170
rate

8 Things JRPGs Could Learn from Demon's Souls

November 15, 2009 in Blog comments 9

Demon's Souls is a breath of fresh air in a pretty stale genre, it gives you quite the challenge and gives you a different take on the RPG genre. Here are some ways RPGs could learn from the game's design.

Demon's Souls is by no means an easy game but only a month past its North American release, it's already gathered a huge fan following (and is a likely shoo-in for numerous best of the year awards). The game separates itself from other RPGs with a near-vertical difficulty curve that demands the respect of anyone who dares trespass in its cursed lands. It's also a very unorthodox RPG, and one that refuses to play by long-set JRPG precedents. Those differences make Demon's Souls a very unique game—one other role-playing titles could learn a thing or two from.
limesour via gamesabyss.com »
Favourite this article Add source
| More
Report!
News story attached to:

Comments

Register as a member to subscribe comments.
  • 1
    Moonrise Nov 16, 09
    I find the comment about difficulty amusing, because JRPGs were originally far more difficult than most western games.
    • 0
      chautemoc* Nov 16, 09
      I seriously doubt that.
    • 0
      Shinikama Nov 16, 09
      Not really. I've been playing them since Final Fantasy, and (except for a few "F--- YOU!" moments) as long as I can get past the first boss, I'm fine. It's the side quests that really suck the life out of you.

      Demon's Souls is difficult throughout, but it always lets you know that YOU made the mistake, instead of wandering into a boss that is too powerful and you had no clue and now have to go back to your last save 2 hours ago (I'm looking at you, FFX).
      • 1
        Moonrise Nov 16, 09
        Clearly you guys haven't ever actually played real JRPGs outside of those released in the US. The original Final Fantasy II and III, as well as Final Fantasy V were considered too difficult to even be released in western markets and when they finally did get released they were nerfed.
        • 0
          Zero and X Nov 16, 09
          Just because they were "considered" to be too difficult, doesn't mean they actually were.
        • 1
          Moonrise Nov 16, 09
          It's easy to say that when you haven't played them, but I have. They were way harder than any other RPGs I had played until that point, and I have played a whole lot of RPGs in my time. Demon's Souls is not much more difficult than a lot of RPGs after you pick up how to play. Nearly all of the bosses in the game can be defeated with cheap tactics, and a majority of the enemies have simple means to defeating them as well. The game is punishing, in the sense that making mistakes will likely kill you, but no worse than a game like Persona 4 and unlike most RPGs, you don't end up having to go back to a save you made an hour or more ago and losing all the items you gained.

          That said: yes, Demon's Souls is a difficult game to pick up, but it's hardly the most difficult RPG I've ever played.
  • 0
    Darknet* Nov 16, 09
    I never understood the anger from JRPG haters about the linearness of the games. JRPGs are about telling you a story. A story that involves a fun battle system.
    • 2
      chautemoc* Nov 16, 09
      I think they like to feel they are influencing the story in some way as opposed to being taken for a ride.
  • 0
    Zero and X Nov 16, 09
    I have to disagree with the make your own hero thing. Both should always be available, not just one. I like both of them personally, I like making my own hero and I like having an already established character of which I can relate to.

This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.