Game:

Elden Ring (2022)

Category:

Review

Duration: 10:45

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My thoughts on Elden Ring. A QUICK REVIEW.

I decided pretty early on to discontinue coverage of Elden RIng leading up to the Release. It was an attempt to preserve the excitement of Discovery and to enhance Exploring this new Open world Souls Experience. However, I did not plan on logging 200 hours on the game before releasing any content whatsoever. Ive decided to compile my thoughts on From Softs latest game, Not really to give it a score, But more of a review of my experience with Elden Ring.

DIFFICULTY
I want to tackle Difficulty first. Just get it out of the way. Talking with other people about Elden Ring tends to revolve around how Hard or Easy the game is. While undenyably part of the experience, Elden ring handles Difficulty more like an open world game would. Giving you ample means to enhance your Character. Littering the lands between are Caves, Tunnels, Catacombs, Churches, Ruins, Forts, Manors, and more. All filled with Items and Abilities that will in turn make your player Stronger, and more likely to succeed against whatever monstrousity you might Stumble upon.
Playing blind through Elden Ring, It sometimes felt a bit unbalanced. For example early on, I explored far to the East from the start and picked fights with Enemies that allowed very little chance of success. So, I went elsewhere and continued my quest to the north beyond Stormveil. Later I returned to the Red zone to find, I was killing Bosses in 2 to 3 normal attacks. I doubt either of these scenarios is the intended Difficulty of said bosses. Without Careful planning or dumb luck, A lot of boss fight could easily lean toward Over whelming or UnderWhelming the player.
But fear not, the Endgame Content seems to be balanced fairly well for a player that has Adventured the lands between, seeking challenges and claiming the treasures hidden all across the world. That is to say. From my experience the Late game bosses step it up a notch. However by exploring and gaining strength, i never ran out of things to kill or places to go. There was never a need to grind for runes, because late game bosses bestow more than enough. With the amount of these bosses that are optional, I could see a complete playtrough getting the player to level 170 or beyond. I finished my first playthrough at Level 150 and was over powered for almost every situation. Obviously this is different for everyone. I'm just reporting my experience.
How does this stack up to a game Like dark souls? I would put Elden Ring content on Par with bosses from Dark souls 3. So you can expect a wide range of designs, all with varying difficulties. From gimmick fights like Yhorm the Giant, to high energy rumbles with sword wielding maniacs, with multiple phases. It's all here, and there are some really memorable fights, dispite the sheer volume.
BOSSES
That leads me into Bosses. I can't really write a Review of a Souls game and leave out Bosses, and there are some doozies. However I'd like to start off addressing the reuse of generic bosses, and my thoughts on why it works here. While one could easily criticize from soft for injecting the Same boss into multiple dungeons across the lands, there are a couple benifits to this design approach. First off it gives you another chance to face off against a boss you've previously felled. Perhaps giving you a better chance at fighting it closer to suitable level. Love it or hate it i think reusing bosses makes these lesser bosses a bit more memorable.
ShardBearers are another story. There are a few other Non shardbearers i would include here too. Fights you can just tell a lot of time and attention went into. What people have dubbed their "set Piece Bosses" Generally the main line Characters, Godrick, Morgott, Rennalla, Etc. These bosses exude an extreme level of polish, that is quite easily picked up on. My problem with the Lesser bosses is not being re used, but rather outclassed in every way to the more polished Main Bosses.
ART/GRAPHICS

By now you've probably seen the game in action, so i won't get too bogged down on Graphics. I have been Running the ps5 version on ps5, and it's a step up from dark souls 3. Graphically speaking. Actual artstyle and atmosphere included, i feel it's several steps above dark souls 3. I don't really want to compare it to other titles, because I think that's the closest comparison that can really be made regarding graphics. These games aren't made with the intention to create the best looking game possible. Graphical fidelity seems to take a side seat during production, being especailly true for Elden Ring considering how ambitious an endever its creation was for From Software. Not to say Elden Ring doesn't look Amazing, it does. In fact heres some footage of my favorite locals. If you don't want to be spoiled please avert your eyes momentarily, while i roll these clips.

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