Of Course Demons Own Multiple Souls

After about what must have been three days of grueling heat in a UPS truck, my copy of Demon's Souls arrived at my doorstep. I say this because when I went to smell the printed goods that came along side it (like any red blooded American would) , the only thing to waft into my nostrils could only be described as pure hotness.

This was another one of those games that would go along well with that swag post I made a few weeks back, this thing was loaded with some goodies. The main difference between this and something like the Persona 4 box is basically it's usefulness. The deluxe version comes with a 159 page strategy guide filled with a full set of colors. It's pretty nice too, it has a bestiary, lists of equipment, a normal walkthrough and a guide to a perfect run.

I think the thing that got me interested in the game was it's emphasis on death. From the get go, they made it a major point to tell you that you will die A LOT. Lot's of people seem to believe that there's going to be a mass rush of people complaining that the death mechanic makes it too difficult, but I believe otherwise. It's true that death comes quick to those unprepared to face their challenges, but never once are the enemies unfair. When you die, it's very much like dying in a roguelike; it's your own damned fault. While I've died at least fifteen times in the two hours I spent with the game today, I never found myself angry at bad play control or overpowered enemies. The games take on health ranges somewhere between realistic and something like in a survival horror game. Of course getting hit with a sword a few times is going to kill you, it's a sword. I actually think this is one of the strongest suits of the game, coming to terms with your own mortality. You aren't playing the role of some larger than life epic hero a kin to Beowulf, but an average person who tends to die after being bludgeoned a few times.

I like the game, but I'm probably going to be putting it on the backburner for a few weeks. Mass Effect needs to be completed before I'm willing to give another game a whole lot of time.