Summary
Over the course of the past decade,FromSoftwarehas rocketed to monumental heights, becoming one of the most revered contemporary game developers.FromSoftware’s cultural relevance reached an all-time high withElden Ringin 2022, which quickly became the company’s most commercially successful and widely enjoyed project. For long-time fans of the developer, though,Elden Ringrepresents the culmination of over a decade of game design.
FromSoftware’s influence cannot be overstated; the companybirthed the so-called “Soulslike” genre, while playing a significant role in bringing unwavering difficulty back to the forefront of gaming in the 2010s. With how popular theSoulsseries has grown to become, it can be easy to forget that FromSoftware first made it big with theArmored CoreandKing’s Fieldseries which, while fundamentally, narratively, and contextually removed from the spate of games spawned byDemon’s Souls, are nevertheless indicative of the studio’s commitment to experimental design. All that is to say that, while FromSoftware has changed quite a bit over the years, there are certain throughlines that can be traced between all its releases.
The criteria for the following traditions is that they go beyond just theSoulsgames. Therefore, features like RPG leveling and weight limits have been omitted.
FromSoftware Games Have Spiritual Similarities
FromSoftware Games Marry Difficulty and Rewarding Gameplay
At this point, saying thatFromSoftware games are hardis a bit like saying the sky is blue, but it’s important to recognize how crucial difficulty is to the studio’s games. FromSoftware varies its approach to challenge with each entry, with some games being more forgiving than others, and something likeArmored Coreis naturally going to approach difficulty differently than aSoulsgame. However, there are certain similarities between all FromSoftware releases in this regard.
FromSoftware understands the difference between a rewarding challenge and a boring one. Cranking up the difficulty in many other games will often result in enemies that deal more damage while having massively inflated HP. This can lead to combat encounters that are rote and overstay their welcome, as players are faced with damage-sponge enemies that can take several minutes to defeat, and randomness can often play a disproportionately large role in success. ButFromSoftware tempers its difficultyby keeping enemy defense relatively low, fostering a sense of accomplishment rather than futility.
Players Have to Work for Narrative Satisfaction In FromSoftware Games
FromSoftware’s focus on difficulty speaks to a larger design philosophy: the studio is unwavering in its creative vision. It never feels like FromSoftware is catering to a consumer base or concerned with potentially scaring players off. This philosophy manifests inFromSoftware’s narrative designjust as much as in its approach to difficulty.
It’s remarkably easy to complete a FromSoftware game without knowing what the story is about. But that doesn’t mean that these games lack a story. On the contrary, FromSoftware games have some of the strongest world-building in contemporary fiction, not just within the games industry. The reason why FromSoftware’s stories are hard to parse is due to presentation: item descriptions and environmental clues are the most heavily utilized narrative devices in FromSoftware games, not cutscenes or dialogue exchanges.
This narrative approach means that games likeElden Ringcan have cryptic lore, but it also nurtures a unique relationship between story and audience. Those interested in the narrative ofDark Souls,King’s Field, orArmored Corewon’t just get it handed to them. Rather, they have to study the games, piecing together clues to form a complete picture. This style of narrative delivery isn’t for everyone, but it is thought-provoking and fundamentally engaging, hiding surprising depth and raw emotion at times. Understanding these stories is a collaborative effort between the player and the text, which is a dynamic that is exceedingly rare in gaming.
FromSoftware’s More Literal Traditions
The Moonlight Greatsword Is a FromSoftware Staple
FromSoftware has found successby polishing its peculiar design style, but there are some more specific and tangible connections between the company’s games as well. Few FromSoftware tropes are as iconic as the Moonlight Greatsword, a massive, glowing blade that typically sends forth some sort of powerful beam, giving it utility as a ranged weapon.
Bloodborneand every game under theSoulsbanner include the Moonlight Greatsword, as do someArmored Coregames and all theKing’s Fieldentries. Even some of the studio’s more obscure projects, like 2009’sNinja Blade, feature the weapon.Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis the only modern FromSoftware game to omit the Moonlight Greatsword.
FromSoftware Loves Poison Swamps
Poison swamps and FromSoftware are like two peas in a pod. Their most infamous incarnations appear in theSoulsseries andElden Ring(withmore to come in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC), but the trope predatesDemon’s Soulsby many years, showing up inKing’s Fieldand theArmored Coreseries. Gaming audiences seem to have a love-hate relationship with these areas, but they are probably here to stay.
The “poison swamp” moniker is usually used to describe any area that inflicts pervasive, adverse status effects—it doesn’t need to apply to a literal swamp with poison damage.
Patches Is Everywhere
Aside from the Moonlight Greatsword, the cunning and mischievousPatches is FromSoftware’s most ubiquitous Easter egg. The character plays the role of a craven troublemaker, deceiving the player at every opportunity. He’s appeared in the following FromSoftware games, in chronological order:
Some fans believe that an unnamed trickster character from FromSoftware’s 2003 gameShadow Tower Abyssis a sort of proto-Patches, butArmored Core: For Answeris his first official appearance. His consistent appearances have spawned fan theories about him being an interdimensional being, or about all FromSoftware games taking place in the same universe. But in reality, he is probably just a tongue-in-cheek rogue, designed to be both frustrating and comical.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
