A timeless yet tarnished masterpiece on Xbox One
Elden Ring is an ambitious evolution of the Dark Souls formula that, after years of hype and really high expectations, finally landed on the Xbox One. FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed action role-playing game (RPG) takes you to an enthralling yet punishing journey through the Lands Between in a quest to defeat the demigods and become the new Elden Lord. In this new installment of the soulsborne series, Hidetaka Miyazaki’s convoluted story takes a step away from Bloodborne’s cosmic horrors and Sekiro’s feudal Japan to immerse us in a fantasy masterpiece written in collaboration with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. Embracing the open-world genre for the first time and emulating classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Elden Ring blends old and new mechanics in a challenging, punishing yet incredibly satisfying gaming experience. Do you want to know why?
Defeat the demigods and become the new Elden Lord
Storytelling has always been a complicated subject in the Soulsborne series. FromSoftware is known for crafting complex and serpentine tales that are never told in a straightforward manner. They are a puzzle on their own that require hours of exploration, studying lore scattered around the game and figuring out what’s happening by analyzing the cryptic lines of dialogue of NPCs. Elden Ring is no different in that aspect, but at the same time it’s a refreshing change to the formula that Demon’s Souls started. This has been achieved thanks to the collaboration with A Song of Fire and Ice author George R.R Martin, who managed to craft a deeper and amazing world that will please all fantasy fans.
In Elden Ring we’ll take on the role of a Tarnished, one of many immortals that lost the favors of the Erdtree and were banished from the Lands Between. If you’re a Dark Souls fan, you’ll surely find obvious similarities between this lost wanderer and the Chosen Undead from DS1 or the Ashen One from DS3. After Queen Marika’s demise and the shattering of the Elden Ring, the Tarnished are summoned back by the Erdtree, in hopes to mend this legendary artifact. To achieve this, our maidenless hero will have to roam the Lands Between and defeat the evil demigods, bearers of the shards. Only when this feat is accomplished will we be able to bring back the Ring and become the next Elden Lord.
A new open-world for a classic Soulsborne experience
If you’re familiar with FromSoftware games, you’ll know that while each of them is unique, all of them share a very similar gaming experience. It doesn’t matter if you play Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls or Bloodborne… They all feel, play and will challenge you like a Miyazaki game. However, things change with Elden Ring. The game is a bold move for the company, breaking the formula that made these titles the cult-classics they are nowadays. The result is exceptional, granting Elden Ring the title of GOTY 2023. What makes the game so special? Easy: Its mesmerizing and challenging vast open-world.
The Lands Between is a gargantuan map filled with mysteries, quests and challenges to overcome. This open-world game doesn’t play like anything you’ve seen before. As expected from FromSoftware, the game won’t hold your hand and once you’ve completed the game tutorial, you’ll be on your own. No markers, no mission list, no guidance whatsoever. It will be you and the dangers that roam these forbidden lands. Far from being a handicap, this extreme freedom brings a never-before-seen sense of crafting your own story and encourages players to explore this dangerous playground.
While this level of freedom might be considered a blessing to veteran players, it also makes Elden Ring the most approachable Soulsborne game to date. Previous titles were linear, and once stuck in a location, players had to adamantly grind and memorize enemies’ strengths and weaknesses to be able to advance. Locations like Dark Soul’s Blighttown were known to be a “player-killer” due how hard they were. This meant gamers would get frustrated and give up. Things change with the Elden Ring. Now, if a player can’t beat a certain boss or area, they can turn back, level up their stats, acquire runes or simply explore somewhere else. While they will still have to learn from their mistakes, Elden Ring will always offer the option to retreat and keep enjoying the game in a new map area.
Another important thing about Elden Ring is that while the game offers this new gameplay approach, it still feels and plays like a Soulsborne game. In fact, if you’re a fan of these titles you’ll feel at home in the Lands Between. You’ll find familiar faces in new characters such as Melina, who plays a part similar to Demon’s Souls Maiden in Black or the Firekeeper from DS3. You might even recognize that very same character who plots your demise in every single Miyazaki game (yes, we're talking about you, Patches). Also, classic features like the bonfires from Dark Souls or lanterns from Bloodborne are also present in Elden Ring as Sites of Grace.
The game’s open-world isn’t the only new feature from Elden Ring. During your journeys in the Lands Between you’ll be able to summon a horse. This equine companion won’t just help you traverse the game’s humongous map but will also add a mounted combat system that is entirely new to the series. You’ll also be able to invoke spirits to aid you in your battles. Each of them have unique abilities and add a new layer of strategy to the game’s combat. As you can see, Elden Ring is much more than “another Soulslike game”, it is an excellent evolution of this challenging yet rewarding genre.
Beautiful graphics tarnished by a disappointing performance on Xbox One
It’s undeniable that Elden Ring is a beautiful game. Stunning landscapes await you in the Lands Between while colossal enemies will make your journeys a bit of a nightmare. If you played Sekiro or Dark Souls 3, you’ll be familiar with what Elden Ring can offer graphically since all three games use the same engine. However, the title adds some new systems to the engine, like a day and night cycle, that make its breathtaking world even better.
However, not everything is good with the Xbox One version of Elden Ring. Its performance could be described as “tarnished”. The game simply doesn’t work well on Microsoft’s last-gen console as it struggles to run smoothly at 30 FPS. There is unfortunately a lot of stuttering and constant frame drops. This ultimately also affects the graphics of the game by compromising how they are rendered. Another real problem here is the state of the enemy animations, which run at their own unique frame rate - much lower than the rest of the gameplay - until they attack you. This makes the game hard to endure and much more punishing than it should be.
How long is Elden Ring on Xbox One?
To beat the main story you’ll take an estimate of 58 hours while if you’re a completionist, it’ll take you an average of 133 hours to 100% the game. FromSoftware games are not an easy ride, and Elden Ring is no exception. These numbers are just an estimate though and they will vary depending on your ability and patience with the game.
Does Elden Ring have multiplayer?
Yes, Elden ring has multiplayer. If you’re familiar with FromSoftware’s games, you’ll feel at home with Elden Ring’s multiplayer, which lets you explore the Lands Between or fight bosses along with two other players by using summoning signs. These can be easily spotted on the ground after using a Furlcalling Finger Remedy, showing a glowing message on the floor. Once you or the player have been summoned, they’ll be able to co-op until one of them dies or after a boss is defeated. You have to be cautious though, since these summoning signs also serve as a gate for player-killers to invade your world.
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.
A game too big for the Xbox One
Elden Ring is a true masterpiece. FromSoftware’s latest game is a challenging yet not wildly punishing game that everyone, even non-Soulsborne enthusiasts, will enjoy. Branding a lavish and mysterious world to explore, George R.R Martin and Hidetaka Miyazaki’s collaboration is a spectacular feast for the eyes and an authentic delight to play. However, its gargantuan design might be a bit too much for the Xbox One, compromising its graphics and showing game-breaking performance issues. If you want to experience the true greatness of Elden Ring, it’d be wise to invest in Microsoft's next-gen console, the Xbox Series X instead.
