Dark Souls- PS3, Xbox 360, PC

[Sumez]

Well, allow me to correct myself - the non-Jap Asia version had English language.

[evil_ash_xero]

Dengeki: 90/90/95/95

Famitsu: 9/9/9/10

Not too bad, considering Famitsu's cruddy scores(for the most part), of Demon's Souls.

Of course, this doesn't mean a lot. But let's hope it accurate, for once.

[Drum]

Dengeki: 90/90/95/95

Famitsu: 9/9/9/10

Not too bad, considering Famitsu's cruddy scores(for the most part), of Demon's Souls.

Of course, this doesn't mean a lot. But let's hope it accurate, for once.

Famitsu's scores mean jack shit. This is them doing a flip flop because Demon's Souls turned out to be a seller.

I'm sure Dark Souls will be good, mind.

[evil_ash_xero]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about Famitsu.

[Elixir]

Dengeki: 90/90/95/95

I don't mean to be a dick, but this was reported on the 8th.

Demon's Souls received 85/85/95/85. So the second to last category scored the same as Demon's Souls? What was it?

[evil_ash_xero]

Dengeki: 90/90/95/95

I don't mean to be a dick, but this was reported on the 8th.

Demon's Souls received 85/85/95/85. So the second to last category scored the same as Demon's Souls? What was it?

Hmm...well, I got my information at NeoGAF, where a member stated that Demon's Souls got:

Famitsu - 7/9/6/7

[iconoclast]

Demon's Souls received 85/85/95/85. So the second to last category scored the same as Demon's Souls? What was it?

Dengeki is just like Famitsu, so those are four different reviews from four different people.

[Elixir]

Original Famitsu excerpts are here.

I don't blame them. The 6 point comes from a female casual gamer and she's right, tastes vary. 29/40 looks bad simply because it isn't in the 30's.

[dcharlie]

Can't wait - Demon's Souls was like a series of kicks in the nuts but you kept coming back for more.

I wonder how the "spiritual successor" will be?

I heard early reports saying they'd make it even harder ( :O )

[Elixir]

http://imgur.com/a/teMsS

I'm going to stop taking screenshots of this stream now.

[Sumez]

I still don't get how people on a shmups forum can consider Demon's Souls a hard game.
It's a challenging game, yes, but all that means is that you have to play carefully, and learn from your mistakes - it's only hard compared to other modern games that respawn you at a checkpoint you were at 30 seconds before whenever you die.
Most shooters are WAY more unforgiving, and only hours upon hours on training will help you there.

[Elixir]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph ... count=1631

"FromSoftware is sending out super powerful characters into the games of people who got the game before street date to take care of them"

Hahahaha.

[evil_ash_xero]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph ... count=1631

"FromSoftware is sending out super powerful characters into the games of people who got the game before street date to take care of them"

Hahahaha.

FromSoftware are some hardcore bastards.

I've been playing some Demon's Souls, to brush up, before I get this.
I'm doing better, this time around.
I will be totally honest though, for me, DS is a complete "I need a guide" game. There is no way in hell, I could figure out anything in that freaking game. With a guide though, it works. I think I'm doing better this time around, due to the fact that I chose "Royalty", as my starting class. That Soul Arrow is....wow, is it useful. Got me some Soul Ray now, bitches.

I am really freaked out by the Flame Lurker though. He was my "brick wall". I'm hoping, that I have some good magic, a purple shield, water veil, and...umm...that protection spell, that I won't be so butchered by him, this time around. I thought he was WAY too hard, to be that early in the game.

Does Soul Ray kick his ass?

[Sumez]

Flame Lurker isn't "early" in the game. He's in the second section of the second world, and basically, the only thing that's after him is the boss of that world, being a gigantic dragon (though that's more of a "puzzle" battle, so he's technically a lot easier than Flamelurker)
I got my assed kicked by him because I tried going there directly after 2-1, but that isn't what you're supposed to do. At least clean out 3-1, 4-1 and 5-1, and 2-2 before bothering with him.

[Elixir]

Why do you need a guide? Just play the game for 1500 hours like I did. I don't think I ever used a guide, except to determine what items are accessible via Pure White and Pure Black World Tendency.

Did they translate Soul Light into Soul Ray? I have no idea. It's going to be useless unless your Int is high enough. To prepare for Flamelurker, and new characters in general, I usually deliberately suicide in 3-2 until Pure Black World Tendency (changes on Nexus arrival), take the right route from the beginning of 3-1 and drop down to BP Scirvir, lure him out and backstab him off the cliff, and load the game so his loot is there. He drops the Talisman of God, the only item in the game which allows you to cast Miracles and Magic spells consecutively, instead of having to swap out Catalyst for Talisman and vice versa.

Or you could just summon some people at the start of 3-2.

[Sumez]

Isn't Talisman of God lying around on the ground in 4-1, too?

Basically every boss is designed with summoning helpers in mind, though they are all easily beatable alone. At least before New Game+

[Elixir]

I meant Talisman of Beasts - only BP Scirvir drops one. There's a Talisman of God to the right before the first fog of 4-1, off memory.

I don't think Dragon God, Storm King or Astraea were meant for multiplayer. When the game first came out, I remember summoning people for Dragon God, it usually ended in disaster. Today it's practically impossible to find blue signs before these bosses.

[evil_ash_xero]

Why do you need a guide? Just play the game for 1500 hours like I did

I believe you, but you were kidding when you thought I should do the same? Right?

[CMoon]

Regarding having a guide--honestly I had problems understanding what all the stats actually did as well as what the weapon modifications did. It took a second play through for instance for me to get how wildly useful the endurance stat was.

Without a guide, this is definitely a game where your first (or even second) play through are more about just figuring out what the hell is going on, and only then plan on making a character to beat the game with.

[Ruldra]

A guide is essential in this game IMO, especially to learn about the game mechanics and to find specific weapons/items. Some stuff is never mentioned inside the game, like how much fire damage each shield absorbs and how much endurance penalty each armor has.

Even checking the wiki regularly, it still took me two playthroughs before everything 'clicked' and I could come up with a optimized character.

[Elixir]

Why do you need a guide? Just play the game for 1500 hours like I did

I believe you, but you were kidding when you thought I should do the same? Right?

Yes, it was a joke. I don't think it's worth investing too much time into Demon's Souls now, since co-op, invading and such is running dry, such was part of Demon's Souls.

Regarding having a guide--honestly I had problems understanding what all the stats actually did as well as what the weapon modifications did. It took a second play through for instance for me to get how wildly useful the endurance stat was.

Without a guide, this is definitely a game where your first (or even second) play through are more about just figuring out what the hell is going on, and only then plan on making a character to beat the game with.

Good - the game would suck if everything could be done and grasped first time. Actually, that goes for any game without any replay value. Then it just becomes a movie.

By the way, Dark Souls suffers from random freezing. They're all over Justin.tv if you're bored. I've been watching some streams of the PS3 version and it's frozen on two different streamers at two different times. Hopefully they'll patch this.

[brentsg]

Any word on Xbox vs. PS3 for the westerners?

[Skykid]

Just play the game for 1500 hours like I did.

Holy Christ, how many years has it been since you last saw your family?

[Zaarock]

Watched a stream of a guy with 20h played for a long time today. Game sure looks great.. I probably spoiled too many things for myself already lol. I think I'll just check info on weapons and classes till the game comes out for now.

One thing is for sure though, I won't be using the Halberd.. got sick of the streamer (vxds210 on twitch.tv) using it 99% of the time.

Sounds like a good thing they lowered the level cap to 145, you won't have huge level differences and there will probably be a lot of different ways you can build your character with that. I think I'll start with wanderer. Pyromancer looks like the best starting class but there are some rumors about his "allegiance" already being locked at the start of the game?

@elixir: From is releasing a patch to fix the freezing very soon

[Jeneki]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph ... count=1631

"FromSoftware is sending out super powerful characters into the games of people who got the game before street date to take care of them"

Hahahaha.

Eh, can't people just play offline for a while?

Still that's pretty hilarious, I kind of wish I had the game now just to check that out.

[Ruldra]

Are the classes unique in this game or is it just like the previous game where they only affect the initial stats and equipment?

Also, is armor still useless?

[CMoon]

Good - the game would suck if everything could be done and grasped first time. Actually, that goes for any game without any replay value. Then it just becomes a movie.

I don't really disagree. I would just like a little compromise. My second play through was obviously a much different game than my first, BUT how many have times would I have needed to play through if I hadn't used a FAQ. 20? 30? Would I have just given up? (probably.)

I think there's a middle line where they could be a bit more transparent with how the stats work (builds, weapons, armor, etc.) I am cool with some things being mysterious (I mean, I was raised on Wizardry 1, I can handle it), but there are plenty of instances here where they are going a bit overboard.

[Elixir]

@elixir: From is releasing a patch to fix the freezing very soon

Great! Two weeks to go. If the cheaper English release were any further away I would have ordered the JP version.

Eh, can't people just play offline for a while?

Still that's pretty hilarious, I kind of wish I had the game now just to check that out.

Obviously, but online's part of the experience; this is why I don't recommend trying to learn Demon's Souls at this point.

I don't really disagree. I would just like a little compromise. My second play through was obviously a much different game than my first, BUT how many have times would I have needed to play through if I hadn't used a FAQ. 20? 30? Would I have just given up? (probably.)

What do you need an FAQ for, exactly? The game's entirely about playing through various builds and classes. Attributes for levels could have been detailed further, I agree. However, the series is largely centered around figuring things out for yourself, and as a result, progression feels more rewarding.

I really like what I'm seeing so far. Enemies can dodge, backdash, heal themselves (well, blue knights could in Demon's, but we're talking common enemies here), and even parry you, similar to how Garl Vinland (Astraea's guardian) could. The typical pattern of waiting for enemies to attack, blocking, and then attacking on their recovery is still there, but it's altered wherein various enemies simply won't attack first, and some enemies have to be parried.

Here's a stream if anyone's bored, quality is really high. He's playing as the deprived class. Spoilers, of course. http://www.twitch.tv/clopdel

[CMoon]

What do you need an FAQ for, exactly? The game's entirely about playing through various builds and classes. Attributes for levels could have been detailed further, I agree. However, the series is largely centered around figuring things out for yourself, and as a result, progression feels more rewarding.

Detailed in the second paragraph of my previous post. Like you, wanted better descriptions of stats, what various weapon modifications did, etc. Given that my first play-through was 70+ hours (learning the hard way) and there are no save and reload options in the game, I was very nervous upgrading weapons only to find out they did something entirely useless for my build.

I guess then to answer your question, I am absolutely in love with the idea of discovery and obscurity, but I don't have hundreds of hours for this game. Using a FAQ to figure out stats et al. became a reasonable solution on my second character.

[dcharlie]

Wooo - started playing. Very early in and the deaths have been less frequent than when i started Demon's Souls.

Japanese version obviously - PS3 only available at the moment.

Online doesn't work - offline doesn't work unless you disable your internet connection. Pretty disasterous start :/

Pretty much what i expected so far - pretty good stuff. Looks a little rough around the edges in terms of IQ.