When I first got my PS5, my first thought was ‘Demon’s Souls’. The reveal of the game was enough to make me truly believe in the idea of ‘next-gen’. So, despite the disgusting €79.99 price tag, I forked out for the PS5’s first truly exclusive main-line title. Keep in mind, I have never played these relentless games before, although have been tempted by the likes of Dark Souls and Bloodbourne in the past. Nonetheless, let’s get into what I thought of Demon’s Souls.
Game-Play & Character Mechanics –
The feeling of starting off in this game is one of dread. You feeling feel like a lost child in a world that is pitted against you. However, through each area that you go by, you feel more and more strong and a sense of power. For me, someone who is a reserved player in difficult or stressful games, the feeling of backtracking, along with the general movement and speed of my character left me grateful and feeling pleased with myself at any level of progression through the game. The smallest progress forward felt like a huge step for me.
As well as the general game-play though, through character customisation and building your class that suits your needs, the customisation of Demon’s Souls is something that at first I didn’t quite understand or expect, yet despite this it shapes your entire feeling and play-through. Of course there is other elements to the game-play, but more on that later.
An Unrelenting World –
The world of Demon’s Souls is something that brings in much of the draw of the game. Usually I shy away from bleak and ‘scary’ worlds in games, however this one drew me in. The lack of sounds and moments of silence create an atmosphere unlike anything. The enemies combining with the general movement of your character create the feeling of a constant sluggish uphill battle the further you get into the game.
However, the uphill battle is rewarded by returning to older areas and beating these enemies who once wiped the floor with you, with you. Dying and losing progress can be agonising, but death is but a sign of progress in Demon’s Souls. The game is incredibly difficult, but not in an unfair way. The sense of adventure, world building, and linear yet broadened paths that the player has a choice in taking is on another level in Demon’s Souls.
The Beginning and Lacking Guidance –
One of the main faults in an otherwise greatly planned out formula is the lack of clear guidance and the confusion that came from the Path of Botamia a the beginning of the game. This was one of the few times in Demon’s Souls where I had to use a guide just to know what to do. I had no idea where to go, what I was supposed to be doing or what the goal even was. If it wasn’t for a walkthrough I do not think I’d have made it through the first area of the game.
However, once this first area is finished and you beat Phalanx, thus unlocking the Black Maiden among other things, the other elements of the game become a lot more clear and obviously progressive.
Killing Tower Knight by Myself and Bosses in General –
Something that adds to the collosal feeling of each boss is the fog of the doorways. You never know what is on that other side, and that revelation is something that adds to the adrenaline of the moment. A gaming moment that will stay with me forever is the defeating of the Tower Knight. The Tower Knight was stressful as he was the first large, mobile boss after Phalanx, which is sort of made to be a tutorial boss. His aura and abilities created a feeling of a boss battle that can only really be bested by the likes of God of War. The moment I took him down, I felt such an incredible high.
Despite the fact that not many bosses matched the level of euphoria I got from taking down the Tower Knight, there is something from games like this that cannot be emphasised enough, and that is just how powerful and strong the feeling of winning in a boss fight in Demon’s Souls and other games of this genre truly is to the overall feeling of the game, even if I did shamelessly cheese my way to a victory against Flamelurker via poision cloud.
Death and the Nexus –
Death in Soul’s games is a big part of the journey. You will have many moments where you unfairly die or die by just being absolutely battered. In Demon’s Souls I thought that the deaths would be something that would make the experience more frustrating, however, they only made the game more worthwhile. For me, each death was like a fire had been lit in my stomach to return to the area I had died in to get my souls, each death was like a signal of the obstacle ahead and the effort it will take to eventually overcome it.
As well as death, another important element of Demon’s Souls is the Nexus. This hub world confused me at first, however it acts as an area of salvation where you can return safely and plot your next moves to progress in areas of the game.
Visuals and Graphics –
The graphical achievements of Demon’s Souls speak for themselves. The setting design is the first real signal of what the PS5 can do. Walking along the bridges of the castle in Boletaria and seeing that Dragon fly over me was something that you need to experience yourself to fully understand just how incredible it looked and felt.
This game is part of the elite when it comes to graphical achievement, and the setting design of each area is a large reason for this. There isn’t much in the ways of massive deviants in location design, however they do all give off unique and varying vibes from one and other.
First PS5 Only Main-Line Title –
This is a great launch title for the PS5, despite being a remake. This game sets the standard of first-party exclusives that Playstation had set themselves near the end of the PS4’s life-cycle. However, I understand that this game can be somewhat of a deterrent for many players, it is a very specific and niche genre that takes a lot to get into. I personally don’t think I’d have bought this game if it wasn’t for the lack of games on the console at the time of writing this review. Despite this, I am glad I did and I am hoping that this is a sign of what is to come with future Playstation first-party titles such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and God of War: Ragnarok.
Conclusion –
Overall, as mentioned, Demon’s Souls is a brilliant journey and experience for all of those who are looking to get into it. It does have a lot of entry barriers for players who were new to this genre of game like myself, however once you get past that, there is something really special there. Despite being a remake of an outdated title, it doesn’t feel outdated at all. It is a great launch title experience that alone can make that hole in your wallet from purchasing a PS5 feel a little bit better.
Final Rating – 8.5/10
Nathan Brennan 