I remember back then, in the distant 2009, I found it on a store shelf on sale and bought it without knowing what it was. I played it, got frustrated with the difficulty, and abandoned it for a month. I returned to it, determined to learn it, and eventually, it became my first Platinum trophy.
The above is the essence of Demon's Souls, in a few words. It is a difficult game that doesn't hold the player's hand but instead constantly punishes them. However, when the player finally understands what they need to do and starts progressing, the feeling is incredible. The fact that Bluepoint essentially took the 2009 game and changed only the graphics, without altering the gameplay and mechanics, shows how well-crafted the original was.
And, although it may initially seem unfair to the player due to its difficulty, it is anything but - even the strongest bosses can become manageable and be defeated with the starting equipment if the player recognizes the patterns and the strategy they need to follow. It is not a game where power surpasses everything, as even with the best equipment in the game, a wrong move can cost dearly.
The freedom it gives to players is incredible, with no restrictions on equipment and magic combinations. Each player can create a character as they wish and, along the way, transform them into anything they want. Experimentation reaches new levels, especially in multiplayer, as there are even "clubs" for PvP, and player battles are incredibly interesting.
But beyond the fantastic gameplay, the world and characters are very well-written. The player gradually discovers information about what has happened, the characters, their nature, and everything in general, trying to connect the puzzle pieces to draw their conclusions. Even years later, the story remains a major topic of discussion in the community, with players constantly discovering new things or interpreting them in new ways.
The graphics of the remaster are incredible, and the aesthetics as well: a dark fantasy RPG with everything from towering castles and Mindflayers to dark swamps, dragons, and gods. Seeing all of this with such well-crafted 3D models, amazing effects, and zero loading times when transitioning from one area to another, the world of Demon's Souls is refreshed without changing the elements that made it unique from the beginning. It is one of the games that every PS5 owner should play, as long as they have a little patience.