Fans of Dark Souls and Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be delighted to see this custom Animal Crossing Summoning Sign design in the style of FromSoftware's iconic game. The creation joins the ranks of other recent clever Animal Crossing designs, like a literal rock concert someone whipped up in the game.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the Dark Souls series are just about as different as two games can be. Where Animal Crossing centers around robust customization options and relaxing, repetitive gameplay mechanics, Dark Souls features punishing, methodical combat and a bleak, eerie tone. One of the many instantly recognizable features of the Dark Souls games is its Summoning Signs, which are in-game insignias that players can leave behind for other people playing the game. When another player comes across one of these signs, they can activate it to bring the first player's avatar into their game to help with difficult combat scenarios. This is a major factor of the multiplayer in the game, along with the messages and bloodstains which FromSoftware is re-working for the upcoming Elden Ring.
While Animal Crossing: New Horizons might not feature the same heart-pounding gameplay as Dark Souls, a fan of both games was nevertheless able to create some custom crossover content. The fan, going by the handle vgoss8 on Reddit, recently shared an image of their version of Dark Souls' Summoning Signs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The screenshot shows an assortment of mysterious-looking glyphs that make up the referential design. The player character can also be seen posing with an axe in a manner very suitable for a Dark Souls reference.
"My summon sign is down." And here's what it looks like. Pretty proud of it. (Dark Souls) from AnimalCrossing
The sign in Animal Crossing: New Horizons will, of course, not function as it does in the Dark Souls games. The design is purely cosmetic and functions mainly as a cute homage to the beloved action RPG franchise. This melding of iconography may remind some gamers of the popular Animal Crossing and DOOM crossovers, which celebrated the two very different games' coincidental releases via things like cosplays, mods, and fan art.
Along with being a fun treat for fans of Dark Souls, this personalized creation is yet another testament to how flexible, complex, and user-friendly the customization tools are in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, as it looks nearly identical to the Summoning Signs in the original Dark Souls. It is through the game's customization options that players like vgoss8 can construct such unique and precise creations. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is still very popular, so fans are sure to be treated to more player-created designs in the future.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is currently available on the Nintendo Switch.
Source: vgoss8/Reddit