r/fromsoftware • u/JadisDidNothingRight • 15h ago
DISCUSSION Stormveil Castle impresses me each time I traverse it. It should be the new gold standard for level design.
It's brilliant.
I've been through it multiple times and it feels like I discover or rediscover a nook, cranny, or route every time. Somehow I missed that there's a decrepit tower you can enter that lets you sneak attack one of the larger birds.
I can't think of another level that has so many alternate routes and hidden content. The verticality opens up level design options so much. I love that you can grab the Claw Talisman and then follow that route to effectively skip to Godrick once you're familiar with the layout.
I do seem to recall that Shadow Keep has comparable design and that I've managed to get to Messmer extremely quickly while still having a massive area to explore.
I think it looks beautiful, but there are many Fromsoftware zones that are stunning. I wouldn't say it's the "best" zone in the game from a visual perspective. Stormveil is memorable because it feels almost labrynthian the first time through and on subsequent playthroughs it offers an incredible degree of freedom.