There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the upcoming release ofElden Ring, rumored to come out inJune 2020. Among them are FromSoftware’s return to dark fantasy, the involvement of George RR Martin, the renewed focus on RPG mechanics, and the massive open world. Fans who love FromSoftware’s crisp combat, penchant for environmental storytelling, or both will likely be in for something truly special. The studio has yet to disappoint with its departures from theDark Soulsseries inBloodBorneandSekiro, but a return to the dark fantasy that put it on the map is something to pay attention to.
One of the big features ofElden Ringthat fans are looking forward to is the new lore and storytelling that will come with a new setting. Miyazaki and his team are masters at worldbuilding and experiential storytelling, but over the course of threeDark Soulstitles, the story of that setting was very neatly wrapped up and even verged on repetitiveness. A return to dark fantasy is dangerous for FromSoftware, since it stands a high chance of over-using the same tropes. There are some core themes fromDark Soulsand other FromSoftware games that definitely deserve to be included inElden Ring, though. There are plenty of great story notes that are relatively unique to FromSoftware games that players aren’t yet tired of exploring.
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The appeal of havingGeorge RR Martin on theElden Ringstory teamis that there will be all new lore from a fresh creative mind, but Miyazaki consulted heavily with Martin on the core principles of the game and its story. Martin’s influence alone should setElden Ringapart fromDark Soulssignificantly, but there is plenty more Souls-type material to explore. FromSoftware’s games all seem to center around nihilistic struggles between humans and dubious deities, with the power of persistence and self-determined purpose central to achieving victory.Elden Ringhas the chance to be the best medium for conveying those messages that FromSoftware has ever made.
The Nature of Humanity
There is plenty of evidence thatElden Ring’s story will be similar toDark Souls, but there is plenty of room to speculate on how that will be. The participation of George RR Martin certainly suggests at least one theme that will appear inElden Ring. Both Martin’s books and FromSoftware’s games tend to show many different sides of human beings, ranging from the wholesome and inspiring to the sinister and ugly.
Something thatfans find in FromSoftware’s loretime and time again is the nature of humans and humanity in general. InDark Souls, humanity was meant to inherit the world, but Gwyn feared the darkness that is inherent to humans and bound them to the flame, propping up the world of gods long beyond its natural lifespan. Likewise inBloodBorne, humans' natural curiosity led to the release of lovecraftian horrors into the world, revealing both the selfishness and the heroism of the people in Yharnam.
These themes are also shockingly similar to the way that people are depicted in George RR Martin’s work. If there’s anything thatElden Ringshould take fromGame of Thrones, it is the depiction of people as complex beings capable of both betrayal and heroism in equal measure. Complex politics, multifaceted factions, and individuals that range from vindictive to utilitarian to noble are all story components that lend themselves very well to FromSoftware’s brand of dark fantasy.
Questionable Gods
In direct contrast to humans in FromSoftware lore, gods are typically selfish, dubious, or unfathomable. The gods ofDark Soulswere deeply flawed, selfishly propping up a dying world for their own benefit even at the cost of its ultimate destruction.BloodBorne’s gods are unknowable lovecraftian creatures, which by their very nature are beyond human ken. Likewise, the divine dragon ofSekirois less of a deity and more of a mysterious, powerful creature that humans desire for its immortality. It seems likeElden Ringwill include aspects of Norse mythology, which certainly had its fair share of deities with notably flawed personalities.
Borrowing from Norse mythology is a great way forElden Ringto set itself apart fromDark Soulswhile still playing with familiar ideas. With the right touch,Elden Ringwill be able to take all the best parts of FromSoftware’s games and hone them into a great story. By branching out withBloodBorneandSekiro, the developers learned a lot of important lessons, and its time to bring them home to their most comfortable stomping ground- dark fantasy.
Finding Purpose in a Wasteland
Hidetaka Miyazaki,Elden Ring’s director, stated that he sees the real world as a wasteland. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. He went on to clarify that part of his creative process is trying to find the beauty in a cruel world, which results in the eerie landscapes and rich stories thatDark Soulsfans know and love. That’s definitely something thatElden Ringshould carry forward in its design. Even though the gods may be cruel and the world may be crumbling, there is still purpose and beauty to be found just by making it through.
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As fans will remember, some of thehardest zones inDark Soulswere also the most beautiful, and the most fun to complete. It sends a very uplifting message that part of the point of the games is for players to find their own joy even in places that are punishing and brutal. For all the pessimistic nihilism of FromSoftware’s worlds, the flip side of that nihilism is the sense of achievement that comes from persisting and seeing each journey through to the end.
The Power of Persistence
All of this is why the power of persistence is the most important theme thatElden Ringcan take from its predecessors. IfearlyElden Ringgameplay detailsare to be believed, the game will be challenging and harsh in typical FromSoftware fashion. There has been plenty of debate over the difficulty and accessibility of FromSoftware games over the years, but the difficulty of their games is actually part of the main point of their storytelling.
Dark Soulsis famous for its tough bosses, but the point of having such difficult enemies in the first place is to make the story more impactful. Part of the deep satisfaction of playing aDark Soulsgame is in dying, getting up, and trying again until the player has mastered the combat enough to finally win. That persistence is part of the core of the game’s story too. Those who lose their purpose give up along their journey end up as mindless hollows, and the only way to see the story to the end is to not give up, no matter how many failures are suffered. IfElden Ringcan get that right, it will automatically be one of the best Souls-like games to date.
Elden Ringis currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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