I found out about Demon's Souls for the first time from this site awhile back in the PS3 Import thread. This game is far from perfect, with numerous glitches, sloppy use of rag doll physics, and a bizarre good/evil world system. Despite these issues, Demon's Souls is the best game I have played for the PS3. Since this game is good enough for discussion on this site, I wanted to comment on equus' opinions.
equus wrote:Add to this the fact that you can basically run through to any point in a level in a couple minutes, avoiding most of the threats, and you'll quickly realize that losing a substantial amount of souls is barely a possibility.
Not a fact whatsoever. All the threats are placed in locations that require confrontation. Already doesn't sound like he has played the game.
equus wrote:Sometimes there is a little more to it, as some enemies must be lured into positions where they can safely be attacked, and deciding in what order to attack (or even if to attack) a group of enemies adds some strategy to the mix.
OK, he may have played the game for a couple of hours because that statement is accurate. Though what he calls "sometimes" is more like "all the time."
equus wrote:Overall, it's not horrible, just not too interesting when compared to similar games like DMC or Ninja Gaiden.
What is he talking about? He just said that you have to lure enemies around, plan a strategy, know when to attack, when to run, etc. Then he says the game is similar to DMC and Ninja Gaiden?
equus wrote:I'm thinking specifically of 3-2 here, where you are forced to slog through (even post-shortcut) about 5 minutes of mind-numbing stairway, gargoyle, and mindflayer time and time again, only to be dispatched by the boss in a matter of seconds until you finally figure it out.
There are no Mind Flayer's (Squid-headed magicians, very tough) in 3-2. Getting killed by a boss until you finally figure it out is this game in a nutshell. If you don't like to die and need your hand held, you will not like this game.
equus wrote:As this is an action game, it risks ruination through grinding for better stats/weapons, but this is not exactly the case.
Here is an instance where he is giving the game a bit of credit I don't think it deserves. Whenever you raise one stat point (paid for in "souls" dropped by killing enemies) such as Strength or Magic, you move up one soul level, which raises the price for the next level. It gets very expensive very fast. In the early game, you can gain a couple of soul levels after beating a boss. Later on, it may take 2 bosses to raise just one point. Also, every weapon and armor set have prerequisite stats that you have to have first to use them effectively. You can achieve a decent level without grinding, but over half your inventory will be useless.
equus wrote:The much lauded "innovative multiplayer" is largely retarded.
The game's single player and multi player components are fully integrated. There is no lobby, no death match, no chat room. And since he admitted to not doing co-op or PVP much, I will elaborate. While playing, if you are in "body form" (meaning you have just beaten a boss, or used an item to "get your body back") you can summon other players into your level. Before summoned, these other players were playing the same level as you, and dropped an item called a Soul Sign to allow them to help someone else out. It's all random whose Soul Sign you will find, and very hard to coordinate amongst friends for a typical co-op experience. It is clunky if you want to summon a particular person to your world. But it is not clunky at all if you just want someone to help. It is as simple as hitting the "X" button over a blue glow on the ground.
Also while in Body Form, you can be invaded by other players called "Black Phantoms". This is the PVP portion of the game. While you are trying to get past the level, they are trying to kill you so they can get their Body Form back. I think thats rather innovative; no other game I have played has had real people as enemies in a single player game.
equus wrote:The graphics are decent. Given that all the levels in a given area are contiguous, these are actually some of the largest levels ever seen in an action game, and the scale really gives some levels room for incredible detail.
This is a fair assessment.
equus wrote:The enemy designs are overall pretty bad.
If he is going to describe the designs as overall bad, he could have at least touched upon the incredible design of the bosses. They each fit perfectly with the atmosphere of the level. For example, in the 4th world, there are giant flying manta rays shooting at you from the sky. The final boss of this world is a massive version of these enemies, big enough to carry about 15 of them on it's back.
They also each require a different strategy, and in some instances multiple strategies. The huge Tower Knight can be sniped from afar, or you can get behind him and try to take out his feet. You can fight melee with the Armor Spider, or dodge its projectiles from down a tunnel and kill it with magic. Not looking to spoil anyone on the boss of the 3rd world, so I would just say that the design of that boss is nothing like I have ever seen.
equus wrote:The boss music is LOL worthy, a hideous, minimal blend of horn notes that induces laughter rather than terror or awe.
I liked the boss music. Considering the game is completely devoid of music unless you're fighting a boss, the subtle bgm adds to the tension of the fight.
equus wrote:The voice acting, on the other hand, is startlingly good. Many memorable voices and lines ring through my mind, and the cryptic dialogue hints towards some interesting plot developments.
Agreed.
His post isn't complete shit, some decent things in there. Though someone who has never heard about the game would read that and get some misconceptions both good and bad.