Awesome video!! my memories of trying Demon's Souls at TGS08 was that yes, it was clunky and difficult to be like a demo in a show to attract players, but there was really something special about it. Left the show think it was interesting, but nothing extremely relevant, but later when i had the final copy on my hands it was very very cool to see that it was way better than i was tried, still a bit slow, but intriguing. Later, it became not only something special for me and to recommend to friends, but also considered a defining change in the genre when DS1 released. Again, very cool video!!
Crazy. This random Japanese guy in his 30's just decides one day that he wants to make videogames, and he changes the entire industry. Very well-made video, good job.
Basically if it wasn't for ICO inspiring him to leave his job and get into the industry none of what we have today would exist and the industry would be vastly different. It's crazy to think about due to the fact the Souls games are some of the most influential games ever made
Watched many From Soft docs and read countless Miyazaki interviews. It wasn’t until these videos that I fully understood the cultural context at the time. From Soft success shouldn’t exist and I’m fascinated as to how it has happened. Well done DondonRV
The way this absolut Gigachad of a man willed Demon's Souls into existence is nothing short than inspiring. I am so thankfull I didn't quit Dark Souls at the capra demon back then. I truly believe Miyazaki is one of the, if not the greatest game designer of all time. Thanks to this living legend for changing my life.
The fact that I get emotional at the genuinely heartfelt statements made by Miyazaki and the DeS team just goes to show that they are gamers, they understand what makes gaming special, and that they truly believed in what they were making. I am so, so glad that FromSoft exists, that they have made such wonderful games, and that they continue to do so. For adults in the world who struggle to cope with the weight and stress of the daily grind, these games are a literal God send. God bless you, FromSoft, and thank you!
He made fromsoft and everyone working for him inspired and believe in what they were working towards. It's pretty awesome almost brought a tear to my eye.
I remember shuhei yoshida said this game is bad yet atlus buy it to publish in western market and demon souls become best game they ever experienced After that shuhei yoshida feels bad to miyazaki, gave him blank check and japan studio to do whatever he want and beloved bloodborne is born
@@YEY0806 just emulate it on pc, you can play at 1080p 60fps easily since it's been very well optimized and runs better than the original console performance.
When dark souls came out and i first played it, it was as if I had vague memory of a fantasy dream I've dreamed years ago. It has special feeling about it
@@dondonrv Absolutely, keep it going, and you'll be one of the greats in no time. I'd love to see this kinda research for more titles one day. Cheers my dude.
For some reason, the montage of exhilaration and triumph genuinely moved me to tears. I have felt that very thing SO many times and it's one of the reasons these games are so special to so many people. Beating Sword Saint Isshin was the most satisfying thing i've ever done in a video game and i bet most people who play these games have quite a few stories like that. Miyazaki achieved exactly what he wanted to: anyone who's played and beaten a souls game resonates with that triumph and joy. it's unlike anything else in ANY form of media. in the Noah Caldwell Gervais video on Dark Souls, he discusses this hawkeye gough quote and how it's representative of the series and its game design as a whole: "Exhilaration, pride, hatred, rage... The dragons teased out our dearest emotions. Thou will understand, one day... At thy twilight, old thoughts return, in great waves of nostalgia." These games exist to tease out our dearest emotions, to give us pride and hatred and joy and rage, and to flood us with great waves of nostalgia. They're truly something special.
When i was a kid i wanted a game exactly like the souls game. A game where fighting an enemy was a serious endeavor and not just smashing buttons. I wanted a stratigic sword play. A game where the world is taken seriously and that is not considered just as background. I didn't know that, a 30 year old guy on the other side of the world, was feeling the exact same way.
Certified game lover here, played Demon's Souls in 2010 and to this day it remains my favourite game. This video was awesome, look forward to many more.
In my mind he’s easily one of the all time greatest game developers. Dark Souls 1, Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, Elden Ring were all masterpieces and all developed by him. Sekiro and Elden Ring both won GOTY and he basically created and pioneered a sub genre.
I think Miyazaki's story is a very strong point of evidence in favor of auteur theory. His creative vision turned a failed project into one of the most influential games of the 21st century. Of course, he is not solely responsible for the Souls' series success: these games are the product of hundreds of talented peoples' work. However, Miyazaki's strong creative vision allowed his team to work at their full potential. Under the uninspired, derivative, corporate goal of making an "Elder Scrolls clone", that exact same team was more or less at a loss.
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this series. Although I have a pretty good understanding of FromSoft’s development history, these videos provided a much more detailed and comprehensive timeline which I have learned a lot from. Very well made and earned my sub. Keep up the good work.
Honestly I feel like this genre is a one of a kind! When I played the game back in 2009 I thought it was so cool that the game had hard gameplay that also had multiplayer co-op in such a unique way. Just randomly having people show up and help. I always help out and do coop now in these games with randoms, just playing and helping each other out.
I'd like to believe that aside from being intellect, possessing lots of imagination, and diligence, his smooth career transition to be a game developer could also be attributed to his fulfilling his filial piety by working on Oracle first, so he can pay his younger sister's college tuition until she graduates, and then pursuing his dream to be a game developer afterwards. That's a great life lesson.
40:53 This is a profound statement that really shows the difference between what Miyazaki and Fromsoft prioritize vs. what most AAA big budget studios have historically done: focusing on the intrinsic facets of gaming that people enjoy, rather than following market data and big-money trends, is what creates memorable games that age well. For most of the 2000s, Konami tried to the the latter and fell on their face every time, whereas their "outcast" teams and developers (who either worked in opposition to, or under less supervision by, Konami execs) created their most enduring franchises, like Silent Hill. Capcom and Keiji Inafune's notorious push to "Westernize" their games also failed for similar reasons: they chose to pursue an image and a fad rather than focus on making games that sold because they were _original and fun,_ which drove away the developers who were truly behind the company's massive success. I'll also never understand why console companies and publishers always felt the need to create "clones" of their competitor's games. Not only do they generally fail to make a mark on the industry, it sometimes ruins the reputation of otherwise good games that end up stigmatized as unoriginal cash-grabs. Miyazaki's decision to create a truly original IP instead of an Oblivion clone is another reason why you should let the developers call the shots on their own games, not executives and middle-managers. And on a side note, while I'll never be a massive fan of Activision, I gotta give them props for allowing From to pursue their own vision with Sekiro. It goes to show just how much clout Fromsoft has in the industry now, when even a multi-billion dollar publisher like Activision can respect their work enough not to stick their fingers where they don't belong.
Thank you for the very insightful message! At this stage, the most significant asset of FromSoftware is their reputation. And with Miyazaki at the helm, I have faith in their current and future games. Cheers!
Awesome!! My only criticism is that I'm not a fan of the moving background. Everything else is great! Good narration, very detailed, lots of quotes, careful attention to the timeline of events... I feel like I'm learning a lot and can't wait for your future videos! Thanks for making good content. I subscribed!
The Souls games, specifically FromSouls games, is the perfect example of the term "Started from the bottom now we're here!". They started from not succeeding (at least financially and popularity wise), to become one of the most influential games of all time. Hell, they even created a sub-genre of ARPGs we now call as Souls-like. This kinda reminds me of Doom. Back then, for almost a decade I believe, the what we now call as "FPS" games were called as "Doom Clones". It's funny because the Souls games and the Doom series are two of my favorite game series of all time.
Demon's Souls blew my mind. People don't realize how revolutionary this game and now genre felt back then. This game was so special that people - like me - importet it from Japan or China, based on rumors and praise on the internet. Until now I devour every Soulslike- the good and the bad (hello Lords of the Fallen 😅)
Excellent video! Miyazaki's journey is compelling and you have a palpable affection for his work. What's more, your narration is on point: lean, well paced, and engaging. Subscribed.
Funny how everyone is always bashing Sony for the Demon Souls and Bloodborne exclusives, but if they would never have contacted Fromsoftware nobody would ever have any souls game and perhaps Elden Ring would never have existed.
this is when an artist is allowed to complete his vision .. for example that story about the car shows the insipred sensitive mind of a real artist in making fanatsies it alaways results in games that have a soul
This channel is a goldmine find for me, your videos are made with excellent quality and they’re thoroughly well-researched. I’m glad I stumbled upon you through the algorithm!!
What a great video! We've known for a while that the Souls series spawned from how Miyazaki took over the failed project of early DeS. However I've always been very curious to know how many of the staples of the Souls formula were due to Miyazaki versus how much was already established before he took over the project. The fact that he was the one to change the game to a 3rd person perspective is insane as it's such a core element of how the souls gameplay formula works. I've never heard anybody mention this fact before. I'm shocked nobody else has thoroughly covered this topic before. Super interesting and informative. Subscribed!
Most of the ingredients of the Souls Game formula are already present in Demon's Souls. I was surprised as well after I collected all the info. Thanks for the support! Cheers!
This is such an incredibly inspiring story, especially the culmination of development and initial failure. Yoshida's statement particularly highlight the gravity of this situation. And yet despite it all, by luck or random chance Miyazaki vision was left intact and look at what it has created. What a tragedy to think what could have happened had the vision been altered and to think of all those devs who have had their vision altered due to marketing teams. If there's a takeaway, I think it would be, stay true to your vision, you don't want to think what it could have been.
The fact that Konami had to incorporate special difficulty for the west in metal gear, because japanese players had been seen as generally more casual audience, creates sense for Demon Souls poor sales in Japan
not gonna lie, I hated demon souls when I played it. It was hard, I don't know what I was doing. Couple with the fact that you lose your souls, your only method of upgrading made me quit the game. A few years later, after DS1 came out, I decided to try out another Fromsoft's game and beat it. It was exciting. I came back to demons souls and beat it there and that game become my favorite one. I even re-played it when the remake came out. Its still the same as I remembered although much better quality.
I imported this game back in the day from UK (I am from Germany - we didn't have a release yet). I can't remember how/why I stumbled upon that game, but I felt that this game is something special. Oh boy, was I right. Such a beautiful game. Great to hear the story behind it, thanks! :)
Demon's Souls is the comfiest Souls game. I can always go back to it when I can't decide what game to play next. Helps that the game isn't too difficult by today's standards. I sort of miss that 😂
How I love the stories of making videogames and movies! It's so inspiring. Motivating me to continue working harder to achieve my dreams.... wish, one day we will get Demon's Souls remake on PC
This is one of the most tedious and frustrating games ever developed. Even so, I love it. I love its themes, I love its story, and I love its tone. This game was well worth the development
Thank you very much for this, I’ve been looking for a video like this to help develop a greater appreciation for the first Souls game. I am working on a martial arts/comedy animation project based on this game so I have been scouring the internet to learn all I can about this work of art from others who know more than I do.
Thank god my man got that camera perspective changed. I probably wouldn’t be playing any of Fromsofts games if they were first person. There are few situation where I’d prefer first person. Like RE Village was pretty good because the first person perspective helped the horror aspect of that game. It felt very claustrophobic not being able to see behind you which made the game more tense. But that’s the first and last first person game I’ve played in many years.
Devil May Cry was made from the prototype of a Resident Evil game, the final result became a new type of game unlike anything else that was on the market at the time. Demon's Souls was made from the prototype of a failed Oblivion clone, the final result became a new type of game unlike anything else that was on the market at the time. It's a shame that given how complex and costly games are now to make, you likely could not pivot a games designs so drastically into something like this.
I still have my precious Demon's Souls Black Phantom Edition sitting on the shelf. I remember playing this at my friends place since I didn't have a PS3 at the time and was completely glued to the controller for hours, had no idea what this game was prior.. Few days later.. I bought the console just to play this game!
Very informative. This and the previous were presented super well. Really looking forward to the next episode, and I'm going to start scouring through the backlog now.
I was in Japan when Demon's Soul's came out, well, I bought a PS3 (I still own the same one!) I kept hearing about the game from my American friends, I finally bought it when it was on sale in Camera Yodobashi in Nagasaki. It was like equivalent to $10 USD. When I first put it on, I was like "wtf is this weird ass game!?" 12 hours later, yeah. I played and beat every Souls game since then, most I've platinumed/100%'d. Now currently working on Lies of P, though not a FS game, but still in the same realm.
Miyazaki: The intention behind this messaging system was to foster a sense of unity among players Player messages throughout the Soul Series: Trolling and Horny messages... Beautiful!
My absolute favorite Fromsoft game (asides from Bloodborne). It's incredible how it beat all odds and reinvented the entire industry. Truly a masterpiece
Great chanell, subscribed. I'm new to berserk, recently having watched the anime now I wish to read the manga. As a souls games veteran I've immediately picked up so many things tied to the soulsborne series. I'm in awe of Your work, Miyazaki sensei, but I had no idea that the orignal work was THAT good. R.I.P. Kentaro Miura, thank You for Berserk.
This videos are an incredible piece of work, I can't imagine the effort it took you to put together all this information and display it in such an interesting way. I already enjoyed this games a lot, and I thought I understood the creative approach, but after watching this videos I truly understand the value of the decisions they made for each game, and where they come from. Thank you so much for your work, can't wait for the next one about Dark Souls.
The regret in Shuhei Yoshida's words, for letting the golden goose get away. "We dropped the ball from a publisher's perspective. We failed to grasp the value of the product we were making."
I remember picking up demons souls on day1, my friends were wondering why had grabbed that particular game out of the many that were there, it was simply because it was the only copy of the game and i was, and still am drawn to niche Japanese developed games. I guess it was from growing up in the ps1/ps2 era and just finding hidden gems in the wild. A week later I realised how special this game was. And I needed to get myself the black phantom edition, i rang about 20 stores before finally managing to get one, immediately went and bought. Its still one of my prized possessions. Love the souls-like. My favourite being Sekiro and Ni-oh. Truly a next generation gametype.
I remember playing it on ps3 when it was fringe game. It felt like it was THAT game that I really wanted and was waiting and I couldn't have described it before playing demons souls. The fantasy world was like something I had a dreams or memories of. The combat was very different and simple unlike other games with combos and effects. The boss fights came back again. As I was missing them in other games. I sensed back then that the game had great future, and the more people tired the more popular and better feedback it got saying it was actually amazing game. But I could never imagine it's gonna become this juggernaut with elden ring. It just shows how one man can change the industry. I love the sorry where Miyazaki was quiet to the marketing team about the game being difficult lol.
Second time I've seen this video. Absolutely mind-boggling how you don't have more views and subs. So concise and detailed in a way gaming channels seldom present themselves. Love learning about the industry and how it affects its games, and vice versa.
Back when I first bought demon souls no body I knew had played it or even heard about it. When I let people borrow it they would give it back in less than a week.
first game i have the fulfillment of achieving the platinum throphy.. the grind to get final sharp stone was a chore.. the atmosphere of the game was rare during that time.
If it weren’t for Michael San I’d probably have quitted gaming long time ago. My ps5 only has soulslike games (all souls games, blasphemous, nioh,…) This guy is a legend!
Great video. Played Elden Ring as my first Fromsoft game. Fell in love with it and decided to go back and play all of the souls games. Just finished Demon’s Souls! Excited to move on to Dark Souls next! These games bring back the feeling I used to get when playing video games as a kid.
18:30 oh God!😂 I get these people. Since i started playing Sekiro this month on my PC, i was getting destroyed by the chained Ogre so much so my Steam controller got the bumpers damaged (i fixed them) i then decided to buy an Xbox controller and start a new game. Now, i defeated him yesterday and even went on to beat the next Samurai mini boss in the following stage after only one death and even got past the snake on my second try! It was exhilarating and i was just screaming tor joy internally 🤩👍 I am still finding the game a challenge but i no longer want to quit and i have been doing more planning and research. Miyazake really creates amazing games.
I don’t play video games but I love learning about the artistry and intellect involved in storytelling. Your videos are the best at introducing and adding depth to this amazing artist and his team. Miyazaki is fascinating every time he talks about anything, especially his overall process and the way he works with others. The way he presents narrative and lore is utterly fascinating. It’s not out in front. I think the premise and story for Bloodborne is on the same level as Edgar Allan Poe and Lovecraft.
14:29 this quote definitely is what makes Demon’s Souls unique at the time. It seemed like it got out of hand with Cutscenes directing gameplay. Cutscenes were to show off the graphics of the consoles. Yet Demon’s Souls it was all about the gameplay. The cutscenes themselves merely show you things of interests.
I bought the game when it first had its NA release, mainly due to the critical reception the game had. I admit I underestimated how difficult the game was, it demanded too much effort and time from me than other titles at the time and I just didn't have the dedication. Dark souls was a different matter, I believe that the adjustment they made easing players into the game for the first 3 hours, such as better game play stream lining, better inventory management and all that stuff, made all the difference to me and had me hooked from the first min of the game.
I am proudly one of those who bought demon's souls before it was release in the west. How? I got the chinese version for some reason it was in English? How I learned about the game? When Street fighter 4 came out I tried playing with people from japan and even friended some of them on psn. One of them kapan(something) got the game and I noticed him playing when it came out, I was sold from the get go. I recall him saying it was hard, but good :)
His story and games are a great inspiration for us that find ourselves in similar life paths as Miyazaki's. Or with one foot in the industry, but still not having found the right environment. Sometimes it's neccessary to be bold, but it is very difficult making that kind of choice with all the pressures one may experience from their surroundings and situation in life. But knowing others have done it also translates to life, and one can draw a very thick parallel between the experience of searching for happiness and defeating the obstacles in both the games and life itself. It always felt like a point of the games was to instill a feeling of hope; that it's possible to defeat these obstacles with thought and persistence. And I think it really does matter that games provide something to be gleaned from the experience and taken with us through life. Besides an interesting experience.
I think no other game developer in the history of video games has been as influential as Miyazaki. I mean that's the only game director name I even know. Oh well maybe another one is Gabe lol
Omg, here I thought this was well established video series, but its only 10 days old Q_Q. I'm really looking forward to the Darks Souls video, you did a brilliant job with this one.
Never could play any souls game online. It sucks to have to piss and then you go hide in a cleared section only to comeback and some a hole invaded and killed you.
Man, it just blows my mind that demon's souls got a bad release. I thought it was freaking awesome immediately. I felt like I was finally being given the credit that I could take it if I screwed up, and wasn't coddled like a delicate flower. Felt damn good. I was like, yeah, kick my ass. Finally something real where success or failure is entirely my fault.
I love this video. There are parts of the later videos (Sekiro, etc) where so many promo videos etc are included in their entirety and I don't love that. I get the desire to capture them for posterity but this is maybe the only one I watched without skipping anything.
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing.
The video on Miyazaki doesn’t have a link it’s just a static image, just fyi great last video.
i enjoyed this alot. really looking forward to more videos like the upcoming DS1 one
This is the best video about my favourite game out there. Sincerly, thank you
Este vídeo está excelente! Muchas gracias por tu esfuerzo para poder hacerlo, me suscribo!
Awesome video!! my memories of trying Demon's Souls at TGS08 was that yes, it was clunky and difficult to be like a demo in a show to attract players, but there was really something special about it. Left the show think it was interesting, but nothing extremely relevant, but later when i had the final copy on my hands it was very very cool to see that it was way better than i was tried, still a bit slow, but intriguing. Later, it became not only something special for me and to recommend to friends, but also considered a defining change in the genre when DS1 released. Again, very cool video!!
Crazy. This random Japanese guy in his 30's just decides one day that he wants to make videogames, and he changes the entire industry. Very well-made video, good job.
His journey is one of a kind, especially in a Japanese setting. Thanks for the feedback!
Ikr..
It's like an origin story for a middle-aged OP anime character
There goes my hero
Basically if it wasn't for ICO inspiring him to leave his job and get into the industry none of what we have today would exist and the industry would be vastly different. It's crazy to think about due to the fact the Souls games are some of the most influential games ever made
Anything is possible :)
“If the opportunity arises, I think we could make something truly special”
Finer words have rarely been said.
Lol..yeah! :)
Now that we can look back at this statement from the future, it's just so satisfying to know that they got to make it a reality.
That story could be made into a movie. It was so close to an epic failure but instead became one of the biggest game franchises ever. Incredible.
Agreed! :) And the creator has a very interesting journey as well! (Becoming a game director and then a company president after a few games! )
Miyazaki speaks like a true artist, man. Love that man.
He is one of a kind! :)
Watched many From Soft docs and read countless Miyazaki interviews. It wasn’t until these videos that I fully understood the cultural context at the time. From Soft success shouldn’t exist and I’m fascinated as to how it has happened. Well done DondonRV
Thanks for the very kind feedback!
The way this absolut Gigachad of a man willed Demon's Souls into existence is nothing short than inspiring. I am so thankfull I didn't quit Dark Souls at the capra demon back then. I truly believe Miyazaki is one of the, if not the greatest game designer of all time. Thanks to this living legend for changing my life.
The fact that I get emotional at the genuinely heartfelt statements made by Miyazaki and the DeS team just goes to show that they are gamers, they understand what makes gaming special, and that they truly believed in what they were making. I am so, so glad that FromSoft exists, that they have made such wonderful games, and that they continue to do so. For adults in the world who struggle to cope with the weight and stress of the daily grind, these games are a literal God send. God bless you, FromSoft, and thank you!
I'm so glad that FromSoft made Miyazaki the company president, so he is not under the whim of anyone! :)
He made fromsoft and everyone working for him inspired and believe in what they were working towards. It's pretty awesome almost brought a tear to my eye.
I remember shuhei yoshida said this game is bad yet atlus buy it to publish in western market and demon souls become best game they ever experienced
After that shuhei yoshida feels bad to miyazaki, gave him blank check and japan studio to do whatever he want and beloved bloodborne is born
Thanks for sharing! And with Bloodborne, we got one of the best OSTs in any game :) That orchestra budget helped!
The Souls series evokes a very special kind of feverish nostalgia that is so therapeutic.
First time playing demon souls back on PS3. It was like remembering a dream of the fantasy you dreamed years ago
@@laius6047 What a beautiful way of phrasing it; better yet, it's so true.
@@laius6047I feel sad I gave away my ps3 years ago
@@YEY0806 just emulate it on pc, you can play at 1080p 60fps easily since it's been very well optimized and runs better than the original console performance.
When dark souls came out and i first played it, it was as if I had vague memory of a fantasy dream I've dreamed years ago. It has special feeling about it
Your videos are incredible! What an amount of research and care that you put into them, you definitively deserve more views and subscribers.
Thanks for the kind feedback! I appreciate it!
@@dondonrv Absolutely, keep it going, and you'll be one of the greats in no time. I'd love to see this kinda research for more titles one day. Cheers my dude.
yeah. while Bethesda continues to stagnate with the same buggy mechanics, From Software is increasingly improving their games.
For some reason, the montage of exhilaration and triumph genuinely moved me to tears. I have felt that very thing SO many times and it's one of the reasons these games are so special to so many people. Beating Sword Saint Isshin was the most satisfying thing i've ever done in a video game and i bet most people who play these games have quite a few stories like that. Miyazaki achieved exactly what he wanted to: anyone who's played and beaten a souls game resonates with that triumph and joy. it's unlike anything else in ANY form of media. in the Noah Caldwell Gervais video on Dark Souls, he discusses this hawkeye gough quote and how it's representative of the series and its game design as a whole: "Exhilaration, pride, hatred, rage... The dragons teased out our dearest emotions. Thou will understand, one day... At thy twilight, old thoughts return, in great waves of nostalgia." These games exist to tease out our dearest emotions, to give us pride and hatred and joy and rage, and to flood us with great waves of nostalgia. They're truly something special.
Thanks for sharing such insightful message! Much appreciated! :)
When i was a kid i wanted a game exactly like the souls game.
A game where fighting an enemy was a serious endeavor and not just smashing buttons. I wanted a stratigic sword play.
A game where the world is taken seriously and that is not considered just as background.
I didn't know that, a 30 year old guy on the other side of the world, was feeling the exact same way.
Hahah...thanks for sharing! Have a good weekend! :)
Certified game lover here, played Demon's Souls in 2010 and to this day it remains my favourite game. This video was awesome, look forward to many more.
Thank you! Cheers! :)
Miyazaki's journey to become one of the best game developers in the world is incredibly inspiring.
Agree! Thanks for sharing!
In my mind he’s easily one of the all time greatest game developers. Dark Souls 1, Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, Elden Ring were all masterpieces and all developed by him. Sekiro and Elden Ring both won GOTY and he basically created and pioneered a sub genre.
*The best
I think Miyazaki's story is a very strong point of evidence in favor of auteur theory. His creative vision turned a failed project into one of the most influential games of the 21st century. Of course, he is not solely responsible for the Souls' series success: these games are the product of hundreds of talented peoples' work. However, Miyazaki's strong creative vision allowed his team to work at their full potential. Under the uninspired, derivative, corporate goal of making an "Elder Scrolls clone", that exact same team was more or less at a loss.
Agreed! And fortunately he became the president, otherwise we have Dark Souls VIII by now.. and no Elden Ring and Sekiro.
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this series. Although I have a pretty good understanding of FromSoft’s development history, these videos provided a much more detailed and comprehensive timeline which I have learned a lot from. Very well made and earned my sub. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the feedback! I highly appreciate it!
His story is so inspiring. Makes me see my favorite game series in a new light.
We all do! :)
it's a testament to how nice the Demon's Souls menu music is that I never got tired of it
Yes... it's extremely atmospheric...
Honestly I feel like this genre is a one of a kind! When I played the game back in 2009 I thought it was so cool that the game had hard gameplay that also had multiplayer co-op in such a unique way. Just randomly having people show up and help. I always help out and do coop now in these games with randoms, just playing and helping each other out.
Thanks for sharing!
I'd like to believe that aside from being intellect, possessing lots of imagination, and diligence, his smooth career transition to be a game developer could also be attributed to his fulfilling his filial piety by working on Oracle first, so he can pay his younger sister's college tuition until she graduates, and then pursuing his dream to be a game developer afterwards. That's a great life lesson.
Agree, it speaks a lot to his character. Thanks for sharing!
40:53 This is a profound statement that really shows the difference between what Miyazaki and Fromsoft prioritize vs. what most AAA big budget studios have historically done: focusing on the intrinsic facets of gaming that people enjoy, rather than following market data and big-money trends, is what creates memorable games that age well. For most of the 2000s, Konami tried to the the latter and fell on their face every time, whereas their "outcast" teams and developers (who either worked in opposition to, or under less supervision by, Konami execs) created their most enduring franchises, like Silent Hill. Capcom and Keiji Inafune's notorious push to "Westernize" their games also failed for similar reasons: they chose to pursue an image and a fad rather than focus on making games that sold because they were _original and fun,_ which drove away the developers who were truly behind the company's massive success.
I'll also never understand why console companies and publishers always felt the need to create "clones" of their competitor's games. Not only do they generally fail to make a mark on the industry, it sometimes ruins the reputation of otherwise good games that end up stigmatized as unoriginal cash-grabs. Miyazaki's decision to create a truly original IP instead of an Oblivion clone is another reason why you should let the developers call the shots on their own games, not executives and middle-managers.
And on a side note, while I'll never be a massive fan of Activision, I gotta give them props for allowing From to pursue their own vision with Sekiro. It goes to show just how much clout Fromsoft has in the industry now, when even a multi-billion dollar publisher like Activision can respect their work enough not to stick their fingers where they don't belong.
Thank you for the very insightful message! At this stage, the most significant asset of FromSoftware is their reputation. And with Miyazaki at the helm, I have faith in their current and future games. Cheers!
Keep the videos coming man. I can listen about From Soft all day.
Thanks for the feedback! Cheers! :)
Sadly, there isn't much anyone that share the same mindset of Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Things are improving though... let's hope.
Awesome!! My only criticism is that I'm not a fan of the moving background. Everything else is great! Good narration, very detailed, lots of quotes, careful attention to the timeline of events... I feel like I'm learning a lot and can't wait for your future videos! Thanks for making good content. I subscribed!
Thanks for the feedback! Cheers!
I second this. It was difficult to watch.
Miyazaki is truly an artist who created multiple masterpieces
Fantastic review of one of the best games ever of its time. 👍
Miyazaki is a genius. Thank God he had the courage to do something different
Agreed! Cheers! :)
The Souls games, specifically FromSouls games, is the perfect example of the term "Started from the bottom now we're here!". They started from not succeeding (at least financially and popularity wise), to become one of the most influential games of all time. Hell, they even created a sub-genre of ARPGs we now call as Souls-like. This kinda reminds me of Doom. Back then, for almost a decade I believe, the what we now call as "FPS" games were called as "Doom Clones". It's funny because the Souls games and the Doom series are two of my favorite game series of all time.
Thank you for sharing such an insightful and informative message!
I will forever be glad for this game's existence. And of course, Miyazaki himself.
Same... most of us are...
Demon's Souls blew my mind.
People don't realize how revolutionary this game and now genre felt back then.
This game was so special that people - like me - importet it from Japan or China, based on rumors and praise on the internet.
Until now I devour every Soulslike- the good and the bad (hello Lords of the Fallen 😅)
Haha.. same! I am always on the lookout for new Souls-like games, though I get disappointed often upon playing them.
Lords of the fallen is decent though and Hexworks are very passionate and devoted to improving the game
Excellent video! Miyazaki's journey is compelling and you have a palpable affection for his work. What's more, your narration is on point: lean, well paced, and engaging. Subscribed.
Much appreciated! Thanks for the feedback! :)
Funny how everyone is always bashing Sony for the Demon Souls and Bloodborne exclusives, but if they would never have contacted Fromsoftware nobody would ever have any souls game and perhaps Elden Ring would never have existed.
this is when an artist is allowed to complete his vision .. for example that story about the car shows the insipred sensitive mind of a real artist in making fanatsies it alaways results in games that have a soul
Agreed! And now that he is the company president, he has a say on what projects to initiate! :)
This channel is a goldmine find for me, your videos are made with excellent quality and they’re thoroughly well-researched. I’m glad I stumbled upon you through the algorithm!!
Thank you for the very kind feedback! It inspires me!
What a great video! We've known for a while that the Souls series spawned from how Miyazaki took over the failed project of early DeS. However I've always been very curious to know how many of the staples of the Souls formula were due to Miyazaki versus how much was already established before he took over the project. The fact that he was the one to change the game to a 3rd person perspective is insane as it's such a core element of how the souls gameplay formula works. I've never heard anybody mention this fact before.
I'm shocked nobody else has thoroughly covered this topic before. Super interesting and informative. Subscribed!
Most of the ingredients of the Souls Game formula are already present in Demon's Souls. I was surprised as well after I collected all the info. Thanks for the support! Cheers!
This is such an incredibly inspiring story, especially the culmination of development and initial failure. Yoshida's statement particularly highlight the gravity of this situation. And yet despite it all, by luck or random chance Miyazaki vision was left intact and look at what it has created. What a tragedy to think what could have happened had the vision been altered and to think of all those devs who have had their vision altered due to marketing teams. If there's a takeaway, I think it would be, stay true to your vision, you don't want to think what it could have been.
Thanks for sharing! (Ueda shared the same perspective regarding Ico - stay true to your vision)
The fact that Konami had to incorporate special difficulty for the west in metal gear, because japanese players had been seen as generally more casual audience, creates sense for Demon Souls poor sales in Japan
not gonna lie, I hated demon souls when I played it. It was hard, I don't know what I was doing. Couple with the fact that you lose your souls, your only method of upgrading made me quit the game. A few years later, after DS1 came out, I decided to try out another Fromsoft's game and beat it. It was exciting. I came back to demons souls and beat it there and that game become my favorite one. I even re-played it when the remake came out. Its still the same as I remembered although much better quality.
Thanks for sharing! I had the same experience, but with Dark Souls. After Bloodborne "clicked" with me, I bought a PS3 so I can play Demon's Souls :)
I imported this game back in the day from UK (I am from Germany - we didn't have a release yet). I can't remember how/why I stumbled upon that game, but I felt that this game is something special. Oh boy, was I right. Such a beautiful game.
Great to hear the story behind it, thanks! :)
My pleasure! Thanks! :)
Demon's Souls is the comfiest Souls game. I can always go back to it when I can't decide what game to play next. Helps that the game isn't too difficult by today's standards. I sort of miss that 😂
Shuhei Yoshida introducing the trailer for Demon's Souls remake back in 2020 is one of the greatest moments in video game history
Indeed ! :) He said, "something very near and dear to me..." ) Thanks for sharing!
How I love the stories of making videogames and movies! It's so inspiring. Motivating me to continue working harder to achieve my dreams.... wish, one day we will get Demon's Souls remake on PC
Thanks for the feedback! And, I wish we get Bloodborne too! :)
@@dondonrvnot gonna lie, I almost lost all hope about Bloodborne😔
This is one of the most tedious and frustrating games ever developed. Even so, I love it. I love its themes, I love its story, and I love its tone. This game was well worth the development
Thank you very much for this, I’ve been looking for a video like this to help develop a greater appreciation for the first Souls game. I am working on a martial arts/comedy animation project based on this game so I have been scouring the internet to learn all I can about this work of art from others who know more than I do.
Glad it was helpful! And good luck in your project! Cheers! :)
@@dondonrv cheers. and thank you for the encouragement!
Thankyou Bandai Namco. If not because of you we will never get global promotion
I cried when I 1st beat Orphan of Kos, the beauty and difficulty of that fight is just perfect. Ornstein and Smough are a close second.
Thank god my man got that camera perspective changed. I probably wouldn’t be playing any of Fromsofts games if they were first person. There are few situation where I’d prefer first person. Like RE Village was pretty good because the first person perspective helped the horror aspect of that game. It felt very claustrophobic not being able to see behind you which made the game more tense. But that’s the first and last first person game I’ve played in many years.
Lol..yeah! Thanks for sharing! :)
Devil May Cry was made from the prototype of a Resident Evil game, the final result became a new type of game unlike anything else that was on the market at the time.
Demon's Souls was made from the prototype of a failed Oblivion clone, the final result became a new type of game unlike anything else that was on the market at the time.
It's a shame that given how complex and costly games are now to make, you likely could not pivot a games designs so drastically into something like this.
True! Even though the tools for making video games are also becoming more powerful!
I still have my precious Demon's Souls Black Phantom Edition sitting on the shelf. I remember playing this at my friends place since I didn't have a PS3 at the time and was completely glued to the controller for hours, had no idea what this game was prior.. Few days later.. I bought the console just to play this game!
Same! I bought a PS3 for Demon's Souls :) And then later PS4 for Bloodborne!
Very informative. This and the previous were presented super well. Really looking forward to the next episode, and I'm going to start scouring through the backlog now.
Thank you! Your message inspires me! Cheers!
True underdog tale, the game that changed the video game landscape forever.
I was in Japan when Demon's Soul's came out, well, I bought a PS3 (I still own the same one!) I kept hearing about the game from my American friends, I finally bought it when it was on sale in Camera Yodobashi in Nagasaki. It was like equivalent to $10 USD. When I first put it on, I was like "wtf is this weird ass game!?" 12 hours later, yeah. I played and beat every Souls game since then, most I've platinumed/100%'d. Now currently working on Lies of P, though not a FS game, but still in the same realm.
Miyazaki: The intention behind this messaging system was to foster a sense of unity among players
Player messages throughout the Soul Series: Trolling and Horny messages... Beautiful!
Yeah! That's why in the video I placed the clip of "Try Rolling... and then Death..." I hope our viewers noticed that! :p
@@dondonrv And we can't forget the legendary... "Amazing Chest ahead" UwU
Lol...yeah!
My absolute favorite Fromsoft game (asides from Bloodborne). It's incredible how it beat all odds and reinvented the entire industry. Truly a masterpiece
I want more. I need more. Can’t wait for the Making of Dark Souls and more. Hopefully it comes soon.
Lol.. thank you! It will come! :)
These are the best documentaries I've ever seen about Miyazaki. This is absolutely delightful
yeah he literally says he enjoys watching our deaths. what a chad
Great chanell, subscribed. I'm new to berserk, recently having watched the anime now I wish to read the manga. As a souls games veteran I've immediately picked up so many things tied to the soulsborne series. I'm in awe of Your work, Miyazaki sensei, but I had no idea that the orignal work was THAT good. R.I.P. Kentaro Miura, thank You for Berserk.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm sure you will love the manga, the anime covered only a small part of the series. Cheers! :)
This videos are an incredible piece of work, I can't imagine the effort it took you to put together all this information and display it in such an interesting way.
I already enjoyed this games a lot, and I thought I understood the creative approach, but after watching this videos I truly understand the value of the decisions they made for each game, and where they come from.
Thank you so much for your work, can't wait for the next one about Dark Souls.
Thanks for the kind words! Your feedback inspires me. Cheers!
@@dondonrvplease continue with these videos! You do an amazing job! Can’t wait for the making of dark souls
Definitely! Thank you! :)
The regret in Shuhei Yoshida's words, for letting the golden goose get away. "We dropped the ball from a publisher's perspective. We failed to grasp the value of the product we were making."
Demon's Souls is comparable to Resident Evil 4. What a pity that reviewers praise it's soulless remake.
I remember picking up demons souls on day1, my friends were wondering why had grabbed that particular game out of the many that were there, it was simply because it was the only copy of the game and i was, and still am drawn to niche Japanese developed games. I guess it was from growing up in the ps1/ps2 era and just finding hidden gems in the wild.
A week later I realised how special this game was. And I needed to get myself the black phantom edition, i rang about 20 stores before finally managing to get one, immediately went and bought. Its still one of my prized possessions. Love the souls-like. My favourite being Sekiro and Ni-oh. Truly a next generation gametype.
Thanks for sharing! Very interesting! :)
I started with Dark Souls and disliked it a lot, until it it clicked for me with Bloodborne.
I remember playing it on ps3 when it was fringe game. It felt like it was THAT game that I really wanted and was waiting and I couldn't have described it before playing demons souls. The fantasy world was like something I had a dreams or memories of. The combat was very different and simple unlike other games with combos and effects. The boss fights came back again. As I was missing them in other games. I sensed back then that the game had great future, and the more people tired the more popular and better feedback it got saying it was actually amazing game. But I could never imagine it's gonna become this juggernaut with elden ring. It just shows how one man can change the industry. I love the sorry where Miyazaki was quiet to the marketing team about the game being difficult lol.
Thanks for sharing! It's nice to hear it from the OGs, the Souls games clicked with me only with Bloodborne, after failing to like Dark Souls :)
I like how the older game announcements didn't have lots of whopping and guys going "Yeaahhh"
Second time I've seen this video. Absolutely mind-boggling how you don't have more views and subs. So concise and detailed in a way gaming channels seldom present themselves. Love learning about the industry and how it affects its games, and vice versa.
Thanks for the kind feedback! Much appreciated! :)
its amazing that the western game journalism back then can discern the value of demon souls!
in other hand japanese game journalism is shtty as always
Back when I first bought demon souls no body I knew had played it or even heard about it. When I let people borrow it they would give it back in less than a week.
I’ve lived in Japan for 15 years and this video is teaching me stuff even I never knew
Souls = Zelda for adults
Technically that's Darksiders
first game i have the fulfillment of achieving the platinum throphy.. the grind to get final sharp stone was a chore.. the atmosphere of the game was rare during that time.
If it weren’t for Michael San I’d probably have quitted gaming long time ago. My ps5 only has soulslike games (all souls games, blasphemous, nioh,…)
This guy is a legend!
My Steam Deck only has Souls Games :) And my Switch has a number of Souls Likes.
Great video. Played Elden Ring as my first Fromsoft game. Fell in love with it and decided to go back and play all of the souls games. Just finished Demon’s Souls! Excited to move on to Dark Souls next! These games bring back the feeling I used to get when playing video games as a kid.
Glad you enjoyed it!
18:30 oh God!😂 I get these people. Since i started playing Sekiro this month on my PC, i was getting destroyed by the chained Ogre so much so my Steam controller got the bumpers damaged (i fixed them) i then decided to buy an Xbox controller and start a new game. Now, i defeated him yesterday and even went on to beat the next Samurai mini boss in the following stage after only one death and even got past the snake on my second try! It was exhilarating and i was just screaming tor joy internally 🤩👍 I am still finding the game a challenge but i no longer want to quit and i have been doing more planning and research. Miyazake really creates amazing games.
Haha..very inspiring message! Thanks for sharing! We are all like @heyKipp after defeating a hard boss :)
I don’t play video games but I love learning about the artistry and intellect involved in storytelling. Your videos are the best at introducing and adding depth to this amazing artist and his team. Miyazaki is fascinating every time he talks about anything, especially his overall process and the way he works with others. The way he presents narrative and lore is utterly fascinating. It’s not out in front. I think the premise and story for Bloodborne is on the same level as Edgar Allan Poe and Lovecraft.
Thanks for the kind feedback! :)
14:29 this quote definitely is what makes Demon’s Souls unique at the time. It seemed like it got out of hand with Cutscenes directing gameplay. Cutscenes were to show off the graphics of the consoles. Yet Demon’s Souls it was all about the gameplay. The cutscenes themselves merely show you things of interests.
Thanks for sharing! Agreed! Some or most triple A games / highly budgeted games have plenty of cutscenes and are story-heavy.. not our Souls games! :)
I bought the game when it first had its NA release, mainly due to the critical reception the game had. I admit I underestimated how difficult the game was, it demanded too much effort and time from me than other titles at the time and I just didn't have the dedication. Dark souls was a different matter, I believe that the adjustment they made easing players into the game for the first 3 hours, such as better game play stream lining, better inventory management and all that stuff, made all the difference to me and had me hooked from the first min of the game.
Thanks for sharing! The introduction of bonfires for the first time really helped! :)
I am proudly one of those who bought demon's souls before it was release in the west. How? I got the chinese version for some reason it was in English? How I learned about the game? When Street fighter 4 came out I tried playing with people from japan and even friended some of them on psn. One of them kapan(something) got the game and I noticed him playing when it came out, I was sold from the get go. I recall him saying it was hard, but good :)
Thank you for sharing! And thank you for supporting Demon's Souls in the early days!
His story and games are a great inspiration for us that find ourselves in similar life paths as Miyazaki's. Or with one foot in the industry, but still not having found the right environment. Sometimes it's neccessary to be bold, but it is very difficult making that kind of choice with all the pressures one may experience from their surroundings and situation in life. But knowing others have done it also translates to life, and one can draw a very thick parallel between the experience of searching for happiness and defeating the obstacles in both the games and life itself. It always felt like a point of the games was to instill a feeling of hope; that it's possible to defeat these obstacles with thought and persistence. And I think it really does matter that games provide something to be gleaned from the experience and taken with us through life. Besides an interesting experience.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful message! Highly appreciated!
A channel focused on historical facts, timelines, Souls games and Berserk? Let me sub first and then watch the video right away.
Thank you! Cheers! :)
These are amazing videos. The entire series. Hope more people will watch these
I think no other game developer in the history of video games has been as influential as Miyazaki. I mean that's the only game director name I even know. Oh well maybe another one is Gabe lol
There is also Hideo Kojima, Shigeru Miyamoto, and David Brevik...but yeah, for me, Miyazaki is the greatest :)
Great analysis. After focusing on the souls series, will you consider doing other video game series? Looking forward to future videos.
Yes, definitely! :)
And BTW: the two videos about myazaki so far should definitely be watched by #Asmongold 😅.
Haha...lol :)
Ah okay so Miyazaki wasn’t actually saved by Josuke in a winter snowstorm
Lol! He's a fan of Jojo, by the way :p
Omg, here I thought this was well established video series, but its only 10 days old Q_Q. I'm really looking forward to the Darks Souls video, you did a brilliant job with this one.
Thanks for the kind feedback! It inspires me!
Never could play any souls game online. It sucks to have to piss and then you go hide in a cleared section only to comeback and some a hole invaded and killed you.
I also play offline only :)
Having first person perspective on the Souls games would absolutely suck a$$
Of course :)
It’s Adult Zelda with slight Metroid influences
I wish more games companies sought to challenge players instead of rewarding them
Thanks to the Souls games, we now have more Souls-likes, and some exceptional entries like Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, etc.
Tbh, my life was forever changed the first time my innocent eyes read "try tounge but hole"
Haha..yeah! :)
Demons Souls is a awesome game & one of my favorites! To bad that the 6th arch stone was cut from the game!
Yeah! I guess they ran out of time to do it.
It seems like the last name Miyazaki is just blessed.
Only fate made this game❤️
Thank you to those who made this experience.
Haha..true! All the Souls games owe something to the first game that made them possible.
Man, it just blows my mind that demon's souls got a bad release. I thought it was freaking awesome immediately. I felt like I was finally being given the credit that I could take it if I screwed up, and wasn't coddled like a delicate flower. Felt damn good. I was like, yeah, kick my ass. Finally something real where success or failure is entirely my fault.
Wonderfully crafted and insightful. Thank you.
Thanks for the very kind feedback!
Dude I just found your channel
God bless the Algorithm ❤❤❤
Glad you enjoy it! Cheers! :)
I love this video. There are parts of the later videos (Sekiro, etc) where so many promo videos etc are included in their entirety and I don't love that. I get the desire to capture them for posterity but this is maybe the only one I watched without skipping anything.