Demon’s Souls: A Response
Today, I received some feedback on a two-year-old impressions piece I wrote about how much I disliked the beginning of Demon’s Souls. Looking back at it now, I can see that it’s hasty, frustrated, and judgmental. And honestly, I’m embarrassed to have ever posted it in the form it is in.
I didn’t give the game a chance (and I should have known better, having played so many JRPGs with slow beginnings). And while I didn’t write the post for a publication and was not formally reviewing the game as a whole, to judge a game so harshly after less than an hour of struggle is a tough thing to justify. Clearly, the difficulty really got to me. I may have gone in too recklessly, not realizing how much the game is about survival and being cautious (and not about relying on checkpoints or health pickups). I’ve gotten too used to the ease and hand-holding of most modern games that Demon’s Souls overwhelmed me. I didn’t go in with the right attitude: You play Demon’s Souls for the challenge. I was playing it just to play it.
Thanks to your comments, though, I’ve decided to give it another try. I was being ignorant about the game, and just because I felt strongly at the time does not mean I should have made those thoughts public—especially without further reflection. When I have played a substantial amount, then I’ll post some thoughts.
My original impressions:
http://theminibossdiaries.tumblr.com/post/24955049347/what-im-not-gaming-demons-souls
