The head of FromSoftware, Hidetaka Miyazakitalked about the idea behind games like Dark Souls ed Elden Ring in an interview published by Game Informer, reporting that it’s not just titles that increase the difficulty levelbut who construct the challenge in a fair way.
It is clear that the high level of difficulty is an element that is perceived as characterizing this type of game, but this is a somewhat superficial view, as FromSoftware’s titles in particular are usually structured to allow a large margin for improvement for players, who by committing themselves or simply increasing their level can overcome any challenge.
In this sense, Miyazaki reports that games like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series are built to offer tough obstacles to overcome, but in a “fair” and balanced waywith a fair structure.
Learn from mistakes
“I know our games are known for being very difficult, but it’s not just about increasing the difficulty, it’s about do it fairly“Miyazaki explained.
“When players are killed and they understand why they were killed at a certain time, then they believe elimination was justifiedwhich gives meaning to everything. These are the games we’re trying to make.”
The father of Elden Ring and Dark Souls on the “soulslike” genre: we didn’t invent it, the market was already ready
Miyazaki realizes that players can often be frustrated, but it’s important that the game delivers incentives to try again and move forward. It’s about always learning from experience, even through deaths.
“We try to ensure that there is a learning curve and a feedback loop that players can exploit in the next attempt. We believe in difficult games, but not in the unjust or unfair ones” Miyazaki reiterated.
