The Souls series from the developer forge FromSoftware is known for its large game worlds, its cryptic background stories and above all for boss fights, in which in the past not only one controller is said to have broken. For the latest project, which is called Elden Ring, the Japanese developer company has sought help from the father of the Game of Thrones series, George R. R. Martin. In a network test, players were able to test the much-anticipated game and the guys from Fextralife have taken a look to see if Elden Ring lives up to the current hype.
Departure of the Formula
To put it directly: Elden Ring is not simply a Dark Souls 4 or similar. This becomes clear relatively quickly in the video from Fextralife. There are still the familiar elements such as boss fights, which will drive you to the brink of despair. There are NPCs everywhere, with whom you should talk several times so as not to miss any details, and there are lots of hidden things you can stumble over.
But Elden Ring also incorporates many elements that you know from "classical" role-playing games. These include, among other things, a map and a compass to facilitate navigation. There will be a fast travel system with which you can reach already discovered places faster. You will be able to craft items yourself and there will be a more individual customization of your character skills.
Of course, there are now a few fans who complain that such changes water down the core of a Souls-like game. But actually the adjustments are necessary. Otherwise it would not, as for example in Dark Souls 3, take a few minutes to get back to the bonfire to travel from there to the blacksmith. It would take hours!
Character Shenanigans
The five playable character classes in Elden Ring, according to Fextralife, invite more than ever before to play the game again and again. Each class is said to differ so strongly from the others that you almost feel like you are playing five different games.
It is noticeable that magic and weapon skills are more in focus. Perhaps this is the influence of George R. R. Martin, as such skills were less decisive in previous games. In Elden Ring, however, you will have the possibility to not only arm your weapons with elemental magic, but also to activate various abilities that can help you in combat with the weapon.
The End of the Horizon
The biggest new feature in Elden Ring will be the open game world, which deviates from the "open-tube" principle that the games from FromSoftware have used so far. You can set off in any direction from the start to begin your exploration. In the demo, players should be presented with about 1/6 of the game world. But in fact, the game world could be much bigger. After all, you won't just be moving from west to east or from north to south. There are many game levels that are stacked on top of each other, so you can climb mountains and descend into caves.
Fextralife describes it quite well: the game world will be massive! Even if you have explored the main locations, there will still be hidden areas just waiting to be discovered. But how big the world of Elden Ring actually is remains a well-kept secret until release!
Hype or Frustration?
Fextralife's verdict on Elden Ring is clear. The game will not just be another part according to the old pattern. It will be a union of all the games that FromSoftware has developed so far. Already the small test has shown how much work is involved in Elden Ring and even if it doesn't look as polished as a Dark Souls 3, it will certainly be a
