There have already been so many long essays written, so many two-hour YouTube reviews produced about elden ring that it is unlikely that the following passage contains a single original version of the FromSoftware title. Occupying the same type of space as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is considered a once-in-a-generation type of game; Stunning combat, unmatched open-world exploration, and outstanding visual design make it so.
While Elden Ring isn’t our Game of the Year for 2022, it will almost certainly be the most influential experience for years to come. Developers will be looking to FromSoftware for inspiration for the entire generation of PS5, finding a way to make their map as big on the Y axis as it is on the X axis, or enhance their boss designs with a bit of flair. An amazing game in its own right, Elden Ring could be looked into as a way to enhance future experiences.
It’s that feeling of freedom that really sums up what’s so special about the title. The moment you open the double doors at Limgrave, the world is your oyster with regions to explore to the north, south and east. The main story would suggest that you head to Stormveil Castle, but riding Torrent, you are the judge of your fate in The Lands Between.
Like the previous Dark souls games and the most recent Sekiro: Shadows die twice, combat is where experimentation is encouraged, with so many different builds to consider and means of dealing damage. Specific enemies can demand different approaches or disable specific archetypes through immunities. It’s about giving you pretty much every tool in the playbook, and then some, and letting you dictate what works and what doesn’t. Another example of how open and liberating Elden Ring really is.
As we said at the beginning of this article, you probably knew all this anyway: the game has sold millions and millions of copies, to the point of being one of the best-selling titles of the year. That’s a staggering achievement for a FromSoftware game, even considering its growing popularity over the past 10 years. Sales don’t always equate to quality, but in the case of Elden Ring, it’s by far the best FromSoftware title. A masterful achievement that will be remembered for a long, long time.
