Elden Ring for PlayStation 4

FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed open-world action-RPG

Travel through the Lands Between in a hopeless quest to find the Great Runes and become the new Elden Lord. This is the premise of Elden Ring, the critically acclaimed action-RPG created by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Developed by FromSoftware (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) and with the collaboration of fantasy writer George R.R Martin (A Song of Fire and Ice), the newest installment in the soulsborne series embraces the open-world genre, refreshing its well-known formula. Inspired by hit games such as The Legend of Zelda. Breath of the Wild and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Elden Ring blends old mechanics with new ones to bring a new approach to the hardcore and often punishing gameplay that FromSoft titles are well known for. Are you ready to die one more time on the PS4?

Story: Martin’s take on the Soulsborne series

When Elden Ring was first revealed at E3 2019, one of its most hyped aspects was without a doubt its story. FromSoftware was adamant on creating a new medieval fantasy experience that, even reminiscent of the Dark Souls saga, would still surprise and be considered a masterpiece by the Soulsborne fanbase. To achieve that, Hidetaka Miyazaki wrote Elden’s Ring's intricate tale in collaboration with the acclaimed Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin. As expected, the result was excellent, bringing a much deeper story, lore and characters. However, if you’re not a newcomer to FromSoftware’s games, you won’t be surprised to know that Elden Ring’s storytelling is not straightforward, but a challenge on its own.

The game starts when we take the role of a Tarnished, an immortal wanderer that after losing the blessing of the Erdtree was exiled from the Lands Between. If you’re a Dark Souls fan, this character will surely feel familiar for its similarities with the Chosen Undead (DS1) or the Ashen One (DS3). After the shattering of the Ring, the Tarnished are summoned by the lost grace of the Erdtree, returning to Queen Marika’s domains.Their mission is none other than to find and defeat the demigods, bearers of the ring’s shards, and mend it to become the next Elden Lord.

Gameplay: An challenging and daunting open-world

Through the years, FromSoftware games have always been associated with hardcore gaming. Their steep difficulty, cryptic narrative and punishing levels made them hardly accessible to players in general. While Sekiro tried to fix that by streamlining some of its features, it still bore a prohibitive difficulty level that scared most gamers aways. Elden Ring finally overcame that problem, becoming the first Soulsborne game that is accessible to the public in general. Its secret? An exceptional and alluring open-world design.

The Lands Between is a vast and challenging playground that offers complete freedom to its players. The game won’t hold your hand nor give you any information on where to go or what to do. It will be just you and your quest to mend the Ring. While these lack of markers and objectives might overwhelm some players, it also offers a fresh and bold experience that will make you feel like you’re living your own adventure. It will be entirely up to you if you decide to explore the map, complete side missions or go straight to hunt the evil demigods. Elden Ring will be your story and you’ll be the one deciding how it ultimately ends.

This freedom is precisely what makes Elden Ring the most accessible FromSoftware game to date. All previous titles were linear, so the fact that you can always turn back and level up, get runes or simply explore a new area prevents players from getting frustrated and rage quitting the game. For that reason, it’s no surprise that Elden Ring is the first Miyazaki game for many people that they were able to play, complete and enjoy without slamming the PlayStation 4 controller against a wall. Don’t get us wrong, you will still die… a lot. But with Elden Ring, learning from your mistakes becomes a fun experience that will never make you want to quit the game.

While Elden Ring is a complete new experience to Soulsborne fans, it also recovers some of its most emblematic features from previous iterations of the series. Figures such as Melina serve the same purpose as the Firekeeper from Dark Souls 3 or the Doll from Bloodborne. The same can be said of the Sites of Graces, which are Elden Ring’s very own bonfires and your little oasis in the middle of the daunting challenge from Marika’s domains. And what’s a Soulslike game without its hateable yet charismatic Patches? These little details make the Lands Between a familiar yet novel world where all Soulslike enthusiasts will feel at home.

Its open-world is not the only new feature you’ll find in Elden Ring. The game has some interesting gameplay additions such as the ability to summon an ethereal horse. This equine companion will let you travel faster through Marika’s realm but also will serve as a new combat mode, letting you fight while mounting your steed. Through your travels you’ll also be able to befriend and invoke spirits that will aid you in battles. Each of them will have unique abilities and fighting styles, helping you in your travels and serving as backup or decoys in boss battles. As you can see, there’s a lot to like in Elden Ring and while FromSoftware has added a massive amount of new gameplay features, the game itself feels and plays like a classic Soulsborne title. 

Graphics: A visually stunning experience on PlayStation 4

With he arrival of the next generation consoles, it’s normal to worry when a game such as Elden Ring is released on different platforms, especially the ones considered to be “last-gen”. Don’t worry though, whether you’re a PS4 or PS4 Pro owner, you’ll be delighted with FromSoftware’s latest masterpiece. Elden Ring is a sight to behold on a PlayStation 4, bringing colorful and visually stunning landscapes during your adventures through the Lands Between. It’s undeniable that the game graphics might look familiar to you, but that’s understandable since Elden Ring uses the same engine as Dark Souls 3. Regardless of that, the game looks great on the PlayStation 4, making it one of the most beautiful titles released for the console.

Ok, the game looks good but… does it play well? Performance has always been FromSoftware’s weakness. One clear example of fthat are the constant complaints and demands to fix Bloodborne’s framerate. Elden Ring offers a similar experience, running at 1080p resolution and an average framerate of 30 fps. While this might not be a problem to the average gamer, it’s important to point out the game faces occasional framedrops. Overall the game’s performance is similar to other FromSoftware games on PS4, bringing a similar experience than Dark Souls 3 or Sekiro.

How long is Elden Ring on PS4?

Elden Ring will take an average of 58 hours to beat if you focus only on the main objectives. If you strive to see all aspects of the game and explore all corners of the Lands Between, it will take you around 133 hours to achieve 100% completion. These numbers are an estimate though, since FromSoftware games take different times to complete depending on your skill (and overall patience) in succeeding in your quest.

Does Elden Ring have multiplayer?

Yes, Elden Ring has multiplayer and lets you explore the Lands Between and fight bosses alongside players from all over the world. This is accomplished using the summoning signs that you can lay or find on the ground after using a Furlcalling Finger Remedy. This online gameplay ends when the summoned player dies or you manage to defeat a boss, returning them to their original game world. It is advised to use these signs with caution though because they also serve as a gate for malicious players to invade your world and try to kill you.

Elden Ring: Tips for beginners

1. Choose a class you feel comfortable with
2. Find Melina to unlock the leveling up system
3. Backtrack often to spend your runes
4. If you struggle with a boss, look for a summoning sign
5. Upgrade your weapons regularly
6. Create your own quest log with markers
7. Rest at Sites of Graces to respawn materials and revive your horse
8. Buy a torch from Kalé as early as possible
9. Spirit ashes are very helpful allies
10. Don’t feel ashamed to retreat if you have to
11. If you hear “I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella ''... RUN AWAY!

An expansion that gives excitement

Elden Ring’s very first major expansion has made waves as fans of the franchise have been teased with a promotional photo as a peek into what this DLC will entail. Its concept art depicts a haunted plain from the Lands Between, surrounded by the remains of dead soldiers. A lone blond figure, heavily implied to be Miquella, can be seen riding across the bleak landscape toward a dying Erdtree. 

Of the numerous Empyreans and demigods belonging to the messy family tree at the center of the game’s drama, only Miquella of the Haligtree cannot be met by the player character in the main game. Miquella is most well-known by players as the elder twin brother of Malenia, Blade of Miquella—the most challenging but optional endgame boss. You can encounter her at the bottom of Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. Miquella is also connected to Mohg, Lord of Blood—another optional boss you can fight at Mohgwyn Palace. 

While there is no extensive information available regarding what sorts of opponents players will be able to go up against in this DLC, players can expect even more challenging boss fights and a deeper look into the game’s rich lore. This is to be expected given FromSoftware’s stellar reputation for providing impressive add-on content to their games. According to rumors, it’s possible that the DLC will receive a spotlight at The Game Awards, with the announcement of its potential February 5, 2024 release date.

FromSoftware’s most impressive game to date

Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s most ambitious game and a true masterpiece of the open-world genre. While being more approachable to all types of players, Elden Ring keeps the essence of the Soulsborne formula bringing its well-known balance between a punishing and satisfying gameplay. You will die a lot while exploring the Lands Between, but you will also experience the journey of a lifetime. While the PS4 version lacks some graphical performance improvements of its next-gen counterparts, it brings the same gorgeous and spectacular gaming experience. This is definitely a must-play.