I was thinking about this while playing Elden Ring earlier. I don't think that I can muster up a fail-state/game over message from another game that can match the thematic relevance, simplicity, and memeworthiness of FromSoft's "You Died" message up death in many of their games. It's the epitome of beauty in simplicity. On the face of things it appears almost comically direct: a plainly stated declaration of your death in the game. You died. That's it.
It's a message that most players will see countless times over the course of a playthrough of any of several FromSoft games to the point where they probably don't even register it. But I think it really is arguably the most iconic death message in gaming, especially after all of the titles that FromSoft has put out over the years that utilize it.
So what say you, ERA? Are there any other fail-state messages in games that can match it or even exceed it? One comes to mind that at least deserves a runner-up spot for me...
Also iconic. Millions of people from around the world can see that red "wasted" message in that font even in isolation and know exactly what game series it's from.
It's a message that most players will see countless times over the course of a playthrough of any of several FromSoft games to the point where they probably don't even register it. But I think it really is arguably the most iconic death message in gaming, especially after all of the titles that FromSoft has put out over the years that utilize it.
So what say you, ERA? Are there any other fail-state messages in games that can match it or even exceed it? One comes to mind that at least deserves a runner-up spot for me...
Also iconic. Millions of people from around the world can see that red "wasted" message in that font even in isolation and know exactly what game series it's from.
