Vita/PC game. It was never an Xbox game that they could ‘get’ a decade ago. I’m not sure what the upset is with Xbox here

CS710d ago

Lol, how do you ignore Rebirth one of the best games ever made?

anast10d ago

Looks like they are on par with the previous gens. Solid games all around. Interestingly enough, we can't say they released a bad game yet this gen. Unlike the Quiet Man dustup.

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DefenderOfDoom210d ago

I actually do not mind if Marathon releases on multiple platforms . I just wish that Marathon has a dedicated single player campaign.

DaniMacYo10d ago

Helldivers 2 is exactly what gaming needed. I’m loving it.

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90°

10 Hardest PS3 Games of All Time

You might not be able to believe this, but Dark Souls is a pretty tricky game on the PlayStation 3.

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culturedvultures.com
120°

Why Soulsborne Games Are So Popular Despite Being So Difficult

Soulsborne games are infamously difficult. But why has that difficulty been the secret sauce to success for many of these titles in the genre?

GamesAsAService78d ago

Rewarded effort feels good.

Starting out bad at something and getting better with practice makes accomplishments meaningful.

Getting through these games feels like a journey of self improvement, lol.

You only have yourself to blame if things go poorly, but in a similar way overcoming challenge is similarly a function of your own growth.

franwex78d ago

I think because the games are fair. Gamers can tell that it’s due to their own abilities and not some BS.

jjb198178d ago

I've always loved the sense of adventure and wonder in these games. There's no hand holding, there are surprises and traps everywhere and you have to figure out what some items do. Beating a heide knight was like an accomplishment for me the first time and it felt good to earn that sword he dropped. I've spent hundreds of hours in souls games ever since Kings Field on PS1. The lore is incredible and it makes you think about the history of the world you're in. I can't wait for Shadow of the Erdtree.

SyntheticForm78d ago

It's the recipe of fair difficulty, presentation, boss battles and lore that attract me to these games. The From Souls games have always had a nebulous quality to them that I find fascinating. Demystifying them is a big part of the fun.

OhReginald78d ago

I think its the atmosphere and gameplay. Each of these games unique ways to play and unique settings/atmospheres that are in a league of its own.

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