Dark Souls- PS3, Xbox 360, PC

[evil_ash_xero]

I think this game deserved a thread, since Demon's Souls is much loved around these parts.

Here's a new vid with some of the guys from Namco talking about it, with some footage of the game. Gonna hit around fall of '11.

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/project ... e=previews

[undamned]

Reminds me I still need to play through Demon Souls
-ud

[linko9]

I actually just started playing demon's souls today. Not sure what to think yet, nothing really interesting has happened yet. Very bland color scheme, no music, I don't know, the game just feels like it has no... soul. Sorry for the terrible pun. Hopefully things pick up soon.

[Elixir]

Good interview. I wasn't aware that this was going to be as difficult or possibly even above the difficulty of Demon's Souls. Sounds promising.

[Jonathan Ingram]

Good news on the difficulty. Demon`s Souls was beatable even with a Level 1 character. Hopefully, this one is a lot harder.

[dcharlie]

Absolutely fantastic news that a great game that drags up the RPG genre is getting a follow on - as per others, yeah, make the thing even harder. It was such a refreshingly annoying FUCK YOU HARD game that it almost felt wrong that it wasn't holding your hand. Some of the boss fights did fall into that trap though :/

[guigui]

I actually just started playing demon's souls today. Not sure what to think yet, nothing really interesting has happened yet. Very bland color scheme, no music, I don't know, the game just feels like it has no... soul. Sorry for the terrible pun. Hopefully things pick up soon.

Just give the game a chance. Beat level 1 boss and you'll be able to explore almost everything and to level up. The true Demon's Souls starts here.

Also, I cant wait for the sequel !

[LtC]

I actually just started playing demon's souls today. Not sure what to think yet, nothing really interesting has happened yet. Very bland color scheme, no music, I don't know, the game just feels like it has no... soul. Sorry for the terrible pun. Hopefully things pick up soon.

I remember when I got the game I beat the first level and tried few others and quit playing after that pretty much for the same reasons as you. Then few weeks later I picked it up again and made a new character that I found very enjoyable playing and there wasn't going back anymore. Enjoyed the game from start to finish. The color scheme and no music really made the mood for me.

Try playing few levels further or making a new character if you can't get into the game. Then try exploring the co-op and and PVP side of the game. And always play online, it makes the game way more interesting.

[Khan]

just watched the first look on gamespot http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/projectd ... e=previews

its going to be as hard as demon souls I never got around to playing demon souls much aside from having a quick go its on my pile of games to play when I get back from vacation.

[evil_ash_xero]

"As hard or harder". Those words frighten me. Demon's Souls almost killed me.

[CMoon]

"As hard or harder". Those words frighten me. Demon's Souls almost killed me.

Do you wanna live forever?

linko9 et al.>

I actually don't get the color scheme/no music complaint. I absolutely loved this aspect and is part of what kept me playing. For me it really upped the tension and the atmosphere was amazing.

Suggestions for you new players: For a starting class, don't immediately try to go for something really technical. Templar and Soldier are great starting classes with a little resilience behind them and a decent weapon and armor. A lot of other classes will just make finishing the first level harder. Once you can start leveling up, don't forget about Endurance, it's one of the most important stats in the game for so many reasons...

[Elixir]

I would recommend Royalist class for newbies. They come with a ring which regenerates MP, which can be really useful.

I mean, game breakingly useful.

You can just Soul Arrow the entire game to death.

[CMoon]

I would recommend Royalist class for newbies. They come with a ring which regenerates MP, which can be really useful.

I mean, game breakingly useful.

You can just Soul Arrow the entire game to death.

I found just the opposite. Of course, I started by trying to make a very technical sort of character, which I do not think in general is the way to go in demon's souls. If you start with a Royalist, you cannot get hit in the first level. You must be very tactical and precise. On the other hand, you can start with a templar knight, so you can already heal. The Templar is strong, has good vitality and if you strip some of that armor off is pretty quick too. On the other hand, if one is going to plan ahead (and this is almost a must), the starting class really should be determined by what you want your final build to look like. I liked the Templar and the Soldier because I felt they didn't have too many points invested into one particular thing. The Royal is good for that too, I just felt that you started very weak (making getting past level 1 significantly harder), and you can get that ring later anyway.

*shrugs*

[LtC]

"As hard or harder". Those words frighten me. Demon's Souls almost killed me.

From how I remember from one of the interviews I read they said they wouldn't release the game if a person who was bad at action games couldn't clear it. It'll probably be easier in some ways but they have said that there's not going to be same kind of safespots as in Demons' souls.

[Elixir]

I would recommend Royalist class for newbies. They come with a ring which regenerates MP, which can be really useful.

I mean, game breakingly useful.

You can just Soul Arrow the entire game to death.

I found just the opposite. Of course, I started by trying to make a very technical sort of character, which I do not think in general is the way to go in demon's souls. If you start with a Royalist, you cannot get hit in the first level. You must be very tactical and precise. On the other hand, you can start with a templar knight, so you can already heal. The Templar is strong, has good vitality and if you strip some of that armor off is pretty quick too. On the other hand, if one is going to plan ahead (and this is almost a must), the starting class really should be determined by what you want your final build to look like. I liked the Templar and the Soldier because I felt they didn't have too many points invested into one particular thing. The Royal is good for that too, I just felt that you started very weak (making getting past level 1 significantly harder), and you can get that ring later anyway.

*shrugs*

You think people are going to stick with their original character throughout the entire game?

[CMoon]

You think people are going to stick with their original character throughout the entire game?

Hmmm? You can't switch characters part way through the game without starting over. I'm not sure what you're thinking.

I don't disagree the Royal can be a good starting class, but may be frustrating to people starting the game for the first time. OTOH, it will train them to be extremely defensive (which is good.)

[Elixir]

Most people who play through this game, or games with multiple classes (ie. Diablo 2), won't make a character with the class and stat build they're satisfied with. I ended up wanting to have a backstabbing assassin to begin with, but ended up settling on a magician about four or five class changes later.

For newbies, I don't think being worried about the perfect build should be a priority. Just learning the game and how to survive should be enough.

[CMoon]

For newbies, I don't think being worried about the perfect build should be a priority. Just learning the game and how to survive should be enough.

Right, that's actually why I recommend those other two, more physical builds because they'll afford a bit more survivability at the beginning and still give plenty of room to branch out in any particular direction. Royal is fine, but may chase off a lot of beginning players.

[Elixir]

I really don't see how Royalists chase off anyone. The point of Royalists is to have the ring to begin with, despite having a mediocre stat set. New players aren't going to be skilled (or willing) enough to be aggressive or physical with their enemies, but rather, would rather sit somewhere and generate MP, and pick their enemies off one at a time. New players aren't going to be skilled enough to make a mediocre stat set work either, but it's useful for letting them learn the ropes of the game, before stepping into another class.

Having a good stat build isn't going to help a new player.

[PainAmplifier]

I find that recommending a Royal for a first character is a bit of a trap. On the surface it's a bit easier due to starting with a Coronet, Fragrant Ring and Soul Arrow. But because of that, you tend not to develop the melee skills you need for the hard enemies in the game that magic is bad at. Especially if this is your first time through the game and you don't have all the various spells yet.

Plus, the regen from the ring alone is quite slow. Thus you end up using a sword half the time waiting for MP to regen or standing in one spot just plain waiting for it to regen before moving on. The lack of a zoom for casting at range hurts as well, you end up having to wait until you are in lock on range which is close enough for enemies to notice and rush you much of the time. Especially in Body form, or just if you don't have the Thief Ring or spell for the sneaking effect yet.

The delay on spell casting for the majority of spells is enough to get you killed if you don't play super cautious as well. Heck, I frequently get caught standing there in the wand shake animation when I run out of MP because there is no other sound or notice when you fall below your minimum to cast. And you HAVE to wait for the animation to finish! You can't block or move while the animation is going.

I find that starting as a Royal with my first character, than I end up spending a lot of points in a lot of secondary stats rather than just the magic/int ones because I *need* them to survive until my spellcasting is buffed enough...and even then I tend to fall back on melee as well. And let's not forget the fact that talismans and catalysts can NOT be upgraded at all! You have to rely on your stats for any real damage increases in casting spells.

I suppose, that Royal is a good character to start with...but mostly if you *don't* focus on spellcasting, but rather use it as a base for a more melee oriented build. You just save a bunch of steps in getting the minimum stats for spells and getting the ring early.

[Elixir]

I find that recommending a Royal for a first character is a bit of a trap. On the surface it's a bit easier due to starting with a Coronet, Fragrant Ring and Soul Arrow. But because of that, you tend not to develop the melee skills you need for the hard enemies in the game that magic is bad at.

That's the thing, there aren't any enemies in the game which require melee. Almost all of the time, combat consists of dodging and casting Soul Arrow or whatever else. Magic is seriously broken in this game and can be used against almost any boss. 1-2 boss? Death Cloud a few times. 5-1 boss? Firestorm once or twice. 1-5 boss? MSA. 2-1 boss? Soul Arrow. 2-2 boss? Soul Arrow. 3-1 boss? Soul Arrow. 4-2 boss? Firestorm. 4-3 boss? Soul Arrow.

I mean, you could pretty much go through the game meleeing at first, but this actually makes a few bosses harder. Notably Flamelurker, and the 2-1 boss. Things that can just be easily dealt with with various kinds of magic. Unless they toned down the amount of damage magic does from the JP verison, I'm pretty sure what I'm saying is still true.

[CMoon]

Not trying to gang up here, but PainAmplifier makes another point that I had forgotten. Part of my problem with having an all magic based character was the time I spent waiting for mp to recharge. Yes, it was free, but I spent literally half the game waiting for the mp bar to fill back up. Even two handing weapons that recharge magic + the fragrant ring you still end up spending a lot of time loitering.

Clearly no right way to play the game, but comparing my two playthroughs--one using more melee based with free healing and archery/sniping vs magic based with archery/sniping--the former was far more accessible, which is to say easier.

So I know I'm just reiterating my point here: basically I think a new player who might feel turned off by the huge difficulty might try starting with a beefier melee type. Also, starting this way does not exclude focusing on magic later; but there's no question in my mind that starting with a royal IS HARDER than starting with a soldier or templar.

[ZOM]

I actually don't get the color scheme/no music complaint. I absolutely loved this aspect and is part of what kept me playing. For me it really upped the tension and the atmosphere was amazing.

Amen.

[linko9]

Well now I'm 20 hours into the game, and I like it a lot. I still don't love the visuals or audio, but the game's very fun. I'm certainly looking forward to the sequel.

[maxlords]

I actually don't get the color scheme/no music complaint. I absolutely loved this aspect and is part of what kept me playing. For me it really upped the tension and the atmosphere was amazing.

Amen.

Thirded.

[linko9]

So I finished the game, played through new game plus, and loved it. The game really grows on you as you play it.

Also, I've come to an important realization: This is what Castlevania should be. If CV is going to use other games as a base for its own gameplay, I see no better game for it to ape than Demon's Souls. To me it's just a perfect fit. The weapon variety and customization is very similar to how weapons were handled in the Metroidvanias, and the large yet split-up levels are very reminiscent of PoR and OoE. The whole 'soul theme', though obviously it's not integral to the gameplay (enemies could just drop gold and exp) has been explored in AoS and DoS, and fits in nicely with CV. I could go on listing similarities (such as enemy and level design), but they'll be obvious to any CV fan who's played this game. Perhaps the most important thing is that Demon's Souls manages to be a moderately difficult Action RPG. I love the Metroidvanias, but the main thing I miss from the old CVs is the difficulty level. Demon's souls proves that you don't have to give up difficulty just because you adopt an RPG system.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts, I know that I'd absolutely love to see the CV series handed to From Software... but I know it will never happen.

[CMoon]

That's a pretty interesting concept. If you toned down the difficulty slightly, made the game mechanics less obtuse, included a map, bright-shiny colors and yes, a rockin' soundtrack, this sort of thing could work well for CV. Definitely better than having it turn into a God of War clone. The soul reaping system could instead revert to random drops for sub-weapons, hearts, etc.

Seriously good call on this; Demon's Souls has such an incredibly different vibe than CV, the idea of using it for a model for CV hadn't occurred to me.

[Leader Bee]

Seriously good call on this; Demon's Souls has such an incredibly different vibe than CV, the idea of using it for a model for CV hadn't occurred to me.

Sounds like you've only ever played the newer Castlevanias filled with bright eyed anime characters. I too thought immediately that this should have been a 3D Castlevania. Mostly because of the equipable armours and variety of weapons but yes the difficulty is reminicent of the old school 'vanias.

[CMoon]

Sounds like you've only ever played the newer Castlevanias filled with bright eyed anime characters.

Nope.

[ZOM]

Good call on the CV comparison. I'd sooo play that.

I always thought that if you'd swap Demon's Souls setting for a feudal Japanese one and put in some matchlocks instead of crossbows, it has the potential to turn to a great replacement for the Onimusha series. Think about it, Samurais + Ninjas + Demons + Demon's Souls engine.