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Character models in the fantasy action/rpg "Demon Souls" are extremely detailed and excellently animated, particularly during combat.

There's a very important distinction to make between video games that are challenging and ones that are cheap. The former test players' skills to the limit. The latter test their patience.

Even with the most unforgiving game design of any title released in years -- beyond even the legendary difficulty of recent "Ninja Gaiden" releases -- "Demon's Souls" is never cheap.

Whether in the form of awe-inspiring boss battles or trap-filled corridors, death is literally around every corner in this dark fantasy action/rpg.

When players die (which they will, frequently), they lose all their souls, the currency used for buying new equipment and upgrading stats.

After death, players must fight their way back through the level to where they died in order to reclaim their lost bounty. If they die again before doing so, those souls are gone for good.

Fortunately, death is never the result of poor game design. Even run-of-the-mill enemies pose a serious threat, but the combat engine is so well-tuned that victory is always possible, as long as players are patient and observant.

In the face of these odds, every victory yields more of a sense of accomplishment than some games manage in an entire campaign.

"Demon's Souls" is a cruel but beautiful task mistress.

The environments are highly detailed, which when combined with the eerie, foreboding soundtrack, creates a suffocating atmosphere and sense of dread and foreboding.

Character models are extremely detailed and excellently animated, particularly during combat, though the physics on corpses could use some work.

The game's online component is seamlessly integrated into the gameplay in the form of a variety of spiritual interactions.

Ghost-like apparitions will flit through your game world, showing what other users are doing in real-time. Later on, players acquire gems that allow them to enter other users' worlds as either an ally or an invader.

Players can touch blood stains left behind after someone dies to replay their final moments, revealing the dangers ahead. A message system also allows users to leave hints about difficult foes, traps or treasure. This is a brilliant mechanic that helps mitigate the difficulty while also providing a sense of community.

Labeling a game as incredibly difficult may sound like a weird kind of praise, but in a day when most developers are quick to coddle players, "Demon's Souls" is a challenge you'll welcome accepting.

GAME REVIEW

"Demon's Souls"

* System: Playstation 3

* Graphics: A-

* Sound: B+

* Gameplay: A+

* Replay value: A

* Final grade: A+