The Design Philosophy of Hidetaka Miyazaki | Creating Demon's Souls, Dark Souls and Bloodborne
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Hidetaka Miyazaki is the game designer most responsible for Demons Soul's , Dark Souls and Bloodborne, games that have changed how we think about interactive storytelling, and have catalyzed a resurgence in difficulty, both mechanically and narratively. This video examines the design philosophy of Hidetaka Miyazaki, and how he goes about crafting his games. Much like his worlds, we have to piece together different interviews to generate an overarching sense of his design goals. What we find though is someone with unconventional storytelling influences for a game designer, and a desire to evoke both triumph and disempowerment using the medium of games.
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Sources
-Mielke, James. "'Dark Souls' Creator Miyazaki on 'Zelda,' Sequels and Starting Out". Rolling Stone
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-Kamen, Matt. "Dark Souls 3 director: it's about 'accomplishment by overcoming tremendous odds'". Wired.
www.wired.co.u...
-Parkin, Simon. "Bloodborne creator Hidetaka Miyazaki: 'I didn't have a dream. I wasn't ambitious'". The Guardian
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-MacDonald, Keza "Souls Survivor". Eurogamer.
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-"Dark Souls' grand vision". Edge.
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-Cook, Dave. "From King's Field to Bloodborne: the lineage of Dark Souls". VG247.
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-McMullan, Thomas. "From Dark Souls to Manifold Garden: How games tell stories through architecture". Alphr.
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-Miyazaki vs Ueda: The path to compelling fantasy
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-The Art of Failure , Jesper Juul
goddamn this is a supremely underrated video. Very concise and verbose. Subscribed
Actman be watching videos without uploading anything within 2 weeks :(
Yo when are we getting more souls content from you man I would love to see a demon souls remake video
Woah didn't expect to see the acting male here
Hey Acting Male. Can we get your thoughts on bloodborne?
Something can't be concise and verbose at the same time, they literally mean the opposite thing.
The statement about Miyazaki's theme of humility really resonated with me. After just picking Dark Souls back up after 8 years of not touching it, I had forgotten how the game requires--demands--that you slow down and learn. Games these days often reward wild, unrestrained combat, yet DS punishes it unrelentingly. You don't get to bulldoze enemies the first go around. You have to learn them and work to gain understanding before you're ready to move forward. A true lesson in humility.
I guess anyone with "Miyazaki" in their name are born to create masterpieces
Miyazaki's movie career isn't that good he should stick to games
@@bungiecrimes7247 Hayao Miyazaki makes good movies.
Reminds me of the song brave heart by Miyazaki Ayumi. The childhood anime song that can make me cry the easiest
@@bungiecrimes7247 Are you serious, Miyazaki created my favorite animated movie of all time while Miyazaki made my favorite game of all time. Two Miyazaki's equals two Masterpieces
@@thundageon5962 somehow this gives laugh i needed, thanks bro
Perfect timing with the announcement of Demon's Souls remake.
Haha yea that was a happy coincidence.
dmons souls remake shit on Miyazakis legacay. photo mode, generic soundtrack, pause the game option, generic graphics/art design, teleporting via Ps5 menu, integrated Tutorials videos , bad voice acting, bad new face animations and much more
@@thefebo8987 demon souls remake is great all the things you talked about are optional
"If Dark Souls is about questioning our purpose and our morality, Bloodborne interrogates our very capacity to seek truth."
Great video, man. Subscribed.
Elden ring has made me want to learn more about this "souls like" approach. Never played any souls games before but this all fascinates me now lol. i know im late to the party but glad im here.
Great video
Same for me. I always thought that those games were not for me but after playing elden ring, i think im gonna play at least ds3, sekiro and bloodborne if its ever coming to pc.
I didn't start SoulCom games until Dark Souls 3 came out, I found it was very beneficial. They are all worth playing, all the way back to 2009 Demons` Souls (haven't played the remake yet)
Get into the dark souls games bro !! I joined the souls family 4 years ago and I love it here
Miyazaki and kojima both single handed are pushing the medium forward creating new unique experiences
I like Kojima but Death Stranding sucks. Such a boring game. How do you go from MGSV a game so fun with so many ways of playing to a walking simulator 🤦♂️
@@hawkeyedsentinel4648 it’s not a walking simulator it would get real old real fast if it was a walking simulator it’s basically an big budget indie film it’s the only game I’ve ever played where I wasn’t bored by the lack of combat the only game where I didn’t wanna hurt or kill anybody. Mgs 5 gameplay and mechanics wise is easily the goat stealth game but story wise it doesn’t feel like kojima death stranding is pure kojima its got the greatest final scene and ending in any game ever it’s worth it for the ending alone and don’t get me started on the soundtrack kojima famous for his music again mgs 5 good but not great but death stranding soundtrack is already iconic. Give it a good six hours (it’s kojima it takes about six hours trust me lol) until it actually gets started and then judge it the boss battles in death stranding are also more numerous and better than mgs5 and kojima is famous for his boss battles
No. Way. :o I was literally just researching Miyazaki's themes of stagnation in his games last night, and then this comes out less than 24 hours later. What amazing timing, and as always thank you so much for linking your sources - that's super helpful and will provide tons of reading for me after I finish the video!
Thats awesome, Hope the video is helpful towards your research Tristan!
@@thegameoveranalyser4835 Definitely! Honestly it's an awesome coincidence that you happened to be working on this video right around the time they announced the Demon Souls remake for the PS5. Hope this video gets lots of attention!
Also, for anyone interested in the topic, after you watch this video here's another great one I found about Miyazaki's themes in the Souls and Sekiro series: ruclips.net/video/1npTaAf8zk8/видео.html
Excellent video. It's fascinating how Miyazaki connects the difficulty of his games to the world building but this video really helped me realize; these games are about hope. That no matter how many times you get kicked down, it's about getting back up and fighting back against the forces of darkness, insanity and dishonor that seek to destroy you.
Truthfully I've never played these games but videos like this show me that I really must! Great work.
Great video man, I expected this to have at least 100k views. It's some high quality stuff
Amazing video, well put together and very interesting to watch. Can't believe this doesn't have more views.
That mutual assistance story and how it relates to coop gave me goosebumps!
Nice! Really glad you made a whole video focused on Miyazaki, been hoping you would since your “Alone Together” video
Thank you Lambhoot, glad you enjoyed it! I have been meaning to do this video for a while, and the pieces of it came together from different videos!
Even though this is a relatively brand new video, it deserves to be in the DS 1mill club by now. Fantastic research, concise presentation, overall excellent quality
Great video! I love the story about getting stuck in the snow inspiring Demon Souls' online play.
Underrated video, amazing job man.
incredible video man, well said on every account
This was an awesome video! i just finished for Dark Souls for the first time and I love the read and learn more about his creation process and director Miyazaki! Tnks for the vid! Keep it up!
There is nothing more rewarding in gaming then finally beating that boss you struggled with for hours!! The dopamine and adrenaline that’s flowing is immense
brilliant video. Makes me so excited for Elden Ring, and being appreciative that there is at least one more Miyazaki game I haven't played yet. Wish I could erase my memory of DS1.
Exceptional content, great reference as a designer. Thank you for this.
Wow awesome video! I am finally getting into Bloodbourne, and have been captured by the subtle story and dynamic gameplay
Utterly fascinating essay. Thank you.
I bet he is very eccentric. The whole world he created seems like a very dark off beat version of lord of the rings sort of. I bought dark souls on switch and was surprised of the graphics and beauty of it. I am not going to lie, this game is super hard. Them damn hollows with swords and shields. Just bought the game a few days ago. I am just surprised the graphics looks so beautiful on the switch.
Terrific analysis
Wonderful video. Also, stories that leave out bits and pieces on purpose and are not direct are my favorite types of stories.
Man this video is incredible, thank you for its creation!
what a great video, thanks for posting this man
The fact miyazaki was inspired by george r.r. martin and eventually proved himself enough to create a story alongside him is so incredible
Wow, what an amazing script and lovely visual material. Never really liked Dark Souls, and I really only got into the genre thanks to Elden Ring, which really dragged me in completely. I’m looking forward to playing the whole Souls saga after my second playthrough of Elden Ring.
I love this so much !
Great explanation!
Amazing analysis man, why didn't i find your channel sooner?
Great video
Underrated channel and videos♥️♥️
Surprised you didn't mention Berserk. Great video either way!
This is an excellent video.
Well researched.
Firstly, just want to say, great video!
This may be a bit of an odd comment to make but... I wrote a paper back in late 2019 that is strikingly similar to yours. Things such as references, thoughts on his ideologies and, interestingly, even similar phrases.
I recently got recommended by my professor to convert that paper, along with others that I've wrote, into video essays as a way to basically host my portfolio. measure
I get that this is a very odd comment to make, but, I just want to make sure that you hear it directly from me rather than being sent it/accidently coming across it and feeling like someone has stole your content.
Again, loved the video. Great presentation all around! Here is hoping for your continued success.
Thanks LeeLee, and don't worry about it at all. Topics of this ilk are undoubtedly likely to converge, especially considering the sources will be very identical .
The Game Overanalyser Very true! Thanks for being understanding, have a good day!
Incredible breakdown, excellent research, perfect presentation. Thank you for this
*reads title*
Berserk
*exits video*
Wow great content man first time I'm hearing abt King's field tho. Keep on keeping on
I really love this channel !
Glad you enjoy it Pedro!
Good content my dude
Glad you enjoyed it Raffa!
One player could choose to prioritize Magic another player could choose to prioritize long-range attacks with bows and crossbows another player could prioritize close range melee weapons your Soul's experiences difficult depending on your choices which makes the souls games fun to replay over and over again
Good insight for Elden Ring production
This is a beautiful video. thanks for making it.
Man I wish I knew demons souls first. My first souls game was dark souls 2.
great video thanks
This is an amazing video. Very interesting. My favorite is 8:15. The art of failure.
This video is fucking fantastic
nicely done!
Thanks!
Great vid!
Thanks Skout!
Good analysis :D
In my perception, his games are not 10/10, more like a solid 8/10. I seem to be in the minority, but art is (and should be) subjective. What I do appreciate from his games, is how they are contributing to changing the mainstream discourse of games. More people seem to want more challenges now and I think that's a very needed gust of fresh air in an industry with countless uninspiring, superficial games.
Amazing
Thanks!
Miyazaki directed 2 Armored Core games before Demon’s Souls as well. Those games have a bleak tone with muted colors that create a similar atmosphere to Demon’s Souls, even though the games are completely different. He started developing his style back then IMO.
the best souls games director ever
I think he is the one responsible for the genre. He is literally the god.
Congratulation from Italy
Great video man, eloquent as fuck.
Let me correct you... Miyazaki doesn't just craft game worlds, he love-crafts them.
Can we get a armored core trailer now? It’s been a.....cuse me ALMOST 2yrs and haven’t said a thing....all I see is retro games on high end consoles...
Its confirmed that Armoured core is the game they are making directly after Elden Ring
shit man youre real good a hiidden gem indeed
Perfect timing to celebrate Fromsoft's magnum opus, Elden Ring.
"I'm just not good at implementing direct narrative in my games"
*Takes help from George R.R. Martin for Elden Ring*
Well THIS^
Yet GRRM is a master of subtext and nuance, and hiding volumes of background story in subtle ways.
@@justincurll1110 Indeed but Hidetaka also said in the past, that his next Games will be more direct. Direct storytelling with GRRM will be next level for his upcoming soulsborne games. The mix of a hidden story with a cryptic storytelling and a little bit of direct narrative, like in Sekiro with the help of GRRM will bring a new level of a masterpiece.
And then u have demon bell and charmless kuro
"Without giving spoilers, Sekiro is both buddhist and existential, uniting themes from the East and West."
As if i would have any hope of understand the themes of Sekiro by playing the game myself, and not by watching videos like this, that explain it for me
Ohh Elden ring Miyazaki give us Elden ring
I wish this video essay were a woman so I can fall in love with her and spend the rest of my life making it feel special
Should’ve kept this in your drafts my guy
The only explanation to the way he makes games, is that its very Japanese traditional style way of making games.
It's pretty cool
anyone here after the release of elden ring?
Miyazaki > Kojima
I thought his design philosophy was just to find the easiest way to make new players cry, old players rage, and speedrunners to say "finally, a worthy opponent."
No
Nailed it
the problem i have with all the souls games is that u do not have clean input, all movement with a damn analog stick and the only steping is the side roll with some frames of invencibility wich is not real life alined there are no low mid attacks so it's battle system needs to get better.
set back right to the start of the level? where's the level since ds1 world is interconnected and there is no given sequence in which you would go to an area and fight enemies, also you meant set back to the last bonfire which can be 2m away of the boss as well.
no in demons souls there was no bonfires and the worlds were split into levels
it started 1994 when kings field came out not 2009
Then there are people who want easy mode for every game because there job is playing games
Inspired by George R. Martin and now he is writing the story for elden ring
He didn't write the story, he provided some of the world building/lore for Elden Ring.
In his bio, he’s never had a wife or any children
The gameplay is always been able to be done by people with less reaction times via magic builds and avoiding PvP by either using items or fixing one's own settings.
Sekiro is the only exception where the gameplay is truely rhythm and reaction based.
But still Normal and Slow people can't handle it, which is why only 30% of people who purchase these games can even complete them, and less than 5% can 100% them .
It matches the iQ Curve of society .
And people can't cope with it, so they want it to be dumbed down and ruined so it can be a mass consumer item with no substance like 95% of games .
with any game you expect at least 50% of your playerbase to quit after the first couple hours because most people just don't have the time to commit to gaming unless they're addicts. I used to play mobas professionally and I can guarantee you that a lot of it was because I've been addicted to video games since the vanilla WoW days and I've sacrificed much of my life to play games instead of do something else with my time.
I don't think time spent gaming can be equated to intellectual capacity like you claim.
@@rasako9742 never knew that if I finish a game I'm an addict.
Rarely do I feel accomplishment in bloodborne, the only game I have gotten far in. Just deleted it thanks to emissary… theres no accomplishment when the game makes you miserable.
everything about the games is great except for the actual game play, i don't care what you think by the way so dont talk to me.
darl souls 2, why
When you are reading your texts you sound like you wanna sell something from another industry. *cough*
You talk to fast.
When I played Dark Souls I just sort of killed giant monsters, it didn't shake my worldview or make me question my moral foundation. This kind of critique reeks of pretention. There's always people making these longwinded video essays, with farfetched claims about the subtexts of video games, like "How Pacman is critique of modern consumerism" or some bullshit.
Tbh it’s really sad that’s the conclusion you came to
This is one of the worst takes I've seen online
This troll can get his point across without his games being so hard or at least make it to where the enemies don't hit so damn hard
Yeah the guy and his games are fairly overrated.
Oh no we've got a mad casual over here..
@@defusionn1179 I hope you're not talking about me because I've completed the achievements for this game I know like at least seven people that haven't gotten past the boss that's on the horse
@@defusionn1179 Do you get triggered over easy mode?
@@mechanomics2649 ngl, your take is kinda overrated
I'm not going to lie I do not feel this way f*** this guy I've been through the most playing this damn game I'm joking by the way I do like the game but it's too hard for me I'll just play something else❤😂
Great video.