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How does Demon's Souls hold up?

M

MrOogieBoogie

BioShock Infinite is like playing some homeless guy's vivid imagination
Hard to believe Demon's Souls released over 7 years ago. No one would have thought such a niche title would become such a huge franchise in 2016. But here we are, and I'm curious to know if the game holds up for people who've played it after Dark Souls or Bloodborne. I LOVED Demon's Souls when I first played it, but I've forgotten a lot about it and am wondering if it's worth revisiting.

It's still got, by far, the coolest boxart in the series:

box-art-na.jpg
 
L

Levito

Banned
Amazingly well, I played it for the first time last year and I can understand why some still consider it the best Soulsborne game.



Maiden Astrea encounter one of the best moments in any game eveeerrr.
 
C

CHC

Member
It looks much uglier than you remember (actually so does Dark Souls....), but the gameplay is still fantastic.

You'll probably notice it feels a little more "arcadey" next to Bloodborne and DSIII, which tend to have a little more weight behind the movements, but after a few minutes it's quite easy to adjust to and the core of the game is as good as it's ever been.
 
E

EatinOlives

Member
I plan on replaying it real soon. I remember even Dark Souls 1 being such a giant leap (at least graphically on PC post DSfix), and the fidelity/budget/presentation got an even bigger jump for Bloodborne/DS3, I want to go back and experience the first game again after going through 4 more of these.

I imagine it'll be easy as fuck and I'll clear it in 10 hours, but maybe not.
 
P

Palmer27

Member
Floaty and farmy but wholly unique atmosphere to the world and a horrific tenseness from the tendency system. Most melancholy art in the souls games - I find anyway.

Replay, replay!
 
S

Systolique

Member
Still the most atmospheric one in the serie, and my favorite.

I think it still holds up pretty good and is one of those games that gain charm with age, but then again I'm super biased because I super love the game !
 
M

Moon_frogger

Member
amazingly well and in my opinion stays good from start to finish and has amazing pacing, unlike dark souls which kind of sags after the first half. I know that's a cliche at this point but it seems more and more true the more I replay it. I also think demon's has better npc's and quests, better level design and overall better atmosphere than dark souls. It lacks several quality of life improvements you'd expect from souls though. Overall, it has kind of aged more than I'd like but a classic is still a classic.
 
J

Jotamide

Unconfirmed Member
Tower of Latria is one of my favorite levels in gaming.
 
V

Vital Tundra

Member
Don't let anyone lie to you, it's rough around the edges. Kinda really rough. But it's still great fun. You'll just hate that it doesn't have the improvements of the later games.
 
A

Akuun

Looking for meaning in GAF
I played the first half of Demon's Souls about a year after clearing Dark Souls 1, then went back to finish it over a year later, after beating both DS2 and Bloodborne.

I think it feels very much like a proof-of-concept/developer sandbox style of game when compared to the newer Souls games. There is a lot of experimentation in the game, and things that aren't as tweaked as tightly as they are in later games. Difficulty-wise, it's a lot less forgiving because its bonfires and shortcuts are MUCH rarer than they are in the newer games. Both level design and bosses are a lot more gimmicky in general and can be very hit or miss as a result. Combat animations feel floatier in general but the central feeling of deliberate slowness is there.

Many of the ideas that didn't work or weren't interesting enough simply weren't repeated in the later games, while the ones that did work were usually improved in some way.

Having said all that, it's still a good game - just not as great as DS1, or Bloodborne. I still think some areas in DeS (Tower of Latria in particular) is easily the most atmospheric part of any Souls game I've played, and feels super creepy. It's great.
 
R

RK9039

Member
I think it holds up pretty well, but I'm probably too biased because it's the first Souls game. It has some really neat ideas.
 
D

Dysun

Member
I played it last month for the first time ever.

Had no problem going back to it after DaS/BB. Still a great game
 
A

Aesnath

Member
I put some hours into it. I liked it, but didn't love it. Some areas are really cool, but the hubworld structure is a turnoff (and before anyone says it--yes I dislike it more than DS2's hubworld problems).

I'll probably go back and finish it; I'm positive I haven't gotten to some of the better moments.
 
I

Inuhanyou

Believes Dragon Quest is a franchise managed by Sony
Excellently.

The definitive Souls game that encompasses everything good and everything bad about them.

I really need a Bluepoint remaster one of these days..
 
O

Ordinaryundone

Member
It holds up pretty well. There are some weird things about the game that'll feel strange if you've played the later ones (move speed feels weird, can't roll diagonally, no poise for armor, etc) and the game is consiberably more obtuse than even Dark Souls was when it comes to some of its mechanics (World Tendency, weapon upgrading can be a pain). It's also kind of short and will feel easy if you are experienced with the series.

That said, it's atmosphere and storytelling are top notch. Its got some of the best NPCs and level design in the series, as well. I personally like how OP magic is in the game. It's not just sorcery either, miracles as well are strong as hell and it helps tie back into the plot about the importance of Soul Arts and why guys like Freke and Urbain are influential. Also, its probably the only Souls game where experimenting with different weapons for different areas and encounters is highly encouraged. While you CAN beat the game with just a basic longsword there is a certain amount of personal accomplishment with working out what an area's "theme" is and finding ways to smash it over your knee with a counter-build. It's like Mega Man, what works well in one world often doesn't work very well in the next and it encourages more diversity in gameplay.
 
N

Nyoro SF

Member
Holds up really well. I'm almost done. The characters and areas have more individuality to them than in the Dark games.
 
B

BluePigGanon

Member
I played it a little a year ago and still feel it has the best atmosphere and "mood" of all the games - though some of that might be nostalgia.

Like so many, I'd love a remaster. I don't have a PS3 anymore and would love to give it another playthrough.
 
J

JayEH

Junior Member
Played it for first time last year after already playing all the other games (yes bloodborne included). The hardest part was getting used to some of the minor mechanics that were changed in later games such as having a carry limit and a weight limit and no jump or jump attacks. Once I got over that I was able to enjoy it but it's certainly a lot more punishing since you have to restart from the beginning of a level if you didn't find the shortcut and the 50% life loss (which can be increased with use of a ring of course). And yeah graphically it doesn't look great. Art direction and music still good though.
 
L

LiK

Member
Still my fave in the series. UI is a bit clunky compared to later installments but art direction and enemy designs still hold up.
 
S

Sword Of Doom

Member
Going from Demon's Souls to Dark Souls, the environments in Dark Souls seem very bland. The music and atmosphere in Demon's Souls are just fantastic.

To answer your question, it holds up pretty well imo. It has its weaknesses but its strengths more than make up for them
 
J

JackelZXA

Member
it's still super fun i just did runs through all the souls games this year again. regen build is the best in demons souls.

My most recent run I did Royal and (I always run a full world before moving on to the next) I did this order: First half of Boletaria Palace (up to Tower Knight), Shrine of Storms, Stonefang Tunnel, Tower of Latria, Valley of Defilement, Second Half of Boletaria Palace. 4-2 is kind of tough but doable, especially with all those souls, and I just really like doing a full level and it's quests before moving on to the next one. (Only a few black world quests are worth it, basically just killing red Scirvir for his talisman of beasts, but I always do the white worlds and get the colorless demon souls)
 
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