Summary
In their meticulous analysis of theElden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLCtrailer, fans have discovered multiple references to the renowned mangaBerserk. Whenever a new Soulsborne game is released, fans are always comparing it to characters fromBerserk, and theElden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLCis no exception.
Elden Ringis filled with a plethora of Easter Eggs, ranging from the return of the popular trickster Patches to nods toBloodborneandGame of Thrones. Though many of the homages are obvious, some references are so subtle that it takes players years to find them. In fact, quite recentlyFromSoftware revealed thatElden Ringhas another secretthat fans have yet to uncover. While theShadow of the Erdtree DLCtrailer was merely three minutes long, curious fans were quick to spot some interesting details within that as well. And unsurprisingly, FromSoftware’s work is being linked toBerserkonce again.
As spotted by Twitter user CloudyNot4Talk, there are four such references toBerserkhidden in theElden Ringtrailer. The first one is a female character spotted in the trailer, which is deemed to be inspired byBerserk’sQueen of Midland. While this one seems like a stretch, and the popular fan theory that she is simply ayounger version ofElden Ring’sRennala, Queen of the Full Moon, seems more probable, the other connections are much more obvious.
Easter eggs or Apophenia? Elden Ring Fans Debate Shadow of the Erdtree’s Berserk References
For instance, the burning giant seen in the trailer has some striking similarities to the Wicker Man. Likewise, players have drawn parallels between Miquella’s cocoon and Griffith, extrapolating that she could also end up being reborn from an egg and having an angelic appearance. Perhaps the most pivotal of them all is the inspiration forMessmer the Impalerhimself.
According to fans, Messmer closely resemblesBerserk’sGrunbeld, not just in his appearance, but also in terms of his attire. The similarities between Messmer and Grunbled extend beyond their red hair, with the snake figurine on their helmets further substantiating such claims. Moreover, he also has some sort of dragon wings behind him, which again can be linked to Grunbeld’s Great Flame Dragon persona.
While many fans are quite elated to find the references,especially the ones related to Miquella, others are of the opinion that the community is going a bit overboard with the comparisons. Surely, some of them might be directly inspired by the manga, but the notion that every character has aBerserkequivalent is something that is quite improbable.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
