Elden Ring

[Dark Drakan]

Elden Ring Official Reveal Trailer

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The hugely-anticipated collaboration between Souls developer FromSoftware, creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin was first shown at the Summer Games Fest event.

Elden Ring will launch on 25th Feb 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Both PlayStation and Xbox will offer free upgrades between console generations.

I have been watching a lot of videos and reading a lot of articles on Elden Ring's recent network test and have been getting more and more intrigued by it. I had initially not been all that interested, as I never really got into any of the other FromSoftware games of this type (Dark Souls/Demon Souls/Bloodbourne/Sekiro). Originally thought it would be a simple reskinned Dark Souls but from what I have seen this is not the case at all. They obviously share some similarities but it contains more RPG systems and ways to approach goals and seems to be the most accessible FromSoftware game ever.

Granted I had only briefly tried Dark Souls after getting it free on Games for Gold and didnt really get on with it but this has quickly shot up to the top of my most wanted list lately after all the footage and articles I have seen.

For anyone else who was like me, here are a few videos showcasing the game from its network test (anyone who doesn't want to see ANY information I will spoiler tag the videos) :
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Elden Ring Hands-On Impressions after 70 Hours of gameplay​

Spoiler

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The BEST Class in Elden Ring: Complete Guide to all Classes, Starting Equipment, Spells, Performance​

Spoiler

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ALL SKILLS in Elden Ring: Complete Guide to all Weapon Arts, Ashes of War and Skills (Network Test)​

Spoiler

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10 Things You Should Know Before Playing Elden Ring​

Spoiler

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[Dark Drakan]

A Magical First Playthrough of ELDEN RING​

Spoiler

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Game is set to launch February 25, 2022

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[Dark Drakan]

ELDEN RING STORY TRAILER FROM GAME AWARDS 2021

Winner of Most Anticipated Game at the Game Awards 2021

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[Dark Drakan]

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Elden Ring has now surpassed Dying Light 2 to become the most wishlisted game currently on Steam. Dying Light 2 had been at the top of the list for the entirety of 2021 but it has been dethroned by FromSoftwares hotly-anticipated action RPG.​

Current list at time of writing is:

1. Elden Ring
2. Dying Light 2
3. Party Animals
4. God of War
5. Hollow Knight: Silksong
6. The Day Before
7. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
8. Total War: Warhammer III
9. Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl
10. Starfield

 

[Dark Drakan]

Elden Ring minimum requirements​

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
• Memory: 12GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, 3GB | AMD Radeon RX 580, 4GB
• DirectX: DirectX 12 (Feature Level 12.0)
• Storage: 60GB
• Sound Card: Windows-compatible audio device

Elden Ring recommended specifications​

• OS: Windows 10 | Windows 11
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
• Memory: 16GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, 8GB | AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, 8GB
• DirectX: DirectX 12 (Feature Level 12.0)
• Storage: 60 GB
• Sound Card: Windows-compatible audio device

 

[Dark Drakan]

Elden Ring Starting Classes​

Hero​

A stalwart Hero, at home with a battleaxe, descended from a badlands chieftain.

Starting Equipment: Battle Axe, Leather Shield

Bandit​

A dangerous bandit who strikes for weak points. Excels at ranged combat with bows.

Starting Equipment: Knife, Shortbow, Buckler, Bone Arrow (Fetched)

Astrologer​

A scholar who reads fate in the stars. Heir to the school of glintstone sorcery.

Starting Equipment: Staff, Shortsword, Shield

Warrior​

A twinblade wielding warrior from a nomadic tribe. An origin of exceptional technique.

Starting Equipment: Scimitar x2, Buckler, Blue Cloth Cowl, Blue Cloth Vest, Swordsman Gauntlets, Swordsman Greaves

Prisoner​

A prisoner bound in an iron mask. Studied in glintstone sorcery, having lived among the elite prior to sentencing.

Starting Equipment: Estoc, Staff, Shield

Confessor​

A church spy adept at covert operations. Equally adept with a sword as they are with incantations.

Starting Equipment: Broadsword, Shield, Finger Seal

Wretch​

A poor purposeless osd naked as they day they were born. A nice club is all they have.

Starting Equipment: Club

Vagabond​

A knight exiled from their homeland to wander. A solid, armor-clad origin.

Starting Equipment: Longsword, Halberd, Shield

Prophet​

A seer ostracized for inauspicious prophecies. Well versed in healing incantations.

Starting Equipment: Spear, Finger Seal, Rickety Shield, Prophet Blindfold, Prophet Robe, Prophet Trousers, Heal, Beast Claw

Samurai​

A capable fighter from the distant land of reeds. Handy with Katana and Longbows.

Starting Equipment: Uchigatana, Long Bow, Red Thorn Roundshield, Bone Arrow (Fletched), Firebone Arrow (Fletched)

STARTING STATS BREAKDOWN

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[Dark Drakan]

Seems the reviews are starting to come out and looks like it is being well received.

IGN - 10
Gamespot - 10
Destructoid - 10
PCGamesN - 10
Game Informer - 10
Cultured Vultures - 10
Areajugones [Spanish] - 10
The VG247 review - 5/5
GamesBeat - 5/5
GamesRadar+ - 5/5
The Guardian - 5/5
We Got This Covered - 5/5
COGconnected - 98/100
Press Start - 9.5
Trusted Reviews - 4.5/5
Easy Allies [Video] - 9.5
Spaziogames [Italian] - 9.3
Inverse - 9
Shacknews - 9
RPG Site - 9
PC Gamer - 90/100
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[Lain]

Very excited to play this game. I'm terrible at these sorts of games but I do enjoy playing them.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Very excited to play this game. I'm terrible at these sorts of games but I do enjoy playing them.

Never gotten into the Souls series or any of the FromSoftware games but I have purchased this and played for an hour or so. Its still tough but a little more forgiving with its death mechanic than some of the other games.

 

[AzureNight13]

Just bought it and it’s downloading. So it’s the waiting game for me right now. Never really played any souls game. So we’ll see how I do lol

 

[Foxtrot94]

"Elden Ring"... More like Dark Souls reskin#23356749901333.

These games have become the BRs of the RPG genre.

 

[Dark Drakan]

"Elden Ring"... More like Dark Souls reskin#23356749901333.

These games have become the BRs of the RPG genre.

I’m actually finding it far more welcoming than any of the previous games. Loads of similarities and it does feel like Dark Souls but overall I’ve enjoyed it far more than I have any of the Dark Souls games which I bounced off very quickly.

Seems the gaming public have also taken to it more than previous titles seem as Elden Rings Concurrent Players on Steam is over 2x higher than every Dark Souls + Sekiro games all-time peaks combined:

Elden Ring - 861,538

DS3 - 129,975
Sekiro - 125,315
DS2 - 79,528
DS Remastered - 24,501
DS 2: SOTFS - 12,106
DS1 - 11,259

 

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

Seems the gaming public have also taken to it more than previous titles seem as Elden Rings Concurrent Players on Steam is over 2x higher than every Dark Souls + Sekiro games all-time peaks combined:

Elden Ring - 861,538

DS3 - 129,975
Sekiro - 125,315
DS2 - 79,528
DS Remastered - 24,501
DS 2: SOTFS - 12,106
DS1 - 11,259

To be 100% fair, more players doesn't necessarily mean more welcoming. Although, I do agree w/ you that it IS more welcoming. However, based on what I hear from vets, it's still more difficult than Dark Souls. For a house analogy, more welcoming to walk in the front door, but still offputting once you get past the living room.

This is only my 2nd FromSoft game, after Sekiro. I've been well aware of the Soulsborne games and other soulslikes for years. I avoided the genre for a variety of reasons that DON'T include the difficulty (but rather annoyance features that masquerade as "difficulty"). The only reason I got Sekiro was due to no stamina, no corpse running, a free res, etc. QOL stuff, really. The game was still hard af and I think even after the release of Elden Ring, still generally considered the most difficult FS game, truly being 100% skill-based since there are no RP elements to outgear or outlevel a boss/area.

Anyway, I'm fairly deep into it. 36 hours in, have downed 25 bosses (3 more I've left unbeaten) and am about to do back-to-back demigods. I'm really torn w/ how highly I view the game. It is an amazing game. I won't argue if someone gives it a 10, but I feel it is a 9 based on the principles of what I consider bad design. Things like enemies not following the same rules as you (they can target and attack you through walls and even in sanctuary rooms) and annoying things like any damage stopping your movement momentum (including a little ember of fire. But I get it, it has to be consistent, and a giant sword probably would stop your momentum). But it is just so engrossing, so interesting, and so generous (great description used by a buddy of mine), I sometimes feel it really does deserve a 10 from me.

I'm really eager to finish Elden Ring just so I can finally go backwards in games and play the DS trilogy.

 

[Dark Drakan]

To be 100% fair, more players doesn't necessarily mean more welcoming. Although, I do agree w/ you that it IS more welcoming. However, based on what I hear from vets, it's still more difficult than Dark Souls. For a house analogy, more welcoming to walk in the front door, but still offputting once you get past the living room.

This is only my 2nd FromSoft game, after Sekiro. I've been well aware of the Soulsborne games and other soulslikes for years. I avoided the genre for a variety of reasons that DON'T include the difficulty (but rather annoyance features that masquerade as "difficulty"). The only reason I got Sekiro was due to no stamina, no corpse running, a free res, etc. QOL stuff, really. The game was still hard af and I think even after the release of Elden Ring, still generally considered the most difficult FS game, truly being 100% skill-based since there are no RP elements to outgear or outlevel a boss/area.

Anyway, I'm fairly deep into it. 36 hours in, have downed 25 bosses (3 more I've left unbeaten) and am about to do back-to-back demigods. I'm really torn w/ how highly I view the game. It is an amazing game. I won't argue if someone gives it a 10, but I feel it is a 9 based on the principles of what I consider bad design. Things like enemies not following the same rules as you (they can target and attack you through walls and even in sanctuary rooms) and annoying things like any damage stopping your movement momentum (including a little ember of fire. But I get it, it has to be consistent, and a giant sword probably would stop your momentum). But it is just so engrossing, so interesting, and so generous (great description used by a buddy of mine), I sometimes feel it really does deserve a 10 from me.

I'm really eager to finish Elden Ring just so I can finally go backwards in games and play the DS trilogy.

I think it has an advantage of even though its tough it does give you more tools and approaches for each scenario, with it venturing into the open world genre you can always leave and try the boss that keeps whooping you another time. In Dark Souls if you cant get past that boss then tough, you are sort of stuck there and can progress no further. I'm literally only 2 hours in at the moment and its likely I wont be able to finish it totally due to hitting the difficulty curve later on but I could call someone in to help or try to gain as many advantages from weapons/armours and summons as I can muster and try different methods. I am enjoying it at the moment and exploring is fun, even if im wary of getting smashed by every enemy I see at the moment.

Far more viable option to hit and run with magic or a bow in this game than using any ranged combat methods in Dark Souls.

 

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

Far more viable option to hit and run with magic or a bow in this game than using any ranged combat methods in Dark Souls.

Yeah, magic is REALLY strong in Elden Ring. The funny thing about your DS reference tho is I plan to go bow build in DS2 lol. Only b/c it lacks the custom controls I want, but I still want to play it and bow (or magic, but I've never been a magic guy) fits the control scheme I don't mind playing.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Yeah, magic is REALLY strong in Elden Ring. The funny thing about your DS reference tho is I plan to go bow build in DS2 lol. Only b/c it lacks the custom controls I want, but I still want to play it and bow (or magic, but I've never been a magic guy) fits the control scheme I don't mind playing.

I had noticed that I hope that Fromsoftware dont start nerfing everything as players discover things, I have seen some really good character builds and some really interesting weapon choices too. I havent actually ventured very far at the moment as I have only managed to play just over 2 hours, hoping the optimisation patch comes soon as ive been having frame drops and lag spikes unfortunately.

 

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

I had noticed that I hope that Fromsoftware dont start nerfing everything as players discover things, I have seen some really good character builds and some really interesting weapon choices too. I havent actually ventured very far at the moment as I have only managed to play just over 2 hours, hoping the optimisation patch comes soon as ive been having frame drops and lag spikes unfortunately.

Yeah, the frame stuttering is...pretty frustrating, to say the least. Especially during boss fights.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Elden Ring Unrestricted Co-op Mod

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For anyone disappointed in the co-op play restrictions in FromSoftwares hit title Elden Ring it seems a mod is on the way which could allow for a far more robust co-op experience. Its all thanks to the developer LukeYui, previously of

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mod fame.

The mod will enter public beta on May 27th so keep an eye on the link below on that date for access.

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[Carraig]

To be 100% fair, more players doesn't necessarily mean more welcoming. Although, I do agree w/ you that it IS more welcoming. However, based on what I hear from vets, it's still more difficult than Dark Souls. For a house analogy, more welcoming to walk in the front door, but still offputting once you get past the living room.

This is only my 2nd FromSoft game, after Sekiro. I've been well aware of the Soulsborne games and other soulslikes for years. I avoided the genre for a variety of reasons that DON'T include the difficulty (but rather annoyance features that masquerade as "difficulty"). The only reason I got Sekiro was due to no stamina, no corpse running, a free res, etc. QOL stuff, really. The game was still hard af and I think even after the release of Elden Ring, still generally considered the most difficult FS game, truly being 100% skill-based since there are no RP elements to outgear or outlevel a boss/area.

Anyway, I'm fairly deep into it. 36 hours in, have downed 25 bosses (3 more I've left unbeaten) and am about to do back-to-back demigods. I'm really torn w/ how highly I view the game. It is an amazing game. I won't argue if someone gives it a 10, but I feel it is a 9 based on the principles of what I consider bad design. Things like enemies not following the same rules as you (they can target and attack you through walls and even in sanctuary rooms) and annoying things like any damage stopping your movement momentum (including a little ember of fire. But I get it, it has to be consistent, and a giant sword probably would stop your momentum). But it is just so engrossing, so interesting, and so generous (great description used by a buddy of mine), I sometimes feel it really does deserve a 10 from me.

I'm really eager to finish Elden Ring just so I can finally go backwards in games and play the DS trilogy.

I was talking to a friend and he said he wouldn't play it because Souls games are too hard but he loves the world. For me Elden Ring is kind of this happy median where the game is still really difficult, maybe even more so, but you can actually experience a lot of content just roaming the open world.

The argument for an easy mode in Souls has usually been that players are denied experiencing the art design and world if that's more what you are into. Well there's no Souls game that you can explore as much as Elden Ring without having to be very good at the game. I've played about 10 hours or so and I've barely defeated any significantly tough bosses. I'm still finding new things. It's also not that I can't take on the challenges but I honestly am just enjoying exploring more. It's very much reminding me of Breath of The Wild, a similarly tough game that is pretty open to letting you just explore at ease.

I really think it's welcoming to new players (I mean just look at the amount of people playing) without sacrificing the challenge people crave, and it's done in a way that isn't just a difficulty option. I think that's really cool.

 

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

I was talking to a friend and he said he wouldn't play it because Souls games are too hard but he loves the world. For me Elden Ring is kind of this happy median where the game is still really difficult, maybe even more so, but you can actually experience a lot of content just roaming the open world.
...
I really think it's welcoming to new players (I mean just look at the amount of people playing) without sacrificing the challenge people crave, and it's done in a way that isn't just a difficulty option. I think that's really cool.

Just an update on my own FS status, which has altered my opinion of ER a bit...

I have "platinumed/perfected" ER (got every single Achievement). After that, I finally went and played and finished DS1 and DS3 and their DLC's (skipped 2 to save for later since it is said to be more disjointed from the other 2 games).

Now, maybe it is b/c I played these games out of release order, but I would say ER is actually more difficult than DS1 and DS3. At least in terms of bosses. DS1 and DS3 have their own difficult designs and inconveniences that ER doesn't. I actually think DS3 is a borderline "bad" game in its design sensibilities. DS1 is an amazing masterpiece, imo, despite some typical FS annoyances.

But this, as well as some analysis video essays I've watched, have also made me come to the opinion that ER boss design is just bad, even worse than DS3's. Too many bosses feel out of place, like they were meant to be Sekiro, but couldn't be fit in. Joseph Anderson said it best, and this is something I think I feel now also - "I'm no longer excited for the next 'Souls' game from FS if it has the usual Souls combat system. I'll only look forward to something like Sekiro 2 or Bloodborne 2."