Game review: Elden Ring

If you’re a gamer, you’ve come to the right place. If not, stick around because we may convince you to give video games a fair shot. We reached out to one of our avid gamers, Natasha, to provide a review on one of her favourite games. She’s been a part of the gaming community for over 15 years, so we trust her when she says this one is a must play for those craving adventure.

Elden Ring is an action-adventure game set in a vast and dark world. The story around this game has you playing as a main protagonist whose goal is to protect a world where humanity is losing its faith in myths and legends. Similar to our first game review, Elden Ring features an open-world setting. You can expect an immersive story, a wide variety of weapons and armour, and an overall challenging experience. Keen to hear more? Let’s dive into Natasha’s answers.

Image source: Indian Express

Q: What attracted you to this game?

A: Elden Ring is the latest game in the lineup of renowned Japanese developer, FromSoftware. It is very much a spiritual successor to their previous titles Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro. I have been playing these games ("Soulsborne" games as they're often referred to) since around 2011, when I fell in love with the first Dark Souls game. I preordered Dark Souls 2 as soon as it was announced, and I have been hooked ever since. The announcement for Elden Ring was released many years ago, followed by complete silence from the developer until last year, when info about the title started coming out. As I have played and loved every other game in the series, I preordered it as soon as I was able.

Q: What platform do you play it on?

A: I play it on the PlayStation 4, as I greatly prefer the cinematic experience a TV affords, and I much prefer the PS4 control scheme for this kind of game.

Q: What is the game about?

A: The genre is hard to define for FromSoftware games, as they are often counted as a genre on their own (referred to by the community as Soulsborne or Souls-like). However, it incorporates elements of adventure, RPG (role-playing game), and action. It takes place in a desolate world, way past its prime, as the player tries to fight their way to reforming the Elden Ring, which was shattered, and becoming the Elden Lord. The game's story is deliberately obtuse, requiring players to put in the effort to read item descriptions, listen to characters, and use a fair amount of speculation, but this adds to the sense of wonder and mystery present throughout the game. The player can move through a vast open-world, with the help of their trusty steed, Torrent, and seamlessly transition to underground and walled off dungeons to fight tough bosses and gain precious loot and currency.

Q: What makes this game unique?

A: This game is unique from other games in the same way that all the other "Soulsborne" games are, which is brutal, challenging but fair combat, with a focus on precision and preparation. What makes Elden Ring stand out from those that came before it is its vast open-world full of secrets and mystery to discover. The setting and story was authored along with George R.R. Martin, of A Song of Ice and Fire fame. Unlike many other open-world games, Elden Ring's world contains unique features and secrets in every nook and cranny, never feeling repetitive or boring.

Image source: Elden Ring

Q: How difficult/challenging is this game?

A: Elden Ring, like FromSoftware's previous games, is not for the faint of heart. Its combat is brutally punishing to the unprepared. The game has a heavy focus on beating the player down until they have truly mastered the combat. However, it is possible for players to adjust their own difficulty to an extent, as players can summon other players from other worlds into theirs to help defeat bosses or challenging sections, which can often turn the tide of even the most challenging of fights.

Q: Who do you think would enjoy this game?

A: Anyone with a love for a challenge, and those looking for a vast world of secrets and mysteries to uncover.

Are you interested in reading another review? We have a host of book, podcast and software reviews on our blog here. Enjoy!