FromSoftwarecontinues to expand its RPG empire with the unparalleled success ofElden Ring. Fans of the Soulsborne series fell in love with the game that saw the studio make massive improvements over their previous entries. Despite the vast number of new features and essential improvements, several key elements of FromSoftware’s formula endured.
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In fact, anyone who has paid attention to the series surely took delight in the many callbacks and references that lay beneath the surface of The Lands Between. From returning characters and enemies to updated core mechanics, fans ofBloodborneand the originalDark Soulsare taking notice of FromSoftware’s favorite darlings.
8A Mysterious Healing Drink
Living in dark worlds like Yharnam or Lordran is sure to take a mental toll, so it’s little surprise that the Hunters and Ashen Ones keep a flask or vial on hand for comfort. While it’s never made clear exactly what the liquid is in the Souls games, Bloodborne’s blood vials are quite literally the hunter’s lifeblood.
The golden elixir has earned a host of nicknames over the years, with ‘Sunny D’ sticking out given the similar bright orange coloring. Mechanically, the limited number of flasks or vials adds a high level of challenge to the early game across the Soulsborne series. Learning to manage your health and resources is vital to your survival and success, so it’s fantastic that you are taught these skills early on before it’s far too late.
7A Gimmick Boss
From the Burnt Ivory King in Dark Souls 2 to Rykard in Elden Ring, each Soulsborne title boasts at least one boss fight that relies on a gimmick for success. Whether it’s gathering knights to defeat your foe or simply grabbing a special weapon at the start of the fight, FromSoftware can’t resist a gimmicky boss encounter.
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Rykard and Yhorm, The Giant stick out among others as their fights require you to use their special weapon to inflict any real damage. This choice leveled the playing field, so even if you had no idea how to build a character with appropriately allocated stats, you could still triumph with practice. These weapons were also just flat-out cool, with Rykard’sSerpent Hunter actually being a fantastic Spearfor general play when upgraded – it’s even the weapon of choice for speedrunners.
6Mimicry, Of A Sort
Mimic chests areamong the most infuriating trap in the Soulsborne games, but luckily FromSoftware eventually realized the joke had gone cold in Elden Ring. While Mimic chests got the can, Mimics live on in Elden Ring in the form of Mimic Tears. FromSoftware loves inserting deception in its games; it even plays a significant thematic role.
In fact, those infuriating enemy types are not the only forms of mimicry you encounter on your journeys. Some items, such as the Mimic’s Veil (Elden Ring) and the Young White Branch (Dark Souls), allow you to change your appearance to that of an environmental item. Bloodborne also joins in on the fun with Messenger’s Gift, which shrouds you in a messenger disguise until you attack or dodge.
5An Isolated Hub Area
Your journey through a Soulsborne title would be incomplete without a visit to an important hub area early in the game. Every journey drops you into a brief tutorial section which is the equivalent of tossing you into the deep end without floating devices. Luckily, most early bosses in the tutorial are simple enough, and some are even meant to defeat you, like Elden Ring’s Revenant.
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As a reward for your efforts, you’ll be given a brief explanation of the state of the world and some essential tools to return for, like the ability to upgrade your stats and weapons. Certain games, like the original Dark Souls and Elden Ring, toe the line between complete safety and unexpected ambushes, so never let your guard down.
4The Archtrees
One of the most obscure recurring themes in the Soulsborne series is the presence of the mysterious Archtrees. While it’s entirely possible to disregard the bare tree trunks as little more than decorations in the backdrop of bleak worlds, there’s evidence that each game’s world is intertwined via these mystifying objects.
Elden Ring lends further credence to this theory, with several Talismans referencingthe obscure history of the Erdtree. The Erdtree is also referenced as an interdimensional entity, reinforcing the probability that Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring all take place on different ‘branches’ of the Archtrees.
3Basilisks
FromSoftware really has a thing forbringing back enemies from their previous games, most notably the horrifying Basilisks. Anyone who spots these horrifying frogs from a distance certainly notices their bulging eyes. Their horrifying expression is striking, yet somewhat similar to your reaction when you are killed by their curse effect.
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Basilisks are perhaps one of the most annoying creatures to face, as they frequently appear in packs, lurking around small, tight spaces like sewers. This makes them incredibly difficult to deal with as you must be careful to avoid getting trapped in their mist for too long. The instant kill after your ‘curse’ meter fills is maddening, but even worse is the permanent health decrease you received in Dark Souls. Tracking down a Purging Stone to remove the curse is quite a chore after an already frustrating death.
2The Moonlight Greatsword
You may recognize the Moonlight Greatsword as a staple since the days of Dark Souls, but the sword’s existence stretches back to King’s Field – the first FromSoftware title. In fact, the only major title that FromSoftwaredid notinclude this famous blade was Sekiro, as the studio wanted to maintain the game’s consistent aesthetic.
Since its inception, the studio has been absolutely sure to include it in every subsequent title, often changing its capabilities in some ways to keep things fresh. These alterations usually include a slight name difference, but ‘Moonlight Sword’ is always utilized in some fashion to maintain a clear reference for fans.
1Patches
Patches is a betrayer-turned-merchant who appears in every Soulsborne game in some way. Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3, and Elden Ring give Patches a fair amount of spotlight, with his biggest involvements coming in the Souls titles. His boss fight in Elden Ring is an appropriate microcosm of his overall relationship with the main characters.
He begins as an aggressor if you infiltrate his secluded cave, but when he realizes that he cannot kill you, he grovels and begs for mercy. If you spare him, he becomes a non-hostile merchant, much like he does in prior entries. However, you can continue to fight and defeat him without much major consequence due to Elden Ring’s bell-bearing system that allows you to access the inventory of dead merchants. Patches' dying line is a fitting end to this infamous character: “What a sh– show.”
