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Demon's Souls is a weird title

What do you call it?

  • Demon's Souls

    Votes: 228 57.1%

  • Demon Souls

    Votes: 146 36.6%

  • Demon is Souls

    Votes: 25 6.3%
  • Total voters
    399
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Jawmuncher

Jawmuncher

Crisis Dino
Moderator
Oct 25, 2017
38,754
Ibis Island
box-art-jp.jpg


I'm not talking about the game being weird, but literally the title.

"Demon's Souls"

Is there a story behind how the name came to be? Yeah there are literally Demon's Souls in this game, but that's not the aspect i'm talking about. I mostly bring this up because so often it's referred to as Demon Souls instead (Guess that rolls off the tongue better like Dark Souls). Is there a reason why the Demon needs to be possessive of the souls? There's probably no real answer to this other than "That's what they wanted" but it has always bugged me as Dark Souls and Bloodborne are much more to the point and don't have such an angle to them.

If no one cares, we can just talk about that remaster which isn't happening but totally is happening instead.
0c1.gif
 
JustinH

JustinH

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,456
I think I have always typed Demons' Souls because I thought the title was weird. I never thought what I typed was better or anything though, lol.

I like calling Doom Eternal "Doom 5" too though, so I might actually just be some annoying dork...
edit: Oh right, I also always, always type "Assassins' Creed" too, and not "Assassin's Creed"
 
Admiral Woofington

Admiral Woofington

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
14,892
To have a soul means you can show emotion, which means that for a Demon or Devil to have a soul they have to also cry sometimes. Wait. Devil Cry sometimes. Of course. Demon Slayer
 
Gay Bowser

Gay Bowser

Member
Oct 30, 2017
17,754
Yeah, it's hella awkward. I'd be fine with Bluepoint tweaking the title to "Demon Souls" or something.
 
DaciaJC

DaciaJC

Banned
Oct 29, 2017
6,685
I think you can justify both forms. Demon's Souls - referring to the Old One (or perhaps yourself). Demon Souls - each demon possesses their own soul, the player takes possession by defeating them. I prefer the latter, rolls off the tongue more easily.
 
Z-Beat

Z-Beat

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
31,920
I think the idea is that the demon is you and you're collecting souls
 
Why the possessive, you ask? Here's why:
  • Index
    • Bradford

    Bradford

    terminus est
    Member
    Aug 12, 2018
    5,423
    Jawmuncher said:
    Is there a reason why the Demon needs to be possessive of the souls?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    The game starts with the idea that the King has turned into a tyrannical demon and has been hoarding souls, and over time the script is flipped: You are the demon and they are your souls now. There is also the fact that the Old One is a gigantic demon that can only be lulled to sleep with powerful souls, often influenced by its own presence.

    The game's central dichotomy is about greed and selflessness, exemplified by the Slayer of Demons and the game's final choice to lull the old one back to slumber or submit to its promise of power. Thus, Demon's Souls.

    Not that weird, rather, extremely appropriate.
     
  • Index
    • Jakenbakin

    Jakenbakin

    "This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance
    Member
    Jun 17, 2018
    11,953
    I have never

    And I mean never

    Never ever

    Understood how people can struggle to pronounce this.

    Like... There's so many times in so many contexts you make the same repeating "s" thing.

    Did none of you ever know that she sells seashells by the shore?
     
    Baloota

    Baloota

    Member
    May 12, 2018
    919
    Egypt
    Griff said:
    The game starts with the idea that the King has turned into a tyrannical demon and has been hoarding souls, and over time the script is flipped: You are the demon and they are your souls now. There is also the fact that the Old One is a gigantic demon that can only be lulled to sleep with powerful souls, often influenced by its own presence.

    The game's central dichotomy is about greed and selflessness, exemplified by the Slayer of Demons and the game's final choice to lull the old one back to slumber or submit to its promise of power. Thus, Demon's Souls.

    Not that weird, rather, extremely appropriate.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    This
     
    ghibli99

    ghibli99

    Member
    Oct 27, 2017
    17,997
    The 's in Demon's and S in Souls coming one after the other makes it a little awkward to say, but at this point, who cares?
     
    Sanctuary

    Sanctuary

    Member
    Oct 27, 2017
    14,250
    Those that voted "Demon's Souls", do you actually speak it that way? I always write the correct game title, but actually saying it is extremely clunky unless you are focusing hard on articulation and intentionally pause between the two words.

    As for the actual name itself, it's only odd until you take a few seconds to figure out what it represents, or could represent.
     
    Last edited:
    Chaos2Frozen

    Chaos2Frozen

    Member
    Nov 3, 2017
    28,125
    I feel like adding a "The" would make it all flow better.

    "The Demon's Souls"

    Or alternatively, "Souls of the Demon".

    More generic but it's not like "Demon's Souls" was the pinnacle of Video Game names.
     
    Morrigan

    Morrigan

    Spear of the Metal Church
    Member
    Oct 24, 2017
    34,473
    Demon's Souls: the Dark Souls of game titles
    Griff said:
    The game starts with the idea that the King has turned into a tyrannical demon and has been hoarding souls, and over time the script is flipped: You are the demon and they are your souls now. There is also the fact that the Old One is a gigantic demon that can only be lulled to sleep with powerful souls, often influenced by its own presence.

    The game's central dichotomy is about greed and selflessness, exemplified by the Slayer of Demons and the game's final choice to lull the old one back to slumber or submit to its promise of power. Thus, Demon's Souls.

    Not that weird, rather, extremely appropriate.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    I shall abuse my mod powers and take the liberty to threadmark this Very Nice Post.

    Bring more souls
     
    SoulsHunt

    SoulsHunt

    Banned
    Dec 3, 2019
    3,622
    Oh that thread again.

    Griff said:
    The game starts with the idea that the King has turned into a tyrannical demon and has been hoarding souls, and over time the script is flipped: You are the demon and they are your souls now. There is also the fact that the Old One is a gigantic demon that can only be lulled to sleep with powerful souls, often influenced by its own presence.

    The game's central dichotomy is about greed and selflessness, exemplified by the Slayer of Demons and the game's final choice to lull the old one back to slumber or submit to its promise of power. Thus, Demon's Souls.

    Not that weird, rather, extremely appropriate.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Nice insight.
     

    Deleted member 679

    Banned
    Oct 25, 2017
    14,741
    I've never talked about this game in real life, so the only time I ever bother to speak it out loud is when these threads pop up. It does sound weird, but whatever.
     
    DoubleTake

    DoubleTake

    Member
    Oct 25, 2017
    6,582
    Griff said:
    The game starts with the idea that the King has turned into a tyrannical demon and has been hoarding souls, and over time the script is flipped: You are the demon and they are your souls now. There is also the fact that the Old One is a gigantic demon that can only be lulled to sleep with powerful souls, often influenced by its own presence.

    The game's central dichotomy is about greed and selflessness, exemplified by the Slayer of Demons and the game's final choice to lull the old one back to slumber or submit to its promise of power. Thus, Demon's Souls.

    Not that weird, rather, extremely appropriate.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Thank you. Not that difficult to understand. Who cares how it sounds rolling off the tongue.
     
    Kapryov

    Kapryov

    "This guy are sick"
    Member
    Oct 27, 2017
    10,164
    Australia
    It's fine, the S's run together when you say it but it reads fine.

    Also
    www.resetera.com

    Should the Demon's Souls remaster/remake be named "Demon Souls"?

    I always felt like the title "Demon's Souls" was kind of awkward. The "s" at the end of "Demon's" blends into the "S" in "Souls" and it just doesn't feel good to say. You're basically already saying Demon Souls unless you specifically emphasize the apostrophe-s at the end of Demon's. Do you...
    www.resetera.com www.resetera.com
     
    SoulsHunt

    SoulsHunt

    Banned
    Dec 3, 2019
    3,622
    The title actually refers to the player, the player's souls. During the journey, the player becomes a Demon (Maiden Astrea's fight... for instance). So yes "the souls of the demon" becomes "Demon's Souls".

    Even the title is hard to understand, really is a Souls game.
     

    Deleted member 6730

    User requested account closure
    Banned
    Oct 25, 2017
    11,526
    That's why the Bluepoint remake is going to change it to Demon Souls.

    They did say it was more of a "re-imagining" after all.
     
    Jakenbakin

    Jakenbakin

    "This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance
    Member
    Jun 17, 2018
    11,953
    Sanctuary said:
    Those that voted "Demon's Souls", do you actually speak it that way? I always write the correct game title, but actually saying it is extremely clunky unless you are focusing hard on articulation and intentionally pause between the two words.

    As for the actual name itself, it's only odd until you take a few seconds to figure out what it represents, or could represent.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Why is it any more difficult that saying Jack's sandwich, or hapless sinner, or yes sir, or any other phrase or sequence of words you might say where one word ends with s and the next begins with s. I'm not trying to be aggressive, btw, I'm just legitimately confused every time this topic comes up. What about it is awkward or difficult?
     
    Sanctuary

    Sanctuary

    Member
    Oct 27, 2017
    14,250
    Jakenbakin said:
    Why is it any more difficult that saying Jack's sandwich, or hapless sinner, or yes sir, or any other phrase or sequence of words you might say where one word ends with s and the next begins with s. I'm not trying to be aggressive, btw, I'm just legitimately confused every time this topic comes up. What about it is awkward or difficult?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Because when you actually say "Demon's Souls" in the course of a conversation, in the way a person would normally speak, it comes out like "Demon Souls" unless you intentionally break between the two words. Saying that you don't, makes it seems like you would always speak in an oddly syncopated manner that is unnatural. Or just rather slow.
     
    Last edited:
    Bradford

    Bradford

    terminus est
    Member
    Aug 12, 2018
    5,423
    Sanctuary said:
    Because when you actually say "Demon's Souls" in the course of a conversation, in the way a person would normally speak, it comes out like "Demon Souls" unless you intentionally break between the two words. Saying that you don't, makes it seems like you would always speak in an oddly syncopated manner that is unnatural.
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    Linguistically there isn't much difference. The conjunction in Demon's Souls is, in most variants of english, drifted to become a Z (voiced alveolar sibilant): diːmənz səʊlz

    That is to say that the 's and the S that starts the word Souls (voiceless alveolar sibilant) are often pronounced differently. You don't need to syncopate your speech to say it clearly. That isn't to say that some people don't, just that it isn't necessarily a supersibilant conjunction.
     
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