Demon's Souls getting US release, courtesy of Atlus

by Andrew Yoon { May 20th 2009 at 3:45PM }

It may be a first-party title in Japan, but Demon's Souls is coming to America courtesy of Atlus. This "spiritual successor" to King's Field got a mixed response from Japanese critics: some loved the nostalgic gameplay, while others found the brutal difficulty a bit too oppressive.

One of Demon's Souls greatest features is its online connectivity. Players will be able to leave hints for each other, "replay death scenes", cooperatively revive dead players, or invade other player's games to "wreak havoc." Hope your friends aren't jerks.

Atlus plans on providing "updates" at E3 later this year, so stay tuned for more. Check out the Japanese trailer after the break.

Gallery: Demon's Souls

[Thanks, David B.!]

Tags: atlus, demons-souls, e3-2009, from-software

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SecretAgentHam @ May 20th 2009 3:51PM

this is amazing news! first the fallout 3 dlc now this! woo hoo

Jman1236 @ May 20th 2009 3:55PM

I think they just got the easiest game to localize since, the Japanese version has english voiceovers and the chinaese and korea versions let you play the game with english text. This is great since now I don't have to blow 80 bucks to import it now.

Jampirow @ May 20th 2009 4:09PM

Atlus can have my first-born child.

James @ May 20th 2009 4:17PM

Man I was going to import this in the next couple of days too, whew. Although I still mind depending on when it's going to be released in the US.

Hopefully they'll be some good preorder bonuses!

Averna @ May 21st 2009 12:48AM

hehe, same. I get paid tomorrow and I was going to grab this then

Friend @ May 20th 2009 4:19PM

I imported this game awhile ago, loved it to pieces. I even ended up getting the platinum trophy in it.

Pretty much the only game I've bought this generation that I've actually enjoyed playing non-stop. It's so damn satisfying fighting monsters in this game, although it isn't for everyone. Especially if you're used to getting stuff spoon fed to you with mechanics like auto hp regen.

SuperGayParade @ May 20th 2009 4:26PM

I imported as well and it is an absolutely incredible game. You will only like it if you like playing a game with CHALLENGE.

Very very happy Atlus is bringing it over. I probably will buy it again.

AshStampede @ May 20th 2009 5:12PM

would it be safe to say it is like etrain odyssey for the DS in terms of brutal difficulty and game play? That is a dungeon crawler where if you died then your screwed and barely any save points and you just have to keep going further into the labyrinth?

vahdyx @ May 20th 2009 4:32PM

I'm glad I stayed patient, I almost imported it, not like it'll be much different, but I'm glad I waited especially with the amount of time I have to spare (which is none) an RPG would be tough

Charlie_Six @ May 20th 2009 4:35PM

Cool, me and a friend were just talking about this game, and were thinking about importing it. It has good reviews on Gamerankings.

I'm a bit worried about it since it's made by FROM though. I don't like those guys :P Their games rarely have a polished feel to them, IMO.

AshStampede @ May 20th 2009 5:09PM

They made otogi! Well that my counter point.

saito ps3 @ May 20th 2009 4:38PM

yea, im glad i didnt purchase it from playasia because they just got the asian version in stock today which has the english voices and english text. wish it would come out during the summer though, because this fall already looks tight with this, modern warfare 2, uncharted 2, heavy rain, assassins creed 2 and MAG all coming out

kentuckyfried @ May 20th 2009 4:43PM

Shit. And this is after I threw down $70 for the import a week or two ago.

I wish they had confirmed this earlier.

LokeSTL @ May 20th 2009 4:43PM

Good for Atlus! At least somebody wants our money! Can't believe we've had to wait this long. Somebody slap these devs and wake them the F up.

kentuckyfried @ May 20th 2009 4:44PM

Sh1t. And this is after I threw down $70 for the import a week or two ago.

I wish they had confirmed this earlier.

AshStampede @ May 20th 2009 5:08PM

I was going to import this next pay day. the difference is I am in the UK, so its still going to need to be imported but I figure the difference will £46 to import now, which if this game was to release right now in the uk its SRP would be £44.99 to £49.99 anyway or wait the unannounced time for the US import and pay £39.07 + £3.95p+p (videogamesplus estimate based on new ps3 games). So at this rate if there is nothing new other than the publisher. looks like import now wins.

j.howlett @ May 20th 2009 5:35PM

good news. this looks like the type of game i could sink some serious time into.

karlwulfekote @ May 20th 2009 5:36PM

Loved the trailer and am very interested.... but is it really THAT hard? I don't mind playing games that are ac challenge, but there's a thin line between challenging and tediously frustrating. I beat Ninja Gaiden... on Ninja Dog. And I beat Devil May Cry 3 with the GameShark... is this game not for me?

Xeones25 @ May 20th 2009 5:47PM

I've been trying to buy this off eBay for $70 for the past week. Awesome.
All the import sites are out of stock. Now I have to decide if I still want to pursue a copy off eBay or just wait for the localization (which shouldn't take long since the entire game is already in English).

RagingStormX @ May 20th 2009 5:58PM

I am seriouly thinking of picking this game up aswell. The only reason I didn't imported it was because I was busy trying to get my RE5 and SF4 platinum trophies to think of making time for another game....good news that its coming to the US.

-Jad- @ May 20th 2009 7:53PM

This AMAZING, Atlus you guys rocks!!!!

karlwulfekote @ May 20th 2009 7:55PM

I am really interested in this game and have been waiting for the US release to be announced for a while now. Is it really THAT hard? There a thin line between challenging and frustratingly tedious.

I beat Ninja Gaiden on Ninja Dog and loved it... I beat DMC 3 with the aid of GameShark. So is this for me, or not?

karlwulfekote @ May 20th 2009 7:56PM

Also how come some of my comments show up... while others just disappear?

karlwulfekote @ May 20th 2009 8:01PM

Good news that its coming to the US. I've heard about this game a while ago and am interested in trying it out. Is it really THAT hard? There's a thin line between challenging and tediously hard. Getting pissed off and throwing controllers is not my idea of fun.

I beat Ninja Gaiden... on Ninja Dog. I beat DMC3 with the aid of GameShark.... so is this game for me, or not?

dsx @ May 20th 2009 8:40PM

Guess what? My copy just shipped from play-asia. Yeah, the day BEFORE this was announced. Talk about bad luck. ON a side note, if you guys don't mind the mandarin manual play-asia has some copies in stock now at $64.99, less if you have a coupon.

Souter @ May 20th 2009 9:23PM

Sweeet i wont 2 import this game but dont no eney good import sites that import 2 the uk & dont like ebay

garnsr @ May 21st 2009 12:16AM

Doesn't it play like Oblivion? I played King's Field 2 on PS1, and they seemed very similar (running around hacking-wise, at least.)

Herlock @ May 21st 2009 3:51AM

This is game have nothing in comon with Oblivion, Demon's Souls is a Donjon JRPG no open world there but area and donjon, the Pendragon style are "similar" but that's it, this game is very hard, it 's only stuff yu need to know, be wise!
I finish the Asian version, this is my GOTY!

Jimmy @ May 21st 2009 5:00AM

so, i'm trying to understand but too many conflicting opinions... does this game have a good story or no story at all???

Herlock @ May 21st 2009 6:40AM

The story is simple, the good vs the devil and that's it but the atmosthere is awesome and it's enough really, it's a Donjon Rpg here, no dialogue and blabla defeat the Demon of the world that your duty!

Dynamic3 @ May 21st 2009 9:50AM

I just bought it brand new last week for $66 shipped at Yes Asia and got it in three days. That's just over $1 more than I would have payed for a US game with tax.

So for those now holding off since the US version is going to come out...is it worth waiting six months to save $1? The Asian version has full English support aside from the manual.

Xeones25 @ May 21st 2009 12:30PM

Did Yesasia say it will ship within 30 days when you ordered?
I've been looking there every day to see if it is in stock since it is the cheapest of the import sites an cheaper than most of the eBay auctions go for.
I don't want to wait a month to get it though.

Dynamic3 @ May 21st 2009 1:25PM

Yup it said ships within 30 days but it shipped the day I ordered it, apparently all of the big import sites have gotten shipments in but Yes Asia is by far the cheapest.

Mr. Joe @ May 21st 2009 12:07PM

this game looks fantastic! i was another one thinking of importing it. decided i'd wait after hearing about white knight chronicles getting a north america release. this is great news!

dotzeno @ May 21st 2009 12:26PM

My initial reaction to this game was that it was awesome, until I played it. It's still an awesome game but it's more difficult than i had initially hoped for it to be - which at first was refreshing until I beat the game. New Game + is making me even more cautious when proceeding in the game.

This game is not for those who aren't up for a challenge.

I hope the US release does a better job at translating item descriptions.