Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Anyone who has playedElden Ring, or any FromSoftware game for that matter, would know that the type of storytelling in these innovative action RPGs is unlike most other big-budget AAA games, which use cutscenes and dialogue to advance their plots.
FromSoftware games, meanwhile, use a “fragmented” approach that has the player piecing the lore themselves by text from several objects peppered throughout the game. It’s an ambient format of storytelling that is greatly appreciated by fans, but disliked by some that want more conventional methods. However, FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki firmly stands by their approach.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Reveals How Elden Ring is Superior to Dark Souls and Sekiro in One Crucial Area
Elden Ring’s Storytelling Ties In Perfectly With Gameplay
In a recentinterview with Famitsu, Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president and CEO of From Software, discussed the design philosophy behind the challenging gameplay and fragmented storytelling that have become hallmarks of thestudio’s games. He revealed fascinating reasons forElden Ring‘s narrative approach, one that encourages player engagement and interpretation.
Miyazaki acknowledged the ever-evolving nature of game development, particularly in the realm of balancing difficulty and experience. However, he emphasizes that this focus on gameplay decisions coexists with a deliberate choice to present stories in a fragmented manner.
First, I want the gameplay experience to become the player’s story. For that, we don’t tell a rigid story in a verbose way.
The core objective behind this fragmentation, according to Miyazaki, is to empower players to craft their own narratives within the game’s framework. By avoiding an overly verbose exposition, FromSoftware creates space for players to forge their own interpretations based on their experiences.
“My opinion isn’t absolute”: Elden Ring Creator Hidetaka Miyazaki Refuses to Take Full Credit for FromSoftware Success
Fragmented Approach Allows For Personal Renditions
When it came to player-centric interpretations of the story, Miyazaki said:
Additionally, we want to leave some of the story to the player’s imagination. This ties into making the gameplay experience the player’s story as mentioned earlier and becoming absorbed in filling in the margins with your own imagination is simply fun, I believe.
Thanks toFromSoftware’s unique approach, filling in the gaps of the story becomes an engaging exercise, fostering a deeper connection to the world and its lore. The act of piecing together fragments, whether through item descriptions, environmental details, or NPC dialogues, culminates in a personal understanding of the narrative, one that resonates uniquely with each player.
Miyazaki further highlights the innate satisfaction of piecing together the narrative puzzle. The “Ah-ha!” moments, where connections become clear and the fragmented story comes together, offer a distinct sense of accomplishment and reward. This process of discovery, driven by exploration and deduction, becomes an integral part of the overall gameplay experience.
Elden Ring‘s fragmented storytelling might seem unconventional at first glance, but the intention becomes clear when viewed through Miyazaki’s lens. The focus shifts from passively consuming a predetermined narrative to actively engaging with the game’s world, forging a unique connection tothe story and its characters.
“If I am allowed, I want to try”: It May Not Be Elden Ring 2, but Soulslike Creator Hidetaka Miyazaki has his Eyes Set on a Future Filled with Games the Size of The Lands Between
This player-driven approach not only fosters deeper immersion but also creates a richer, more personal experience within the captivating world ofElden Ring.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Content Writer
Articles Published :247
A lifelong gamer, lover of cars, and Master’s student of Automotive Journalism, Viraaj Bhatnagar is a gaming writer at FandomWire who aims to be one of the greats. When he’s not hunched over on his laptop typing out copy, he can be found lapping circuits in Gran Turismo or slaying draugr in God of War.
