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Editor's note: I've read more than a few treatises on Demon's Souls, but never one that looked at the game as job training…. -Demian
I was recently filling out a job application, slowly plodding through one of the personality tests so in vogue with big corporations, carefully reading each question. I have a tendency to agonize over these things, afraid I’ll somehow misrepresent myself. Then I reached this question:
“Do you make detailed plans before beginning an activity?”
Shortly before starting the application, I had been discussing my meticulous plan to grind my way towards better weapons in Demon’s Souls. I felt no hesitation when I clicked “Highly Accurate.”
I have a tendency to become “obsessed” with certain kinds of games. Currently I have a massive pile of shame, partly because none of the games hold my interest for long. It's not that they aren’t good games — Assassin's Creed 2 is on that list. I’ve had fun with all of them, but I can’t seem to sit down long enough to beat them; they haven't triggered my obsessive response. Finally, because of Demon’s Souls, I think I know why.
Most of the games in my pile o’ shame are ones that I know I will beat if I just put in enough time. Assassins Creed 2, while very entertaining, doesn't require much strategy. I know that if I play the story missions and put in my time I will eventually win. I'm not putting Assassin’s Creed 2 down — I’ve had a lot of fun completing the side missions, and I love the setting. But not once have I failed a mission or had to slow down and rethink my strategy. Sure, I messed at times, but generally that meant I climbed the wrong building or something.
By contrast, playing Demon’s Souls is a continuous lesson in trial and error. It’s a game that requires patience and a willingness to fail. I respond strongly to anything I perceive to be a challenge, and beating Demon’s Souls constitutes the greatest gaming challenge I’ve had in a long time. Because of that, I keep catching myself zoning out while thinking of strategies for the game. Luckily "Could your obsession with a game potentially impact your work performance?" wasn't on the quiz!
It isn’t just the challenge of Demon’s Souls that's pulled me in. Plants vs. Zombies and Valkyria Chronicles also captivated me — both were games that I didn’t have all that much trouble with simply winning, but what compelled me to keep playing was the level of strategy. When I beat a section, I always wondered if I could have done it differently or better. Sometimes I would beat a level and then immediately go back and play it again to try a different method.
Back to Demon's Souls — I’ve taken to playing in a deliberate, cautious manner; in each new area I make sure to learn where all the enemies spawn from to help with each subsequent replay. As I manage to level up my weapons and armor, I’ve started going back and replaying sections I’ve beaten to collect items and souls. Basically, I’m grinding and I love it.
Another thing I love is that my play style seems to fit with the world and story of Demon’s Souls. This isn’t a world that needs a hero who is the best warrior, or morally upright. Rather, this world needs a hero who is determined to see the fight to the end at all costs.
Pity I can’t list playing Demon’s Souls as a skill on my resume. It’s says a lot about how I handle being under pressure.