Elden Ring Game Review

A Masterpiece of Open-World Fantasy and Brutal Challenge

Game Introduction

FromSoftware, the creators of the Dark Souls series, teamed up with George R.R. Martin, the acclaimed author of A Song of Ice and Fire, to deliver Elden Ring, a game that has redefined the action RPG genre. Released on February 25, 2022, Elden Ring combines the punishing difficulty and intricate world-building of FromSoftware’s previous titles with a vast, open-world design. The result is a game that has been universally praised for its depth, creativity, and sheer scale. Set in the Lands Between, a world shattered by the destruction of the Elden Ring, players take on the role of the Tarnished, exiles called back to restore order and become the Elden Lord. With its breathtaking visuals, haunting soundtrack, and unparalleled gameplay, Elden Ring is a landmark title that has set a new standard for open-world RPGs.

Gameplay and Features: A Deep Dive into Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a game that thrives on its intricate gameplay mechanics and rich features, offering players a deeply engaging experience. Below, we break down the gameplay and features in detail, exploring what makes this title stand out in the action RPG genre.

Core Gameplay Loop

The heart of Elden Ring revolves around its core gameplay loop: explore the world, defeat enemies, gather resources, and improve your character to face even greater challenges. This loop is as addictive as ever, but Elden Ring introduces several new mechanics and refinements that make it more accessible and expansive than previous FromSoftware titles.

1. Exploration and Discovery:
   The Lands Between is a vast, interconnected open world filled with diverse biomes, hidden dungeons, and formidable enemies. Players are encouraged to explore every corner of the map, uncovering secrets, treasures, and lore. The game’s lack of hand-holding means that discovery feels organic and rewarding.

2. Combat and Character Progression:
   Combat in Elden Ring is deep and varied, with a wide range of weapons, spells, and abilities to choose from. Players can customize their playstyle, whether they prefer melee combat, ranged attacks, or magic. The game’s progression system allows players to level up their characters, improving attributes like strength, dexterity, and intelligence.

3. Boss Encounters:
   Boss fights are a hallmark of FromSoftware games, and Elden Ring delivers some of the most memorable encounters in the series. Each boss has unique mechanics and devastating attacks, requiring players to adapt their strategies and learn from their mistakes.

Combat Mechanics

Elden Ring builds upon the combat systems of previous FromSoftware games while introducing new features that add depth and variety.

1. Weapon Types and Skills:
   The game offers a wide variety of weapons, each with its own moveset and special abilities. Players can equip two weapons at a time, allowing for quick switches between different combat styles. Weapons can also be infused with Ashes of War, which grants new skills and elemental effects.

2. Magic and Incantations:
   Magic in Elden Ring is divided into Sorceries and Incantations. Sorceries focus on offensive spells, while Incantations include healing and buffs. Players can equip spells at Sites of Grace (the game’s checkpoints) and use them in combat, provided they have the required stats and FP (Focus Points).

3. Guard Counters and Stealth:
   Guard Counters are a new mechanic that allows players to perform a powerful counterattack after blocking an enemy’s strike. This adds a layer of strategy to combat, rewarding precise timing and positioning.
   Stealth is another new addition, allowing players to sneak up on enemies for critical hits. This is particularly useful for avoiding tough encounters or thinning out groups of enemies.

4. Spirit Ashes:
   Spirit Ashes are spectral allies that can be summoned to assist in battle. These range from wolves and archers to powerful knights and mages. Each Spirit Ash has its own strengths and weaknesses, and players can upgrade them using resources found throughout the world.

Open-World Exploration

Elden Ring’s open world is one of its most praised features, offering a sense of freedom and discovery that sets it apart from previous FromSoftware titles.

1. The Lands Between:
   The game’s world is divided into several regions, each with its own unique biome and challenges. From the lush forests of Limgrave to the fiery peaks of Mt. Gelmir, every area is meticulously designed and filled with secrets.

2. Torrent the Mount:
   Torrent is a spectral steed that players can summon to traverse the world quickly. Mounted combat is also possible, adding a new dimension to battles. Torrent’s double jump allows players to reach otherwise inaccessible areas, encouraging exploration.

3. Dungeons and Catacombs:
   Scattered throughout the world are numerous dungeons and catacombs, each with its own layout, enemies, and boss. These areas offer valuable rewards, including weapons, armor, and crafting materials.

4. Stakes of Marika and Sites of Grace:
   Stakes of Marika act as secondary checkpoints, allowing players to respawn closer to boss fights. Sites of Grace are the primary checkpoints, where players can level up, rest, and fast travel. These features make exploration less punishing and more enjoyable.

Character Customization and Progression

Elden Ring offers extensive character customization and progression options, allowing players to tailor their experience to their preferred playstyle.

1. Classes and Starting Builds:
   Players can choose from several classes at the start of the game, each with its own starting stats and equipment. These classes serve as a foundation, but players are free to develop their characters in any direction.

2. Leveling Up and Stats:
   Players earn runes by defeating enemies, which can be used to level up at Sites of Grace. Each level increases one of the character’s attributes, such as strength, dexterity, or intelligence. This system allows for a high degree of customization, as players can focus on specific stats to suit their playstyle.

3. Crafting and Upgrades:
   The game introduces a crafting system, allowing players to create consumables like arrows, bombs, and healing items. This system adds another layer of preparation and strategy, especially for challenging encounters.

Weapons and armor can be upgraded using materials found throughout the world, ensuring that players are constantly improving their gear to face tougher challenges.

Multiplayer and Co-op

Elden Ring includes both cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, adding a social dimension to the experience.

1. Co-op Play:
   Players can summon others to help with difficult bosses or explore the world together. Co-op is seamless, with players able to drop in and out of each other’s games using summoning signs.

2. PvP and Invasions:
   Players can invade other worlds to engage in PvP combat, adding an element of unpredictability and challenge. The game also features dedicated PvP arenas for those looking for more structured battles.

Quality of Life Improvements

Elden Ring introduces several quality-of-life improvements that make the game more accessible and enjoyable:

• Streamlined Exploration: The inclusion of a map and fast travel system makes navigating the world easier.
• Improved Tutorials: The game provides more detailed tutorials and tooltips, helping newcomers understand its mechanics.
• Accessibility Options: Features like adjustable difficulty and customizable controls make the game more inclusive.

Story Narrative: A Tale of Shattered Power

The story of Elden Ring is steeped in mystery and grandeur, with lore crafted by George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki. The Lands Between was once ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal, who maintained order through the Elden Ring, a powerful artifact. However, the Ring was shattered, and Marika’s demigod children, each possessing a shard of the Ring, plunged the world into chaos.

As the Tarnished, players are called back to the Lands Between to repair the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord. The narrative is delivered through environmental storytelling, cryptic dialogue, and item descriptions, encouraging players to piece together the lore themselves.

Key characters include:

• Melina: A mysterious woman who serves as your guide and grants the ability to level up.
• Ranni the Witch: An enigmatic figure with her own agenda, offering an alternate ending.
• Godrick the Grafted: One of the demigods, a grotesque figure who grafts limbs onto his body to gain power.

The story is rich and layered, with multiple endings depending on player choices and actions.

Graphics and Sound: A Visual and Auditory Masterpiece

Elden Ring is a visual triumph with stunning landscapes, intricate character designs, and atmospheric lighting. The game’s art direction blends dark fantasy with surreal beauty, creating a world that feels both haunting and awe-inspiring.

1. Graphics:
   The game’s open world is meticulously detailed, with each biome offering a distinct visual identity. From the golden Erdtree dominating the skyline to the eerie glow of the underground Siofra River, every location is a feast for the eyes.
   Character and enemy designs are equally impressive, with bosses like Radahn and Malenia standing out as some of the most visually striking in gaming history.

2. Sound Design and Music:
   The soundtrack, composed by Yuka Kitamura and others, is a perfect blend of orchestral grandeur and haunting melodies. Each boss fight is accompanied by a unique score that heightens the tension and excitement.

Sound effects, from the clashing of swords to the roars of monsters, are crisp and immersive, adding to the game’s atmosphere.

Replayability and Content: Endless Adventures Await

Elden Ring offers an astonishing amount of content, ensuring that players will spend dozens, if not hundreds, of hours exploring the Lands Between.

1. Main and Side Quests:
   The main story alone can take 50-60 hours to complete, but the game’s numerous side quests, hidden dungeons, and optional bosses add significantly more playtime.
2. Multiple Endings:
   With six different endings, players are encouraged to replay the game to experience all outcomes. Choices made throughout the game, such as aligning with certain characters, influence the ending.
3. New Game Plus:
   After completing the game, players can start a New Game Plus, carrying over their progress while facing tougher enemies and earning better rewards.
4. Community and Mods:
   The game’s active community and modding scene ensure that there’s always something new to discover, from fan-made challenges to graphical enhancements.

Verdict

Elden Ring is a monumental achievement in game design, but it’s not without its flaws.

Buy Elden Ring: Pricing and Availability

Enter a dark, mystical realm of ancient lore and forgotten kingdoms with Elden Ring. This sprawling, action-packed RPG promises to challenge and captivate with a vast, interconnected world to explore, fearsome enemies to defeat, and mysterious allies to recruit. By purchasing Elden Ring, you’ll experience a richly detailed and deeply immersive gaming world crafted by the visionary developers at FromSoftware. The game was developed to be released on multiple platforms:

PC Gamers can enjoy the game purchasing through Steam in the following Editions:

• Buy Elden Ring Standard Edition for $59.99
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition for $79.99
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition for $99.99
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Premium Bundle for $49.99
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree for $39.99, and you can also add all the DLC to your cart for $89.99

PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 players can get the game through the PlayStation Store with the following Editions with bundles and passes:

• Buy Elden Ring Standard Edition for $59.99
• Buy Elden Ring SOTE Edition for $79.99, which includes Shodow of the Erdtree Expansion.
• Buy Elden Ring SOTE Premium Bundle for $49.99, which includes Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and SOTE Digital Artbook & OST.
• Buy Elden Ring SOTE Deluxe Edition for $99.99. This edition includes Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, Digital Artbook & OST, and SOTE Digital Artbook & OST.

Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One players can buy this wonderful Puzzle game through Xbox Store in the following Editions with Add-ons:

• Buy Elden Ring Standard Edition for $59.99
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition for $39.99
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Premium Bundle for $49.99, this includes Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, digital Art Book, and Orignal Soundtrack.
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree for $79.99, which includes Elden Ring and Elden Ring Shadown of the Erdtree expansion.
• Buy Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition for $99.99. This edition includes Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, Digital Artbook & original soundtrack, and Artbook & soundtrack.

All mentioned rates are exclusive from currently running discount offers/promotions.

Elden Ring is available to be downloaded on Microsoft Windows through Steam, PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 players can purchase through PlayStation Store, and Xbox Players can enjoy the game through Xbox Store.

Genre and Platforms

Elden Ring is an action RPG that blends open-world exploration with FromSoftware’s signature challenging combat. It was released on February 25, 2022, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Its availability on multiple platforms ensures that a wide range of players can experience this groundbreaking title.

Elden Ring System Requirements