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Elden Ring, a magnificent fantasy action RPG, is the brainchild of two titans: Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind the Dark Souls series, and George R.R. Martin, the renowned author of "A Song of Ice and Fire" (famously known as Game of Thrones). At its core, Elden Ring embodies the essence of a Souls game, with familiar mechanics skillfully rebranded to suit its fantastical backdrop. Bonfires become Sites of Grace, Souls are transformed into Runes, and Dark Souls 3's Weapon Arts are reborn as Ashes of War. Combat retains its trademark intensity, punctuated by exciting new mechanics.
But the most conspicuous hallmark of this game is its colossal, jaw-dropping bosses that relentlessly pound you into submission. While I can't call myself a Souls expert, I've conquered enough formidable foes to hold my own. The exhilarating blend of challenge and accomplishment, which defines the Souls series, remains intact in Elden Ring, perhaps even amplified, as these colossal bosses present some of the most daunting adversaries I've ever faced.
One of the game's key strengths is its open-world structure, which grants players the freedom to explore at their own pace. The world of Elden Ring is vast, comprising sprawling landscapes and intricate underground systems. As you traverse this wondrous realm, your journey is enriched by hidden secrets, unique creatures, ruins, tunnels, towers, and fortresses, all waiting to be discovered. Each conquered area rewards you with valuable runes and often a special item to aid your quest.
The sense of freedom in Elden Ring is exhilarating. In the initial hours, I found myself captivated by the world, eagerly unearthing its mysteries and marking challenging areas for future visits. This game encouraged exploration, and I willingly obliged.
Elden Ring's gameplay stands as a pinnacle of excellence. Combat will feel familiar to Souls aficionados, while the inclusion of new mechanics elevates the overall experience. Notably, the guard counter simplifies parrying, making it accessible to a wider audience. This feature allows you to hold the block button and execute a powerful attack in response to an enemy's assault, dealing substantial damage with ease. For someone like me, who struggled with parrying in other games, this feature was a welcome addition, although it doesn't work against every boss.
Rolling also takes centre stage in Elden Ring, with the speed of your roll determined by your equipment's weight. Heavier armour leads to slower dodges but increased potential damage absorption, while lighter gear grants agility at the cost of higher damage vulnerability. Personally, I leaned toward the faster roll, given the ferocity of every boss's attacks.
Elden Ring's bosses are some of the most formidable foes I've encountered. When confronting a new boss, a cautious approach is essential to study their moves and patterns. Elden Ring's bosses, however, appear to be more unpredictable in their attacks, making it challenging to anticipate their moves. But with practice and a generous helping of deaths, you'll eventually decipher the subtleties of their actions.
For those who find themselves struggling even after extensive levelling, Elden Ring offers a wealth of weapons, items, and magic to accommodate different playstyles. Ashes of War, obtained by defeating bosses and tough adversaries, add a layer of complexity. These special abilities can be affixed to your weapon, altering its properties to align with specific stats. Customizing your character's abilities to suit your preferred style or counter specific boss challenges becomes a viable strategy. The game provides a rich toolbox for players to explore.
In addition to Ashes of War, you'll collect summoning Ashes, spectral spirits that provide combat support. While helpful in the early stages, they become relatively frail and ineffective against late-game challenges. The return of Power stances is a welcome feature, allowing you to wield two weapons of the same class simultaneously, each with a unique moveset. This flexibility is a boon, enabling swift adaptation to various encounters.
Elden Ring excels in balancing the series' renowned difficulty with quality-of-life improvements to ensure that players aren't perpetually banging their heads against the wall. Shrines of Marika, a secondary waypoint system, expedite your return to the action after death, minimizing tedious backtracking. These shrines are strategically placed in challenging regions, offering a swift path back to your corpse. However, they don't serve as rest points for healing or flask replenishment, contrasting with Sites of Lost Grace.
The inclusion of a map in Elden Ring is indispensable due to the vast open world. Map Fragments, found throughout the world, help you uncover new areas and enhance your navigation. The map's expansiveness continuously surprised me, as each completed area revealed an extension or a hidden underground tunnel system. The game's fast travel system is a godsend, allowing instant teleportation to any Site of Lost Grace when not in combat, alleviating the challenges of traversing the enormous world.
Elden Ring introduces mounted travel, and this addition injects dynamism into exploration. While mounted combat may feel somewhat clunky, it adds an element of fun and speed to the experience. In certain cases, battling bosses from atop your steed becomes the preferred choice, enhancing mobility and adaptability.
Elden Ring excels in both combat and exploration, offering a nearly flawless experience, particularly by Souls-like standards. It stands as the most elaborate entry in the Souls series, yet it presents challenges, especially for newcomers.
While quality-of-life improvements make the game more accessible, obscure system mechanics and item descriptions can lead to confusion. The lack of clear direction and the player's autonomy in exploration may not suit everyone, but it's precisely what adds to Elden Ring's allure.
For the most part, Elden Ring remains remarkably free of bugs, though occasional glitches and frame rate hiccups may crop up. These issues aren't game-breaking but can be mildly frustrating, especially when experiencing multiple deaths. Loading times, while not excruciatingly long individually, can become taxing after numerous boss battles.
Elden Ring represents the next evolution of the "Souls" genre, balancing familiarity with innovation. Returning fans will feel right at home while appreciating the game's new features, mechanics, and quality-of-life improvements. This journey is not for the faint of heart, but the reward is well worth the struggle.
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