FromSoftware's Next Soulslike Should Make One Choice Matter More Than in Elden Ring

One choice that players get to make in Elden Ring could have much more weight behind it in FromSoftware’s next Soulslike game. With a lot of plotlines surrounding various NPCs, as well as multiple endings, a lot of the player’s decisions in Elden Ring have a major impact. However, there is one that seems important on the surface, but its overall impact is far less than it seems at first glance. FromSoft can easily reverse that situation in the next game though. A choice that previously had a middling impact could end up being one of the player’s most important decisions.

In the story of Elden Ring, the protagonist is the most important figure by a large margin. The Lands Between is full of characters who have their own agendas, many of which conflict with the others. This is especially true when it comes to the Elden Ring itself, as its mending is at the center of the overall plot. The player’s Tarnished is the one that all of these plots hinge on, and they will have a major impact on the future of the Lands Between. The amount of freedom that Elden Ring gives the player makes the Tarnished so important.

Fromsoft’s Next Soulslike Can Make its Character Classes Change the Game

Elden Ring’s Character Classes Acted As a Starting Point

Players will choose a character class in Elden Ring when creating their Tarnished that will decide several parameters. The Tarnished’s starting stats and starting level will be determined by their character class, as will their initial equipment. This will give players their first push towards their eventual build. However, since Elden Ring is a long game, players will have plenty of time to craft their build however they like, including in ways that are vastly different from their original class. Elden Ring‘s classes may give players an original direction, but their influence wanes greatly the further the player advances in the game.

Future Soulslikes Can Introduce Class-Specific Abilities and Traits

One way to make classes more impactful would involve future Soulslikes in Elden Ring‘s vein to include class-specific bonuses or abilities that the player can keep throughout the game. A thief class could have a bonus to attacks from behind, or a spellcaster class could cast their spells more quickly than usual. Granting players something that would stay with them rather than just what is essentially a set of starting gear would add a bit of extra weight to the player’s class selection. How these class abilities would mix with certain builds would make this initial choice a much more impactful one.

Different Soulslike Classes Could Unlock Unique Content in Future Games

The player’s class selection could also add another twist to the game. Some of Mass Effect‘s side quests only activate if the player chooses a specific backstory for Shepard. A Soulslike could include something similar, including some content that was only relevant for a certain class. A cleric could have the opportunity to revitalize an old shrine, for example. In addition to providing additional lore, the rewards for these quests could even be gear or items that synergize perfectly with the classes’ intended playstyle. Adding unique quests or interactions is another solid way for future Soulslikes to make their classes seem more meaningful.

Elden Ring‘s classes could only be a foundation for what future Soulslikes can create in that sense. Character creation in FromSoftware’s Soulslikes gives players a lot of freedom as is, but there’s an opportunity for the next game to add to that. Adding more perks to the player’s chosen class will make that early decision much more important in the long run. Character classes should always be an important choice in RPGs, and in FromSoftware’s next Soulslike, the player’s chosen class should play more of a role than ever before.

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ELDEN RING developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to-date.Hidetaka Miyazaki – President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire – A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Released

February 25, 2022

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op , Online Multiplayer

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Engine

Proprietary

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

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How Long To Beat

58 Hours

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

X|S Optimized

yes

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PS Plus Availability

N/A

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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Cross Save

no

Cross-Platform Play

PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

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