Demon's Souls

So there was never a thread for Demon's Souls, or a general Souls Series thread. So here it is, for posterity at least.

For those that remember, this was the predecessor to Dark Souls, the breakout title so to speak. Demon's Souls boasted a fascinating dark fantasy world, filled with terrible creatures, rampaging dragons, abominations lurking within dungeons and battlements... and that one Red-Eye Knight who murdered new players in the first level.

First boss? Vanguard. Oh, you beat him? Okay then, keep going. Hey DG, we got a Bad Ass over here.

I picked up a copy recently and to my luck, my journey to kill my first two demons was fraught with wandering apparations, ghostly figures representing other players online going through the same challenges as me.

The trailer for Demon's Souls.

And the actual intro for Demon's Souls.

If Wikipedia has any say, there's a chance for a Demon's Souls 2.

Edit: Typo.

edited 30th Dec '13 7:28:15 PM by FOFD

Akira Toriyama (April 5 1955 - March 1, 2024).

That's the Vanguard, not the Adjudicator. You do fight another one in the Adjudicator's level though.

Dark Souls is Demons Souls 2. It's a sequel in spirit.

Dark Souls is however getting a numbered sequel.

Anyway, on subject, are the servers still active? I know they've been running for a lot longer than initially planned, but I dunno if they're still going.

It's cool if yes, but I wager finding people to play with might be problematic.

Spiritually, yes. Fanon Discontinuity if you will.

I'm talking about a literal Demon's Souls 2, maybe a story continuing from the Boletaria arc, or using a system similar to The Nexus, with mechanics like "Soul Form" instead of "Humanity".

The servers are still quite active; I've seen a number of ghosts loitering about. I was playing two days ago and got summoned into at least three or four worlds moments after beating Phalanax and returning to the first Archstone.

edited 30th Dec '13 6:52:34 PM by FOFD

Akira Toriyama (April 5 1955 - March 1, 2024).

I'm not so sure that could happen. Isn't it Sony who holds the rights and not From Software?

Mind you, I wouldn't mind seeing another Demon's Souls. I'd be fucking ecstatic actually.

Also, nice to hear the online is still going strong.

edited 30th Dec '13 6:55:30 PM by MisterC

Who's an angry moth? You are! Yes you are! You're the fuzziest and angriest moth! Original pic.

So we'd be getting Demon's Souls 3: Dark Souls 2 and Demon Souls 4: Demon's Souls 2? Sign me up!

Wikipedia led me here: As of Jun, 8th this year, Sony still retains the Demon's Souls IP. But I won't lie, I'm not sure where else to look for the exacts on who owns what. This is all of word of mouth, and nothing's certainly materialized yet.

"Demon's Souls for Vita confirmed!" indeed.

edited 30th Dec '13 7:27:08 PM by FOFD

Akira Toriyama (April 5 1955 - March 1, 2024).

I just bought Demon's Souls. Any tips for someone who's already played through (most of) Dark Souls?

UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOI

I'm getting this game (along with a PS 3) somewhen around this week or the start of the next one. I'm really glad to hear the servers are still active.

Going from Dark Souls to Demon's Souls, you'll have to get used to the setting change. You have The Nexus instead of Bonfires. And it is quite bleak starting out.

You'll need 10 intelligence to learn and use Spells. Same for Faith and Miracles.

When you obtain a Demon Soul, hold onto it, because you can craft them into awesome weapons.

You don't have to worry about invasions until you've cleared the first section of World 1.

If you're not concerned with petty honor, then purchasing Soul Arrow is in your best interest early on.

Should you see a dragon nesting in Boletaria palace, move along, it will leave. Or try your agility by luring it away and racing it back to its nest.

In World 1, there's two items called the Cling Ring that you can find by an NPC, and another ring called the Thief Ring. One makes your footsteps quieter, and the other extends your Soul Form health. You want these.

Stay away from World 5.

On World 4, a dark prison full of bell-toting Mind Flayers, beware the Iron Maidens.

Save up those Turpentines for when you meet the black slime creatures that... hurl spears at you, gee, I never realized how racist this part of the game is [lol]...

Killing NP Cs will shift your World/Character Tendency towards Black, making your attacks while in Soul Form weaker, but reaping greater pillages in the future. Replace Covenants with Tendency. You can check your current Tendency by looking at the statue in the middle of the Level Select menu.

If you see anything with red glowing armor and a spear early on, stay away from it.

They may not be gigantic, but make no mistake, the wolves will mess your sh-t up in your first encounter. If you hear a howl, brace yourself

For more specific tips.

edited 31st Dec '13 6:24:31 AM by FOFD

Akira Toriyama (April 5 1955 - March 1, 2024).

Mind Flayers are in world 3, not world 4.

Tip for everyone: Bring ranged weapons into the Valley of Defilement. Crossbow, bow, doesn't matter. Just don't go without ranged weapons.

Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.

World four is difficult but awesome, if you can make it to, and kill, the adjudicator, you can easily farm reapers for some quick souls in 4-2. Seriously world 4 is best for souls. But it's pretty hard. bring a good shield for those skeletons

edited 31st Dec '13 10:49:26 AM by stevebat

Apocalypse: Dirge Of Swans.

Bring an uncanny sixth sense to world 4, the flying mantas will blind-side you all the time on the cliffs.

Nine Times out of ten, they announce their presence with a loud roar, the tenth time, you got plowed in the backside with a random spine. Encourages you to either shoot them down or fight where they cannot hit you.

edited 31st Dec '13 11:02:43 AM by stevebat

Apocalypse: Dirge Of Swans.

Get the thief's ring is my advice. Not only does it make them (mostly) harmless, but it really helps on one of the bosses.

The ones in 4-1 are pretty easy to hear. Some of the ones in 4-2, on the other hand, can be harder to spot due to how far they are.

Who's an angry moth? You are! Yes you are! You're the fuzziest and angriest moth! Original pic.

They should do some sort of De S / Dk S crossover and add Blighttown Dart Blowers riding the Storm Beasts, for added amusement.

I feel like I should dedicate my life to ensuring you never work for From Software.

I didn't believe them when they said true evil existed in this world. I do now.

There actually is a Demon's Souls thread already, but it doesn't have to be bumped I guess.

Just started Shrine of Storms again for giggles.

Charged those first few skeletons and killed two of them, then got nailed by the third who was supported by an archer.

Though, given that I wasn't wearing armor or using a shield, and I didn't heal, I'm quite proud of myself. I'd tackled the level before on an initial run and got murdered by the first skeleton. Those guys they just... they can roll forever and shank you mid-roll.

edited 31st Dec '13 5:49:10 PM by FOFD

Akira Toriyama (April 5 1955 - March 1, 2024).

Yeah, you get way better at fighting them. I felt the same way when I finally beat the red-eyed knight in 1-1 for the first time.

The best way I find to beat rolling skeletons for me is to stay still and block and then roll to the side or back when they attack (But keep in mind that they'll sometimes delay an attack if you're rolling to the side).

Also, don't fight more than 2 at a time. If you have the Thief's Ring, put it on. Optimally you'll not want to fight even 2 rollers at a time (archers aren't as bad provided you keep moving).

Considering the Dark Souls 2 beta has several wheel skeletons appear in a boss fight, I wouldn't be surprised if you work for From Software.

edited 1st Jan '14 2:24:32 AM by Scardoll

Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.

Archers are annoying, but they can't do shit in melee, There's a timing to their shots so just step aside and dodge em, that, or just nail them with magic/archery.

Also my advice to newer players, Lava Bow + Fire Arrows? God tier weapon right there.

For those coming from dark souls, split damage is a little more broken, dragon weapons in particular are strong against everything not in world 2 or things named Garl Vinland. Magic weapons are strong too, but suffer in more spots, particularly the everything in world 4. as for the infamous tentacled jailkeepers in world 3 my advice is to not take them on at long range, those soul arrows HURT, instead, get in melee and watch their attacks, there's a slight difference in the way they cast their spells between the dangerous but easily dodged stun attack, and the RUN THE FUCK AWAY aoe blast effect.

Apocalypse: Dirge Of Swans.

Is it just me, or is this game way easier than Dark Souls? Because I'm kind of killing everything with Soul Arrow. Like, I had more trouble with the Tower Knight's archers than with the Tower Knight himself.

UN JOUR JE SERAI DE RETOUR PRÈS DE TOI