The Evolution of Dark Souls: A Superior Upgrade from Demon's Souls

Article Key Points

Dark Souls is often considered the beginning of the Soulslike genre and has had a lasting influence on other games in the genre.

In fact, Demon's Souls marked Hidetaka Miyazaki's initial exploration of the mechanics that would later gain acclaim in the Souls series.

Dark Souls revolutionized gameplay mechanics by introducing game-changing elements like the Estus Flask and a more expansive world, solidifying the success of FromSoftware's formula.

Often acknowledged as the genesis of the Soulslike genre, Dark Souls (2011) has remained a significant release from FromSoftware, solidifying the blueprint that the studio has since followed. It is recognized as the progenitor of numerous concepts that have influenced both Elden Ring and recent forays into the genre by other developers. However, it is worth noting that Demon's Souls (2009) was actually the first project in which Hidetaka Miyazaki experimented with the mechanics that have since become famous. Acting as a spiritual successor, Dark Souls expanded upon the foundation laid by Demon's Souls.

Although Demon's Souls showcased the unique world and gameplay style created by Miyazaki, it was not always under his guidance. Initially facing challenges and the threat of cancellation, the project was taken over by Miyazaki, injecting it with new life. Despite its divisive difficulty and eccentricity, Demon's Souls paved the way for what was to come. Dark Souls followed, introducing a new world and lore, while building upon the concepts established in its spiritual predecessor. The success of the Soulsborne titles eventually led to the remake of Demon's Souls for the PS5, and the first Dark Souls played a significant role in FromSoft's enduring triumph, enhancing and expanding upon its core systems.

The Controversial Design Decisions of Demon's Souls

Tendency Made Demon's Souls a Cruel Experience

Demon's Souls can become increasingly challenging for players due to the World Tendency and Character Tendency systems. World Tendency involves being in either Human Form or Soul Form, with the latter being achieved upon death and reducing the player's HP by half. While Soul Form offers certain benefits such as co-op opportunities, the decrease in health proves to be a significant disadvantage throughout Boletaria. On the other hand, Character Tendency represents a system based on moral choices, manifesting as either Black or White. It responds to the player's actions by altering the world and its NPCs to either make the game easier or more difficult.

Demon's Souls Lacked an Interconnected World

In contrast to what would be observed later, Demon's Souls consisted of various distinct locations that players directly warped to from the hub world. While some players praise the non-linear nature of this approach, it does result in a rather fragmented exploration of Boletaria - making it one of the most disjointed Soulslike experiences. Unlike Dark Souls' Bonfire checkpoints, Demon's Souls replaces them with singular Archstones in each level, leading to repetitive backtracking for players.

Dark Souls' Changes Defined the FromSoftware Formula

Gameplay Tweaks Made All the Difference for Dark Souls' Lasting Success

Although more understated compared to the broader gaming world, alterations such as the inclusion of the refillable healing Estus Flask in Dark Souls as a replacement for the consumable grasses found in Demon's Souls have emerged as significant elements that have endured through to Elden Ring. A prime example is Item Burden, a concept that originated in Demon's Souls and imposed constraints on the number of items a player could carry, parallel to the customary Equipment Burden.

The Freedom of Dark Souls Became a FromSoft Staple

Dark Souls not only features a vast and interconnected world known as Lordran, which can be explored solely on foot, but it also presents boss battles that are more focused on gameplay and offer more freedom. Unlike encounters like the Tower Knight and Fool's Idol, which required prior knowledge, the bosses in Dark Souls are less puzzle-like. Inspired by unconventional fights like the Flamelurker, Dark Souls introduced more straightforward battles that would go on to have a significant impact on the future of the studio.

Dark Souls is a popular franchise available on various platforms such as PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. It was first released on September 22, 2011, and developed by From Software, with Namco Bandai as the publisher. The game falls under the genre of Action RPG and has an ESRB rating of M for Mature due to its depiction of Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, and Violence. You can find more information about the game on the Official Site, Xbox Games Store, Playstation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Steam.

Editor's P/S

Dark Souls is often considered the beginning of the Soulslike genre, and it's easy to see why. The game's interconnected world, challenging combat, and oppressive atmosphere have been praised by critics and players alike. However, it's important to remember that Dark Souls was not the first game in the Soulslike genre. That honor belongs to Demon's Souls, which was released two years prior.

While Demon's Souls was a great game in its own right, it was Dark Souls that truly defined the genre. The game's more interconnected world, streamlined combat, and improved graphics made it a more accessible and enjoyable experience for a wider range of players. Dark Souls also introduced several new gameplay mechanics that would become staples of the genre, such as the Estus Flask and the ability to level up your character.