Microtransactions and downloadable content have become a common occurrence in modern gaming, and even FromSoftware's brutally challenging "Soulsborne" franchise can't escape these conventions. The new PS5 Demon's Souls remake's deluxe edition comes with multiple items for players to get a head start in their quest. Fortunately, these items aren't necessary to enjoy Demon's Souls, and they're also not powerful enough to carry players through the adventure.

Just like the rest of FromSoftware's offerings, Demon's Souls focuses on delivering an immensely rewarding experience by providing difficulty yet fair obstacles for players to overcome. None of these games have an easy mode, which is by design. When players triumph over dauntingly tough bosses, they come out of the battles overjoyed with adrenaline flowing through their veins. While it's true that their difficulty makes them controversial and unwelcoming to newcomers, the intensity of FromSoftware's titles is deeply rooted in their DNA.

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When it was originally revealed that Demon's Souls would have a deluxe package with powerful loot at the start of the game, many Soulsborne fans had mixed feelings. It's not uncommon for developers to release in-game content of this nature as an incentive to pre-order their titles or even to pay an extra $20, but Demon's Souls isn't the average video game. As previously mentioned, its difficulty is part of what makes the experience so compelling in the first place, so gamers were concerned this could break the balance of the game and give an unfair advantage to those who pay extra cash.

Demon's Souls' Bonus Items Are Helpful But Balanced

Demon's Souls remake - Boss Battle Combat Pose

Fortunately, these items don't offer their users any significant advantage throughout the whole game. Players who buy the deluxe edition will receive the Red-Eye Knight and Boletarian Royalty armor sets, the Ritual Blade, the Hoplite Shield, the Ring of Longevity, and a handful of consumable items. While it's true that most of these items are exclusive to the deluxe edition, Demon's Souls has alternatives for these weapons and armor pieces in the main game itself. Additionally, the deluxe weapons cannot be leveled up, which means their usefulness will mostly wear off by the mid-point of the game. Those with the deluxe edition will have an easier time in the beginning of Demon's Souls, but they'll struggle just as much as anyone else once they start progressing in the game.

Fans were also concerned these bonus items would be overpowered in the game's player-versus-player interactions. Demon's Souls allows players to battle each other online by invading each other's worlds. It's a unique system of multiplayer found throughout the Soulsbrone games, but weapon balance is key for Demon's Souls PvP matches to be enjoyable. Since these weapons are not upgradable, as previously mentioned, they have no negative impact on the title's PvP. It's relieving to know the integrity of Demon's Souls' extreme challenge and online multiplayer were not compromised in exchange for some extra cash.

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