Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Anyone who’s played FromSoftware’s challenging action-RPGs knows the importance of the equipment you carry. TheDark Soulsgames had rings, which gave players stat boosts and special effects.
However, the decorated studio’s 2022 masterpiece,Elden Ring, takes things in a different direction with anew item type: talismans. Why would they move away from a system that everyone was used to for several years? Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki explains the decision in an interview withEdgemagazine.
Rings Are Now Essential ToElden Ring‘s Lore, Predictably
Hidetaka Miyazakiacknowledged that rings were used a lot in FromSoftware’s older games, especiallyDark Souls:
We explored rings as equippable items a lot in our previous games – Dark Souls, particularly – and so talismans this time allowed us to approach those ideas in a different way, with a greater variety of designs.
“There were several indirect examples”: Even Hidetaka Miyazaki Knows His Toughest Soulslike Played A Huge Hand In Creating Elden Ring
Instead of sticking with the same old formula, the team wanted to expand upon the concept of the rings (in typical FromSoftware fashion), and talismans seemed to be their best bet. However, that doesn’t mean rings are completely absent.
“Of course, rings do exist as physical ‘finger rings’ in this game, but more as unique items that are involved in the story and unique character events,” said Miyazaki. The use of rings asunique loredevices almost feels like Miyazaki’s attempt at a pun on the game’s name itself, and if it is, props to him.
Talismans Were Chosen For Greater Design Versatility
Recent games likeGod of Warhave also featured the use of talismans, butElden Ringutilizes them differently. UnlikeGod of War,Elden Ring‘s talismans can’t be upgraded, but stronger versions of the same talisman can be found, which have a (+1) at the end of their name. The number scales with the talisman’s power.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Faced “Two major challenges” With Elden Ring He Never Had To Deal With In Dark Souls And Bloodborne
Other than that, their core functionality is near-identical to rings. Miyazaki’s “more variety in design” statement holds true, though, because talismans don’t have to be confined to a circular shape, which allows for some very pretty looking specimens, like thePrimal Glintstone Blade.
If you find yourself wondering if this change was made due to the heightened importance of rings, you wouldn’t be wrong, as Miyazaki says, “We wanted them to have a special positioning within the world of Elden Ring and also to be something different from a design standpoint in relation to the talismans.“
While somediehard Souls fansmay protest this change, it doesn’t really matter much at the end of the day. Talismans do exactly the same job as rings, with the added perk of looking much better. You’d really have to be a purist to nitpick a minor change like this, but some unfortunately still do.
“That’s how we hope our players can experience the game”: Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Request For Elden Ring Players Rings Truer As Shadow of the Erdtree Approaches
Do you prefer the diverse aesthetics of talismans, or are you more of a ring person? Let us know in the comments!
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Content Writer
Articles Published :247
A lifelong gamer, lover of cars, and Master’s student of Automotive Journalism, Viraaj Bhatnagar is a gaming writer at FandomWire who aims to be one of the greats. When he’s not hunched over on his laptop typing out copy, he can be found lapping circuits in Gran Turismo or slaying draugr in God of War.
More from Viraaj Bhatnagar
With No Bloodborne PC Release, Game Pass Owners Wait for DLC Release of the Game That Comes Closest to the Sony Exclusive
“Type of armor dictates quite heavily what weapons they can use”: Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2’s Greatest Feature May Not Even be the 6v6 PVP Battles
“Every single mode is multiplayer”: Fans Wanting to Play Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Solo Have No Need to Worry, Confirms Creative Director
Recommended
Gen V Season 2: Total Episodes and Finale Date Revealed
We Were Liars Season 1 Ending Explained: Who Does Cadence Accidentally Kill?
Seth Rogen Had to Apologize for Comparing Clint Eastwood’s Biggest Movie to Inglourious Basterds
New ‘Harry Potter’ BTS Image Reveals Nick Frost’s Shockingly Perfect Look as Hagrid
Upload Season 4: How Many Episodes Will the Final Season Have?
Japan’s 10 Most-Watched Anime of 2025: Naruto Not Even in Top 5
Elden RingFromSoftwareHidetaka Miyazaki
