History VideoGame / KingsField

''King's Field II'' takes place a number of years later. Alfred is now the King of Verdite, being the last heir to the line. The Moonlight Sword has been stolen and evidence indicates the thief is on the island of Melanat, which is supposedly cursed. The King's friend Alexander Thornton Regginis, the second prince of Granitiki, volunteers to go to Melanat himself and retrieve the sword, winds up discovering a slave-mining operation and [[spoiler:a plot to revive the black dragon, Guyra.]]

* ''King's Field'' (UsefulNotes/PlayStation, 1994) -- [[NoExportForYou Released only in Japan]], launch title

* ''King's Field IV'' (UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, 2001) -- Released in America as ''King's Field: the Ancient City''
* ''King's Field Additional'' (UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, 2006)

* ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' (UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, 2009)

*** ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI'' ([=PlayStation 3=], UsefulNotes/XBox360, 2011; PC, 2012)

*** ''Videogame/DarkSoulsIII'' (UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, PC, 2016)

** ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' (UsefulNotes/Playstation5, [=Playstation 4=] UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, [=XboxOne=] PC, 2022)

Unfortunately, much of the franchise is a case of NoExportForYou. This includes the very first game in the series, which was released before the UsefulNotes/PlayStation console was even available outside of Japan. By the time the [=PlayStation=] came to America, ''King's Field II'' was already out, so that was the first game America got. For those who want to play the ''real'' first game, there are fan translation patches, both for the original [=PlayStation=] version and the ''Sword of Moonlight'' PC port.

The first four ''King's Field'' games were released in a collector's edition box set in 2007; of course, it's Japan-only. An extensive overview of the series can be found [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/kingsfield/kf01.htm here.]]

''King's Field'' is a series of {{first|PersonShooter}}-person {{R|olePlayingGame}}PGs by Creator/FromSoftware (later known for the mecha-combat series ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'', and [[BreakthroughHit nowadays]] known as the creators of ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''), and arguably the UrExample for the SoulsLikeRPG, with many early versions of mechanics and thematics popularized in Creator/FromSoftware's later games starting in ''King's Field'' and its sequels. A DungeonCrawler at heart, the gameplay and story conventions have much in common with first-person role-playing games such as ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'', though the gameplay mechanics are streamlined and have distinct Japanese touches.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Several, all of them made by From Software.
** ''Shadow Tower'' for [=PlayStation=]. From Software even incorporated aspects of its equipment system into ''King's Field IV''.
*** The Japan-only sequel for the [=PS2=], ''Shadow Tower: Abyss'', which abandons the fantasy setting of the original for a more modern one.
** ''Eternal Ring'' for the [=PlayStation=] 2, which is superficially similar insofar as being a first-person RPG but in a lot of ways plays more like a stock JRPG.
** ''Demon's Souls'' for [=PlayStation=] 3. The gameplay has changed quite a bit, but it has very similar atmosphere and quite a few {{Shout Out}}s to King's Field.
*** ''Demon's Souls'' has its own spiritual successor by the name of ''Dark Souls'', which ''continues'' with the shout-outs, including ''Seath the Scaleless'' and ''Black Dragon Kalameet''. Probably not the same entities, but knowing From...
** ''Bloodborne'' for the [=PlayStation=] 4, which made the combat to be much faster and shifted the genre from DarkFantasy to GothicHorror[[spoiler:/CosmicHorrorStory]].

As noted above; while not considered part of the genre itself, ''King's Field'' is often considered the spiritual predecessor of the ''Soul's'' series, and by extension, the spiritual "grandfather" of the SoulsLikeRPG sub-genre. While the combat is nothing alike, the games, especially ''The Ancient City'', have remarkable similarities in terms of exploration, atmosphere, level design, and art direction, enough ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' and ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' are considered direct SpiritualSuccessor, with Souls series director Creator/HidetakaMiyazaki citing ''King's Field'' directly as a large inspiration for his games.

''King's Field'' is a series of {{first|PersonShooter}}-person {{R|olePlayingGame}}PGs by Creator/FromSoftware (later known for the mecha-combat series ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'', and [[BreakthroughHit nowadays]] known as the creators of ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''.). A DungeonCrawler, the gameplay and story conventions have much in common with first-person role-playing games such as ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'', though the gameplay mechanics are streamlined and have distinct Japanese touches.

As noted above; while not considered part of the genre itself, ''King's Field'' is often considered the spiritual predecessor of the ''Soul's'' series, and by extension, the spiritual "grandfather" of the SoulsLikeRPG sub-genre. While the combat is nothing alike, the games, especially ''The Ancient City'', have remarkable similarities in terms of exploration, atmosphere, level design, and art direction, enough ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' and ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' are considered direct SpiritualSuccessor, with Souls series director Creator/Hidetaka Miyazaki citing ''King's Field'' directly as a large inspiration for his games.

''King's Field IV'' is an all new story that basically has nothing to do with the Verdite Trilogy, although it makes allusions to the trilogy. In it, your main character, Prince Devian Rosberg, is given the [[ArtifactOfDeath Idol of Sorrow]] and tasked with returning it to it's pedestal in the Ancient City, which will supposedly break the curse which has befallen his home kingdom of Azalin. In the course of your journey you learn that the civilization of the Ancient City had begun worshiping "the darkness" and may have brought about their own destruction. The Moonlight Sword once again appears, but its a completely different sword from the one in the Verdite trilogy.

''King's Field Additional II'' is a follow-up to the previous game, taking place another ten or so years later in the same location but with a different player character. A series of strange natural disasters in the area prompts the dispatch of an investigation team into the long-closed off labyrinth. Some time later the protagonist, the son of the man who led the investigation team, receives news that his father has died in the ruins under unknown circumstances. He begins his journey to Trauzit the very next day, determined to learn the truth behind his father's fate.

As noted above; while not considered part of the genre itself, ''King's Field'' is often considered the spirtual predecessor of the ''Soul's'' series, and by extension, the spirtual "grandfather" of the SoulsLikeRPG sub-genre. While the combat is nothing alike, the games, especially ''The Ancient City'', have remarkable similarities in terms of exploration, atmosphere, level design, and art direction, enough ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' and ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' are considered direct SpiritualSuccessor, with Souls series director Creator/Hidetaka Miyazaki citing ''King's Field'' directly as a large inspiration for his games.

* BoringButPractical: The Light Needle spell in the first game is a weak but fast-firing projectile magic. While its damage its negligible, it still staggers enemies like any other attack, keeping them stunned while you attack with your sword. [[spoiler: The final boss can even be killed by simply keeping it stunlocked via a rapid barrage of Light Needles.]]

* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Moonlight Sword is the ultimate weapon in most of the games, except in ''King's Field II'' where its the Dark Slayer.
** In ''King's Field IV'' it ''seems'' like its the Moonlight Sword, but there's a secret wall where you can find the Triple Fang, which is slightly better.

** Similarily, moving left, right or backwards at the start of ''King's Field II'' will send you to an early and wet grave.

* {{Retcon}}: The ''Verdite Chronicle'' changes some of the events of the first game. Namely Alfred travels to Melanat himself and finds an untouched temple deep underground and is given the Moonlight Sword by Vallad, instead of him finding it's sealed form in the Royal Cemetery on his father's grave and having an aspect of Guyra release it's power.

* UnintentionallyUnwinnable: In the first (Japanese) game, you can easily throw out keys and important items from your inventory without an opportunity to get them back. On the other side, there are no item/weight limit or moments where you need to drop any items, so the only way to screw yourself up is to deliberately try to get rid of your inventory.

* StandardStatusEffects: Poison, Dark (reduced visibility), Paralyze, Slow, Curse (reduced physical strength).