I didn't really know what to expect with Elden Ring. Going in, all I knew was that it was "open world Dark Souls" but what did that mean? Early reviews were saying 30 hours, I was confidant the horse controls were going to be jank, and above all else, I feared for the game design. From Soft are MASTERS at linear(ish) level design with plenty of shortcuts and well thought out enemy placements. Surely this would all go away in an open world format. Boy, were my expectations off.
Elden Ring is nothing short of FromSoft's masterpiece. The combat is a natural evolution of Dark Souls III and Bloodborne in terms of speed, with returning concepts like my beloved power-stancing from Dark Souls II. Their work on Sekiro also allowed them to experiment greatly with verticality in both level design and combat encounters. The horse feels great too, even being a great tool to jump on and off of it mid-fight if it is permitted.
In terms of challenge, I would say it's pretty open to being as easy or difficult as you want to make it. Tools like the ash summons can make for useful diversions/allies during battles without having to rely on other players, and there are plenty of busted weapons, spells, and incantations for you to abuse as you like.
But beyond those FromSoft series staple refinements, the real key differentiator with this entry is the exploration. Elden Ring gives you very little direction beyond the first hour of where to go and what to do and the world is massive and full of interesting catacombs, tombs, and castles. You are constantly presented with gorgeous, scenic vistas full of rotten enemies. A friend told me from what they saw it's like playing through a concept art book and that is absolutely right. Though BotW isn't the first to design an open-world this way, it's the most recent example that comes to mind so I will use it as the point of comparison. You feel compelled to explore places you see in the distance simply because they look interesting, and you are always amply rewarded for your efforts. It's incredible how a studio with practically no experience designing this type of game knocks it out of the park on their first try in a way most studios have failed.
That isn't to say the experience is ALL golden, I do have some minor complaints. Side quests and optional stories are as obtuse as they are in all FromSoft games, but in a world THIS massive it's almost impossible to stumble through them accidentally. A guide feels mandatory if you want to follow certain characters and their escapades. Some other minor things that would be nice to have are stat comparisons in shops to the gear you currently have equipped, and in general a tab of your inventory for new item pickups would be nice because it's easy to miss what you just picked up is supposed to be.
Minor complaints aside, Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of FromSoft's finest works, and maybe even their best title. It feels like the ultimate Souls experience combining the size and scale of all of their games in one. If you enjoy a challenge, exploration, and some rad boss fights, this game is a no brainer to pick up.
Elden Ring is nothing short of FromSoft's masterpiece. The combat is a natural evolution of Dark Souls III and Bloodborne in terms of speed, with returning concepts like my beloved power-stancing from Dark Souls II. Their work on Sekiro also allowed them to experiment greatly with verticality in both level design and combat encounters. The horse feels great too, even being a great tool to jump on and off of it mid-fight if it is permitted.
In terms of challenge, I would say it's pretty open to being as easy or difficult as you want to make it. Tools like the ash summons can make for useful diversions/allies during battles without having to rely on other players, and there are plenty of busted weapons, spells, and incantations for you to abuse as you like.
But beyond those FromSoft series staple refinements, the real key differentiator with this entry is the exploration. Elden Ring gives you very little direction beyond the first hour of where to go and what to do and the world is massive and full of interesting catacombs, tombs, and castles. You are constantly presented with gorgeous, scenic vistas full of rotten enemies. A friend told me from what they saw it's like playing through a concept art book and that is absolutely right. Though BotW isn't the first to design an open-world this way, it's the most recent example that comes to mind so I will use it as the point of comparison. You feel compelled to explore places you see in the distance simply because they look interesting, and you are always amply rewarded for your efforts. It's incredible how a studio with practically no experience designing this type of game knocks it out of the park on their first try in a way most studios have failed.
That isn't to say the experience is ALL golden, I do have some minor complaints. Side quests and optional stories are as obtuse as they are in all FromSoft games, but in a world THIS massive it's almost impossible to stumble through them accidentally. A guide feels mandatory if you want to follow certain characters and their escapades. Some other minor things that would be nice to have are stat comparisons in shops to the gear you currently have equipped, and in general a tab of your inventory for new item pickups would be nice because it's easy to miss what you just picked up is supposed to be.
Minor complaints aside, Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of FromSoft's finest works, and maybe even their best title. It feels like the ultimate Souls experience combining the size and scale of all of their games in one. If you enjoy a challenge, exploration, and some rad boss fights, this game is a no brainer to pick up.