The future looks very bright for fans of From Software games and Souls-likes in general. The announcement of the studio's next full title, Elden Ring, sent the community into a tizzy of speculation and hype for very good reason, while news of a Demon's Souls remake by Bluepoint Games and rumors of Bloodborne on the PS5 have garnered another wave of excitement in recent weeks. While Bloodborne 2 is still just a rumor at this point, the confirmed Elden Ring and Demon's Souls remake will play out against each other in a unique way.

Demon's Souls is the granddaddy of Souls-likes, but even after all the Dark Souls games, Bloodborne, and Sekiro, it has yet to be matched in a few key areas. Memory of the classic progenitor of the genre has faded over time, but with a remake, it will be far easier to compare modern Souls-like games to Demon's Souls. While it is unknown how far apart Elden Ring and Demon's Souls remake will release from each other, it will be impossible not to draw parallels between the original game and what will be the most recent iteration of the formula.

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What Made Demon's Souls Special

Demon's Souls holds a unique place in the heart of practically anyone who got to play it through. It was the first true Souls game, and it had some of the most innovative and unique characteristics of any game in the series. That said, there were plenty of shortcomings that prevented it from reaching the status of its successor, Dark Souls. Demon's Souls was even clunkier and less polished than Dark Souls, which was by no means perfect, and it had some features that were far too punishing even for a From Software game. On top of that, its limited release and PS3 exclusivity have kept it firmly in the realm of cult classics.

What Demon's Souls got right even more so than any other Souls-like game was atmosphere. The unique blend of beauty, creepiness, darkness, and intensity that is a Souls-like signature was at its height in Demon's Souls. Even the haunting beauty of Dark Souls 3 and Sekiro can't quite match up to the presentation of Demon's Souls sinister yet enchanting aura. In fact, characters like the Firekeeper from Dark Souls 3 were directly inspired by designs from Demon's Souls. A remake will make the game's atmosphere all the more clear, bringing it into the modern era of gaming.

Demon's Souls also had a variety of unique mechanics that set it apart from many games to come, including one of the best hub worlds. The ability to tackle each area in any order, the puzzle-like boss design, and even more obscure mechanics like world tendency are all part of what makes Demon's Souls so unique in the field of Souls-likes. There is a lot of material there for Elden Ring to hearken back to, allowing it to be an evolution of everything the original did right.

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What Elden Ring Should Learn

elden ring

Elden Ring already seems to be taking certain cues from Demon's Souls. If Elden Rings rumors and leaks are to be believed, there will be several areas that branch off from the main world, which will be accessible in any order. Demon's Souls was the first and possibly only Souls-game to have a similar system, with each main area accessible from the hub world from the very start of the game. Difficulty was determined more by playstyle and available items, rather than levels. It seems like Elden Ring may do something similar, with each class better suited to certain areas of the game.

Likewise, Elden Ring's much deeper RPG mechanics set it apart from the likes of Bloodborne and Sekiro, both of which pushed for a more uniform style of play. Demon's Souls also relied heavily on RPG mechanics, even more than Dark Souls games. Elden Ring is shaping up to be quite similar to Demon's Souls, which will make the comparison even more fitting. Elden Ring will certainly surpass Demon's Souls in scale, complexity, and polish, but if it does not also evolve in the subjective realms of storytelling and atmosphere, it may not be a favorable comparison.

The biggest thing that Elden Ring should learn from Demon's Souls is how to build atmosphere. Environmental storytelling and level design has always been a From Software strong suit, but looking back on the game that lit the spark can reveal the secret sauce that results in such immersive worlds. The involvement of George RR Martin as a lore consultant indicates that the world building will be up to standard, but the way it is presented will rely on a unique mix of artwork, music, sound design, lighting, and all the other components that go into building a game's atmosphere.

There are some parts of Demon's Souls in which too many sacrifices were made in the name of atmosphere. The most glaring example of that is the Valley of Defilement, a sprawling swamp level with practically no landmarks, steeped in poison, and crawling with enemies. Miserable swamp levels are a staple of Souls-likes, but the Valley of Defilement is a step too far. It has great atmosphere, but just isn't fun in any way. If Elden Ring can strike the perfect balance, it will be the ideal successor in From Software's long line of fantastic titles.

Elden Ring is in development for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Demon's Souls Remake is currently in development for PS5.

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