While often perceived as a grim, serious, and philosophical experience, the Dark Souls series, including Elden Ring, excels at a particular brand of physical comedy, according to Kotaku. This humor stems not from witty dialogue or characters, but from the developers' masterful manipulation of game mechanics, AI, and environmental hazards to create slapstick moments.
The article highlights the notorious Bonewheel enemies as prime examples of this emergent humor, describing them as skeletons attached to wheels of bones, a concept deemed inherently comical. The effectiveness of this physical comedy is amplified by the often-clunky player movement and the unforgiving nature of the game, where a single misstep can lead to a hilarious, albeit frustrating, demise.
These moments can range from being startled around a corner by an unexpected enemy to accidentally rolling off a cliff during a corpse run, resulting in the loss of thousands of souls. The author posits that the inherent tragedy and grimdark themes of the Dark Souls narrative actually enhance the comedy, making deaths feel less like punishment and more like a punchline to an absurd joke. The juxtaposition of dire storylines with such silly, physical failures creates a unique comedic effect.
FromSoftware's ability to engineer these slapstick scenarios through enemy placement and environmental design is described as akin to Wile E. Coyote's elaborate, yet often self-defeating, traps. The article expresses a desire to interview the developers responsible for enemy and skeleton placement, emphasizing the skill involved in creating these memorable and often comical interactions. The piece concludes by celebrating the various enemies, from skeletons and giant mosquitos to mushroom people and basilisks, ultimately giving special praise to the Bonewheels for their contribution to the series' unexpected comedic legacy.