Demon's Souls

 PlayStation 3
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Oct 6, 2009
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2033 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,772 out of 2033
  2. Mixed: 135 out of 2033
  3. Negative: 126 out of 2033
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  1. crouchocroucho
    Oct 19, 2009
    7
    This game is more frustrating than fun. I'm going to do my best to plow through it, but as of right now, I've only defeated 5 dungeions. 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2. It is as they SUPER HARD, but I feel that it does ease up the more you play. I spent 3 1/2 hours on my first character (a thief) trying to beat 1-1, after this I got pissed and started a new character (a soldier) with a This game is more frustrating than fun. I'm going to do my best to plow through it, but as of right now, I've only defeated 5 dungeions. 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2. It is as they SUPER HARD, but I feel that it does ease up the more you play. I spent 3 1/2 hours on my first character (a thief) trying to beat 1-1, after this I got pissed and started a new character (a soldier) with a decent ranged weapon - a very long spear, and beat the level on my 1st try in about 30 minutes. I would highly suggest that anyone thinking of purchasing this game rent it first. If you're someone that will let a game get the best of you, then this if for sure not for you. Good luck!… Expand
  2. Tubie
    Oct 28, 2010
    7
    This is a game for the hardcore gamer. If you believe you fall into that category then this game would be a 10 for you. The graphics could have been better and the game could have given a better learning curve for the more casual gamer. It is true that you can get help if you play the game in online mode. Overall a good RPG no fan of the genre can miss out on.
  3. vilevolym
    Nov 3, 2010
    7
    Story wise the game is a standard RPG set-up, the Kingdom of Boletaria is in trouble & you are the only Soul who can save it. The game can be described as a Dark Fantasy RPG/Hack & slash. The RPG elements consist of levelling your character, looting, exploring, upgrading weapons, armour & rings.
    The combat side of the game is very much based on skill; both timing & anticipation are    Story wise the game is a standard RPG set-up, the Kingdom of Boletaria is in trouble & you are the only Soul who can save it. The game can be described as a Dark Fantasy RPG/Hack & slash. The RPG elements consist of levelling your character, looting, exploring, upgrading weapons, armour & rings.
    The combat side of the game is very much based on skill; both timing & anticipation are paramount to successful combat. Both melee, ranged & magic are all thrown into the mix; each is satisfying & thus opens up a huge combination of possible strategies. Personally I feel the combat is near enough spot on, with a variety of weapons all of which have their own distinct looks, size & swing types. Every item has pros & cons & its up to the player to decide when & where to use these items. Magic & ranged combat is also very well constructed, with new spells being made available once certain NPCâ    … Expand
  4. FredIK
    Mar 17, 2011
    7
    The missing or short storyline affect this RPG, Sure the difficulty and challenge are awesome, many good ideas give a real potential to this game BUT please wrote a story and this game will be an epic and fully unforgettable game
  5. Watermelon789
    Oct 22, 2011
    7
    Sincerely my time playing Demon Souls is enjoyable , I'm really digging in the gameplay, and setting but the challenge is outrageous . The problem is, I would have loved more the gameplay if it was a little bit more faster and with more combos , because the game works nicely , but what drags it out of being more fun is that is repetitive . You need to think well to achieve a kill even inSincerely my time playing Demon Souls is enjoyable , I'm really digging in the gameplay, and setting but the challenge is outrageous . The problem is, I would have loved more the gameplay if it was a little bit more faster and with more combos , because the game works nicely , but what drags it out of being more fun is that is repetitive . You need to think well to achieve a kill even in the weaker enemies , with three blows or even one blow you're a dead and giving up . Though after looking the Loading menu you start in the beginning , that doesn't sound so fun for many people and they may even say the game it's broken . Still what requires the game is strategy .… Expand
  6. coldcalculated
    Dec 11, 2011
    7
    Let me start off by saying someone put the difficulty setting to hope crushing. This game is so agonizingly hard it almost makes you want to stop playing altogether. But the once you get the hang of the game, its kinda fun. My only issue is it is a very linear game, with no plot whatsoever, and you basically play it over and over and over. Nothing changes except the difficulty. It gets toLet me start off by saying someone put the difficulty setting to hope crushing. This game is so agonizingly hard it almost makes you want to stop playing altogether. But the once you get the hang of the game, its kinda fun. My only issue is it is a very linear game, with no plot whatsoever, and you basically play it over and over and over. Nothing changes except the difficulty. It gets to the point where if you make even the smallest mistake, you die. Nevertheless the game is really great and if you want a challenge, look no further.… Expand
  7. Jellybean15
    Jul 8, 2015
    7
    Dark Souls has taken off in popularity, mainly due to it's intention to go against the mainstream and deliver a challenge that's actually difficult, but what a lot of the fans don't know is that this game is where the series and core formula for the future iterations started. I'm sure many played this game after the main series got so popular, but it's actually my first venture into theDark Souls has taken off in popularity, mainly due to it's intention to go against the mainstream and deliver a challenge that's actually difficult, but what a lot of the fans don't know is that this game is where the series and core formula for the future iterations started. I'm sure many played this game after the main series got so popular, but it's actually my first venture into the souls series, so I went in with only a slight bit of fear, only to find out I wasn't nearly as scared as I should be.

    For fans of the souls series, you already know how the core gameplay works. Using melee weapons, shields and any other item is tied to the shoulder buttons, with the front buttons being linked to a standard attack or block and the triggers being linked to a stronger attack or special ability. Most enemies typically do massive damage but have clear motion's indicating what attack they'll use next, leaving it up to you to learn what an enemy's move set is and how you should react to it. Despite the hack-and-slash description, hacking and slashing only serves to get you killed faster. Demon's Souls is all about being smart, patient, methodical and knowing when to strike. Needless to say, dying is required to learn so get used to it.

    Dying is easily the most interesting thing in Demon's Souls as well. Upon dying, you enter your soul form, which essentially means half of your health is shaved off until you regain your humanity, done by either using an item or killing a boss, and any souls you've collected - which act as your form of experience and currency - are lost to you and can only be recovered by going to the spot you died. Die again before you accomplish that goal and your souls are lost to you forever. The simple solution is don't die but it's way easier said then done.

    Overall, the notion of being hard but fair is mostly true. 9 times out of ten, if I ended up falling dead or just falling to my death, I couldn't get angry at anyone but myself as it was undoubtedly my own fault. Sure, there may be the occasional attack from off screen or enemy jumping from the dark that you didn't have much of chance to react to, but for the most part, there's no one to blame but yourself. There's also the scenario of coming to a level that's so unbelievably hard that you'll feel like you've hit a wall, but often the solution is to just simply leave and take on another level, then come back after you've gotten stronger.

    If you are wondering why I said the game being fair is mostly true, it is because despite the hardcore audience trying to tell you otherwise, there are legitimate problems with some of the enemy and level designs. The occasional cheap enemy or area where getting through is mostly based on luck is a rare but very annoying problem. The main reason they're such a nuisance is that dying sets you back to the very beginning of the level. If you manage to get past a that one enemy or part of the game that's unfair, dying and going back ensures you'll be taking on this part over and over again. This isn't such a problem because most levels are designed with shortcuts and secret entrances that you can unlock to shave off the time it takes to get back to your original location. However, it's still a problem because some levels in the game are designed without one. Area 4-2 is easily the worst level in the game because all of these issues come together in one area. Enemies you can't kill throwing cheap shots at you while you're in the middle of a fight isn't challenging, just annoying. Not getting hit mainly comes down to just getting lucky, and with no shortcuts you're guaranteed to pass this part over and over again. Even if all the enemies and levels were designed perfectly, it is still somewhat tedious to have to go all the way back.

    There's also design choices I just don't understand. I get that Demon's Souls wants to be challenging but that doesn't explain the inconvenience of not being able to pause your game. If you want to go to the bathroom or if life outside of the game get's in the way, usually the only solution is to hole up somewhere safe or die at the hands of your enemy.

    Aside from that, the game's just not very polished. Six years after release and there's still frame rate issues, random sound distortions, crashing, infinite loading screens and in one instance, when booting the game up after turning it off, I was spawned over a bottomless pit and killed off immediately.

    Despite the game's nagging issues, the positives more than make up for it. The solid gameplay and smart game design still shines through. Each area and it's respective boss feels well thought out and varied, making each level memorable and their respective bosses unique. There's more positive than negative in this game, so it's still worth trying for those who like a challenge or the masochists who love to feel the pain of failure.

    I quit and put down the controller more often that I'd admit, but I still had fun.    … Expand
  8. MaxPayneIsGod
    May 25, 2015
    7
    Following on from my Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 review, Demon's Souls is where it began. The problem for me is I finished Dark Souls PTDE before I played Demon's Souls so it just didn't have the same effect on me that it would have had this been my first venture into this franchise. Demon's hard and complex, it is harder than both the Dark games but is also showing its age. I couldn't getFollowing on from my Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 review, Demon's Souls is where it began. The problem for me is I finished Dark Souls PTDE before I played Demon's Souls so it just didn't have the same effect on me that it would have had this been my first venture into this franchise. Demon's hard and complex, it is harder than both the Dark games but is also showing its age. I couldn't get into Demon's after putting 100+ hours into DS1. The best thing about Demon's Souls is that without it the masterpiece that is Dark Souls would not have come to light.… Expand
  9. Dionysus777
    Jan 29, 2015
    7
    Like this game even though i cant really figure out why beside the challenge and concept. Graphics suck, framerate sucks, hit boxes suck. I like it though and i have the platinum to prove it.
  10. abzalkumarov
    Jan 6, 2017
    7
    Yes, this game is hard! you will die but the best games to come out for a very long time, every little thing in this game is perfect for me as well as will be very interesting to play without exception, a good mode of game strategy game very similar to many of the best action games of recent years playing you kill hard time but get a lot of unforgettable oschusheniya
    Wish you luck
  11. dggt
    Aug 24, 2020
    7
    Great game, style, gameplay, with original mechanics, everything is at a good level. But the game is not player-friendly, and I'm not talking about its complexity in terms of the walkthrough itself, it's difficult in that it doesn't inform you in any way how something works here, where to find the object, what it does, how and why. You need to learn everything yourself along the way, byGreat game, style, gameplay, with original mechanics, everything is at a good level. But the game is not player-friendly, and I'm not talking about its complexity in terms of the walkthrough itself, it's difficult in that it doesn't inform you in any way how something works here, where to find the object, what it does, how and why. You need to learn everything yourself along the way, by trial and error, as well as with completion of the bosses, enemies and levels. If you don't look for info on the Internet, then just to understand HOW you can kill the boss, you have to spend a lot of time by trials and errors. For this reason, I dropped game walkthrough, it is not interesting to play by the guides, and it’s a big waste of my time to find out, it’s not worth it, and in the end it won’t bring so much pleasure.… Expand
  12. bancandrei
    May 12, 2020
    7
    This game is already a bit dated and clunky compared to other souls games, but it innovated so much in the genre that it deserves to be appreciated by more people.
    The setting and story do a very good job of capturing my imagination.
  13. daikengo
    Sep 16, 2020
    7
    귀족과 신성기사가 너무 강하지만, 레벨 디자인이 너무 부조리해서 저 둘 아니면 게임하기 참 힘들다. 솔직히 각 지역 보스까지 무조건 논스톱으로 진행해야 하는 구조는 너무 쓰레기. 그래도 플5로 리마 나오면 또 사서 하겠지.
  14. Mastereed
    Feb 27, 2023
    7
    SOULLESS FATHER

    STARTING THE DEATH CYCLE: Demon's Souls, as the progenitor of modern Souls-Like, launches the foundations that will later be taken up by its heirs. The player is launched as usual within an evocative cutscene that summarizes the entirety of the game world. Due to its simplicity and conciseness it manages to make clear in a few minutes the setting of the world, the main    SOULLESS FATHER

    STARTING THE DEATH CYCLE:
    Demon's Souls, as the progenitor of modern Souls-Like, launches the foundations that will later be taken up by its heirs. The player is launched as usual within an evocative cutscene that summarizes the entirety of the game world. Due to its simplicity and conciseness it manages to make clear in a few minutes the setting of the world, the main enemies, and the protagonist's ultimate goal, to kill all the demons and take their souls. As soon as the cutscene is over, the player will have to dabble in figuring out the mechanics of the game in order to manage not to die in the first few seconds of gameplay. Since there is no explicit tutorial, the early stages of the game are deliberately complex and aimed at making the player understand the target audience and the difficulty they will face. Once the initial gameplay phase is over, one will find oneself in the main hub, from which the real journey begins.

    ENDING THE DEATH CYCLE:
    The gameplay of Demon's Souls is iconic and has created a real genre, the Souls-Like. It is all based on an old-style RPG, relying on a variety of weapons, spells and armors that can give players an immense variety of combinations. This makes the game very replayable and diverse according to the player's style. One of the iconic features of Souls is the difficulty; this is based on a focal point, the dodge, built to be the main method by which a player can go from being annihilated by an enemy to annihilating it. Thanks to the dodge the player can go through virtually any attack, and the amount of invincibility frames vary according to the weight carried by the player; this varies thanks to a mechanic of transportable objects and weight, which will vary according to the amount the speed of the player's movements. Speaking instead of exploration, the game presents 5 routes available upon reaching the central hub, which will provide access to areas completely different from each other. There are also some mechanics exclusive to Demon's Souls, such as the ability to climb over small obstacles, or the tendency mechanic, a value that will vary depending on the player's actions; this value varies between pure white and pure black, and triggers in-game events, such as NPCs, weapons and invaders, depending on the two sides.

    PEERING AN ENEMY FROM AFAR:
    Graphically, Demon's Souls comes across as very dull; the use of unsaturated colors such as gray, green and orange makes the gameplay experience very exhausting and very lackluster. The use of the above colors certainly tends to give an even more pronounced impression of the game's setting, but it often makes the game heavy and tiring, even to the eye. Graphically it is not a gem, there being games released in the same vintage with far more staggeringly detailed graphics. In addition, the design of some bosses often turns out poorly. Animations often result in unnatural and clunky, and it is not uncommon to find many of them repeated for weapons even of different categories.

    “YOU DIED”:
    Audio side the game has two main points, the sound effects and boss OSTs. The sound effects remain iconic to this day and often reused in sequels. As for the OSTs on the other hand, they are still in the early days of what will be seen in Demon's Souls successors, except for a few that are very catchy.
    BUT WHY 7?

    CONS:
    It proves very difficult to be able to critique the father to the Souls genre after completing first the successors and then the original. The feeling one gets from playing it turns out to be that of a test to see if the genre could work, a text that is obviously successful, but that comes across as meager in many of its points. The gameplay often feels monotonous because of the colors used, the very small game areas, with few alternative routes that make exploration more interesting. The use of many of the same or similar animations and the lack of special movesets in weapons makes the choice of one's weaponry a mere DPS value. In-game bosses with more than 3 attacks can be counted on one's fingers and the few bosses with good aesthetics rely on gimmick mechanics (That is based on repeating a monotonous mechanic such as pulling a lever or completing a path by dodging attacks). The game's OSTs, as already discussed, are few and unmemorable, being very short and sparse. Finally, two game-breaking mechanics are present, namely the tendency and the cure grass. As the grass is farmable, it unbalances the game. Tendency, on the other hand, unbalances bad players too much by making them take more damage and good ones to cause more damage.

    PROS:
    Certainly the game's greatest pro is that it has given life to a new genre and tried what no one else had tried before. In addition, the already vast amount of weapons, armor, and the infamous souls lore already makes it a valiant, unfortunately immature title.

    RATING
    Gameplay: 8
    Music: 5
    Story: 8
    Soulness: 7
    _    … Expand
  15. SirL
    Oct 14, 2009
    6
    Being a loooong time swords & sorcery RPG fan...enjoying D&D for near 20 years...and having had a very good time with Diablo...I naturally went into Demon's Souls with some high hopes. I was really hoping to be blown away and get back abit of the gaming magic I felt when I first got hooked on Command and Conquer or Planescape:Torment. Unfortunatly, Demon's Souls is only Being a loooong time swords & sorcery RPG fan...enjoying D&D for near 20 years...and having had a very good time with Diablo...I naturally went into Demon's Souls with some high hopes. I was really hoping to be blown away and get back abit of the gaming magic I felt when I first got hooked on Command and Conquer or Planescape:Torment. Unfortunatly, Demon's Souls is only impressive when compared to other simplistic and watery Console game...and just barely holds a candle to the frenetic imersiveness of Diablo. Demon's Souls is a very well presented bare-bones RPG...while it is 80% repetative reflex-action game, with an annoying-without-being-purposeful sudden death element. The only thing being engaged here is one's hand-eye coordination and patience...then more patience...and still more patience. If you're like me, and were dreaming of a game that might be an improvement on Baldur's Gate 1&2 and Neverwinter Nights 1&2...keep right on dreaming...while you go back online to enjoy some more fan-generated Hardcore Rules NWN...where it's been possible to enjoy richly deep RPG play with a high-risk sudden death element for the last 6 years...for free... Demon's Souls is a fine achievement...if you thought Mario Bros., Halo and Naruto were all there is in the gaming world... Anyone who owns a PC is going to wonder what the fuss is about. Better sword swinging RPGs have been around for decades...and I've never been a fan of reflex-action games - I do that at work every day. Play Demon's Souls if you like eye candy, button mashing and frequent restarts.… Expand
  16. JulienT
    Oct 19, 2009
    6
    (Why is there a slider for Male and Female when creating a character? LOL?) Now, before I start my review, I'd like to say that I'm an action/RPG and action/adventure lover. I've been playing these kinds of games for years. I listened to the hype around me and was intrigued in what was all that fuss about. After sitting next to a friend of mine for a full weekend and (Why is there a slider for Male and Female when creating a character? LOL?) Now, before I start my review, I'd like to say that I'm an action/RPG and action/adventure lover. I've been playing these kinds of games for years. I listened to the hype around me and was intrigued in what was all that fuss about. After sitting next to a friend of mine for a full weekend and analysing this game, I came to a simple conclusion: Overhyped product and brainwashed forum posters. First of all, this game is the most tedious experience you will find in the recent game releases. The gameplay is based around having one or two skills and repeating them tens of thousands of times (without exageration). The enemies are monotonous, the skills are unoriginal and limited in quantity, the enemy AI is simply taken out of an MMORPG (completely dumb, in other words) and the targetting system is the worst I have seen in my past gaming years. You have countless submenus that are just chaotically organized, crippling navigation and effectiveness. The multiplayer elements feel taken out of 1996 and poorly integrated to add very little value to the game. I could go on and on with the negative points about this game, but I'm sure if you read a non-fanboy review, you might get a real opinion of what this game is really about. On the good side, I do have to admit there are a few memorable moments in the game. For instance, having to run past a dragon's breath to avoid becoming roasted humanoid felt unique, not to mention the first time a player invades your game hoping to get a free rez from your death. Gameplay-wise, the upside would have to be the simplistic camera, that always faces forward (mix of shoulder and arcade camera from other adventure games). The melee block / attacks feel right (except the spells) because of their reactivity. The sound seemed OK, although there was a lot of noise in the room while I played the game, so I cannot really comment on this aspect. One important subject I frequently read about is the game's difficulty. I have to agree with some posters that the difficulty is not high in general. It becomes extremely frustrating to die in some situations because of the game's fault, not the player's. There is a big difference between dying because you know you did bad, and because the game just cheap shots you. It happens too often in this game, hence the high number of posts about this issue, I guess. All in all, there are some good ideas that I think the developpers aimed at and missed the bullseye. If you think this game is for you, take my advice (I'm not being paid for this review, I'm doing you a favor :) ), you should rent the game, and if you like it, probably not pay over 30$.… Expand
  17. LesE
    Dec 8, 2009
    6
    Yes i did find it difficult but it was not that the difficulty that warranted this modest score, it was the total lack of story telling depth or character development. With Mass Effect or Dragon Age you come to care for the main charcters and develope an emotional response to the game. The experience is totally imersive. With Oblivion, though the main character was merely a foil to tweak Yes i did find it difficult but it was not that the difficulty that warranted this modest score, it was the total lack of story telling depth or character development. With Mass Effect or Dragon Age you come to care for the main charcters and develope an emotional response to the game. The experience is totally imersive. With Oblivion, though the main character was merely a foil to tweak around with the RPG stats, the sub plots and often immersive storyline supplied a similar emotional response. With this game you are merely presented with a series of vignettes that are, as they say, full of sound and fury......… Expand
  18. SamH
    Oct 8, 2009
    6
    This game is difficult and infuriating on as many levels as possible. You are constantly getting killed and losing all of your money and having to redo the entire level. Also, the combat is extra generic for a hack and slash "RPG". There is very little gore and you dont get that satisfying feeling when you smack the enemy. Its like the fan weapon from super smash bros. In the end they This game is difficult and infuriating on as many levels as possible. You are constantly getting killed and losing all of your money and having to redo the entire level. Also, the combat is extra generic for a hack and slash "RPG". There is very little gore and you dont get that satisfying feeling when you smack the enemy. Its like the fan weapon from super smash bros. In the end they managed to make a mixed up sub-par version of an action and rpg game.… Expand
  19. Todd
    Nov 27, 2009
    6
    The amount of challenge in the game makes it rewarding to finish, but I was left feeling bored at the end due to the story being so watered down and nearly non-existent that I just didn't give a crap what happened. I see lots of people giving this game a 10 because OMG SWEET A HARD GAME FOR ONCE. While it did some things well, I feel like the game was half-baked in a lot of ways. The amount of challenge in the game makes it rewarding to finish, but I was left feeling bored at the end due to the story being so watered down and nearly non-existent that I just didn't give a crap what happened. I see lots of people giving this game a 10 because OMG SWEET A HARD GAME FOR ONCE. While it did some things well, I feel like the game was half-baked in a lot of ways. With the difficulty that was present in the gameplay I expected boss fights to be a lot more difficult and engaging than they actually were. To be brutally honest most of the bosses were a total joke. I think I died maybe 3 times total between all the bosses in the game, which was a heck of a lot less than the amount of times I died up to that point. I was happy to have a game that didn't hold my hand but I feel like there were a lot of little things that should have been improved before sending this game out that would have given me reason to actually give this game a 10.… Expand
  20. ArkonBlade
    Oct 15, 2011
    6
    ok theres a fine line between being a hard game and being a game that dicks you ... and well demon souls dicks you more then it does at being hard. do i mind dieng alot ... no , do i mind having to start back from the begining of a level if i die ... no , do i mind challenging enimies and bosses ... no . but what i do mind is that when i die my life bar gets cut in HALF! and if i dieok theres a fine line between being a hard game and being a game that dicks you ... and well demon souls dicks you more then it does at being hard. do i mind dieng alot ... no , do i mind having to start back from the begining of a level if i die ... no , do i mind challenging enimies and bosses ... no . but what i do mind is that when i die my life bar gets cut in HALF! and if i die before i get back to where i died before to reclaim my souls they are gone too . i mean i was already penalised bad enough by having to start over again and loosing all my health items to get that far and now i cant buy more since i lost all my souls, i mean the game is kinda fun and looks pretty good . the combat is pretty simplistic the story is ok . its not story heavy by any means . its also neat that people can leave messages to warn you aboiut dangers ahead as well but why is it set up for being online at all times? i prefer to play my RPG"s solo and if i want some one to join i should have the option of turning it online or off. this game also wouldnt have hurt its self by adding a difficulty option . i mean i like challanging games ive played plenty and beat them like kings field and others iif you want a game that kicks you in the balls over and over again then demon souls is for you .thankfully i bought this only for $20 new and almost but dark souls first . i would have wasted $60 if i did. id advise if you are still thinking about getting this game rent it first or buy it cheap to be sure you will get into what i just mentioned.… Expand
  21. Iyunzusto
    Oct 14, 2011
    6
    Should you buy this game? Is that why you're reading this? If so, yes, it's worth the money - but only because it's cheap now. There's a lot about Demon's Souls that is beautiful, even memorable. Some of the set pieces are awesome, and the grim dark styling is refreshing in a sea of cutesy characters and colourful UI design. So what's the problem? You will never, ever see this game on theShould you buy this game? Is that why you're reading this? If so, yes, it's worth the money - but only because it's cheap now. There's a lot about Demon's Souls that is beautiful, even memorable. Some of the set pieces are awesome, and the grim dark styling is refreshing in a sea of cutesy characters and colourful UI design. So what's the problem? You will never, ever see this game on the PC - because with decent controls, this game would be a complete pushover. Yes, the game presents a challenge, but if you're honest, you'll realise that 50% or more of the challenge comes from the controls. Some parts are broken - you'll see what they are especially if you're a magic user. But really, a console controller just doesn't suit a game where the slightest error results in death. It's like giving a baseball bat to a tennis player and asking them how hard it is to play a match. Overall though, it's a great production, and enjoyable, but the more you play it the less satisfying and fun it gets, as you realise more with every moment that you're not fighting the monsters, you're fighting the dual shock.… Expand
  22. kitsoon
    Aug 25, 2011
    6
    You die in this game, a lot. The difficulty was definitely a challenge, I wouldn't really say fun though. Maybe I'm a person who likes to be easily satisfied, I dunno. The story is kind of lacking in this game. You don't play as a main character but one of many who have come to slay the demons, which personally I don't like. I did like they had extremely hard enemies that you knew that youYou die in this game, a lot. The difficulty was definitely a challenge, I wouldn't really say fun though. Maybe I'm a person who likes to be easily satisfied, I dunno. The story is kind of lacking in this game. You don't play as a main character but one of many who have come to slay the demons, which personally I don't like. I did like they had extremely hard enemies that you knew that you wouldn't be able to beat at the time (or ever) so you would have to avoid them. There's not a lot of interesting people to talk to just a lot of fairly uninteresting demons to slay. I beat the first boss and returned it, wasn't for me.… Expand
  23. DBZ19
    Nov 25, 2011
    6
    I'm unsure about this game. The general consensus was that this game is difficult beyond reason and i'd agree. If you actually thought about it you don't do much you move forward, when you encounter an enemy you block then wait for an opening then attack, easy right? and it is there isn't any puzzles either. What really does get to me is we have now moved on from then ancient ways of dyingI'm unsure about this game. The general consensus was that this game is difficult beyond reason and i'd agree. If you actually thought about it you don't do much you move forward, when you encounter an enemy you block then wait for an opening then attack, easy right? and it is there isn't any puzzles either. What really does get to me is we have now moved on from then ancient ways of dying and starting from the beginning and even then you'd get check points and life, but in this you don't. I'm up for a challenge but come on your telling me i'n not allowed to even pause this game, RUBBISH.
    I'm a 27 year old male, who works full time and i have two young sons. So when i get in i spend some time with them and then (because if you don't she'll start moaning) i spend some time with the missus. When i'm finished my "duties" then i get a bit of gaming in, which may i add is around 9pm. so when i switch my PS3 on i want to play something thats going to help me escape the stresses of, DEMON'S SOULS will not. I'm already frustrated so i don't need that from a video game. For me this game is for people who doesn't have the responsibilities i have and can pour countless hours into it. When i play a video game i want to feel like i'm progressing, if i don't feel like that whats the point.

    well i gave this game a 6 because even with all its faults i still enjoyed the experience upto my current position. If i'm honest i won't complete it purely because i have other games that will reward me for progressing and and sticking to it.    … Expand
  24. mrnice
    Feb 1, 2015
    6
    Dark Souls improved on the world-building a lot, so I'd recommend that game as the one 'Souls' series game to play. But there are a few reasons to pick Demon's Souls over DS II: tighter combat and levels, so you waste less time walking from A to B. Unlike DS II, this game was directed by the series' inventor Hidetaka Miyazaki, and a lot of Dark Souls II just pasted ideas that wereDark Souls improved on the world-building a lot, so I'd recommend that game as the one 'Souls' series game to play. But there are a few reasons to pick Demon's Souls over DS II: tighter combat and levels, so you waste less time walking from A to B. Unlike DS II, this game was directed by the series' inventor Hidetaka Miyazaki, and a lot of Dark Souls II just pasted ideas that were originally designed for this specific game. Demon's Souls feels more self-contained, with a more mysterious and 'legendary' feeling atmosphere. The level design feels instantly classic. The bosses feel like inventions of a visionary director, whereas in DS II, they sometimes feel like 'jobs' that some designer had to make.

    I instantly replayed the first level on New Game+, whereas in Dark Souls II, it felt like navigating the game world was too much of a chore, and not worth traversing if you already had checked it out. Everything in Demon's Souls feels like a SNES-classic-style level with constant encounters and challenges, with very few filler moments.

    The reason I still don't call the game 'great' is because the most challenging parts required me to do things that weren't fun at all. Like, using obscure spells, or just trying 10 times to count on luck or whatever. There were many moments where I thought "This is a 6/10 game, it's exactly like Dark Souls but tighter and more retro in its linear design, I preferred Dark Souls... it's like Dark Souls 0.5".

    I didn't follow the story, but the ending was my favorite of the three 'Souls' games, as it had its own location and felt like it took a few minutes to round off the story, rather than end with one boss and then go to credits.
    Overall, a good-quality game, but it's rarely pleasant to play. But I guess that's the point.    … Expand
  25. 3Potatoteers
    Dec 13, 2015
    6
    Again I rate this game based on Dark Souls. I heard many praises about Demon's Souls, and I wanna check Dark Souls' predecessor, but it turns out very disappointing.
    - Frame rate issues. The frame drops so dramatically sometimes my eyes are hurt.
    - Grass. Compared to Estus Flask this is just not good enough. Besides, you get less grasses when your World Tendency turns toward black. So    Again I rate this game based on Dark Souls. I heard many praises about Demon's Souls, and I wanna check Dark Souls' predecessor, but it turns out very disappointing.
    - Frame rate issues. The frame drops so dramatically sometimes my eyes are hurt.
    - Grass. Compared to Estus Flask this is just not good enough. Besides, you get less grasses when your World Tendency turns toward black. So basically the enemies are stronger, your health are less, and grass are more scarce. So what happened when you are out of grasses when die repeated? You farm... And remember don't get killed twice!
    - Lack of checkpoint, aka, bonefire. Unlike Dark Souls, in Demon's Souls you only get a bonefire after killed a boss in an archstone. This makes the adventure less rewarding and enthusiastic. No more well hidden bonefires, which when you find, it is worth it, you are making progress.
    - Hard to run pass enemies to challenge the boss only. Force to do tedious work over and over.
    - Lack of non-respawn enemies. In Dark Souls, some enemies don't respawn, like the boar, black knight, poison dart guy, necromancer. they can be tough, but when you made it, you don't have to do it again, you are making progress, it feel rewarding.
    - Due to the lack of healing methods and non-respawn enemies, the bosses are not that hard. I mean, if the 4-1 boss are as hard as Four Kings or Ornstain & Smough, I will give up on Demon's Souls. It is way too hard to reach the boss yet the boss are too easy, I don't feel the satisfaction as I feel in Dark Souls.
    - Rare stone can only be found by killing lizards yet the lizards only respawn certain times per play-through. Okay the game doesn't reward me for killing enemies but punishes me for missing lizards so I can never have a +5 Moon weapon? In Dark Souls you find rare stones hidden deep in some area, and the lizards only provide some extra stones so you don't have to farm souls to buy, and they respawn as many times as you wish. This is beautiful design.
    - The lore is not as elegant as Dark Souls. Reading item description and find hidden dialog can be really fun in Dark Souls. But Demon's Souls doesn't provide that from where I stand.
    - World Tendency really sucks. When you are killed in human form, the world tendency -1, and only by killing a demon(boss) the world tendency +1(Archdemon +3). This is not fair at all. If your world turns black, you suffer more health penalty in soul form, enemies hit hard and have more hp, and they drop less grasses. It feels like the game punishes you so hard, when you get rewarded, it feels like nothing at all. Basically you have to commit suicide in Nexus, use the cling ring, and play in PWWT unless you wanna farm rare stone or kill named black phantoms.
    - The doll boss is waaay too cryptic. Basically you don't kill NPCs in this game unless you know what you are doing. How on earth am I supposed to know I have to kill an NPC to kill the doll? After all the suffering of 3-1, the game designer decides to punish you further by fighting a boss in vain. Do I feel satisfied when finally killed the doll? Well I don't, I feel sick and finished world 3 last. Say Big hat is actually a primatial crystal and you have to kill it to beat Seth, will you feel satisfied?

    I am glad Demon's Souls has a terrific successor, the one and only, Dark Souls.    … Expand
  26. objectivelytrue
    Dec 10, 2015
    6
    I liked it, but this is easily worst Souls game. More than half of the bosses are pathetic gimmicks, magic isn't an interesting alternative because it ruins the game, only a few weapons worth using and some that destroy any challenge the game posed, a childish and generic fantasy story and setting. Worst of all, the idiotic invasion mechanics that force you to let other people hijack yourI liked it, but this is easily worst Souls game. More than half of the bosses are pathetic gimmicks, magic isn't an interesting alternative because it ruins the game, only a few weapons worth using and some that destroy any challenge the game posed, a childish and generic fantasy story and setting. Worst of all, the idiotic invasion mechanics that force you to let other people hijack your game and connection to grief you. I joined the game late, so I was harassed constantly by cookie-cutter pvp builds until I turned off the internet connection. I played Ultima Online, Darkfall, DayZ, but I just don't feel that the PvP fits into the game's design.

    Poorly designed and okay-ishly executed, the main reason this game succeeded was hype and exclusivity to the PS3.    … Expand
  27. wwwzzzzz
    Nov 10, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. just so so.................................................................… Expand
  28. aaronnmp96
    Jul 22, 2023
    6
    It has taken me a long time to play this game, I have passed the trilogy of dark Souls, Bloodborne and elden Ring, honestly, go for the remake, this game is too outdated and I have not been able to enjoy it. The game lag is horrible, it's too dark. The gameplay is very good, although the bosses are too easy, the levels are challenging, although perhaps too unfair. It's way below Dark SoulsIt has taken me a long time to play this game, I have passed the trilogy of dark Souls, Bloodborne and elden Ring, honestly, go for the remake, this game is too outdated and I have not been able to enjoy it. The game lag is horrible, it's too dark. The gameplay is very good, although the bosses are too easy, the levels are challenging, although perhaps too unfair. It's way below Dark Souls 1, he had very good ideas but he didn't give them the budget. Only recommended for true fans of Souls.… Expand
  29. BeauE
    Oct 15, 2009
    5
    Sam H.'s comments are exactly correct. It is pretty, but it is not an RPG, it is a platformer/fighting game. Quests/puzzles are nonexistent. Not being able to sell loot makes most of it pointless. Not being able to bank any of your souls (gold) is more than irritating. Combat is pure hack and slash without combo attacks. My feeling about restarting each level after each death went Sam H.'s comments are exactly correct. It is pretty, but it is not an RPG, it is a platformer/fighting game. Quests/puzzles are nonexistent. Not being able to sell loot makes most of it pointless. Not being able to bank any of your souls (gold) is more than irritating. Combat is pure hack and slash without combo attacks. My feeling about restarting each level after each death went from ok this is hard to this is ridiculous. If you think that changing a game's level of difficulty enhances a mediocre game, then by all means this is for you. For me a $5 steak at a fancy restaurant is still a $5 steak.… Expand
  30. ChuckP
    Oct 18, 2009
    5
    This game was a blast, for about the first 20 hours. Then it felt like the entire game was based around grinding levels so you could become powerful enough to have a chance at defeating the next boss. The combat seems deep and complicated at first with a brutal learning curve, but once you've learned what does and doesn't work combat falls flat with only a few basic moves to This game was a blast, for about the first 20 hours. Then it felt like the entire game was based around grinding levels so you could become powerful enough to have a chance at defeating the next boss. The combat seems deep and complicated at first with a brutal learning curve, but once you've learned what does and doesn't work combat falls flat with only a few basic moves to use. Online is the one shining feature of the game with innovative features, I especially enjoyed the option of summoning a fellow adventurer to help with difficult battles. If you like grinding levels repeatedly for hours on end then this game can be rewarding. For when you do finally level up enough to defeat the boss you've had your eye on you feel like you've accomplished something. This game is only for people that enjoy a long repetitive adventure. Otherwise look elsewhere for a more enjoyable experience.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best PS3 Game of 2009
2
#2 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009
2
#2 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 81 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 81
  3. Negative: 0 out of 81
  1. Cynamite
    85
    Demon's Souls: Unbelievably hard and unbelievably satisfying at the same time. If you accomplish to get through your initial rage attacks, you will experience an outstanding action-RPG with a tense and dark atmosphere.
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  2. Telegraph
    100
    Beyond the initial threat of difficulty there waits a remarkable combination of accessibility and challenge, of risk and reward, punishment and empowerment.
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  3. Eurogamer
    90
    It's stoic, uncompromising, difficult to get to know, but also deep, intriguingly disturbed and perversely rewarding. You can learn to love Demon's Souls like few other games in the world. But only if you're prepared to give yourself over to it. [JPN Import]
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