Atlus has posted another blog entry for its upcoming PS3 game Demon’s Souls. Actually, this one was quite a few days ago, but for some reason Atlus never sent out one of its Faithful e-mails to announce it, so I missed it. Well, such is life…

Here we go, this particular article discusses the DIFFICULTY in the game. One of the things that I’ve seen more frequently attacked here and there in some articles I’ve read… well, there’s a little more to it than that, but you’ll just have to read those articles when I get them posted up later on today (probably right after this article).

Demon’s Souls #5: Difficulty

This fifth entry in the official Demon’s Souls blog addresses the game’s challenge level, something that has been discussed extensively.

Challenging, yes… but unfair?
A lot of folks have made a big deal about how challenging Demon’s Souls is. We should know; at times, we’ve been the first to suggest as much. Few games kill the player off quite as many times as Demon’s Souls, or offer quite as many situations where even one mistake can prove fatal. In the end, however, it serves to greatly amplify the player’s sense of accomplishment when an obstacle is overcome.

Why is it so hard? (that’s what she said)
First off, we feel it is important to stress that Demon’s Souls is tough, but it is not unfair. There are almost no surprises, at least after the first time through an area, and few scenarios that break the established rule set and player expectations. A lot of games generate their difficulty by throwing sudden and unexpected things at the player, or by introducing completely unfamiliar challenges. After 30 minutes in the Kingdom of Boletaria, it is safe to say that most players will rarely be surprised again (being on the edge of their seat is another matter entirely).

In many ways, it isn’t what Demon’s Souls does that makes it harder than other games as much as what it doesn’t do. The game does not hold the player’s hand. Beyond the first tutorial area, almost all of the tips the player will receive will come from other human adventurers through the game’s messaging system. (And if you don’t have an internet connection, you’re going to have to depend on yourself.)

Click to read rest of the blog entry…

.:Categories: Demon's Souls, Sony Playstation 3