Elden Ring is the pinnacle of Soulslike games and the gaming community has nothing but praise for the genre. Game development can be tricky and time-consuming but FromSoftware has perfected the formula for a balanced game that resonates well with fans.
The road to perfection is not easy and director Hidetaka Miyazaki used everything he has learned to make the best Soulslike game possible. There were a handful of standouts from Miyazaki’s past; one is still held in high regard despite age, which influenced all future projects beyond.
Elden Ring Owes Its Success to One Other Soulslike Game
FromSoftware single-handedly pioneered the Soulslike genre and Miyazaki would reflect on his past for Elden Ring. The upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion will introduce a new batch of enemy types and the gaming community have noticed the design is reminiscent of Bloodborne.
It is unsurprising given the great importance the game has to the director and he shared in a recent interview what other things he took from the past to improve the present.
The first one being it was probably one of the most challenging development cycles we’ve had from a studio perspective. The second, perhaps bigger element is how personal it was for me in the sense that I’ve imparted a lot of my own ideas into this game, whether it be story, the world-building component, or even the game mechanics and game systems that are in place. It is perhaps the strongest reflection of my type of flavoring of a game that one can experience.
There is no denying that Bloodborne was a massive success and despite having better and more advanced options for the Soulslike genre, the gaming community is still hopeful for Sony to remaster the beloved game on modern hardware. Miyazaki poured his heart into this project, which paved the way to where the studio is today.
Miyazaki laid out the groundwork nearly a decade ago and used his experience as a guideline on how to craft the perfect Soulslike game. His ideas transcended the genre and will forever be remembered for his contributions to the gaming industry.
Bloodborne Ran So Elden Ring Could Fly
Miyazaki’s adoration for what came before became more prevalent in his succeeding projects. The gaming community was convinced that FromSoftware was hinting at a sequel after they found solid easter eggs and references in Déraciné. Unfortunately, it was a dead end and the developers’ way to pay homage to what came before.
Game development can take a toll and seeing a project well-received by the fans changed Miyazaki’s perspective and his learnings from the experience will forever remain in him. The Soulslike genre has greatly benefited from Miyazaki’s work and fans can identify pieces of the past that come into play.
The director’s deep connection with his creation influenced his unique approach to game development. Every aspect and detail, from combat to exploration and world-building, was handled with care and effort only Miyazaki could do.
Bloodborne is essentially Miyazaki if he were a video game. The game would not be what it is today if it weren’t for the director’s creative input.
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