From Software has been making video games since the PlayStation 1, creating some memorable titles like Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Demon Souls, but From Software also has a massive number of non-Souls games as well. Although many From Software fans are looking forward to Elden Ring or a possible Bloodborne 2 for the PS5, there’s a lot of reasons to look backwards over From Software’s long video game history.
Founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1986, From Software released its first title in 1994. It is most known for creating incredibly difficult games, spawning the moniker “Souls-like” for hard games with similar combat to the Dark Souls series. but From Software has a massive library of games it has made, including games that bear little resemblance to its most famous titles.
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Released in 1997, Armored Core is a From Software title for the PlayStation 1. It’s a third-person mech shooter that began the series. Along with Armored Core, which was received mostly favorably by critics and gamers alike, Armored Core 2 in 2000 and Armored Core 2: Another Age in 2001 were also fairly popular. While this series was a big hit in its time, it’s mostly been overshadowed by the success of the Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro.
Lucky for those who love this series, forgotten or not, From Software has said it is not done with the Armored Core series back in 2017, which gives lovers of giant mech games some hope.
King’s Field was a series of first-person RPGs in the 1990s, which took place in a medieval setting. The first King’s Field wasn’t very well-received and was only released in Japan. However, the second in the series was much more popular and made its way overseas as King’s Field in the US. In it, the brave knight Alexander takes on the world’s most dangerous dungeons to get the holy relic known as the Moonlight Sword. While some critics of the game belittled its slow, dramatic movement, this game was pretty positively received for the PS1. There are many that think that King’s Field could do with a remake, even more than Demon or Dark Souls.
Echo Night 2 is one of the best horror games that no one played. Surprisingly, Echo Night 2 is not a sequel to Echo Night 1, but a stand-alone game that is more of a reimagining of the first, using the same main character, antagonist, and themes, with some major improvements.
It moves about as far from a Souls game as From Software can get without moving away from the gory horror elements that made Bloodborne and Souls what they were. While not the most difficult survival horror games ever, Echo Night and Echo Night 2 are interesting for their complete lack of weapons for the protagonist to fight with, which was more fresh at the time that it is nowadays. Players only have access to light to fight the evil that’s culminating around them.
The Adventures of Cookies and Cream is something so far removed from a Souls game that it doesn’t even look like a From Software title. While most From Software titles revolve around gritty medieval fantasy locations, The Adventures of Cookie & Cream was an adorable adventure game for the PS2 and the Nintendo DS. It follows two bunnies that have to save the moon, or they can never celebrate another Moon Festival, which is their favorite holiday. This cutesy game was positively reviewed because of its wacky gameplay, adorable graphics, and Mario Party-style multiplayer mini-game battles.
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Otogi and Otogi 2 are hack-and-slash titles from From Software that are full of action, adventure, and excitement. Nominated in 2003 for the “Best Game No One Played” award, Otogi met with warm reception on the original Xbox from the few who played it. The sequel had slightly lower review scores, but still got pretty positive reviews overall. Arguably, these are two of the best games that no one ever heard of, even though they are some of the best titles in From Software’s massive, 33-year history in the gaming industry. Considering the time, these games both have beautiful graphics that look like a mix of Devil May Cry and Sekiro or Nioh 2.
Shadow Tower Abyss is an RPG sequel to Shadow Tower. This game released for 2003 on the PS2, and it was the testing grounds for many of the Souls games’ mechanics, especially Demon Souls. Many of the elements of the locations and plot feel a lot like From’s King’s Field series too. It seems like the culmination of everything that From Software was and started the company down the track of what it would become. There is a lot to love about this game, even though the graphics are now a little outdated.
Metal Wolf Chaos was released exclusively in Japan for the original Xbox in 2004. It’s a third-person shooter filled with the mechs that From Software seems to love so much. The main character is fictional President Wilson, who pilots a mech to help save the USA from a coup by the Vice President. While it was not originally planned for a release in America, it did end up on this side of the water, thankfully. A remaster was announced for Metal Wolf Chaos at E3 in 2018, and it was released in 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.platforms on 6 August 2019.
Another From title that was exclusively released in Japan, Yoshitsune Eiyuden: The Story of Hero Yoshitsune is a historical game based on Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a legendary samurai. A mix between an RTS and a 3D action-adventure game, Yoshitsune is a sort of hack-and-slash filled with images of ancient Japan. It takes place during the Genpei War in Japan which lasted from 1154 to 1192, and it’s one of the many games like Ghost of Tsushima that are set in ancient Japan. This title doesn’t seem to be available in English anywhere, not even a fan dub, so players will have to be familiar with Japanese to be able to enjoy this game.
Although released in just 2010, ACE:R is yet another forgotten mech game from From Software. If gamers have been missing good Gundam video games, Another Century’s Episode: R will scratch that mech-shaped itch. This is one of many titles in the ACE timeline, but it is the first with the ability to move the same pilot to different mechs in a Warframe kind of way. The action is fast, exciting, and in the air, giving players flight along with their other attachments. This game’s graphics are new enough not to feel as dated as some other forgotten From Software titles, and this one is worth a try for anyone who loves giant robots. If Gundams can bring messages of hope, peace, and giant mechs, so can ACE:R.