Unleashing a New Era of Elden Ring DLC with this Bloodborne Boss-Inspired Idea

FromSoftware's games are well-known for their challenging gameplay and the terrifying enemies players must face. The Soulsborne series, in particular, features designs that inspire fear through pure intimidation or revulsion. However, Bloodborne stands out for its truly mortifying foes, ranging from the Brainsuckers to the unfathomable boss, The One Reborn. With its Lovecraftian inspiration, many argue that Bloodborne feels more like a horror game than an action RPG.

Elden Ring continues this tradition, featuring eldritch bosses like Astel that are sure to test players' skills. While it may not have the same number of terror-inducing entities as Bloodborne, the game's DLC presents an opportunity to explore a potential fantasy-horror theme. Perhaps it could take inspiration from one of Bloodborne's most infamous enemies, further immersing players in a terrifying and unforgettable experience.

Winter Lanterns Are An Unknowable Horror

The Winter Lanterns in Bloodborne are a truly alarming adversary, defying easy description due to their grotesque and otherworldly appearance. Their spindly, almost human-like bodies are topped with heads resembling oversized brains, complete with bulging eyes in unexpected places and writhing tentacles that dangle menacingly below. In terms of sheer design, these creatures represent the very essence of Bloodborne's Lovecraftian horror, inspiring a sense of dread and revulsion that is difficult to put into words.

However, it is when one experiences the Winter Lanterns' abilities firsthand that their true horror becomes apparent. Upon gaining sufficient insight, a stat that represents the player's growing understanding of the game's universe, the Lanterns begin to sing an eerie, off-key song, announcing their presence with unsettling glee. But it is their ability to inflict Frenzy on their foes that truly sets them apart, making them a formidable foe despite their limited range of attacks.

Being inflicted with Frenzy in the game can prove to be fatal as it not only takes a significant amount of health from the players but also continues to build up even after the attacker is defeated. This makes it even more dangerous, especially when players have to engage in close combat with their enemies. If players don't have any means to resist or cure it, they are likely to suffer from one of the worst ailments in the game when near Winter Lanterns.

To make Elden Ring even more terrifying, the game could take inspiration from Bloodborne and introduce enemies as horrifying as the Winter Lanterns in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Although details about the DLC are scarce, it presents an opportunity to explore the most terrifying aspects of Elden Ring's universe. Grafting, a concept that fuses body horror and magic, has already been introduced in specific areas of the game, but there is potential to further delve into the unsettling concepts in Elden Ring's world, whether it leans towards the eldritch side or not.

In Elden Ring, while there may not be an exact equivalent to Frenzy, there is still potential for enemy designs that elicit a sense of terror from players. The goal would be to create creatures that are so unsettling that even when witnessed, they defy description. The Winter Lantern in Bloodborne is a prime example of this concept, as its actions and appearance make it memorable and horrifying to fight against. In the absence of Frenzy in Elden Ring, FromSoftware can still create new abominations that are difficult to comprehend visually, but also have a unique gimmick that adds to their overall sense of horror and unease. By doing so, the game can offer players a completely new experience that is both challenging and terrifying.

Elden Ring is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.