History Trivia / DarkSouls

* GodNeverSaidThat: Series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki has cited the {{manga}} ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' as an influence on ''Dark Souls'' in several interviews. In [[https://www.pcgames.de/Dark-Souls-3-Spiel-55615/Specials/Hidetaka-Miyazaki-im-Gamescom-Interview-1167759/ this interview]], he acknowledged he is a Berserk fan and that it has greatly influenced the series since the first game. In [[http://skullknight.net/images/darksouls_berserk1.jpg another interview]] he gives a {{Shout Out}}, noting that when Art Designer Masanori Waragai showed him his Catarina armor design, he felt reminded of Bazuso from ''Berserk'' and thought that old design was appropriate for Siegmeyer's character concept. He also said that the greatsword arts and playstyle in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'' were inspired by Guts. However, {{fanon}} sometimes exaggerates it, with some fans of both ''Berserk'' and the ''Souls'' games suggesting that ''Berserk'' was ''the'' primary inspiration of ''Souls''. Miyazaki didn't cite it as the primary inspiration, but mentioned it among other sources of inspiration, including other manga such as ''Manga/SaintSeiya'', ''Manga/{{Devilman}}'', and ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'', as well as as his collection of {{Tabletop RPG}}s and FantasyLiterature, the earlier Creator/FromSoftware game series ''VideoGame/KingsField'', and the ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' game books.
* TheWikiRule: The Wikia [[http://darksouls.wikia.com/wiki/Dark_Souls_Wiki Dark Souls Wiki]], the Fextralife [[https://darksouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Dark+Souls+Wiki Dark Souls Wiki]], [[https://darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com/Dark+Souls+2+Wiki Dark Souls 2 Wiki]], and [[https://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Dark+Souls+3+Wiki Dark Souls 3 Wiki]], and Wikidot [[http://darksouls.wikidot.com/ Dark Souls Wiki]], [[http://darksouls2.wikidot.com Dark Souls 2 Wiki]], and [[http://darksouls3.wikidot.com/ Dark Souls 3 Wiki]].

* DarkhorseCasting: Unlike most AAA video games, rather than voice actors by trade, From Software mostly casts the characters with lesser known TV actors or those with a background in theater, resulting in the game's characteristically off-kilter, gruff, and frequently eerie voice acting. Starting from at least as early as ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', they've maintained this practice for all subsequent projects, including this game's two sequels, ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'', and ''VideoGame/EldenRing''.

* FanNickname:
** Since ''Bloodborne'' is a mechanically similar game also from [=FromSoft=], it is often lumped in with the ''Dark Souls'' series and ''Demon's Souls'', which results in the ''[=SoulsBorne=]'' games. The addition of ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'' has resulted in some jokes about the new name being ''Sekiroulsborne'' or something similar.
** For some recurring elements within the games:
*** "Fat Rolling" refers to the instance when the player character is overencumbered after reaching a certain Equipment Load treshold, resulting into shorter and slower dodge rolls than usual.
*** The Estus Flask is simply called "Sunny D" because it somewhat resembles a Sunny Delight bottle. This nickname also created fanarts and [[MemeticMutation memes]] replacing the in-game Estus Flask with that product.

* SpiritualPredecessor: To:
** ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}},'' itself a spinoff by the same company (From Software). Replace [[spoiler: undead gods with alien {{Eldritch Abomination}}s]], shields with guns, zombies with werewolves, Undead with [[MonsterSlayer Hunters]], and souls with blood. Then constrain the gameworld to late 19th century Prague. There you go.
** ''VideoGame/DeadCells.'' An [[ResurrectiveImmortality invincible (but not invulnerable)]] undead creature who uses a certain part of the enemy to upgrade themselves (Souls in DS, stem cells in DC).
** ''VideoGame/HollowKnight.'' A resurrectively immortal, void-touched ghost searches a bleak fallen kingdom for the means to undo the curse placed upon it. You also respawn on the last bench you sat on, similar to the Bonfires of DS.
** ''VideoGame/SaltAndSanctuary.'' A fantasy ARPG with combat based around dodging and stamina management. It also takes the plot point of fighting [[spoiler: zombie gods]] and runs with it. The enemy that kills you takes all your EXP and buffs themselves with it. While Salt is not souls, it is derived from the souls of mankind and levelling up uses it in a ritual to grant you its power.
** ''VideoGame/HyperLightDrifter,'' which is also very much a [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda-like]].
** ''VideoGame/TheSurge, Dark Souls'' [[InSpace IN SPAAAACE!!!]] Er, TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture and [[LikeThatShowButWithMecha with giant robots]]!!! Yes, anyways, monstrous difficulty while directly using bits of the enemy to upgrade the player character.
** Similarly, ''VideoGame/ImmortalUnchained'' transports Dark Souls' dark lore of endless suffering and eternal conflict to the distant future and gives a particular emphasis on firearms.
** ''VideoGame/LordsOfTheFallen'' and ''VideoGame/NierAutomata'', both {{Alternate Company Equivalent}}s belonging to Deck 13 and Square Enix respectively.

* FanNickname: Since ''Bloodborne'' is a mechanically similar game also from [=FromSoft=], it is often lumped in with the ''Dark Souls'' series and ''Demon's Souls'', which results in the ''[=SoulsBorne=]'' games. The addition of ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'' has resulted in some jokes about the new name being ''Sekiroulsborne'' or something similar.

** ''VideoGame/HollowKnight.'' A resurrectively immortal , void-touched ghost searches a bleak fallen kingdom for the means to undo the curse placed upon it. You also respawn on the last bench you sat on, similar to the Bonfires of DS.

** ''VideoGame/HollowKnight.'' Another resurrectively immortal creature (We hesitate to use undead because the Vessel was never alive in the first place despite being a RevenantZombie in all other respects) searching a bleak fallen kingdom for the means to undo the curse placed upon it. You also respawn on the last bench you sat on, similar to the Bonfires of DS.

* FollowTheLeader: Ever since its popularity, [[Videogame/SaltAndSanctuary many]] [[Videogame/LordsOfTheFallen games]] [[VideoGame/{{Nioh}} have]] [[VideoGame/TheSurge tried]] to emulate the franchise's style; aesthetics, DarkFantasy setting, weighty combat design, "tough-but-fair" difficulty, etc. It's gotten to the point where "Souls-like" is almost a genre of its own, much like ''{{VideoGame/Rogue}}''. On a wider scale, the ''Souls'' series has lead to many more developers embracing higher difficulty in general after many years of lowering difficulty for the sake of accessibility.