PARENTAL ADVISORY: You were warned.
Bottom Line first: BUY IT, but only, Buttercup, if you can handle it. If you get frustrated easily, quit when your team is down by a few points, sell stocks when they drop a little, or get upset when a mouse tries to flex on an Elephant, this game is not for you or for your poor family and/or friends who have to suffer through you whining about how many times you have died and lost “yo’ s**t”. This a thinking Warrior’s game, a thinking person’s crusade to not break their brand f**king new PS5 because this game just castrated them spiritually, culturally, religiously, and mentally for the fifth f***ing time in a row.
A special note to parents, as a parent, I am not sure I can recommend this for your kids if they are not schooled in the wretchedly unfair nature of the “classics”. Here I mean those games from our childhood, say, Atari and Coleco Vision, NES/SNES and Genesis eras of video gaming where on occasion a game came around that kicked your ass so much that you had a real choice, either wilt, or commit yourself to defeating it to the point that you risked mortal peril to yourself and your mental well-being. That said, if you have schooled them, here’s looking at you, kid. You are my kind of scum. Go on ahead and let little Tina and Tommy run head long into that buzzsaw, I say. Good mothers and fathers of the world, let thy children get the taste of digital blood in their mouths. It’ll get them ready for the world or a trip to shrink’s couch.
Some of you may be taken aback and maybe even aghast by this sort of review that is openly punching you in the face. If so, do not play this game. I am going to keep writing in this sarcastic, slap yo momma in the face style on this one and do so with all the aggression and anger in the world because this game gives no f**ks about you, your trophy count, your friends list, whether you drive an Audi TT or a 1985 Chevette. It. Does. Not. Care. About. Your. Feelings. It. Is. Here. To. Break. You. Kind of like Ivan Drago, but, made by world class Japanese developers, coders, artists, and more who give no f**ks about your character getting repeatedly pummeled—yet, they really, really want you to like their game and hope, you, yourself, are living a full and happy life, while their game tries to do unspeakable things to your in game character.
If I were to attempt to define it simply, I would say that it is simply a haunting and beautifully dark gaming marathon, where heart and determination, are replaced by sheer will power and stupid ambition, maybe stupidity itself, as it is required of you to be a little stupid to play this beast, along with a little wit, and maybe, yes, a little digital blood in your mouth.
In a word, it is awesome. And I love it. God help me, I love it so.
History of the game:
For the uninformed this game is a remake of the cult classic that released way, way back in 2009 on the PS3. On the original, I logged over 70+ hours and found myself entranced by this game’s ability to smash my nuts repeatedly. It was not a world beater in sales, maybe a smasher of people’s hearts and reproductive organs, but not a sales leader like say COD: MW II. Yet, this game started—yeah, yeah, don’t bring up Dark Souls to me; this came first---the “soul’s style” of games. Having played several of the later games, I must admit that Demon’s Souls remains my favorite. Everything else, while offering different things, just never really did it for me. And so, when I heard it was a launch title and that serious care was taken to retain as much as possible of the glory of the original, I said, simply, “sign me up”
Gameplay:
So, I like reviews that are not chock-full of spoilers, but man, there is a point in the initial cutscene that will awaken you to the potential of the PS5, DualSense, and adds a layer of excitement to the game. If you figure out what I am talking about, put it in the comments below.
The basics of the game is that it is a thinking person’s hack and slash game that demands that you use the heavy object above your neck. Yes, you can try to run, like a fool, head long into danger and yes, you can swing wildly with your sword (I tend to play as a knight because it gets me chest deep into the action), but if you are not successful in defeating your enemy, you will pay an awfully high price. That said, do not underestimate your enemies, they get better and better. My advice, if you are struggling, back up, heal up, and try again. What to do if a section is too tough? Grind aspects of it to get your strength and power up. And, of course, take your time. Do not try to speed run this.
As I alluded to as you progress through the game, you will become stronger, but so too, will your enemies and the bosses you encounter. That said, you are never alone as you may be playing in your own instance, but you are a part of a larger shared world that allows you to help your fellow warrior or harm them by leaving helpful or harmful messages and, of course, by joining, temporarily, in their instance to help or harm them directly. Yep, the beasts are not the only thing you have to worry about, much like life, some of the most treacherous creatures you encounter, are, in fact, your fellow man. But, they can also be your best friends.
Graphics, sounds and overall immersion:
Haunting, beautiful, gothic, and lonely. The shadows, the mist, and attention to detail standout. You feel like a warrior on a mission. No better than that. You feel like a warrior with a one way ticket to hell. Nope that ain't right, either. You feel like a warrior on a one way ticket to hell, who will die an awful lot. That's better.
Solitude is your companion, for the most part, though as I alluded, there are those who you will see running around as their ghostly aberrations mark their movements. Is it perfect graphically? No, (for example, in the tutorial section, the water at the beginning is average in its implementation, not horrible, but not the best I have seen); still, for an eleven-year-old game rebuilt for the launch of the PS5, Demon’s Souls does not disappoint.
Mood is big deal to me, and I suspect to you, just enjoy the world and its disturbing beauty as a maelstrom of discontent, death, and plague engulf you. And, when you are not hacking your way through or, more likely, trying not to fail on setting up a critical parry or dodge or roll, listen. Listen to the world. You can hear, thanks to the 3d Audio of the PS5, well, everything. The sounds of breathing, the crumbling rocks, the chains swinging, the sound of your sword crashing into the wall after you miss the knight that stands right in front of you and plans to rearrange your face. The wind, man, the sound of the wind as it cuts through the walls! You can hear it, as it should, largely sound. The sound of fire and embers. Thank god you can’t taste soot! But, for a moment, you swear to yourself you can. And, oh, by the way, you can hear your enemy’s footsteps. Pacing, searching, for…you. The lonely singing in the Nexus of what sounds like a damn gregorian choir. Unreal.
Faults:
The enemy AI, can at times, be dumb as bricks. There were moments that I put myself in a horribly unbalanced position, where a more skilled AI would send me packing. Either the AI has been toned down a bit or I got better (always possible) in the eleven years since I last played the original. Do note, this did not happen all the time, but it certainly happened.
In closing, this is the Hotel California of video games, you can checkout any time you like, but, my friends, you can never leave. Such is the bond of the Nexus and the Black Maiden. Thus, there is nothing more to say to you, other then this: "Soul of the lost, withdrawn from its vessel. Let strength be granted, so the world might be mended. So, the world might be mended."
Godspeed.
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From the manufacturer
Stunning visuals
Experience the original brutal challenge, completely remade from the ground up. All presented in stunning visual quality with enhanced performance, this is the world of Boletaria as you have never seen it before.
Become the Slayer of Demons
Venture to the northern kingdom of Boletaria – a once prosperous land of knights, now beset with unspeakable creatures and ravenous demons. Meet strange characters, unhinged and twisted by the world around them, and unravel the unsettling story of Demon’s Souls.
Master the arts of sorcery and war
Perfect and hone your skills in combat – know when to push forward and when to bide your time, as with each missed swing and careless mistake, you risk losing the very souls you’ve worked so hard to collect. The rewards for slaying the strongest foes are immense though, and death does not mean the end – it’s just another state of being.
Face the world’s greatest warriors in ferocious PVP combat
With online* invasions adding to the danger of your quest. Or play cooperatively by summoning allies to aid in your fight against the demons.
*Active PS Plus subscription required for online multiplayer.
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Amazing and highly recommended
If you’re a PlayStation fan or a Dark Souls fan, then I highly recommend you to buy and play this game, worth $30.Update: I bought this game while it was for sale on Black Friday, when it was $30.
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