Summary
In the current year of 2023, FromSoftware is widely regarded to be one of the greatest developers working in the games industry right now, delivering banger after banger, but it wasn’t always that way. LongbeforeArmored Core 6,Elden Ring,Sekiro,Bloodborne,Dark Souls, and evenDemon’s Souls, FromSoftware was a pretty unknown developer. Despite being founded in 1986, FromSoftware never really hit the big time until the early 2010s, though that doesn’t mean there weren’t any successes along the way. In fact, FromSoftware’s very first game,King’s Field, proved to be quite the debut.
Released in 1994,King’s Fieldwas FromSoftware’s debut title, and though it was rough around the edges, it showed some real promise. A first-person dungeon crawler,King’s Fieldhad quite the polarizing initial reception, as did its three subsequent sequels. But with everything FromSoftware has learned over the last few decades, and a now world-renowned status, it might be time for aKing’s Fieldrevival.
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Why FromSoftware Should Revive King’s Field
When it first launched,King’s Fieldwas an incredibly unique game. While first-person fantasy dungeon crawlers were nothing new, with the likes ofDungeon Masterreleasing all the way back 1987,King’s Fieldmanaged to set itself apart with its intense and difficult real-time battles, its expansive levels, and its vast range of weapons and magic spells. As the series continued to get sequels, with the scope of each entry expanding, eventually leading to an interconnected action-RPG world that heavilyinfluenced the design ofDemon’s SoulsandDark Souls.
While first-person dungeon crawlers were a dime a dozen back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they’re far less frequent nowadays - at least on a AAA scale - and aKing’s Fieldrevival could really fill that gap in the market. Thoughgames likeSkyrimhave dungeon-crawling elements, the game isn’t solely focused on that. A newKing’s Fieldgame - or even just a remake or reimagining of the series so far - could deliver that unique fantasy dungeon-crawler experience, and with FromSoftware’s recent track record, it wouldn’t have to do much to catch the attention of fans.
Over the last decade or so, FromSoftware has become a household name in the gaming industry, and for good reason.Dark Souls,Sekiro,Bloodborne, and nowElden Ringprove that the developer knows how to create challenging but rich fantasy experiences, and the lessons learned while developing each one could end up informing a phenomenalKing’s Fieldrevival. One of the greatest aspects of theKing’s Fieldseries was its vast open areas, filled with tons of secrets, unique enemies, and unlockable gear and weapons.Elden Ringhas just proven that FromSoftware is still adept at making a game with all of those features, which would make aKing’s Fieldrevival a surprisingly natural next step for the developer.
If FromSoftware’s recent pedigree wasn’t enough to convince fans that aKing’s Fieldrevival would be something truly special and worthwhile, then maybe the addition of nostalgia would fit the bill. Retro throwback titles are being increasingly popular, especially in the Indie game scene. Whether it’s pixel art platformers orDoom-esque arena shooters, throwback games are all the rage right now, andKing’s Fieldcould easily fit into that market. A revival of a 1990s first-person dungeon-crawler, a new or remadeKing’s Fieldcould be incredibly nostalgic for older gamers, and that concept alone might be more than enough for some fans to jump on board.
King’s Fieldis available on PS1.
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