Over the last decade, FromSoftware have grown to be one of the most respected and renowned developers in the gaming industry. If its older titles likeMechWarriorandKing’s Fielddidn’t get players on board, then itsSoulsseries certainly did. FromSoftware games are known for many things; open-ended level design, boss fights, and crushing but fair difficulty, to name a few. But each new FromSoftware entry has given players some some kind of new mechanic or innovative design choice. AndElden Ringlooks to be the perfect culmination of all FromSoftware’s previous innovations.
By now,Soulsseries fans should all have their own favorite aspect of the series, likely based on which entry in the franchise is their personal favorite. If players love the firstDark Souls, theyl’ll likely love its level design. If they adoreBloodborne,then its unique style and setting may have been the thing to draw them in. Even after just a brief look duringElden Ring’s extremely successful network test, it’s already apparent that it’s going to be FromSoftware’s most ambitious title yet, bringing elements from every previous title together to create the studio’s magnum opus.
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Dark Souls: Interconnected World
The firstDark Soulspropelled FromSoftware into the spotlight. WhileDemon’s Soulsmay have come first,Dark Soulswas the game that turned heads. A major reason for this was its intricate level design, particularly its interconnected world. From the game’s hub area, “Firelink Shrine”, players can venture out to the majority of the other areas in the game, each one being linked toDark Souls' hub areavia a series of interconnected shortcuts. Although a fast travel mechanic can be unlocked halfway through the game, the ability to travel from one end of the game-world to the other is extremely unique for a third-person action RPG, and this truly setDark Soulsapart from its competition.
Elden Ringlooks as though it is going to take this interconnected level design and turn it up to 11. AsElden Ringis an open-world game, each of its vast areas appear to be connected. In the network test, players got to see this first-hand, with the opening area acting as a link between multiple environments; players started in an open field and could venture North towards “Stormveil Hill” or explore in a different direction. Most of these areas may have been blocked off via fog (as they are intended only for the full release), but it’s evident thatElden Ringis using its vast scale to its best ability.
Dark Souls 2: Weapon Variety
The black sheep of theSoulsseries,Dark Souls 2, is far from a bad game. Whilst it may not be the series' best,Dark Souls 2was still critically acclaimedupon release. Further, after a good few years of reflection, many series fans now have an appreciation for what FromSoftware was trying to achieve. For instance,Dark Souls 2’s weapon variety. From twinblades to versatile dual-wielding options,Dark Souls 2gave players some of the most varied weapon combinations in the franchise.
This weapon variety is already present in the game based on theElden Ringgameplay trailer. This trailer saw the player character use a variety of weapons, ranging from swords to lances to magic and everything in between. It even looked as though the twinblade is back. The network test put an emphasis on using the right tool for the job, giving tutorials about using different weapons' abilities based on the situation gamers are in. It seems as thoughElden Ringis putting a focus specifically on weapon variety and using weapons in a dynamic way.
Dark Souls 3: Creative Boss Design
Dark Souls 3acted as a celebration of the entire series, pulling various areas and items from previous games to evoke a serious amount of nostalgia for any veterans of the franchise. But one area that was wholly unique toDark Souls 3was its incredibly creative boss design. Frompuzzle bosses like “Ancient Wyvern"to intense fights like “Sister Friede,” this entry has arguably the most varied and in-depth boss design of any FromSoft game. The vast majority of bosses have multiple stages, giving fans variety not only between boss fights, but within the fights themselves. On a visual level, each and every boss is unique and truly distinct from one another.
In just the first hour ofElden Ring’s network test, this great variety of boss design is already on display. The first three bosses within the network test (“Tree Sentinel”, “Pumpkin Head”, “Margit the Fell Omen”) all displayed very different move sets, meaning that players will have to learn and adapt to each new encounter. The visual design of these bosses was also very distinct from one another, and from what was seen in the trailer, it looks as though players will be continuously surprised throughout their game with new and unique bosses.
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Bloodborne: Gothic and Elaborate Environments
The first in the series to venture a little out of the high-fantasy genre,Bloodbornegave playersmultiple Lovecraft-inspired environmentsto cautiously journey through. During a playthrough, gamers see spectacular cathedrals, dark dungeons, and a plethora of blood-soaked cobblestone streets, each one more hauntingly breathtaking than the last.
FromSoftware’s environmental design was on top form inBloodborne, and that seems to be the case even more so withElden Ring. Players have already seen quite a few ofElden Ring’s elaborately designed environments, ranging from gothic architecture like “Stormveil Castle” to lavishly vibrant areas like the hub of “Limgrave.“Elden Ringis sure to have a vast array of varying environments, with each one exuding that classically disturbingSoulscharm.
Sekiro: Stealth and Verticality
FromSoftware’s foray into feudal Japan gave its fan base one of the developer’s most unique experiences yet. In a marriage ofTenchu-like stealth andSouls-like combat,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicegave its players some new mechanics to chew on. While its rhythm-like combat was the core gameplay element on display,Sekiro’s intuitive stealth mechanicsoffered some varied ways to approach some objectives. Similarly, the inclusion of a jump button (a first in the series) gave areas some verticality, with players having the ability to move around the environment in ways they may not have thought to before.
FromSotware is bringingthat verticality straight toElden Ring, with some light platforming areas dotted around the open world.Stealth is also a focus ofElden Ring, with certain enemy camps and arenas being easier to conquer if gamers sneak around and pick off targets one-by-one.
Demon’s Souls Remake: Lighting and Graphics
It may have beenremade by Bluepoint Games, butDemon’s Souls Remaketook the core DNA of the original and brought it into the modern age, and in a move that seems like pure “Jolly Cooperation”,Elden Ringlooks as though it’s taking some graphical influence from the remake. That contrasting use of vibrant lighting against a naturalistic and dark backdrop givesElden Ringa uniquely bleak but beautiful look.
Regardless of a player’s own personal favorite aspect,Elden Ringseems to be taking the best the developer has had to offer and is bringing it all together in one neatly polished package. While fans will have to wait for its February release date before they know its quality for sure, these influences are a good reason to be optimistic.
Elden Ringreleases on June 21, 2025, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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