Demon's Souls: Remaking a PlayStation Classic - Documentary
Noclip - Video Game Documentaries・2 minutes read
Bluepoint Games' meticulous and data-driven approach to remaking Demon's Souls for the PlayStation 5 involved translating Japanese documents, making subtle gameplay tweaks, and creating detailed environments while balancing respect for the original game with modern enhancements. The team's dedication to quality and attention to detail, including visual and audio improvements, resulted in a significant technical and artistic achievement dedicated to their late co-founder, Andy O'Neil, as they navigated challenges and rewards in creating a launch title for the PlayStation 5.
Insights
- Bluepoint Games meticulously remakes games like Demon's Souls by extracting original data, prioritizing source accuracy, and integrating modern elements while respecting the core feel of the originals.
- The remake of Demon's Souls involved extensive changes to gameplay, visuals, lore, and sound design, including adjustments based on player behavior data, to enhance accessibility, realism, and immersion, creating a challenging yet engaging experience for players.
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Recent questions
How does Bluepoint Games approach remakes?
By selecting games they enjoy for quality.
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Summary
00:00
"Bluepoint Games' Remake Process for Demon's Souls"
- Noclip receives numerous requests to investigate FromSoftware's Soulsborne games, but the studio prefers the games to speak for themselves.
- In 2020, Noclip saw an opportunity to explore Demon's Souls for PlayStation 5 and Bluepoint Games, known for faithful remakes.
- Sony's Japan Studio collaborated with Bluepoint Games on Demon's Souls and Bloodborne, leading to a strong relationship.
- Bluepoint Games' meticulous approach involves selecting games they are fond of, like Demon's Souls, to ensure quality and enjoyment.
- The studio's growth and success with Shadow of the Colossus inspired them to tackle Demon's Souls, pushing their limits.
- Bluepoint Games aims to maintain the core feel of original games while modernizing them, facing challenges like player expectations and nostalgia.
- The studio extracts data and source code from the original game package to integrate gameplay elements into a modern engine.
- Bluepoint Games uses concept art and archives to interpret missing details and guide the recreation process.
- The studio prioritizes using the best available source data for remakes, conducting image analysis and data mining to optimize the game.
- Translating Japanese design documents and code is a significant effort for Bluepoint Games when working on remakes.
12:19
"Remaking Demon's Souls for Modern Standards"
- Initial step involves compiling and running the original art assets and data in the game to ensure functionality.
- Parity tests are conducted with the PS3 version, with QA departments playing both versions to verify similarities.
- Issues like missing ladder code, boss AI glitches, and unresponsive fog doors are identified and rectified during gameplay testing.
- Animation enhancements and system improvements are prioritized based on quality assessment and necessity.
- The Boletaria Palace area is meticulously focused on to set visual quality standards for the PS5 title.
- Detailed attention is given to fog, lighting, tessellation, and post effects in the level design.
- The level's complexity, including dragon encounters and AI challenges, required multiple iterations for perfection.
- Artistic changes from the original game to the PS5 version include a shift towards a more Gothic style for a realistic world feel.
- The level design and art style progression from primitive to ornate are highlighted, showcasing the team's attention to detail.
- Technical, gameplay, and artistic changes are essential in remaking Demon's Souls to align with modern gaming standards and player expectations.
24:40
Adjustments and enhancements improve player experience.
- Pickup drop rates were adjusted before Phalanx to make the game easier for players who were struggling, based on trophy stats.
- Defeating the first true boss in the game is crucial for players to understand and enjoy the game.
- Subtle tweaks were made before Phalanx to increase the drop rates of fire pickups, leading to more players progressing past Phalanx.
- Analyzing trophy unlock stats provided insights into player behavior and areas for improvement in the game.
- Demon's Souls is intentionally ambiguous, leaving players to figure out world and character tendencies without explicit explanations.
- Changes were made to make the game more approachable, such as adding UI elements to explain world tendencies.
- The game's lore was enhanced to make it more visible and intriguing for players.
- A tutorial section was modified to introduce players to mechanics like vaulting early in the game to reduce frustration.
- Motion capture was used extensively to match the cadence of the original animations in the game.
- Various enemies and characters were redesigned with new mocap animations to add life and depth to the game.
36:26
"Enhanced Realism and Immersion in Demon's Souls"
- Changes were made to the design of characters like Vanguard and dragons to make them more realistic in a fantasy setting.
- The bosses, especially Vanguard, benefited from physics enhancements like chains and additional details for realism.
- Visual enhancements were made to characters like Maneater, Maiden in Black, and blacksmiths, balancing respect for the original game with modern improvements.
- The Armored Spider's explosive gas attack was changed to an oil attack, adding a challenging twist to gameplay.
- Additional hidden elements like dragon footprints and lightning bolts were added for players to discover, enhancing the game's immersive experience.
- Details like burning destructibles, interactive dead bodies, and head tracking on player and enemy AI were added for a more engaging gameplay experience.
- Advanced audio technology was used to create individual impulse reverbs for different game areas, enhancing the immersive sound experience.
- The absence of music in the game until boss battles was a deliberate choice to create a sense of despair and loss, with music serving as a supportive element during challenging fights.
- The sound design team played a crucial role in creating haptic feedback that matched sound effects, enhancing the overall sensory experience of the game.
- Camera adjustments were made to improve framing and visibility, especially in areas like Latria, balancing player guidance with maintaining the original design's exploration aspect.
49:00
"Remaking Demon's Souls: Artistic & Technical Triumph"
- Bluepoint Games utilized technology and tools to enhance the remake of Demon's Souls, compensating for design limitations in the original game and console hardware constraints.
- The studio had a fluctuating staff size of 70 to 90 people, with a focus on working smart rather than hard, using Houdini tools for efficient building processes.
- The Valley of Defilement level was redesigned to address visibility issues from the original game, utilizing advanced tools to create detailed environments and maintain the intended gameplay experience.
- The character creator in the remake involved facial scans and a system for facial animation that was applied to various characters, including enemies, to ensure consistency and quality.
- Bluepoint Games' remake of Demon's Souls was a significant artistic and technical achievement, completed during a pandemic and dedicated to their late co-founder, Andy O'Neil.
- The team expressed gratitude to fans for their support and highlighted the challenges and rewards of creating a launch title for the PlayStation 5, showcasing the capabilities of the new hardware.
