This RPG will devour every ounce of your soul: A symbolic compliment to those willing to embark on the near-impossible.
In 2009 From Software released an action role-playing game that pushed the player to the brink. It was a title that diversified itself from most of the video games that swayed from the challenge and unfairness this particular game offered.
To those who tried Demon's Souls and gave up immediately, this is not uncommon since it doesn't take long to drive those individuals into utter madness, and eventually toward frustration. And for those who remained in the land of Boletaria and embraced the difficulty, it's living proof that the challenge, especially if it's a brutal one, is yet to be neglected whilst enjoyable at the same time.
If you haven't experienced Demon's Souls for the PlayStation 3 yet, here is what to expect from this outstanding if not challenging RPG:
STORY
The game takes place in the land of Boletaria, which is blanketed by a strange fog that is plaguing the living into unimaginable demons. Many soldiers and other warriors attempted to put an end to the evil that is the Old One, but none of them returned. It wasn't until an unknown hero, you, decided to accept this life-changing ordeal. In the end you fell against the threat while on your way to this perilous journey.
Shortly after you awoke into a strange and isolated place called the Nexus, and you enter the only accessible Archstone.
The real adventure to hunt down the demons and their souls truly begin…
GAME CONCEPT
The theme that will remain on Demon's Souls is that your foes don't take your presence very lightly. They'll do whatever it takes to eliminate you without hesitation. When this happens (whether or not you are in Body form or in Soul form), you will return to the beginning of the area (or the archstone you started out on).
Whatever souls you've earned (the currency in the game) while being killed will be lost, unless you reach your Bloodstain on your next attempt. If you die again before you reach your bloodstain, that along with your souls you earned from that stain, will be replaced by your new bloodstain, making your former one unrecoverable.
The process of these failed attempts may be unforgiving, but it's the realization that it wasn't the enemies or the obstacles or anything from the worlds you traverse: It's your own mistakes and unpreparedness that resulted in your death. This will help you understand those mistakes afterward. In other words, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again."
SOULS
The souls, or soul points you earned without dying can be used to buy items, upgrade weapons (given the fact you have the specific stones to upgrade them with as well), and repair your weapons and armor. The souls can also be used to level up your statistics.
Unlike most RPGs, the leveling system is very different than what you were originally accustomed to. After you completed the first area of Boletarian Palace, the Maiden in Black will appear before you at the Nexus (only after you talk to The Monumental after defeating Phalanx). You will then be able to increase your HP, MP, etc. but the number of souls required will increase each time.
Depending on your progress, you will earn a Soul Level that is equivalent to a level-up common in the RPG genre. It is a different approach to what the average player is accustomed to, but it's also one that's just as rewarding.
BOSSES
There are five archstones, or worlds for you to enter in the Nexus, and each one has about three-to-five areas for you to explore. Whenever you reach the end area of the world's section (namely the third or fourth fog), you will encounter a boss. Defeating this boss will not only give you soul points, but also their Demon's Soul and a new archstone (or checkpoint) for you to traverse to the other area in that world.
The Demon's Souls you earn from that boss can be used to turn into spells or miracles (depending on which individuals you find along the 5 worlds) along with upgrading weapons from a specific blacksmith. They can also be consumed into Soul Points (similar to the Soldier and Hero's souls you find during your playthrough). Trading these Demon's Souls for upgrades/etc. is beneficial when overcoming tight situations along with other bosses you encounter. Since this is an RPG, it is up to the player to decide how they want to use these special Souls.
ONLINE MODE
Demon's Souls' online server is a pretty innovative feature. Given the fact that this game is strictly a single-player experience (if you decide to play this game offline or online), the player has the option to play with others via cooperatively or competitively. Here's how it works:
To play the game co-op, one player has to be in Soul Form whereas the other in Body form. The Soul player needs to activate their Blue Eye Stone in order for Body form players to accept the invitation. This only works depending on the Soul Level you are at and the specific Soul range as well. Since there isn't a friend invite feature, this doesn't hurt the experience since the online mode somewhat resembles an MMO.
Once the Soul Sign is accepted, the Soul player enters the Body form player's world. If the players are able to defeat the boss in that world, the Soul player will have his/her Body form retrieved sans using Stone of Ephemeral Eyes (a consumable that transforms the Soul player into their body form). The players then are able to rate their counterpart on their progress.
In terms of competitiveness, players in Soul form are able to invade another player's world via Black Eye Stone (unlockable once they defeat a Black Phantom NPC or player). If the player invader defeats that specific player, they retrieve their Body form. Again, this depends on the level range they are at.
On the last note, you can place messages to help other players in the game. If that specific message is recommended by other players, that player who made the message will have their health regenerated. A recommended opportunity if in a tight situation and only accessible if you are online via PSN.
CONCLUSION
There is more to say about this brutally challenging Action RPG since it is an overwhelming experience both in content and experience. Demon's Souls, being the spiritual successor to the King's Field series, remains true to its predecessor's game concept, or difficulty. The worlds are short, and for good reason. It will take you several tries to complete the specific areas on the five worlds and in the end, you won't be disappointed by the short environments since it will grow on you later on your playthrough.
Again, the online mode doesn't have matchmaking but it's still playable with others and doesn't hurt the experience. As a rarity, the RPG doesn't have any downloadable content that again doesn't hurt the experience. The music orchestration is brilliant due to the fact it only occurs during boss fights and on the Nexus; the majority of the game is atmospheric and doesn't hurt (again) the experience.
This is one of those games that do something different that most video games in today's standards tend to neglect. A unique and reinvention of the common role-playing setup seen in most RPGs these days is what diversifies and yet satisfies itself from the rest. In other words, Demon's Souls, regardless of its difficulty, is a game worth playing.
With that, Touch the Demon Inside you, and Best of Luck to You in the land of Boletaria…