Split-Screen :: The Game-Geek’s Daily Read

By Ravi Sinha

Playing Halo 3: ODST in the past few weeks, I’ve had several rough opinions about the game, which I will most definitely share in a future review. However, at no point did I feel ODST was representing any real revelation in the industry – not the result of a new economic climate that prompts games with shorter dev cycles and full retail prices but more of a reminder of the bankability of the Halo franchise. Don’t get me wrong: Microsoft and Bungie have worked long and hard to ensure Halo has the following it does, in terms of publicity, marketing and gameplay. Not to mention building a cognizable mascot in 8 years, that too in a climate of such legends as Sonic the Hedgehog, Link, Mario and more (for better or worse, many a gamer, hardcore and not, know about the Chief). Halo 3: ODST represents more of a juncture, a rest stop to the next mega-epic that is Halo: Reach than an actual defining period in gaming.

This article was inspired by an interesting article by G4TV, pointed out to me by a rather repulsive specimen of our species earlier today. This is in no mind a critique of their opinions on Halo 3: ODST – unless they resort to full blown lying about the game, they’re as welcome to their opinions as any one else. The article’s basis is interesting however, in how it views ODST as catering to a risk-taking style of game development. That is, give your long-time players a completely different experience, in equal lengths pushing their perceptions as well as reinforcing familiarities. The author ends by stating that we need more games such as this. Games that try new things but hold our hands throughout the experience, reminding us every now and then that it is indeed a fragment of the franchise we love.

On that note, I point towards From Software’s Demon’s Souls on the Playstation 3.

Just the sheer contention that this is an exclusive title is enough to ruffle fanboy feathers. The headline may even lead people to believe that we need more games like Demon’s Souls and not like ODST.

Said people can view this as a fanboy rant, but I view Demon’s Souls in the league of such efforts as Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories, Contra 4, Devil May Cry 3, Sonic Advance 2, Portal, Icewind Dale, Baldur’s Gate 2, even From Software’s very own Frame Gride – titles which are bound as much by their platform status as they are by tout definitions of gaming.

Like these games, Demon’s Souls is not a difficult game. As such it’s governed by liberal judgment as it is blatant heroism. It is incredibly punishing in that it punishes not ineptitude but the actions influencing it. And in that punishing framework, it doesn’t so much encourage death as it rewards the value of life. Your character must not only be carefully selected on the basis of his class but maintained carefully, much like your own self. Treat yourself like crap and the world will reflect your actions. The same goes for Demon’s Souls. If you’ve read enough reviews of the game, you’ll know about it’s devious “co-op” options.

Which leads me to the exact point: Demon’s Souls doesn’t just do new things. It gives you new ways to do things differently. It gives you a mechanic, and when you’re comfortable with it, jacks it up by a factor of 10 with new options, hacks, anti-hacks and twists.

Demon’s Souls is both anti-social and social, hardcore and all-encompassing. It’s a game constantly encouraging players to not so much as wallow and experiment, but explore all possibilities. Like the possibility of by-passing many levels of fighting in Disgaea 2 through clever use of tower throwing. Like the possibility that timing and carefully planning your route through a level in Sonic Advance 2 is fundamental to a good score because they add on to the main appeal of the game: Speed (do thing smartly, go faster, get a better score). Not to mention Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, which is as much to a throwback to “old-school games” as the above titles.

The main appeal of Demon’s Souls lies in it’s nature to not simply give you something different and then pander to an enjoyment you’re supposed to feel based on emotional attachment to the franchise or being different just for the fuck of it. Demon’s Souls is a game that encourages you to bend rules, follow rules, cheat, pester, haunt, annoy, ravage, duel and win all under the banner of one golden rule: Your wits are as important as your instincts. Put one above the other at any point, but true perfection (and which gamer doesn’t want to be perfect in a game that makes it worthwhile?) can be attained by a balance of the two. Also, as a side note, I can confidently say that any MMO developer who wants to incorporate a single-player experience within a multiplayer environment should take Demon’s Souls as their central dogma. It can be done, and more importantly, this is the best way to do it (thus far).

Demon’s Souls will kill you, again and again. It makes it painless and quick. But the deaths slowly and slowly become painful and slower. Then they become less. Then that giant towering knight’s helmet is your newest hat. None of this happens before you know it – because Demon’s Souls reminds you, at every step of the way, that if you’re making the ingenuous/insane/clever/out-of-the-box effort, you’re being rewarded. And having a hell of a lot of fun all the while. Only the best and most addictive games can pull that off, and it’s worth the gaming industry’s while to invest in more efforts like Demon’s Souls.