Elden Ring Review

“Elden Ring”, FromSoftware’s newest role play game, has set a new bar for what video games should be. While we aren’t even halfway through 2022, I’m already calling FromSoftware’s newest release in the lead for game of the year.  

FromSoftware has been a notorious name in game development, for better or worse, since they released “Demon’s Souls” in 2009 on PlayStation 3. The Japanese game development studio instantly gained a reputation for brutally hard and unforgiving games and continued this reputation with their subsequent releases including the “Dark Souls” series, “Bloodborne” and “Sekiro.” This reputation turns a lot of people off their games, especially in the U.S. 

But getting over that initial intimidation led to some of the most rewarding video game experiences I’ve ever had, “Elden Ring” being the most rewarding of all. 

In recent years there has been this huge push and fascination with open-world video games. Almost every A.A.A. studio release tries to make their game open-world, which doesn’t always pay off. Studios brag about having a huge map but it often feels wasted and empty, as the game’s story only takes place in a small section of the map like in “GTA V” or any of the “Assassin’s Creed” games. In “Elden Ring,” it truly feels like every inch of the map was carefully planned and has its own purpose for existing. The massive map is covered with details, items, hidden caves, enemies and interesting N.P.C.s, each with their own side quests or shop. I have put over 150 hours into the game and I’m still discovering new areas and hidden details.  

FromSoftware is known for their interesting and challenging bosses, and “Elden Ring” is a peak example. “Elden Ring” has 120 bosses. That’s 88 more bosses than their largest game before this, “Dark Souls 2.” While some of these bosses are repeats, where they take the same design and put them in a new area, maybe adding some new moves or details in their appearance, there are still 83 unique bosses.  

Each boss has its own incredible soundtrack and story with such great design detail you won’t mind fighting them 20 times after you keep dying. And you definitely will die. But that’s part of the fun design of these games. While it is challenging, one slowly learns the best way to conquer an enemy after each death leads to a much more satisfying victory than the typical button spamming that a lot of other games encourage.  

Finally, “Elden Ring” has one of the best stories I’ve ever seen in a game. You play as a Tarnished, someone who was rejected from the game’s setting, The Lands Between, long ago.  

But you’ve been called back to your ancestor’s home as you are the only hope to repair the Elden Ring, a collection of runes and laws that made The Lands Between the perfect realm they used to be. You enter a world in the middle of a great war and are tasked with finding all the pieces of the Elden Ring, each in the possession of a powerful monarch who all want the Ring for themselves so they might hold the title of Elden Lord.  

FromSoftware has paired with George R.R. Martin, creator of “Game of Thrones” to create this incredible story and the world it takes place in. FromSoftware has always created great stories and told them without long, exposition-packed cutscenes, allowing the player to slowly piece the story together themselves without slowing down the game.  

“Elden Ring” is truly one of the best games I’ve ever played. It takes a lot of familiar game concepts and aspects and perfects them. Paired with a meticulously designed, detailed world full of story, it’s worth the time of any R.P.G. fan. It’s hard to imagine any other game this year topping “Elden Ring” in design or success, with over 12 million copies sold within the first two months of release, which only makes me more excited for future D.L.C. or even a possible sequel.  

Tracy Mullinax can be reached at [email protected]