Difficult to miss this game that has been talked about a lot since its release. Indeed, announced as one of the biggest games of the year 2022, Elden Ring arouses interest among many players. But what is FromSoftware's latest game really worth? It seems important to us to point out that the editor of this article has never played the developer's previous games. This is the opinion of a "Novice" in a world of giants!
Elden ring
Available since February 25, 2022 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series, PS4 and ONE, Elden Ring transports you to a multifaceted universe.
"Arise, Lacklustre, and may grace guide your steps. Wield the power of Elden's Circle. Become Lord of the Entre-terre.
In the Entre-terre where Queen Marika the Eternal reigns, the Circle of Elden, the vital source of the World Tree, was broken.
Marika's descendants, all demigods, claimed the shards of Elden's Circle, also known as major runes.
Thus began the Breakup, a war emanating from the madness provoked by their newly acquired power. A war that sounded the renunciation of the Supreme Will. Thus will come the hour of the Slacklustre, who were once denied golden grace, and who were exiled from the Entre-terre.
You who have perished and yet live, walk to the In-Between, beyond the Sea of Mist, to stand before the Circle of Elden." Bandai Namco
An open world
One of the great novelties of this new opus is the fact that the story takes place in an open world. Indeed, the map is gigantic and the possibilities almost endless. In addition, you can only see a tiny part of the map when you start. You will need to gather fragments of maps to access the entire map. We do not know exactly how big this new map is, but we can already tell you that its exploration will occupy you a while, a very long time. In addition, its exploration is totally free for you. Indeed, you do not really have concrete goals to accomplish. It's up to you to explore this world and defeat your enemies as they meet. And for that, you will have to be attentive. Indeed, underground or caves are scattered all over the Entre-Terre. It's up to you to find them. And, to motivate you, many rewards are usually available in these kinds of places. Are you willing to risk your life for a mysterious chest? For those who really don't know where to go, a glow appears on the map when you discover fragments of grace. It shows you the direction to take to advance towards the major places. A gigantic map is nice, but what are the graphics worth? Well again, the developers did a great job! Walk in the in-between, enjoy the plains as far as the eye can see, tortuous dungeons, sinister caverns, … all in relief. What more could you ask for?
"Walk or ride this breathtaking world, solo or with other players, and immerse yourself in its verdant plains, suffocating swamps, soaring mountains, gloomy castles and many other majestic places, all in a playground of a scale never before seen in a FromSoftware title."
A difficult but satisfying game?
You guessed it, the spiritual sequel to Dark Soul is bound to be of a titanic level. Indeed, death awaits you in every corner of the map. Horseman, demigod and many others are waiting for you, ready to slaughter you. We must admit it, since we completely discover this saga, we died a hundred times in less than fifteen minutes! Shall we add more? Probably, but the idea is there. One sword stroke and our character dies… unfortunately. And with him, the collected runes! Bad news for all those who thought to level up quickly. But… All is not lost, finally, if you manage to survive! Indeed, it is possible to recover your lost runes by returning to the exact place where you died, hoping that the cause of your death is no longer there! Regarding your character, you can choose from several classes: Samurai, Indigent, Prophet, Confessor, Astrologer, Bandit, Prisoner, Vagabond, Warrior or Hero ! Once you have made your choice, you can customize your character to the maximum. Height, weight, but also shape of the face, hair color, … and even the number of white hairs you want to have! And for your style of play, it's the same!
"Throw yourself into the fray, stealthily eliminate your enemies one by one, or call on your allies. With countless options at your disposal, you'll be completely free to approach exploration and combat as you see fit."
Indeed, here again, a multitude of possibilities is available to you! Two-handed weapons, katana, bow, crossbow, spells, but also stealth assassination, or combat in "brutus" mode. Every style of play has its place in Elden Ring. Many actions are also to be implemented to increase your chances of success. Indeed, what could be better than being able to improve your equipment to defeat your most formidable enemies? Again, runes, among others, will have their uses. Also collect everything you can find to make equally useful items. Elden Ring is full of possibilities. Indeed, whether you want to face formidable enemies, craft potions, improve your equipment, or simply walk on the back of your mount, dodging sword blows, anything is possible.
But… ?
Unfortunately, for us, there is a but… Indeed, as said before, there are no concrete objectives to accomplish. No main or secondary quest to complete as you discover. And, we must admit, that this is "difficult" for us. The open world is a great idea, there's no denying it, but the lack of guidelines isn't always easy. In addition, we must also admit that the difficulty is worthy of a stay in hell. Despite the interest in this fantasy universe, dying so often quickly discourages. Although the game has been made more accessible in order to allow a greater number of players to enjoy it, it is also not within everyone's reach. However, if you are a big fan of Dark Soul, you should find your happiness in this new opus! For others, we can advise you to dive into a game that is no longer to be presented, Ghost of Tsushima. And for those whose budget is ric rac, here are 5 free games to test urgently !
