Today, From Software celebrates over 27 million units sold of its overwhelmingly popular Souls franchise. My first exposure to what would eventually become the omnipresent Souls Series was a single, unassuming article in Game Informer magazine dated September 29, 2009 (whew!). The concept was most intriguing; A dark fantasy action-RPG hybrid that challenged players and punished them for their mistakes. However, Death was not the traditional end all to progression. It was a pivotal part of the gameplay loop. I wanted to get my hands on the game as soon as possible. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait very long.
I quickly did some research and learned that game had already been released in the East since February that same year. I was no stranger to importing and was already tempted, but not knowing how to fluently read Kanji or Traditional Chinese meant that I would miss out on all the lore, dialogue, and world building. Suddenly, I saw that the game came fully translated in English. I never imported something so fast in my life.
After the haunting CG intro, the first few hours of my time with Demon’s Souls were filled with more trial and error than a 2 year old figuring out that the square block doesn’t go in the circular hole. The Vanguard Demon made sure that if I didn’t get a firm understanding of how movement and attack animations worked, I’d have a really bad time later on. Navigating Boletaria’s serpentine walkways and darkened corridors was an exercise in extreme caution. At any moment I could be assaulted from above, behind, or at either side with merely a few frames to react. My nerves were always on edge and I was loving it.
Even after multiple deaths I was surprised that I wasn’t feeling very frustrated. In fact, curiosity and determination were the winning emotions of the bulk of my playthrough. Each failed attempt meant I had to rethink my strategy. I had to understand why I died, and not focus on the how. Each visit to the Nexus, the game’s hub, meant an opportunity to level up, interact with NPCs, and double down on my own thoughts while the Black Maiden’s soothing voice offered some small semblance of hope and comfort.
I learned that NPCs in particular were an extremely important piece of the world’s puzzle. Not only in progressing quests, but in unearthing the rich lore surrounding the Demon’s Souls mythos. This was an element that would carry on throughout the franchise, to great effect. Some of the most memorable moments in a Souls game come from interacting with NPCs. From the ever endearing Stockpile Thomas and is somber quote “You have a heart of gold. Don’t let them take it from you!“, to the insufferable Patches the Hyena and his incessant trickery that spanned practically the entire series! Each character had a story. Some good, most disturbing and depressingly haunting. They stuck with you long after the credits rolled. Even the bosses themselves had detailed origin stories and backgrounds. The fate of Maiden Astrea and Garl Vinland in particular is arguably the most impactful and iconic of these stories.
There is one other emotion that the Souls series is capable of drudging up from the depths of even the most hardened player. Triumph. That overwhelming sense of accomplishment after succeeding through a sweat inducing encounter. This sensation could come about from simply progressing past a section that was giving you undue grief, or most often from felling one of the game’s nerve-wracking boss encounters.
I can’t truly describe to you the satisfaction I felt after defeating False King Allant for the first time. Reading his patterns, capitalizing on every window of opportunity to attack, and timing every roll so my then Glass Cannon build didn’t get wiped in one hit was exhilarating.
Upon returning to the title screen, I read a little more about post game content and New Game+, then promptly dove right back in. It was here I began to understand what would become a pillar of the Souls Series’ addictive loop. Taking all the skills and knowledge I accrued in my initial playthrough, I was able to approach situations more confidently. I was ready to experiment with new tactics and further explore the dark corners of realms that once tortured me, like the Valley of Defilement.
While it has become a bit of a meme, the difficulty of a Souls game is notorious. With good reason. In any other franchise, the average Souls enemy is almost the equivalent of a mini boss. If you’re not careful, something as innocuous looking as a bunch of slugs or leeches can peel away your health bar in seconds. This isn’t to say that the games are hard because of ‘BIG DAMAGE!!’. Souls games force you to practice patience and hone your reactionary abilities. If you get walloped by a Red Eyed Knight because you got too greedy during your offensive, then that’s on you.
Souls games also have a ton of replayability. Even stacked up against Dark Souls I, II, and III, Demon’s Souls is more than worth diving into again and again because of its unique world, mechanics, and overall design. It laid the foundation for the series and is still considered one of the more difficult and memorable chapters in the Souls lineage.
I wholeheartedly recommend Demon’s Souls to anyone who has or hasn’t played a Souls game before. It may not be as visually impressive by today’s standards, but the beauty is in its design and unique aesthetic. The lore alone is worth experiencing first hand as well. Beware Yurt, the Silent Chief.
With From Software’s next game, Elden Ring, on the horizon, there’s no better time than now to dive back into or for the first time, the series that spurred endless memes of the phrase “Prepare to Die.“.