Elden Ring
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, PS4 and PS5
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release Date: 25th February 2022
Many people say Elden Ring looks like Dark Souls however, in my opinion, I believe it is a bit like it but not like it, this is an Open World Adventure Game, and this is a world full of life and story. However what kind of game is it? What can we expect? What makes this unique compare to many different open worlds adventure game in the past? I had the opportunity of checking the game during the tech test over the weekend and this is my story. This is a game that will for sure be one of my Game of the Year for 2022 and it is for sure shaping to become something really special.
What is Elden Ring?
It is the source of the power of the Erdtree which has been shattered in the Lands Between ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal, rising from the ashes of the War known as The Shattering you will be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord in the Lands Between. The journey will be harsh and long, and of course you will die but then you will rise again like a champion and continue to fight and explore the land, from the creator of the Dark Souls Series and story written by George R.R. Martin, Elden Ring is a game not like any other game because the world is limitless.
Image From Software/Bandai Namco
What do I think of this game so far?
During the weekend Tech Test, I was able to play Elden Ring for a good 6 hours and I can tell you one thing, I have died more than 100 times rather it was from fighting a dragon, or a monster, even Soldiers who made camp near ruins. It is for sure not an easy game, there are times I love games that are quite challenging and this is for sure one of them. For someone who has played Dark Souls before and other games that have similar features, I can tell you Elden Ring is a whole new level not just by the combat or questing but in terms of open-world exploration. Elden Ring is out of this world awesome, this is the game that gives the word “Open World Action Adventure” the true meaning.
The game is set in a world that is beautiful beyond anything I have ever seen but also it is harsh because you never know what to expect whenever you travel through ruins, swamps, or caves. I love every moment of exploring, there are hidden collectibles, strange NPC you meet during your travel and one thing that was very cool was these messages that were left on the ground from other players, since Elden ring is a game that is online with PVP and co-op. If you decide to play single player without any other players you will see their ghost of what they did or what their last moments were by interacting with the messages they left for us.
Most of the time I have been traveling by foot and it is not easy because running around does deplete your stamina which is the most important stat you have because combat revolves around everything on your stamina from attacking to defending or dodging. However, there is a solution to that and that is your mount you can have, I was able to find my trusty horse from progressing a bit into the story when I visited one of the sites of graces (Camp checkpoint). These mini-camp stops are important because here is where you can tweak your weapon and armor, change your stats, your potions, and also these are your last save point just in case if you died.
Image From Software/Bandai Namco
Mounted combat in Elden Ring follows the same principles as in Dark Souls where precision hits, block timing, and a wide range of different weapons you can use. Fighting against an enemy who is mounted isn’t an easy feat, it is almost like you are both getting ready to duel and waiting for who makes the first move. One thing I use was my spear and shield in order to unmount an enemy who was charging directly towards me, my goal was to aim for the horse because once they are unmounted, I have the advantage and sometimes it is easy but other times it can be challenging, everything depends on timing.
If you love crafting and finding resources Elden Ring has it all, however, when you died you do lose everything so when you do get resurrected you will have to find where you died in order to pick up your stuff but then again if you died while trying to get to your items it will be lost. Everything in Elden Ring revolves from crafting and finding resources so you can either have an advantage when fighting tons of enemies or just to prepare yourself before a boss fight. One cool mechanic is the Flask of Wondrous Physick, which allows you to mix crystal tears to create your own concoctions, these can either buff your character or debuff your enemies. So far, I was able to make something that gives your stamina, health, and one that is called “Ruptured Crystal Tear” Which has to be my favorite because it can cause your character to explode but also replenish your stamina.
For anyone who plays the Dark Souls games, the controllers are quite similar along with the core combat systems. One thing to keep in mind is that the game is all about the Stealth feature similar to another game I enjoy FromSoftware is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, an example players can sneak past enemies by crouching in grass or hit them with sleep arrows to knock them out. So if you are familiar with both Sekiro or Dark Souls then the control is the same. The characters and the monster’s designs were done in a wonderful and frighting way that the Monsters are terrifying even in a weak state that you always have to be cautious and on your feet all the time, the characters from your character to the NPC such as Melina who is your spirit guide in the game was done in a beautiful way from the voice acting to Character Features such as hair color, face and etc.
It has been two weeks since I play the tech test for Elden Ring, and I can say for sure this is going to be my game in 2022. Elden Ring is a challenging game for sure, FromSoftware did an amazing job so far for giving us what we have but like any other games, they still have time to change and add more stuff into this amazing game. There are things where I did hope they make it easier like adding a mini-map or something that can help me navigate the world, but I am not too much bother because I get distracted by how beautiful the World of Elden Ring is and this also gives me the opportunity to find resources on the way and continue improving my combat skills because these fights are not easy for sure, if you are fighting one boss (A Dragon that shall not be named) which I couldn’t defeat and probably died at least 25 times. But after playing for a few hours, I did enjoy the game a lot. That makes me want to come back and play more and more, I can’t wait for what magical Surprises they going to add in February 2022, and just can’t wait to play it when it launches.
A Code for the Tech Test was provided for preview from Bandai Namco Entertainment.
