Entertainment in the modern world is more exciting and varied than itโs ever been. Video games are a huge part of this, with some of them being so complex and well-made that many would consider them works of art. The Soulsborne series is arguably one example of this trend, and, in addition, is fundamentally shaking up the video games industry in a number of ways.ย
Background: The Diversified Digital Entertainment Marketplace
As technology becomes both increasingly advanced and a more fundamental part of our lives, the kinds of digital entertainment that we have access to are also becoming more and more diverse. Internet gambling as a form of entertainment has gained considerable popularity in recent years, for example. Online betting is one example of this, as well as online pokies, blackjack, and so on.
Mobile and smartphone games are also the biggest theyโve ever been. Combine this with other innovations, like the introduction of VR into the gaming world, next-gen consoles, and increasingly sophisticated, art like video games, and the realm of digital entertainment is the most exciting itโs ever looked.ย
Increasing Difficulty and Player Independence Vs. โHandholdingโย
So, where do FromSoftwareโs Soulsborne games fit into the picture? Well, the series has steadily built up a cult following over the years, despite never compromising on the ideals and aims of its design team. And, crucially, much of what sets these games apart from their competitors also puts them in stark contrast to the way modern video games are, by and large, made.ย
For example, the Soulsborne series is renowned for being punishingly hard. In fact, the games have, at times, received considerable backlash from critics for their perceived difficulty. Plenty of pundits have claimed that theyโre in desperate need in some form of easy mode, due to how inaccessible these titles supposedly are to the modern gaming market.ย
Itโs important to understand that, for the sake of context, itโs becoming increasingly commonplace for modern games to give players extensive guidance when completing quests and navigating the map, to the extent that almost any need for independent thought or problem-solving is eliminated. This can make the gameplay experience feel incredibly linear and one-dimensional.ย
By contrast, FromSoftware deliberately offers players minimal guidance or direction in the Soulsborne series. The Soulsborne games generally have multiple endings, which, in turn, can be reached in a myriad of ways due to how flexible the franchiseโs systems of combat and character building are.ย
Elden Ring, for example, has over 100 bosses, but players can complete its campaign by defeating just 12 of them. In fact, bosses like Malenia and Mohg, considered by players to be some of the most challenging and best designed in the game, are not only completely optional, but accessible exclusively via a secret area that many Elden Ring players wonโt even find. Vast swathes of the map – even huge legacy dungeons like Stormveil Castle and Volcano Manor – are completely optional, too.ย
Indeed, FromSoftware rejects the conventional handholding seen in most modern video games, and, in doing so, creates a far more rewarding experience for players willing to persevere and figure things out for themselves. Challenge is crucial to our growth, too; what better way to push ourselves than through a controlled, low-risk medium like video games?ย
Complex, Often Dark Themesย
Something else that sets the Soulsborne games apart from their competitors is the themes that the games explore, both through their narrative and wider lore. Elden Ring touches on ideas like discrimination and religious persecution through the Golden Order and its subjugation of races like the Misbegotten and Albinaurics.ย
The game also explores the role and treatment of women in society; Bloodborne explores ideas of transhumanism, hubris, and the concept of fatal knowledge.ย
Combined with the Soulsborne seriesโ wider commentary on topics like organized religion, rebirth, suffering, and stagnation, itโs fair to say that FromSoftware offers a much more nuanced, philosophical approach to storytelling in video games than perhaps the majority of its competitors.
Whether or not video games constitute art has been the topic of debate for some time now; with a major franchise like the Soulsborne series pushing the boundaries of whatโs worth exploring thematically in the world of games, more and more titles will, likely, follow suit.ย
The Rise of the โSoulslikeโ
While FromSoftware has truly pioneered a new genre with the Soulsborne series, itโs far from the only studio producing games in this vein nowadays. The so-called โsoulslikeโ genre has absolutely taken off in recent years, with developers emulating the difficulty, freedom, and, at times, approach to storytelling that weโve come to expect from FromSoftware titles.ย
In this sense, the Soulsborne series has gone from being a relatively niche collection of action games to changing the way that many game developers and fans think about video games overall.ย
Last Updated on by ritukhare
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