Demon's Souls Reviews

The North American version of Atlus' Demon's Souls is still a few weeks away, but that hasn't stopped the enthusiastic reviews from populating the Internet.

The Entertainment Depot gives it a 9.5/10:
Demon's Souls might not sound like it is for everyone. The lack of many common amenities only adds to an already challenging design, and the online component is both worrisome and confusing to newcomers. If you are one of the worried, then fear not, because the design repays in kind for your efforts you actually feel a sense of accomplishment as you progress. The online component is also just as much about helping than harming, if not more so. Demon's Souls, even with its minor camera and targeting issues, is a must for any fan of the genre and one of the reasons to own a PlayStation 3. Highly recommended.

GamerTell hits it with a 90/100:
Demon's Souls offers the kind of gaming experience you don't see everyday. It not only provides an appropriate challenge which is often absent in recent releases, it offers an online experience that hasn't been seen in an action-RPG before. Granted, it probably isn't the right game for everyone - the difficulty level may be too much for some people and those who don't have appropriate internet access may not have as much fun playing. Overall, Demon's Souls offers a great playing experience and it's the kind of game we should be seeing more often.

And PlayStation Illustrated hands out some initial impressions:
Demon's Souls' RPG side is just as interesting as the online elements. In a sense, it feels a bit like Bethesda's Oblivion, but with a faster tempo and an action bent. There are 13 classes to choose from, including classics like Warrior, Thief and Wizard, as well as not-so-common ones like Wanderer and Temple Knight. I haven't played with all of the classes, but the three I've checked out so far offer slightly different play experiences and weapon sets. Regardless of your chosen class, Demon's Souls is not a forgiving game. The controls are tight and offer numerous combat styles (two-handed and single-handed sword combat, for example), but enemies are incredibly tough and force you to use every tool in your toolbox.