Despite being ten years old, the recent remake of FromSoftware’s cult classic Demon’s Souls is introducing the brutal adventure to a whole new legion of gamers as a PS5 launch title. The game is notable not only for its incredible difficulty, however. The new audience is observing the title with fresh eyes, experiencing all the surprises in store while venturing through the five Archstones.
The way levels are designed and how players unwrap the mystery around the enemies and the environment is why it is so beloved. veteran fans may know all these secrets, but they can appreciate the excitement of stumbling upon a wild secret or experiencing one of the game’s unique mechanics many are experiencing for the first time.
10 The First Time Messages Work
Players leave small messages for each other you can read. They are often short phrases meant to help or say something fun. The first time it actually works is truly something special. Standing before a fog door to read a message saying “no demons here” is a huge relief and lets you breathe easy knowing no boss is on the other side of the cloudy door. This help system reminds one of Journey or Death Stranding.
9 Getting Invaded
In addition to being helpful, more malicious gamers can also invade your game while you are in human form and try to take you out. The shock of this happening will probably take you off guard the first couple of times. As surprisingly frustrating as this is the first few times, the first victory is sweet as pie. To even things out, you can also rain on other players’ parades.
8 Two Maneaters
The Maneater is one of the toughest bosses in the game due to its power and the play area where it is too easy to fall off the edge. You find a solid strategy and manage to live in the battle for more than a couple of minutes only to discover another Maneater enter the fray. This moment feels truly overwhelming. However, like all things in this game, every challenge is manageable with a little thought and experimentation.
7 Fractured Mode
This is one of the two surprises for avid Demon’s Souls fans. There is an extra way to play the game for those who know the title like the back of their hand.
Fractured Mode, unlocked by offering 25,000 Souls to the statue on the ground floor of the Nexus, flips the map horizontally, acting like a mirror mode. It is surprising how much a simple reverse changes the dynamic of a level.
6 Dragons
These games are known for their difficulty, but some beasts just seem too big to ever take on. Entering Boletaria for the first time reveals a dragon flying overhead. You might think this is just set dressing, but then the next area has you running across a bridge as the same dragon breathes fire across it. Even the most stoic players were shaking at the knees when they came across this part of the map.
5 The Old One
After beating all the bosses, the Maiden opens up the Nexus and you jump down below to find the Old One who is causing all the distress. The beast is absolutely massive and players actually go inside of it to activate the game’s ending. Fortunately, at this point, the hardest battles in the game have already been won and the last boss is a cakewalk. Just sit back and enjoy the final cinematic and end credits.
4 Old King Doran
Ostrava of Boletaria is felled by the end of the game and he gives you a Mausoleum Key Use this in the first area of the first Archstone. Inside is the old king, who you fight momentarily to prove your worth. After he finds you worthy, he gives you a special sword. Depending on one’s build this sword will have little use, but uncovering the secret and finding the king is gift enough.
3 Old Monk
The Old Monk boss fight that concludes the third Archstone takes advantage of the multiplayer features. The cinematic preceding the bout is unskippable because the game is searching for a player to control the boss. This was especially innovative for a 2009 game. Depending on the enemy’s skill level, this can be one of the most infuriating boss fights. If you’re lucky, the other player will drop out before you pass through the fog door.
2 New Door
While most of the game is unchanged from the original release, Bluepoint added a new door hidden in the third area of the castle behind a wall.
Players did not quite understand how to open it at first, but eventually, the key was found by trading 34 coins, found only in the game’s Fractured Mode, with Sparkly the Crow. Inside the room is a new armor set. The reward is nothing to write home about, but the real treasure was the new secret for fans to uncover.
1 Biorr
Biorr is found in a prison in the second area of the first Archstone right before the Tower Knight fight. After rescuing him, he will come to your aid during the Penetrator boss fight. This moment is especially poignant because so much of the game is spent alone and you generally take on bosses solo if you do not summon other players. If you were already having trouble with this encounter, hearing Biorr’s words comes as an incredible sigh of relief. Biorr still needs your help, but he makes Penetrator a breeze.
