“FromSoftware was my very first job after graduating”: Legendary Bloodborne and Elden Ring composer says she’d watch the games in debug mode “partly because I couldn’t beat the boss myself”

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Hey there! Just wanted to share something I’ve noticed about FromSoftware games – have you ever found them a bit challenging? It seems like quite a few of us are stuck battling our way through these games for extended periods. Even Yuka Kitamura, an admired composer whose music has set the stage for those heart-wrenching boss fights over the past 12 years, often finds herself struggling with the very games she contributed to. It’s as if the world can’t get enough of this unique blend of challenge and satisfaction!

In the recent interview with PlayStation Inside (translated from Japanese), Kitamura mentioned, “Frequently while creating, I would observe the gameplay using debug mode. This was partly due to my inability to defeat the boss on my own. Directly experiencing the game in this manner aided me in synchronizing the music timing more genuinely and emotionally resonating with the player.

In her work on iconic titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring for FromSoftware, Kitamura has been composing music that often seems tailored to your potential struggles against the monsters she creates – such as the infamous health-regenerating Blade of Miquella, Malenia. However, while she strives to make music that aligns closely with the player’s journey, Kitamura also perceived the typical player’s FromSoftware adventure as being akin to her daily existence.

As a fellow gamer who often grapples with tough boss battles, I truly sympathize with the struggle and frustration you might feel. This shared experience is deeply rooted in the very essence of my music, an “I get it” that resonates genuinely with me.

As a game creator, I’ve encountered my fair share of hurdles too – iterating through revisions, hitting creative blocks now and then. It wasn’t always smooth sailing; there were moments when persistence and trials defined my journey. I believe some of that grit seeped into the music, echoing the player’s emotional rollercoaster.

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2025-09-02 19:23