Demon's Souls Remake

[Great Deceiver]

Just finished my first NG as a faith build using moonlight greatsword; I had forgotten how bad faith builds are in DeS. 90% of the miracles are worthless. While the gameplay is quite simplistic, the levels themselves are the main focus and there are so many cool hidden details in them.

It was nice to revisit. I dig the hub design (and how it's possible to tackle levels in a different order according to your build - for instance, the swamp is a major focus of faith builds early on), although the metroid-like design of (the first half of) DS is better. These games have evolved significantly when it comes to gameplay systems and mechanics, but level design has taken a nosedive (with the exception of Bloodborne).

Good remake, but I don't expect I'll be spending a lot more time on it. After all these years I finally beat Old King Doran with a melee build without cheese.

I guess the one takeaway from playing this is that I was constantly reminded of how incredible the original game was. I don't think anything like it will ever happen again.

 

[MapMan]

Just finished my first NG as a faith build using moonlight greatsword; I had forgotten how bad faith builds are in DeS. 90% of the miracles are worthless.

I disagree. My +5 blessed weapon, the adjudicator's shield +5 and the regenerator's ring carry me very easily through ng+. The damage is not best in class but the regen is great, second chance is invaluable and even god's wrath is great (but it is highly situational).

As for the rest of your post, I agree 100%.

If there are more people playing, we could get a codex fight club going on.

 

[Great Deceiver]

It's more the fact that DeS is very easy at this point for anyone who's played most of the Souls games. Like laughably easy. I don't think it has anything to do with the build.

 

[Morenatsu.]

Demon's Souls may be easier, but at least it takes place entirely in cool environments and not shitty sewers drowning in colour-correction, nor random shit with no context and missing graphics. And it has a setting that's interesting even without the lore, instead of the I-don't-care fantasy of Dark Solz. Really, aside from the gameplay, Dark Souls kind of sucks.

 

[wahrk]

Really, aside from the gameplay, Dark Souls kind of sucks.

 

[praetor]

Replaying this, after getting past the obvious bling and the fact that it doesn't run like a dog anymore, I'm confronted with the realization that although the levels are pretty huge and atmospheric, the encounter design is quite weak after all these years. The game is also very easy compared to more recent From outings (last one I played was Sekiro and that felt incomparably harder). Maybe it's the world tendency stuff (I can't quite remember how it works), but so far I've cruised through and bosses are especially weak. I remember them being weak, but not this weak.

yeah.. mechanically it's really really lacklustre in pretty much every way. and before the "buh buh puzzlah iz bettah than fightan" crowd comes bawling in, no they're not. at least not the ones that are actually in the game. the "puzzles" for the DeS bosses are, let's face it, shit. the concept of "puzzle bosses" is great, yeah, but From's execution (like many other things when it comes to bosses... like huge bosses, or most creatures etc) is crap

also, other a minor amount of truly spectacular levels that manage to be both atmospheric and interesting (the whole of Latria will forever be remembered and praised. who doesn't praise the Latria, shall be exterminated), they're rather lacklustre to fight through or explore...

edit: and before the other crowd jumps in, this is not about "difficulty", but rather how diverse and interesting it is to explore both levels, fight different monsters in different situations (i.e. encounter design) with a variety of gear at your disposal

I think it speaks volumes that I feel more like replaying Bloodborne even if it still runs like shit on the PS5 (better load times) than play the DeS remake.

...which leads to very low replayability.

i also played it first (though not when it was released, but about... 3 months before DaS1 was released, give or take. couldn't justify buying a PS3 for one game... but i kinda could for two :D), but it's so simple in mechanics and for the most part layout that i got bored halfway through my 3rd playthrough (i.e. pretty much after i was done with Latria)

judging by "first playthrough only", it's probably in my top 3. the atmosphere is definitely numero uno. overall, though, i'd place it in front of only DS3 in a "Soulsborne ranking list" 'cause the others are just soooo much more interesting to actually (re)play

 

[Great Deceiver]

Replaying Bloodborne now (first time playing Old Hunters, I'm level 70ish and it's very hard) on the PS5 and man, it's really a masterpiece. Best level design From has ever done - even surpassing DeS and consistent all the way through. What a shame that this game isn't available to more people.

 

[Machocruz]

DeS is in line with some of From's previous games, like Shadow Tower Abyss and KF4. Some games, a lot actually, are meant to be an experience, but I don't use that term the same way it's used LARPers, game journos, or casuals looking to be emotionally engaged or live an alternate life. I mean they feel like they are designed to be an immersive adventure/hero journey first (when they weren't being designed to steal your quarters first), individual mechanics being serviceable enough to that end. Not clinics in fighting, platforming, tactics, or what have you . For example, I'd never accuse LoZ, System Shock, Tomb Raider, Legacy of Kain of having great or more than adequate combat. But they are supremely memorable, engaging, and immersive trips. They can be mastered to an extent, but don't beg to be. There isn't much nuance that can be squeezed out of them. The good ones have at least enough challenge to feel like the journey is as perilous as their theme implies and provide a sense of accomplishment when you bypass an obstacle. I'd say most games along the Action-Adventure-RPG spectrum are like this, and they are well liked for their balance of elements. They feel cozy without feeling trivial. DeS is on the more severe end, but that's not because of any complexities.

Being simple isn't a mistake. But yeah, the lesser nuances, intricacies, and mastery potential means it's not as replayable as DS1-Bloodborne. Can't comment on 3 because I never played, but I heard only the boss fights are any good, and the rest of the "experience" looks sterile.

 

[Lyric Suite]

Lyric Suite what do you think about these two versions?

Original by a mile. It even manages to be more harmonically complex despite being less elaborate.

DS3's soundtrack is also superior BTW, just to point to something similarly bombastic.

 

[Silva]

Replaying Bloodborne now (first time playing Old Hunters, I'm level 70ish and it's very hard) on the PS5 and man, it's really a masterpiece. Best level design From has ever done - even surpassing DeS and consistent all the way through. What a shame that this game isn't available to more people.

Yeah, this. And not only level design but production values as a whole is way ahead of everything else in the series. I'm coming to a new replay of BB from DS3 and it makes the later look like a last gen game.

Also, I have two friends who I introduced to the series through BB and then convinced to try DS1. They can't understand how DS1 is as praised as BB. They even understand the importance of DS1 as the precursor and all that, but they can't undestand how BB isnt considered the magnum opus of the devs. Which is pretty reasonable when you think about it.

 

[Wunderbar]

Also, I have two friends who I introduced to the series through BB and then convinced to try DS1. They can't understand how DS1 is as praised as BB. They even understand the importance of DS1 as the precursor and all that, but they can't undestand how BB isnt considered the magnum opus of the devs. Which is pretty reasonable when you think about it.

graphics whores

 

[TheHeroOfTime]

I was summoned to help someone against the flamelurker. Then he started to throw fire magic against the boss. Yep, he thought it was a good idea to use fire against a fire monster in a fire arena in the world of fire, fuckin clown man

 

[cvv]

Original by a mile. It even manages to be more harmonically complex despite being less elaborate.

Fucking hell I'd expect this from dildos who don't know jackshit about music but coming from you? You know full well the original orchestration was a budget-driven slapdash mix of a handful of real instruments and cheap electronics while the remake OST is a proper orchestra deal. It'd be like saying Beethoven's 5th performed by two dudes with digital Yamaha keyboards at a wedding party was WAY better than a concert at La Scala.

You should be ashamed for pandering to ignorant nostalgiafags for K-points.

 

[Lyric Suite]

Who gives a fuck if they are using a real orchestra.

Your analogy sucks this is like saying Beethoven's 5th played on a Yamaha keyboard ISN'T better than Final Fantasy played by a real orchestra or whatever it is weaboos like to jerk over.

 

[cvv]

Who gives a fuck if they are using a real orchestra.

Your analogy sucks this is like saying Beethoven's 5th played on a Yamaha keyboard ISN'T better than Final Fantasy played by a real orchestra or whatever it is weaboos like to jerk over.

Huh I thought you actually understood music, now I don't know why.

Foggit about it, I'll just make a



and we'll move on.

 

[Morenatsu.]

Huh I thought you actually understood music, now I don't know why.

yeah bro
instruments > composition
synthesizer bach = shit
cat running on a keyboard but it's performed by a live orchestra = art

did this rephrasing help you understand?

 

[Perkel]

There is nothing more wrong than converting midi into orchestra music. Anyone who does this should be shot and buried in unnamed grave under public restrooms.

 

[Lyric Suite]

Midi Beethoven is still better than orchestra pop music.

 

[DemonKing]

Finally finished this last night. I played all the Souls games Sword n' Board but went magic this time round and it was definitely easy mode. The number of bosses you could cheese with magic was ridiculous.

Not sure whether to trade in the game while it is still worth something or hold on hoping they release the 6th archstone as DLC.

 

[ADL]

Remember that trailer they pulled where the part about it being on other consoles was "clearly a mistake"?

 

[vortex]

I don't know what are you suggesting. PC is not PS4.

 

[Lyric Suite]

Would be funny if they released it on PS4 'cause nobody is buying the game due to the PS5 being always unavailable lmao.

 

[cvv]

Would be funny if they released it on PS4 'cause nobody is buying the game due to the PS5 being always unavailable lmao.

Well duh. Hence the utter lack of PS5 exclusives in general. Even the most prime cuts of Sony meat like HZD 2 are being announced for the last gen too, to the utter puzzlement of everybody.

 

[SumDrunkGuy]

I can't believe they changed Maiden Astrea's theme. I'm likely to skip over the piece of shit for that alone.

 

[cvv]

I can't believe they changed Maiden Astrea's theme. I'm likely to skip over the piece of shit for that alone.

Literally unplayable.