The idea of From Software killing off its own players definitely sounds like From Software.

As if someone playing Dark Souls doesn't have enough crap to worry about, apparently developer From Software is messing with anyone who's managed to get their hands on an early copy by jumping into the game with fully leveled characters and straight up killing them.

Japanese gaming blog Esuteru snapped a shot of one of the high-level characters floating around. It's difficult to confirm whether or not this is actually true, but because it sounds so much like something From Software would do, I find it impossible not to pass on the possibility.

The game launches in Japan this week, so the people roaming around are either game reviewers with early copies of the game or someone managed to convince a retailer to sell it ahead of the street date.

I keep trying to convince myself that Dark Souls is something I want to play, but every time Vinny talks about the game's madness, that idea disappers. Dark Souls (and by extension, Demon's Souls) has the same appeal to me as EVE Online: I want to hear stories about people playing these games, without the pressure of figuring out the total nightmare on my own.

Namco Bandai is currently waiting to hear back from From Software about this story. Stay tuned.