FromSoftwares Biggest Challenge is Optional Soulslike Bosses

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FromSoftwares Biggest Challenge is Optional Soulslike Bosses

As a seasoned veteran of the Soulslikes realm, I can confidently say that optional bosses in FromSoftware games are like the cherished elders in a tight-knit family: they may not be essential to the core narrative, but their presence adds depth and richness to the overall experience.

In FromSoftware games, the mysterious allure of optional bosses has always been captivating. These enemies can be unknowingly passed by, encountered at a later time, or even ignored altogether, adding an intrigue that makes them more enticing than bosses players are obligated to face. This flexibility in design allows FromSoftware to make these optional foes as challenging as they wish, without being bound by the same rules as mandatory bosses that must be defeated to complete the game.

Each game in the series, including Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and the latest addition, Elden Ring, offers optional bosses that are frequently renowned or infamous within their individual gaming communities.

  • Gehrman, the First Hunter and Moon Presence, both of whom are required to defeat for certain endings though neither are required to roll credits and beat the game (Bloodborne).
  • Champion Gundyr (Dark Souls 3).
  • Nameless King (Dark Souls 3).
  • Lady Butterfly (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice).
  • Demon of Hatred (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
  • Owl (Father) / Great Shinobi – Owl (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice).
  • Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring).
  • Dragonlord Placidusax (Elden Ring).

Each one has achieved popularity, either intentionally discovered or accidentally stumbled upon during gameplay. Players may have come across them at varying times during their adventure, possibly earlier or later than the main bosses. The difference between main and optional bosses is evident, but optional ones often spark conversation due to the voluntary challenge they present. It will be intriguing to observe how FromSoftware handles optional bosses in the upcoming sequel to Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

FromSoftware’s Optional Bosses are a Crucial Staple in Soulslikes

In the game Elden Ring, all the DLC bosses are essentially optional, as they represent additional content that players can choose whether or not to engage with. Furthermore, several Remembrance bosses in this game can technically be skipped based on the player’s choices; only defeating two of them is necessary for progressing to Leyndell, Royal Capital.

Optional bosses tend to have a more distinctive ambiance than main bosses for a few reasons, one being that experienced players from the FromSoftware community enjoy challenging themselves in the most unpredictable ways within these games. Consequently, engaging with optional bosses, which may be crafted to be tougher since they are not necessary for story advancement, is considered a tradition among dedicated fans.

Additionally, it feels incomplete to play a FromSoftware game without experiencing all it has to offer, considering there’s a great deal of content that can easily be missed or bypassed if players employ ‘cheese’ strategies. Some optional bosses are better tackled at a later time before the game is completed, creating endgame challenges that are often more formidable than the main story boss of any FromSoftware title. Furthermore, DLC bosses can be quite demanding in terms of effort.

Instead, overcoming an optional boss ahead of time often provides a fantastic motivation for acquiring their distinctive weapons through a process known as transposition. Throughout FromSoftware’s diverse ‘Soulsborne’ series, transposing boss weapons has been one of the many enticing rewards players earn by defeating bosses and can even obtain the weapon of a beloved optional boss in this manner. Similarly, their gear holds significance, as seen in games like Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree, allowing players to dress up like most iconic bosses and assume their roles using their specific weapons as well.

This method guarantees that optional enemies aren’t just hurdles for players before they encounter another pre-scripted boss in games like the Lands Between, Lordran, Yharnam, or elsewhere, but formidable foes whose presence is justified within the game world. In contrast to action-RPGs, Sekiro, an action-adventure game, may have less complex optional bosses and rewards, yet they remain equally impactful on the storyline of Shadows Die Twice and the player’s progression through various skill and upgrade paths.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Demonstrates How Paramount a Balance of Main and Optional Bosses is

Many of Shadow of the Erdtree’s best and hardest bosses are optional:

  • Bayle the Dread.
  • Commander Gaius.
  • Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.
  • Rellana, Twin Moon Knight.
  • Scadutree Avatar.

It’s not surprising that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree doesn’t have alternate endings like its main game does. However, optional bosses offer plenty more content for players to explore, including entire questlines and regions they might not encounter otherwise, like the eerie Abyssal Woods with a survival-horror vibe.

In the game Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, open-world exploration is just as extensive as in the original version, and discovering the DLC’s optional bosses is an integrated aspect of the gameplay. Whether players feel ready to challenge these bosses at that particular moment or not, it becomes a natural part of their journey.

Fighting optional enemies in these FromSoftware games has always been an effective method for players to amass more of the game’s currency, level up their characters, and improve their weapons. This way, when they challenge the main boss once more, they might be able to withstand another blow or dish out a bit more damage than before. At this stage, FromSoftware isn’t shy about making constructive changes, but optional bosses are likely to remain a key feature. It will be intriguing to see the array of bosses that their next game offers!

The primary bosses carry a significant burden, as they are the ones deemed important enough by FromSoftware for an essential confrontation. On the other hand, optional bosses seem to have more flexibility in terms of their significance and often turn out to be outstanding regardless. While FromSoftware may not always create the most thrilling or enjoyable main bosses (as seen in Dark Souls with its troublesome Bed of Chaos), it’s gratifying that optional bosses play a crucial role in quests, NPC interactions, and exploration – areas where FromSoftware excels in world-building.

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2024-09-14 22:35