This game is really fun, actually. There's a lot of fun movement, and a surprising amount of gameplay customization for a hero shooter. The majority of characters have some unique movement ability, to the point where the handful that don't, it's a specific downside to their kit.

Mostly, I'm going to talk about the gameplay customization a lot, because I think that's by and far where this game excels compared to others. However, I'll also be talking about its free-to-play model further down, and a big general issue I feel like the game has.


The star of the show in my opinion, gameplay variation/customization. I'd like to first mention, the game lets you see all these customization choices from the scoreboard, so if you care to you can check at the start and see, there's no blind surprises if you take the time to look.

Each and every character has three unique major talents they can choose one of at the start of a match, which can significantly augment an ability/your character, and can change how you play quite a bit. Adding new effects/changing how abilities/passive/your weapon works, which can let you play them differently, or specialize in certain abilities/give them entirely new purposes.

Alongside that, there's a system where you not only choose 5 smaller perks (referred to as cards, but there's no conventional 'card' mechanics), but you can also choose the power of each one by distributing points to upgrade them. There's 16 options per character, 4 modifying each of the three abilities, and an extra 4 general perks.
You get 15 points to make a loadout, and are required to have 5 of the cards with a minimum cost of 1 each, so that's 10 points to distribute for upgrading, up to level 5 per card.

Combine these two systems and you can end up with many different play styles, lean into an ability you think is fun or useful, adapt to the team composition of your own and the enemy team, synergize with a friend on your team, or play in a way your opponents would not expect from your character.


Now, about the F2P model..
I think it's pretty alright. The main monetization is through various types of cosmetics, and the game is a bit stingy for earning it but does give some out for free, as well as giving out the premium currency in set daily login rewards over the week, which can be used to buy things. One thing I dislike about the login rewards though, it uses a set reset day, so you can potentially log in 7 days in a row and not get the big rewards if you didn't start at the right time.

The cosmetic items are primarily hero/weapon skins, most of which are quite transformative changes, often including new voice acting as well (All hero skins come with a weapon skin, but some weapons are standalone), but also includes Titles (Show up under your name on loading/scoreboard), Sprays, Avatars, Mounts, Kill cards, and a few other types.

The game has loot boxes, which is certainly a negative, especially considering some of them are chocked with way too many filler items (One in particular is incredibly egregious at a staggering 700~ items). However, I don't mind it as much as I could, because for every skin that substantially changes the character, they *usually* have two versions that are recolors of each-other, and you can buy one of these directly with the premium currency.

There's a battle pass system, costing 400 of the premium currency ($8 worth) and only giving 50 back, but combined with login rewards you can get roughly 450 over the duration of one. They include a variety of the several types of cosmetic items the game offers, usually including two skins (and a reskin of both of them), some loot boxes, and a variety of the smaller cosmetic rewards. There's a handful of free rewards, 8-10 out of the pass' 30 rewards.

The last thing is heroes needing to be unlocked, and you might think this should be the big thing I talk about first, but I think this implementation is very generous, you can use the main free currency and the game is very, very generous with it, alongside providing you with some tokens to just get a handful of heroes of your choice for free when you start. I've been more or less getting characters as they catch my interest and I've not felt like I had to grind.


Finally, my actual biggest gripe with the game.. It's quite unpolished, and it shows in quite a few places. Some things just look or work weirdly, missing textures on maps that are in rotation, there's text that's misleading, confusingly worded, or just straight up incorrect, including some ability and talent descriptions.
There's bugs that have just been in the game for a very long time unfixed, especially annoying when it's an ability that just sometimes does not work or does something strange. Or maybe it's an interaction that the game just does not tell you or imply anywhere, who knows. the UI is confusing to wrap your head around, and there's some basic things I had to have a friend tell me how to do in regards to it. It can be a real maze, requiring multiple unintuitive clicks to navigate to where you intend to go.


Overall, though.. I really enjoy the game, especially if you go in with some friends to play with, it can be a lot of fun. I definitely recommend getting some friends and playing, there's even bot matches if you're intimidated about the idea of jumping right into a game fighting against real players.

Ahh, Elden Ring..
in short Praise the Elden Ring!

Behold, it's like a dream...

Visions of surface,
high road
ruins,
city
fort,
underground tomb
therefore look carefully!
Precious item ahead,
in short Praise the abundance!

Behold, horseback battle!
and then Visions of jumping...
Time for crouching,
and then stealth.
well done, O well done
likely joy.

First off, are you ready?, therefore try warrior
knight, or samurai
Ahh, sorcerer.. or cleric
abundance!

Seek Erdtree,
victory ahead
strong foe ahead,
in short Seek boss...
Likely monarch, or dragon
monster, or giant

Seek Elden Ring, well done!
Order, or chaos
Tarnished, except Lord!

Be wary of recklessness,
all the more Be wary of group
Be wary of bloodstain
Likely death, think carefully...
Seek recon spot, defensible spot
Try stealth, and then Try ranged battle

I've failed, therefore Still no victory...
so lonely...
stay calm!
Try summoning, friend
joy! but Be wary of outsider
Try ambush, but Be wary of rushing in.

Ahh, Elden Ring...
in short beautiful...