Summary
Unless FromSoftware suddenly decided to quit developing Soulslike games afterElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, it seems fair to estimate that Soulslike games will continue to appear in droves in the near future, whether by FromSoftware or other studios. It’s been exciting to see how non-FromSoftware developers have approached their own inspired takes on the subgenre, and now that it certainly is not a niche subgenre by any means, that creativity in craftinga unique Soulslike experiencemight only make them that much more enticing.
Seeing Soulslikes gain more popularity and grow in terms of their degree of quality has been wonderful, too. There was a time when Soulslike imitators were looked at as being incapable of coming close to what FromSoftware has achieved, and while some purist fans might still believe that, recent Soulslike games such asLies of PandLords of the Fallenhave arguably given certain FromSoftware games a run for their money. Now, whatSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceandElden Ringhave both implemented could see the same level of inspiration taken into account with future Soulslikes.
Elden Ring and Sekiro Iterated on Jump Mechanics for the Better
Sekiro’s Jump Benefited the Game’s Terrific Mobility
BeforeSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, jumping was only possible in Soulslikes through a rigorous means that felt like it was bridging a gap between intentional and unintentional.Dark Soulstechnically does have a jump, for instance, but it can only be performed at the end of a sprint, resulting in a somersault of momentum when the player lands.
There are countless examples of where this jump is used that make it seem purposeful and advantageous, but it’s always been an odd staple of FromSoftware’sSoulsgames since it’s not particularly simple to execute and rarely are gaps ever easy to cross when using this janky jump mechanic. Therefore, while almost allFromSoftware Soulslikeshave some element of ‘platforming’ in this manner, it hasn’t often felt satisfying and is seemingly designed this way to make traversal incredibly perilous and precarious—at least, that’s how it felt beforeSekiro.
Sekiro’s dedicated jump button was subtle in comparison to the overall mobility that the player has grappling around from perch to perch, but actually being able to leap without the jump itself being restricted to a precise input was an incredible change. Jumping feels natural inSekiroas a result of all the other movement improvements players are given, but FromSoftware recently proved that a dedicated jump wouldn’t be exclusive toSekiro’s wildly unique Soulslike gameplay.
Elden Ring’s Jump wasn’t Necessary, But is a Great QoL Change
Elden Ringneeded certain features to justify a few open-world trappings, such as an actual overworld map and crafting recipes to make use of resources salvaged in that open world. One mechanic it arguably didn’t need, though, was a dedicated jump.Elden Ringdefinitely doesn’t have the mobility thatSekirohas besides when players aredouble-jumping around on Torrent, but this similar jump mechanic is another great way for FromSoftware to loosen its leash on what players can and can’t accomplish, adding to its quality-of-life features.
Elden Ring’s open worlddemands that players are less restricted in their moment-to-moment movement, and thankfully FromSoftware was generous enough to allow players to jump freely, let alone sprint without consuming stamina as long as they aren’t in combat. Now that it seems as if jumping is a mainstay with the press of a button alone, it’ll be interesting to see how FromSoftware expands on it in future games and if future Soulslike games from other developers embed it in their own design philosophies.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
WHERE TO PLAY
Carve your own clever path to vengeance in the critically acclaimed adventure from developer FromSoftware, creators of the Dark Souls series.In Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice you are the ‘one-armed wolf’, a disgraced and disfigured warrior rescued from the brink of death. Bound to protect a young lord who is the descendant of an ancient bloodline, you become the target of many vicious enemies, including the dangerous Ashina clan. When the young lord is captured, nothing will stop you on a perilous quest to regain your honor, not even death itself.Explore late 1500s Sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world. Unleash an arsenal of deadly prosthetic tools and powerful ninja abilities while you blend stealth, vertical traversal, and visceral head to head combat in a bloody confrontation. Take Revenge. Restore Your Honor. Kill Ingeniously.
