The processing power of many older consoles were very simple, especially compared to modern hardware. Thus those classics we love were catered to run specifically on these simpler hardware.
The older games which compensated their lack of depth with overwhelming difficulty (looking at you Castlevania) were what dominated the field in the 80’s-90’s. The levels and scores people sought after in these difficult games formed a community, almost a culture around arcade games that saw people fostering connections and building a social presence.
Because of how modern games are meant to be catered a specific way for different players, be it difficulty options or matchmaking, the sense of a singular challenge that players can bond over is slowly losing its ground. I believe the community birthed from FromSoftware’s “souls” formula is the welcome reminder of arcade culture that started it all.
Don’t get me wrong, if it feels like the narrative structure outweighs the gameplay design, I would find myself selecting the easy mode as well. In the end though, I would feel like I am almost under utilizing the medium of video games.
Looking back at an older title, Donkey Kong for example, had no difficulty options provided. Back when getting the high score on that certain cabinet was all that mattered to gamers, it would take the player time for them to conquer the challenge.
Elden Ring, and the other “souls” games, are similar to this in the way that they require the players to exert themselves on a challenge that is universally similar. Everyone wins against the same boss, and everyone gets through the same hurdle of enemies.
Without providing an easier mode to prioritize the story, the Souls series seems to surround itself with a thriving community around it with every installment because of the shared experiences every player has. An example of this can be seen in the first few hours of Elden Ring.
When finally setting foot in the open world of the Lands Between, you are pointed in a direction that leads towards a fairly strong enemy known as the Tree Sentinel, a powerful knight working under the Golden Order. Given he is the only enemy that sticks out in the first open field you come across, it would be assumed that that would be your first victim.
After several painful deaths do you realize, you may be a bit under leveled. This is a common occurrence with almost everyone who picked up Elden Ring and went in blind. Ask anyone who’s played it and they will tell you about their own experience with the Tree Sentinel, or maybe their first experience in Cailid, or their encounter with the one knight who you are locked in with in Stormveil Castle.
The similarity of experiences these players have, form the community reminiscent of the arcade days. The sense of community isn’t just provided with the difficulty however, but with other mechanics provided in the game.
Difficulty was not the only thread that sowed the Arcade culture together, but the people around it as well. The older siblings, game geeks, and published magazines would exist in this community to provide a sense of guidance for other players when stuck in a certain location or puzzle.
Maybe the guy who scored the highest in the Pac-Man cabinet can tell you about a couple exploits you can do, or maybe a magazine can point you to the next dungeon in The Legend of Zelda (1986). The other thing that makes a community or culture so endearing is the people in it who provide the help that a lot of other players may need.
A staple mechanic in FromSoftware’s souls franchise is the ability to leave messages during your journey. A player would be given an in-game item that can be used to mark writings on the ground, with words provided from a template. These messages can offer advice, warnings, or encouragement, creating a network of support that mirrors the camaraderie among gamers akin to the older days, when all you had to rely on in tight spots were other people.
By prioritizing a singular, demanding experience, FromSoftware has revived the spirit of arcade gaming culture, where difficulty, shared achievement, and communal support define the player experience.
As gaming continues to evolve, The community and culture found in the games we play reminds us of the roots from which the video game landscape first sprouted.
Featured Image: Bandai Namco Entertainment
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