Elden Ring – Review
While exploring the open world of Elden Ring, I’ve experienced the most potent sensations of grandeur that I’ve ever encountered. Its vastness and sense of openness contrast beautifully with the lingering terrors that pervade its desolate landscapes. FromSoftware also presents a robust mechanical evolution of its Soulsborne formula, providing an unprecedented level of character diversity, allowing the player to face the many creatures of this world in any manner they choose. FromSoftware. For all its shortcomings, the game still managed to keep me guessing right up until the very end.
Playstation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X gamers will all agree that it’s one of the best.
In Elden Ring’s open world, familiarity, staggering spectacle, and the tranquilly of nature are carefully woven together. You’re trudging through a shallow lake filled with poisonous spores when a gigantic dragon soars over a horde of foes huddled around a bonfire just as you pass by. Fear grips every part of your body once a health bar appears at the bottom of the screen.
In another scene, you’re scurrying up a mountainside as a pack of wolves descends from the trees above, creating a sense of dread for what lies ahead. For those who rush in one direction, an oddly placed collection of rocks explodes into a glowing stone golem, which stumbles toward you with a murderous conviction.”‘
The world of FromSoftware is more than just a grandiose display. Moments to take a breath are plentiful in the game’s environments, which appear to be inspired by Scotland’s expansive landscapes. Elden Ring isn’t just about fighting; riding through its vast mountainous plains is just as exhilarating. Although the world is rife with monsters, seeing herds of deer weave through forest thickets provides a sense of calm.
When viewed from afar, an area has the appearance of a fantasy painting. FromSoftware’s art style evokes the same ethereal feeling in the player as it does in other games when they look up at the towering yellow trees and the castle perched on the edge of a cliff. When the player spots something in the distance, they know they can get there. Many of Soulsborne’s large kingdoms, cities, and natural areas were simply backdrops. Everything visible in Elden Ring can be accessed.
They may stumble across an area as beautiful as those created by FromSoftware while traversing these open fields. A player may notice something intriguing while scanning a vast area and wonder how they can get there. Elden Ring is unique in that it allows the player to discover secrets that lead to some of the game’s most memorable moments, unlike Soulsborne, which often presents areas in a linear fashion.
If you’re a newbie, you’ll find the Lands Between to be the most welcoming of all the Soulsborne. These worlds are teeming with wildlife and beautiful scenery, and they place a high value on player agency.
Avoiding your boss is an option if you’re fed up with them. Elden Ring is massive, as evidenced by Tree Sentinel’s placement in the game’s opening sequence. There is no harm in attempting to defeat him, but it should be obvious that you lack the necessary training and resources. Traveling to other parts of Limgrave allows players to level up and acquire new items such as weapons and spells. This approachability is further bolstered by the map system, which allows you to teleport around the world, mark important landmarks, and gain a better grasp of the surrounding landscape.
Elden Ring lacks Dark Souls’ oppressive hopelessness. Rather than throwing the players into the midst of a dark fantasy, The Lands Between offers a glimmer of hope. For the first time in the series, FromSoftware has swapped oppression for freedom with Elden Ring.
To be sure, FromSoftware hasn’t abandoned the game’s well-known structure in favour of Elden Ring’s liberating open world. Legacy Dungeons can be found throughout The Lands Between and are similar to the classic areas in Soulsborne.
When you know where the massive castle you just explored is located within a region, you gain a new perspective on the scope of the world. Because FromSoftware is a master of atmosphere in the medium, these classic areas are nothing short of spectacular. There is nothing like the feeling of making your way to the top of Stormveil Castle for the very first time. In the midst of a blizzard of clouds and wind, the company should be squaring off against a terrifying figure on a weathered bridge leading up to an enormous castle.
Open-world design principles are applied to the Legacy Dungeons of Elden Ring. These spaces can be explored in a non-linear fashion through secret paths and areas. To find secret items, you can leap across rooftops, fall down into lower levels, or hop up tiny bricks. There is an entrance and a boss in each of these locations, but the rest is up to you.
Legacy Dungeons are excellent because they don’t just feel like a Bloodborne area has been inserted into the world of Elden Ring. They can instead be explored in a variety of ways, revealing striking visuals, excellent level design, and memorable battles.
Dark Souls 3’s combat is bolstered by new systems introduced by Elden Ring. Ashes of War enhances the basic abilities of weapons while also altering the weapon’s affinity. Elden Ring, unlike previous Soulsborne games, gives the player a lot of leeway when it comes to building their weapon.
If you want to change the affinities of your weapons, even if you reset your character stats, you can do so quickly and easily. To make it work best with Dexterity, I have my Uchigatana set to the Keen affinity. Going to a Grace point and selecting the “Ash of War” menu will do the trick. For no additional cost, I can switch between Intelligence and Faith or Strength and Strength at any time. Special weapons in the game, on the other hand, cannot have their Ashes of War affinities or special abilities altered in any way.
Additionally, Ashes of War can be used to perform a special move that costs Focus Points. When I let go of my Uchigatana, my character will unleash a devastating strike on whatever is in front of them, which they will do by sheathing the weapon.
Experimentation is encouraged more than ever before with the freedom to switch between Ashes of War, upgrade weapons, and change affinities. I use a variety of weapons and magical abilities in order to win each battle, and I frequently switch back and forth between them. For example, I can use my character’s hands to smash the ground and release an icy wave, or I can use my health points to channel them into an extremely powerful bloodslash, or I can use two swords to imbue them with holy light.
Although this may be an oversimplification of the difficulty of Soulsborne, learning to dodge at the right time is a major factor in the series’ difficulty. By encouraging the player to parry, jump, and counter, Sekiro added more complexity.
Elden Ring has done a similar thing by introducing jumping, mounted combat, and crouching into the equation. It’s safer to jump over these attacks than to roll through them, as the shockwaves can travel a long distance. Even though it may seem like a silly thing to get excited about, the addition of a jump button has a significant impact on the battle, forcing players into a new mindset. However, it is much more difficult to roll through these attacks than to simply leap into the air and perform them.
You can mount up at any time in the open world, even in the midst of a battle. A Flask of Crimson Tears, which is the game’s equivalent of an Estus Flask, must be consumed in order to resurrect a dead mount (health potion). Players will encounter situations where summoning their mount is the only way to avoid an attack. No matter how fast you ride, the horse will not be able to get away from an enemy’s breath attack or ability that targets a particular area. Because being knocked off your mount can leave you vulnerable for a long period of time, you must be careful when using this tactic.
Allows players the ability to hide in the shadows and sneak up on unsuspecting enemies for devastating backstabs at any time Stealth isn’t just useful for sneak attacks; it can also be used to cast spells that take a long time to work.
Players can also perform a counter slash by pressing the heavy attack button when an enemy hits their shield. Depending on your build, this may or may not be useful against all foes.
In addition, Elden Ring introduces Ashes, which are the ghosts of previously encountered characters (friend or foe). It’s possible to improve these in the same way you would a weapon, and they come in handy in open world combat. In The Lands Between, the number of enemies that Elden Ring can hurl at the player can be relentless at times, and although I haven’t used Ashes much, it has saved my life on more than one occasion.
Due to the vastness of Elden Ring’s universe, the difficulty of the game can be unpredictable at times. It’s possible to make it through the entire fort, kill nearly every enemy, and take down the boss on the first try. After that, you’ll have to slog through a kingdom submerged in toxic sludge and die a dozen times before facing off against the boss, who will absolutely whip you into shape in the process. This is the first time in Soulsborne that I’ve deliberately used weaker weapons during easier parts of the game. If you’re a fan of challenge, Elden Ring’s nonlinearity will give you a few moments of relief. The game, on the other hand, has the most difficult boss I’ve ever encountered.
Many FromSoftware games in recent years have put a strong emphasis on the player-versus-boss interaction. The game’s first area, Limgrave, contains a slew of bosses that can be found just about anywhere in the game’s vast world. Even more brutal than in Dark Souls 3, these enemies’ movesets are unpredictable and challenging to master.
Bosses and other enemies frequently use multiple chain attacks that are timed to confuse the player into rolling early. Bosses have a wide range of movement, and now that jumping has been introduced, players are often asked to incorporate that into their fighting style.
Open world boss battles are at their most exciting when encircled by dense forests, crumbling ruins, and fortified camps, as gigantic dragons can carve through the landscape with brutality, adding to the overall sense of spectacle. In addition, the day/night cycle gives each fight its own distinct flavour, and certain bosses can only be faced at certain times of the day.
Even though most of the open world’s bosses are fantastic, you’ll notice that the terrain structure can lead to some stuttering. Bosses will vanish and reappear if you lead them outside of their designated area. When I don’t intend for it to happen, it can stop the momentum and disrupt the immersion. It’s also possible for bosses to swat at you through the ground when fighting on different levels of terrain. In my experience, this hasn’t happened to me often, but it has happened more than a few times to my bosses, too.
In open-world video games, you can expect certain elements to be present even if you travel to new locations. In Elden Ring, players can expect to see ruins, shacks, churches, and Evergaols scattered throughout the world in similar fashion to those seen elsewhere. You can find a treasure chest at the bottom of the stairway in the ruins, which is home to a particular group of enemies. There may be a boss or a non-player character, but the overall structure is the same.
Shacks are tiny huts that can be found all over the world, often with a Grace point inside of them (essentially a Bonfire). There may also be an NPC in the area, such as a merchant or a quest-giver, at times. Similarly, churches serve the same purpose as rest areas, often containing NPCs or other unique items.
In the centre of each of the evergaols, there is a glowing circle. Evergaol takes you to a misty version of that part of the world, where you must face off against a boss. You can’t mount up or use Ashes here, so it’s more like a confined encounter than a free-roaming one. Even though some of the bosses are disappointing, the majority of them are entertaining, so this is my favourite part of the game.
There’s nothing more egregious about this video game than its mini-dungeons, which are small underground areas that switch between cave, mine shaft, and catacomb in a matter of seconds. Players run through tight spaces littered with enemies until they reach a boss similar to Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons. There’s always something new to discover, whether it’s a new puzzle in the catacombs or an ever-deeper mine shaft. Eventually, I was so exhausted whenever I came across one that I couldn’t stand it any longer. Because so many of these mini-dungeons end up with an upscaled version of an ordinary enemy with an increased health bar, they need more variety.
It is rare for ruins to be intertwined with their surroundings due to the difficulty in identifying the civilization that once occupied the area. There are no actual buildings in this game; instead, the only purpose of these structures is to reward the player with a new item when they’re completed. Even in the depths of one of its basements, you’ll only find a room with a chest and nothing else. Shacks, churches, and towers all look the same in the game and serve the same purpose: padding out the wilderness.
However, this provides the player with something to do, but it lacks an exciting purpose or aesthetic shift. Although these sections can be repetitive, they often detract from the fantastic momentum of the game’s most exciting moments, which is fine. Some of the world’s churches, ruins, and towers can be intriguing, revealing the structures’ potential through the presence of a boss, a singular NPC, or an arresting visual you wouldn’t expect.
There is a lot of variety in The Lands Between, but it can be a drag at times to fight the same boss twice or trudge through another white, candlelit dungeon. The vastness of the world means you’ll have to deal with an overwhelming number of different types of enemies. A wide variety of monsters and hazards await you in every corner of the game world, from giant crabs to golems to wolves and trolls to plants.
While many bosses exist, seeing the fifth identical version of a particular boss you despise can be exhausting. Most open-world bosses in Elden Ring are reused at least twice. This isn’t a big deal if it was limited to a few. This monotony can wear on viewers, especially in a show known for its inventiveness.
In the beginning, the game seemed promising. In Limgrave, the player will come face to face with a terrifying Tree Sentinel, scream in terror at the sight of a dragon crashing into a lake, and discover an undead mariner summoning skeletons to a beleaguered town………. In the first section of the game, there is a strong expectation that future areas will continue to maintain this level of excitement. However, in the final area, each open-world boss is reworked. Even though Elden Ring has numerous areas to explore, they don’t all have their own unique architecture, enemies, or even bosses.
Crafting and cooking are introduced by Elden Ring. While hunting for meat and bones or harvesting foliage to collect plants and berries, you’ll also be able to craft unique items through the crafting menu during gameplay. To name a few, you can make arrows, perfumes, cured meat, throwing knives, boluses, and explosive pots. In the open world, there are numerous recipe books, and the more you have, the more you can craft.
In the end, what you make is a matter of context. The clawed eagles may be in a cluster and you need to make throwing knives to lure them out. Alternatively, if a particular boss is constantly using a one-hit kill on you, you concoct a perfume that gives your character a protective bubble to significantly reduce the damage from that one strike. A more typical Soulsborne scenario is that you’ve stepped in green goo for too long and are now frantically searching for Neutralizing Boluses to restore your health.
It’s a brilliant idea to include periphery items in the crafting menu, because it allows players to distinguish between the various loot they find in the catacombs. Because the player is given more control over their inventory, they can choose the most valuable bonus items. If the player wants to craft something specific, the material description will tell them where to find it. Golden Sunflower and Golden Centipede are two of the most important ingredients in crafting a Sacred Order Pot, which would allow me to throw a pot that deals holy damage. For one, it’s “found near Minor Erdtrees,” whereas for the other, it’s “found near churches and similar.” Although these descriptions can be a little vague at times, when it comes to crafting, they can be extremely helpful.
The Flask of Wondrous Physick, introduced by Elden Ring, is a potion that grants powerful benefits based on the two boons it contains. Infinite refills are possible with this potion and it is replenished at a grace point. My current Flask of Wondrous Physick improves dodge rolls and increases stamina recovery. One sip is all that’s required between resting points, but before a tough boss, it’s invaluable. Other boons can increase damage to specific elements, protect the user from a single attack, or heal the user.
The Furlcalling Finger Remedy can also be made in the crafting menu using a common leaf found in the game’s open world. The ability to see summon signs and to start cooperative play is provided by this item. Elden Ring is the easiest game in the Soulsborne series to play cooperatively due to the abundance of materials required to make it. In addition to the ease of use, the open world design makes multiplayer a breeze.
Dark Souls and Bloodborne have eerie sound design, terrifying enemies, sparse music, and a world overrun by death. So, I’ve never been a fan of jumping into a Discord call with friends and teaming up to take on a Soulsborne. The loneliness I crave when playing these games can only be alleviated by having a companion by my side. Enemies rarely feel appropriate in multiplayer due to the claustrophobic nature of many areas.
Elden Ring, on the other hand, is unique. The game’s sound design is still dominated by the clanging of metal boots, gusts of wind blowing through the grass, and the low crackling of fire, but these vast plains are alive with boars, rabbits, and birds. In contrast to Dark Souls, Elden Ring’s landscapes are vibrant and lush, making exploration with a companion a natural fit. Playing with others, I think this is the best Soulsborne out there!
When teleporting to a place of grace, Elden Ring has a few issues, but the most noticeable one is that the game crashed three times. There are also a few objects in the world that aren’t loading properly. There were glitches in Stormveil Castle’s gate mechanism as my characters turned it, for example. Nothing else was found wrong.
Many graphical options are available in Elden Ring. Graphics quality settings can be set to maximum, high, medium, or low in the graphics tab. In addition to changing the SSAO, depth of field and textures, these also affect antialiasing and motion blur as well as the quality of shadows, lighting effects, volumetrics and reflection on water and grass.
The aspect ratio will be restricted to 16:9 because Elden Ring does not support ultra-wide displays. It’s nothing new for FromSoftware games, but it would be nice if the company started thinking about increasing the resolution options available to its players.
Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne’s Yharnam are more imaginative worlds than Elden Ring. What we have instead is an open world full of breathtaking sights and exciting encounters that combines everything we love and expect from FromSoftware. It’s also the team’s most complex RPG yet, with a wide range of interesting quests and a wide range of character builds.
If Breath of the Wild hypnotised you last year, The Lands Between is sure to do the same for you this year. Unfortunately, this series’ greatest moments are overshadowed by mediocre mini-dungeons, recycled boss fights, and a lack of variety in enemies.
FromSoftware’s latest masterpiece, Elden Ring, has a few flaws. It’s one of the best open-world games I’ve ever played, and a strong contender for the year’s best video game.
