Elden Ring is an incredibly ambitious game. By converting the beloved “Soulsborne” gameplay into an open-world format, From Software has opened up the subgenre to a bigger audience than ever before. The resulting game is an immersive experience designed for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Everyone can appreciate the level of care and polish put into Elden Ring, but there are plenty of treats specifically designed for longtime fans of From Software’s work. From running gags and references to evolving gameplay mechanics, here’s our list of everything in Elden Ring that only fans of From Software’s previous games will notice.
9 Its Combat Borrows From Every Soulsborne Game
Combat is at the center of every Soulsborne title, and Elden Ring is no exception. At first glance, the game’s combat system will immediately invoke memories of the Dark Souls trilogy. The game is truly a spiritual successor to that series specifically, and its attacks, parries, and dodge rolls will undoubtedly take fans down memory lane.
It’s not until you dig beneath Elden Ring’s surface that you notice how much it takes from the gameplay of FromSoft’s other titles. Specifically, the game’s new jumping attacks leave enemies vulnerable to front-facing takedowns that are similar to Bloodborne’s visceral attacks Simply pound away at your enemy until they’re forced to drop their guard and deliver a critical attack.
8 Familiar Fog Serves A New Purpose
Fog has been a staple of From Software’s games since the days of Demon’s Souls, marking gateways to new areas and, more often than not, rooms containing boss encounters. Elden Ring doesn’t entirely do away with this tradition, with golden fog indicating that a powerful area boss is waiting on the other side.
The game adds a new wrinkle to the formula, however, with rooms that contain important or valuable items locked behind a familiar gray fog. These areas can only be accessed by using one of the game’s consumable Stonesword Keys.
7 Enemies Have Recognizable Attacks
As you journey across Elden Ring’s sizable map, you’ll come across a few enemies who may seem surprisingly familiar to you. While character models and aesthetics have changed, many enemies still use abilities, attacks, and movements that evoke past From Software games.
Having a scripted invader strike you down with the same finishing blow you’ve used hundreds of times in prior titles stings just a little more.
6 Some Weapons Return From Dark Souls Games
Eagle-eyed players will definitely notice a few familiar weapons in Elden Ring. General weapons such as the Claymore and Straight Sword share a common design with their respective Dark Souls counterparts, although a weapon's moves and attack patterns may vary between titles. Still, there’s no mistaking these iconic weapon designs.
The game takes things even further, though, with special arms like the iconic Zwiehander and even Soulsborne staple the Moonlight Greatsword making return appearances (albeit under different names in some cases). It seems that some blades are just meant for battle, no matter where it takes place.
5 A Familiar Character Shows Up
One character fans were eager to spot in Elden ring was Patches, the mischievous troublemaker who’s made a habit of popping up in FromSoft titles. Patches has been present in nearly every title worked on by From Software mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Many fans don’t realize that the untrustworthy con artist’s first appearance was not Demon’s Souls, instead debuting in Armored Core: For Answer, but Patches is most well known as a mainstay of various Soulsborne titles. Fans who know to look out for this familiar face in Elden Ring will find themselves pleasantly surprised.
4 The Game Continues The Trend Of Berserk References
As FromSoft fans who are particularly in the know will tell you, the developer’s games draw heavily from the world of Berserk. Throughout the history of the Dark Souls franchise in particular, various enemies and weapons have been inspired by or even essentially lifted from the classic manga.
Elden Ring takes these references and homages a step further than even past games have, likely due to the untimely death of the manga’s author, Kentaro Miura. For starters, the gigantic glowing Erdtree present in Elden Ring’s world takes inspiration from Berserk’s World Spiral Tree. There are also characters, both friendly and hostile, designed around individuals present in the manga. And if you’ve noticed that the game’s Greatsword doesn’t borrow its design from previous games like other weapons, it’s because the blade is modeled after The Dragon Slayer, the main weapon of Berserk’s main character, Guts.
3 Some Stats Work Differently
Your character’s stats are one of the most important elements of a From Software title, with your main source of currency in each Soulsborne game being used primarily to level your character up, one stat at a time. Elden Ring continues this tradition but makes some adjustments to the way your stats work.
If you’re familiar with previous games’ systems, you’ll quickly notice some of these adjustments, like the fact that your Strength stat now encompasses your equipment load, or that Arcane now takes the place of Luck.
2 Treasure Chest Traps Have Evolved
One of the most infamous elements of past FromSoft titles has been the presence of treasure chests that turn out to be horrible traps. In older games like the Dark Souls trilogy, these treasure chests turn out to be horrific creatures called mimics who stand on enormous legs, the opening of the chest serving as its wide, snarling mouth.
Elden Ring sees the return of deceptive treasure chests, but with an interesting twist. Now, instead of morphing into terrifying mimics, these chests instantly warp you to a distant and dangerous area of the map. You’re tasked with finding at least one of the game’s resting points, called sites of grace, before you can escape the location.
1 NPCs Have Moving Mouths
This one will seem minor to those who are playing a Soulsborne title for the first time, and may even slip by those who started off with later titles, like the PS5’s Demon’s Souls remake. For anyone with a storied history of the developer’s titles, however, the fact that characters now have mouths that actually move when they speak is somewhat significant.
For a time, the static facial expressions of non-playable characters were a charming staple of FromSoft games, but it’s nice to see that times are finally changing.