Demon's Souls Is More Than Dark Souls' Weird Brother

As a die-hard fan who’s danced with demons and dark lords for countless hours, I can attest to Demon’s Souls‘ unparalleled place in gaming history. It’s not just the progenitor of the Soulslike genre; it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of frustration, perseverance, and that sweet, sweet satisfaction of triumphing over an insurmountable foe.

15 years ago, on October 6, 2004, I found myself immersed in a challenging journey that would forever change the gaming landscape. Demon’s Souls, the pioneer of the Soulslike genre, was born and set me on an unforgiving path few gamers dared to tread. Here’s a look back at how it paved the way for others to follow in its footsteps.

Devoted followers of From Software who’ve mastered the art of dodging and rolling through the blazing challenges of Elden Ring and Dark Souls series are well-versed in the roots of the genre often referred to as “souls-like.” Characterized by several key elements, such as “bonfire” checkpoints that replenish a fixed amount of health, stamina gauges, and intimidating bosses, this type of game has gained significant popularity over the past decade. Furthermore, these design elements have solidified into strict guidelines that games like Lies of P appear to adhere to rigorously.

In contrast, the initial game in the Souls series, Demon’s Souls, stands out by challenging many assumptions that modern games are built upon today. Unlike newer entries, it uses complex and sometimes hostile design elements that contradict traditional definitions of fun. These elements also diverge from the growing trend towards seamless gameplay and player control that has become prevalent in the Souls-like genre. The tough, unforgiving nature of Demon’s Souls (and to a lesser extent, Dark Souls) contributes significantly to the series’ popularity. It will be intriguing to see if FromSoftware revisits this approach in the future.

In Demon’s Souls, it doesn’t mince words about its challenging essence. The initial tutorial plunges you straight into a daunting battle against an enormous adversary who likely crushes you and drains more than half your health bar without a quick rematch option. One of the game’s unique quirks that stands out is the difference between “Human Form” and “Soul Form” when your health drops below half, symbolizing its tough nature. However, those who ventured into Bluepoint’s 2020 PS5 remake soon discovered that this was just the beginning of its challenges.

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One way to rephrase the given text in a natural and easy-to-read manner could be: The “Character Tendency” and “Level Tendency” systems in Demon’s Souls are often cited as prime examples of the game’s intricate mechanics. These systems, which supposedly reflect the player character’s moral alignment, span from “pure white” to “pure black,” with numerous shades in between. However, these largely hidden indicators can be difficult to understand due to complex rules that even seasoned players may forget at times. These markers have a significant effect on various game aspects, such as weaker enemies appearing when the worlds lean towards white, allowing for more damage, while blackened enemies inflict harder blows and reward more Souls.

One way to rephrase the given text in a more natural and easy-to-read manner is as follows:

In today’s gaming world, it’s common for players to use wiki entries and guides when encountering unique game elements years after release. However, it’s crucial to recall that those who initially played Demon’s Souls didn’t have these resources at their disposal. For instance, if you were killed by an invader using the Dragon Bone Smasher, a poorly translated Japanese guide might suggest obtaining pure white World Tendency in a specific level. However, figuring out how to achieve this was often a matter of conflicting rumors and subtle hints. Occasionally, the original PS3 Demon’s Souls would adjust the World Tendencies for special occasions like Christmas and Halloween, but such instances were rare.

In Demon’s Souls, the challenging essence permeates almost every aspect of its design, even seemingly insignificant details. For instance, it’s the only game in the Souls series to incorporate an item-carrying limit. If you accidentally gather loot that exceeds your carrying capacity, you’ll need to discard items from your inventory to make space—the discarded items vanish after leaving the area and can easily be lost forever (luckily, this issue was addressed in the remake). The game’s levels are extensive with few shortcuts and long boss re-spawn points, which means that every death translates into valuable minutes wasted.

You don’t have to look far to find examples of this sort of player hostility in the original Dark Souls. That game’s complex Humanity system can be read as a successor to the downright inscrutable Tendency ideas of its predecessor, and the dreaded basilisk’s curse you might encounter in the depths of Blighttown cruelly halves your HP. (The original incarnation of this mechanic was even more devious, as the curses could stack, halving your HP again and again to the point where a single swipe from a skeleton could kill you. Naturally, this was eventually patched out.)

While Dark Souls 2’s complex Bonfire Ascetic system and restricted enemy respawns align with the enigmatic and indifferent design philosophy of Demon’s Souls, this approach becomes less prevalent in later games like Elden Ring. Unlike Elden Ring, which abounds with secrets to discover and lore to dissect, it seldom demands players to delve deeply into solving mysteries beyond straightforward environmental puzzles. Despite the fact that FromSoftware’s latest games are more challenging than ever before, their concept of difficulty has evolved significantly over time. Whereas Dark Souls once forced players to navigate a world they barely comprehended, including its mechanics, Elden Ring introduces complex superbosses requiring extensive practice and mastery, which can take hours upon hours to conquer.

Demon’s Souls isn’t for everyone due to its unique blend of perplexing, endearing, and somewhat awkward gameplay. Much like other innovative titles, it prioritizes a niche experience over universal appeal. As the precursor to a distinct genre now recognized as a subgenre, it may feel oddly foreign to players who have experienced numerous Souls-like games adhering to the Dark Souls formula. Given From Software’s growth in size and audience, one might think it challenging for them to maintain their experimental approach that led to such success. Yet, considering the evolution of their games, a shift seems imminent. It’s hard to envision a Souls-style game with a more expansive world than The Lands Between or a tougher boss than the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree, but it certainly won’t hold them back from trying. To uphold its status as one of gaming’s greatest developers, From Software’s future endeavors must offer a challenge in an entirely new form; in this way, they will continue the genuine legacy of Demon’s Souls, the game that started it all.

2024-10-08 23:39

Demon’s Souls Is More Than Dark Souls’ Weird Brother

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