💥 TRENDING: Id/edriios - Uncensored 2025

At a time when FromSoft fans were chomping at the bit for any news of a Dark Souls 4 release, complete with the maximum amount of copium, what we would end up getting was more than we could have asked for. Elden Ring was announced, and was billed at being FromSoft's largest and most epic adventure yet.

Featuring a fully open world, with back story and lore history written by none other than George R.R. Martin, we were about to embark on our biggest Souls excursion yet. All new gameplay systems, mechanics, graphics, and story would combine to create FromSoft's magnum opus.

Even though the Souls series and related Souls-Likes were gaining in popularity over the years, it was still a relatively niche market. Many gamers were wary of a game where dying had the potential to be punishing, you had to go out of your way to find and understand the story, and each encounter (boss or not) had the potential to be difficult enough to erase your recent progress.

FromSoft found a way to make Elden Ring more accessible and thus open it up to more fans, while still keeping true to the formula that had made their previous games successful. A delicate balancing act, but one that paid off when all was said and done.

-Graphics- 8/10

While the graphics are not utilizing the latest and greatest technologies, nor are they going for a hyper realistic look, the art style of the game has a very clear and defined direction. Draw distances tend to span huge distances (although enemies tend to not be seen as well as the terrain and buildings). Weapons and armor are meticulously crafted, and help the player enthrall themselves in the fashion souls end game. Finally each biome has distinct features that when you spend so long in them, leaving feels like you are truly journeying to a new land. Unfortunately some of the areas are repeated/retextured throughout the game so some points get knocked off there.

-Story/Lore- 10/10

Is there a story in Souls games? What about Elden Ring? Many would think not on first glance, as it is barely in front of your face. But as you adventure through the game, reading item descriptions, talking to inhabitants, and finding notes, the past and present history of The Lands Between slowly starts to reveal itself. What you end up coming across is political intrigue, conspiracy, and a recounting of events that led the world to the state it is currently in.

-Gameplay/Mechanics- 10/10

Building on what has come prior, Elden Ring feels as though it has perfected the formula. Fighting feels as good as ever, with the largest build variety, weapon variety, and weapon skills/arts seen in a FromSoft game yet. There are new additions and quality of life changes that are more than welcome, especially to widen the net of potential buyers. Mounts, jumping, and more Sites of Grace (Bonfire equivalents) go a long way in making Elden Ring feel like the modern reincarnation of Dark Souls.

-Enemies/Bosses- 9/10

By far the most bosses and enemies in any FromSoft game, there are literally hundreds throughout the game comprised of regular enemies, beefed up or "elite" enemies, mini bosses, world bosses, dungeon bosses, and story major bosses. The bad news is that many of the bosses and enemies are a reskin of an earlier foe. The good news is they generally change up the mechanics as your progress further (even if only slightly) and there are enough unique foes to keep things fresh.

-Verdict-

Elden Ring has sold the most of any FromSoft (or Souls-Like) yet, and for good reason. It has reiterated on the tried and true formula to bring the genre into the modern gaming era, ushering in new fans that would not have given it a thought before. This is a game about picking a direction, and following it. You are not on rails following a story, you are forging your own path and creating your own adventures. While there are a couple issues that knock the points down a hair, this is the closest I have ever felt to a perfect game. I played through on Ps5, and then bought it again here on Steam to enjoy the magical and enchanting world all over again. Getting all of the achievements done, taking my time to explore the lands and flesh out the story, crafting new builds to vanquish my foes, and discovering new things in every playthrough, Elden Ring has been a generational game for me, and I highly suggest you give it a try if you have the time (and nerves of steel) to conquer the world yourself.