IMPORTANT: Possible Game-Stopping Bug *(slight) SPOILERS*

[lol, forums]

There have been a few reports of players that have cleared all the stages and bosses of the game but not having the Maiden in Black lead them to the game's end event. In two of these cases we have found out that the player died from the Dragon God's final breath attack (not the fire breath) at the same time or immediately after defeating the Dragon God (encountered in the third stage of Stonefang Tunnel (2-3)). Afterwards, the players were able to return to collect the Dragon God's soul, gain access to 1-3, and seemingly progress their game normally. However, at least one of the players was not awarded the trophy for defeating the Dragon God (we're still trying to confirm with the other players), and as mentioned before, both hit a critical bug when the end event should have triggered. Given the low probability that a player would die at the same time as killing a boss, it's unlikely that these players coincidently both did this, so it is almost certainly the cause of the end-game bug.

As such, we recommend being extra careful when defeating bosses so that you don't die at the same time. We've not heard reports of this occurring with any boss other than Dragon God, but better safe than sorry. Because it is most likely (or possibly only) to occur with the Dragon God, please be extra careful to avoid it against him. Your ideal choice would be to use ranged attacks, followed by making sure your HP is full, followed by only melee attacking him immediately after his breath appears and then backing off before to wait for it again.

We sincerely apologize for not catching this bug in advance and will do our best to ensure no further players are affected by this. If anyone reading this is active on any other Demon's Souls message boards, please spread the word about this bug so that other players do not encounter it. In the meantime, we will being looking in to what we can do for the players who have already encountered this critical bug and what can be done so that others don't have to worry about avoiding it. Further info will be added here as we come across it.

[Sferzar]

Thank you so much for the warning. I really hope there is a way to patch this out.

[KTA]

Given how many times you can complete the game I hope this gets resolved, if this somehow happens with another boss as well and I was say my 10th play through i'd be pretty bent out of shape.

Thanks for the heads up. I always ranged DG anyhow though.

[Shimizoki]

I think this has just happened to me, although it was a different boss. I may be wrong but after I killed the Tower King in world 1-3 I was still unable to go through the giant doors. It tells me that I must defeat the archdemon (who if I am correct is the tower knight and who is dead). I do think that I died after killing the boss but before going through the door. (it was several days ago I don't quite remember). Is there a way to fix this or am I not supposed to be able to go through that door yet.

[Eternal Sin]

Arch demon = last boss in any level and therefore not Tower Knight. Hope that helps

[Karkarov]

Originally Posted by Shimizoki

I think this has just happened to me, although it was a different boss. I may be wrong but after I killed the Tower King in world 1-3 I was still unable to go through the giant doors. It tells me that I must defeat the archdemon (who if I am correct is the tower knight and who is dead). I do think that I died after killing the boss but before going through the door. (it was several days ago I don't quite remember). Is there a way to fix this or am I not supposed to be able to go through that door yet.

That isn't a bug that is intended. Nice to see an official Atlus response on this, frankly the odds of this playing out this way are astronomically low especially if you fight him with ranged attacks at that stage.

[dragon23]

Originally Posted by Shimizoki

I think this has just happened to me, although it was a different boss. I may be wrong but after I killed the Tower King in world 1-3 I was still unable to go through the giant doors. It tells me that I must defeat the archdemon (who if I am correct is the tower knight and who is dead). I do think that I died after killing the boss but before going through the door. (it was several days ago I don't quite remember). Is there a way to fix this or am I not supposed to be able to go through that door yet.

the archdemon you need is in 2-X the same guy they're talking about in this tread kill him then you can go pass the doors (since you killed a archdemon ) the tower knight (or king) is a normal boss.

[he_clever]

The archdemon in 4-3 is easy as pie too, getting there is a little more difficult than in World 2, at least I think so.

[Septiego]

Is there any way to say what this possible game-breaking bug is without spoiling parts of the game? I didn't read the OP because I really would rather not spoil any part of the game (haven't beaten it obviously), but I'd also rather like to know about and how to avoid some big bad bug.

[Syra]

Originally Posted by Septiego

Is there any way to say what this possible game-breaking bug is without spoiling parts of the game? I didn't read the OP because I really would rather not spoil any part of the game (haven't beaten it obviously), but I'd also rather like to know about and how to avoid some big bad bug.

Basically: Take care not to die at the same instant as defeating a boss, as it's possible you wont get the trophy, and while you'll be able to continue the game, it may not properly register for unlocking the final area. The only case that has been noted at this time, is involving the boss of 2-3, so especially in the case of that fight, do not die while landing the killing blow(Just bring a bow to that battle if you're extra worried).

[Septiego]

Originally Posted by Syra

Basically: Take care not to die at the same instant as defeating a boss, as it's possible you wont get the trophy, and while you'll be able to continue the game, it may not properly register for unlocking the final area. The only case that has been noted at this time, is involving the boss of 2-3, so especially in the case of that fight, do not die while landing the killing blow(Just bring a bow to that battle if you're extra worried).

Thanks!
It seems like the entire Demon's Souls community (not particularly this site) is hell bent on spoiling every aspect of this game for me. I look up one thing like "should I spend the souls to upgrade this weapon" and every key plot element is revealed.
Anyway, side rant over. Thanks for filling me in spoiler-free.

[Shimizoki]

Ahh, So I guess that the door is just not supposed to open yet, I thought that all bosses were arch demons and that everything else aws a regular demon... my mistake. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Saint_Lucifer]

They Also need to bring a patch out fro copying game saves so you can back your data up without using a massive memory stick or a massive back up disk or drive!

[SpiritThief]

Originally Posted by Saint_Lucifer

They Also need to bring a patch out fro copying game saves so you can back your data up without using a massive memory stick or a massive back up disk or drive!

They need to get rid of trophies to really do this kind of thing. That's why saves get locked. Most were unlocked before trophies now just about everything is locked

[obie191970]

Originally Posted by SpiritThief

They need to get rid of trophies to really do this kind of thing. That's why saves get locked. Most were unlocked before trophies now just about everything is locked

And for someone who has gotten the YLOD, people are foolish to not be backing up your entire system at least once a month. An external hard drive costs less than a game....

[Onion of Mystery]

Originally Posted by SpiritThief

They need to get rid of trophies to really do this kind of thing. That's why saves get locked. Most were unlocked before trophies now just about everything is locked

It seems like being able to back up your saved data is kind of antithetical to the persistent world feeling of Demon's Souls. If you can just reload every time you die, there's no consequence for failure.

People these days need to play more roguelikes. Teach 'em some caution and responsibility. </old man>

[lol, forums]

Originally Posted by Saint_Lucifer

They Also need to bring a patch out fro copying game saves so you can back your data up without using a massive memory stick or a massive back up disk or drive!

Yeah, that's definitely not gonna happen.

[Karkarov]

Originally Posted by Onion of Mystery

It seems like being able to back up your saved data is kind of antithetical to the persistent world feeling of Demon's Souls. If you can just reload every time you die, there's no consequence for failure.

People these days need to play more roguelikes. Teach 'em some caution and responsibility. </old man>

**** straight.

That said for those who don't know the saves are locked to the system. You literally can not copy it to a external HD or a memory stick. DS is very serious about not letting you cheat and that means linking every save to the console it was created on and ONLY the console it was created on.

[obie191970]

Originally Posted by Karkarov

**** straight.

That said for those who don't know the saves are locked to the system. You literally can not copy it to a external HD or a memory stick. DS is very serious about not letting you cheat and that means linking every save to the console it was created on and ONLY the console it was created on.

Right, but it will copy if you do a system backup. You just can't retrieve it unless you do a full system restore.

[Karkarov]

Originally Posted by obie191970

Right, but it will copy if you do a system backup. You just can't retrieve it unless you do a full system restore.

Been told by people who claimed to have tried it in the past that it didn't work.

[obie191970]

Originally Posted by Karkarov

Been told by people who claimed to have tried it in the past that it didn't work.

You may be right - If so, I am the one getting bad information. I know from personal experience that the only game saves I lost were Rock Band and RSV 2.

[starterman1989]

Originally Posted by Saint_Lucifer

They Also need to bring a patch out fro copying game saves so you can back your data up without using a massive memory stick or a massive back up disk or drive!

If you're using a different console, it won't work even with hard drive backup. I can understand why the game save needs to be locked. I think it's important to allow transfer of save data somehow, though.

Imagine having your ps3 broken. Even if you backup your entire save to external HDD, you won't be able to restore it to a different console. The console-locked save is kinda confusing to me. If I ever want to upgrade to slim ps3, I would have to say goodbye to my Demon's Souls save file. That's kinda sad.

Can Atlus make the save to be locked to PSN ID or something? Console-locked save seems to be the worst one to me... When your machine dies, that's it...

[Shimizoki]

I agree, but I dont know whow you would lock it to a PSN ID since one console can be logged in to multiple PSNs.

[dragon23]

Originally Posted by Shimizoki

I agree, but I dont know whow you would lock it to a PSN ID since one console can be logged in to multiple PSNs.

it would have to copy it to something like playstation store like the dlc..... but it can't copy they might make an update for it, but i doubt it

[Shimizoki]

that would mean they would have to keep the save on a server... that would take loads of hardware and would probably make it cost money to play online...

[Izunadrop]

Hey,

I can't yet make a new post, so hopefully I can get some help with this issue by posting in this thread.

I think I just encountered a bug that is making progress from 3-1 to 3-2 impossible, and any input from the posters/atlus to help resolve this would be appreciated.

I entered the last fog in 3-1 and defeated the boss. As I understand it, what is supposed to happen is that after you beat her, you approach the alter at the far end of the church, and a cut scene is triggered in which a pair of gargoyles descend and lift you up to the 3-2 archestone, and where you are given the opportunity to claim the souls of the boss that you defeat in the church.

This cut scene is not being triggered for me.

1. I was unable to trigger the cut scene when approaching the alter after the first time beating her

2. I was unable to trigger the cut scene after leaving through the fog, entering again, and defeating her again.

3. I tried loading my profile, which warped me back outside of the fog. I entered again, defeated her again, and still no cut scene.

4. I was initially in spirit form when I defeated her (was not revived after winning the fight), so I used a stone to revive myself, and was still not able to get the cut scene when in either body or soul form.

5. I warped back out to the nexus, the stone for level 3 does not give me the option to go to the 3-2 archstone (of course), but I entered again, and fought the boss fight again (this time start to finish in body form), and approaching the alter, again, did not trigger the cut scene.

I have shut down the PS3, and will give it another try tomorrow, just in case for some reason shutting down the PS3 will affect it somehow.

Again, any help would be appreciated. Hopefully its just something simple, but I figure you would be the folks to ask just in case it wasn't.

Thank you

[Sferzar]

Don't worry, that is actually supposed to happen. There is a trick to beating the Fool's Idol - it is something you need to take care of in the level, before you even enter the church. If you don't take care of this then she will keep reviving.

I don't want to spoil you the answer but what i can tell you is to check the level thoroughly and find what is making the Fool's Idol resurrect.

[Karkarov]

To add to what Sferzar said and actually avoid spoilers myself I will offer a purely in game tip put there by the devs. Read the messages in the church, pay close attention to the ones that have no rating entry at all not even a 0. That means they are there by default and exist even offline.

[Shimizoki]

Originally Posted by Karkarov

...pay close attention to the ones that have no rating entry at all not even a 0. That means they are there by default and exist even offline.

Oh thats smart, I never even thought about that... Karkarov=My Hero

[Izunadrop]

Thank you so much, I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for your reply; and also for you having the tact not to provide spoilers.

I was pretty scared that I had been screwed over on this playthrough, what a relief to find out thats not the case lol.

Now back to this wonderful game!