A recent IGN article delving into Bloodborne’s combat system has revealed an interesting fact that may change the way we view Soulslike games
Bloodborne, released in 2015, in-between Dark Souls 2 and 3, saw FromSoft step out from behind the safety of its shield and go wildly on the offensive. By all-but-removing the player’s ability to block attacks, Bloodborne doubled down on a specific mode of playing a Souls game: rapidly dodging the enemy’s attacks and furiously countering with your own.
This revelation has huge implications for the Soulslike genre, which is known for its diverse play styles and combat systems. By understanding and embracing this diversity, FromSoftware has been able to elevate RPG combat to a whole new level. But this isn’t a recent development – RPG games have always aimed to provide players with a customizable experience through different classes and items. However, it wasn’t until the release of Diablo II in 2000 that we truly saw the depth of RPG combat.
Diablo II changed everything with its seven classes and skill tree system, which allowed players to customize their experience in unprecedented ways. Each class had three different categories in their skill tree, providing endless possibilities for play style and strategy. David Brevik, the creator of Diablo II, has revealed that he came up with this idea while in the shower, inspired by Civilization II’s technology trees. It just goes to show that sometimes the most groundbreaking ideas can come from the simplest of places. We shall add ARPG skill trees to the long list of shower thoughts that changed the world.
In your first play-through of Diablo II, it’s impossible to fully master one category, let alone the whole skill tree. That’s why For many gamers, Diablo II remains a classic in the action RPG genre, known for its deep class and skill tree system that allowed players to create unique builds and express themselves in-game. In fact, the game’s extensive skill tree was so complex that it was impossible to fully master one category, let alone the entire tree. This meant that players had to choose a certain play style and stick with it, resulting in a variety of specialized experts who could show off their skills to other players online.
Blizzard recognized the success of Diablo II’s class/skill tree system and built upon it in their next game, World of Warcraft. This MMO became the ultimate RPG for players who wanted their chosen class and items to make a real difference in the game. The feeling of having the exact build needed for a big raid was unparalleled, giving players a sense that what they chose to specialize in truly mattered.
Soulslike games also belong to this tradition established by Blizzard, offering different classes and builds that significantly change gameplay. However, unlike Diablo II’s isometric point-and-click combat system and WoW’s ability-based combat, Soulslike games offer a dynamic and exciting hack & slash system coupled with the depth and variety of a class-based action RPG or MMO. The result is a combat system that offers the best of both worlds, providing players with a truly unique and thrilling experience.
Continuing from our discussion of the intricacies of Soulslike games, there’s a Youtube channel that goes by the name of Crozyn, that has published 25 videos about different Dark Souls 1 builds. Each build he explains is unique, with every weapon choice having critical strategic consequences, adding an incredible level of nuance to the game. For example, if you opt for a pure strength build, you cannot interchange one heavy weapon with another without affecting the entire gameplay strategy.
Another aspect of Soulslike combat that makes it rewarding is that it low-key recognizes your gameplay skills with a smoother gameplay experience. The game allows two defensive approaches, dodging and blocking, with blocking being more reliable but slower. If you choose to become a full tank with heavy armor and a good shield, you’ll overcome most of the game’s challenges, but it requires a lot of patience, since you’ll move at the pace of a turtle made of rock.
The latest trend among the YouTube elite is to play Dark Souls without any armor or shields. These players are so confident in their abilities to roll and strafe that they can defeat enemies without taking a single hit. It’s an impressive feat, and one that’s been attracting a lot of attention in the gaming community.
These players often rely on high-damage weapons that they wield with both hands, maximizing their damage output. And while it may seem reckless to go into battle without any protection, these players have studied enemy attack patterns to such a degree that they’re able to dodge incoming attacks with ease. It’s a skill that takes a lot of practice to master, but those who can pull it off look like the most badass gamers around. Dark Souls has truly become the ultimate proving ground for those who want to show off their skills.
Soulslike games and other “git gud” games like Cuphead, Ninja Gaiden, and DOOM offer a unique challenge that is not simply based on difficulty, but on skill level. While many may praise the difficulty of these games, it is not simply a matter of being hard or easy. Unlike the difficulty of 80s arcade games that aimed to get players to feed more coins into the machine, the difficulty of “git gud” games is calculated and skill-reliant. It is this aspect that draws players to these games and makes them stand out in the gaming world.
Dark Souls became the game that inspired the “git gud” trend by blending deep RPG elements with flashy hack and slash combat. This unique combat system didn’t solely rely on stats, and well-timed reactions remained crucial, even as you became stronger. Any careless mistakes were swiftly punished, making it an intense yet satisfying experience.
The combat system evolved even further with the addition of “weapon arts” or “skills” in Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring. Elden Ring, the ultimate From Software game, showcases their mastery of combat system design. The game features 31 different weapon types and around 100 skills, each providing a distinct feel to the gameplay. What’s more impressive is that using “Ashes of War,” players can alter a weapon’s skill, creating a vast range of ways to utilize each weapon. With an array of bizarre weapons like Ghiza’s Wheel, a sword/spear Chainsaw, and Hand Ballistas, which transform Elden Ring into a tank simulator, the game offers a profound RPG depth.
It’s clear that the Soulsborne games have achieved greatness thanks to the inspiration drawn from various sources. The combat system, in particular, is a standout feature that has been crafted to perfection, taking cues from the best possible sources and combining them to create a unique and satisfying experience. It’s a testament to the skill and expertise of the game developers, who have managed to create something truly exceptional that stands on the shoulders of giants from many different fields. From the way they look to the way they work, the combat systems of these games are a shining example of what can be achieved with a little creativity, inspiration, and hard work.
