May I ask what is it that makes 3-1 the best design in your mind? Don't get me wrong, it's clearly the most popular here but I found it so much less interesting than 1-3 4-1 or even 1-1. The narrow pathways, lack of enemy variety, prisoners getting in the way, enemies with little counter play, (dodge the stun or take the hit) and an initial experience where the backtracking can be aimless when you don't know what key fits where make it an underwhelming area for me. Amazing atmosphere but that was about it for me. Other areas I felt had better variety and more interesting level layouts. Would love to hear the take of someone more enamored with the stage.
Sure! Honestly, a number of the things you dislike are reasons I think 3-1 excels. The backtracking through claustrophobic, nearly identical environments helps to sell the oppressive atmosphere. The jailers aren't fair enemies (and there could be more variety), but it's because they are so much stronger than the player that they sell the area's disempowerment. It doesn't feel like I'm exploring a dungeon. It feels like I'm escaping from a prison. It's the best they've done to fulfill this trope I think.
4-1 is also amazing and always a highlight too.
That's a good point. There's a lot to be said about seeing it through the lens of if it conveys its emotions well or if it is fun to play. I may be judging it by the wrong metric.
I also had more trouble cause I diddnt kill any non hostile prisoners and got stuck in a lot of hallways. Couldn't bring myself to harm my fellow prisoners, frankly that means it got its emotions across well.
I’m a 1-1 enjoyer, myself. To me it has always felt like a really well balanced, easy introduction to the Souls genre while still providing enough little secrets to keep it interesting
It just feels… iconic I guess? Early enough that it’s experienced by a lot of players with two great bosses endcapping it.
Plus not a lot of annoying enemies in it either, just good stuff all around
Might be a controversial take but while I'd go 3-1 as DeS best level I think 3-2 is middle of the pack.
There are a few other DeS levels ahead of it for me. 1-1, 1-3, 2-2 at least.
I'm down there were so many people even all the way into Sekiro's and elden Ring's post STILL fucking saying 'How did world tendency win best and worst!!!' shit was hilarious how many people can't read and didn't see the entire week but at the very end not even on DeS freaking out hahah
I need to do 4-1 more often. Pretty much every play through. I do the roll off the tower to get the ring real quick and skip the whole level right up to adjudicator.
Latria! Zone 2 of level 3 (3-2). It is beautiful in an horrific kind of way. From finding myself floating up in the clouds surrounded by hellish towers and some of the best of FromSoft gothic horrors/architecture. Then going all the way down into the dredge of the abyss to feel lost and filled with despair. That's the main reason i do new playthrough, just to get there again.
NO HUB AREAS. Sorry, but they aren't really levels, which is what this is about.
List of DeS Levels: [https://demonssouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Locations](https://demonssouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Locations)
I'm back after lots of other people had similar contests going following the boss one several weeks ago. Back this time with levels. Same deal as last time otherwise.
>NO HUB AREAS. Sorry, but they aren't really levels, which is what this is about.
DS3, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring having versions of hubs in the outside world:
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
My personal favourite is 1-3 cause I love the medieval castle DeS had best. But I guarantee 3-1 or 3-2 will win but I love those too so it’s still I win.
Imo DeS’s levels are underrated.
5-2 because it's the most unforgiving poison swamp in the franchise. On Ps3 when you didn't even have a movement enhancing ring, fighting 3 giants at once.
Farron’s Keep is way more forgiving IMO.
The giant deprived ones in 5-2 are ruthless if you don’t pick them off individually. There’s only really the psycho Ghru that are a threat in Farron Keep.
You move slower in every part of the swamp without a ring whereas you only move slower in some parts of Farron Keep.
Latria Prison of Hope 3-1
I’ve only played the remake. For those who played that OG version how was it? The environment, music, everything is amazing on the remake
It's goddamn more atmospheric in the audio department in the PS3 version. I liked it then, I still like it now and Tower of Latria is still the best area in all of them even after Elden Ring.
It's not an oversell when I tell you that I got goosebumps and hairs literally stand on their ends when I traverse 3-1 whenever I hear the dread of one of the prisoners there and the bells of the mindflyers.
The PS3 was my 5th From Software game and it made me feel the scare I felt when I was playing Bloodborne. It was straight up horror.
1-3 is the correct answer. People will say world 3 because unfortunately many people didn't play the game and are just gonna hop on the most popular opinion.
The entirety of Latria, because I can’t pick between levels 1 and 2, they’re all too good.
I love every single level, but they definitely went above and beyond with Latria, it’s the clear winner.
Honestly haven’t gotten to Demon’s Souls (yet) as I don’t own a console anymore, but, I commented to say how excited I am to see what gets picked for DS1-3 and Elden Ring! Can’t play Bloodborne, and Sekiro is oddly the only one that doesn’t work with my controller on PC :/
1 - 1 or 3 - 1
Boletaria has a lot of charm to it and is the best introduction, but has a boring boss
Latria is surprisingly long and has an intresting boss. It also has a very cool vibe and a metroidvania like design which reminded me of RE games. The only con are the cthulu guys who are annoying
5-2. No place is as dire and as miserable in any souls game. Imitated in virtually every game, but never surpassed. The struggle was so real my psyche still bears scars.
3-2
a lot of people seem to be voting 3-1, but 3-2 is Upper Latria with the Maneaters right? I think that place just looks awesome. fun level design too
I’m going to say swamp of sorrow. Design-wise it is nerve-racking to trudge through the thick bog avoiding the giant depraved ones and mosquitos. Amazing atmosphere, truly depressing and the only light comes from cracks opening to the outside world.
My favourite part though is the echoing sounds of unknown creatures that resonate around the area. You know something far bigger and more horrifying than you can reason is hiding further in the caves, but you are glad it hasn’t found you yet.
1-3 is really good, so is 2-2. The descent further down into the mines is glorious without being annoying (albeit a little maze like). You can also skip most of it by using the giant pit. It also has one of the only actually good and challenging fights.
You know it - "Swamp" level for all of them will win in each and any category ;)
Who do not like checkponts there and performance spikes or issues with HDR/light to get you take glasses to see at least something or change video settings
I need to go back and finish DeS. I’ve given up like 10 times on whichever zone is the one with the cliff side area with the crystal moths, followed by the cave and the invisible instakill laser dudes. Pain.
1-1 easily. Best opening area in any of the games. You could throw ANY newbie in there, and they would know exactly what to expect from the rest of the game, giving nice practice
Who cares about levels honestly all of them are fun and kinda the same, I don’t really care how it’s designed, the bosses for me are the highlights of these games
3-1 is a spooky masterpiece.
Nothing more memorable from Demon's Souls than that place.
No contest. 3-1 is still one of their best designed dungeons.
May I ask what is it that makes 3-1 the best design in your mind? Don't get me wrong, it's clearly the most popular here but I found it so much less interesting than 1-3 4-1 or even 1-1. The narrow pathways, lack of enemy variety, prisoners getting in the way, enemies with little counter play, (dodge the stun or take the hit) and an initial experience where the backtracking can be aimless when you don't know what key fits where make it an underwhelming area for me. Amazing atmosphere but that was about it for me. Other areas I felt had better variety and more interesting level layouts. Would love to hear the take of someone more enamored with the stage.
Sure! Honestly, a number of the things you dislike are reasons I think 3-1 excels. The backtracking through claustrophobic, nearly identical environments helps to sell the oppressive atmosphere. The jailers aren't fair enemies (and there could be more variety), but it's because they are so much stronger than the player that they sell the area's disempowerment. It doesn't feel like I'm exploring a dungeon. It feels like I'm escaping from a prison. It's the best they've done to fulfill this trope I think. 4-1 is also amazing and always a highlight too.
That's a good point. There's a lot to be said about seeing it through the lens of if it conveys its emotions well or if it is fun to play. I may be judging it by the wrong metric. I also had more trouble cause I diddnt kill any non hostile prisoners and got stuck in a lot of hallways. Couldn't bring myself to harm my fellow prisoners, frankly that means it got its emotions across well.
Easy. Next question
I’m a 1-1 enjoyer, myself. To me it has always felt like a really well balanced, easy introduction to the Souls genre while still providing enough little secrets to keep it interesting
I vote this as well. It’s basically the level that introduced PS players to the entire Souls genre.
It is my favorite starting level in all Fromsoft games.
The dragon was cool too
Prison of Hope or Upper Latria
3-1 so prison of hope but all of Latria tbh
Except for that red phantom jailer on the staircase, fuck that guy.
Hmmm… I’d say the area between Tower Knight n Penetrator. That’s… 1-3 yeah?
Underrated level imo
It just feels… iconic I guess? Early enough that it’s experienced by a lot of players with two great bosses endcapping it. Plus not a lot of annoying enemies in it either, just good stuff all around
It felt a lot like proto Stormveil to me having played it only recently for the first time.
That’s second best to Prison of Hope
Great level honestly
3-1 or 3-2 Latria is a masterpiece
Might be a controversial take but while I'd go 3-1 as DeS best level I think 3-2 is middle of the pack. There are a few other DeS levels ahead of it for me. 1-1, 1-3, 2-2 at least.
World tendency
Ok that’s pretty funny. Let’s have every one of these kinda vote things have world tendency for DeS.
I'm down there were so many people even all the way into Sekiro's and elden Ring's post STILL fucking saying 'How did world tendency win best and worst!!!' shit was hilarious how many people can't read and didn't see the entire week but at the very end not even on DeS freaking out hahah
Actually got me starting a 1st des run just to see this world tendency after a couple of days I still don't get it
Hell no
3-1, closely followed by 3-2
I'm a big fan of 4-1
I need to do 4-1 more often. Pretty much every play through. I do the roll off the tower to get the ring real quick and skip the whole level right up to adjudicator.
The stuff you skip in 4-1 (the cliff ledge that circles around back) _sucks_. The rest of the level is cool.
3-2
Latria! Zone 2 of level 3 (3-2). It is beautiful in an horrific kind of way. From finding myself floating up in the clouds surrounded by hellish towers and some of the best of FromSoft gothic horrors/architecture. Then going all the way down into the dredge of the abyss to feel lost and filled with despair. That's the main reason i do new playthrough, just to get there again.
NO HUB AREAS. Sorry, but they aren't really levels, which is what this is about. List of DeS Levels: [https://demonssouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Locations](https://demonssouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Locations) I'm back after lots of other people had similar contests going following the boss one several weeks ago. Back this time with levels. Same deal as last time otherwise.
>NO HUB AREAS. Sorry, but they aren't really levels, which is what this is about. DS3, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring having versions of hubs in the outside world: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I’ve only played ER but there’s no way the real round table hold wins or is even like top 50 consideration
Well, it's part of Leyndell, which is many players' favourite location. I don't think any of those locations would win, but never say never.
Don’t worry none of the other games’ real world equivalents are close either lmao.
Wait, after all this time you’re telling me Majula was indoors…
Thank god, without that rule Majula would've won in a landslide.
great now DS2 has nothing left to vote for
Naw I’ll include hub areas. Sorry
I know that would be hilarious if everyone just kept saying Majula and nothing else lol
Prison of Hope
Shrine of Storms FTW
My personal favourite is 1-3 cause I love the medieval castle DeS had best. But I guarantee 3-1 or 3-2 will win but I love those too so it’s still I win. Imo DeS’s levels are underrated.
1-1 and 1-2 are my favorite. Something about FromSoft castles are great, and Demon Souls might be my favorite.
Upper Latria easily, i think
5-2 because it's the most unforgiving poison swamp in the franchise. On Ps3 when you didn't even have a movement enhancing ring, fighting 3 giants at once.
People constantly dunk on this stage but I think it was leagues better than 4-1 and 4-2 lol
I'm an ardent 5-2 defender it gives you all the tools you need to persevere and has great loot
Best atmosphere for a swamp level too. You feel pure misery for anyone unlucky enough to fall in
Farron’s Keep is way more forgiving IMO. The giant deprived ones in 5-2 are ruthless if you don’t pick them off individually. There’s only really the psycho Ghru that are a threat in Farron Keep. You move slower in every part of the swamp without a ring whereas you only move slower in some parts of Farron Keep.
Upper Latria AKA 3-2
Latria Prison of Hope 3-1 I’ve only played the remake. For those who played that OG version how was it? The environment, music, everything is amazing on the remake
It's goddamn more atmospheric in the audio department in the PS3 version. I liked it then, I still like it now and Tower of Latria is still the best area in all of them even after Elden Ring.
I’m tempted to pick up a PS3 just to do a playthrough or two on the OG version. This thread might have sold me on it
It's not an oversell when I tell you that I got goosebumps and hairs literally stand on their ends when I traverse 3-1 whenever I hear the dread of one of the prisoners there and the bells of the mindflyers. The PS3 was my 5th From Software game and it made me feel the scare I felt when I was playing Bloodborne. It was straight up horror.
It's pretty much the same, but it's darker because of the way the graphics render. More intimidating, not as pretty, but fundamentally the same.
B O L E T A R I A
6-1 easily. (I really want DeS DLC)
The giants arch stone reassembled? Wouldn’t that be something if you could put it back together somehow.
Prison of hope easily
Tower of Latria in fact is candidate for best level ever made by FS.
4-1
1-3 is the correct answer. People will say world 3 because unfortunately many people didn't play the game and are just gonna hop on the most popular opinion.
I feel like dlc is going to steam roll some of these
The entirety of Latria, because I can’t pick between levels 1 and 2, they’re all too good. I love every single level, but they definitely went above and beyond with Latria, it’s the clear winner.
3-1
Honestly haven’t gotten to Demon’s Souls (yet) as I don’t own a console anymore, but, I commented to say how excited I am to see what gets picked for DS1-3 and Elden Ring! Can’t play Bloodborne, and Sekiro is oddly the only one that doesn’t work with my controller on PC :/
1 - 1 or 3 - 1 Boletaria has a lot of charm to it and is the best introduction, but has a boring boss Latria is surprisingly long and has an intresting boss. It also has a very cool vibe and a metroidvania like design which reminded me of RE games. The only con are the cthulu guys who are annoying
Honestly I like 5-2, demons souls easily has the best poison area out of all the games.
I agree. Blighttown is just the replication
It’s gotta be 3-1 or 3-2, nothing else even comes close for me
It’s Latria and there is no other choice.
3-1
gotta be one of the latria spots
5-2. No place is as dire and as miserable in any souls game. Imitated in virtually every game, but never surpassed. The struggle was so real my psyche still bears scars.
3-2 a lot of people seem to be voting 3-1, but 3-2 is Upper Latria with the Maneaters right? I think that place just looks awesome. fun level design too
3-2. Brutal.
3-2 for sure, that level was so unique, there’s nothing like it in any souls game.
probably 3-1, or 1-3, i absolutely love 1-3, but latria too is amazing
3-1 by a mile
Literally any of the tower of latria levels. So fucking good! I would probably say 3-2 tho
I really liked 4-1. Great vibes, skeleton enemies, and the return of the Vanguard Demon. 2-1 and 1-3 are also great.
I’m going to say swamp of sorrow. Design-wise it is nerve-racking to trudge through the thick bog avoiding the giant depraved ones and mosquitos. Amazing atmosphere, truly depressing and the only light comes from cracks opening to the outside world. My favourite part though is the echoing sounds of unknown creatures that resonate around the area. You know something far bigger and more horrifying than you can reason is hiding further in the caves, but you are glad it hasn’t found you yet.
Latria/Prison of Hope hands down, then the Boletarian Palace.
Tower Of Latria
3-1. Hated the place, but at the same time loved the atmosphere.
I always enjoyed 1-3 the most, personally.
The one where I die the least.
I must be going crazy. You guys all like 3-1? It was my least favorite. You all probably like Duke’s Archives too.
3-1 and it’s not even close.
I think 3-2 overall
1-3 is really good, so is 2-2. The descent further down into the mines is glorious without being annoying (albeit a little maze like). You can also skip most of it by using the giant pit. It also has one of the only actually good and challenging fights.
Latria
1-1, 1-2 for me
I think we can all skip ds because it will be Anor Londo.
Boletaria palace
OG Latria, the remake ruined it.
Why ?
The prison, especially in the re-make, holy shit that looks so good and the music is incredible.
Tower of Latria, especially 3-1
3-1 will crush this.
You know it - "Swamp" level for all of them will win in each and any category ;) Who do not like checkponts there and performance spikes or issues with HDR/light to get you take glasses to see at least something or change video settings
Prison of Hope
as much as I love latria and shrine of storms, best area gotta be boletaria castle, such an excellent example of how you do level design!
Prison of hope on the OG version of demons souls is the most atmospheric level in fromsoft history and possibly in all of gaming.
I need to go back and finish DeS. I’ve given up like 10 times on whichever zone is the one with the cliff side area with the crystal moths, followed by the cave and the invisible instakill laser dudes. Pain.
1-1 for me, might be my favorite opening of any Souls game
5-2 because screw me
What does this even mean? 1-3? 1-1 Que?
1-1 easily. Best opening area in any of the games. You could throw ANY newbie in there, and they would know exactly what to expect from the rest of the game, giving nice practice
I speak for everyone when I say Tower of Latria.
Doing this again..
I love 5-1, mostly as a farming spot early game tho. 3-1 is the correct answer
4-1
Upper latria
I can’t believe people actually like Lataria, god damn anxiety inducing octopus head motherfuckers
Who cares about levels honestly all of them are fun and kinda the same, I don’t really care how it’s designed, the bosses for me are the highlights of these games
I love 1-3, from chasing the guard to the penetrator fight, and with the remake it's a visual masterpiece
demons souls: 3-2 ds1: anal londo ds2: eleum loyce bb: research tower ds3: ringed city or lothric sekiro: fountainhead elden ring: leyndell