Demon's Souls

An absolute blueprint on how to remake a beloved title and meaningfully improve upon on it in ways that new cutting edge technologies make possible, Demon's Souls on PlayStation 5 is more than just the best launch game for any system in recent memory. Its re-emergence and digestible approach to its seemingly daunting challenge now opens the door once more to an all-new generation of PlayStation gamers to a kickstart a second coming for Souls subgenre. Demon's Souls is nothing less than a breathless triumph in every way.

Whoever said that dying was not fun has clearly never played Demon's Souls. This game is brutal, but it will lovingly hold your hand as you die for the hundredth time.

But then Demon’s Souls isn’t just any old game. Originally only released in Japan, the hardcore action RPG gained reverence through pure word of mouth, eventually leading to the more successful Dark Souls trilogy, which went on to influence whole generations of game developers, even if very few could ever match its greatness.

Today From Software is rightfully recognized as one of the most influential and talented studios in the gaming industry, but before they took the world by storm with the likes of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there was Demon’s Souls. Released at the tail end of the 2000s, Demon’s Souls attracted a passionate cult audience, but the rest of the world wasn’t quite ready for its sadistic charms. The game was a moderate success, but sales numbers were nowhere near what From Software would later achieve with Dark Souls. The game was quietly relegated to publisher Sony’s back...

Demon's Souls is not a game for everyone. Actually, I take that back; it's most definitely something everyone should try, but the look, seemingly unforgiving nature and themes might be a bit off-putting. Don't let them be. Every single person that owns a PS3 should at the very least rent this game to see what all the fuss is about, and those that can remember the good ol' days when games taught through the highly effective use of intense punishment and a heavy price for not playing it carefully should scoop this up instantly. It's utterly unique among the offerings on any console right now, an...

The Demon's Souls remake might be the only true next-gen experience on PS5. Here is our review.

Beautifully remade from the ground up, Bluepoint's visual reinterpretation of FromSoftware's 11-year-old classic is a powerful launch title that brings excitement into the generation to come.

It was as quick as the first death that instantly sent me careening back to memories of the original Demon’s Souls. I didn’t end up playing the 2009 title until 2011, but the arduous experience of getting the Platinum trophy sated my need for the Souls genre for the next decade. I missed Dark Souls, Dark Souls II, Dark Souls III, and yes, I even missed Bloodborne despite having access to it free on PlayStation Plus. (Okay, I did play the Souls-inspired Sekiro.) Yes, I know the genre improved on many of its pain points over time, but still, the return to Demon’s Souls haunted me in the run up t...

Demon's Souls is a pitch-perfect example of how great risk can make the rewards taste all the sweeter. One of the most unique RPGs in years.

An unforgiving, unrelenting classic reborn for a new generation, Demon's Souls is no more accessible now than it was back in 2010 (though the frame rate is much better). If you've ever been the slightest bit curious about the Souls series then you can revisit ground zero in all its glory, making for one of the best PlayStation launch titles of all time.

Demon’s Souls will really click with some people who like a challenge, or for anyone desperate for a PS5 technical showcase. For Sony loyalists who already love Soulsborne games, it’s a dream come true. Bluepoint Games is the king of remakes, and it’ll take a fight as difficult as a Demon’s Souls boss before anyone can dethrone them. Inverse can’t wait to see what Bluepoint will do next on PS5, especially if it’s with a game that more people can easily enjoy.

If you really enjoy a challenge in your games this game delivers with something always awaiting players to test their skill, and patience.