On Friday, February 25, 2022, Elden Ring will be released. However, you do not need to have played Dark Souls to enjoy this eagerly awaited FromSoftware game. This is why MeinMMO explains to you who should check out this challenging action-adventure.
What is Elden Ring? The latest action RPG from the creators of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro offers what fans love about FromSoftware games. But new aspects evolve the brutally difficult and complex gameplay the developers are known for.
Elden Ring has been available on Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S since February 25.
The key features at a glance:
- Gloomy fantasy world from the creators of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro
- Story co-written by George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones
- Brutally hard gameplay
- Deep and challenging combat system
- Extensive open world that you explore on foot and horseback
- Some dungeons with more linear gameplay and puzzles
- Many bosses
- Some weapons with multiple weapon styles
- Multiplayer in co-op and PvP mode
If you are still undecided whether Elden Ring is the right game for you, you are in the right place. We have prepared a small checklist for you to help with your decision.
Elden Ring has completely convinced critics before its release and is receiving absolutely fantastic reviews everywhere. If you want to read MeinMMO author Tarek Zehrer’s opinion, you can find it here:
Checklist – Should I play Elden Ring?
To give you a quick overview, we have created a short checklist of 10 statements.
These 10 statements should help you with your decision. If you can answer at least 7 of these statements with “Yes” or “Maybe”, you can safely purchase Elden Ring. More detailed information about Elden Ring can be found further down in the article.
The 10 statements:
- I have played and liked games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Sekiro.
- Games with high difficulty do not scare me away.
- I enjoy freely exploring open worlds.
- I like dark fantasy stories like Game of Thrones or The Witcher.
- I prefer to play alone, but sometimes also enjoy playing with or against other players.
- I find extensive games that require deep engagement enjoyable.
- I love the feeling of finally defeating a difficult boss after many attempts.
- In RPGs, the combat system is more important to me than levels, loot, or skills.
- I want a game that repeatedly forces me to play better.
- Flexible builds in RPGs are fun for me.
Have you been able to answer at least 7 of the 10 statements with “Yes” or “Maybe”? If so, then Elden Ring is worth it for you!
If you want to see the game in motion, this trailer gives you a brief overview:
Brutally Hard Action-RPG in a Large Open World
Why should I check out Elden Ring? The action RPG relies on a demanding combat system where every attack carries weight. Especially the many bosses, big and small, will require a lot from you.
This complexity of the combat system mixed with a high difficulty level has made FromSoftware’s games incredibly popular for over 10 years. Elden Ring promises to continue right there. At the same time, it also tries to reinvent itself in important aspects.
Elden Ring takes place in the so-called Lands Between. Compared to the other games from FromSoftware, this is a completely open world. You can freely explore the Lands Between and discover the 6 different regions at your leisure.
This time, a horse is also available to help you explore this game world better. Compared to Dark Souls or Bloodborne, you can now truly jump.
Compared to more traditional action RPGs in an open world, the focus is clearly more on a combat system than on things like loot, levels, skill points, and a massive quest log. Even the classes work quite differently than you might think.
The game is expected to entertain you for at least 30 hours before you see the credits – the developers recommend, however, taking much more time.
Why might Elden Ring not be for me? Like all FromSoftware games, Elden Ring expects perfection in gameplay from you. You will need a deep understanding of the combat system, good timing, a lot of patience, and a high resistance to frustration.
The developers openly state that they love the notorious elements of the old games as designers and therefore reuse them. If you play games to unwind after a stressful day, you are in the wrong place here – Elden Ring is a tough nut that will challenge you. It won’t work on the side.
Also, the vastness of the game could be off-putting. In particular, the open world makes the game even bigger and longer, which is not the right step for every player.
Elden Ring attempts to incorporate new gameplay features, but remains at its core a FromSoftware game. So if you enjoyed Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, or even imitators like Nioh, you should also find enjoyment here.
If you have any questions about the difficulty level, you can find a detailed article about it on MeinMMO:
The difficulty level of Elden Ring: How hard is the action RPG really?
