Hidetaka Miyazaki had a first-rate approach when he designed the open world of Elden Ring.
Speaking on Xbox Wire Japan (translated by IGN), Miyazaki spoke about the development of the gaming world and the main inspirations.
“Our first step in designing the map was to decide where the heads appeared, especially the important ones,” Miyazaki said. “So the map was really designed based on the head game, then we adjusted the head game based on its location on the map.”
This approach was similar to previous FromSoftware Souls games, in addition to Bloodborne and Sekiro, although Elden Ring was the studio’s largest and most open world to date.
“I don’t think we were specifically inspired by any particular game,” he said, “but I’ve personally played a lot of open world games that are considered classics of the genre, and they’ve all influenced me.”
He added: “These include The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher 3 and, more recently, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.”
The latter is no surprise, with the Elden Ring player-driven progression, the sense of discovery, and the lack of mission markers.
But which of these heads is your favorite?
This is Starscourge Radahn, translated by Games Radar, which is not surprising with the large accumulated festival and the extensive battlefield.
“As a unique character, he’s attractive,” Miyazaki said, “but I also like the Radahn Festival.”
“It’s literally a festive season,” he continued, highlighting its “autumn colors.”
“The first time I talked about the idea of the Radahn Festival, no one on the team took it seriously,” he said.
Undoubtedly, it is a more elaborate set compared to the other heads of Elden Ring.
Godrick and Rykard are Miyazaki’s runners-up. What, not Malenia?
If you’re struggling with bosses yourself, check out our Elden Ring Chiefs Guide.