After releasing numerous iconic titles like Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and of course the Dark Souls series in recent years, one would assume that FromSoftware's legacy would be largely dependent on these titles. As it turns out, the developer made moves as early as the 90s with another series called King’s Field. The King’s Field games would go on to lay the groundwork for what became Demon Souls and Dark Souls. Most fans of FromSoftware’s titles may be utterly unaware of the developer’s roots, and how they are still relevant to this day.
A construction set called Sword of Moonlight was released by FromSoftware 22 years ago that gives players access to tools that allow them to create using the same engine as King's Field. This idea would become more popular in later years with other games centered around the idea, like Little Big Planet and Super Mario Maker, where players would produce levels for others to experience. One dedicated fan/creator named Thomas Eversole used the making tool like many before him to create an entirely new game. According to PCGamer, it took Eversole six months to bypass the limitations of Sword of Moonlight and make a game of his own.
Two decades after King’s Field was released, it would see multiple spiritual successors or prequels that would help fill in the dots for the original’s story and timeline. Some creators would pay homage to the originals for a portion of their game, then they would flip the script and bring players to an area that would be slightly familiar but, at the same time, completely different from anything they played in King’s Field. Some creators would even include FMV introductions in their games to really set the mood for the experience they’ve tailored. Other creators would steer away from the traditions of the Souls series and King’s Field, with one creating more of a puzzle game filled with various challenges for players to solve.
FromSoftware's Tool Kit The Sword Of Moonlight Now Has VR Support
There’s a plethora of extraordinary games out there waiting for players to explore to scratch that trademark FromSoftware itch. Those who are drawn to more simplistic visual styles and get a sense of nostalgia for low poly PS1 titles will discover a gold mine with games made through Sword of Moonlight. All the fan games made through the toolset are set in first person just like the King’s Field series; there’s no shield button or rolling in the game whatsoever. Players instead need to adapt to strafing enemies and avoiding their attacks, counterattacking when safe. The first-person view helps immerse the player into the world they're venturing in, and to the surprise of many, there are zero loading screens beside the initial bootup into the game, making everything seamless.
With the difficulty of the games FromSoftware has created over the years, it makes sense that its fans would be some of the most dedicated. Sword of Moonlight isn’t very user-friendly by today’s standards and learning it can be an extremely difficult task, but that’s never deterred players before. Fans have added VR support, jumping, and other quality-of-life changes to a tool most players have never heard about. Most fans may recognize that the Sword of Moonlight (aka the Moonlight Great sword) has been a trademark weapon that has made appearances in nearly every game the developer has released. It’s nice to see that FromSoftware’s King’s Field and the legacy of its creation tool will live on for years to come, and for creatives, the tool could be the gateway to a career in game development.
Source: PCGamer