Demon's Souls

[Jakanden]

This game is one of the few games that got me hooked from the moment I started. So much so, that I have considered calling in sick to work tomorrow just to play it. It is hard as fucking hell, but awesome nonetheless. I know I have only been playing it about 3 hours, but I can already see this as a Game of the Year contender for me. It definitely isn't for everyone, but I myself and really enjoying the hell out of this game.

[Ekkebus]

I'm...very tempted to pick up this game right now. I have a gift card to FYE and a forgotten check from my b-day just asking to be spent. I like buying Atlus stuff. Its getting great reviews. Still a good month before Dragon Age comes out. Very tempting.

Honestly I'm surprised you're diggin it though ,since from what I've read it sounds like its basically a big, pretty, roguelike.

[Jakanden]

Well, I spent years of my life playing EQ1 and EQ2 and this is very much in that vein to me (with things such as corpse runs). However, I can see the comparison and regardless, yeah I love this game.

[Wood]

Only thing I know about this game is the name. What is it?

[Jakanden]

It is essentially a hard-as-fuck action RPG with some wicked multiplayer elements. Aside from teaming up with two other people, when you are playing in online mode you have the following features:

- Blood stains: The blood stains of other people who have died on your server are on the ground in the spot they died. When you click on the blood stain, a ghost of the dead player appears and shows you how they died. This is extremely useful because you can see exactly what not to do or get heads up to danger around the corner.

- Messages: Scattered on the ground are various messages containing hints that other players and the game itself have left. For instance, in one area where you have to race through a bridge while there is a fire breathing dragon attacking it, there are notes on the ground saying "This area is safe" so you know you can stand there while you plan your next move.

- Black Phantom: The ability to jump into someone else's game as a Black Phantom and hunt them down. When in this mode, enemies won't attack you as you are essentially one of them.

The hard-as-fuck element is due to the fact that when you die, you lose ALL your souls (used as exp & money) until you go back to your bloodstain and recover them. If you died in a hard to reach area, you are essentially screwed. Also, you go into soul form where you suffer penalties to your HP and MP. The only way to get your body back is to use an item that is a rare drop, beat a boss or jump into someone else's game as an enemy and kill them.

I haven't figured out all the nuances yet as I didn't get the collectors edition so I don't have the strategy guide. This is one game where that guide would be really useful as there is A LOT to this game and the game itself doesn't explain most of it.

[Voctor]

It's nice hearing more good things about this game. I ordered it off of Amazon on sort of an impulse buy and it's supposed to arrive today. I’m really looking forward to sinking some time into it this weekend.

[Wood]

Wow, it certainly looks like a sleeper. I wish I could justify buying it right now.

[Jakanden]

I am at work today and all I am thinking about is going home to play it. I have been reading the Demon's Souls wiki all day to figure out all the little things that I didn't understand.

[joecamnet]

Mine shipped from Amazon so I should hopefully have it within a month or two.
This is easily one of those occasions I'm glad I dropped the extra for the collector's edition since there is no guide sold separately.
So glad I got all that credit when I traded stuff in. This game will finally convince me to turn my PS3 back on.

[Jakanden]

Ok so I finally got the hang of the game and understand all the stuff going on. I have beaten the first two demons as well as one of the dragons and got my dude up to level 23 so far. I went with a Temple Knight (aka Paladin) and have put some points into magic so I could also cast a few spells. He seems to be working out pretty well, especially now that I found an awesome spot to grind. Now I just need to find some new armor to go along with my wicked Scimitar and Crossbow.

I can't count the amount of times I have died in this game and I just accepted the fact I will be in soul form for the majority of the time. I also learned to spend my soul points often and before I head somewhere new as chances are, I will lose them anyway.

I have already put 12 hours into this game in two evenings (both days after I got home from work and the gym) and can see myself playing this all damn weekend as well as tomorrow during my "work" from home day. I even missed BJJ class this evening as I had totally lost track of the time.

I am also halfway through Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, but that is definitely on the back burner for awhile despite the fact that I really want to finish it. Demon's Souls is just too tempting and addicting. It really does have that "Evercrack" feel to me.

[Jaekwon15]

Ok so I finally got the hang of the game and understand all the stuff going on. I have beaten the first two demons as well as one of the dragons and got my dude up to level 23 so far. I went with a Temple Knight (aka Paladin) and have put some points into magic so I could also cast a few spells. He seems to be working out pretty well, especially now that I found an awesome spot to grind. Now I just need to find some new armor to go along with my wicked Scimitar and Crossbow.

I can't count the amount of times I have died in this game and I just accepted the fact I will be in soul form for the majority of the time. I also learned to spend my soul points often and before I head somewhere new as chances are, I will lose them anyway.

I have already put 12 hours into this game in two evenings (both days after I got home from work and the gym) and can see myself playing this all damn weekend as well as tomorrow during my "work" from home day. I even missed BJJ class this evening as I had totally lost track of the time.

I am also halfway through Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, but that is definitely on the back burner for awhile despite the fact that I really want to finish it. Demon's Souls is just too tempting and addicting. It really does have that "Evercrack" feel to me.

12 hours and the first two demons are defeated... that sounds about right. i think i spent 4 hours alone mastering just making it to the second demon.

my weapons suck. where are the cross bows, and magic spells you speak of? i learned how to do miracles... is that what you mean by spells?

my character is of the Royalty class. i think i should have started with a Knight or something, considering this is my first RPG of this kind.

game is good though... very addicting, and very aggrivating. lol.

[Voctor]

There's certainly a lot to do in this game. In addition to the normal bosses I just found a mini-boss who dropped about 5000 souls and some unique gear when I beat her. Add in all the options for different builds and I can see myself spending a lot of time with the game.

I'm really enjoying the atmosphere. There's the cooperative feeling of an MMO with the bloodstains, notes, and specters but at the same time it feels so desolate and lonely. It's certainly a unique take on the genre.

[Jakanden]

my weapons suck. where are the cross bows, and magic spells you speak of? i learned how to do miracles... is that what you mean by spells?

my character is of the Royalty class. i think i should have started with a Knight or something, considering this is my first RPG of this kind.

game is good though... very addicting, and very aggrivating. lol.

Crossbow is in the first level, but hard to describe where. When you get up to where the giant gate is (Where you fought Phalanx), turn left and go up the stairs. Continue around the wall (Don't go up the stairs) and you eventually you will come across a broken section of the left hand wall where you can jump down. Jump down and you will find the cross bow there.

Spells are taught to you by the man behind the archstones on the right hand side of the nexus and miracles are taught to you by the guy behind the stones on the left (when facing the giant statue). You have to have high enough skill points in the prerequisite stat (Intelligence, Faith, etc...) to get them taught to you.

I am on AIM and GTalk as Jakanden - feel free to shoot me an IM if you have more questions.

[Ekkebus]

I crumbled and made my purchase yesterday afternoon. I am not regretting it. I'm really digging this game. I played only a few hours last night, managing to make it up to the boss of the first area. Haven't fought him yet. Amazingly I haven't died a single time yet excluding the end of the tutorial level.

I went with a Hunter for my character, which kicked me off with a hand axe and a long bow. The long bow has been a huge help, and probably a big reason why I haven't died. I also bought a spear so I'd have the option to defend while still attacking.

I think the online integration is absolutely ingenious. It makes a lot more sense why there isn't traditional co-op play in this now.

[Jakanden]

Yeah, I wouldn't have done Temple Knight as a first character if I had to do it again. You start with a spear that you can't use in close quarters (keep hitting walls and bounce back), no spells, and no bow. It made things hard when learning the game. Now that I know the game I am dying far less as I am far more cautious and have the combat down.

If I start a second character, I am going with a mage as I am falling in love with the spells. However, I only have one spell slot so I can't carry all the cool spells I learned with me.