Edge Online Review: Demon's Souls

The disorientation you feel during the first few hours of Demon's Souls is unprecedented. It's not that you'll be in any doubt about the mission: with a sword in one hand, a shield in the other, and a horde of approaching undead, the challenge is one of gaming's most familiar. Few, however, will be prepared for the relentless setbacks heaped upon their miserable bones in facing it.

[Antan]

Well well, this is a turn up for the books. Who knows, maybe they will suprise us with a similar score for U2? Anyways, this lil fella should be in my grasp by the end of the week.

[Lifendz]

I've been hearing great things about this game. I might have to pick it up this holiday season.

And Edge, stop beating around the Bush. U2 is getting a AAA score unless you want to be considered a complete joke.

[chaosatom]

PS3 Exclusives :)

[SuperM]

demon souls is the kind of game id imagine edge could give high score even though its PS3 exclusive. Dont have that high hopes for Uncharted 2, but maybe if we are lucky we will see a 9/10

[bageara]

When edge hand out a 7/10 for uncharted 2 and sony fans say "Edge is biased against sony exclusives" they can say "no we are not, only last week we give DS a 9" mark my words....or mabye im just paranoid. i just dont trust Edge!

[callahan09]

I think Bageara is right. Although I predict an 8, not a 7.

[house]

now that's a start lets see is edge can make them self's give a ten to uc2. i was about to say if they give uc2 lower than a ten they will lose they credibility but then again when have they had any???

sorry for bad grammar

[Christopher]

Seems to be the best score for the game. Got it coming to me either today or tomorrow. Not sure I'm gonna start it until I finish UC2 at least once, though, since it'll take me a long time to beat Demon's Souls.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

What the heck? Edge should have given it a 10! Fanboy site!!!

[frostypants]

...the nearest GameStop only got a few copies in, all but one of which were reserved. This is kind of uncool, as I live in Chicago...you'd expect more supply. I snagged that last copy.

After the tutorial which basically auto-kills you, I have so far spent about 30 minutes running around in the first realm, including an encounter with a blue-glow-eyed knight, without dying once (WOOT!). Knowing I had to break away, I found a shortcut back to the beginning of the level (there's a cool ring right by it) and returned to the Nexus so my game would be saved. Yes, next go at it I have to kill those same enemies again, but I can't wait. I THINK my shortcut should remain open as well.

The immersion is great. You really do feel a sense of dread, but the occasional spontaneous apparitions of other players going about their business is somehow reassuring. The sound effects are among the best I have heard, yet are subtle. Your armor sounds realistically, and somewhat amusingly, clunky and rattley.

If I had to say what game this reminds me most of in terms of difficulty, it would be the original side-scrolling Prince of Persia, due to how you must approach combat. Patience in combat is rewarded...foolhardiness and stupidity are punished, even this early in the game. I have already seen a LOT of replay deaths of other players (which you can watch by touching bloodstains) that have shown them trying to hack away recklessly. Keep your shield up ALWAYS (so far for me at least), and strike when the enemy shows their body. And R3 is your friend...targeting is essential.

The game is awesome. Just awesome. I am now not sure how I will fit Uncharted 2 in with this, but I am sure I'll find a way.

[DaTruth]

Every retailer told me delayed till tomorrow. I only have a week till U2 is released and I wanted to get some time in with this!

[callahan09]

Hey Frosty, you don't have to go to Nexus to save. The game is auto-saves every couple of seconds. I had the power go out on me while I was playing once, and when it came back on, I was worried that I'd start up and have to redo everything I'd done, but it just started me literally exactly where I had been when the power went out.

[frostypants]

Callahan, I just found that out. Good stuff. Definitely makes life easier to at least be able to leave the game when ya want.

DaTruth, the game wasn't "delayed"...unless the Gamestop I called took liberty with the rules. I think it simply didn't get delivered to retailers until today, and many just don't unpack boxes until after hours.

But like I said, the Gamestop I got it from only had a single copy that wasn't already spoken for. I think Atlus grossly underestimated the grass-roots hype this game has generated. As I type this, it's the #4 video games item on Amazon...

[Maddens Raiders]

Buy this game. It's that simple.

[LiquifiedArt]

...Look at how innovative(DS) or massively produced (US2) a game has to be on playstation to even AAA reviews, meanwhile, you got run of the mill xbox games that are in the "same league".

Its also worthy to mention the influx of new PS3 users, who are picking up a slim. Does it have any connection to how they will treat th ps3 from now on?? Interesting...

[LiquifiedArt]

...This game is basically, Ninja Gaiden for Action RPG fans!!

And I love how skill-based Ninja Gaiden is!!!
(currently playing through on Mentor)

[nightelfmohawk]

So this is like a 12/10 coming from them. :)

[ReviewsArePolitics]

Not really, they're just softening the blow of the 7 they'll give U2

[3sq]

I'm shocking.

[Mr_Bun]

I'm exhilerating

[BulletToothtony]

...

[Prototype]

I'm hungry

[Myst]

I'm happy ^_^

[Alcohog]

I'm invigorating.

[bjornbear]

I'm laughing xD

[redsquad]

I'm sexy

[MadBoJangles]

I'm horny :D

[Myst]

I'll say it right now, and I know people may disagree and such with me for saying it already; but...I want a continuation of the Demon's Souls game. If not a continuation of the game something with the same formula applied in Demon's Souls, but applied to another game. Still hyped to get my copy, and finally be able to eat and drink for the day.

(Been holding off on everything for that pizza I plan to get after getting my copy. Little Caesars $5.00 large ^_^)

[Danteh]

coming from Edge is excelent. This looks like game made for me, I'm a masochist who likes playing GOW in Titan Mode, DMC in DMD, Uncharted in Crushing... so this is defintely going to be one of my GOTYs xDDD. Too bad I'll have to import it... they cold bring it to Europe stupid SCEE

[Major_Tom]

It's a alot harder than those games.

[WildArmed]

'alot' harder is an understatement xD
Ninja Gaiden Black was still pretty easy compared to Demon Souls.

and yes Ninja Gaiden Black is the hardest game i've played b4 DS.
(And I've played all GoW, DMC in the uber-est difficulties) -- uncharted aint that hard.
The stamina system prevents the game from turning into a hacknslash game lik NG, GoW n DMC.
Which is gonna make ppl weep! And actually master it.

The only way you can take action games into PvP is by this system.
So i dont feel cheated that kratos got me into a 29hit combo n killed me in one hit lol

[RAM MAGNUMS]

not because of edge but because of the previews i saw on psn and the psblog.

im all for innovative, genre revolutionizing, ps3 exclusives.
so demon souls is a must. cant wait to brag about later tonight.

[meatnormous]

The deluxe version was waiting for me on my door step this morning when I woke up. I love amazon.

[Arnon]

Dude... I wish Amazon would do paypal. That's so stupid that they don't support it. Oh well, I'll be picking this up tomorrow at gamestop I guess...

[RAM MAGNUMS]

My PSN friends list will be so jealous!

[BigPappaPump]

Strange time friends. Sony been getting love from EDGE & Eurogamer of all sites! Have they seen the light?

I'm having a tough decision picking between this and fallout 3 G.O.T.Y. edition.

[TooTall19]

but I know Fallout3 is a good game. Saying that Borderlands could top fallout3, so getting Demon Souls first might be a good idea

[WildArmed]

fallout 3 is a shooter.

While DS is a dungeon crawler (and a very hard one)
Both will keep you happy for long time.

Would u rather play a TPS/FPS or a Action third person :)

[MadBoJangles]

Yeah, I was torn between games as I am a touch strapped for cash atm.
Got DS, Fallout GOTY, UC2 and Borderlands all due out sooooo close together.
I opted to import this from the US (I'm in the UK) and hope I made the right decision. Looks great, hoping the postman turns up sometime soon :P

[hermie]

Hoohaw.
Good to see a game that tries something different be getting the respect. This game's got style, and it also seems to have a bit of that good 'ol castlevania feel, except done right in 3d.

[Slient Knight 9]

WHY has demon souls still got no publisher for europe god damnit everyone who has played it loves it, the reviewers love it some are are just sore from the beating they got from it's difficultly, but thats just ONE of the best thing about demon souls.

imported it and loving it just like mcdonalds, Demon Souls should be game of the year for 1 simple reason it has earned its hype, respect.

[Ravage27]

well then again...everything is hard in Demon's Souls LOL XD

[starvinbull]

Uncharted 2 review?

[Alcohog]

inb4peoplebringupU2

Oh wait...no, no I'm not in before that at all.

[STICKzophrenic]

I hope Edge gives Uncharted 2 a bad score just to see the fanboys here explode. It'll be lulz time for sure.

:-)

[redsquad]

When it comes to game reviews, I'll take integrity and professionalism over the wish to have a few giggles any day.

[cleanhealthy12]

day 1 purchase

[tonsoffun]

I still can't believe that there are some that still believe that EDGE are biased.

HOPEFULLY this review will put that nonsense to rest.

I got a korean import copy (i'm from Scotland) and think it's pretty good. Incredibly hard, but good nonetheless

[Tex117]

Been playing all afternoon. Its freaking awesome. Just take it easy, go slow...and say this mantra, "DON"T DO ANYTHING STUPID!"

If you watch the blood stains...thats what happends alot.

[FrankenLife]

I keep saying Edge isn't biased they are totally mental. That doesn't mean that all their scores are going to way off, but they will do/have done some retarded reviews. This is the kind of game that Edge would love. It serves their elitist ego to like a game that is this hard.

[Figboy]

while playing:

if you are killed by an enemy, if you quit out of the game (via the XMB) before you fall to the ground and die, when you restart the game, you will load into the last spot you reached a checkpoint.

i did this accidentally when i was pissed that a boss killed me in two hits at the start of the battle, losing me 50,000 souls, and i just quit the game for the night (it was after a 4 hour marathon session, so i was beat anyway; it was like 5 in the morning). when i came back the next day and decided to bite the bullet, the game loaded me up right outside his chamber, before the boss fight, and with all my souls intact. i then proceeded to beat the boss.

i only mention this for those desperate occasions when you just can't bare to lose your souls. so far, after having the game for nearly two months now, i can honestly say i've only used this tactic 3 or so times. i love how the game is designed so much that i usually just eat up the soul loss and restart from the beginning of the level.

i love this damn game. i haven't played it in a few weeks though (been trying to catch up on other games in preparation for Uncharted 2 and Ratchet Future 2).

[nycredude]

Figboy

I figured that exploit out also. Good find. Although I try not to use it cause I want to earn my stripes the right way. The best way not to lose too many souls is to spend it so you don't never have too much on you.

[Campy da Camper]

it can corrupt your save slots by doing that. Can you imagine going to load a game only to find you have to start all over again?

And I am fricking nervous. I love tough games but all this talk about how brutal it is is really freaking me out. Someone please hold me.

[Maddens Raiders]

lmfao...yeah you will need someone to hold you to keep you from going mad. I love this game.

[quadalupeupe]

everyone knows Edge and Eurogamer are harsh PS3 critics so they are giving these kind of scores to not look so obvious

give or take a few months when people forget the old scores and articles and they'll go back to doing what they usually do, giving PS3 exclusives 6/10 when other sites give 9/10

Edge, Eurogamer, Kotaku, Gizmodo all part of the Microsoft $$$ backdoor buddies

[Tex117]

I've been playing now for a few hours...Here are some thoughts...

They aren't kidding...Its really hard. If you take your time and go slow then you can inch your way forward, but when you get taken about by some dbag with a spear and you want to regain your souls quickly to move on is when you get into trouble. You move to fast..get impatient..and WHAM, the game has got you where it wants you.

The reviewers aren't kidding either when they say its not for everyone. If you need to progress a level and knock some skulls quicly then this is not for you. Forget it, walk away and be glad you did.

If you like the thought out combat, have some patience, and like to earn your right to bust some skulls, then perhaps you should pick this up.

I quit playing for a bit (Recommended), I still can't get my mind out of the game.

Its effing awesome for those its for.

[Raoh]

What he said.. Loving this game right now. your actually playing the game not just rushing to through it..

Got my Cling Ring, Thief Ring, Killed the first boss Phalanx (took me roughly 3 hours to get there. That's jut going through the tutorial and the first level, yes only the first level.

Game is tight as hell......

[Razzy]

Sounds perfect for me since I hate rushing through games, unlike my son who has to beat a game ASAP! I like taking my time & getting my moneys worth & by the sounds of it this one is worth every cent.

We pay a small fortune for games so why rush through the damn things? This game's got me excited but I'm also worried, like everyone else it seems, about the difficulty. Sounds awesome though. :)

[CBaoth]

Whenever I find an enjoyable game, I never want it to end. Like poker or sex, I slowplay it till the end. Uncharted - they said 5-6 hrs/me 11 1/2, Heavenly Sword - 5hrs/me 9, and recently ODST 5 hr/me10. I remember someone gloating about ME taking less than 15hrs. Damn what a waste of a great story. I made sure it took me over 30. But my kids are just like yours and everybody else's. Play it on easy/normal, win it as fast as you can and move on. When we were young, you'd be disappointed if we could win a game in a single weekend. But hey, this is starting to sound like one of those 10 mile hikes uphill to school in a snowstorm moments, so I'll just stop here and say bubbles friend.

[CherryLu-Chan]

Really does sound fabulous.

Import time, I'm thinking!

[CherryLu-Chan]

I agree with some of the feedback on Edge's site that the review really doesn't clue you in very well to the mechanics of the game.

Strangely, I find myself really enjoying what Gamespot has to say for once. Really enthusiastic and informative review.

http://n4g.com/ps3/News-406...

I'm pretty sure I'm getting this game. The more I see and hear about it, the more I'm captivated by it.

The one thing I don't understand is why no-one has decided it's worthy of a European release. Utterly baffling.

[thejoker111]

i picked the game up yesterday, its one of the best rpgs ive played on the ps3 yet. but be warned this game is extremely difficult and fun.

[TheBand1t]

I love this game. LOVVVEEE it.