Review: Demon's Souls [Archive]

Sushi_b

04-20-2011, 11:50 PM

It's a great review CoolO. I may not have liked the game as much as you, but I value your opinion and it's enough to make me excited to possibly try the game again in the future. Maybe I can run through it with Phak.

Phakiel

04-20-2011, 11:56 PM

I am starting next Wednesday

Ges

04-21-2011, 01:37 AM

I'm jumping back in just so I can play with you, Phak.

CoolOtaku

04-21-2011, 01:45 AM

Haha, oh god, do I need to start a 6th character? XD

The online play is regulated by which version of the game you're playing. If you're getting the PAL version, Phak, then you can only play with other people playing the PAL version.

Sushi, I feel like I've asked you this a million times now, but I keep forgetting which version you have haha. Which is it? :p If you haven't beaten it, I would be more than happy to help you over the humps either by playing with you or just walking you through the tough spots.

Sushi_b

04-21-2011, 02:32 AM

I have the North American version of the game. It's far too text heavy for me to play it in another language. I think it would be awesome if we all could get into it, but I always end up bailing out of these kinds of things because of two reasons. One is that I pretty much can never play online with anyone because of the time differences and the second is that I'm too busy to commit specific time to a game. I'm very sporadic when it comes to gaming now. Sometimes I'll play for 5 hours and other times I won't play for 5 days.

Phakiel

04-21-2011, 02:38 AM

Bought it from Amazon US so it has to be US version.

CoolOtaku

04-21-2011, 02:38 AM

That sounds like me, Sush. It's hard for me to really devote time to anything other than my schoolwork these days. Occasionally though I get breaks, like today, which allowed me to finally get this review up! :D

Maybe one of these days we'll actually be able to. I'd love to play a game with you. I don't think we ever have over all these years.

That is very good news, Phak! Gotta send you guys my PSN username, so we can add each other.

Sushi_b

04-21-2011, 02:42 AM

I have Ges on my PSN account friends list. He is the only Allrpg member on there actually. The only one I have on my Live account is Blue and we've never talked on there. I don't really have many multiplayer games to play with other people. I'm sort of a ghost in the online community. I really should get around to playing something with some of the members here in the future. I always forget that there is a thread with user names here.

Don't feel left out CoolO. I just don't get online to play anything often. Maybe this could be the game that breaks the ice.

CoolOtaku

04-21-2011, 02:50 AM

No worries, we're a lot like that in that regard. I've played Demon's Souls with Ges briefly, but aside from that I haven't played with people here much either. Demon's Souls might be a better ice-breaker if it allowed you to summon people from your friends list directly >_>

Phakiel

04-21-2011, 04:07 AM

I got Ges and Blue on psn.

Ges

04-21-2011, 05:09 AM

I was joking with CoolO over how this wouldn't get any replies since the other threads here hadn't.

*tips cap*

CoolOtaku

04-21-2011, 05:38 AM

Haha, I'm gonna go ahead and give a lot of the credit to Phakiel for raising the excitement level.

Now if I could only figure out why PSN isn't letting me sign in recently...

Phakiel

04-21-2011, 06:03 AM

Funny thing is, I didnt even read it. I started reading it but then I had already bought the game so I said, should I really read it, so i posted here, tracked the package and watched some porn.

CoolOtaku

04-21-2011, 02:30 PM

Hahaha, well should you ever finish reading it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

It seems that PSN has been having issues since the Anonymous attack. I saw some other people posting the same issue here and there. I can't sign in, but it will still let me see previews of what's in the shop. Weird.

Ges

04-21-2011, 06:07 PM

Yeah, I can't get on either.

Blue

04-21-2011, 06:11 PM

Anon said they had stopped attacking last week. Whether or not they did or there is a separate group doing it is still up in the air. If it IS them, they need to fucking stop with this shit.

CoolOtaku

04-21-2011, 06:21 PM

It's probably just residual damage that they're still trying to clean up :\

Mark

04-22-2011, 02:50 AM

well if anyone wants to get down on some Demon's Souls let me know. I am lv 90 right now. PSN - MarukuKen

Ges

05-03-2011, 07:25 AM

well, whenever PSN gets back up, I'm down for some multiplayer. Still need a few trophies anyway.

Phakiel

05-03-2011, 07:30 AM

I havent started, been busy with Bioshock but once PSN is back up you can, let me embarrass myself as the noob or something.

Ges

05-03-2011, 08:18 AM

We all still do that. Don't worry.

Me and CoolO tried a boss earlier and I felt full of myself enough so that I could hang around the perimeter instead of hiding outright. Smash. Boom. Bam. Dead.

CoolOtaku

05-03-2011, 02:46 PM

Haha, yeahhh... saw it coming :p I lost count of how many times that happened to me/random people I played online with. It's a disgustingly common way to die against that boss.

If it makes you feel any better, Phak, I haven't touched the thing in a while, so I'll have to get back into the swing of things at least somewhat.

PSN should be back up sometimes this week, I think they were saying, so hopefully we'll be able to do this by the weekend.

CoolOtaku

05-08-2011, 03:03 PM

Quoted from the Anon thread...
I hope because I really suck at it. But i am getting wha you guys mean when you say its hard because you are not doing something right. Like i am fucking up because I forget its an action rpg not an action game, so I start to flail about and end up getting killed.

There's definitely a certain amount of reflex involved, but the game mostly relies on proper preparation. Parrying and dodging are still largely a matter of preparation, but if you aren't timing things right, well... you'll know if you're doing it right or not.

And you're right. As soon as you start flailing, you're pretty much doomed once you move past the very first area. Just keep that shield up, move slowly through areas (new ones especially), and take your time getting hits off on enemies. Rushing is bad.

CoolOtaku

05-15-2011, 11:03 PM

Well, online gameplay is back for PSN, so when are you guys free? Don't forget to include what soul level your characters are cause that determines who can and cannot play together.

I think I have a few who are around the 60-70 mark on my main PSN account. I also have one around 25 on my alternate account. Oh, and my original guy is like... 150 maybe?

Phakiel

05-15-2011, 11:26 PM

For me the firmware update was made available already but its still not working at all. I am gonna have to wait for full implementation. I think only most of the US is getting worked on right now, we'll probably get there next week or my end of may althought they said the americas as a whole will get service restored first.

I would like to hear from Luisfe to see how are things in mexico.

CoolOtaku

05-16-2011, 01:08 AM

Yeah, mine was working fine before I posted that, and then it didn't work until I restarted my PS3. It's obviously not rock-solid yet even in the areas that are supposedly up and working.

Well, Phak, about what soul level is your character at this point? If I need to do some catch up on my lowest, I can do that. If it's the other way around, I just won't play that character until we're in range for summoning.

Ges

05-16-2011, 03:44 AM

I have a single guy around 90. I plan on startin a new char, though.

Phakiel

05-16-2011, 05:20 AM

Whatever you start with being Royalty, I havent reaelly played more than 5 minutes.

CoolOtaku

05-16-2011, 03:26 PM

Phakiel

05-16-2011, 03:30 PM

Classy choice, Phak. That's what I chose for my very first guy. Oh, and this is important, so read this! :p
You must beat the first boss (not the tutorial section boss that rapes pretty much everyone the first time they try to beat him) before we can play online together. You get the blue soul stone and the white soul stone after you beat the first boss (I think that's what they're called). The blue soul stone allows you to put up a blue soul sign that will appear in other players' worlds, allowing them to summon you into their game. Similarly, you can't summon help into your world until you have those stones.

So beat that first area and tell us when you've done so. Then we'll start destroying the game together :)

It was really the one choice I liked best. It had good points for magic and intelligence so it was more than the natural choice to make. I dont know how intelligence is a factor in the game but as I proceed I'll see what it affects and how.

And HA! I thought I was being a complete idiot by being killed by the tutorial boss. Sure I was being a tool trying to hit him and all and he killed me like in three swipes. This game is tricky!

Ges

05-16-2011, 05:57 PM

Yeah, the stats page and the icons take a while to memorize. INT affects your magic power, the amt of magic slots you get, and some weps have a minimum INT requirement.

CoolOtaku

05-16-2011, 11:24 PM

Intelligence does not increase magic power. Only Magic does that :p
Intelligence increases your max MP and your number of magic memory slots.

It is possible to beat the Vanguard in the tutorial. I've only been able to do it once, I think with the temple knight. Whoever starts out with the halberd, that's who I used. You get some pretty nice goodies for a brand new character. And then the game reminds you that you're playing Demon's Souls. It's pretty funny :)

Royalty is a pretty popular class I think largely for the fact that it starts out at soul level 1. No other class starts that low, so it offers the most freedom in terms of stat allocation. Oh, and royalty starts with a magic-regenerating item that is very rare and very valuable. Make good use of that soul arrow spell and you shouldn't have too hard of a time getting through the first area ;)

Ges

05-17-2011, 03:18 AM

D'oh!

Blackdragon

05-17-2011, 04:58 AM

I got my copy. You guys going to be on tonight?

PSN name in sig.

Ges

05-17-2011, 08:15 AM

I'll start my new char tomorrow and hopefully I can get past Phalanx before too long.

Blackdragon

05-17-2011, 08:21 AM

I'm getting owned. I tried to fight the tower knight...didn't go too well. I guess I need to level some more?

Luisfe

05-17-2011, 12:55 PM

Not necessarily, you just have to change your tactics. Levelling up and bruteforcing is not going to help all that much, because even with all that, you would only withstand one or two more hits. A couple more with the Warding spell.

Better equipment helps as well.

CoolOtaku

05-17-2011, 02:28 PM

Like Luis said, it's largely about preparation. Increasing your soul level will help, but it's not the main thing you should focus on. BlackDragon, what kind of equipment/miracles/spells did you use in your fight against the tower knight?

I'll try to hop on tonight for a bit. What time are you thinking you'll be on (in EST, please :p)?

Blackdragon

05-17-2011, 04:49 PM

I only have basic equips. Leather armors, and a broadsword. Can't really keep enough souls to buy anything.

I also started with the hunter class.

Ges

05-17-2011, 05:01 PM

Use my favorite strategy: run up, R2, get the hell out of there, repeat

Phakiel

05-17-2011, 06:07 PM

Hehe I did that.

Blackdragon

05-17-2011, 06:17 PM

That works on 1 v 1 duels. Not so much when there's archers and a knight clumped together with a dragon breathing down the bridge.

Cool, what's your PSN account?

I'll be on most of the day. If not playing this, then Disgaea. Just send me a message.

CoolOtaku

05-17-2011, 07:49 PM

Ah, you gotta clear out those archers first, man. That makes it a hell of a lot easier. I'll hop on in a little bit most likely and send you a friend request.

The strategy I used last time on the tower knight was to clear out all the archers as usual, and then just stay behind him (cautiously, mind you), wacking at his heels whenever I got the chance. Took a while cause I chose not to use the crescent falchion +1. I do love that weapon, but it gets old playing the same way too often, ya know?

Oh, and just because it takes the guesswork out of the whole process, go here (http://www.demonssouls.info/level-range.php) to calculate what soul level others have to be to play with you. What matters is the person doing the summoning I believe. The range expands as your soul level increases significantly, but at low levels you really can't be more than ten or so apart from each other.

Luisfe

05-17-2011, 07:57 PM

Another easy (if cheesy) way is to kill all the archers, then plink away at the Tower Knight's head with magic or arrows. Bring a bunch of arrows.

You can also kill the dragon that way.

Mark

05-17-2011, 08:18 PM

I am the Royalty class. I just used soul arrow to kill most of the bosses including the Red Dragon. arrows though I have found is much better then magic...just because you can aim in first person. below is a good way to lv up for lower lv people. just have to beat 4-1 first.

tip for those trying to lv up. in 4-2 the grim reaper at the beginning of the map you can buy a bow and fire arrows and you can kill the reaper pretty fast sniping him down. when you jump down and go left there is a hidden door halfway up the stairs with a really hard red skeleton (lure him out shoot him run away until he turns around and continue till he is dead, outside you find a small path to the left that will take you to the beginning of 4-2 but there is a dead soldier with the white bow and 10 white arrows. you need 24 dex to us the bow, but with it you can kill the reaper in the beginning with only 3 fire arrows, making it easy to level up. best way till you make it to the very end of to lv up I have found.

Phakiel

05-17-2011, 09:00 PM

I'll be on most of the day. If not playing this, then Disgaea. Just send me a message.

Gravely off topic but how is Disgaea (3?)?

CoolOtaku

05-17-2011, 09:08 PM

Gravely off topic but how is Disgaea (3?)?

It's fantastic and terribly addicting.

Mark

05-18-2011, 02:22 AM

I agree. the disgaea series is highly addictive, and awesome. highly recommend starting from Disgaea 1 and working your way up though. I wish Laharl had more story time...

Ges

05-18-2011, 02:55 AM

Whenever you feel comfortable with Level 5-1, beat the boss there for a Poison Gas/Smoke magic spell that makes everything else soooo much easier.

I killed half the bosses, especially that douchebag Doran, with it. Makesnthe second go round with the Tower Knight much better.

CoolOtaku

05-18-2011, 03:06 AM

Ges, you actually got poison cloud to work on bosses? o_o I never got that to work and not for lack of trying.

So I was trying to join up with Blackdragon earlier and guess what! He was able to connect to the Demon's Souls servers, but I was not :( Looks like there's still a fair bit to be ironed out with getting everything back to normal :/

Blackdragon

05-18-2011, 05:49 AM

My guy doesn't have access to any spells. His Faith and Magic is only at 8 anyway...

Also Disgaea is as addictive as always. Though I had to stop playing because Demon Souls gave me a headache.

CoolOtaku

05-18-2011, 03:47 PM

You can use magic and miracles when "magic" and "faith" are at 10 respectively. Even just having soul arrow or flame toss can help immensely the first time through the game.

Gonna give Demon's Souls another shot today to see if I can't get it working.

Ges

05-18-2011, 05:07 PM

Yeah, I Poison Clouded the Red Dragon/Blue Dragon, Doran, Tower Knight (in NG+), Penetrator, Allant, Flamelurker in NG+ (thank God), The miniboss you get the Grey Soul from in 4-1, Blind guy in 4-2, Storm King (albeit with arrows, not Clouded) and Miralda, BP Ostrava, and Scirvir.

None of them took more than about 5 casts to poison. Maybe it has something to do with my high Luck? :P

CoolOtaku

05-18-2011, 09:32 PM

Who knows, it could be. That's quite a prolific poisoning resume you have there :p I think they patched it at one point so that you couldn't use.... "deadly cloud," is that it? The plague one. People were using it on Flamelurker especially.

Phakiel

05-18-2011, 09:39 PM

I am incredibly scared of this game, its like you are talking about your strategies and they are quite intricate. I am also curious.

Ges

05-18-2011, 09:50 PM

I'm the douche that used every cheap tactic I could find.

Absolutely use the Wiki. It was my bible when I was playing. Also, don't be afraid to Youtube the bosses beforehand. :P

For anyone wondering, I went with the Thief. High DEX And INT and huge LUCK to start. I have since boosted those even more, along with Str / Vit (my Magic and Faith are hideously low, though)

Regarding online with you guys, I think they might have shuttered it again due to a loophole hackers could use, maybe for a few days or something. If I can still get on, though, I will tonight.

Phakiel

05-18-2011, 09:53 PM

I take it with this game this would not feel like cheating, more like necessary assistance.

CoolOtaku

05-18-2011, 10:05 PM

The strategies aren't quite so complicated in practice. Most of the time.

The wiki is indeed fantastic. And I have used plenty of douchey tactics. Plenty. Maneater? Arrows only for the first half of the battle. Before entering the boss battle area. Allant? Arrows until he was down to like a quarter health. That didn't stop him from slaughtering me numerous times, of course, but it did eventually work.

Trying to discover everything in the game on your own would take forever, I swear.

Ges

05-18-2011, 10:20 PM

The feeling you get beating the bosses is amazing, even if you hid behind some rocks and took potshots with Soul Arrow.

:P

CoolOtaku

05-18-2011, 10:34 PM

Flamelurker had it coming, okay!!

Luisfe

05-19-2011, 04:33 AM

Fuuuuuuuuck the Maneater. I am never doing that fight legitimately. Ever.

CoolOtaku

05-19-2011, 04:42 AM

Yeah... you really gotta know what you're doing so that you can go fast enough. Otherwise it just turns into you watching yourself get raped as you're unable to do anything. Oh, look. That's the ledge you just fell from. Weeeeeeee.

Fuck Maneater -_-

CoolOtaku

05-19-2011, 06:29 PM

Last I tried, Demon's Souls connected to the servers just fine, so hopefully I'll be able to join up with some of you guys soon. Phak, you gonna be playing anytime soon?

Phakiel

05-19-2011, 08:32 PM

No.

Ges

05-20-2011, 06:39 PM

Well, I have my new char past the Phalanx, Soul Lv. 11. Ready for some action. I went Female Knight.

Wow is it so much quicker when you know what you're doing. First playthrough of 1-1 took 3 hours, this time: 30mins. Still got annihilated by Vanguard in the intro section, though.

CoolOtaku

05-20-2011, 09:26 PM

Haha, I got destroyed by the Vanguard when making my female magician. So embarrassing. He seemed especially angry that time >_>

I got her to about soul level 12 I think. Of course I most likely won't be able to play until I finish graduating and move out and all that. This shit is far too busy :/