Dark Souls Is Pretty Much The Same Game with Better Graphics and Checkpoints, Sweet. (Hands On)

Ripten: Is Dark Souls a true indirect sequel, or just a dumbed down version of the 2009 hit RPG, Demon’s Souls?

When From Software released Demon’s Souls on the Playstation 3, it hit gamers in many different ways. It was deep, challenging, and offered a vast amount of satisfaction upon completing just about anything in the game. Dark Souls is no different. It’s almost an exact replica of Demon’s Souls which in some ways is a bad thing, but also a good thing.

So before you ask, yes Dark Souls is hard. Yes, you will die a lot. The first thing you’ll notice about Dark Souls is the character models and environments. While some of the previous environments from Demon’s Souls are still present, they’ve been completely revamped. It has the Demon’s Souls look and feel, but the game is more colorful and vastly more detailed than ever. You’ll see miles of beautiful green forest over the castle walls, moss growing through each brick and it really makes the world of Dark Souls feel more a...

[Chug]

Dark Souls will be getting my full attention this fall. Cant wait.

[xPhearR3dx]

It's definitely a fun game to play and the graphics look so much better than Demon's Souls. Can't wait until I can play it some more.

[BeOneWithTheGun]

So I got that special reward for getting all the glyphs on preparetodie.com. Anyone know what it is going to give me in the game? I'm fricking dying to know.

[EVILDEAD360]

Demons Souls was sipmly addicting crack. Hours flew by like minutes. But I'm not going to lie..I must have restarted that game over and over at least 5 times. Playing as certain characters was fun, but ridiculously hard.

Checkpoints would provide the kind of progression that we are normally used to from other titles, but to be honest once you figured out HOW to progress DS, the games system made complete sense.

Been a From Software fan boy since the old King's Field days and Demon's Souls simply knocked it out of the ballpark.

Can't wait till October to jump into this new world. It'll definately be a bonus to have the option to play for achievements this time as well.

Evil

[DaTruth]

Looks like once again I will be practically ignoring Uncharted... and I am a huge Uncharted fan who pre-ordered UC:DF!

Demon's Souls was just amazing to play gameplay wise and the combat mechanics are just done so well with amazing controls. I literally had severe index finger pain from playing this game until GOW3 and Final Fantasy released to let me use my thumbs instead!

Playing Two Worlds 2 made me appreciate just how tuned Demon's Souls controls really were!

[led1090]

i don't care if its a copy and paste. They said it will be 60 hours, and 60 hours full of awesome demon souls-like gameplay is epic....epic i say

[DragonKnight]

That's 60 hours if you just go straight through and play only once, which no one will. Demon's Souls was the kind of game that people put hundreds, if not thousands, of hours into. Dark Souls will be no less.

[Ch1d0r1]

thousands?

[DragonKnight]

Yeah. I mean 1000 hours is only equal to just under 42 days. And DS has been out for a few years and people are still playing it.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

I agree, Im actually happy to hear this guy say that. I was worried that they might change it too much.

But it seems to just be more demons souls, and thats awesome.

[Prcko]

i know,and that's why i won't buy it!!!

[sdtarm]

you wont buy it cuz you cant afford it

[Goeres]

There will be a time when you need to spread your wings and fly. Dont let the devs hold your hand for too long!

[MysticStrummer]

Demon's Souls is still my Game of the Generation, so I'd say you'll be missing out big time, but whatever.

[DragonKnight]

Too hard for you? Not enough tutorials, auto-health regeneration, and cover mechanics?

[Kee]

It is the same game. I want it to be. Demon's souls was incredible.

[midgard227]

same game but better, they have alot of new features that wasn't in demons souls, things like hiding in coffins and waiting till a player comes by then stealing his body is epic, new bosses, dungeons and baddies obviously aswell.

the only improvement I could ask for in this game is better character creation process, with better lookings faces. maybe some unique wieerd weapon types like Bladed Leg Greaves, but who cares, this game will be my GOTY

@MYK1992

Checkpoints are needed in dark souls, cuz its open world, there is no Nexus lol

[Miiikeyyy]

Awww I don't want checkpoints! Just finished Demon's souls few days ago and although It was extremely frustrating, I actually thought it was better that it didn't have checkpoints!

[-Alpha]

Yeah same :/

Though, Demon's Souls had mid-game checkpoints, but I hope we don't see a lot of them in between

As long as it's harder I wont care though

[xPhearR3dx]

They're actually not that bad. You have to find and activate them so it's not like you can just run to a certain spot while in a fight and hit a "checkpoint". Honestly they're more spawn points than anything. The enemies still respawn from where you came from, and the checkpoints are some what hidden, at least in the demo I played.

There was a good amount of area to explore and there was only 2 checkpoints. One right were you started so the developer could explain them and how they work and what not. Then one hidden in a random room that had a staircase that leaded no where.

If you enjoyed Demon's Souls, you'll feel right at home with this game.

EDIT: Oh and as midgard227 said, there's no more Nexus so they're somewhat needed.

@Alpha - Yea it's really not that bad at all. Less backtracking while keeping the game as hard as Demon's Souls if not harder, is a good thing IMO.

[-Alpha]

@Pheared

Awe, I liked the Nexus

But that doesn't sound bad either.

I'm so pumped for it, I'm going to try and attempt the platinum in anticipation for Demon's Souls

[BeOneWithTheGun]

@Alpha....lol, I hope your not married if you are going for the plat.

[Bonobo12345]

one of the few RPG's where the dev's don't hold your hand all he way through,

It's nice, makes me feel like a man.

[negroguy]

Checkpoints will probably take away that gratification I got when beating a level in Demon Souls. Not a Day 1 but i'll definitely be picking it up.

[Anderson8]

i think they're necessary as there will be no nexus

..i just wanna slay a blue dragon

[zerocrossing]

Demons Souls was my game of the year 2009, Cant wait for Dark Souls it looks awesome!! Glad to hear its going to retain what made its predecessor so great.

[FEARprototype]

better graphic....the magic word.

[firemassacre]

this, skyrim, battlefield 3, batman arkham city, uncharted 3, resistance 3, bioshock infinite and journey are at the top of my list, loved demons souls, have not watched one gameplay of dark souls because i do not want to spoil it. GONNA BE BROKE....ahh and the vita. EVEN MORE BROKE!

[Flummoxxed]

Now if only we could import our demon's souls characters... ;) This is the only upcoming game I can't wait play... hope multiplayer is the same with the addition of in game chat...

[xPhearR3dx]

I asked the developer about mutliplayer, he said it was the same exact thing, but there will be a few "surprises" players will find out. So I doubt they'll be talking much about it in the future if they want to keep it a surprise.

[MysticStrummer]

In game chat would ruin the atmosphere. I just want them to make it easier to join a friend's game. No chat though.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Xbox 360 have Cross game chat, so is very likely players will use that feature for Dark Souls.

[DragonKnight]

"Xbox 360 have Cross game chat, so is very likely players will use that feature for Dark Souls."

Then they'll ruin the game for themselves. And I swear to The Old One that I'd better not hear any 360 fans bad mouthing the game because they don't see or feel the atmosphere after they're using their damn chat.

I think that From Software will definitely gain a success with this one. Demon's Souls was almost universally well-received and praised. It's not a stretch to say that every PS3 fan of DS will pick up Dark Souls.

[MysticStrummer]

Yeah, the 360 players will probably ruin the atmosphere for themselves. Oh well. It would be cool if the game could prohibit the use of Cross Game Chat, but I guess that wouldn't be allowed by Microsoft. Games like this are why I would disable Cross Game Chat if I had it as an option.

[BeOneWithTheGun]

I heard a rumor that they are disabling the party chat feature on the 360 version as in you cannot use it while playing the game...????

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

HAHAH why should they prohibit the use of cross game chat.

People should be able to use it if they want. if the game has chat you can just mute it.

I dont have a mic on my ps3 and I will probably get it for that, so I dont care either way. But If I was playing with a friend who I know then I would want to talk to them while playing the game.

I bet that if they add voice chat then people on ps3 wont play with me because I have no mic for it.

edit- there are games that prohibit the use of cross game chat, its up to the devs if they want to do it. I know that COD has some modes where cross game chat is disabled.

So the devs could disable cross game chat if they want. it might make people mad tho if they want to play with a buddy. I think thet the game should have no chat system but they should allow people to use cross game chat if they want to.

but if there is no way to join a game with a buddy, then there is no need for any type of chat.

I wont be talking to anybody while playing this because none of my real life friends are cool enough to play this game.

[JasonBloodbourne]

This is my most anticipated game this year! u can keep your guns! swords are for real gamers!

[DragonKnight]

And men.

[JasonBloodbourne]

yeah that too lol

[kza]

LOVED Demons Souls its near enough perfect and this sounds even better. Cant wait!!

[Tex117]

This article doesn't even mention the new take on on-line.

[Jocosta]

Off topic, is it just me or should a "jounalist" not drop the f bomb in an article?Seems really infantile to me and its getting worse in game journalism. Back to the game, I happen to like the bonfire idea, it did get tiresome backtracking in Demon Souls.

[mook1022]

Loved Demons Souls Will love this and anything else thee guys put out...similarities or not!!!

[GamersRulz]

as a PS3 only gamer, I cant wait to see the 360 gamers reaction to this awesome game, they're gonna suffer a lot XD

[JasonBloodbourne]

they'll be lost without their smgs and sniper rifles!! lol

[8bit_Nes_Rambo]

Fine by me. Demon's Souls is my game of the generation so far. Surprised nothing about the Gravelord was mentioned.

[Ch1d0r1]

im not down with these checkpoints... I guess ill have to play it first.

[Jocosta]

Hmmm, wonder why I got disagrees.

[hiredhelp]

I was one of thoes few that wanted deamon souls but never got myself to buying it but read soo much about it. well this has been on preorder list for a good 2 months. i cant wait to see what they have done.

[Zomboid-G]

You should get DS if just for preparing yourself. I think they're selling it pretty cheap now, too;)

[spacetoilet]

The dumbing down of video games continues onward.

Oh, and I love how most sycophants always 'explain' how the dumbing down, is not dumbing down. Strange.

[DragonKnight]

If you're talking about the checkpoints, the game is open world and thus would require some measure of spawning locations. That's what the checkpoints are.

If you're talking about graphics, that's not what this game is about. This game is about the long lost art of gameplay. The oldschoolers like me appreciate this so much more than any other "modern" game because this gen has forgotten what games are about. I'll give you a hint, games are NOT about graphics.

If you're implying about difficulty, trust me when I say this game is harder than anything you've played this gen.