Of Course Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree Has Berserk References
FromSoftware has long been inspired by Berserk, from Demon's Souls' skeletons to Dark Souls' Artorias. Elden Ring is no different, even if the foundation was laid by Game of Thrones writer George R. R. Martin.
Radahn's design is incredibly reminiscent of The Supreme King Gaiseric, the Erdtree that looms over us on our travels is very similar to the World Spiral Tree, and Malenia looks an awful lot like Farnese. So, it's no surprise that even the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer has a couple of Berserk easter eggs.
As pointed out by countless fans on the game's subreddit, the enormous effigy engulfed in flames that we'll be fighting in the Land of Shadow looks a lot like Berserk's Wicker Man. While it might be based on real-life Celtic wickermen, both the Elden Ring boss and the manga's enemy are powered by sacrificed humans and use the raging flames that consume them to fight. The similarities go beyond aesthetic.
Another clear reference in the trailer is Messmer himself. Not only is he covered in slithering red snakes, but his helmet is adorned with the head of a serpent and what looks like dragon wings. Berserk's Grunbeld has a very similar helmet, as well as bright red hair.
In the manga, he becomes a gigantic "Great Flame Dragon", so given the similarities in his and Messmer's design, some fans think that FromSoftware is hiding a second phase in which we'll go from fighting this mysterious lord to tangling with a scaled beast.
Messmer's helmet isn't where the dragon imagery ends, as he even has a wing coming out of his armour. But not everyone is sold on the idea of him becoming a giant flying lizard. Some suggest that he may go the way of Rykard and become an enormous snake.
These two are fairly obvious nods to Berserk, but fans have thrown out some other possible references nestled within the trailer. Some think that the automatic crossbow is ripped from the pages of the manga, while some have noted that the lion boss looks like the demonic tigers in Berserk.
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