Elden Ring

date

Dec 7, 2022

slug

elden-ring

author

status

Public

Synopsis

Rise, Tarnished, and be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between.

Elden Ring - Reinventing the Formula

The game is an absolute masterpiece, and it's clear that the developers, FromSoftware, poured a lot of love and attention into every aspect of the game. The gameplay is very good, and it's clear that the combat system was designed with a lot of thought and care. The game strikes a great balance between being challenging and rewarding, which is something that few games manage to achieve.

You in Elden Ring are pushed straight into the world of Lands Between. With typical FromSoftware games, lore and story is given through item description, environmental clue and hidden quest lines.

As with most games made by FromSoftware, it features the famous Dark Souls combat. It is one of the game's defining features and is often cited as one of the best combat systems in modern gaming. The combat system in Dark Souls is designed to be challenging, requiring the player to learn enemy attack patterns, time their dodges and strikes, and manage their stamina. Elden Ring's standout feature is the ability to interchange combat Skills among 100 different options across various weapons, granting players a high level of freedom in character progression. Unlike previous Souls games' fixed “weapon art” Skills, Elden Ring's Skills are interchangeable and can be combined with different weapons and Magic to create unique Builds.

Elden Ring takes the player experience to a whole new level by introducing a plethora of unique play styles, including the ability to summon spirits to aid in combat. This feature is not mandatory, but it is a game-changer for those who struggle with the notoriously challenging Dark Souls games. While FromSoftware has not added an “easy” mode, the spirit system offers a much-needed boost to accessibility and lowers the game's difficulty. It's an excellent addition to the game that enhances the player's overall experience without compromising the game's core identity.

Elden Ring elevates its game environment to new heights with a vast and immersive open world. You may initially groan at the thought of another monotonous open-world game, but trust me, the Lands Between will captivate you from start to finish. Unlike the tediousness of collectible mini-games, the game's focus is on exploration and curiosity, where players are free to wander without the constraints of typical guides or quest markers. Surprisingly, players can skip a considerable portion of the world and still complete the game. However, the world is so beautifully crafted and brimming with life that it beckons players to uncover all the hidden gems and side locations. The environments are masterfully crafted, and you can't help but be drawn in by their alluring beauty.

In addition to the convenience of fast travel to specific locations, your loyal companion, Torrent the Spirit Steed, is the perfect way to traverse the vast world of Elden Ring. Riding on horseback not only makes combat more exhilarating, but it also allows you to perform the incredible feat of double jumping with ease. Who wouldn't love a double-jumping horse? Despite its initial charm, however, Torrent's tiny health pool and unusual susceptibility to fall damage can quickly become a source of frustration and disappointment for some players, myself included.

Co-Op and PvP

One notable aspect of Elden Ring that can greatly impact your overall experience is its multiplayer component. Although I personally played the game mostly in solo mode, the multiplayer aspect can significantly enhance the gameplay and provide more enjoyment for some players. Engaging in multiplayer modes allows you to team up with other players, embark on quests together, and battle foes cooperatively. Additionally, for some players, the PvP combat aspect of multiplayer can be the ultimate end game experience, providing an extra layer of excitement and challenge. Overall, while the single-player campaign of Elden Ring is a great experience in itself, the multiplayer modes can take it to the next level for those who seek to engage with others and push their skills to the limit.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Elden Ring is an exceptional game that delivers on every aspect, from its immersive open world to its dynamic combat system. FromSoftware has once again raised the bar with this game, offering players a vast range of unique play styles, including the ability to summon spirits to help in combat. While the game is challenging, the spirit system provides a much-needed accessibility boost, making it more enjoyable for a wider range of players. The world of Lands Between is beautifully crafted and begs to be explored, and the addition of Torrent, the Spirit Steed, makes traversing the world even more exciting. Overall, Elden Ring is a must-play game that showcases FromSoftware's mastery in game development and storytelling.

You’ll like this game if you like:

Exploration and Adventure. Elden Ring is an expansive game that invites players into a world of discovery and adventure. With vast landscapes to explore, hidden secrets to uncover, and unexpected encounters around every corner, the game promises to keep players engaged and entertained for hours on end. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a newcomer to the genre, Elden Ring offers an experience like no other.

Player Customization. One of the most appealing aspects of Elden Ring is its versatility in terms of play styles. With options for magic, faith, and multiple different weapons, players can customize their gameplay experience to suit their preferences. This flexibility allows for a high degree of replayability and ensures that players never tire of the game's mechanics.

Fluid combat is another key feature of Elden Ring, and one that sets it apart from other games in the genre. The combat system is fast-paced, dynamic, and responsive, allowing players to execute complex manoeuvres and chain together devastating combos. From the satisfying clash of steel on steel to the visceral impact of a well-timed strike, the combat in Elden Ring is sure to leave players feeling empowered and engaged.

Rewarding fights and challenges

You probably won’t like this if you:

For players who dislike missing out on certain quests and weapons, progressing through certain points will make them inaccessible.

While the game is easier in a lot of ways, it still poses a significant challenge for some players.

Elden Ring follows the storytelling philosophy of “show rather than tell,” which can be frustrating for some players. The story and lore are often obscure and hard to follow, which can detract from the overall experience.

Scoring

--{ ? / 10 }--- ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ 6 ☐ 7 ☐ 8 ☐ 9 ☑ 10

--{ Gameplay }--- ☑ Very good ☐ Good ☐ It's just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Watch paint dry instead ☐ Just don't

--{ Audience }--- ☐ Kids ☑ Teens ☑ Adults ☐ Grandma

--{ PC Requirements }--- ☐ Check if you can run paint ☐ Potato ☐ Decent ☑ Fast ☐ Rich boi ☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

--{ Grind }--- ☐ Nothing to grind ☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks ☐ Isn't necessary to progress ☑ Average grind level ☐ Too much grind ☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

--{ Game Time }--- ☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee ☐ Short ☐ Average ☑ Long ☐ To infinity and beyond

--{ Graphics }--- ☐ You forget what reality is ☑ Beautiful ☐ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ☐ MS-DOS

--{ Audio }--- ☐ Eargasm ☑ Very good ☐ Good ☐ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ I'm now deaf

--{ Difficulty }--- ☐ Just press 'W' ☐ Easy ☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master ☐ Significant brain usage ☐ Difficult ☑ Dark Souls

--{ Story }--- ☐ No Story ☐ Some lore ☐ Average ☐ Good ☑ Lovely ☐ It'll replace your life

--{ Price }--- ☐ It's free! ☑ Worth the price ☐ If it's on sale ☐ If u have some spare money left ☐ Not recommended ☐ You could also just burn your money

--{ Bugs }--- ☐ Never heard of ☑ Minor bugs ☐ Can get annoying ☐ ARK: Survival Evolved ☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs