FromSoftware is no stranger to horror. The famed studio doesn’t shy away from including terrifying imagery or dark themes in its work, with contemporary titles like Elden Ring and Bloodborne being known for their unsettling subject matter, honing in on all manner of monstrosities, whose twisted nature extends far beneath the surface. But still, after all these years, the studio hasn’t topped the scariest area from Demon’s Souls, the game that kicked off the Souls genre.
Demon’s Souls, like virtually every FromSoftware game, is set in a dark world drained to its final dregs of hope. It takes place during the Second Scourge, an era of demons sparked by humanity’s unquenchable thirst for power. Through this demonic interference, many of the darkest traits of humankind come to light, as opportunistic or corrupt actors are seduced by or otherwise taken advantage of by these evil forces that are set on wiping out civilization. Nowhere is this conflict more viscerally and terrifyingly manifested than in the Tower of Latria.
Tower of Latria Remains FromSoftware’s Most Horrific In-Game Area to Date
Tower of Latria Instantly Cements Itself as Demon’s Souls’ Most Unsettling Level
Tower of Latria kicks off at an archstone checkpoint situated in the Prison of Hope. Prison of Hope is often considered one of FromSoftware’s best areas, as it’s drenched in a haunting and uncomfortable tone that is immediately apparent. It’s populated with emaciated prisoners, some of whom have escaped their cells, along with the often-frustrating Jailers, tentacle-headed humanoids who feed off the soul power of others. As players navigate the tight, dark corridors of the prison, they are treated to a soundscape of pained moans and ghostly chants.
It’s startlingly clear that something has gone terribly wrong in this place. This sense is punctuated once players reach the area’s boss, the Fool’s Idol. She adopts the likeness of a long-dead queen and multiplies herself, leading to a disorienting encounter that can only be overcome by killing her magical puppeteer, revealing that she was little more than an illusion. Defeating her is just the beginning of Tower of Latria’s madness, though.
After the fight, players are abducted by gargoyles and taken to Upper Latria, where the true nature of the tower is laid bare. Above the Prison of Hope is a series of towers rooted in a writhing sea of amalgamated, chimeric bodies, controlled by a beating heart that is kept alive by slave mages. Past the numerous grotesque monsters, at the top of Upper Latria, is the Old Monk, one of Demon’s Souls’ most memorable boss battles. The Old Monk sends his pawns to fight the player, and once they are defeated, Latria can be left behind, but it is not saved.
Tower of Latria’s Represents the Height of Demon’s Souls’ Disturbing Lore
Latria was once a land of great culture, nobility, and learning. It was characterized by violent political strife, as evidenced by the assassins that still lurk in the tower, but it was far more dignified than in its current state. The Old Monk, when he was mortal, dedicated his life to the pursuit of magical power, eventually turning to dark and violent means to achieve souls, which play a key role in the Demon’s Souls magic system. For this, the queen imprisoned him, but when The Old One began the Second Scourge, the Old Monk partnered with a demon to create even more demons, in exchange for the power he so desperately craved.
In an act of revenge, the Old Monk killed the queen who imprisoned him and locked countless nobles in the Prison of Hope. Those who betrayed their kinfolk and sided with him were transformed into the Jailers, forced to enact their petty tyranny on those who were once their family and friends. Now prisoners, these nobles were promised salvation if they could reach the Fool’s Idol. Of course, making their way past the Jailers and traps to the Fool’s Idol would only get them captured, brought to Upper Latria and transformed into abominations, fulfilling the desire of the demon that puppets the Old Monk.
