The mythic origins of Elden Ring-s spooky scary skeletons
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Date: 2023-12-10
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Comments and reviews: 30
-ellensandlian3575
I wrote a paper once on the prevalence of ghosts and such in those 19th century ukiyo-e prints. Ghost stories were wildly popular in pop culture at the time, and the Tokugawa shogunate had essentially outlawed these kinds of stories. These kinds of stories were centuries old and in most of them the ghosts were the souls of those who had been violently wronged and who came back to torment those who had oppressed or wronged them. The Tokugawa regime had gotten pretty brutal near the end of the 19th century and many people were starving and oppressed, so I think it-s likely that the populace turned to these kinds of stories because they promised that they-re oppressors would be punished, and that even if a person died they could enact a revenge on the living.
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I wrote a paper once on the prevalence of ghosts and such in those 19th century ukiyo-e prints. Ghost stories were wildly popular in pop culture at the time, and the Tokugawa shogunate had essentially outlawed these kinds of stories. These kinds of stories were centuries old and in most of them the ghosts were the souls of those who had been violently wronged and who came back to torment those who had oppressed or wronged them. The Tokugawa regime had gotten pretty brutal near the end of the 19th century and many people were starving and oppressed, so I think it-s likely that the populace turned to these kinds of stories because they promised that they-re oppressors would be punished, and that even if a person died they could enact a revenge on the living.
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-matthuck378
I am enamored with the whole Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Elden Ring aesthetic.
Too bad FromSoftware is so backwards and unyielding on basic QoL and accessibility. No pause? In single-player? No difficulty settings- The whole -git gud- cult(ure. Invasions? Yeah, cool to encourage trolling/griefing.
-Don't bother coming at me with -but player selectable difficulty would ruin their ARTISTIC VISION! - Whatever. No, it would not. Nor would someone else's playthrough on -story mode- ruin your mega-cool hardcore uber-run on nightmare hell alpha-mode achievement.
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I am enamored with the whole Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Elden Ring aesthetic.
Too bad FromSoftware is so backwards and unyielding on basic QoL and accessibility. No pause? In single-player? No difficulty settings- The whole -git gud- cult(ure. Invasions? Yeah, cool to encourage trolling/griefing.
-Don't bother coming at me with -but player selectable difficulty would ruin their ARTISTIC VISION! - Whatever. No, it would not. Nor would someone else's playthrough on -story mode- ruin your mega-cool hardcore uber-run on nightmare hell alpha-mode achievement.
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-Thesaurus_Rex
In one of the Hero's Grave dungeons with the chariots, I watched a skeleton get smashed by a chariot, slowly recollect and reform, only to get smashed again by the chariot, for about 5 minutes before I left. Every 10 seconds or so, I saw the poor thing's health get depleted as I was exploring the rest of the dungeon.
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In one of the Hero's Grave dungeons with the chariots, I watched a skeleton get smashed by a chariot, slowly recollect and reform, only to get smashed again by the chariot, for about 5 minutes before I left. Every 10 seconds or so, I saw the poor thing's health get depleted as I was exploring the rest of the dungeon.
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-jayl2298
Polygon last week: War is a racket. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
Polygon this week: -_Boney Boys_-
Joking aside, this was a very informative look into the history, design and development of a classic element of gaming. Excellent work as always Clayton.
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Polygon last week: War is a racket. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
Polygon this week: -_Boney Boys_-
Joking aside, this was a very informative look into the history, design and development of a classic element of gaming. Excellent work as always Clayton.
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-FilmmakerJ
Since this is your first Fromsoft game, this is a nitpick, but the behavior of Elden Ring's skeletons is consistent with Dark Souls 3 and some is even consistent with the original Demon Souls. A lot in this game is actually a carry over and continuation despite the entirely different setting and realm.
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Since this is your first Fromsoft game, this is a nitpick, but the behavior of Elden Ring's skeletons is consistent with Dark Souls 3 and some is even consistent with the original Demon Souls. A lot in this game is actually a carry over and continuation despite the entirely different setting and realm.
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-thecozypainter
I think the draugr is closer to a zombie than a skeleton, having completely different set of expectations and conceptual weight. Considering that skyrim also just has regular ol' skelies in the game, its important to make the distinction. - A skeleton fan
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I think the draugr is closer to a zombie than a skeleton, having completely different set of expectations and conceptual weight. Considering that skyrim also just has regular ol' skelies in the game, its important to make the distinction. - A skeleton fan
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-GusJenkinsElite
One of the first things I mentioned to my friend about Elden Ring was how they took the reconstruction mechanic that was tied to the guy summoning them, but just made it inherent. And it was one of the best things they did overall for the RPG genre
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One of the first things I mentioned to my friend about Elden Ring was how they took the reconstruction mechanic that was tied to the guy summoning them, but just made it inherent. And it was one of the best things they did overall for the RPG genre
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-MsKornkitty
The way FromSoft's skellys give their heads a little tap to make sure they're on right is my fav little detail from any game I've played. Even when I'm surrounded by a skelly gang and about to die I can't get mad at them. I love them so much!
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The way FromSoft's skellys give their heads a little tap to make sure they're on right is my fav little detail from any game I've played. Even when I'm surrounded by a skelly gang and about to die I can't get mad at them. I love them so much!
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polygon
-It's hard to forget that time you lost all your runes because a skeleton rolled down the hallway like a bowling ball. -
-flashbacks to 4-2 and the rolling cliffside skeletons on the runback to Old Hero costing me thousands of souls-
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-It's hard to forget that time you lost all your runes because a skeleton rolled down the hallway like a bowling ball. -
-flashbacks to 4-2 and the rolling cliffside skeletons on the runback to Old Hero costing me thousands of souls-
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-yungoldman2823
I. I know this is petty but man. did you really have to look at a guide to realize that you hit the glowing skeleton to stop it from resurrecting? Or was that just a lame self-plug, which would be annoying but far more palatable
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I. I know this is petty but man. did you really have to look at a guide to realize that you hit the glowing skeleton to stop it from resurrecting? Or was that just a lame self-plug, which would be annoying but far more palatable
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-thehotwindblowing
4: 01 about knocking their heads off: if you posture break one and do a critical hit with multiple blows like a club, the first strike will pop their head off and some other bones before the second strike knocks them to bits
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4: 01 about knocking their heads off: if you posture break one and do a critical hit with multiple blows like a club, the first strike will pop their head off and some other bones before the second strike knocks them to bits
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-drskelebone
Clayton: It's always ok to bully necromancers.
Like 90% of every D&D character I've ever played: HEY! That's not cool!
And I've scrubbed the timeline to see that you do bring up skeleton dance, so I am now placated.
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Clayton: It's always ok to bully necromancers.
Like 90% of every D&D character I've ever played: HEY! That's not cool!
And I've scrubbed the timeline to see that you do bring up skeleton dance, so I am now placated.
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-elliephants7047
eyyyyy welcome back skelly from. a million years ago approximately. you're lookin same as ever buddy. thank you for this video, I needed the 3AM donkey laughs from watching silly things happen to angry skeletons
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eyyyyy welcome back skelly from. a million years ago approximately. you're lookin same as ever buddy. thank you for this video, I needed the 3AM donkey laughs from watching silly things happen to angry skeletons
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-penflowerink
I was overjoyed to see a mention of one of my favourite games Divinity OS2, but surprised to not see the skeleton soldier playing a bone flute from Army of Darkness. Nonetheless, a cracking video, Clayton!
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I was overjoyed to see a mention of one of my favourite games Divinity OS2, but surprised to not see the skeleton soldier playing a bone flute from Army of Darkness. Nonetheless, a cracking video, Clayton!
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-aspatuarymax1470
I have legally registered my skeleton as an entity distinct and separate from myself and any time i do something illegal, or awkward, or just misspell a text message i have the perfect scapegoat
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I have legally registered my skeleton as an entity distinct and separate from myself and any time i do something illegal, or awkward, or just misspell a text message i have the perfect scapegoat
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-Ends_Of_Invention
I like skellingtons in games because zombies are kind of played out and skellingtons have this cool evil grin that makes them look like they're constantly having an awesome time
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I like skellingtons in games because zombies are kind of played out and skellingtons have this cool evil grin that makes them look like they're constantly having an awesome time
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-GothicXlightning
they all came from Castlevania realms in the North
and Berserk realms down south
it doesn't really intrigues me any more from where skellies comes from anymore
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they all came from Castlevania realms in the North
and Berserk realms down south
it doesn't really intrigues me any more from where skellies comes from anymore
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-haphazardlark1502
Personally I-m excited to see this skeleton-s debut as a Polygon video creator and enjoyed this thoughtful commentary with their cohost Clayton.
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Personally I-m excited to see this skeleton-s debut as a Polygon video creator and enjoyed this thoughtful commentary with their cohost Clayton.
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-Baggytrousers27
So essentially Elden Ring's skellingtons are the embodiment (heh) of that skeleton holding up a finger whilst being pitchforked by a peasant.
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So essentially Elden Ring's skellingtons are the embodiment (heh) of that skeleton holding up a finger whilst being pitchforked by a peasant.
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-manu_elle_gago
6: 17 -It-s always okey to bully necromancers- I've never agreed so much with someone until now, but also felt sad because I like them a lot
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6: 17 -It-s always okey to bully necromancers- I've never agreed so much with someone until now, but also felt sad because I like them a lot
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-sintua
Wish you showed what a Holy enchanted weapon does - blows 'em up good, and they don't get back up! So satisfying when taking out big groups of them!
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Wish you showed what a Holy enchanted weapon does - blows 'em up good, and they don't get back up! So satisfying when taking out big groups of them!
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-sydposting
Shout-Out to the Spooky Scary Whistly Theramin Droning Discordantly over the credits. - For real tho, this is some excellent Skelly Journalism.
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Shout-Out to the Spooky Scary Whistly Theramin Droning Discordantly over the credits. - For real tho, this is some excellent Skelly Journalism.
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polygon
If you don-t mind spoilers for Dark Souls 3, you should look up High Lord Wolnir. Totally relates to some of these mythical callbacks! Great vid: )
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If you don-t mind spoilers for Dark Souls 3, you should look up High Lord Wolnir. Totally relates to some of these mythical callbacks! Great vid: )
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polygon
It is NOT okay to bully Necromancers, we are PEOPLE, with FEELINGS. And bones. Beautiful, beautiful bones. I sure wish I had some more bones.
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It is NOT okay to bully Necromancers, we are PEOPLE, with FEELINGS. And bones. Beautiful, beautiful bones. I sure wish I had some more bones.
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-IceCrystalWolf
This might be my favorite solo video Clayton has done. I didn't know I needed to know so much about game skeletons, but I did.
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This might be my favorite solo video Clayton has done. I didn't know I needed to know so much about game skeletons, but I did.
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-noahwilliams446
I-m never not amazed by y-all-s editing, but the big, semi-transparent, album-cover Clayton faces really elevate this video
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I-m never not amazed by y-all-s editing, but the big, semi-transparent, album-cover Clayton faces really elevate this video
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-diego-dias
Who did Clayton's makeup on this one? Or was it the lighting? Or is Clayton getting prettier? Uhhh anyway back to skeletons,
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Who did Clayton's makeup on this one? Or was it the lighting? Or is Clayton getting prettier? Uhhh anyway back to skeletons,
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-kraziiXIII
Every time I hear the word -bone- I think of tumblr's -bone witch- saga.
Don't steal bones! Graverobbing isn't fun.
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Every time I hear the word -bone- I think of tumblr's -bone witch- saga.
Don't steal bones! Graverobbing isn't fun.
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-anotherwesley7661
I was waiting for the Harryhausen reference and was NOT disappointed. Clayton really showing his BONEafides.
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I was waiting for the Harryhausen reference and was NOT disappointed. Clayton really showing his BONEafides.
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-freakyfro99
. I've avoided and left so many dungeons because they had skellies and I didn't have anything holy. Damn it lol
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. I've avoided and left so many dungeons because they had skellies and I didn't have anything holy. Damn it lol
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