I got it at a midnight release last night at the local Gamestop. It was pretty overshadowed by the release of Rage, but there were a few other people there besides me buying it. When I got home, I immediately got to work on my first character: a short-haired male sorcerer with a love for dem firebombs.
4 hours later and I was still playing. I barely managed to beat the first real demon within that time. Nonetheless, there were only a few dickish moments when I died because of a random crossbow bolt to the head (which actually does more damage now) but I otherwise had a blast. Loving the charge system for spells, since in Demon's Souls you had an MP bar, which was always abysmally small at the beginning of the game.
I only had to level up my strength once before I could become proficient with a longsword, plus another point in strength to use a 100% physical blocking shield (enemy drop). I'm going for a battle sorcerer sort of build, so I'll have to invest in some endurance to use some better armor and maintain rolling speed for later on. The crafting system allows you to upgrade armor now, too, so you can make some pretty bitchin' sets if you work for it.
Finally, the online play is about the same as in Demon's Souls. I already had a co-op session with someone, though we both died against the boss demon, and it was very much the same. Can't wait to get together with a Covenant (faction) and start wrecking some shit.
