Dark Souls 2’s Hidden Legacy: Miyazaki’s Approval

In a recent interview, Miyazaki shared his views on the oft-ignored Dark Souls 2 in the Soulsborne universe, refuting the notion that deviating from his directorial influence is damaging its reputation. Devoted Dark Souls 2 enthusiasts, who have weathered disparagements over the years, may find solace in Miyazaki’s alignment with their sentiments.

Speaking with IGN about Dark Souls 2 and its thematic connection to Elden Ring, sharing an open-ended design philosophy, Miyazaki expressed pride in the game, accrediting it with shaping many subsequent FromSoft projects.

“I personally believe [Dark Souls 2] was a truly significant project for us.” “Without it, we wouldn’t have forged the connections and developed the ideas that propelled the entire series forward.”

This sentiment is difficult to dispute; even those critical of Dark Souls 2 acknowledge its influence evident in games like Sekiro and Elden Ring. As a steadfast defender of Dark Souls 2, it’s no surprise that Sekiro ranks as Miyazaki’s favorite among FromSoft’s creations.

Miyazaki also embraces the success of experimenting with directors beyond himself. Despite criticism faced by Dark Souls 2 directors Tomohiro Shibuya and Yui Tanimura, Miyazaki believes that entrusting a Soulsborne game to different hands brought “a different impetus and different ideas… that we otherwise might not have had.” He suggests a likelihood of delegating directorial responsibilities for other Souls-inspired games in the future.

While Miyazaki holds a warm regard for Dark Souls 2, acknowledging his supervisory role during its development, he hints at stepping away from such roles in the future. Expressing his preference for being a director rather than a supervisor, he notes his supervisory role on Dark Souls 2 as “one little area of regret,” emphasizing his inclination toward projects where he has full control and direction.