Multiverse science fantasy bullshit gave me a headache just trying to simply know what was happening.

Played on easy mode for the story with my wife, passing the controller between fights and story segments.

I was worried that the fact this isn't the entire original game was going to spoil it and make the game feel incomplete like the first one, however i'm pleased to report this isn't the case.

Honestly if you've never played the original game, you'll probably be duped into thinking the final boss is just the end of the story. It is presented really well. It does feel like a full package here - even the Midgar segment from the previous game doesn't really feel necessary to play this one. All in all its a fantastic experience from start to finish with awesome combat which is a spectacle to watch - yes, there are moments where it does feel a bit sluggish or annoying whilst youre pushed back by enemies when youre trying to build your ATB guage, but they are traded off with satsifying moments of mega anime special moves, which softens the blow significantly.

There's plenty of criticism going about in regards to the open world, but honestly its not remotely intrusive at all. You can complete the main offering (the story) without touching a single side quest, which I did, and you can easily forget the game is even open world.

Whether the quality of the open world holds up to the MSQ remains to be seen as I didn't touch it in this playthrough, but the fact I feel confident enough to give it a 9 without experiencing any of that additional, optional content should be a good sign.

Also the game has a pretty ridiculous charm about it and knows when to get silly just as much as it knows when to get real. Unlike Remake, this game does a fantastic job of showing new fans like me just why the original story is so beloved.

The beach did not dissapoint.

I will finish this off eventually. I got to the end of act 2 and whilst I was enjoying my time with it, I ended up having to head back to grind more and never attempted the boss again and started playing something else. Some decisions in the game also left me feeling a little aimless with my character, no options I had available seemed very fitting.

The combat is great fun - turn based tactics combat, though you'll need some patience for the amount of turns the enemies will go through before you take yours.

The main issues I have with this game are that multiplayer is a mess and almost unplayably so - it is never as enjoyable as solo. Its just a nightmare - its not as structured as a real D&D game and so people end up going everywhere and either get their gameplay interrupted constantly by cutscenes they know nothing about because theyre doing something else, or they dont turn on eavesdrop and miss out on the story. If you could get everyone to want to do the same thing it would be fine, but its just not ever going to work like that. It would be better if everyone had to vote on a path to take with dicerolls or something.

Another thing I really dislike is there was a few instances in the game where things were brought up despite me never picking dialogue options that would let the character know about it, which really hindered my immersion. And when the games focus is entirely on the story, this is a huge issue.

The game does reak of woke unfortunately, which I personally dont care for, but whilst it tries to be inclusive and with the times it simultaneously offers some of the worst variety in customisation options ive ever seen, with characters having four voice options and none of them sounding particularly rough or brutal. It was so bad that the game was basically unplayable without mods for me, as I like to play Orcish characters and having him speak like a british restaurant owner is a big nono.

Ultimately this is a really good D&D game but its not the perfect game everyone makes out that it is. It was definitely overhyped due to appealing to a loud audience. Its a shame that current politics caused it to win GOTY over other games that are most likely, more deserving.

Elden Ring, in its majestic sprawl across the Lands Between, dazzles with the promise of epic quests and boundless exploration. Yet, beneath its gleaming armor, it harbors a silence as profound as the Erdtree's roots on matters of true inclusivity.

The Lands Between, rich in lore and beauty, starkly lacks the vibrant spectrum of human identity. The game's scant representation of transgender characters and its binary approach to body types feels not just outdated but out of touch with the thriving diversity of its player base.

Amidst its triumphs in build diversity and combat innovation, it stumbles on character pronouns and deeper expressions of self, missing a golden opportunity to embrace the full tapestry of humanity.

As someone who champions the cause of inclusivity on platforms like Twitter, I find this oversight not just disappointing but a glaring void in an otherwise masterfully crafted world.

Elden Ring, with its breathtaking vistas and intricate lore, could have been a beacon of progress. Instead, it stands as a monument to missed opportunities, echoing the silence of the Erdtree itself on matters that resonate deeply with so many of us. 6/10 – For its gameplay and exploration, it flies; for inclusivity and representation, it falters.

2 Years after the finale of the MSQ, I still haven't done the post MSQ, but I did finish up pandaemonium. Why this story was not part of the MSQ I do not know because it wrapped up the story so well. Truly beautiful. Whilst the fights left something to be desired, the ending cutscene sequence was magnificent. I did not cry, but I felt a warm sensation that was akin to the finale of Persona 3 Reload. Literally took this game from a 7 to a 9 for me.

Finally, a closing note for this wonderful expansion and the story it finished off that makes me forget about Thancred white screen attack up.