Why Now is the Perfect Time for a FromSoftware ‘Legacy Collection’

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Why Now is the Perfect Time for a FromSoftware 'Legacy Collection'

Key Takeaways

  • FromSoftware’s creative vision shines through in its bold and original games, standing out from cookie-cutter releases.
  • King’s Field and Armored Core are key parts of FromSoftware’s heritage that deserve recognition and a modern audience.
  • A potential FromSoftware Legacy Collection could reintroduce older games like King’s Field and early Armored Core titles.

As a longtime fan who’s been traversing the labyrinthine worlds of FromSoftware since the early days of King’s Field, I can confidently say that their legacy is more than just a collection of games – it’s an odyssey through gaming history. The studio’s unique blend of challenge, creativity, and dark fantasy has captivated me for decades, and it’s high time we paid homage to the roots of this extraordinary lineage.

As a dedicated gaming enthusiast, I firmly believe that FromSoftware stands head and shoulders above other AAA studios currently thriving in the industry. While not every gamer shares the same passion for series like Dark Souls, it’s hard to deny the unique creative audacity they showcase, a stark contrast to the all-too-common market-tested, bland, and cookie-cutter offerings that dominate the high-profile releases we see today.

Although it was Hidetaka Miyazaki’s innovative game designs in titles like Demon’s Souls and its successors that truly cemented FromSoftware’s reputation, it’s important to remember that the company has been creating video games for much longer than many might think. Established in the mid-eighties, they began producing games in 1994 with King’s Field, a game that laid the groundwork for what we now recognize as the Souls-like genre. Over the fifteen years between King’s Field’s release and Demon’s Souls, FromSoftware produced a variety of intelligent, eccentric (albeit somewhat unpolished) games. These lesser-known titles deserve recognition as part of the company’s rich history, bringing them into the spotlight in a tribute to their early contributions to gaming.

Why a FromSoftware ‘Legacy Collection‘ Would Be a Good Decision

Series Like King’s Field and Armored Core Should Be Introduced to Modern Audiences

While it’s unlikely we’ll see King’s Field make a comeback, the mark it left is undeniable. Emerging from the wave of first-person dungeon-crawlers during the ’90s, King’s Field introduced several gameplay elements that would become staples in future FromSoftware games, such as a strict stamina gauge and open-ended exploration. Additionally, thematic aspects like a focus on dark medieval fantasy were echoed in subsequent works by FromSoftware.

In 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of FromSoftware’s initial game, “King’s Field”, it seems quite appropriate for an announcement regarding a remaster or re-release to take place.

The original game “King’s Field” served as a source of inspiration for numerous contemporary titles, yet it also gave rise to several sequels from FromSoftware. Many of these spin-offs quickly gained cult popularity following their release, similar to games like “Eternal Ring” and “Shadow Tower Abyss”. These games built upon the first-person RPG structure of “King’s Field”, introducing novel, occasionally bizarre concepts such as firearms in a fantasy realm. For many gamers, these spin-offs are akin to “Bloodborne” in relation to “Dark Souls”; they may not belong to the same series, but they share a deep connection with the original game. Therefore, it would be fitting for FromSoftware to include these games in any re-release package of “King’s Field”.

Without a doubt, King’s Field isn’t the sole standout title from FromSoftware’s studio prior to the Souls franchise. While Armored Core is poised for an exciting future, it is frequently underestimated by gamers who have recently delved into FromSoftware’s body of work following the launches of Demon’s Souls or Dark Souls. To many, Armored Core represented the epitome of mech series during its era. The early games in this series were innovative in numerous ways, boasting intricate customization systems and gameplay that outshone their competitors. Given the triumph of last year’s Armored Core 6, it appears fitting to highlight the series’ substantial history and influence.

What a FromSoftware Legacy Collection Could Look Like

Many gamers, both seasoned and new, who are fans of FromSoftware, would undoubtedly be excited to see their older games available on contemporary gaming platforms. Ideally, they’d like to see a collection similar to the recent Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection. However, FromSoftware has produced numerous titles, and it’s improbable that there’s substantial interest in lesser-acclaimed games like Ninja Blade, or more outlandish ones, such as Metal Wolf Chaos. Consequently, these might not be included.

This disparity in quality and cultural cache between games, combined with potential licensing and ownership issues, means that a theoretical FromSoftware: Legacy Collection may only include King’s Field and its inheritors, along with the older Armored Core games. But this would certainly still be a product worth having.

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2024-08-24 21:55