The remake of Demon's Souls is one of the flagship PlayStation 5 titles that is sure to attract a wealth of newcomers to the brutal franchise. While veterans will still have their own hurdles to jump through, new fans might need a bit of guidance in order to tackle one of the PS5's best launch titles.
The Soulsborne games are known for their high difficulty and brutally punishing gameplay. Demon's Souls, the first entry to the series, is no exception and definitely benefits from a helping hand for new players who might find some of the mechanics a bit confusing or overwhelming.
One of the first bosses players will encounter is the Phalanx, a daunting blob covered in intimidating shields. While this boss might seem scary, it really isn't that difficult to take down and with a few tricks, players will see that health bar reach zero in no time. To start, it's recommended to check out a guide on the starting classes, to find one that suits the player's gameplay style. Thankfully though, Phalanx isn't terribly reliant on which starting class is chosen, as there are a few items players will come across on their way to the Phalanx that will quickly fell the beast.
As players navigate the Boletarian Palace and collect some level building souls, some careful snooping will gift them with Firebombs and Pine Resin, two items that are key to exposing the Phalanx's weakness to fire. After making it all the way to the Phalanx, players should begin the fight by tossing their Firebombs at the Phalanx in order to take off a significant chunk of damage as well as killing some of the shield wielding foes surrounding the blue orb within. Once an opening has been made, use the Pine Resin to engulf the player's equipped weapon in flames and begin attacking the Phalanx.
One thing to keep in mind is to be patient with this fight as there is no easy mode. Don't go in expecting to just toss the Firebombs and swipe away with a sword because the Phalanx will release some of its minions that will chase players around the arena but they are easily avoided with some careful dodges. Just focus on the core of the Phalanx, a bright blue light within.
The Royalty class's Soul Arrows are also very useful, but the Firebombs and Pine Resin are exceptionally useful regardless of which class was chosen. The key to Demon's Souls is to be patient and take a deep breath and players will have the Phalanx taken down which will assist in getting the player's health back.
Demon's Souls is available now on PlayStation 5.