Summary
FromSoftwareis arguably the most prestigious AAA games studio in operation right now. Though not everyone is in love withthe challenge of series likeDark Souls, most are at least able to appreciate the bold creative vision they display, which feels so starkly distinct from the too-often cookie-cutter, market-tested, and bland nature of so many other high-profile releases.
While this reputation for inventive game design and originality was solidified byFromSoftware’s Miyazaki-led games, specificallyDemon’s Soulsand those succeeding it, the company has been active for longer than many players might realize. Founded in the mid-eighties, FromSoftware started producing video games in 1994 withKing’s Field, a title that would be an early seed for what gaming audiences now know as the Souls-like genre. In the fifteen years between the release of the firstKing’s FieldandDemon’s Souls, FromSoftware would release a number of intelligent and strange, albeit rough-around-the-edges, games, and these should be honored in some way, pulled into the mainstream in a celebration of the company’s heritage.
Why a FromSoftware ‘Legacy Collection’ Would Be a Good Decision
Series Like King’s Field and Armored Core Should Be Introduced to Modern Audiences
Although it doesn’t look likeKing’s Fieldwill ever return in earnest, its influence can certainly be felt. Born out of the 1990s trend of first-person dungeon-crawlers,King’s Fieldimplements a number of game mechanics that would be carried into future FromSoftware games, like an unforgiving stamina meter and non-linear exploration. Other stylistic choices, such as a focus on dark medieval fantasy, would also be reprised in future FromSoftware projects.
With 2024 being the 30-year anniversary ofKing’s Field, FromSoftware’s first game, the announcement of some sort of re-release would be particularly fitting.
King’s Fieldwould inspire a number of modern games, but it also spawned several immediate spin-offs by FromSoftware, many of which achieved cult classic status not long after their release. Games likeEternal RingandShadow Tower Abyssplay with the first-person RPG formula established by the firstKing’s Field, introducing new, sometimes absurd, ideas, like firearms in a high-fantasy setting. For many, these games are toKing’s FieldwhatBloodborneis toDark Souls: they aren’t technically part of the same series, but they are spiritually linked, so it would behoove FromSoftware to include them in anyKing’s Fieldre-release bundle.
Of course,King’s Fieldis far from the only notable pre-Souls franchise to come out of the FromSoftware workshop.Armored Corehas a bright future ahead of it, but it also has a rich history, which is often overlooked by gamers only getting into FromSoftware’s oeuvre following the release ofDemon’s SoulsorDark Souls. Seen by many as the quintessential mech series of its era,earlyArmored Coregames were ahead of their time in many ways, with deep customization systems and gameplay that surpassed their contemporaries. Given the success of last year’sArmored Core 6, it seems only natural to bring the series' dense legacy to the forefront.
What a FromSoftware Legacy Collection Could Look Like
There are no doubt countless FromSoftware fans, both old and new, who would be interested in seeing the studio’s older games released on modern hardware, preferably as one package, similar to therecentMetal Gear Solid: Master Collection. However, FromSoftware has made an almost overwhelming amount of games, and it’s unlikely that there’s significant demand for more critically panned titles likeNinja Blade, or the more ridiculous ones, such asMetal Wolf Chaos, so these might not make the cut.
This disparity in quality and cultural cache between games, combined with potential licensing and ownership issues, means that a theoreticalFromSoftware: Legacy Collectionmay only includeKing’s Fieldand its inheritors, along with the olderArmored Coregames. But this would certainly still be a product worth having.
From Software
Based in Japan, FromSoftware is a development company best known for the Souls series and Armored Core franchise. Other popular games from From Software include Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and the King’s Field series.
