After the long wait, how does Elden Ring hold up?

Way back in 2009, a single game drastically changed my love for gaming in a way I was not expecting. Demon’s Souls took all of tropes I came to expect out of games, and threw them out the window. Demon’s Souls wasn’t there to hold my hand through the experience rather provide one of the most all-round difficult playthroughs I’ve had with a game up to that point. If I didn’t take the time to appreciate and respect the game, there wasn’t a chance that I would even be able to best the first boss. From then on, I’ve developed a deeper focus when it came to gaming as I was further indulging in the lore of games I played and actually attempting to learn how to master games just in case I came across challenges like what the Souls/Borne series had to offer. Years later, after surmounting every game that FromSoftware had to offer, we hit what I consider to be the pinnacle of the Souls/Borne collection of games. Bringing together everything that made all prior FromSoft games great and introducing a massive open world to explore, Elden Ring truly feels like one of the best gaming experiences I have ever played.

Elden Ring places you in the role of a tarnished which follows a similar lore concept as the cursed undead in Dark Souls; essentially you are the low being in the world referred to as the Lands Between. Without going to deep into the ever-expansive lore, after the shattering of the Elden Ring, the world is in disarray with numerous powerful beings vying to take over. The plot, much like Souls games of the past, is one that will take some time to fully understand as your journey could differ depending on how deep you look to invest yourself into the world. Different weapons you acquire, new people you meet, optional bosses and lands you find give you a better understanding of everything that’s occurring in the world. The plot can be very overwhelming if you’re new to the FromSoft approach to storytelling, however it won’t break the game if you don’t spend hundreds of hours exploring every nook and cranny of Elden Ring.

Where Elden Ring shines the brightest is how it handles the open world design. As you reach Limegrave, the world is open for you to scour. Whether you want to follow the light of grace to go along the main path or branch out to the vast open world right from the start, Elden Ring finds a way to simultaneously reward and punish you for your choice. While following the preset path does keep you facing enemies within your level since enemies don’t scale, however you could be missing out on interesting questlines and powerful weapons that will make the journey later much easier; but don’t expect this to be easy. Branching out can lead to various dungeons with dangerous bosses that yield a slew of items that make taking on the challenge worth the stress that ensues.

Combat in Elden Ring perfectly showcases the culmination of every improvement and implementation across the FromSoft catalog. Whether you’re a dual-wielding power-stance build from Dark Souls 2, a weapon arts user from Dark Souls 3, or just a hybrid build entering the fray for the first time there’s endless ways to play. With additions such as the guard counter, horseback attacks, and jumping attacks just to name a few, Elden Ring feels fresh in a series that continues to grow and add depth with every game. Add in the stealth element that allow you to engage in combat in even more new ways, and Elden Ring presents some of the best combat from any FromSoft game.

Bosses are a fundamental component in the Souls/Borne titles, and Elden Ring delivers some of the best character designs. With how expansive the Lands Between are, there are endless enemies to come across. Whether you’re looking for take on enemies to gather runes to level up or come across one of the many bosses during your explorations of caves, Elden Ring offers a plethora of unique enemies to face off against; each offering a unique experience during the encounters.

Elden Ring is a culmination of everything done right by FromSoft from prior titles, creating what could be one of the best games I’ve played. Combat is crispy and versatile, with endless ways to tackle combat, exploration is endless, and the game is just plain fun. If you’ve never played a Souls/Borne title prior and looking for the best entry point, Elden Ring is your answer. The question now is, how will FromSoft top Elden Ring?