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. alexaxa
    Oct 30, 2012
    9
    This game is definitely not for everyone. It's hard, it's unforgiving but i liked it very much ! I have finished it more than 3 times ! One of my best ps3 game !
  2. MAS360
    Nov 15, 2012
    10
    Though there are a lot of glitches in the game, you will spend plentyof hours with your friends and others going throught the levels and getting the best weapons. Graphics are perfect for this game and gameplay is also good. A nice take on a RPG.
  3. Daverost
    Nov 18, 2012
    9
    Gameplay - 10/10. Graphics - 10/10. Sound - 6.5/10. Overall - 8.8/10. It
  4. Skals
    Jan 6, 2013
    9
    What's great about Demon's Souls is that it always gives you a choice of what you'd like to do. There are so many things to do, and the game never forces you to travel down a single linear path. The only downside to the game may be that some enemies are slightly imbalanced, and it is also possible for you to screw up your play-through and be forced to restart. But even after restarting theWhat's great about Demon's Souls is that it always gives you a choice of what you'd like to do. There are so many things to do, and the game never forces you to travel down a single linear path. The only downside to the game may be that some enemies are slightly imbalanced, and it is also possible for you to screw up your play-through and be forced to restart. But even after restarting the game twice, I still felt like defeating some of the bosses I'd already killed, just to progress to the very end. It was a fun experience throughout.… Expand
  5. rubns
    Jan 29, 2013
    10
    O jogo foi uma descoberta incrível de um sistema muito divertido de se jogar. Indo na contra mão de todos os grandes jogos lançados, a dificuldade é sua maior marca. Me fez gastar muitas e muitas horas de puro prazer até conquistar a platina.
  6. zeone222
    Oct 16, 2013
    9
    I've played some difficult games lately, but this is on a whole different level. This is not a negative thing, and I feel like you'd have to play it to understand the depth of this statement It's a beautifully crafted game that demands your undivided attention and forces you to recall gamer skills that you proably haven't used in more than a decade
  7. thepatient613
    Feb 16, 2016
    10
    I'm used to fighting my way through games fairly easily. Well it isn't the case with this one. I could only dream of beating this game one day. It is the Dragon's Lair of our generation. Absolutely everything you do will be terrifying and you will cringe to the point where you'll want to crouch and hide yourself in a dark corner. What can I say? It's the best RPG game of any kind ever madeI'm used to fighting my way through games fairly easily. Well it isn't the case with this one. I could only dream of beating this game one day. It is the Dragon's Lair of our generation. Absolutely everything you do will be terrifying and you will cringe to the point where you'll want to crouch and hide yourself in a dark corner. What can I say? It's the best RPG game of any kind ever made of all time! Even beating the first boss feels like a huge achievement. Unless they make a game that delivers a non-stop orgasm I don't think there will ever be a true competitor.… Expand
  8. bluesoulreaper
    Nov 29, 2013
    9
    Demon's Souls is not a game that I would recommend for those with little patience and a big temper; however, if those qualities do not apply to the individual then this game is highly enjoyable and very rewarding. The game-play is very well crafted and easy to master. The rpg elements such as leveling, stores, and diverse enemies (with the exclusion of a strong story) are build upon aDemon's Souls is not a game that I would recommend for those with little patience and a big temper; however, if those qualities do not apply to the individual then this game is highly enjoyable and very rewarding. The game-play is very well crafted and easy to master. The rpg elements such as leveling, stores, and diverse enemies (with the exclusion of a strong story) are build upon a solid foundation. The reason many are strongly attracted to this game is because of the high difficultly of it. Even the weakest of enemies in this game will kill you regardless of your level. This game promotes caution and rewards those who are persistent in their efforts with greater rewards. This game also has a new game plus mode though it doesn't appear in the main menu (you automatically start again after beating the game). With the plus mode the game's difficulty increases from 100% to 240% and then continues to increase by 40% after each playthrough. This is essentially the COD multiplayer of the rgs, nearly the same thing every time but far more rewarding and satisfying if can endure the everlasting agony of always dying.… Expand
  9. iddqd4
    Mar 16, 2018
    8
    Может быть я когда-нибудь осилю эту игру, хотя кого я обманываю. (
  10. 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
  11. naiski
    Sep 19, 2013
    10
    A breath of fresh air for the “non-casual” gamer.
    Nowadays most game developers' target audience is the “casual gamer”.
    The casual gamer is like a normal human being, except incredibly stupid. The casual gamer has the patience and mental capacity of a four-year-old. When presented with a choice, such as two possible paths, and not provided blatant evidence implying the consequences of    A breath of fresh air for the “non-casual” gamer.
    Nowadays most game developers' target audience is the “casual gamer”.
    The casual gamer is like a normal human being, except incredibly stupid. The casual gamer has the patience and mental capacity of a four-year-old. When presented with a choice, such as two possible paths, and not provided blatant evidence implying the consequences of each path in advance, the casual gamer will panic. They will begin to foaming at the mouth, shaking violently, and sobbing. If the casual gamer encounters a challenge and fails, they do not learn from their failure. They will continue trying to employ the same strategy, and failing, until they grow old and die, because the casual gamer lacks the basic human facilities to recognize signals and patterns that are necessary for human beings to exist and function in the world.
    Demon's Souls is not made for the casual gamer. If you're sick and tired of excessive hand holding, objective markers, shallow can't-go-wrong builds, constant cinematics, linearity, typical multiplayer mechanics, and general lack of difficulty, look no further. This is a game made for gamers who can learn from their mistakes and enjoy a challenge. It's also one of the most innovative and unique games ever conceived. It's developers like From Software that keep gaming alive for those of us with brains.    … Expand
  12. Akanzeru
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    There simply aren't any other RPGs out there like this one. It's an absolute masterpiece when it comes to almost every aspect of the game. It is really hard to go back and play a regular hack and slash game after playing Demon's Souls.
  13. JudgeMathew
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    Welcome back to the eighties? Demon's Souls is a definite return to the challenging aspects of video games which was quite common among the Nintendo Entertainment System. The whole "trial and error" game-play is where Demon's Souls stands out in comparison to the majority of current video games. While there is a noticeable lack of content based on role-playing game standards, there's stillWelcome back to the eighties? Demon's Souls is a definite return to the challenging aspects of video games which was quite common among the Nintendo Entertainment System. The whole "trial and error" game-play is where Demon's Souls stands out in comparison to the majority of current video games. While there is a noticeable lack of content based on role-playing game standards, there's still a lot to do and a lot to replay due to the revolutionary online and the ability to create different builds to play throughout the game over and over again.… Expand
  14. Dachman
    Jun 8, 2020
    10
    I've played the game after Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 and can say for sure this game is more Dark Souls than Dark Souls 2. One of the best games of the 7th generation and one of the top five on PS3. Highly recommended.
  15. Heremis
    Dec 31, 2013
    10
    This is system-seller for Ps3 and one of the best games of this generation. Very deep, very classy and very oldschool: we want more games today like this! :)
    It's a '90s RPG with '10s graphics, so difficult, so "it makes me a psychopath" game, but totally awesome and fresh in today's "more action than RPG" RPG's. :)
    I
    WANT
    MORE!!!
    :D
  16. Turbodowg
    Aug 11, 2016
    10
    A phenomenal game, full of atmosphere.

    The best in the souls series. Still looks great in 2016 and plays beautifully. Brilliant level design, graphics, game play and musical score.

    A perfect game.
  17. Zulos
    Apr 12, 2014
    10
    This game is really weird at first with the super derpy, greasy character creation but afterwards it proves to be an amazing game with great scenery, unique looking monsters, and really cool equipment. This game has a different feel about it in comparison to both Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, it just feels fun and interesting throughout the entire game. Now the PvE is really nice and theThis game is really weird at first with the super derpy, greasy character creation but afterwards it proves to be an amazing game with great scenery, unique looking monsters, and really cool equipment. This game has a different feel about it in comparison to both Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, it just feels fun and interesting throughout the entire game. Now the PvE is really nice and the NG+ difficulty is good too but, the PvP can be very one sided when it comes to fight a mage with tons of buffs that can just one-shot you or a cleric with mountains of regeneration flipping around with a great axe constantly hitting you without a chance of you winning, but other then that the PvP is pretty fun.… Expand
  18. Hi_Im_Game
    Jun 21, 2014
    10
    I almost feel ashamed that I am just now playing this game. This is a masterpiece and it's been a long time since I really felt challenged in a game. The environments are amazing with a hopeless feeling to them. There is so much to do and so many different ways to play this game that you can keep coming back to this game over and over. There are times when I get frustrated with this gameI almost feel ashamed that I am just now playing this game. This is a masterpiece and it's been a long time since I really felt challenged in a game. The environments are amazing with a hopeless feeling to them. There is so much to do and so many different ways to play this game that you can keep coming back to this game over and over. There are times when I get frustrated with this game but it's usually because I try to rush a part and pay for it with my souls.

    The game requires patience (which many people lack these days) but it really does require skill as well. If you want a challenge, try this game out. You will not be disappointed.    … Expand
  19. 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
  20. MoozipanCheese
    Oct 21, 2014
    8
    The first entry into From Software's Souls series, Demon's Souls, is an impressive RPG that has gained a reputation for being very difficult - so much so that this perceived difficulty basically has to be mentioned every time the Souls series is discussed. Certainly, the game unfortunately doesn't do its best to introduce new players into it (which some may consider a positive), but onceThe first entry into From Software's Souls series, Demon's Souls, is an impressive RPG that has gained a reputation for being very difficult - so much so that this perceived difficulty basically has to be mentioned every time the Souls series is discussed. Certainly, the game unfortunately doesn't do its best to introduce new players into it (which some may consider a positive), but once you do understand the nuance of its combat, how to manage stamina and when to block attacks or roll through them, how to progress through the game, etc., it becomes a quite-brilliant game.

    The story here is minimal, with the pretense basically being to put an end to a demon attack. The enjoyment comes from the adventure: moving through its five varied Worlds and defeating its large diversity of bosses. The level and enemy design is top-notch, and the variety of weapons, armour, and magic in the game genuinely encourage extra playthroughs with different characters. Aside from a few boss fights and annoying moments, I found its difficulty very manageable - I didn't die too often once I took my time and played the game the way it wanted me to play, and by no means is it the hardest game I've ever played.

    Demon's Souls biggest flaw, especially after playing its sequel Dark Souls, is its health system. In order to heal yourself in this game, you must consume Moon Grass. While doing this, your character remains completely defenseless for a brief period, which can provide fittingly tense moments when an enemy is quickly closing the distance or about to attack; while this is a strength, the problem lies in if you die, your Moon Grass is not restored (unlike Estus in the aforementioned Dark Souls). Depending on how skilled you are at the game, this could create a potentially monotonous grind if you find yourself failing again and again and run out, which is a very real possibility when fighting the Flamelurker and the Maneaters boss fights.

    If you want to get the most out of the game, you'll most likely have to make heavy use of the Internet and the Demon's Souls wiki, because as previously mentioned the game just doesn't explain its mechanics very well - and while this is acceptable when the player can figure it out on their own, at times it can be frustrating when the game makes no effort to explain itself (such as Character and World Tendency, for example).

    There's a lot of depth here, provided you're willing to put in the time to get into it. At times, the game subverts your expectations to great effect (for example, the final boss of the Valley of Defilement) and, while some people may merely consider this game a stepping stone to the arguably greater Dark Souls, Demon's Souls is worth any moderately skilled gamer's time, so long as they have patience and can tolerate the early game's vagueness.    … Expand
  21. JAubrey
    Sep 21, 2014
    9
    El primero de la saga y el mejor. Vino de tapado, sin hype ninguno y es indescriptible las sensaciones que me produjo al jugarlo. Las satisfacciones que te da al ir superando monstruos finales son inmensas. Uno de mis favoritos de la ya pasada generación, una joya atemporal. No probarlo por lo menos un pecado para cualquier hardcore gamer.
  22. Sephiroth_X
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    Heheheh i remember how much thought i gave to getting this game, the legendary difficulty was a little intimidating and overall saw both nice and bad reviews about it.

    Yes, the game's hard, but not impossible, everyone with patience and dedication can beat it eventually. This has to be my favorite souls encarnation, all 3 of them so far are incredible, but always go back to this one,    Heheheh i remember how much thought i gave to getting this game, the legendary difficulty was a little intimidating and overall saw both nice and bad reviews about it.

    Yes, the game's hard, but not impossible, everyone with patience and dedication can beat it eventually.

    This has to be my favorite souls encarnation, all 3 of them so far are incredible, but always go back to this one, thanks to the story (by far the best by a BIG margin) characters and level design. The difficult here seems more "intelligent" than in dark souls and surely than dk2. This game is way shorter than them but thats not a bad thing at all, is cool for frequent replays. The boletaria castle area is one of the best levels ive played in my life, is a testament of the imagination of the creators,it can be said they had great fun in doing it.
    This is also the darkest of the souls games, is unbeatable, even if dk world is bigger and nicer overall.

    One of the best games of its generations, in my top10 of ps3 for sure, never played it but played the other souls games? GET THIS NOW.
    Is almost perfect.    … Expand
  23. Tanis70
    Dec 5, 2014
    5
    Frustrating, boring. It's like Dragon's Lair, with more freedom, 20 years later. Stunning graphics, unforgiving gameplay, storyline... let's just say Dragon's Lair had a better storyline.
    I'll pass, but I can understand that if for you videogaming is a test of reflexes, might be a game for you.
  24. 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.
  25. HopelessVoice
    Jun 2, 2016
    10
    The Souls game I like the most. The only thing I can think of that surpasses it, in my book, is the vertical level design of the first Dark Souls, but even then, Demon's feels more brutal and suffocating. There's just something about having to make your way through the levels only to arrive at a boss that wipes the floor with your body, and having to restart from the beginning. The bossesThe Souls game I like the most. The only thing I can think of that surpasses it, in my book, is the vertical level design of the first Dark Souls, but even then, Demon's feels more brutal and suffocating. There's just something about having to make your way through the levels only to arrive at a boss that wipes the floor with your body, and having to restart from the beginning. The bosses were perhaps a little easier overall compared to the later entries, but in a way it didn't matter, as the journey there was almost as terrifying as the boss itself. I think it's the only game that really made palms sweaty as I realized that I just cleared a long level and had 15k souls on me. The co-op feature was also much more tame and toned down back then. The overall atmosphere was really dreamy and haunting, quite nothing I'd seen since the first Diablo in terms of haunting atmosphere. One of my all time favorites for sure.… Expand
  26. Termin8ter
    Feb 29, 2016
    8
    Demon's Souls is the first chapter in the Dark Souls series, so if you want to get caught up in terms in preparation for Dark Souls III, then you need to play through this game first. The gameplay is just as unforgiving as it's sequels, it's story is interesting and a challenge to play through. The only problem is that FromSoftware still haven't remastered this game for PS4, so if you wantDemon's Souls is the first chapter in the Dark Souls series, so if you want to get caught up in terms in preparation for Dark Souls III, then you need to play through this game first. The gameplay is just as unforgiving as it's sequels, it's story is interesting and a challenge to play through. The only problem is that FromSoftware still haven't remastered this game for PS4, so if you want to play through this game, you'll have to break out your dusty PS3. Even so, Demon's Souls is a worthy prequel to the Dark Souls series, and a challenging game too.… Expand
  27. 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
  28. Hardgames
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    Positive:
    - Difficulty and Complexity;
    - Great Atmosphere;
    - Enemies and worlds Design;
    - Multiplayer;
    - Gameplay Style;
    - Tutorial boss;
    Negative:
    - Some Disappointing Battles;
    - Bugs;
  29. LusioZero
    Dec 10, 2015
    10
    This masterpiece has been truly understood and appreciated after some years. This is not a saga for everybody and the first chapter hits really hard. But once the initial difficulty is over, you can enjoy an amazing atmosphere, an outstanding combat system, levels, scenarios, boss and situations which are really beyond any expectation. Still incredible after 7 years, like only masterpiecesThis masterpiece has been truly understood and appreciated after some years. This is not a saga for everybody and the first chapter hits really hard. But once the initial difficulty is over, you can enjoy an amazing atmosphere, an outstanding combat system, levels, scenarios, boss and situations which are really beyond any expectation. Still incredible after 7 years, like only masterpieces do. A must for a true gamer in terms of challenge.… Expand
  30. 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
  31. NessNoldo
    Jun 14, 2022
    0
    Overrated game and saga. Frustrating gameplay instead of fun. The most capricious and pedantic games I have faced, labeled as "hard" when, at least with this title, is just a game with modern gaming features removed to add an unfair difficulty. You can't save when you like. There is no checkpoints. You can't pause, even if the controller runs out of battery, you are served to the enemies.Overrated game and saga. Frustrating gameplay instead of fun. The most capricious and pedantic games I have faced, labeled as "hard" when, at least with this title, is just a game with modern gaming features removed to add an unfair difficulty. You can't save when you like. There is no checkpoints. You can't pause, even if the controller runs out of battery, you are served to the enemies. Camera is crap, trophies are too much tedious and annoying to bare for a completion and the game is plain to be made to kill you. If you die you must run all the way back, kill all the enemies again to recover your souls (currency of the game and somehow the experience to make you stronger), because if you die again without recovering, all that progression is lost, just like your time. This game is a total waste of time and the fanbase is just as annoying as the very game. When you try to heal, you can't run or walk at the same time, instead, your character stops and stay there by 2 seconds where your enemies can rape you. I don't know why this saga is considered a big deal, because this is not real difficulty if you have all the modern features ripped off. How is supposed to be fun a game that need you to explore but then it punish you to do so? Is like a bad joke.… Expand
  32. nextgengameflop
    Nov 8, 2016
    10
    This game is undoubtably one of my favorite single player games. The atmosphere present in each of the worlds is captivating and the main reason why I still come back to play this game even after all these years. Tower of Latria and Shrine of Storms are my two favorite areas in gaming.

    The performance, however, is the main flaw of the game which I'm hopeful a remake or remaster will    This game is undoubtably one of my favorite single player games. The atmosphere present in each of the worlds is captivating and the main reason why I still come back to play this game even after all these years. Tower of Latria and Shrine of Storms are my two favorite areas in gaming.

    The performance, however, is the main flaw of the game which I'm hopeful a remake or remaster will solve with a higher budget someday. Demon's Souls is not very impressive technologically and as a result frame drops and loading times plague this game. The animations, hitboxes, weapons and rings are not as polished as they are in later souls games and there are tons of balancing issues that break the pvp and multiplayer aspect for some players.    … Expand
  33. Pedobear987
    Apr 16, 2016
    10
    Me encanta este juego y me hizo volver a mi época de la infancia con videojuegos difíciles, pero sin embargo yo empece con Dark Souls 2 y la diferencia ente ambos no evidentes, si queréis meteros de lleno en la saga Souls empezad con Dark Souls 2 y luego Demon's Souls consejo de mi parte.
  34. amateurcritic2
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Like all souls games its only for some people but im part of those people. Back wheen it first came out i borrowed itfrom a friend and i wasnt ready but i still enjoyed it. You also have to understand that most complaints about the game where intended that way because the story is meat to be mysterious the game is meant to be very hard to try and break you but if you can get into itsits aLike all souls games its only for some people but im part of those people. Back wheen it first came out i borrowed itfrom a friend and i wasnt ready but i still enjoyed it. You also have to understand that most complaints about the game where intended that way because the story is meat to be mysterious the game is meant to be very hard to try and break you but if you can get into itsits a great game. However my twocomplaint is the terrible last boss and some areas and bosses are unpleasant and not fun to go through… Expand
  35. Lewis-Angelo
    Sep 22, 2020
    10
    el mejor juego de su generación

    pionero y artífice de todo un género

    juego de culto
  36. devdocuments
    Sep 19, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Demon's Souls is one of the most successful fusions good level design, enemy design and world design in a game to date. As an rpg it takes player choice and agency very seriously, the world has lore hidden in it's item descriptions for those who are interested and every npc is both interact able and killable. As an action game the major enemies of each stage have a brilliant synergy to them, take for example the skeletons from shrine of storms which have quite low range with their falchions but have good mobility they roll all over the place in an attempt to dodge the player and they stun in order to keep you on your toes. Compare them to the red eye knights of boletaria, which rarely dodge, but rather hold up their shields defensively and wait for an opening to attack. This along with level design with some of the best enemy placement in history and some of the most enjoyable area's to explore and you have a game that comes close to perfection. Unfortunately the development time allotted for this game leads to unfinished bosses like the dragon god, and enemies that could have had more thought put into them such as Giant Bearbugs in stone fang tunnel. Altogether though the game isn't one that is soon to be forgotten and stands as the best game I have ever played. To find out more about the level design of demon's souls, check out my website http://devdocuments.com/ And if you have any insights to video game design or analysis, feel free to post an article, thank you… Expand
  37. eva3si0n
    Jun 10, 2023
    9
    Few games can give. emotions like Demon's Souls. I've never been a fan of Souls-like games, but decided to try it from the first part of the series. And it's just amazing. It's a pity, of course, that Demon's Souls remained exclusive to PS3, so more players would meet it. Great gameplay and a wonderful atmosphere of dark fantasy. The complexity of the gameplay is frightening at first, butFew games can give. emotions like Demon's Souls. I've never been a fan of Souls-like games, but decided to try it from the first part of the series. And it's just amazing. It's a pity, of course, that Demon's Souls remained exclusive to PS3, so more players would meet it. Great gameplay and a wonderful atmosphere of dark fantasy. The complexity of the gameplay is frightening at first, but then you pull. And now you already accept every death as a challenge. A great start to the series.… Expand
  38. shenkenhigh
    Jan 12, 2023
    10
    What a great, magnificent introduction to Souls Universe. 1 Word for this, and it describes everything. Outstanding.
  39. Armin4
    Jan 15, 2023
    10
    a true gem
    it did not age well after 13 years but still i enjoy playing it
    among all the soulsborne series it was the easiest
  40. 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.
  41. Gabitoxico
    Nov 10, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Joya de SONY. Realmente me encantó el juego. FASCINANTE LA AMBIENTACIÓN Y LA JUGABILIDAD… Expand
  42. DrAMaximus
    Aug 29, 2023
    9
    Когда после многих часов в других соулсах начинаешь знакомиться с душами демонов, то подсознательно сравниваешь их с более поздними играми поджанра, из за чего ощущаешь едкий запах архаики во всём. Однако, чтобы по настоящему понять значение этой игры, следует обратиться к ранним проектам фромов, а именно king's field и shadow tower. Тогда становиться понятен масштаб радикальных изменений,Когда после многих часов в других соулсах начинаешь знакомиться с душами демонов, то подсознательно сравниваешь их с более поздними играми поджанра, из за чего ощущаешь едкий запах архаики во всём. Однако, чтобы по настоящему понять значение этой игры, следует обратиться к ранним проектам фромов, а именно king's field и shadow tower. Тогда становиться понятен масштаб радикальных изменений, которые привнёс Миядзакич: вид от третьего лица, таргетная боёвка, кувырки, парирования и многое другое. Эта игра буквально делит историю студии from software на до и после. Соулсы начинаются именно здесь, несмотря на то что база для них разрабатывалась фромами с 1994 года.

    Но даже в отрыве от исторического контекста, души демонов ещё могут удивить, ведь игра наполнена неким духом эксперимента: странные и символические битвы с боссами, всякие чудные идеи вроде тенденций и интересное смешение разных стилей. И всё это под очень самобытный саундтрек, состоящий из завывания апокалиптических дудок и вгоняющих в транс барабанов войны. Таким образом, для меня на каком то тонком эмоциональном уровне души демонов не похожи ни на один из последующих соулсов и как минимум заслуживают внимания даже спустя многие годы.    … Expand
  43. cchenders40
    Feb 22, 2022
    10
    I played this game in 2022 and absolutely loved it. Obviously it inspired the souls/souls like genre of western/Japanese action RPGS. And obviously it created the series known for being so immensely difficult yet fair (Dark Souls 1-3). For those reasons it’s important to gaming. But how does the game stand on its own?

    I would argue it’s a masterpiece on its own. It’s creative, fun,    I played this game in 2022 and absolutely loved it. Obviously it inspired the souls/souls like genre of western/Japanese action RPGS. And obviously it created the series known for being so immensely difficult yet fair (Dark Souls 1-3). For those reasons it’s important to gaming. But how does the game stand on its own?

    I would argue it’s a masterpiece on its own. It’s creative, fun, challenging, a pinnacle of game design at the time (and still stands even today), has amazing atmosphere, great combat (better than even DS2), and a great story and cast of characters. This is simply an amazing game. Everything I got frustrated with (1:4 boss run past the dragon I’m looking at you) were never actually unfair, it was just that I didn’t take the time to patiently learn how to make it past that challenge (when I figured out the dragons attack pattern I felt stupid, just run straight). There are elements that are dated seeing as it came out in 2009, but even at that other than the graphics it doesn’t feel dated, it holds up with modern games and is better than most RPGs that have released in the last 10 years. This game is a dated masterpiece without a doubt. Give it a try, but know if you are struggling with an enemy or action sequence, just slow down be patient and learn it. This game is not about babying you and it wants you to take your time. Also pro tip listen to all dialogue, you’ll get a lot more out of this game if you do, there is some great lore and world building. Amazing game!    … Expand
  44. 3ls0ul
    Mar 7, 2023
    9
    Este juego aún no lo eh jugado o completado, así que pondré una reseña y nota diferentes cuando lo haga.
  45. 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
  46. Crimson9
    Dec 12, 2022
    8
    Dark Souls seems to get all the praise for starting the Souls-like formula, but the genre actually started with Demon's Souls. That alone puts this game high up there in video game history.

    But even ignoring that. This game is amazing. The atmosphere here is so good I dont think its ever been topped. I also really like how the bosses here are more unique and zelda-esque than the route    Dark Souls seems to get all the praise for starting the Souls-like formula, but the genre actually started with Demon's Souls. That alone puts this game high up there in video game history.

    But even ignoring that. This game is amazing. The atmosphere here is so good I dont think its ever been topped. I also really like how the bosses here are more unique and zelda-esque than the route the series would take eventually.

    That said, theres a reason why Dark Souls gets all the credit. The level design in Demons Souls is really up and down. Theres no interconnectivity the developer would be known for later. The NPCs are largely without personality. The game is short. And while the lore , world design, and combat are great, Dark Souls does all of these things a lot better.    … Expand
  47. NopeSep79
    Dec 26, 2022
    10
    Me encanta, mi videojuego favorito de los soulsborne y en general, de la vida. Simplemente me encanta la ambientación, la música, el arte del juego, los personajes y la historia. Fue el primer juego de Fromsowfare que analicé más a detalle para enterarme del lore, esto hizo que me enamorara de este juegazo. Simplemente gracias Miyazaki.
  48. ArtierGG
    Jan 27, 2023
    10
    Cuando lo probé por primera vez (hace algunos años) me sentí un poco frustrado al no poder avanzar, pero esa misma sensación se transformó en emoción y orgullo al ir, poco a poco, avanzando y descubriendo la historia. Uno de mis juegos favoritos hasta la fecha. Llevo ya cinco vueltas en el remake para PS5.
  49. 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
  50. H0i29
    May 14, 2023
    0
    ميازاكي انت قحبة ياباني احول ولد يابانية قحبة وش هذا العطب اللي قاعد تسويه بجي انيكك في بيتك يا مازوخي يا مخنث
  51. FATsentinels
    May 23, 2023
    10
    If you have a ps3 you must try this game even if have the remake version on the ps5
  52. Seathate
    Aug 21, 2023
    8
    Souls-like konseptinin en ilkel hali. Ancak buna rağmen boss kalitesi şahane tek sıkıntı aradaki mesafe bazen gereksiz uzun hissettiriyor. Onun dışında Demon's Souls hala taş gibi oyun.
  53. majesty_x
    Jul 31, 2023
    8
    Graphics: 7/10; Storyline: 7/10; Gameplay: 8/10; Atmosphere: 10/10; Music: 10/10; Summary rating: /10
  54. DemonsSouls
    Aug 5, 2023
    9
    This game is what made me fall in love with gaming. Even though, at 8 years old, I couldn't get past the first level, it captured me in its bleak charm. Yes, I acknowledge that this game has quite a few flaws, but I really don't care. It is by far my favorite game of all time. I mean, just look at my damn username. I've put in over a thousand hours and no-hit this game multiple times, evenThis game is what made me fall in love with gaming. Even though, at 8 years old, I couldn't get past the first level, it captured me in its bleak charm. Yes, I acknowledge that this game has quite a few flaws, but I really don't care. It is by far my favorite game of all time. I mean, just look at my damn username. I've put in over a thousand hours and no-hit this game multiple times, even doing it twice in a row on one occasion. I know just about everything there is to know about this game, which makes me best qualified to point out some of its glaring problems. The gameplay can be clunky, the enemies are mechanically simple, the framerate is inconsistent, but at the end of the day, I just don't care. I love this game too damn much.… Expand
  55. Emilio200
    Aug 17, 2023
    9
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  56. asonk1ng
    Sep 10, 2023
    9
    I played the remake before this and was not planning on finishing this game, im halfway thru and im kinda loving this. Its a little bit too easy but i dont mind since im just really good. I died a million times in the remake and i felt like i already knew what was coming. Its really good because its like dark souls 1. Basically it.
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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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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]
    Read full review
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