TSA’s Top 100 of 2011 – #63 Project Dark

From Software’s Project Dark (not the game’s final title, naturally) is regarded as a spiritual successor to resident PS3 tough-nut Demon’s Souls. In fact, if you listen closely to the whispers across the Internet, the only reason Project Dark isn’t officially called Demon’s Sous 2 is because of licencing issues surrounding the first game’s PS3 exclusivity status. Make no mistake about it, however, Project Dark barely deviates off Demon’s Souls worn and corpse-strewn path.

We return to a world of dark fantasy, onerous hardships and a similar online ghost mechanic where players can witness the demise of other less fortunate adventurers who came before them as a way of avoiding a similar grisly fate. As you can see, such indirect online communication is very much in the same vein of From Software’s most recent RPG. Even the look of the game, glimpsed at this year’s TGS and reproduced here (though the quality of the footage is decidingly average) borrows a great deal from Demon’s Souls, a title many regard as one of the hardest games of this generation.

Demon’s Souls was something of an unexpected surprise, the game imported in its thousands based on word of mouth and the suggestion that here, finally, was a game only the hardcore could conquer. Many more fell to its gruelling demands when it was finally released in Europe in June of this year.

We’re fans of the first ball-breaking, unmercifully punishing title, and even though this is not Demon’s Souls 2 by name – we’ll take it. We’ll just need to stock up on new controllers and start trawling the web for cheap Xanax in preparation, of course.

Project Dark – or whatever it’s ultimately called – is expected next year on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 (the footage above was taken before the 360 version was confirmed.)

37 Comments

  1. I thought this said Perfect Dark for a second there.
    Hopes = Crushed :(

    • Me too! Was a bit confused by the picture of a whopping big dragon…

    • haha same :|

  2. loved demon souls but if this is a sequel i will not get as its not going to be ps3 exclucsive

    • I’m not even going to ask you to explain the logic behind that decision.

      Your loss.

    • your fucking insane?

      why would lack of exclusivity for your chosen platform drive your decision to not purchase a game?

      • …i dont know why ive put a question mark at the end of a statement either.

      • Well, a version for less powerful console means a downgarde, right? If it would be a PS3/PC game that would be a whole another story.

      • Surely that’s a joke comment

      • Are you honestly saying Demon’s Souls couldn’t run on the 360?

      • Depends.. yeah the 360 could run Demon Souls but the storage would be probmatic

      • Haven’t laughed this hard in ages :D

      • There you go face, how do you like that – snip!

    • are you joking?

      • Opps my post had a lot of replies, its just i dont think people on xbox would appriciate a game like demons souls, every friend of mine has an xbox and hates demon souls, so i dont see it being bought much, plus i think the game would be downgraded and lose its awesomeness and i think also difficulty

      • Says more about your calibre of friends than anything else. You know a lot of people who hate a game they’ve never played?

        Riiiiiight.

        And 360 fans appreciate RPGs. Look at Mass Effect. Exclusive to Microsoft platforms and adored by many.

        I’m happy to hear you’ve reconsidered purchasing Project Dark but I’m still unable to decipher your logic regarding 360 owners and their attitude to a genre they obviously *do* appreciate and a game they haven’t played.

    • Same here. Also, now Sony Japan is no longer involved, and on their own From Software usually produce garbage.
      Real Demon’s Souls 2 will be from Sony Japan.

    • Surely a joke, but a pretty unfunny one

    • That’s a poor excuse not to buy it. So it’s multiplatform, big deal.

      • Saying that i plated the first and put a few days of playing into it so yeah i will get it :P

  3. Demon’s Souls is arguably the best game of this gen so far imo, so I will be purchasing this day one :)

    • Now that’s a nice comment to hear.
      :)

      • I’m not going to buy it because Demon’s Souls made me cry.

      • It was quite easy at first…. but then there was new game +….
        Not in the same level of Monster Hunter though…. gahaaaaha damn you Rathalos

      • Rathalos – using a water bow and anti poison armour worked for me:)
        Rathian plate (Ioprey if that’s unavailable) and a daimyo warbow iirc

        It’s the bloody Tigrex I can’t stand, I’m glad I have an armoured case for my PSP as I’ve lost count of the times I’ve hurled it.

    • Day one for me too, import again if neccessary, selling any elderly relatives, still surviving, to raise the funds I reckon.

    • hope that helps mate :)

  4. This is one of my top 3 most anticipated games for 2011. I’m surprised it’s this low in the TSA staff’s list. I guess some of you who voted never played Demon’s Souls? I can’t wait :)

  5. I still haven’t completed the first one. I really need to go back to it.

    • I’m 3/4 through New Game+
      But I had a massive (unexplainable) break just before killing Flamelurker. I had imported it from the states and then started playing the game again after it got released in Europe lol.

      Great game, can be punishing/unforgiving yet incredibly rewarding at the same time :D

  6. The two Dragons are probably the worst AI I had ever seen I’ve always wondered why they were programmed to repeat the same f**kin attack and after playing Phantasy Star and Monster Hunter seriously why!?

    Dragons shouldn’t be brain-dead

    • I think you missed the point there. It’s no AI, the dragons follow a defined pattern, so you can work out a strategy to either fight them or just avoid their attacks with the right timing.

  7. I heard somewhere that Sony were going to do a sequel to Demon’s Souls in house??? The reason being that they owned the name and some sort of rights on the code used.

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