Summary
Hidetaka Miyazaki, the President ofFromSoftwareand Director of the studio’s acclaimed Souls titles, has shared his thoughts about players who utilize guides to get through his notoriously challenging games.FromSoftware’s most recent title,Elden Ring,is finally set to receive its DLC entitled Shadow of the Erdtree, which will take players to a new world called the Land of Shadow as they follow Miquella’s trail.
Considering just how complex and difficult FromSoftware’s Souls titles are, its no wonder why manyplayers of titles likeDark Souls,Bloodborne, andSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceoften feel inclined to look up a guide now and again. This is especially true for the studio’s most recent Souls game,Elden Ring,which offers players an enormous open world filled with items and secrets hidden away across its many large areas and linear dungeons. Some players use guides to help create and refine specialized builds, which can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for first-time Souls players. Of course, FromSoftware’s Souls games are also known to be home to some of the most brutally difficult boss fights in the history of video games. As such, it’s common for players to use boss guides to help figure out a boss’s moveset or to learn its weaknesses.
In aninterview with PC Gamer, Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that he thinks it’s valid forplayers of his Souls titles to use guides, either for one-off help or throughout an entire playthrough. At the same time, Miyazaki stressed that the studio doesn’t design its games with guides in mind, saying, “We don’t necessarily cater to players who are reading guides as they go. Of course, it’s a perfectly valid playstyle, and we respect those players who like to approach it with a guide in hand. We just want to let you know it’s not our prerequisite, designing the game in their favor.”
Hidetaka Miyazaki Says Using Guides Is A “Perfectly Valid Playstyle”
While Miyazaki approves of players turning to guides, he seems to want to reach a point where Souls players don’t need to use guides while still feeling challenged. It’s important for players to be able to feel like they can play and beat Souls games without the use of guides. InElden Ring’s case, using a guide toexplore the Lands Betweencould cause a break in the game’s immersive sense of organic exploration. Additionally, it could hinder the rush players feel after finally beating a tough boss, though many players commonly hit a point where they’d just like to move on, which is certainly valid.
We don’t necessarily cater to players who are reading guides as they go. Of course, it’s a perfectly valid playstyle, and we respect those players who like to approach it with a guide in hand. We just want to let you know it’s not our prerequisite, designing the game in their favor.
WithElden Ring’s imminent Shadow of the Erdtree DLC ready to go on June 21, there will undoubtedly be swaths of players flocking to online game guides for help exploring the Land of Shadow and taking down the DLC’s 10 new big bosses. It seemssomeElden Ringplayers still have some prep to do, as beating Mohg is required to access the expansion.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
