There are many gamers who strive to earn every trophy and achievement in a game, although sometimes this may depend on the exact kind of game. While several games have achievements and trophies for story events, crafting, and other mechanics like that, the scale of difficulty can widely vary.FromSoftware gamesfeature achievements and trophies that are incredibly difficult, but it’s hard not to want them all.
Two good examples out of its catalog areBloodborneandElden Ring. IncludingBloodborne’s Old Hunters DLC, there are several trophies for bosses who are incredibly difficult, whileElden Ringsimultaneously includes those and avoids some open-world trappings that can make achievement hunting a slog rather than an exciting accessory to the adventure.BloodborneandElden Ringhave a lot of similarities, but the sheer quality of their rewards like this stands out.
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Open-World Trophy and Achievement Hunting Can Often Be a Slog
While there is plenty of good to be said about the “Ubisoft Open-World formula” that a lot of open-world games adopt, there are many players who may not enjoy going through a map and ticking off activities, events, and locations for a paltry reward. Just as an example,Assassin’s Creed Valhallafeatures an achievement for completing all of its territories, including all wealth, mysteries, and artifacts—something amount to 700+ items to find. The reward? 30 gamerscore or a silver trophy.
Now, that’s not to say there aren’t some who enjoy in that way, but for many, the time investment far outweighs the potential reward. Pumping in hundreds of hours for a silver trophy or 30 gamerscore may not be at the top of many to-do lists. But, at least in the case ofElden Ring’s achievements, it avoids these trappings entirely.
It has achievements for unlocking three endings and for finding all the armaments, talismans, ashen remains, andsorceries and incantations inElden Ring.Some of these take players off the beaten path, and for many players, they may need a guide just to do these. But, ultimately, all of this is incredibly rewarding beyond its trophy value and its gamerscore. When players defeat Radagon of the Golden Order and The Elden Beast to unlock the ending achievements, it feels earned. Even when players dive into hunting these items or fighting an optional boss, the challenge of the hunt is pushed to the fore.
And that’s the keyword there. For many of FromSoftware titles, their trophies and achievements present a challenge on their own and genuinely feel like a hunt. Several games make them a chore, while there is plenty of middle ground there too. But to feel like a challenge and a hunt pushes players to fight moreElden Ringbosses, to explore more areas, and it all brings more life intoElden Ring’s open world.
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FromSoftware’s Achievements and Trophies Feel Earned
Bloodborneis a prime example of how exactly these trophies can feel earned. It’s no secret that the bosses inBloodborne’s Old Hunters DLC are harder than the main game—defeating Laurence andthe Orphan of Kosis less about the value of the trophy and more of the challenge and ability to say “I beat Orphan of Kos.”
It’s similar in the base game, but it should also be noted thatBloodbornedoes feature “collect X” trophies, like the Hunter’s Craft, Hunter’s Essence, and Old Hunter’s Essence. These require players to find all the weapons in the game, which can be found in the world or purchased after obtaining a single badge. This brings in a lot of fun, actually, because it encourages the exploration and experimentation with weapons and build, and it helps thatBloodborne’s trick weaponsare so interesting on top of that. Sure, players may settle on their preferred style, but having those options is encouraging—not a chore.
Arguably, the hardest trophy to unlock isBloodborne’s Yharnam Queen. Defeating her may not be as complicated as some bosses, but unlocking her is another story. Unless players choose to use a False Depth Dungeon glyph, players have to complete anumber of Chalice Dungeons, fighting several bosses, just to make their way to her. The Defiled Dungeon is the next-to-last one, and its notoriety is well-earned, as it cuts HP in half and reduces the amount Blood Vials heal. But, once players make their way to the Queen and cut her down, that trophy pops and it feels incredibly rewarding.
There has been some debate on what other devs could learn fromFromSoft’s approach inElden Ring, especially how well other games could pull it off. What’s clear, though, is that several games could do well to put the challenge, the hunt, and the real sense of achievement into its achievements/trophies.
Elden Ringis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Bloodborneis available now on PS4.
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