This is quite unlike any game I have ever played. I have played many action RPGs. I have also played many games with a fantasy setting. But I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I have never played a game which frustrated me so much yet had me going back for more. Demon’s Souls is one of the most rewarding games I have played but this could so easily have been a very different review.

I like to think I have quite a few good qualities but unfortunately patience has never been one of them. As I started the game one of the first things I noticed is a nice selection of character classes to choose from which goes a little beyond the usual Warrior, Ranger, and Mage format. The ten available classes are Knight, Priest, Thief, Magician, Temple Knight, Soldier, Wanderer, Barbarian, Royalty, and Hunter.

My first created character was a Wanderer who begins with high dexterity. I played the game for a couple of hours and I absolutely hated the experience. The first big mistake I made was taking my frustrations out on the ghostly warrior figure in the Nexus. Whatever you do avoid attacking that warrior. If you do so, even for a laugh, you may as well start over again because you can’t avoid visiting the Nexus and he will relentlessly attack and kill you every single time you step foot in the place. My second big mistake is that lack of patience plus frustration at being repeatedly killed had me losing my temper and constantly rushing forward intro all kinds of trouble. Victory in battle is all about composure and, at the risk of sounding like Yoda, you have no chance of succeeding if you let yourself get upset. Then again, if you manage to keep your emotions in check through the duration of this game you’re most likely the reincarnation of Buddha.

Tired of feeling like I was taking two steps forward and three steps back I decided to start again and create a new character. This time I chose the Magician class to avoid getting up close and personal with enemies. The ability to use ranged attacks helped a great deal, at least for a little bit until the MP bar dries up and you run out of fresh spice so can’t refill it. At that point you must rely on melee and chances are your character will struggle to do this particularly well. This resulted in a case of deja vu as I watched in horror as my character died over and over again. After a painful couple of hours of this, which I consider an achievement given my lack of patience, I decided I’d had enough.

Having heard so many good things about the game prior to its UK release, and being reassured by some friends, I decided to give it one more chance and I’m so glad I did. My third created character was Royalty. This changed everything for me. The Royalty class uses some magic but unlike the Magician they start with a special ring which slowly regenerates MP making them much more beginner friendly. Royalty characters begin with a rapier which happened to suit me more than the Magician’s short sword. Suddenly everything seemed to slide into focus. I progressed through the first level much more easily. I found a lever to open one of the invaluable shortcuts. I could see the limitations of my character and took a more cautious approach which paid dividends.

There is a large selection of weapons to be found in this game and they can all be upgraded. The effectiveness of these will depend on your ability to use them which may in turn depend on your strength attribute. One of my favourite weapons is a basic Scimitar I found on the very first level. After upgrading that sword a few times it became pretty powerful and I began using it almost as much as magic which was unthinkable when I started the game. Discovering which weapons and methods work best for you is one of the great things about this game. You feel more and more connected with the world around you.

I really like the visual style of this game. The dark and moody tone which appears now and again in other games of this type is a constant throughout Demon’s Souls. The visuals do a great job of representing the dark story surrounding your character. This reminds me of the equally gothic American McGee’s Alice and the approach works really well here.

While connected to PSN the online side of Demon’s Souls comes alive. As you explore each level you’ll come across some bloodstains which are different from those you’ll leave behind each time you die. These bloodstains have been left behind by other players in their parallel games. If you touch these bloodstains you’ll see a holographic representation of that player in the last few seconds before their death. It’s nice to see how another player has died in a particular area as it may help you avoid a similar fate. If you take pleasure in seeing people die in comical fashions as I do this also provides some light relief from a game which can be quite stressful. Players can also leave short messages for others. Be careful though as while hints on how to tackle a certain area or warnings of upcoming danger may be genuine they could just as easily be attempts to lead you astray. You also have the option of teaming up with some friends in co-op to tackle a particular level and boss as well as a competitive multiplayer which has you join another player’s game and trying to kill them.

The key to overcoming the game’s difficulty is to keep in mind that your character will become stronger and you will learn to adapt while your enemies on any particular level will remain the same. As soon as you stop being afraid of your character dying, and accept that it’s very much a part of the game, you’ll be able to relax and have fun. Don’t get me wrong, I still get annoyed at losing lots of souls when an enemy leaps from darkness and kills me, I don’t pay attention and fall down a hole to my death, and the dozens of other frustrating scenarios. But the main difference is I no longer feel the game is trying to cheat me.

Holding everything together is that mystery appeal found in truly great games which has you constantly going back for more. It could be the thrill of the challenge or the unusual connection I have with my character and his struggles but whatever the reason I can’t get enough. Demon’s Souls can be very challenging but it’s not, although it may seem like it when you begin, ridiculously unfair. No matter how frustrating things can be, those who stick with it will be rewarded with easily one of the best games on this generation of consoles. A real treat.

10/10

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