Sneak Peek at a Lost Feature: First-Person Mode in Demon’s Souls Prototype Footage

In an exciting twist for fans, some newly unearthed footage from 2007 has revealed that Demon’s Souls almost included a first-person gameplay option. This gem was shared by the well-known Elden Ring dataminer, Lance McDonald, who recently showcased early gameplay clips and presentation materials from a Sony Computer Entertainment event called Gameshare 4.

Initially presented back in 2007, this footage gives us a glimpse into the game’s development. The slideshow created by Japan Studio lists Demon’s Souls as its working title, a name that ultimately stuck through the entire development process. The presentation painted a picture of a dark and immersive world filled with “ruined castles, lonely wastelands, and other cursed spots,” populated by menacing foes and strange creatures.

While many mechanics from this early build made it into the final game, some aspects were significantly different, especially the camera system. In the final version, players navigate in a third-person view with a versatile camera that can be adjusted freely. However, the prototype footage shows players battling in a first-person perspective, which McDonald noted was an option intended to add variety to the gameplay experience.

Moreover, the original third-person mode used a fixed camera that followed the character around, relying on the left stick for movements like strafing and backstepping. McDonald pointed out a deliberate resemblance to The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion’s third-person controls, although this design choice was ultimately scrapped.

The footage also revealed some bizarre creatures that didn’t make it into the final cut, including snake-headed foes who would go on to appear in later Souls games and even a plain crocodile. It also touched on the ghost mechanic that was retained and featured in future titles within the franchise.

One of the more amusing highlights from the presentation was a humorous nod to South Park, with a slide featuring a screenshot from the iconic episode “Make Love, Not Warcraft.” This image depicted a comically exaggerated version of Eric Cartman, representing the stereotypical MMORPG gamer, which Japan Studio wanted to steer clear of by balancing offline and online RPG elements for a richer experience.

This revelation is just one of many that McDonald has brought to light, following his discovery of an unused cutscene in Elden Ring that expanded the game’s already vast lore. As fans of the Souls series, it’s always intriguing to learn about what could have been and how these early ideas evolved into the beloved titles we know today.

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