Summary
FromSoftware has spent the past decade and a half polishing the gameplay formula established with 2009’sDemon’s Souls, and to great effect. These years of improvement, growth, andexperimentation culminated inElden Ring,a staggeringly large open-world experience that makes the fairly linearDemon’s Soulsappear quaint in comparison.
But the opinion thatElden Ringis the ‘best’ FromSoftware game is far from universal. It is certainly the most ambitious, and perhaps the least frustrating as well, with much-needed quality-of-life features like Statues of Marika making for a smoother, less punishing experience. It’s also the most complex in terms of lore and build variety, making it fertile ground for action-RPG experimentation. But many long-time FromSoftware fans still long for the days ofDemon’s Souls, especially as it pertains to dense, grimdark fantasy atmosphere and tight, focused gameplay with loads of replay value. Indeed,Demon’s Soulsis still a great game all these years later and even does some things better than newer FromSoftware titles.
The Nexus of Demon’s Souls Is FromSoftware’s Best Hub Area
FromSoftware Has an Affection for Hub Areas
Elden Ring’s Roundtable Hold,Bloodborne’s Hunter’s Dream, andDark Souls' Firelink Shrine are all examples of iconic hub areas in FromSoftware games. The function of such areas can vary depending on the game, as something like Firelink Shrine isn’t actually a separate hub world (at least, not inDark Souls 1), but is rather a sort of centralized home base, housing merchants and other friendly NPCs.
By comparison, something like the Hunter’s Dream or Roundtable Hold is totally cut off from the rest of the game world, although they can serve mostly the same purpose as something like Firelink Shrine or evenAshina Castle inSekiro. As such, they are the most similar, at least at first glance, toDemon’s Souls' Nexus hub area, butDemon’s Soulshas them all beat.
Why The Nexus Is So Special
Demon’s Soulswas FromSoftware’s firstSoulsgame and was therefore the first venue for its hub world formula. Although it’s the first trueSoulshub world, it is remarkably large and complex, spanning several stories and housing many secrets that are key to the game’s lore, such as the Monumentals and The Old One, which is trapped beneath the Nexus. This sense of mystery is bolstered by the opulent, creepy design of the area, and further buttressed by its spooky atmosphere and oddly soothing ambient music.
True to its name, theNexus feels like the center ofDemon’s Souls' world, housing more friendly NPCs than any other FromSoftware hub area. Due to the fragmented nature ofDemon’s Souls' level design, the Nexus winds up playing a vital role in the gameplay loop: players won’t be doing as much backtracking or organic exploration as in a game likeDark Souls, so they will need to regularly return to the Nexus to upgrade weapons, purchase supplies, and speak with friendly faces. Some ofDemon’s Souls’less-popular features, like the use of grass for healing and an item limit, also prompt frequent trips back to the Nexus, making it feel like a more integral part of the game world.
TheDemon’s Soulsremakeallows fast travel between different worlds directly from archstones once an Archdemon is beaten, but the original 2009 release requires players to stop by the Nexus to travel between worlds, making it an even more important part of the gameplay experience.
The fact that the Nexus is so essential tothe gameplay ofDemon’s Souls, coupled with its bevy of intriguing NPCs and quests, makes it FromSoftware’s best hub area to date. It feels like a natural, mystical part of the game’s world instead of a practical or perfunctory pit stop (even if it can be inconvenient at times). It’s a testament toDemon’s Souls' longevity that, even after a sprawling experience likeElden Ring, the Nexus is still the most interesting, memorable hub zone of FromSoftware’s oeuvre.
Demon’s Souls
WHERE TO PLAY
Entirely rebuilt from the ground up, this remake invites you to experience the unsettling story and ruthless combat of Demon’s Souls.From PlayStation Studios and Bluepoint Games comes a remake of the PlayStation classic, Demon’s Souls. Entirely rebuilt from the ground up and masterfully enhanced, this remake introduces the horrors of a fog-laden, dark fantasy land to a whole new generation of gamers. Those who’ve faced its trials and tribulations before, can once again challenge the darkness in stunning visual quality with incredible performance.In his quest for power, the 12th King of Boletaria, King Allant channeled the ancient Soul Arts, awakening a demon from the dawn of time itself, The Old One. With the summoning of The Old One, a colorless fog swept across the land, unleashing nightmarish creatures that hungered for human souls. Those whose souls were stripped from them, lost their minds – left only with the desire to attack the sane that remained.Now, Boletaria is cut off from the outside world, and the knights who dare penetrate the deep fog to free the land from its plight, are never seen again. As a lone warrior who has braved the baneful fog, you must face the hardest of challenges to earn the title “Slayer of Demons” and send The Old One back to its slumber.
