FromSoftware Future Open-World Game Should Avoid SotE Gaius Boss Mistakes

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FromSoftware Future Open-World Game Should Avoid SotE Gaius Boss Mistakes

As a seasoned Soulsborne fan with countless hours spent navigating treacherous landscapes and vanquishing formidable foes, I can’t help but feel a tad disappointed when one of FromSoftware‘s boss battles fails to live up to its potential. The Land of Shadow’s Commander Gaius, a Remembrance boss in the expansive world of Elden Ring, is a perfect example of this misstep.

Currently, there is some uncertainty about what’s next for FromSoftware. They have completed the development of Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, as well as providing occasional updates for these games and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, which was released in 2023. Hidetaka Miyazaki has hinted at an external adaptation of Elden Ring, and there have been whispers of an expansion for Armored Core 6, but that’s about all we know so far. If no new information regarding Shadow of the Erdtree comes by the end of 2024, the FromSoftware community may find themselves in the dark once more.

From what’s been shared by developers, it seems that FromSoftware is temporarily focusing less on the expansive open world of Elden Ring. This massive Soulslike game appears to be pushing the boundaries of what FromSoftware feels comfortable with in terms of the Souls formula. However, the resurrection of Armored Core during Shadow of the Erdtree’s development indicates that they can manage multiple smaller projects simultaneously. Despite the popularity of open worlds in contemporary games, there are many insights FromSoftware can gather for when they return to this format in the future.

One Of Shadow of the Erdtree’s Remembrance Bosses Doesn’t Stand Out

One way to rephrase the given text could be: Certain aspects require attention, such as ensuring a fair distribution of collectibles and recurring content like mini-bosses and catacomb dungeons. However, in the game Shadow of the Erdtree, there’s one specific mistake that FromSoftware should steer clear of. Regardless of its open-world setting, significant Souls bosses need to be presented with adequate style. Generally, Shadow of the Erdtree excels at this, differentiating important battles through visuals, environments, and even cutscenes when necessary. Unfortunately, there’s one instance in Shadow of the Erdtree where all that style is absent for a boss who truly needs it.

Commander Gaius Is The Least Spectacular Remembrance Boss In Elden Ring

Many roads in the Land of Shadow lead in and out of the Shadow Keep Legacy Dungeon, and the Back Gate in particular deposits players in front of Commander Gaius. Ignoring the polarizing parts of his battle that can give some players an especially hard time, this fight commits a unique sin in Elden Ring by assigning a Remembrance to a rather plain boss. Gaius has a unique fighting style, but his first phase feels like a variant of the horseback bosses that frequently dot Elden Ring’s overworld. Even after the second phase’s gravity magic reveal, it may still come as a surprise afterward that this random boss held a Remembrance.

Major Souls Bosses Can’t Afford To Blend In With The Surrounding Open World

The reason why Commander Gaius behaves this way upon encounter can be traced back to his fight circumstances. It’s conceptually interesting that he attacks the player from a distance immediately upon entering Scadu Altus. However, the outcome is essentially an open-air battlefield where force fields are necessary to prevent players from escaping. This is unusual for Elden Ring’s Remembrance holders as Torrent, the mount, is also involved in this fight, which is more commonly associated with open-world bosses. In his first phase, Gaius lacks flair, cinematics, and voice lines, making him memorable only for less appealing reasons.

It Doesn’t Take Much To Make A Remembrance Boss Feel Like One

Shadow of the Erdtree’s Remembrance bosses can shine; FromSoftware should keep this in mind when designing future games’ open worlds.

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2024-11-04 21:44