Summary
Despite being in the games industry for almost three decades,FromSoftwarehas only risen to its lofty heights in the last decade or so, and it’s all thanks to the release of a little game calledDark Souls. Though FromSoftware made a splash back in1994 withKing’s Field, had a few solid PS2 launch games, and itsArmored Coreseries is very popular, it wasDemon’s Soulsand the subsequentDark Soulsseries that really brought worldwide fame and acclaim to the Japanese developer.
Launching in 2011, the firstDark Soulstook the punishing yet fair gameplay of its predecessor and refined it into a near-perfect action-RPG experience. After an initial wave of critical buzz,Dark Soulsbegan getting a greater audience, and by the time FromSoftware was wrapping up the series withDark Souls 3back in 2016, it had became one of the most renowned action-RPG developers in the market - something that’s only become more true with the release oflast year’sElden Ring. But while theDarkSoulsgames are all great experiences, it’s actually FromSoftware’sSoulsoutliers that are often considered the developer’s best outings.
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FromSoftware’s Best Received Games Are Those a Little Different From the Norm
It really can’t be overstated just how excellent the firstDark Soulsis, and how influential it was at the time. Though casual audiences took a while to get on board with the franchise,Dark Soulsquickly gained an avid fan-base, and that fan-base would only continue to grow with each new FromSoftware entry. By the timeDark Souls 3released in 2016, the series had birthed a whole new genre ofcopycat games dubbed Soulslikes. The birth of a new video game genre is extremely rare nowadays, and it’s only the most influential, acclaimed series that manage such an impressive feat, withDark Soulsbeing one such series.
That being said, while everyDark Soulsentry is considered a masterpiece, the best received FromSoftwareSoulstitles have actually been the two entries that aren’t a part of that core series,BloodborneandSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Though they both certainly belong to FromSoftware’s own Soulslike series - often dubbed Soulsborne - they both stand out for a slew of different reasons, and in standing out, both games have become some of FromSoftware’s best-reviewed, most beloved titles.
Releasing in 2015,Bloodbornecame out in betweenDark Souls 2andDark Souls 3, and ironically that put it in the best position imaginable. While coming in between two entries of FromSoftware’s flagship series would normally be a death sentence, this actually letBloodborneshine even brighter, with its own unique traits setting it apart in the best way. With a more aggressive combat system, a unique Lovecraftian setting and aesthetic, and more of an emphasis on cosmic horror,Bloodbornetook the usualSoulsformula and tweaked it to perfection, creating an entry that’s still widely considered to be one of FromSoftware’s best games, even in light ofElden Ring.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicehas a similar story. Launching in 2019,Sekirowas the firstFromSoftwaregame since the end of theDark Soulstrilogy, and fan expectations were extremely high. Rather than deliver the same formula yet again,FromSoftwaremade the best decision possible, pivotingSekiro’s gameplay to something familiar but entirely new. Overhauled combat, a stronger emphasis on story, and some of the most engaging boss battles in gaming -Sekirowas exactly what fans needed at the time, and its unique gameplay still holds up just as well four years later.
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