Sometimes the visual design is better than the fight, you know? (Like mergo’s wet nurse) So let’s talk aesthetics for a moment. What’s a soulslike boss design that made you go… Wooow! And why? From any game (Horny answers are welcome as well)
For me it’s Divine Beast Dancing Lion. when the trailer for SoTE dropped and this boss was revealed I got chills. It’s not my favourite fight by a long shot, too chaotic; but design wise the lion dancers are such an inspired choice. It instantly communicates a strong and agile enemy, the horns promised interesting lore implications. It’s sort of grotesque looking? But also grandiose and regal, in a way. It poses many questions, feels enticing…
What about you?
My horny answers would be Radagon. (Redhead Peter Steele) :P and Godfrey. Hell let’s thow in Lady Maria as well and we have a party.
Purely for visuals? Probably the regal ancestor spirit in Elden Ring. It’s not exactly a standout mechanically, but it’s fine and the visuals are wonderful. Fits perfectly with the surreal beauty of Siofra
Radagon has to be up there for me too, though in a much more platonic way. Something about the way he moves, sometimes seeming to be just hanging on to the hammer as it fights of its own accord, really sells how broken he is, and yet he still looks like he can crack skulls like the warrior champion he once was
I think Bloodborne’s Ludwig deserves a particular mention for the visual transition between his phases. It’s not often we see one of From’s classic broken former heroes actually regain something of themselves - Gael would be another, of course - and Ludwig seems to dig himself out of the very deepest pit of all, conveyed solely by his posture
Yeah, I agree on Radagon’s animations, reinforces how he’s literally just a husk, and contrasts with how we see him pounding that hammer trying to repair the ring in one of the trailers. Good observation.
And third Ludwig mention! A while ago I began a fan art thing where I tried to extrapolate Ludwigs original apperance from his beastly features. Never did finish it though but I went looking for it on my computer, since it’s been mentioned a lot. It’s great how the posture change, and the voice conveyed so much with so little. But Ludwig is great beyond just visuals, my favourite soulslike boss.
Oh wow, I love that! That’s a perfect look for him
Thanks, I’ve seen a couple of human renditions of him over the years, but artist seem to like making him young looking, for some reason. That would fit Lawrence, but Ludwig? At least to me, the voice alone feels so much more mature… anyway maybe I’ll go finish this some of these days .