Then again, maybe I just wanted to take in the beautiful visuals which are indisputably the best FromSoftware has ever created.Įlden Ring strikes an impressive balance between its interior and exterior spaces, with plenty of labyrinthine buildings and claustrophobic dungeons that offset the rest of the game’s expansiveness. In fact, I’d sometimes skip fast traveling altogether so I could take out enemies to earn runes - essentially your currency and XP - and discover items I might’ve missed. Thanks to your horse and the ability to fast travel, getting around is never tedious. Beyond that, a cave full of bug creatures dares you to explore. The next, you find yourself amidst a vast castle. One moment, you stumble upon a beach littered with deadly crabs. You feel simultaneously terrified and excited when entering a new section because you know deadly enemies await, but there’s no other way to level up and become stronger. Like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring is driven by an underlying sense of discovery and mystery. But unlike its predecessors, Elden Ring features an expansive open world that never feels empty. Tutorials and hand-holding are scarce, and the UI is quite similar. ![]() Bandai NamcoĮlden Ring will instantly feel familiar to anyone who’s played the Dark Souls games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, or Bloodborne. No stone unturnedįromSoftware’s first attempt at an open world is stunning. Instead, developer FromSoftware weaves its familiar formula into a massive playground so expertly that we can’t help but wonder how we ever played Dark Souls without it. This isn’t just Dark Souls with an open world tacked on. That was just the first of many bosses in the game.Įlden Ring is filled with little moments like this one, whether they be tense, jaw-clenching battles, an unnerving journey through a poisonous lake, or a triumphant victory over an enemy who has been a thorn in your side for hours. A wave of relief washes over me as the monster crumbles. ![]() The epic music crescendos as the boss pulls back its arm to unleash a killing blow, but not before my attack connects with a crunch. It’s one I’ve used countless times, but it seems to take an eternity to charge while the boss approaches. Immediately, I ready my most powerful melee attack. ![]() But then, I look at the boss’ health bar and see what I’ve been wanting to see for hours: just a sliver left. Then, the enormous creature rears back and in one fell swoop sends Rogier flying to his death. As the giant, horned beast towers over us, hurling spells and slamming its hammer down, Rogier somehow avoids getting hit - all while I cast my own incantations from afar. My beloved adventuring partner has been at alarmingly low health for a large portion of this Elden Ring boss fight, and it’s unlikely he’ll make it out alive. Sorcerer Rogier is on the brink of death, but I can’t do it alone.
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