Advice For New Demon's Souls Players

With all the excellent sales going on over the holidays, there's a chance some gamers are just picking up Demon's Souls now. The game is incredibly rewarding, but it can be immensely frustrating, as well. I've been playing for a few weeks now, and there's some wisdom I'd like to impart.

[jwk94]

I always hear people complaining about the triggers, but never once have my fingers slipped off of them, i don't see the problem with the triggers, they're fine for me.

[GWAVE]

I have played Demon's Souls since Day One, and I'm still playing it fervently to this day. Every true gamer should at least try it. Although it doesn't have a great storyline, it stands up there with the "must play" games of this generation like Little Big Planet, Mass Effect, and RDR.

[jwk94]

What? My post had nothing to do with Demon's Souls, it was about triggers...

[Max Power]

jwk, people post off of the first comment so that people read their comment, regardless if it fits the first comment or not.

[nix]

die. die. die. that's the only way you'll ever learn. i know i did. q:

happy holidays! q:

[Heartnet]

Meh Demons Souls is easy if u follow the guide that came with the Phantom edition ^^

[DaTruth]

I just started a new character last week after losing my last character to YLOD and didn't play since March.

After getting all my pure black stuff done, it seemed I made some mistakes and wouldn't be able to get all my pure white stuff in the first playthriugh. Then I realized it was Christmas and a pure white tendency event happened just in time.

I love this game!

On topic: My only issues with the triggers was playing this game so much that my trigger fingers started to hurt me real bad. A few months of triggerless FF13 and GoW3 cleared that right up!

[baker_boi]

"Doesn't have a great storyline."

You must not have even bothered to turn the game on if you can say this seriously.

[jeseth]

My advice to new Demon's Souls players :

Play this game without online or any guides of any kind as much as you can. The game is so challenging that if you are able to figure things out and beat enemies without guides, it becomes one of the most rewarding games you'll ever play.

Stick with it.

[Der_Kommandant]

@Heartnet

Guides are for pussies

[Jack Meahoffer]

What a disappointing article. I bought Demon's Souls in a black Friday sale for $15 and was hoping this article would have some good pointers...

Instead all it says is to buy those trigger grip things. Yeah we know the DS3's L2 and R2 suck but we've known that since 2006.

How about some pointers about the F'ing game?!?! Lame. The people that approved this are morons.

[Bloodraid]

@Baker-boi - Perhaps you're the one who has never bothered to turn the game on...

The plot in the game is basically non-existent. Several reviewers said that as well... There's a total of what, seven story-driven cutscenes in the entire game?

- Introduction to the game [Tutorial]
- When you first enter the Nexus
- When the Monumental explains everything
- Meeting the Old One
- End Game [Good and Evil]

Face it, the story is rubbish, and barely existent. But that doesn't mean the game is shit, in fact; it's probably one of my favorite this generation.

@Jack Meahoffer
After beating 1-1; go to world 4-1 and get the Crescent Falchion. It does wonders. Oh; and magic is really helpful.

[NeoSprtacus]

A better tip than getting the triggers would be to not do what that picture is showing. Do not stand in front of that dragon, for the love of all things holy and mighty, your shield does not stand a chance.

[-Alpha]

I've had the trigger issues, they are just designed backwards. Just compare it to the 360's or Move's triggers, they are much better. They Move's trigger is the perfect step for the Dualshock 3 or 4, the current triggers wont be missed. I remember how awesome it felt to use the Move's trigger button, it is definitely a much better trigger than the one on the current DS3.

I've put down the controller before only to have the L2 and R2 buttons press down. Almost killed a friendly in the Nexus doing it. They are real sensitive in Demon's Souls. I haven't had a problem with slip-off, only on the analog sticks. I since bought those trigger attachments and am considering replacing my SIXAXIS with a DS3. The trigger attachments work really well

My advice to new players:

Don't run in new areas. Don't trust all messages. Don't play on White Tendency days. They just ruin the fun

[oohWii]

@Alpha - What is a White Tendency day?

[-Alpha]

Basically there are times when the server will make the game incredibly easy (WTD) or incredibly hard (BTD)

It's usually altered in the game by certain things, but on special days like Halloween or Christmas Atlus or the developers "Shift" the tendency.

Basically if you play on WTD it's a lot easier, and you will regret it later. Demon's Souls is about achieving victory at every step, and if you are able to carelessly run past monsters or levels then it ruins the game. I personally felt like I cheapened the experience when playing on White Tendency days. When it's at its most difficult Demon's Souls is at its best.

[oohWii]

Interesting concept. Thanks Alpha.

[RedDead]

Imo the should have copied the 360's ones. The 360 are better to use than R1 and L1 for most games. L2 and R2 are downright annoying sometimes, they just don't feel right pressing them down for more than a second. Luckily the trigger attachments are cheap and good. They improve the triggers alot imo. Triggers are the only + the 360 controller has on the DS3 imo. It's a shame really.

I've also had problems, mainly due to the sensitivity in certain games, i've had that problem in Demons souls too. I also had a trigger break on me, the spring inside snapped, it was easy to fix though, get an old floppy disk, there's a spring almost exactly the same as the DS3 one in them.

[Xusuyzus]

They made triggers for GT5 bro :) lol

but I never had problems with them slipping in any game ever,.. ever!! and I am tough on the controller like a mofo,.. I off-centered 2 analogs by running in fps games,..like cod4
(mag actually does that way better then most of them,.. click L3 and you are in speed mode,.. )

[xXxSeTTriPxXx]

i remember halloween when they turned every world pure black tendency.thing is i was the last to know, i booted up my game, and all my hard work getting everything white tendency went down the toilet.i stop (beat the games 3x tho) playing after that.

you know how hard it is to turn every world pure white, so you can get those optional bosses,costumes and weapons?....i was PISSED

[jrbeerman11]

xXxSeTTriPxXx

That is one of a few reasons why I turn off internet while I am playing the game. That way the servers nor people invading will ruin what I am trying to do.

I did play first playthrough online, but mostly in spirit form. Now that I know what to expect and where some secrets are, I turn it off.

[DaTruth]

There's also a tendency glitch in online mode that I guess they never fixed! Sometimes a world will just go back to neutral tendency on it's own, so when you're playing for tendency, you always have to play offline!

[pixelsword]

fingers won't slip off triggers if player washes hands after pr0n.

[jerethdagryphon]

@ da truth . thats not a glitch its designed that way.
at any rate i dont see why the game is so chalenging i
platted it fairly easily the first run through to flame lurker was easy only he was hard but after that it was cake

[dabri5]

I don't have issues with fingers slipping, but like the author said, when putting the controller down, those shoulder buttons register being pressed (for me at least) every time.

[Philoctetes]

I accidentally whacked Yuria when I sat my controller down just before freeing her. This was on about my 9th or 10th playthrough overall, but it was my first with a new character so I had to go without Firestorm for that playthrough. Horrible mistake that I'll never make again.

[ThanatosDMC]

Yeah, i agree with you. The L2 and R2 buttons are fine. I dont understand why somebody's fingers would "slip off of them". Maybe they should wash their hands?

[SnakeMustDie]

Bring more Demon's Souls

[VersusEM]

it has a different name now, Project Dark

[Silly gameAr]

Not to start anything, but Project Dark is not Demon's Souls.

[Godmars290]

I have a feeling that it will be. Sort of.

Same setting, only you can form an actual party of characters from other online players. No shades, blood stain phantoms or invasions.

Which is pretty much the same as saying apples and oranges

[VenomProject]

@Godmars290

No phantoms or blood stains?

"Not Demon's Souls" confirmed.

[Dsnyder]

Also not to start anything but you would be an idiot to think that project dark is anything BUT Demon souls 2. Same art direction same gameplay same everything. It just has that name to build hype for it. When the official announcement comes up, it will be called Demon Souls 2.

[XI_-Minty-_IX]

Thing is, Project Dark is a multiplat title, and Demon's Souls was published by Sony in Japan... Put 2 and 2 together and it's obvious that Project Dark =/= Demon's Souls 2

[skrug]

there was gameplay vid?

[Deathstroke]

Project Dark isn't Demon's Souls much like how Demon's Souls isn't King's Field. Just because they all have dark environments and generic knight characters doesn't mean they're all the same. I'm a fan of Demon's Souls but Project Dark doesn't interest me at all. I'd rather have Demon's Souls 2.

[UCMEandICU]

If it has similar gameplay to Demon Souls I would really welcome it. A different universe to role play in? I'm down for it for sure but I'm really scared they are going to dumb down the challenge on this one to suit a certain demographic and make it fairly easy.

If there's a difficulty level then great but if they pull some crazy duel wielding crap.. uhmmmm that would suck.

Last thing we need is King Field gameplay trying to implement MW2 stuff to entice these gamers that the game to play it's self and easy

[TheDivine]

It is demons souls 2 they changed the name so they could go multiplatform and avoid the sony owned name. The developers made the game and are making project dark, sony only owns the name, they didnt make it or anything. Same dev, same gameplay, its a sequal people, why does anyone debate this or care that its on 360? You still get to play it. I played it a bit at a friends and ordered it a week ago for 15 bux new, still waiting on it. Getting impatient.

[Silly gameAr]

@ DSnyder

You know all of this how?

@TheDivine

You just assumed that I cared that it was on the 360. I don't, and can you give me a link to back up any of the info you have in your comment?

Thanks.

[Vaud-Villian]

Project Dark is Demon's Souls 2 as much as Mass Effect is Knights of the Old Republic 3 and Bungie's next game is Halo 4.

[DaTruth]

Gonna have to call you out here Saga Kim, there is nothing about Demon's Souls that the 360 can't do. It is not the most technologically impressive game; The only thing impressive about this game is all the bodies hang around after you kill the guys, even if you cross the whole Boletaria and come back.

Unless you mean that they will cater to a brand of gamer that prefers a lesser challenge? I couldn't speak on this not knowing anyone who games on 360!

@Bonesaw Below: I have yet to play this game online and Black Phantoms entering your world is a real b!tch! They come suited up and ready for a fight, whereas, you are in the world with the gear you need for that world and often aren't ready for a fight.

The hard part about this game is nothing anyone could help you with. It just punishes any mistake you make with striking brutality. Fighting in a staircase could only become more cumbersome with friends. You often plummet to your doom or become the victim of a surprise attack!

[beavis4play]

Dsnyder - i guess the devs who make these games are idiots, then? they said months ago that this next game was NOT in any way related to demon souls and that they MAY make DS2 at some point.

edit: at UCMEandICU - yea, i WOULD welcome the project dark game. if it's that DS style of game in a different medieval time......that'd be awesome!(although i'm wanting a proper DS2 sequel even more -maybe a world behind that broken arch?)

[BoNeSaW23]

Bought 6 pairs immediately after trying them out. Makes the Dualshock 3 feel "Whole" to me. I like how my hands rest with them on the triggers and I think they make the R2 L2 more responsive. But, that's just me. It is a Godsend to Racing gamers no more achy wrist from tearing up the track for hours :) You can get 2 pair for $5 now. Give em a try people!

P.S. Never played Demon's Souls. Was going to get it until I heard they were closing done the servers soon and didn't think I would be able to get to it until 2012. 2011 is booked SOLID! DAM you Sony!

[RogueCheddar]

As far as I know, that's all rumors. What I've heard is that they actually have no plans to shut down the servers at all

[eggbert]

they are shutting down the servers in 2012 I think.

Its because the game isn't published by Sony, its published by Atlus. Atlus probably doesn't have enough money to throw at dedicated servers for Demon's souls while maintaining development on their other games.

[El_Colombiano]

Rogue, start the game. It says right there when you start that the servers will go down on the second anniversary.

[BoNeSaW23]

I keep reading the EU servers are full but not much in the NA. And Atlus can only confirm servers will be up until March 2011. I am pretty intimidated to give this game a shot if i only have online assistance for 3 months. No one seems to think that is near enough time to complete this punishing masterpiece.
http://www.joystiq.com/2010...

[Vaud-Villian]

They are shutting down the servers whenever they arent profitable and/or necessary to keep running. It's smart that they have deadlines they can evaluate and then extend as need be. Who knows when they go down though, but even offline the game is amazing.

[JL]

BoneSaw, I don't think servers going down are that big of an issue (if they are going down). Honestly, not once did I ever have somebody enter my world to help me out. Wasn't needed. Sure, it would've made it easier in parts. But I don't think you play Demon's Souls for an easy play. It's quite manageable without anyone's help. Granted, I will say messages helped me a couple times. However, that was only in the sense that it helped to make sure I didn't have to retry. The info provided I could've figured out on my own (just died in the process). Also, most of those tips that the notes leave are readily available online.

So, yea, not much is being lost out on without having the online portion of the game. Unless you're just into getting in there and battling other people (I wasn't, I was there for the "campaign" adventure). In fact, I often played it offline so that the servers wouldn't mess with my World Tendency, or so that I wouldn't get invaded in some cases.

[Qui-Gon Jim]

The user agreement says that the servers were only guaranteed to be up for six months after launch, but they have been extending it because the game has been far more popular than they expected it to be. I haven't played in a while, but if it says they will shut down in 2012, that is just their latest in a series of cutoff dates. They have said that they will keep the servers running as long as people are playing.

Even if they shut the servers down, it's worth playing offline too.

[AssassinHD]

They just extended the servers to the second anniversary, which is November 2011. This is the second time they have extended the servers, so we will see if it happens again.

[saint_john_paul_ii]

the servers have been extended until further notice. so it will most likely be extended till 2012, unless the servers are still hugely populated beyond Atlus' expectations.

to be honest, this was sony's fault for not publishing this game exclusively in NA. they missed out big on that opportunity.

[BoNeSaW23]

I keep reading the EU servers are full but not much in the NA. And Atlus can only confirm servers will be up until March 2011. I am pretty intimidated to give this game a shot if i only have online assistance for 3 months. No one seems to think that is near enough time to complete this punishing masterpiece.
http://www.joystiq.com/2010...

[Qui-Gon Jim]

"this was sony's fault for not publishing this game exclusively"

Nobody expected this game to be as popular as it is. Just look at the news stories saying that it has sold triple what Atlus expected. I'm sure most publishers would have looked at that game and said "That's never going to sell, we're not going to publish it."

[Zashule]

Triggers for PS3. Definitely the best invention ever. No more fast forwarding movies by mistake, no more botched Burnout Paradise Races. Got a pair for every DS3 I own. Buy them now, you wont regret it.

But seriously, who approved this infomercial? And how does this help Demon Souls Players??

[MajestieBeast]

My advice is be very relaxed when going to valley of despair 5-2 cause if you aint the swamp will make you want to throw your controller out the window.

[Bolts]

The Tower Knight made me quit the game. I spent hours playing and tip toeing through the level and kicking ass then I ran into my first boss, this giant fucking knight that kicked my ass and took all my souls.

The game went back into the Gamefly envelop quickly after that.

[BeOneWithTheGun]

And that right there is why this is a great game.

You have to figure out what to do. (Quite easy, run up the side steps, kill minions and then just pop out from top with a couple fireballs then step back when he shoots at you..repeat.)

I loved DS. No COD style checkpoints, makes you earn every single step.

[Focker420]

Well then ya Demon's Souls definitely isn't for you. But FYI the Tower Knight is the second boss, not the first. The first is the Phalanx.

Demon's Souls is for people that are patient and willing to learn from their mistakes. Its for those that seek the feeling of accomplishment after completing an extremely difficul task. Its not some cheap thrill you can get from any other game. You really have to work for it. People that rage quit after 15 minutes (like yourself) shouldn't play Demon's Souls. Simple as that.

[JL]

Oh I rage quit plenty of times (and come on, be honest, you know you did too), that game is just exceedingly frustrating and difficult lol. The difference is I didn't rage-get-rid-of-the-game. I'd quit, but then the game and the part I died on would haunt me. I'd strategize and mull it over in my head, then an hour later I'd be right back at it taking it head on.

[Bolts]

Learn from my mistakes? You mean dying a bunch of times and doing the entire level over and over and over until you figure out the boss attack patterns? The Tower Knight was my first big boss and damn was he hard. Actually, not because he is hard mind you, the difficulty lies in the fact that by the time I learned where to hide and how dodge to his attacks (stay behind him moving back in a circle constantly to attack his heels), I'm already bored of running through the same map for the sixth or seventh time and killing all those goo monsters yet again.

This being a Gamefly rental I had to move on, Assassin Creed 2 awaits in the que. Maybe someday I'll pick up Demon Soul for cheap and down this bastard Knight for once and for all, but I doubt it. There's just too many good games to play to be grinding on one game.

Too bad though, Demon Souls is innovative as hell and the atmosphere rocks.

[Qui-Gon Jim]

The game is very demanding. It's a different experience that requires patience and a very slow, deliberate play style. There are literally places where, if you are running, you won't see the ledge that you fall off of to your death (e.g. 3-1). For a lot of people that's not fun. For those of us who enjoy it, though, Demon's Souls is pure gold.

[Chug]

If you didn't like the Tower Knight, I'd hate to see your reaction to Flamelurker or Maneater. They'll wreck you, lol.

[AssassinHD]

Run up the stairs, take out the crossbow men on each side of the courtyard, and pick off the Tower Knight with spells or arrows.

I beat him on my first encounter because I was too intimidated by his presence to stand at his feet.

[Lirky]

The npcs make up for the in depth of a story for demons souls. The music was amazing and gameplay too.

[Black-Helghast]

Yeah i love the music in Demons Souls. Also, if new players want advice...Don't kill the first boss. (The giant fat 1 eye thing) I killed it and i was like ''Yeah! I'm awesome at this game" When i saw the Dragon God i was like "Okay i suck at this game *BAM Dead*) :P

[Lavalamp]

Don't eat the yellow soul.

(see what I did there?)

:D

[Senpai]

I love this game, gimme' Demon's Souls 2 please! Easily the BEST PS3 game to date, for me that is. Beat it countless number of times, and my advise is that you make a character that focuses on magic for your first playtrough. You can easily beat most bosses with firestorm, when you get that, that is.

I played it trough with a warrior type class my first time around, and damn it was challenging. Especially when you use a spear without shield or the protecting magic (can't really remember the name, the one you get from Sage Freke).

This is a MUST for EVERY PS3 gamer IMO, you should get it, if you haven't.

[Lirky]

Project Dark may be similiar to demons souls using the same engine maybe.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Qui-Gon Jim]

It will take a little while before you can afford good amounts of arrows, but most boss fights have safe spots where you can snipe from. Not to mention killing enemies before they even know you're even there.

For me, the scariest enemies (after Dragon God, most intimidating boss ever) were the giant ones from Valley of Defilement, but with the Thief's Ring and a few arrows, you can shoot at their breath through the darkness and whittle them down.

side note: it's fun using Northern Regalia (or probably the Meat Cleaver) against Phalanx. Run up to it and swing to kill 4 or 5 of the smaller ones covering it in one hit.

[Miraak82]

I'm waiting to slaughter. Those who tread 4-1. I will slaughter you mwahahaha ,, xx--griffith--xx

[theafroman]

the real demon souls begins here.

[Focker420]

*Theres a treasure ahead*

[Philoctetes]

I'm in trouble -- Please recommend this message!

[Anti-Fanboyer]

Can't get past stupid Blue Dragon blowing flames down the steps

[Focker420]

You have to time your running up the left side of the steps. There are 2 places you are safe along that side.

[akiraburn]

It's like Focker said really. You have to very carefully time your movements, move up in segments, and then when you finally get underneath him, if you move out just a enough so he can't hit you, but you can lock onto him, just start firing arrows. Within about 5-10 minutes he'll be dead, and you get the Blue Dragon's soul. Also, if you want to be a little extra safe moving up the steps, I believe using the water spell will help lessen the damage you take if you do get hit.

Also, you should know that the area you are heading towards (after the Blue Dragon) is heading to the final boss of the game. Anything you want to do before-hand, other worlds you need to finish, or anything like that, you should make sure you do. Also, if you are ready for that point, be very prepared, as that is single-handedly one of the toughest bosses I've ever fought in a game. He literally has a move that can de-level you (It's happened to me once already, was very frustrating).

[Qui-Gon Jim]

That's not necessarily the last boss. The game kind of forces you to the end when you've beaten all 5 archdemons (if I recall correctly, you can still go other places, but not increase you soul level), and the Boletarian Palace archdemon is probably the last one you'll beat, but it's not necessarily. There is also THE final boss.

Other info for new players: The game is tough, but many levels have shortcuts that you can open up so that you don't have to replay the ENTIRE level every time you die.

[akiraburn]

Yeah, you're right on that one. For some reason I thought when you fought him that the game would prevent you from doing other things. Sorry for that blunder.

Also another small tip for new players, I found that after beating the archdemon in the final area of the fourth world, you can farm tons of souls from the flying enemies there, and you should very easily acquire a mass amount from that as long as you have a half decent bow. It's an easy way to quickly get your soul level much higher without a lot of hassle.

[AssassinHD]

Just bring several hundred arrows and snipe him. It will take a while, but it gets the job done. If you pay attention to Biorr you can find a safe place closer to the dragon.

[raiden-49]

for some resin I just ran straight thought it my friend got destroyed XD

[ovhaum]

Maybe you're overburden your equipment, unequip everything but pants weapons/shields and do what Focker420 says

[jerethdagryphon]

white bow + about 500 arrows and just shoot him

[Miraak82]

Nah white bow w/ 35 white arrows w/ morion blade and clever rats ring (HYPER Mode) activated ... beat it within a few minutes

[Miraak82]

.

[Orionsangel]

I bought it from Amazon last week. Should be arriving this week. If It's too hard I just stop playing. In my younger years I'd bite down on the controller or throw it against the wall. I'm an old school gamer. So I'm over throwing fits.

[Lirky]

Theres no "if its too hard", demons souls is hard before i bought it i watched the full review on gametrailers.com and they said that it was a hard game, when i played it i was intimidated then i realized you have to outsmart the a.i. by Dodging ALOT and then hitting the weak points.

[Orionsangel]

Hey I know you! You're Lirky. My homie! hehe. Well that's why I have you Lirk. You can help me. Oh and I finished the LBP2 Tutorial. I learned a lot. You were right. It's common sense.

[Orionsangel]

It's a matter of of having patience and knowing when to quit.

[Ascalon94]

I'm seriously thinking about getting this game in a week or so, anybody who can help me out or give me tips add me on PSN -TheRookie94

[BeOneWithTheGun]

Take it slow. NEVER rush around a corner. Be prepared to die a lot and understand you are supposed to. Grind like a motherpucker when you can. If you do NOT want to deal with people entering into your game, then either play off line or in soul mode (will makes sense once you start).

This game is so much fun but you have to pretend you are really in an actual world and you have one life. Would you run thru the streets of Compton at 1:00AM if you had to get to the other side or would you creep along, sweating and realizing you have very little health and that those huge Crips standing on the corner can't be that mean....

[starcb26]

+ bubbles :D

[Ascalon94]

ahaha I see what you mean thanks for teh advice add me on PSN

[clrlite]

I added you on PSN. I'll probably start playing again very soon!

[Ascalon94]

all right man I will prolly get it in a week or so I'm backlogged with all my Christmas gifts so we will see.

[GamerPS360]

Demon soul and Infamous is the best new IP that I played on PS3.
Sorry but I didn't like uncharted :D

[Bolts]

WTF!? You didn't like Uncharted? Hang 'em boys.

[Ascalon94]

I agree with Gamer. Uncharted was a good game but its not the mindblowing experience that everyone thinks it will be. Albiet I will prolly pick up Uncharted 3 day 1

[siberian-bullet]

Trigger caps for demon aouls is stupid. The Game is hard as piss but these triggers won't help you its a monster amount of time that will do this

[clrlite]

@BoNeSaW23- 3 months is plenty of time to beat DS. Once I started playing, it was pretty much the only game I played, so it only took a few weeks or so.

@MajestieBeast- That is some of the best DS advice I've heard thus far. Level 5-2 almost made me lose my mind several times, literally. Do not break your controller when you get there people! I recommend bringing a lot of Stone of ephemeral eyes", plenty of "royal lotus", and a ring that can make it harder for enemies to detect you. Then you can sneak around those two big doofy guys w/ clubs on that island(you don't get anything special for defeating them anyway)

@fanboi- Why would you say that. Tower night isn't the first boss. You don't even have to fight him second if you don't want to. You can go to other archstones after 1-1 and strengthen you character first.

@Anti-Fanboyer- do what focker said, then hide under/behind him and shoot arrows at his head.

The triggers are fine, the game is challenging and rewarding like most good games should be, and there is no reason not to pick it up if you haven't.

"Hi"

[JonnyBigBoss]

I love this game and the RealTriggers. Seriously, Demon's Souls is one of my favorite games this generation!

[Xusuyzus]

I never had problems with triggers in Daemon's Souls,.. or in any game whatsoever,..

I don't like them for shooter's that much,..(they are good,.. just doesn't feel like a trigger on the gun- but all of them(shooters) switched it to r1/l1 so what is the deal?) but racers and any game else they make sense more than concave(?),..

bdw isn't R1 and L1 for fighting in DS,..?

Need to get back to that game,.. since I think it is the best game ever made,.. (spent over 300hours in it ,.. lol)

[AssassinHD]

L2 is used for parry and R2 is used for a strong attack. Parrying is an extremely useful skill to master.

[arragionthegreat]

yes,.. but you need a right shield to be able to parry,..

parrying ,.. I never use it,..lol ,.. but I understand the problem with L2 in that sense,.Strong attacks ,.. not so much,.. I kind of worked around it,... by almost forgetting it exists,..lol Must be quite hard to master,..

[AssassinHD]

Parrying is almost necessary if you intend to fight Black Phantom Selen Vinland in 5-2. She uses "Blind" which completely ignores shields.

Of course I don't bother fighting her. I just equip a Graverobber's Ring and sneak up behind her and use Soul Sucker.

[artsaber]

Invest in a crystal clear HDTV protector. lol

http://www.buy.com/prod/42-...

Product description: " The protector can be broken only by very heavy object e.g. brick or hammer. "

Now lets hope you don't hit the wall when you throw your controller, making a hole in your drywall. A few untimely deaths in this game can send you into a gamer rage from 0-60 in 1.2 seconds.

[jerethdagryphon]

assassin if your not going for pure white tendency just use poision cloud easy kill works on old monk flamelurker and several lothers

[remanutd55]

i have a question maybe someone here can help me, how do i get all my life/ energy back ? i mean the freaking spider killed me but i have only regained all my souls and not my whole energy , is there any other way to regain all of it ? i mean i think if im not mistaken im in phantom form right now right ?

[Focker420]

Ummm so you've recovered your bloodstain (where you died) and regained your health and souls?? By energy do you mean health or magic??

If you need magic you refuel it by either using fresh or old spice. Or wear a ring that regenerates magic.

If you are talking about health you must be in soul form (you're still dead) so you have 5 options.

1. Recover the bloodstain from where you died.
2. Kill a boss
3. Use a stone of ephemeral eyes
4. Use the white eye stone and help someone else defeat a boss.
5. Use a black eye stone and defeat another user in their game.

[remanutd55]

thanks a lot man , yea i have regained everything now but what did you mean about Hep someone else defeat a boss ? can i play the game with someone else ? i have had the game for quite some time but i havent played it for long , i just beat the spider

[Finalfantasykid]

Using a Blue Eye Stone you can allow another player to summon you into their world and if you defeat the boss, then you will be back in body form at 100% HP.

To lose less health while in soul form though you should wear the cling ring(found in 1-1).

Also the easiest way to go to body form is by using a stone of ephemerial eyes. I wouldn't overuse this as there are a finite number of these in the game (unless you glitch), so you won't be able to get more until your second playthrough.

Me personally I just did most of my game in soul form for my first playthrough(eventually I got better and was able to remain in body form for much longer).

[skottey]

Or a player could just be careful not to kill the NPCs like many of us who put over 300 hours into this wonderful game. I never "accidentally" killed anyone in all that time. I was just careful when setting down the controller mainly. Since there is no pause you usually take your breaks in the Nexus, where many NPCs reside. Just be careful. No pausing even when playing offline is the biggest problem with this great game (in my top 5). If you have kids, are on call with a job, answering business calls, etc, it is horribly frustrating when deep into a level and you cannot pause.

[Finalfantasykid]

Seeing that picture makes me want to put another 400 hours into that game.

[arcamicha]

after countless dying and devising new strategies i find its better to use magic or just use the meat cleaver

[AKS]

Good advice for the DS newbies: Always give 100% trust to the phantoms emitting a dark red glow, which are the Blessed Helper Phantoms of Goodness, especially if the tag says "AKS." These phantoms just like to drop by to give you a special surprise when you least expect it. Heh, heh, heh...

[jerethdagryphon]

liar there black phantoms and they want to eat you run away

[AKS]

Of course I'm just joking around.

[DarkFantasy]

Demon souls isn't hard for me any more i have beat it so many times and i know whats around any corner,i have played it more and beat it more then any game this gen and to me that says a lot about the game,its lacking a story but really it doesn't need it,i just wish they made some dlc i want some more worlds,or even better demon souls 2!

[Tex117]

This game EASILY is my favorite game of this generation...maybe even the last decade.

[Der_Kommandant]

One of the best games i´ve ever played

[MonopolyRSV]

My advice? Buy used.

[Bolts]

Why disagree? This game is dirt cheap used. Prolly $15.

[MonopolyRSV]

Because they understand what buying used means for the developers.

[vTuro24]

I thought he was going to give gameplay advise or something like that
instead he complained about the L2 and R2 buttons
Seriously wtf
Am I the only one who has no problem with those buttons?

[P_Bomb]

No you're not the only one. I've beat the game 3 or 4 times, platinumed it, done stuff in both pure white and pure black tendencies...never once was R2 or L2 an issue. Strong attack (R2) worked super, I never had to parry (L2) and I beat Vinland and all of them.

People tend to project their failures onto things other than themselves, so they make articles about L2/R2 instead of about using or equipping different spells/armors to cut down your damage taken, or learning your enemies' patterns (ie attacking after they're winded from attempting their own strong attack). If melee and parrying ain't working, try a ranged attack like Soul Ray/Arrow.

This guy is just venting. Does he really believe the shoulder buttons go off just by placing the controller in your lap? Misleading article. Here's a REAL 'advice for new DS players' write up http://www.gamefaqs.com/boa...

[skottey]

No, they do go off very easily and that is something any normal person figures out early on. Who the heck discovers this for the first time while standing next to the blacksmith in the Nexus? Only a moron. The article was misleading though. Just idiotic that people aren't more careful about killing NPC's in a game the put hundreds of hours into.

[Miraak82]

Learn How to Master Your weapon ..... here a good tip

Defense: Tap forward + X to push and immobilize your opponent ( Bp ) for a sec, slash repeat to low on stamina roll back . Its hard to break away from it if you have enough stamina

find a weapon that best suites you,
high"magic"players I recommend "moon" weapons
"Faith" "blessed"

[Vortex3D]

For the dedicated Demon's Souls fans, sure.

I'm just not interested having to spend 7 hours of dying repeatly just to beat the 1st boss at the gate. Many fans said it's satisfying after beating the game but to me game is very boring with the lack of characters interaction to spend that much of time mostly just dying over and over again and stuck at the beginning of the level.

For 7 hours of RPG gaming time, I can make far more progress and more enjoyable playing other RPG games such as Dragon Age: Origins.

[skottey]

foolish, but hey, it is your opinion and you are entitled to it

[madjedi]

@vortex Learn how not be an idiot, who thinks he can button mash his way out of every engagement, and seriously you can't beat phalanx(turpentine and a spear) wow good luck on a actual hard boss like the false king or flamelurker.

Your at world 1.1 thats like the nursery compared to the mindflayers in 3.1 or the dual katana black skeletons in 4.1, or giant depraved ones in 5.1, you really shouldn't have that
much difficulty in 1.1, minus running past the red dragon.

I guess a little grinding or actually thinking about why you keep dying is too much effort for someone like you, the only serious enemy in 1.1 is the red eyed knight the rest is just easy souls after you have a decent shield and put some lvls on a spear.

I think too many people are used to easy mode games, a tip for new ds players after you kill phalanx buy a club and got to world 4.1 and carefully kill the silver(not black) skeletons 1 at a time and baby stingrays(use arrows)(the lone archer silver skeleton has a body next to him with a compound long bow) for a good amount of souls.

Might need about 100 arrows to kill the tutorial boss if you still have a lower soul level/low lvl gear and at several places in 4.1 you have traps that shoot 3 spear heads at you.

Assuming your not a caster build, upgrade your strength to be able to use a knight(16) or steel shield(18 or 20) asap, and start lvling up your shield so your guard can't be broken as easily.