From its highly anticipated pre-release life to its overwhelmingly positive reviews, Elden Ring is a game that has caused a lot of buzz. FromSoftware is known for its staggeringly complex and well-designed titles like the beloved Dark Souls series and games like Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the developer's latest release is no different. Combining the worldbuilding expertise of Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin with the game design capabilities of Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team has turned out to be a recipe for success. The result: Elden Ring has taken the video game world by storm.
But aside from detailed worlds and in-depth lore, FromSoftware games are also known for a few other elements. Whether it's the challenging gameplay and punishing boss fights or the satisfaction gained from uncovering a piece of buried lore that opens up a whole new dimension to a game, FromSoftware titles feel distinctive and unique. One aspect that shows the level of detail in each of the developer's games is the links between the titles. One fan-favorite aspect that has cropped up, again and again, is the NPC called Patches, who has now even made his way into Elden Ring.
Patches – Backstabber, Betrayer, And All-around Bad Guy
For better or (usually) worse, Patches is a very memorable character. In most of Hidetaka Miyazaki's games, there is bound to be a conniving character by the name of Patches hidden somewhere in the vast game world. He's appeared in so many FromSoftware titles that he's gained a bit of a cult following among players, even if their interactions with Patches usually leave them slightly worse for wear. There's also the character's recurring fascination with luring players to the edge of a cliff or drop of some kind and subsequently booting them off, which remains one of his most iconic features.
Throughout his game appearances, Patches develops from a simplistic character to one with slightly more levels of nuance, but through it all, he retains his air of deception that has charmed (or repelled) players. He even has some unexpected origins, as although most players probably associate him mostly with the Dark Souls and Demon's Souls series, Patches actually crops up in Armored Core: For Answer a year before his Demon Souls debut. A character code-named "Patches The Good Luck" challenges the player in the game, before quickly trying to surrender once the fight goes south for him in classic Patches fashion.
Despite his Armored Core origins, Patches really comes into his own in the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls games, establishing himself as one of the most treacherous characters in both series. Frequently tricking characters or luring them into danger, Patches can usually be found somewhere as a merchant who pops up to remind players that blind trust is not a quality that will serve them well.
Patches' Dark Souls and Demon's Souls representations are almost identical, even if his name changes from Patches the Hyena to Trusty Patches. He even makes an appearance in Bloodborne, still with his signature bald head, although this time it is on the head of a giant spider in keeping with the Lovecraftian horror themes that feature throughout the game.
Patches In Elden Ring
Just when players thought they'd seen the end of him, Patches comes back with a vengeance in Elden Ring. While George R. R. Martin and Hidetaka Miyazaki created some fascinating new characters, with backstories as tragic as they are extensive, it seems FromSoftware couldn't resist including everyone's favorite backstabber in the newest action RPG epic. Predictably, Patches features all of his classic traits – he tries to get the drop on the player as they examine a fake treasure chest, and then once the fight is halfway through, he'll try and beg for his life. If players accept, he will then sell his wares in Murkwater Cave.
As an optional boss, Patches is fairly unusual. He's just a man (in this version, at least), and doesn't follow the usual pattern of a FromSoftware foe. But it's no doubt fun for players to take on this series regular, and if they choose to spare him, there are additional opportunities for treachery, with examples like a trick chest that transports players to Mistwood Ruins to a trail of colorful Rainbow Stones that once again leads players to the edge of a cliff (once again). These little nods to the Patches of games past were welcomed by players, and serve as nice little links to previous titles.
Recurring Characters In FromSoftware Games
Patches isn't the only character that has cropped up more than once in a FromSoftware game. As well as a litany of Easter eggs and hidden details peppered throughout the games, some characters rear their heads in a few titles, much to players' delight and surprise. And it's not only characters – some weapons, items, and armors feature in multiple games, creating connections between seemingly disparate and otherwise unconnected worlds. One example would be the Knights of Catarina with their distinctive bulbous armor, who have appeared in some form in each game in the Dark Souls trilogy despite the vastly different timelines.
Another character that has come to represent the feel of many FromSoftware titles is the Crestfallen Warrior. They represent the despair that many players often feel as they come across obstacles and death screens. Present in both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls games, the Crestfallen Warrior is the epitome of the hopelessness that sometimes swamps FromSoftware fans, and this sort of self-referential in-joke also perfectly encapsulates the worlds of the games.
Elden Ring is now available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.