Features That Only Appear In One FromSoftware Soulslike

Summary

Nightreign introduces unique game mechanics for both solo and multiplayer experiences.
Bonfire Ascetics in Dark Souls 2 allow players to level up areas without completing the game.
Mount Torrent in Elden Ring revolutionizes open-world traversal, enhancing gameplay possibilities.

Experience the thrill of Nightreign, a fresh take on gaming with innovative mechanics tailored for both single and multiplayer experiences. It introduces revival techniques for players, unique character-based abilities, and explores new dimensions, all while reintroducing beloved classic features that enthusiasts of the franchise have long awaited.

Occasionally, particular elements may not make it to the final version for various reasons, such as their compatibility with the game world being highly specific or them becoming obsolete due to a more recent concept. Each game produced by FromSoftware has its own peculiarities and unique gameplay mechanics. Some of these features, although intriguing and enjoyable, didn’t get carried over into subsequent games despite being worthwhile additions.

1. Bonfire Ascetic

New Game+ Without Resetting The Game

In the intriguing world of Dark Souls 2, Bonfire Ascetics serve as unique elements that alter the exploration strategy within the game in ways no other title in the series has endeavored to emulate. While all games adhere to a common structure of completing the game and proceeding to NG+ with increased health reserves and greater rewards, it’s only by conquering the entire game that one can ascend to a higher level.

With Bonfire Ascetics, players are granted a potent instrument enabling them to elevate an entire game region, typically only encompassing enemies between bonfires, without necessarily completing the game. This allows for early access to additional souls and the option to upgrade any specific bonfire multiple times, making it a convenient feature that wasn’t revisited in subsequent games.

2. Mount Travel

Torrent Is Your Only Friend

In a game such as Elden Ring, where you explore a vast open world on foot, it can feel like an arduous task. Fortunately, FromSoftware anticipated this challenge and bestowed players with the delightful steed named Torrent around 10 minutes into their adventure in The Lands Between. This swift travel and vertical mobility opened up a whole new realm of possibilities within the game – without Tornt, Elden Ring would not be as we know it today.

It’s quite logical that other games in their collection didn’t incorporate a similar feature. Typically, players can travel swiftly between locations with minimal restrictions, and the gameplay rarely gives the impression that the character is moving sluggishly. Yet, given the extensive world to explore, having a mount proves incredibly beneficial. It’s hoped that this feature will be reintroduced if FromSoftware ventures into creating another open-world adventure in the future.

3. Teammate Revival

Might Not Be Pretty But It Carries Fights To Victory

In general, games developed by FromSoftware primarily emphasize single-player experiences, incorporating multiplayer aspects only occasionally for competition or assistance. However, this norm was broken with Nightreign, a game that promotes cooperative play among three players to ensure the best results in a world designed around three-player interactions.

Among the game’s standout features is the “resurrection mechanism,” which allows a fallen party member to be revived by attacking them from a distance or up close, using ranged or melee attacks respectively. This feature persists throughout the entire game, even during the final battle, implying that when errors occur, they can easily be rectified due to this useful mechanic that enhances the cooperative experience and makes it even more enjoyable.

4. Insight

See Things Like Never Before

Bloodborne stands out in numerous aspects, from its distinctive visuals to its battle mechanics and overall design. A fascinating gameplay feature is Insight, essentially acting as a form of currency that gamers can amass via various methods such as using items or defeating bosses.

In the Hunter’s Dream, you can use the currency to buy various goods. Beyond its role as a tradable value, reaching certain amounts unlocks new sights and sounds within the game world. For instance, you might hear a baby crying or notice ominous Amygdalas clinging to structures, adding an eerie touch that’s particularly rewarding for those who save up their Insight points in unexpected ways.

5. World Tendency

Actions Have Real Consequences

Before showing off any dazzling parries or gallops through various landscapes, Demon’s Souls was pioneering features that, though no longer popular, still hold an intriguing appeal. One such mechanism is the World Tendency, a system that functions like a karma meter. Players can manipulate this by either raising or lowering it to influence enemy loot, difficulty level, and even make broader changes within the game world.

The system functions as a comprehensive scorekeeper that players can either pay close attention to and manage thoughtfully by minimizing deaths and sparing non-player characters (NPCs), or choose to disregard, facing the repercussions of their negligence. This system works effectively within the game Demon’s Souls, given its structure segmented into distinct areas, and it could potentially be reintroduced with some contemporary enhancements in a future title.

6. Adaptability

An Extra Stat For Better And Worse

Game(s): Dark Souls 2

Without a doubt, “Dark Souls 2” stands as one of the most contentious entries not just within FromSoftware’s collection, but across the entire Soulslike genre. While some players adore it, others vehemently dislike it, and there are those who remain undecided, unable to settle their feelings about it for good. Despite the polarizing opinions, “Dark Souls 2” was a game that dared to innovate and experiment with fresh mechanics to differentiate itself from its predecessors.

In the game DS2, adaptability – a unique mechanism designed to enhance certain less prominent aspects of gameplay such as dodging, flask consumption, and health regeneration – was implemented as a one-time feature instead of being applicable across various games. This experimental approach offered an intriguing glimpse into the potential possibilities for future games, and I hope we’ll see it reappear in the future.

7. Chalice Dungeons

Seed Generation That Deserves Another Look

Game(s): Bloodborne

As a gamer, I found Nightreign to appear as an ever-changing dreamscape offering me vast territories to traverse with unique locales emerging in every playthrough. However, I later discovered that while there’s some randomness, the map itself remains constant and only the positions of these locales shift slightly. Interestingly enough, before the latest release, FromSoftware was tinkering with innovative concepts that enabled players to create their own dungeons, offering a wealth of diverse content beyond the main storyline.

In the game Bloodborne, the Chalice Dungeons stood out as a remarkable innovation, stretching the limits of what could be achieved in a linear Soulslike format. These dungeons, which players could craft using seeds and reap various rewards, each boasting unique enemies exclusive to them, offered an engaging and condensed combat experience. Despite room for improvement, these dungeons marked an exciting new addition to the game that won over many fans.

8. Combat Art Skill Tree

Trading Basic Stats For Individual Talents

Generally speaking, the video game collection developed by FromSoftware has consistently employed a similar approach to leveling up player characters. This involves earning a currency, using it to enhance specific attributes, and then raising those levels as high as possible. This pattern was present in all Soulslikes, whether produced within or outside the company. However, Sekiro, in multiple respects, deviated from this gameplay concept by abandoning individual stat upgrades in favor of a skill tree and overall stat enhancements.

Instead of just concentrating on a specific statistic, players might opt to focus on the unique combat capabilities that are effective in particular battles and against specific weapons. Since there are no additional weapons to select from, players become adept at using the sword, directing their concentration and effort into mastering parry techniques and selecting particular skills. They can also enhance their overall attributes like health once they have defeated a sufficient number of bosses.

2025-06-05 01:11