GameNow review
Elden Ring review: A Grand Open-World Adventure
Elden Ring, a dark fantasy action RPG, has received universal acclaim for its expansive open-world design, challenging yet rewarding combat, and intricate storytelling. Critics praise its accessibility improvements and artistic merit, though some note issues with performance on PC and the story's sparse nature.
This summary reflects the cited sources, which may describe earlier versions. The update date does not confirm a new playtest or the current patch.
Expansive Open World and Exploration
Critics have praised Elden Ring's vast open-world setting, which offers a rich and immersive environment for players to explore. Tamoor Hussain of GameSpot highlighted the Lands Between as the most expansive setting in FromSoftware's catalog, emphasizing the game's appeal lies in the discovery and exploration of its landscapes. Mitchell Saltzman of IGN noted that every part of the map rewards exploration, making it a key aspect of the gameplay experience. Simon Parkin of The Guardian described the game's environments as 'intriguing and inventive,' appreciating the artistic designs and execution in both open areas and linear dungeons.
Combat and Accessibility
Elden Ring's combat system has been widely praised for its depth and variety, offering players numerous ways to engage with enemies while maintaining a challenging level of difficulty. Critics noted that the game's difficulty, while still high, is more accessible than previous FromSoftware titles, allowing players to avoid difficult challenges and return with more experience. Features like fast travel and the ability to avoid tough enemies have been highlighted as significant improvements, making the game more approachable without sacrificing its core challenge. However, some reviewers pointed out that the menu and accessibility systems could use refinement.
Story and Narrative
The narrative of Elden Ring has received mixed reviews, with some critics appreciating its sparse and cryptic nature, while others found it lacking in comparison to George R. R. Martin's writing style. Critics noted that the story is better told than in previous FromSoftware games, with side-stories and individual quests providing engaging narratives. However, the lack of Martin's distinctive writing style was a point of contention for some players and critics, who felt the marketing emphasis on his involvement was misleading. Despite this, many reviewers found the side-stories and world-building to be compelling.
Performance and Technical Issues
While Elden Ring has been praised for its artistic merit and gameplay, some technical issues have been noted, particularly on the PC version. Critics have reported framerate issues and performance problems that detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game's performance on consoles has generally been well-received, with minimal complaints from players.
What works
- Expansive and engaging open-world design
- Challenging yet rewarding combat system
- Improved accessibility features
- Intricate and immersive world-building
What doesn’t
- Sparse and cryptic narrative
- Performance issues on PC
Verdict
Elden Ring is a must-play for fans of the Souls series and open-world RPGs, offering a vast and immersive world to explore, challenging combat, and a rich narrative. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its sparse story and technical issues on PC, the game's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.
Sources
This review was drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed here, then checked automatically so that no source text is copied. Scores from outlets are facts recorded on Wikidata.
Source publications: wikipedia.org
- Elden Ring — Wikipedia (en) en.wikipedia.org · CC-BY-SA-4.0
- ELDEN RING — Wikipedia (ja) ja.wikipedia.org · CC-BY-SA-4.0
- 艾爾登法環 — Wikipedia (zh) zh.wikipedia.org · CC-BY-SA-4.0
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