Summary
Naturally, when a significant amount of hard work goes into a project, it deserves to be showcased properly. A company like FromSoftware, known for creating games that transcend standard mechanics, gameplay, and graphics, is bound to have intense, almost theatrical, reveals for their projects.
The remarkable aspect of FromSoftware’s reveals is that, regardless of the scale of said release — whether it’s a DLC or a simple announcement — the effort they invest in even the smallest trailers elevates their marketing to an unparalleled level. Their trailers are as meticulously crafted and impactful as the mechanics of its games, reflecting the absolute unit theFromSoftware series and games are and the superior productionquality of their products — in other words, everything released by FromSoftware is hardcore to the max.
Following the success ofDemon’s Souls, expectations were high for FromSoftware’s upcoming games. When the spiritual successor toDemon’s Souls,Dark Souls, was announced, the world lost its wits trying to predict what the future held for the game. Given the immense, historical success ofDark Souls— it was, after all, the reason “Soulslike” games became a genre in the first place — it’s clear that FromSoftware achieved major success with its release.
The potential future success ofDark Soulswas evident from its well-crafted, hyped, and adrenaline-inducing trailer. It starts by showing glimpses of the Kingdom of Lordran and the Undead player character. The trailer features multiple NPCs and enemies, accompanied by a haunting melody that builds up slowly as the scenes progress. Some major bosses, including Gravelord Nito and Chaos Witch Quelaag, are also showcased. The trailer moves back and forth between showcasing a bit of gameplay (without going overboard) and introducing some of the lore. Thegritty, dark, almost horror-like ambianceof the trailer gives the game a “darkerDemon’s Souls” vibe.
Because FromSoftware is known for its Soulslike genre and games with an intense dark fantasy ambiance (courtesy ofDark Souls), their relatively less appreciated mecha series,Armored Core, has been in the shadows for some time. Having said that, even the less popular FromSoftware games enjoy considerable popularity and acclaim worldwide compared to other similar titles. The fact thatArmored Corehas six installments attests to this.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, with a name as powerful as that, was already set to receive a great reception fromArmored Corefans. The reveal trailer showcased exactly what was in store without over-revealing itself. The trailer’s otherworldly orchestra andextremely realistic, almost unsettling graphicsmade the experience even more exciting. The initial showcasing of the Fires of Ibis and the subsequent combat sequence by the Armored Cores evoke a feeling of hype unmatched by anything else.
For a company known for consistently creating mega-hits, having a game that missed the mark was unexpected. With its notorious difficulty and wonky physics,Dark Souls 2wasn’t exactly FromSoftware’s most beloved work. That’s not to say it didn’t have its moments — in true Soulsborne fashion, it was as dark, creepy, and hardcore as the rest of the series, even if it wasn’t the fan favorite. The hype leading up to its release was pretty evident from what was featured in theDark Souls 2trailer.
In fact, theDark Souls 2announcement trailer was one of the most immersive cinematic experiences to come out of the game. It begins with a gripping voiceover, offering a bird’s eye view of Drangleic, followed by a sneak peek of the player character wielding their sword. The Undead character navigates impossible terrains, accompanied by a hypnotically mystical melody that slowly gains momentum, becoming almost scary as the scene cuts. Notable NPCs like Emerald Herald, enemies like the Masked Manikin in their original designs, andpotential dragon bosses appear throughoutthe video. While it’s unfortunate that the masked men in the trailer didn’t exactly make it into the final game, the trailer itself remains a cinematic masterpiece.
For a game that won the Best Game Award of 2019, one would think thatSekirogarnered just as much global buzz as, say,Elden Ring. Surprisingly, compared to other FromSoftware games,Sekiroinitially didn’t get as much attention from fans as was anticipated. But, a game doesn’t get to win GOTY for being unpopular.Sekiroeventually gained cosmic-level hype from the industry, and it solidified its place as not only one of the best games to emerge from FromSoftware but also as a masterpiece in gaming history.
Sekiro’s reveal trailer, which was first released in 2018, showed fans a completely different side of FromSoftware and Miyazaki. A studio that quite literally created its own genre was now shifting to something different, something much more “acceptable.” Sekiro stands out for being not a Souls game, but a distinctly prominent shinobi game set in a fictionalized version of an era in history. The trailer showcases exactly that —a fictionalized Japan in the Sengoku Period. It shows a visible shift in the overall aura and mechanics of the game as compared to FromSoft’s previous works. The gameplay initially feels borderline realistic and “normal” with its human-like enemies and combat — until encounters with apes and massive serpents start.
FromSoftware has explored nearly every type ofdark, gothic, and fantastical genrein their games. Each title has something unique that sets it apart from others and makes it its own loved entity. Among their greatest and most critically acclaimed works,Bloodbornestands out as that one Soulsborne game that takes every dark and gritty element FromSoftware has ever delved into and makes it even darker, Lovecraftian style — again, it’s a game that essentially defines the Soulsborne genre.
Bloodborne’s trailer, just like the game itself, was deemed one of the best reveal trailers of the time. With how meticulously the entire thing was created, it took the anticipation level of the game to astronomical heights. The trailer gave fans just enough of the content that was about to come, without giving off absolutely anything about the premise. All that could be made out of it was that it was set in a fantasy, goth, run-down Victorian town with a ghoul problem. Only those who’ve playedBloodborneknow the true horrors that await.
With the legacy the Souls series had created, there were a lot of expectations riding onDark Souls 3. With Miyazaki coming back to direct it, unlikeDark Souls 2, fans were pretty sure it was going to hit the spot perfectly. Naturally,Dark Souls 3ended up being a worthy conclusion to the franchise.
There’s a striking difference in howDark Souls 3was announced versus how it was launched. The announcement trailer, much likeBloodborne’s, revealed few critical plot points or lore details, focusing instead on building the game’s atmosphere — which it did very successfully. Accompaniedby a medieval-esque tune, the trailer begins with an aerial view of the map, possibly the Ringed City, followed by a shot of several Pilgrims from Londor walking. It features several prominent characters from the game, including the Fire Keeper, and a very dramatic shot of Yhorm the Giant.
WithShadow of the Erdtreein full swing,Elden Ringjust can’t seem to catch a break from both Souls fans and non-Souls fans alike. Understandably so, considering how FromSoftware marketed this masterpiece as their magnum opus. Again, for a company that’s been releasing success after success, and masterpiece after masterpiece,Elden Ringwas bound to do good in the market. However, with how universal FromSoft made Elden Ring — by picking and incorporating certain elements from almost all their previous games — the eventual traction it gained exceeded expectations. Adding to that, George R. R. Martin’s involvement in writing the story for the game simply attracted a much broader, global audience that extended beyond just gamers.
FromSoftware has mastered the art of showing absolutely nothing in its trailers while still generating an unmatched, blood-pumping, commotion. TheElden Ringannouncement trailer is a perfect example of this. The voiceover, followed by what appears to be the creation or destruction of theElden Ring, and thevarious characters featured, come together to form one of the most hardcore trailers in the current gaming world. Let’s not forget the ending monologue: “Elden Ring, oh, Elden Ring.”
