Soulslike

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A Soulslike (also spelled Souls-like) is a subgenre of action role-playing games known for high difficulty level and emphasis on environmental storytelling, typically in a dark fantasy setting. It had its origin in Demon's Souls and the Dark Souls trilogy by FromSoftware, the themes and mechanics of which directly inspired several other games. The "Soulslike" name has been adopted by a number of critics and developers. However, there have also been questions whether it is a true genre or a collection of shared mechanics. A subset of these games, named Soulsborne, refer to most of the Soulslike games developed by FromSoftware.

Contents

While the description is typically applied to action role-playing games, the core concepts of high difficulty, repeated character death, driving player knowledge and mastery of the game world, sparsity of save points, and giving information to the player through indirect, environmental storytelling are sometimes seen in games of very different genres, the mechanics of which are sometimes described as Soulslike.

Gameplay

Soulslike games typically have a high level of difficulty where repeated player character death is expected and incorporated as part of the gameplay, with players often keeping part of their progress since the last checkpoint (items collected, bosses defeated), and other losses (such as experience or currency) being potentially recoverable. Soulslike games usually have means to permanently improve the player character's abilities as to be able to progress further, often by a type of currency that can be earned and spent, but may be lost or abandoned between deaths if not appropriately managed, similar to the souls in the Souls series. [1] [2] [3] The need for repeated playthroughs can be viewed as a type of self-improvement for the player, either through gradual improvement of their character, or improving their own skills and strategies within the game. [4]

Salt and Sanctuary developer James Silva said Soulslike games provided "deliberate and meaningful exploration" of the entire game, including the game world, character improvement, and combat, through learning by repeated failures. [5] Combat in Soulslike games may also be methodical, requiring the player to monitor stamina to avoid overexertion of their character, [2] and often is based on "animation priority" actions that prevent the player from cancelling movement until the animation has been played out, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks. [4] Souls and its related games developed by FromSoftware include multiplayer features such as the ability to write messages that can be seen and rated by other players, apparitions of other players, blood stains that allow viewing of other players' deaths, invasion of other players' worlds, and summoning of other players to one's own world for assistance.[ citation needed ]

Bonfire

A player character in Dark Souls using a bonfire Dark Souls Bonfire.png
A player character in Dark Souls using a bonfire

Many Soulslike games include the concept of a bonfire which acts as a checkpoint. As introduced in Dark Souls, bonfires are small campfires of bones marked by a coiled sword, but may be contextualized differently in other games. [6] [7]

Activating a bonfire sets it as a respawn point for the player character should they die. They can also be used to restore health and magic as well as remove status effects, but these resting actions revive most enemies within the game world. Some bonfires can be used to level up and perform other actions such as repairing weapons. Players can also generally warp or fast travel between all bonfires discovered in the game world.

Bonfires were designed by Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki, saying that they were the single addition he was most excited about in the transition from Demon's Souls to its sequel. Serving as both a recovery and respawn point, Bonfires were designed to be a "powerful" aspect of gameplay and a place where players could gather together to share experiences and emotionally communicate. It was also designed to be a "place of warmth", and one of the few "heartwarming" locations in the game's world, expressing the feeling of dark fantasy that he was trying to create. [8]

Since the introduction of the bonfires in Dark Souls, many games have adopted similar progression mechanics; serving either as a reset, leveling, or traveling beacon in games. [9] This mechanic provides a means to avoid an outright failure state, where the player must restart the game completely and lose all progress, while still providing a risk-and-reward system to make the game challenging to the player. [10]

Common themes

Soulslike games are commonly defined by their dark fantasy setting and lack of overt storytelling, as well as their deep worldbuilding, with a captivating world being cited as key to spark players' desire to explore. [11] Players are meant to discover bits and pieces of the game's lore over time via environmental storytelling, item descriptions and cryptic dialogue, piecing it together themselves to increase the game's sense of mystery. Despite their dark themes, the settings of Soulslikes sometimes feature elements of comic relief, such as unexpected interactions (e.g. petting a cat), humorous reactions from non-player characters, peculiar outfits and weapons, and unusual, often slapstick means of death, such as being eaten by a Mimic. [12]

List

The Soulslike genre had its genesis in Demon's Souls (2009), developed by FromSoftware and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. It introduced the core tenets that would be followed by the Dark Souls series, such as the combat, death mechanics, multiplayer, storytelling, and dark fantasy setting. Dark Souls was released as a spiritual successor in 2011.

Games considered to be Soulsborne include Bloodborne, [13] [14] [15] Demon's Souls, the Dark Souls series, and Elden Ring . [16] [17] [18] [ unreliable source? ] Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice , also directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, is sometimes considered a Soulsborne game due to its similar design and shared mechanics, but differs in its setting and role-playing elements.

Other notable Soulslike games include:

Other games outside of the genre cited to have been influenced by the Souls series include:

Similar death mechanics are used in Nier: Automata (2017), [48] Hollow Knight (2017), [2] and Fear & Hunger (2018). [49]

Reception

Interviews with developers of Soulslike games revealed that they all thought of being classified as part of the genre as a positive thing that functioned as a useful description for players. However, some believed that it could be misleading, causing players to expect certain things and be disappointed when a game does not have them. An example of this was players being disappointed that Remnant: From the Ashes was primarily a shooter, despite being characterized as a Soulslike. [12]

Austin Wood of PC Gamer criticized the Soulslike label, saying that treating Souls games as a template "misleads" players into believing that various games classified as such are similar to Souls when they are really different. He called the Soulslike label, along with the Metroidvania and roguelike labels, "jargon" that "ignores what makes [the games] unique". [11] Mark Brown of Game Maker's Toolkit also decried the Soulslikes as overly restrictive, forcing games to fall into a certain template and preventing their design from advancing. In responding to this argument, Bruno Dias of Vice disagreed, saying that Brown's comparison of Soulslikes with roguelikes was not apt because roguelikes were a hobbyist pursuit for a long time. He also said that Soulslikes did not need to advance yet as they did not have a marketability problem. [50]

Related Research Articles

FromSoftware, Inc. is a Japanese video game development and publishing company. It was founded by Naotoshi Zin in Tokyo on November 1, 1986. Initially a developer of business software, the company released their first video game, King's Field, for the PlayStation in 1994. Its success shifted FromSoftware to focus fully on games, with them producing two more King's Field games before the first release of the mecha shooter series Armored Core in 1997.

An action role-playing game is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre.

<i>Demons Souls</i> 2009 video game

Demon's Souls is a 2009 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 3 under the supervision of Japan Studio. It was published in Japan by Sony Computer Entertainment in February, in North America by Atlus in October, and in PAL territories by Namco Bandai Partners in June 2010. The game is referred to as a spiritual successor to FromSoftware's King's Field series.

<i>Dark Souls</i> (video game) 2011 video game

Dark Souls is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai Games. A spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls, the game is the first in the Dark Souls series. The game takes place in the kingdom of Lordran, where players assume the role of a cursed undead character who begins a pilgrimage to discover the fate of their kind. A port for Windows featuring additional content, known as the Prepare to Die Edition, was released in August 2012. It was also released for consoles under the subtitle Artorias of the Abyss in October 2012.

<i>Dark Souls II</i> 2014 video game

Dark Souls II is a 2014 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. The second installment of the Dark Souls series, it was released for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by FromSoftware in Japan and Bandai Namco Games internationally. Taking place in the kingdom of Drangleic, the game follows a cursed undead character searching for a cure to their affliction. Dark Souls II was released in March 2014 after some initial delays, with the Windows version being released the following month.

<i>Bloodborne</i> 2015 video game

Bloodborne is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. Bloodborne follows a Hunter through the decrepit Gothic, Victorian-era–inspired city of Yharnam, whose inhabitants are afflicted with a blood-borne disease which transforms the residents, called Yharnamites, into horrific beasts. Attempting to find the source of the plague, the player's character unravels the city's mysteries while fighting beasts and cosmic beings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hidetaka Miyazaki</span> Japanese video game designer (born 1974)

Hidetaka Miyazaki is a Japanese video game director, designer, writer, and president of the game developer FromSoftware. He joined the company in 2004 and was a designer for the Armored Core series before receiving wider recognition for creating the Dark Souls series. Miyazaki was promoted to company president in 2014 and also serves as its representative director. Other similar games he has directed include Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring.

<i>Salt and Sanctuary</i> 2016 video game

Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D action role-playing video game developed and published by Ska Studios. The game was released on March 15, 2016 for the PlayStation 4, with later releases for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It is heavily inspired by the Dark Souls series by FromSoftware.

<i>Dark Souls III</i> 2016 video game

Dark Souls III is a 2016 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. The third and final entry in the Dark Souls series, the game follows an unkindled character on a quest to prevent the end of the world. It is played in a third-person perspective, and players have access to various weapons, armour, magic, and consumables that they can use to fight their enemies. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the series, returned to direct the game after handing the development duties of Dark Souls II to others.

Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the series began with the release of Dark Souls (2011) and has seen two sequels, Dark Souls II (2014) and Dark Souls III (2016). It has received critical acclaim, with its high level of difficulty being among its most discussed aspects, while the first Dark Souls is often cited as one of the greatest games of all time. The series had shipped over 35 million copies outside of Japan as of 2023. Other FromSoftware games, including Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, share several related concepts and led to the creation of the Soulslike subgenre.

Bonfire (<i>Dark Souls</i>) Video game mechanic

The bonfire is a place of rest and form of in-game checkpoint for the player character in the Dark Souls series of action role-playing games created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and Japanese developers FromSoftware. Making its debut in the 2011 video game Dark Souls and reappearing in its sequels, Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III, bonfires take the appearance of a pile of ash and bones pierced by a coiled sword and emitting an orange flame. Bonfires, which are scattered across many areas, serve as both a means to save in-game progress and as a utility area for leveling up, repairing gear, and replenishing a player's health, magic, and healing items, or "Estus Flasks". Resting at a bonfire will respawn most enemies, and, upon their death, players will return to the last one they previously used. According to Miyazaki, it was meant not only to serve utilitarian purposes but also be an area to relax in an otherwise harsh fantasy world.

<i>Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order</i> 2019 video game

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. The story is set in the Star Wars universe, five years after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. It follows Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis, who becomes a target of the Galactic Empire and is hunted throughout the galaxy by the Imperial Inquisitors while attempting to complete his training, reconcile with his troubled past, and rebuild the fallen Jedi Order. The player can use Kestis' lightsaber and Force powers to defeat enemies, including stormtroopers, wild beasts and bounty hunters. The game adopts a Metroidvania style of level design where new areas are accessed as Cal unlocks skills and abilities.

<i>Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice</i> 2019 video game

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by FromSoftware. It was released in Japan by FromSoftware and internationally by Activision for the PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One in March 2019 and for Stadia in October 2020.

<i>Elden Ring</i> 2022 video game

Elden Ring is a 2022 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. It was directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding provided by American fantasy writer George R. R. Martin. It was published for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 25 in Japan by FromSoftware and internationally by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Set in the Lands Between, players control a customizable player character on a quest to repair the Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord.

<i>Mortal Shell</i> 2020 video game

Mortal Shell is an action role-playing video game developed by Cold Symmetry and published by Playstack. The game was released on 18 August 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. A remastered version titled Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition was released on 4 March 2021 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and on 18 November 2021 for Amazon Luna. A port for Nintendo Switch with all the DLC included titled Complete Edition was released on 19 December 2022. It received positive to mixed reviews from critics and has sold one million units as of September 2023.

<i>Dolmen</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Dolmen is an action role-playing video game developed by Massive Work Studio. Prime Matter published it for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Windows in May 2022. It is a science fiction-themed Soulslike set on an alien planet.

Masocore is a video game subgenre with a focus on intense difficulty, often featuring complex or unfair mechanics. The name is a portmanteau of "masochism" and "hardcore", suggesting that players of the genre are hardcore gamers who find pleasure in the aggravation required to beat the games and the feeling of reward afterwards for having surpassed a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Masocore games are mostly 2D sidescrollers, harkening back to retro Nintendo hard platformers, although the definition can also be taken to encompass fully 3D games of high difficulty such as soulslikes.

<i>Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn</i> 2024 video game

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an action role-playing video game developed by A44 Games and published by Kepler Interactive. The game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on July 18, 2024. Upon release, it received mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Lords of the Fallen</i> (2023 video game) 2023 video game

Lords of the Fallen is an action role-playing video game developed by Hexworks and published by CI Games. A successor to the 2014 video game of the same name, the game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 13 October 2023. Upon release, it received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and sold over one million units in the first ten days since release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stormveil Castle</span> Fictional castle

Stormveil Castle is a fictional castle depicted in the 2022 action role-playing game Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware. It is the game's first "legacy dungeon", a self-contained dungeon crawl designed to be reminiscent of earlier games in the Dark Souls series. As such, it also functions as a tutorial for the game's mechanics. Located in the Limgrave area of the Lands Between, the continent upon which Elden Ring is set, Stormveil's ruler, Godrick the Grafted, is a demigod who has fallen into disrepute due to his practice of "grafting", a form of biological augmentation using the severed body parts of other beings. The castle is seen covered in organic thorns and pockmarks, signs that it is being consumed from beneath by Godwyn, a former demigod who has become the "Prince of Death" in his undead state. All of its soldiers and guards have long since lost their minds following the shattering of the Elden Ring.

References

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  4. 1 2 Kunzelman, Cameron (2020). "Chapter 10: How we deal with dark souls". In de Souza e Silva, Adriana; Glover-Rijkse, Ragan (eds.). Hybrid Play: Crossing Boundaries in Game Design, Players Identities and Play Spaces. Taylor & Francis. p. 58. ISBN   9781000042351.
  5. 1 2 Wood, Austin (22 February 2022). "What the hell is a Souls-like? Game devs break down FromSoftware's accidental genre". GamesRadar . Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  6. ↑ Biggerstaff, Charlie (2022-04-12). "Elden Ring Sites Of Grace: All Grace locations in Elden Ring". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  7. ↑ Madsen, Hayes (2020-08-19). "Everything Dark Souls & Code Vein Have In Common". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
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  11. 1 2 Wood, Austin (2017-08-19). "The 'Souls-like' label needs to die". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  12. 1 2 O'Donoghue, Niall (2020-11-16). "Finding the Soul of Soulslikes - the devs riffing on the genre". VG247. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
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  30. ↑ Walker, Ian (29 April 2020). "Hellpoint Is A Souls-Like With Some Cool New Ideas". Kotaku . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  31. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (March 4, 2021). "Souls-like Mortal Shell has sold over 500,000 units since release last summer". VG247 . Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  32. ↑ Thorn, Ed (7 December 2020). "Chronos: Before The Ashes review". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  33. ↑ Carvalho, Jared (14 March 2022). "Stanger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's Job System Could Redefine the Soulslike Character Build Formula". Game Rant. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
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  50. ↑ Dias, Bruno (2017-07-12). "Making Souls-Like A Genre Might Actually End Up Hurting it". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
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