Demon's Souls

Demon's Souls is a pitch-perfect example of how great risk can make the rewards taste all the sweeter. Getting killed in a single hit from a multi-storey, frog-like monster with a giant meat cleaver and a thirty-foot tongue is always going to be frustrating, but persevere and a couple of weeks later you’ll be wondering how he ever bothered you. Demon’s Souls pits you against your own incompetence and inexperience, a challenge which often feels insurmountable, but that delivers some incredibly powerful thrills for players brave enough to commit.

Demon's Souls is not a game for everyone. Actually, I take that back; it's most definitely something everyone should try, but the look, seemingly unforgiving nature and themes might be a bit off-putting. Don't let them be. Every single person that owns a PS3 should at the very least rent this game to see what all the fuss is about, and those that can remember the good ol' days when games taught through the highly effective use of intense punishment and a heavy price for not playing it carefully should scoop this up instantly.

Anyone weaned on Zelda and tempered by Diablo will have a strong attraction to the wonders of Demon's Souls. Some will be spurned by the unforgiving opening segment, while others might be jilted by the idiosyncratic and claustrophobic online components. But those that bargain with the darkness will find a nightmare world they'll not want to wake up from. This gumbo of game miscellany hits the innovative spot in a world of sequels. Each level gained is a victory, every minute spent alive a triumph. If the above intrigues you, then your time in Demon's Souls will be quite well spent.