The future looks very bright for fans of From Software games andSouls-likes in general. The announcement of the studio’s next full title,Elden Ring, sent the community into a tizzy of speculation and hype for very good reason, while news of aDemon’s Soulsremake by Bluepoint Games and rumors ofBloodborneon the PS5 have garnered another wave of excitement in recent weeks. WhileBloodborne 2is still just a rumorat this point, the confirmedElden RingandDemon’s Soulsremake will play out against each other in a unique way.
Demon’s Soulsis the granddaddy ofSouls-likes, but even after all theDark Soulsgames,Bloodborne, andSekiro, it has yet to be matched in a few key areas. Memory of the classic progenitor of the genre has faded over time, but with a remake, it will be far easier to compare modernSouls-like games toDemon’s Souls. While it is unknown how far apartElden RingandDemon’s Soulsremake will release from each other, it will be impossible not to draw parallels between the original game and what will be the most recent iteration of the formula.
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What Made Demon’s Souls Special
Demon’s Soulsholds a unique place in the heart of practically anyone who got to play it through. It was the first trueSoulsgame, and it had some of the most innovative and unique characteristics of any game in the series. That said, there were plenty of shortcomings that prevented it from reaching the status of its successor,Dark Souls.Demon’s Soulswas even clunkier and less polished thanDark Souls, which was by no means perfect, and it had some features that were far too punishing even for a From Software game. On top of that, its limited release and PS3 exclusivity have kept it firmly in the realm of cult classics.
WhatDemon’s Soulsgot righteven more so than any otherSouls-like game was atmosphere. The unique blend of beauty, creepiness, darkness, and intensity that is aSouls-like signature was at its height inDemon’s Souls. Even the haunting beauty ofDark Souls 3andSekirocan’t quite match up to the presentation ofDemon’s Soulssinister yet enchanting aura. In fact, characters like the Firekeeper fromDark Souls 3were directly inspired by designs fromDemon’s Souls. A remake will make the game’s atmosphere all the more clear, bringing it into the modern era of gaming.
Demon’s Soulsalso had a variety of unique mechanics that set it apart from many games to come, including one of the best hub worlds. The ability to tackle each area in any order, the puzzle-like boss design, and even more obscure mechanics like world tendency are all part of what makesDemon’s Soulsso unique in the field ofSouls-likes. There is a lot of material there forElden Ringto hearken back to, allowing it to be an evolution of everything the original did right.
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What Elden Ring Should Learn
Elden Ringalready seems to be taking certain cues fromDemon’s Souls. IfElden Rings rumors and leaksare to be believed, there will be several areas that branch off from the main world, which will be accessible in any order.Demon’s Soulswas the first and possibly onlySouls-game to have a similar system, with each main area accessible from the hub world from the very start of the game. Difficulty was determined more by playstyle and available items, rather than levels. It seems likeElden Ringmay do something similar, with each class better suited to certain areas of the game.
Likewise,Elden Ring’s much deeper RPG mechanicsset it apart from the likes ofBloodborneandSekiro, both of which pushed for a more uniform style of play.Demon’s Soulsalso relied heavily on RPG mechanics, even more thanDark Soulsgames.Elden Ringis shaping up to be quite similar toDemon’s Souls, which will make the comparison even more fitting.Elden Ringwill certainly surpassDemon’s Soulsin scale, complexity, and polish, but if it does not also evolve in the subjective realms of storytelling and atmosphere, it may not be a favorable comparison.
The biggest thing thatElden Ringshould learn fromDemon’s Soulsis how to build atmosphere. Environmental storytelling and level design has always been a From Software strong suit, but looking back on the game that lit the spark can reveal the secret sauce that results in such immersive worlds. Theinvolvement of George RR Martinas a lore consultant indicates that the world building will be up to standard, but the way it is presented will rely on a unique mix of artwork, music, sound design, lighting, and all the other components that go into building a game’s atmosphere.
There are some parts ofDemon’s Soulsin which too many sacrifices were made in the name of atmosphere. The most glaring example of that is the Valley of Defilement, a sprawling swamp level with practically no landmarks, steeped in poison, and crawling with enemies. Miserable swamp levels are a staple ofSouls-likes, but the Valley of Defilement is a step too far. It has great atmosphere, but just isn’t fun in any way.IfElden Ringcan strike the perfect balance, it will be the ideal successor in From Software’s long line of fantastic titles.
Elden Ringis in development for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.Demon’s Souls Remakeis currently in development for PS5.
