“Is it gone? I can’t bring myself to look…”

More than a year after its Japanese launch, we finally have an Australian release date for Demon’s Souls. Local publisher Namco Bandai Partners will be bringing From Software’s PS3 exclusive action RPG to shelves on Friday 25 June 2010.

Though it trots out the standard assortment of fantasy archetypes, Demon’s Souls has been widely praised for its withering difficulty and novel online support. As you hack and slash your way through the campaign, you’ll encounter messages recorded by your fellow players, along with brief replays of their bloody deaths. Will you learn from their mistakes, or repeat them? A fellow player can also join you for cooperative or adversarial questing. The line between the single and multiplayer campaigns has been all but erased.

Demon’s Souls will receive the full limited edition treatment. Surprisingly this is the sole version confirmed for a local release. While the news is certain to please collectors, those of us already drowning in soundtracks, art books and strategy guides won’t enjoy paying a premium for unwanted extras. What’s that? Beggars can’t be choosers?