Demon Souls PS5 In-depth Review
Published: Tue Nov 14 2023
Table Of Contents
Demon Souls Remake stands as a visually stunning resurrection of the iconic 2009 classic. As someone who replayed the 2009 release multiple times on the PS3, I had no choice but to sink my teeth deep into this genre defining game on the PS5 and I was not disappointed.
In this in-depth review, we will further explore what makes Demon Souls Remake such a classic souls game and one that even holds up in the next gen of gaming. We do this through a breakdown of souls-like tailored metrics. This isn’t another critic or AI generated review; this is from one gamer to another.
As always we provide all our metrics and feature finds upfront, so you can have an overview before diving in deeper and we do our best to avoid any major spoilers. Without further ado, let’s dive into the metrics.
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Demon Souls Remake 4.1
Play Time
- Main Story: 25-30 hours
- Side + Main: 55-60 hours
Ratings (Out of 5)
Story
Combat
Design
Game Features
- Remake
- Character Customization
- Classes
- World Tendency
- Character Tendency
- Boss Weapons
- Complex Weapon Enhancement
- Replayability
- Punishing
- Quests
- Secrets
- PVP
- DLCs
Story 4
Lore 4/5
In Demon Souls, players delve into the cursed realm of Boletaria, confronting malevolent demons that plague the once-prosperous kingdom. The narrative unfolds through exploration and challenging encounters, with the overarching goal of freeing the land from demonic corruption. The story is moderately sized (which to me is perfect), and while not being ground breaking in terms of souls like games, it sits as a great entry! The main gimmick in this game is the ability to have your body be in soul/soulless form, where the former has more health but punishes you if you die in this form. Pros include a rich, immersive world with gripping lore (and yes, that includes Patches). There’s no hand holding and there’s much to be discovered and pieced together by the player. On the flip side, some may find the lore too difficult to put together, as the game does very little in the way of explaining much of anything. However, if you put in the time and effort into the lore of Demon Souls, you’ll find it’s truly a classic.
Side Quests 4/5
In Demon Souls the side quests are like hidden gems waiting to be uncovered, adding depth to your journey. From aiding distraught NPCs to delving into forgotten corners for precious loot, each side quest is a mini adventure in itself. Where it gets really interesting is with the use of the “world tendency” system, as certain quests are only possible to complete with pure white/black tendencies. These add another layer of strategy in addition to the main questline. If you’re considering whether they’re worth getting into, some of the best weapons/armor are waiting to be uncovered behind these quests and can lead to some truly epic builds.
Combat 4
Boss Battles 4/5
Demon Souls features a total of 20+ boss battles (I don’t want to spoil the exact number), each presenting its own unique challenges and requiring distinct strategies for success. The pros include meticulously designed encounters that demand an element of strategy in your builds. For example, a standard hack and slash isn’t going to slash through stone, if you catch my drift. On the downside, the steep difficulty might deter some players, as each game has at least one that’s straight up deceptive, and occasional frustrations can arise from the trial-and-error nature of learning boss patterns (nothing some grinding can’t solve). Nevertheless, the sense of triumph and the adrenaline rush from conquering these demons make Demon’s Souls a standout in the realm of challenging boss-centric games.
Class & Build Diversity 5/5
Choosing the right class build in Demon’s Souls is crucial for shaping your gaming experience. With classes ranging from the versatile Royal to the hard-hitting Barbarian, players have options that suit various playstyles. Each class comes with its own starting equipment and stats, impacting early-game dynamics. Given the range of weapons, one can make some truly crazy builds! Don’t believe me? Try a weapon that scales with luck! On the downside, there’s no real method to re-spec, and some key weapons required for builds can be accidentally locked away through the tendency system. i.e. Forgetting you’re in body form and falling of a cliff. Furthermore, some might be put off by a lack of weapon arts as well.
Combat Mechanics 4/5
Demon Souls allows for precise parries, timely dodges, and strategic strikes. Bows are functional weapons in this game, as one can aim and lock on as well, there’s also many different arrow types to unlock. Magic adds another layer, with spells that can save or doom you. Spells are broken down into two groups, where faith is used for more support style spells and requires separate weapons to utilize. Shields provide the ability to parry, provided they’re not heavy shields, which would provide more protection. The only downsides are the lack of weapon arts, and a lack of a more advanced dual wielding. With that said, the range in boss weapons and the complex enhancement (love me some colorless demon souls) system make up for some of it.
Healing 3/5
In Demon Souls, healing involves the use of consumable items like grasses and various healing spells. Players must manage their healing resources wisely, as these items are finite and crucial for survival. One does not spawn with a fixed number like in other souls like games. Likewise, there is no limit to the amount of healing items one can buy as well. To get better healing items, it requires further exploration and unlocking additional merchants, with some coming back to the Nexus and others only available in their area. I like this approach, however it’s possible to see how a hundred healing grasses, might make it easy to cheese some bosses.
Design 4.3
Level Design 5/5
Demon Souls excels in diverse level designs that present unique challenges. Boletarian Palace, for instance, offers a grand medieval setting with waves of soldiers and dragons peering their heads (and fire breath) throughout the map. Stonefang Tunnel explores dark mines and molten forges, providing a stark contrast. Tower of Latria introduces haunting prison towers and eerie atmospheres. Another plus are the camera angels. I didn’t feel like the maps restricted the camera angles at all (looking at you Bloodborne), and I had the right amount of space during boss battles.
Exploration 5/5
Demon Souls offers a compelling exploration experience with interconnected worlds known as arch stones and hidden secrets. The game encourages thorough exploration, rewarding players who delve into every nook and cranny. Particularly I love how after the first boss, every area in the game opens up for the player, allowing all sorts of possibilities and approaches to the game. As an example, in the latest playthrough I tackled the final area first, and had a blast cheesing through the rest once I got my weapon of choice. The standard shortcuts are there as well. On the flip side (or not so flip), there’s less troll areas, where you feel punished for exploring and the hidden walls as always are a pain to find, given how integral they are.
Risky Retrieval 3/5
Like in most souls games, retrieving lost souls in Demon’s Souls can be a challenging task. Upon death, players drop their accumulated souls at the point where they perished. To reclaim them, you must reach that location without dying again. In Demon Souls, retrieving souls is slightly easier, as monsters don’t claim them and there are items available that transport you back to the nexus with the souls in hand. Although these are not common, they are necessary as some places make it impossible to get back to the nexus without slaying the next boss! I would say this approach leads to a pretty balanced souls retrieval, although a little bit less exciting.
