FromSoftware’s flawlessly crafted fantasy epic
Elden Ring is everything fans expected it to be. FromSoftware’s latest fantasy action RPG lands on the PlayStation 5 delivering the enthralling, mesmerizing and sometimes punishing experience that one would expect from a Soulsborne game. However, this year’s GOTY comes with a twist. The long awaited collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne) and George R.R Martin (Game of Thrones) is a complete U-turn from the stealthy and combat-driven Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to a magnificent open-world game, joining staples of the genre such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. With familiar and new mechanics, as well as satisfying yet extremely challenging gameplay, Elden Ring breaks the formula established in previous installments of the series by bringing a new standard for the genre. Do you want to know why?
Rise, Tarnished: The Lands Between await you
If you’re not new to the Soulsborne genre, you’ll know that following Elden Ring’s story will be as challenging as surviving in Queen Marika’s domains. You begin the game as a Tarnished, an immortal wanderer that lost the blessing of the Erdtree and was banished from the Lands Between until the breaking of the Elden Ring. Summoned by the lost grace of the Erdtree, the Tarnished returns to the lands that were once forbidden with the quest of recovering the Great Runes, rebuilding the Ring and becoming the new Elden Lord. As expected from a From Software game, the journey won’t be easy and overcoming the challenges from the Lands Between will require patience, skill and as players say, to “git gud”.
One of the selling points of Elden Ring is, without a doubt, that fantasy author George R.R. Martin assisted in writing its convoluted story. The result is simply excellent. While the overall feeling from the game might be reminiscent of previous titles and characters, such as the Chosen Undead or Dark Souls 3’s Ashen One, Martin’s writing is easily found through the deep history and lore of the Lands Between. While Elden Ring’s story isn’t more or less accessible than other FromSoftware titles (it still requires hours of exploration, study and analyzing the thousands of lines of dialogue of its NPCs), it’s much more welcoming and entices players to search its vast open-world looking for answers.
Old and new merge in a punishing yet satisfying experience
Elden Ring can be considered an excellent blend of everything that makes FromSoft games great with new and amazing gameplay possibilities. One of the most celebrated features is, obviously, the addition of an open-world. But don’t be fooled, Elden Ring isn’t your typical open-world game. The Lands Between is an alluring and dangerous playground where no one will hold your hand. Remember those objective markers that guide you to quests, objectives and locations? They are all gone except for the graces. These glimpses of golden light will vaguely point to the possible location of a demigod. Apart from that, you’ll be thrown into a mysterious world without any guidance where your main mission will be to find out what happened and what to do in the Lands Between. This encourages not just exploration, but to eagerly seek new challenges around every corner of this deadly playground.
What makes Elden Ring stand out from other Soulsborne titles is the overwhelming freedom that the open-world genre gives us. Everything feels like a real adventure in which, for the first time, we’re the ones that hold the reigns of our story. All quests and side quests are manually tracked like in classic old-school games, so Elden Ring forces you to detour from the Tarnished quest if you want to uncover all the secrets of the game. The title lets us choose our next destination, breaking the linear approach of the rest of FromSoftware’s adventures. Explore the world or just proceed right away to bosses that are way out of your league.
While it can frustrate some players, this freedom makes Elden Ring one of the most approachable games of the series. If a boss or area is too much for you, you can always turn back and level up your stats, get runes or simply search somewhere else in hopes to find new weapons. You’ll still have to learn from your mistakes, but if you hit a wall, you’ll always have the option to retreat. This absolutely makes it easier to survive, explore and overall enjoy Elden Ring. It makes for a delightful change to previous FromSoftware rage-quitting inducing experiences like Dark Souls’ nightmarish BlightTown.
New gameplay features have also been added to Elden Ring, making our journey through the Lands Between more interesting. We’ll now be able to summon a horse that won’t just aid us in exploring the vast open-world, but also adds an entire horseback combat system. We’re able to invoke spirits, each of them with their own unique powers to aid us in battle. As a result of this excellent mix of old and new, the game doesn’t lose its unique challenging gameplay but also is more accessible to broader audiences.
Exceptional graphics and art direction on PlayStation 5
Elden Ring’s graphics on the PS5 can only be described as magnificent. While the game is arguably a small downgrade from BluePoint’s remake of Demon’s Souls, the sprawling landscapes of the Lands Between certainly showcase the power of Sony’s next-gen console. From the towering bosses to the smallest creatures, the art direction of FromSoftware shines with jaw-dropping scenes and environments. The game also delivers stunning particle dynamics and visual effects, creating an experience that is both visually engaging and mechanically satisfying.
Sadly, we cannot say the same about the game’s performance. Elden Ring brings the player two different modes: Performance Mode (60 fps) and Quality Mode (improved graphics over performance). No matter which option you choose, the game struggles to keep a consistent framerate,which slows the game and ultimately becomes a nuisance. While these frame drops are not dramatic, they are a clear consequence of the humongous scale of the game’s map.
How long is Elden Ring on PS5?
Elden Ring is a very long game and it’ll take you 58 hours to beat if you just focus on the main objectives. However, if you’re a completionist you’ll have to spend at least 133 hours roaming the Lands Between. These times are an estimate since they will highly depend on your skills and patience while playing FromSoftware games.
Does Elden Ring have multiplayer?
Yes, Elden Ring has multiplayer and lets you play online with friends, just like previous Soulsborne games (with the exception of Sekiro). The game’s multiplayer works through summon signs that can be found on the ground by using a Furlcalling Finger Remedy. These allow you to call or be called by other players to aid you in exploring areas or defeat bosses. You have to be careful though, because these signs also open your world to hostile players that can invade your game.
Elden Ring: Tips for beginners
- Choose a class you feel comfortable with
- Find Melina to unlock the leveling up system
- Backtrack often to spend your runes
- If you struggle with a boss, look for a summoning sign
- Upgrade your weapons regularly
- Create your own quest log with markers
- Rest at Sites of Graces to respawn materials and revive your horse
- Buy a torch from Kalé as early as possible
- Spirit ashes are very helpful allies
- Don’t feel ashamed to retreat if you have to
- 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 Magnum Opus
Games like Elden Ring don’t come around often. Hidetaka Miyazaki’s latest adventure is a breathtaking experience that masterfully blends all the elements that make Soulslike games a cult classic with an immense, deadly and beautiful open-world. Elden Ring is not only the best game FromSoftware has released, but also the most accessible one to date. Without losing its challenging gameplay and insane difficulty, Elden Ring gives us solid gameplay and eye-catching visuals that shine on a PlayStation 5. It is definitely a must-play for gamers looking for a punishing yet rewarding open-world game that will certainly be remembered for years to come.
