In a monumental win for video game preservation, the 2004 mobile version of King's Field—once considered lost—has been found and translated by dedicated fans. Developed by FromSoftware, the game predates Dark Souls and showcases early versions of its defining mechanics.

Unlike the original PlayStation releases, this mobile entry featured unique maps and helpful enhancements like quick save and auto-mapping. Despite the platform limitations of early-2000s Japanese phones, it offered an immersive dungeon-crawling experience.

Historians and fans joined forces to recover and restore the game’s files, ensuring this essential link in the Soulslike lineage wasn’t forgotten. It is now available online, along with guides for installation.

This effort highlights the importance of preserving lesser-known titles, especially those that influenced some of the biggest names in gaming. King's Field laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most impactful game series of the 21st century.

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