The mythic origins of Elden Ring’s spooky scary skeletons

[@polygon]

TELL US THE WORST THING A SKELETON EVER DID TO YOU

[@peterchu5609]

ALLOWED US TO EXIST!

[@polygon]

Mine is aging

[@KingOfDoma]

Made me feel sad. *looks wistfully at his copy of Reaper Man*

[@rionsanura]

Boned me. Right on the inside.

[@Michael_Lindell]

It's inside me...

[@jayl2298]

Polygon last week: War is a racket. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. Polygon this week: *_Boney Boys_* Joking aside, this was a very informative look into the history, design and development of a classic element of gaming. Excellent work as always Clayton.

[@polygon]

we contain multitudes - Simone

[@GweenPenguin]

+

[@BeatAces]

Just in case anyone didn't know, that wasn't a timelapse of Ray Harryhausen he could just move that fast

[@polygon]

lmfao

[@yungoldman2823]

Lol -polygon, for some reason

[@SecretBaseSBN]

weird to think about one of those spooky little guys being in me right now

[@polygon]

Don’t think about it

[@ethan-loves]

ummm.... tmi buddy

[@emmaw2152]

technically since you are a brain you are inside one that's inside a meat suit! :D

[@birdeynamnam]

@@ethan-loves yeah… i dont need to know your romance life, bud

[@Ends_Of_Invention]

@@polygon too late, i scared myself

[@MsKornkitty]

The way FromSoft's skellys give their heads a little tap to make sure they're on right is my fav little detail from any game I've played. Even when I'm surrounded by a skelly gang and about to die I can't get mad at them. I love them so much!

[@catboywizard]

It's honestly really impressive how they managed to make skeletons that try to kill you so... cute. I want to keep one as a pet irl.

[@sintua]

I thought the head pat might have been a Jason and the Argonauts reference, or maybe Evil Dead? I know I've seen that move in a movie before

[@thecreatorofpc7929]

@@catboywizard i would definitely want to keep some sort of skeleton animal as a pet. Skeletons just look so cool, and funny.

[@jwgh]

I'm playing through Dark Souls for the first time, and my favorite enemy is the skeletons, because virtually everything about them is goofy. Do they throw themselves at you to attack and fall into pieces as a result? Yes. Do they make human gestures that don't make sense for skeletons? Yes. Does backstabbing them through two ribs hurt them in ways that don't really make anatomical sense? Also yes. Love those buddies. And then the necromancers, bored with simply raising the dead, apparently decided to start getting artsy with them. Tie a skeleton to a wagon wheel and send them spinning to the enemy? Make a weird, slow, ineffectual totem pole out of them? Take a giant skeleton and try to sort of turn it into a big skeleton dog? Those necromancers have a lot of time on their hands!

[@polygon]

This is VERY good

[@MonoFlax]

@@polygon Polygon already writing this down for their next Souls video

[@SuperGGnoRE]

We can thank Kentaro Miura for the skeleton wagon wheel idea.

[@caramac7636]

Regarding the nonsensical human gestures: I love how, in Elden Ring, when some of the skeletons arise from their dirt naps, they pat their heads as if to make sure their hair is in place or their hats are still on but, because they are skeletons, it also comes across as making sure their heads are still attached!

[@tomrivlin7278]

Another Polygon video about how Elden Ring is surprisingly full of humerus bits

[@korpen2858]

Hah

[@polygon]

Banned. Blocked.

[@SlayerSeraph]

I'm disappointed he didn't talk more about the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls 1 Skeletons.

[@ellensandlian3575]

I wrote a paper once on the prevalence of ghosts and such in those 19th century ukiyo-e prints. Ghost stories were wildly popular in pop culture at the time, and the Tokugawa shogunate had essentially outlawed these kinds of stories. These kinds of stories were centuries old and in most of them the ghosts were the souls of those who had been violently wronged and who came back to torment those who had oppressed or wronged them. The Tokugawa regime had gotten pretty brutal near the end of the 19th century and many people were starving and oppressed, so I think it’s likely that the populace turned to these kinds of stories because they promised that they’re oppressors would be punished, and that even if a person died they could enact a revenge on the living.

[@noahwilliams446]

I’m never not amazed by y’all’s editing, but the big, semi-transparent, album-cover Clayton faces really elevate this video

[@manu_elle_arg]

6:17 “It’s always okey to bully necromancers” I've never agreed so much with someone until now, but also felt sad because I like them a lot

[@ggdynfytugfy6892]

The phrase “skeleton innovators” is making me feel like removing my skin and becoming one.

[@thomasharris7881]

“Ain’t no sin, to take off your skin, and dance around… in your booones!” William Burroughs

[@Mister32]

2:52 Historians say that these two were really good friends.

[@miku224]

and they were roommates! WHEN THEY DIED.

[@kevinbartlett26]

Falling to the ravages of time is the worst thing my own skeleton has done.

[@Ends_Of_Invention]

I like skellingtons in games because zombies are kind of played out and skellingtons have this cool evil grin that makes them look like they're constantly having an awesome time

[@maxwellraver4672]

The sheer amount of technical bone-based lingo that Clayton has copyrighted in this single video has to be some kind of record

[@haphazardlark1502]

Personally I’m excited to see this skeleton’s debut as a Polygon video creator and enjoyed this thoughtful commentary with their cohost Clayton.

[@polygon]

Thank you for the warm welcome of our coldest co-host

[@thehotwindblowing]

4:01 about knocking their heads off: if you posture break one and do a critical hit with multiple blows like a club, the first strike will pop their head off and some other bones before the second strike knocks them to bits

[@katietaylor5094]

obsessed with how clayton says frog at 0:35

[@polygon]

FROG

[@katietaylor5094]

@@polygon FROG

[@RhysticStudies]

0:23 you're tellin me Magic had influence on Elden Ring worldbuilding 👀

[@PandoraSystem]

you can't tell me Bloodborne didn't give you Shadows Over Innistrad vibes

[@maxboltzman4985]

I always thought that leaping skeleton attack was a nod Skullomania from Street Fighter EX. He is not a true skeleton merely a man dressed as a skeleton, but I do believe he has a skeleton within him.

[@expanddong3205]

Polygon is taking us to the Bone Zone

[@anotherwesley7661]

I was waiting for the Harryhausen reference and was NOT disappointed. Clayton really showing his BONEafides.

[@polygon]

he does his research!! - Simone

[@mindlessroman]

When you're talkin' fightin' skellies, you gotta honor the master

[@Michael_Lindell]

That's a huge amount of bones, a skele-ton!

[@adamk2459]

That skeleton puppetry? Unparalleled.

[@polygon]

First of many I hope -Simone

[@loxjvh]

Remember that time in Spy Kids 2 when they took the amulet and it woke up the skeletons and gave them telepathy?

[@drskelebone]

Clayton: It's always ok to bully necromancers. Like 90% of every D&D character I've ever played: HEY! That's not cool! And I've scrubbed the timeline to see that you do bring up skeleton dance, so I am now placated.

[@ambermiller3751]

I love it when there are skeleton, thank you Clayton

[@penflowerink]

I was overjoyed to see a mention of one of my favourite games Divinity OS2, but surprised to not see the skeleton soldier playing a bone flute from Army of Darkness. Nonetheless, a cracking video, Clayton!

[@Minihood31770]

I just love that skeletons have the Sheev spin from Revenge of the Sith

[@GusJenkinsElite]

One of the first things I mentioned to my friend about Elden Ring was how they took the reconstruction mechanic that was tied to the guy summoning them, but just made it inherent. And it was one of the best things they did overall for the RPG genre

[@limegreen000]

Was not expecting a clayton video but i am so pleasantly surprised thank you sir for these bone boys

[@KingOfDoma]

Stephanie Sterling has trained me well. I started rocking out to the cartoon's theme song as soon as Clayton said "skeleton warriors"...

[@Minihood31770]

SKELETON WARRIORS!

[@NeonProdigy]

DADADADADA SKELETON BALL!

[@IceCrystalWolf]

This might be my favorite solo video Clayton has done. I didn't know I needed to know so much about game skeletons, but I did.

[@vengertheforceofinconvenie7377]

They really took the “frequency appearing: 3-30” to heart didn’t they

[@aimelle3]

Thank you for giving us a video, here is some engagement I give in return.

[@TwoSpark55]

The way the skeleton puts its own head back on in Elden Ring IS comedy gold.

[@armandsoulliard3296]

"It's hard to forget that time you lost all your runes because a skeleton rolled down the hallway like a bowling ball." *flashbacks to 4-2 and the rolling cliffside skeletons on the runback to Old Hero costing me thousands of souls*

[@TheSoldierOfGodrick]

Don't give up, Skeleton!

[@polygon]

He resurrected

[@Thesaurus_Rex]

In one of the Hero's Grave dungeons with the chariots, I watched a skeleton get smashed by a chariot, slowly recollect and reform, only to get smashed again by the chariot, for about 5 minutes before I left. Every 10 seconds or so, I saw the poor thing's health get depleted as I was exploring the rest of the dungeon.

[@felixc543]

Yes please, always love hearing more about spooky scary skeletons

[@HankFacepunch]

You folks need to give whomever is doing the subtitles a raise.

[@polygon]

It’s ME I already got a promotion I’m good -Simone

[@HankFacepunch]

@@polygon Well you're doing a hell of a job Simone! Keep it up!

[@SlayerSeraph]

Why, what's special about it? Any hidden jokes?

[@HankFacepunch]

@@SlayerSeraph Watch the outro with the subtitles on.

[@milenacosta8299]

B O N E S

[@polygon]

B O N E S!!

[@sintua]

Wish you showed what a Holy enchanted weapon does - blows 'em up good, and they don't get back up! So satisfying when taking out big groups of them!

[@polymphus]

"It's always okay to bully necromancers." > GIDEON NAV HAS ENTERED THE CHAT

[@LolaliciousSmiley]

You forgot to mention the scene in Spy Kids 2 where they sword-fight the skeletons.

[@Mister32]

Something something Mr. Bones' Wild Ride

[@fat.E]

I need gifs of everytime he says "when they died!"

[@alexaurorus9767]

Gosh, I love Polygon videos. Thank you for another great video!! ❤️

[@Dachusttin]

Elden Ring's skeletons are the perfect mix between funny and scary

[@ThrashingButterfly]

How in the F have I played Elden Ring 1.5 times and NEVER encountered the gigantic partial skeletons??

[@polygon]

THIS IS PRETTY FUNNY ACTUALLY

[@marmotup7967]

I wake up every day glad my skeleton is on the inside

[@Just_Beboy]

"It's always okay to bully necromancers", sir, you are now canceled.

[@nvrndingsmmr]

Yayyyy Elden Ring content! Clayton content! Feels gooooood!

[@peter_shoes_]

I have genuinely always thought of FromSoft games as an extension of the original DnD ethos

[@lordtachanka903]

“Iconic skeleton look” gives me smiling friends/psychic pebbles vibes lmfao

[@vermis0161]

I have legally registered my skeleton as an entity distinct and separate from myself and any time i do something illegal, or awkward, or just misspell a text message i have the perfect scapegoat

[@vermis0161]

it's society btw

[@munson0523]

Whoever wrote the captions for the credits deserves an award

[@AngelBeatYunara]

And there's a skele-ton of them!

[@polygon]

Ayyyyyy!!!

[@cheddarerickson]

Great video, beautifully edited

[@orph0borph]

As a big skeleton fan, this is now my favorite polygon video ever

[@Cntrebasse]

can't watch now but i'm so ENGAGED already !! not trying to fool any robots or anything i promise

[@pliable-head]

7:35 MURRAY MY BELOVED

[@raulranma]

Taking all these skeleton insights into account of my next fantasy TTRPG games ✍🏽

[@sydposting]

Shout-Out to the Spooky Scary Whistly Theramin Droning Discordantly over the credits. 👍 For real tho, this is some excellent Skelly Journalism.

[@michaelsalazar2366]

The world needs more dank theremin solos in May.

[@shaggyrogers1851]

zoinks those are some spoooooky skellys scoob lets get outta here

[@caseysailor9301]

Casey's prediction: This video is gonna be about puppets

[@polygon]

Casey…amazing

[@caseysailor9301]

@@polygon this is the closest I have ever been..

[@kevinistired]

Clayton videos are always so good

[@gabrieljennings5492]

It is NOT okay to bully Necromancers, we are PEOPLE, with FEELINGS. And bones. Beautiful, beautiful bones. I sure wish I had some more bones.

[@FilmmakerJ]

Since this is your first Fromsoft game, this is a nitpick, but the behavior of Elden Ring's skeletons is consistent with Dark Souls 3 and some is even consistent with the original Demon Souls. A lot in this game is actually a carry over and continuation despite the entirely different setting and realm.

[@cloudofmystery4251]

Beautiful eyebrow work.

[@danmcdermott9669]

HEY GOOD BONES

[@zanderclark1461]

An entire video about the ambassador of the xylophone!? Count me in!

[@LanceHeart]

I was NOT expecting Florida Man to show up in a Polygon video about skeletons.

[@gehinkun]

Peak skeleton is still Dark Souls wagon wheel wheeling skellies. Or good ol neato Nito.

[@Ptylermon]

Whoa! A video! What's this? Looks like someone's posted a good video!

[@_4_0_4_6]

Great job skeleton!

[@elliephants7047]

eyyyyy welcome back skelly from...a million years ago approximately. you're lookin same as ever buddy. thank you for this video, I needed the 3AM donkey laughs from watching silly things happen to angry skeletons

[@Baggytrousers27]

So essentially Elden Ring's skellingtons are the embodiment (heh) of that skeleton holding up a finger whilst being pitchforked by a peasant.

[@batti591]

WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?

[@janneswilmink487]

Can't belive they left put the flying, most spreading skeletons in the outskirts of Leyndell.

[@SlayerSeraph]

Don't give up, skeleton!

[@TobiTrebelja]

God, i miss you guys' longform content

[@SureyD]

funny bone pun here (great video)

[@GreenestCherriestTea]

Hey what game showed up at 1:08

[@Cnoble59]

This video is too spooky to watch!

[@PariahEarth]

lol excellent gags clayton

[@caramac7636]

What a delight!

[@cinnamon_shakes]

I think polygon is trying to get me to enlist in the skeleton war

[@hollandscottthomas]

If you don’t mind spoilers for Dark Souls 3, you should look up High Lord Wolnir. Totally relates to some of these mythical callbacks! Great vid :)

[@aidenmclaughlin3331]

How does everyone who works at Polygon sound so similar and look so vastly different

[@MarioGMan25]

did that Skeleton just do a psycho-crusher!?

[@rionsanura]

my favorite terrible plastic bone that shouldn't be on a skeleton was a cat's ears.

[@Anon13430]

Draugr aren't skeletons, skeletons are skeletons.

[@ryandufresne1316]

Gotta love a good bone rattler

[@irin7287]

I think Polygon should've used Clayton's preferred title, but that's just me

[@saulitix]

They are spooky, they are scary, but most importantly, they are effing annoying in Elden Ring.

[@ShineDarkly]

pleasantly surprised to see a soulsborne video not done by Pat

[@polygon]

You might enjoy this one from Jenna as well, all about how Elden Ring's comedy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmSZk2dtiq2Gpqc

[@lykinswr]

A skeleton picked me last in dodgeball one time and I was pretty beat up about it 😢

[@thecozypainter]

I think the draugr is closer to a zombie than a skeleton, having completely different set of expectations and conceptual weight. Considering that skyrim also just has regular ol' skelies in the game, its important to make the distinction. - A skeleton fan