Summary
- Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC trailer includes subtle references to Berserk, such as characters and visuals inspired by the manga.
- Alongside these possible Berserk references in the DLC, fans have other spotted Easter Eggs in Elden Ring, including nods to Bloodborne and Game of Thrones.
- Some fans debate whether every character in Elden Ring really has a direct counterpart in Berserk, while others simply enjoy uncovering the hidden homages.
In their meticulous analysis of the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC trailer, fans have discovered multiple references to the renowned manga Berserk. Whenever a new Soulsborne game is released, fans are always comparing it to characters from Berserk, and the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is no exception.
Elden Ring is filled with a plethora of Easter Eggs, ranging from the return of the popular trickster Patches to nods to Bloodborne and Game of Thrones. Though many of the homages are obvious, some references are so subtle that it takes players years to find them. In fact, quite recently FromSoftware revealed that Elden Ring has another secret that fans have yet to uncover. While the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC trailer was merely three minutes long, curious fans were quick to spot some interesting details within that as well. And unsurprisingly, FromSoftware's work is being linked to Berserk once again.
Elden Ring: All The Obvious Berserk References Throughout The Game
Fans have been obsessed with comparing every aspect of Elden Ring to Berserk since the game was released, but how many actual references are there?
As spotted by Twitter user CloudyNot4Talk, there are four such references to Berserk hidden in the Elden Ring trailer. The first one is a female character spotted in the trailer, which is deemed to be inspired by Berserk's Queen of Midland. While this one seems like a stretch, and the popular fan theory that she is simply a younger version of Elden Ring's Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, seems more probable, the other connections are much more obvious.
Easter eggs or Apophenia? Elden Ring Fans Debate Shadow of the Erdtree's Berserk References
For instance, the burning giant seen in the trailer has some striking similarities to the Wicker Man. Likewise, players have drawn parallels between Miquella's cocoon and Griffith, extrapolating that she could also end up being reborn from an egg and having an angelic appearance. Perhaps the most pivotal of them all is the inspiration for Messmer the Impaler himself.
According to fans, Messmer closely resembles Berserk's Grunbeld, not just in his appearance, but also in terms of his attire. The similarities between Messmer and Grunbled extend beyond their red hair, with the snake figurine on their helmets further substantiating such claims. Moreover, he also has some sort of dragon wings behind him, which again can be linked to Grunbeld's Great Flame Dragon persona.
While many fans are quite elated to find the references, especially the ones related to Miquella, others are of the opinion that the community is going a bit overboard with the comparisons. Surely, some of them might be directly inspired by the manga, but the notion that every character has a Berserk equivalent is something that is quite improbable.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.
George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
