Elden Ring’s Director Had The Best Response Ever To Players Who Think His Games Are Too Difficult

March 3, 2022 Papa Dom

I’ve had just about enough of the Elden Ring takes, alright? Enough.

I’m new to this style of game. Elden Ring is my first-ever From Software title. Sure, I’ve played Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on Grandmaster, but I’m sure most fans of the “SoulsBorne” genre would even consider that to be baby’s first Souls game. Nevertheless, I understand that the games are hard. And so does genre pioneer and creator Hidetaka Miyazaki.

In a new interview with the New Yorker, Miyazaki seems to understand if some players are frustrated with his games… But he seems to sincerely put some heart behind the pain.

I do feel apologetic toward anyone who feels there’s just too much to overcome in my games. I just want as many players as possible to experience the joy that comes from overcoming hardship.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Sees Death as a Feature, Not a Bug, The New Yorker

I mean that’s just the most beautiful quote I’ve ever seen in my fucking life. Listen, I can’t claim to be a lifelong, battle-hardened veteran of the Souls series. As a matter of fact, the first time I played Demon’s Souls for PS3 back when I worked at GameStop I returned it within three hours. But I’ve had just about enough of the takes on both sides of the table about whether the game is too difficult, if it needs an easy mode, if too many people are telling others the “right” way to play the game, if anybody’s even listening to anybody else at all… I’ve had enough.

The fact of the matter is this. You’re not putting cover-based shooting mechanics in Farm Simulator 2021. You’re not putting weapon crafting tables in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. You’re not putting an easy mode in a series whose hallmark is unforgiving, will-crushing challenges. It just shouldn’t happen.

Options are great, accessibility is even better (and that’s a whole other conversation by the way and should be a first-thought thing in every game’s development), but let’s not shoehorn in a mode that makes a game something that it shouldn’t be just because you aren’t seeing enough engagement on your Twitter takes this month. Aight?