Elden Ring, developed by From Software and released in 2022, is a video game I have been playing often during the last couple months. In fact, it is one of the best games I’ve ever played. The game combines engaging combat, a wide variety of potential strategies, and an incredible world.
Elden Ring has an excellent combat system. When the player presses the button to attack, block, or dodge, that action is added to a queue, and executed as soon as possible. This means that there is a delay between when an action is queued, and when it is executed, and actions like attacking leave the player vulnerable, because they are unable to block or dodge until the attack is finished. Therefore, the player has to think before attacking. The developer, From Software, first used this system in their game Demon’s Souls in 2009, so they have had many years to improve on it. This experience shows in the fact that Elden Ring’s combat system rewards players who time their attacks and dodges well, and encourages players to memorize the enemy’s movements in order to gain an advantage.
Elden Ring also provides players with many different ways to succeed in the game. There is a wide variety of weapons, including large, slow axes that deal large amounts of damage in single hits, and smaller, faster weapons that allow players to be more mobile. Some players may favor melee weapons, while some may prefer to use magic. There are also many types of spells. Some spells shoot fire, some launch giant, glowing comets, and some even turn your head into a dragon. Players can also summon the spirits of enemies to aid them in battle. And, players can choose to completely remake their character in case the tactics that they have chosen are not working. This way, players are free to be creative andfind their own way to overcome challenges.
Elden Ring takes place in a massive open world. This allows players to take on challenges and explore new areas in whatever order they want. For example, Stormveil Castle is located just outside of the starting area, and is home to two difficult boss fights, and many enemies. Since Stormveil Castle may be too difficult for players who are just starting the game, players are free to skip it and explore the surrounding regions, Limgrave, Caelid, and Liurnia, where they can level up their character, collect new weapons, and learn new spells. Then, once they are strong enough, they can return to Stormveil Castle. There are also many secret areas in Elden Ring, which players may not notice unless they explore and pay attention to their surroundings. For example, there is a massive network of underground cities hidden beneath the rest of the game, that is only accessible if players complete an optional boss fight and explore a mysterious crater that is created after the boss is defeated. This new underground area contains new weapons and boss fights, as well as a secret quest that leads to an alternative ending to the game. It is truly impressive that the developers put this much effort into an area that many players will never even find.
Elden Ring’s combat and world design encourages players to be creative and curious. When playing the game, you know what you might find next. You could encounter enormous monsters, powerful weapons, and hidden underground kingdoms. Though it is a difficult game, it always provides players with solutions to any challenges it throws at them, if they are willing to experiment and try new strategies.
I highly recommend Elden Ring to anyone who enjoys fighting games. It has an excellent combat system, and encourages creativity and strategy. It takes place in an incredibly detailed and expansive world that encourages players to be curious and to explore. If you play, let me know what you think of the game.
-Will
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I really like your description of the combat system, and I really think it explained really well how exactly it works, and why the combat system is good. I also really like that you describe the weapons, including how fast they attack, the speed that they attack, and the variety of different types of attacks. I am also a fan of open world games, so I will be sure to check it out if I have a chance.
ReplyDeleteI love your detailed explanation of the combat system as well as the open world map that Elden Ring has! I feel like it definitely helped me understand it a lot better than if I tried playing the game straight away. Elden Ring seems like a great game to play, and I'll need to play it when I can. Good blog!
ReplyDeleteElden ring seems fun. It also seems like pain, but that's part of the fun. I think I might play it one day
ReplyDeleteAs someone who wanted to play Elden Ring for a while, I liked your description of Elden Ring. Elden Ring seems like a game that you can play at your own game which makes it appealing to me. I would want to know more about the grindy part of the game though since it is a souls game.
ReplyDeleteI like your description of the game and it makes me want to get the game even more so I can experience it for myself
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