FromSoftware has done away with detachable enemy parts in recent games – what are the pros and cons?
While enemies in FromSoftware games have progressively gotten bigger, another thing that has changed is how interactive they are. Certain bosses in early Soulsborne games have detachable parts that can be removed by attacking them. While this mechanic is no longer present in recent titles like Elden Ring, it does remove some of the immersion when it comes to battling these large foes.
Dark Souls featured many bosses with detachable parts
The most well-known FromSoftware game where certain enemies have removable parts is the original Dark Souls. From the early-game Belfry Gargoyles to Seath the Scaleless, various Dark Souls bosses have hidden weapons that can be obtained by lopping off the right body parts. By far, the most common detachable body part is the tail, as it protrudes from the body. Dark Souls players that make a beeline for bosses’ tails will often be rewarded not only with a new weapon but an exploitable weak point and the opportunity to reduce the bosses’ movesets as well.
Severing body parts in Dark Souls isn’t exactly easy
While severable body parts like tails are easy to isolate; they aren’t the most accessible. One of the most frustrating boss weapons to obtain is the Obsidian Greatsword, which is a reward for severing the tail of Black Dragon Kalameet. Kalameet’s large size and erratic movements make it very difficult to attack his tail’s elevated hitbox; so much so that players can accidentally end up defeating the boss without severing his tail. This would prompt many players to die intentionally when they see that Kalameet is in danger of defeat, as there is no way to obtain the Obsidian Greatsword except for severing the boss’s tail.
FromSoftware phasing out detachable body parts may be a good thing
While being able to chop off body parts makes for some immersive fights, missing out on pieces of gear made the experience frustrating for many. Imagine if Elden Ring’s Bayle the Dread had a severable tail. The boss’s massive size, movements, and the sheer scale of the arena would force players to run after Bayle’s tail whenever he moves to a new location. While the vicinity of Bayle’s tail is still a viable area to attack in the game, players can find it organically without having the added pressure of cutting the tail for a secret item.
FromSoftware’s sever mechanic has promise. Being able to remove enemy body parts is interesting as it gives players different directives aside from whittling away at a boss’s health bar. It would be interesting to see FromSoftware bring back the idea with new, more organic implementations in future games.
