FromSoftware's Elden Ring looks as though it has all the elements that make the studio's Soulsborne titles so engaging, and its graphics are gorgeous to boot. While its medieval aesthetic will instantly make most fans think of the Dark Souls games, Elden Ring's enemy designs, in particular, seem to have taken a page from Bloodborne.
The PS3's Demon's Souls was FromSoftware's first attempt at the gameplay formula now known as "Soulslike," but it was Dark Souls that put the developer on the map. The series' steep learning curve and endlessly rich worlds resonated with countless players. FromSoftware has since made other RPGs inspired by the Souls series - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Bloodborne. These were both been praised by fans and critics alike, and Elden Ring appears to follow suit, drawing heavy inspiration from the FromSoftware games that came before it.
Elden Ring's reveal trailer has plenty of instantly recognizable similarities to previous installments. It's got all kinds of weapons to wield, magic spells to cast, the multiplayer mechanics from Dark Souls, and even story elements that seem to echo Dark Souls' undead curse. But Elden Ring's enemy designs ooze Bloodborne's particular flavor of body horror, giving loads of personality to its monsters.
Elden Ring's Monsters Give Off Bloodborne Vibes
Approximately one minute into the Bloodborne's gothic horror.
One of the most interesting things about Bloodborne is that it took what made Dark Souls an engaging experience and took it into a new, yet equally bleak setting. Not many games display that level of disturbing (and somehow elegant) body horror in their enemy designs, but Elden Ring seems to be able to incorporate just that into its medieval world. Perhaps players will find elements of Sekiro in Elden Ring, too. Either way, it's promising to see FromSoftware is drawing on all its previous projects while for Elden Ring, instead of just the Souls series.
