FromSoftware should learn a lesson from the Elden Ring torrent

While there will be many things to learn from Elden Ring As FromSoftware's first attempt at blending open-world and Soulslike designs, a key lesson has to come from Torrent and its approach to world navigation. Unlike FromSoftware's previous Soulslike games, Elden Ring broke the mold in many ways with an open-world design and a Spectral Steed mount among the most obvious examples.

Even with rumors that FromSoftware's next game will move away from open worlds and return to a traditional linear design, there is still the likelihood that future development will return to this world design due to its importance in gaming. With this in mind, Elden Ring it's a test case for FromSoftware on what worked and what didn't work for a Souls-like open world, particularly as it pertains to Torrent. After all, since Soulslikes is infamous for difficult but rewarding gameplay, an in-game mount for navigating the open world must ensure that it balances well with the rest of the game and its mechanics.

Breaking down how the Elden Ring torrent works and doesn't work in a Soulslike

As a core design philosophy in Soulslike games, essential mechanics are attributed to the game's key objects, such as how players recover health using the Estus Flask from Dark souls series or the healing pumpkin in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. By extension, Elden Ring took a similar approach with its Spectral Steed Whistle item that players need to summon Torrent. If players want to promptly summon Torrent without entering their inventory, the whistle can be assigned to item slots such as those in their Bag.

Elden Ring predicted how the torrent would affect Souls-like gameplay

Based on this approach, it seems that FromSoftware is aware of how much Elden RingThe in-game hype pushes the boundaries when it comes to previous ideas and designs in Soulslike games. For example, players could use Torrent to their advantage, such as by facing larger or faster enemies, or by escaping from fights that are too difficult or when they are low on health. Requiring players to relegate an item slot for the boo is a step FromSoftware took to balance Torrent with traditional Soulslike gameplay.

Elden Ring drops the ball on Torrent's restart

However, while other features, such as allowing players to only use one hand at a time while driving, go beyond balance Elden RingTorrent's mounted combat, player-independent health is where FromSoftware's next open-world game could learn its lesson. Although I am treating Torrent Elden Ring not the biggest problem, problems arise when Torrent is killed and requires reanimation to be summoned again. This can be done by using the whistle and spending one of the Crimson Vial of Tears' charges, but a game-breaking dive-breaking message forces players to confirm this.

FromSoftware's next open-world game should learn from the Elden Ring torrent

While it seems like a small detail, imposing this suggestion on players was enough to cause internal frustration Elden Ringalso leading to mods that restore Torrent by default or social media memes like the one below.

Here, the mods outline a lesson FromSoftware could learn from Elden Ring's Torrent, allowing players to disable hints via game options. Alternatively, to prevent players from wasting Flash of Crimson Tears charges, FromSoftware's next Soulslike game could include an update to the next game's whistle replacement, similar to the Estus Flask updates, where players can optionally remove any costs or instructions and immediately revive your mount. .