Dark Souls and the history of video game armor as fashion

Fantasy has been an integral part of the world of videogames since inception. While there are many possible ways of expressing the aesthetic, the suit and armor has been the most prominent. However, fantasy or the reinterpretation and application of medieval aesthetics has come in many shapes, particularly within gaming. Its influence extends outward to inspire creators across the globe in places like Japan, Korea, and even its place of inception — Europe. The genre’s long-lasting existence has made it mutable. Video games are prone to an obsessive love for armor.

Dark Souls has drawn many inspirations from armor found in our world. The Helm of the Wise is the most notable. Dark Souls bears striking similarities to the infamous “horned helmet” given to King Henry VIII by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Hidetaka Mizaki (director) and Hiroshi Nakamura (designer), discussed how they came up with the designs for Lordran’s more famous armor sets. The discussion included how the Warrior’s starting class was designed. Miyazaki revealed in the document that this specific set was inspired and influenced by the popular series of anime light novels. Lodoss War: RecordIronically, this was made possible by the creation Sword World — a Japanese tabletop role-playing game that was inspired by the systems and general aesthetic of Dungeons & Dragons.

But these “low-fantasy” design elements aren’t exclusive to Dark Souls. For upwards of three decades, this aesthetic predates the grim and boring fantasy titles. Seminal fantasy RPG The Tactics Ogre: We Can Cling TogetherThis set the standard for an area that was otherwise populated with colorful, exaggerated fantasy design in the style of Dragon Quest (also inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Lodoss War: Record). It does have some practical designs like most Japanese RPGs, but the armor sets and overall attire are less imposing. The Valkyrie’s armor, which is inspired by classical Norse paintings, looks more sane than the vibrant and lively designs found in early Final Fantasy.

Yoshitaka Amanos, an internationally renowned illustrator, took inspiration from many different cultures. His loose but ethereal designs would become iconic symbols in Japanese fantasy RPGs. These included his design for the Warrior of Light hero of Final Fantasy, as well as the armor of the dark knight. Final Fantasy 4 protagonist Cecil Harvey. The designs shown here are fluid and feature the same iconography as knighthood.

Final Fantasy TacticsConcept artist Akihiko Yashida opted for the reverse direction and took a more grounded approach, as shown in the above Let Us Cling Together. It is best illustrated by the practical clothing of Judges Final Fantasy 12, despite their more ornamental helmets, which don’t seem entirely out of place given European blacksmiths’ propensity for making absurd headwear. While their armor may not be very ornate it is instantly recognisable and has a long lasting impact on those who are absolute authorities.

However, it cannot be understated just how formative Dungeons & Dragons was to the creation and establishment of fantasy video games in general. The design sensibilities of ’80s high-fantasy illustrations found in the “Dungeon” and “Dragon” magazines were on par with the character designs and advertisements that appeared in the early incarnation of console and arcade gaming. These included: Gauntlet’s and Golden Axe’s saucier character designs, with chainmail bikinis, and Conan, the BarbarianFrom the machismo inspired by Japan with its loincloths, furred bracers, and immediately recognisable Diablo series.

Diablo Takes medieval armor interpretations to the Gothic extreme. Although the Paladin armor is not as subtle as it looks, Diablo 2 — akin to something you would see occupying a German castle turned into a modern tourist attraction — this character design would eventually become something larger, and bulkier, in a similar vein to the Warcraft series. But this has always been a hallmark of Blizzard’s character design — or its ability to warp things beyond recognition into something immediately recognizable, if not grossly exaggerated. Arthas Menethil’s large, heavy armor suits and oversized pauldrons are a great example of this. Warcraft III (and World of Warcraft() was used to invent armor designs for Korean MMORPGs such as the Lineage series. AionFurther divorcing the designs is possible.

Some titles do attempt to be as historical accurate as possible. Deliverance: Kingdom ComesThe company prided itself in its historical realist approach and Chivalry 2 is about as good as it gets when it comes to “accurate” medieval armor designs (certain seasonal armor sets aside). One could also argue for the authenticity of the Witcher series, with Geralt’s mix of chainmail and leather reading as more practical, if not exactly sturdy enough to weather the blows of whatever Eastern European mythological ghoul is hot at his heels. You could also argue for the authenticity of Dragon Age (which was inspired from). Song of Ice and Fire and Dungeons & Dragons’ Neverwinter NightsThis is despite the fact that it uses rigid pieces and armor with stylized designs. Dragon Age 2.

Despite their branching web of interpretations and mutations, all of these titles pull from the same thread: European folklore; history awash with fables like “Saint George and the Dragon”; or historical events like the War of the Roses or, as in Dark Souls’ case, petty squabbles between nobility like Henry VIII and the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.

The medieval knight has been filtered through so many concept artists, designers, and programmers that its permutations in video games are similar only in their foundation — that of nobility and status, combined with an ever-present readiness for combat. These distinctions allow for unique interpretations of history that result in new designs.