As players drool over the Souls-like gameplay shown off in the latestState of Play from PlayStation, some fans of From Software’s hit titles continue to anticipate the next batch of news to emerge surroundingElden Ring. Everything known about the game so far comes from a series of leaks and rumors, so it’s entirely possible that the picture players have been building in their minds isn’t anything close to what finally arrives.
One of these rumors, however, may shed some light on howElden Ringmight be straying more towards theDark Soulsseries, as opposed toSekiro. Specifically, this is coming from a rumor that From Software’s upcoming titlemay include classes, something that has become a staple of the series in both theDark Soulstrilogy andBloodborne.
Unconventional Classes
Of course, From Software’s titles being what they are, classes are never entirely what they seem on the surface. The freedom that games likeDark Soulsallows the player opens up for opportunities for some to begin the game as a Depraved and transform over the course of playing into a Cleric, complete with miracles and a soft-capped faith stat, among other branching deviations. This differs greatly from the kind of system found in many JRPGs likeFinal Fantasy 14’s jobsthat determine a players play style from start to finish.
If From Software keeps to its history of including classes as a set way to start a game, while still giving players a freedom of choice as they move through their adventure, then it could mean great things forElden Ring. The class system, combined with therumored kingdom system, could give players an even broader sense of choice in the upcoming title. Taking this unconventional stance on classes may be one of the most important choices to keep all players satisfied, especially if From Software is looking to aim for fans of previous releases.
Sekiro’s Fatal Flaw
It’s hard to claim thatSekiroreally does have a “fatal flaw” that drags the entire game down, but while the game did go on to winGame of the Year for 2019at The Game Awards, the title does have its detractors. Most of the debate that initially surroundedSekirowhen it first launched came from an argument about difficulty. However, as players have had more time to really sink their teeth into the game and figure out what really happened, many of those who did not side From Software have moved from an argument about sheer difficulty and onto how the game deals with player choice.
InSekiro, there is one class, with one weapon, and one way to play. The problem was never that the game was really too hard to play, it was that the way it wanted people to play was limited, and anyone who preferred different methods in previousSoulsgames, like slow weapons with high damage or spells cast from a distance, were immediately at a disadvantage. IfElden Ringwants to outpace its predecessors, then it needs to learn what has mode the most beloved entries in the series what they are, and to many it’s the ability to choose a way forward.
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Weapon Builds
One key factor to From Software’s games in the past has been the extensive collection of weapons, from items like the Dragonslayer Swordspear to the Moonlight Greatsword. Classes have often played a large part into the use of these weapons, with players building their characters specifically with the intention of best utilizing their favorite ultra-greatsword or katana. With a whole host ofNorse inspired weaponsthatElden Ringcan draw from to fill out players' collections, the endless possibilities for crafting builds for each of these items dangles both choice and replayability in front of players.
Extending out beyond From Software’s catalog of brutally difficult games, other companies have taken a crack at the Souls-like formula, with titles likeNioh,The Surge, andCode Vein, where huge collections of weapons are par for the course for each. As a result, every successful game that has even attempted to capture the lightning in the bottle that isDark Soulstends to balance character development within the unconventional class system.Elden Ringwouldbenefit to learn fromDark Soulsin this way of giving players choices from class to weapon to ensure that the experience feels crafted to each players style of enjoying these games.
In-depth Role Playing
This is a minor note for most players when delving into a From Software game, but for some fans, understanding the character that they are playing is a huge part of the experience. Of course, the character is whoever the player wants them to be, whether that take the form of a sadistic killer who slaughters every friendly NPC around, or a benevolent hero who completes each quest line in the most honorable way. One step in this role playing, however, is in the way that classes can affect both the player’s eventual builds, as well as how other characters respond to these choices, like Patches and Petrus' responses to clerics.
Reinvent The System
So far, there are a lot of reasons for players to beexcited aboutElden Ring, even if there isn’t much information out about it even this long after its initial announcement. It’s easy to say, looking at how well received From Software’s games have been in the past, that fans will likely enjoy whatever the developer puts out, as long as it pays some sort of lip service to previous games. However, it’ll take more than just rehashing old designs or playing the hits forElden Ringto really stand out among the ever growing crowd of games within the developer’s preferred genre.
In that vein, reinventing previous systems is nothing new for From Software, as every game that the company has released outside of theDark Soulstrilogy has done this with both combat and the class systems.Bloodbornealtered ranged and defensive classes to prioritize a more active and aggressive role in combat, whileSekirodecided to forego classes altogether in order to shine a light on the game’s defense and parry systems. It’s more than likely that the same will be said of the next title, although it’s still early to draw any conclusions until weget another look atElden Ringwhen there is eventually more to show.
Elden Ringis currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
