Summary
It’s no secret that developer FromSoftware takes plenty of inspiration from Kentaro Miura’s iconic mangaBerserkbutthis recent discovery inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreemay just be one of the developer’s best hidden references.Miura’s dark fantasy story is a seminal piece of graphic novel fiction, establishing many tropes that have bled into the realm of video games, anime, and film sinceBerserk’s original publication in 1989. Guts' iconic Dragon Slayer sword has inspired many massive blades so having the protagonist himself appear in the game seems only fitting.
As discovered and shared by YouTuberZullie the Witch,the infamous Knight of the Solitary Gaol, one of the first optional bosses inShadow of the Erdtree, looks strikingly similar to Gutsunderneath his imposing helmet.
Using software to peel back the model’s layers,the creator exposed that the Knight bears many features often associated withBerserk’s leading character, including short, cropped hair, intense eyes, and even the scarrunning across his nose, albeit the game’s version is much larger. It’s an impressive detail given that the majority of players will likely never encounter the boss without the helmet.
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Elden Ring Is Littered With Berserk References
Paying Respect To One Of The Greats
It should hardly come as a surprise thatKnight of the Solitary Gaollooks so similar to Guts when even the boss’s armor looks very familiar. The black plating, cloak, sword, and belt may not be a perfect representation ofBerserk’s anti-hero but there are enough connecting factors that the homage eventually becomes obvious. Of course,the hidden Guts is just one of several major references toBerserkscattered throughElden Ring, many of which can easily be identified by fans.
Arguably the most notable nod toBerserkis Blaidd, an NPC that not only strikes Guts' most iconic pose but even bears many similarities to the character when he’s in his wolf-like armor. Malenia’s helmet is another example as it seemingly homages the appearance of Farnese’s Holy Iron Chain Knights Helmet in terms of the visor and angelic wings on the side.The most touching tribute to Miura’s work is undoubtedly the tribute to the creator himselfwhich can be found just outside Castle Morne.
Elden Ringis a massive game that’slittered with secretsbut knowing the sheer level of dedication that’s gone into hiding some of them just goes to show how much FromSoftware cares about its creations.The reference to Guts as a brutal warrior who stands out as one ofShadow of the Erdtree’s most challenging early encounters is no doubt fittinggivenBerserk’s brutal themes and battle-forged anti-hero. One can only imagine even more Easter eggs will likely be uncovered in the coming days.
