Hands on: Elden Ring Review

Commencement Impressions

I've spent several hours with Elden Ring during the closed network test weekend, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. The open up-world structure blends with the Souls-mode RPG mechanics incredibly well, and the combat is just every bit punishing and rewarding as previous FromSoftware games. This is definitely ane to watch out for in 2022.

Introduction

Elden Ring is an upcoming RPG past FromSoftware, the aforementioned developer backside famously difficult games such as Night Souls, Demon's Souls and Bloodborne.

This time round, rather than sticking to the mostly linear labyrinth-esque structure of its previous titles, FromSoftware has decided to adopt an open-world format with clear inspiration from the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Only is the open up-earth map a good fit for the Souls genre? And what other changes can yous expect compared to the likes of Nighttime Souls and Bloodborne? Bandai Namco Entertainment invited me to go hands-on with Elden Band to observe out, equally I spent several hours playing through the airtight network examination. Here are my early impressions.

Open up earth

Open up-world format compliments the Souls-style RPG mechanics
Optional dungeons feature boss battles and valuable loot
Can spawn a celestial horse to get around the map quicker

I was slightly concerned when I found out FromSoftware was adopting an open-world format for Elden Ring. After playing recent open-world games such as Far Cry half-dozen, I've become fatigued by filler content and forgettable side quests that prioritise quantity over quality.

I was also unsure whether FromSoftware's incredibly successful design would all the same evidence fruitful when parting from its linear roots – why fix something that isn't cleaved?

But I'thousand happy to say FromSoftware has proven my doubts wrong, every bit Elden Band fits in with the open-world structure perfectly, with a great focus on curiosity-driven exploration.

Even after acquiring a map, Elderberry Scrolls doesn't feature any objective markers that distractingly pop upwardly on screen. You'll see various environmental clues gently nudging you towards your main goal, but yous're otherwise free to explore the world at your own stride.

I ventured off the beaten path nigh immediately and discovered a dungeon. Elden Ring's take on dungeons are non as well dissimilar to those found in the Elderberry Scrolls serial, featuring a number of enemies to fight, deadly traps to avoid and loot to plunder. Each dungeon also concludes with a punishing boss come across, simply they're oftentimes worth the attempt with an incredibly useful item offered up as a reward.

These dungeons are completely optional, but the feel points and items gained are invaluable for powering up your graphic symbol, proving to be a fun and rewarding alternative to grinding.

Elden Band is packed with subconscious secrets, as I'd detect something specially interesting in every corner of the map. I discovered a magic dagger by venturing downwardly into an hush-hush catacomb, and I gained some handy crafting recipes by sneaking into an enemy camp. I was even ambushed past a colossal dragon when strolling through the swamp. This world feels alive, despite featuring far less communicative NPCs than your average RPG.

Elden Ring features a new crafting mechanic too, enabling you to turn the likes of animal basic into throwing knives, and plants into potions. This not only provides an incentive to scour the map for resource, but also to salve up your 'Runes' to buy as many recipe sheets as possible.

FromSoftware also introduces horse riding for Elden Ring, enabling you to spawn a celestial mountain right between your legs whenever you fancy. You can even fight against enemies while riding your horse, although combat isn't quite equally deep as when sparring on foot.

Importantly, FromSoftware hasn't lost sight of the cadre components of the Souls genre when adapting to the open-world format. Death volition still see you lose experience points (aka Runes), with campfires (at present chosen Sites of Grace) interim as checkpoints and allowing y'all to level upward.

While I was only able to explore a small section of Elden Ring's world during the closed network test, I was incredibly impressed past how much content information technology managed to pack in without always feeling overwhelming. Plus, the cadre mechanics from previous Souls games have been integrated so well here, that you lot could easily make the statement that they're a better fit for the open up-world format opposed to a linear structure – FromSoftware is actually onto something here.

Combat

Combat is punishing just fair, similar previous Souls games
New counter move is useful for smaller enemies
Ashes of War can alter damage blazon of a weapon

Elden Ring features the superbly tight combat from previous Souls games. Enemies will deal you lots of impairment if you make a fault, just animations will clearly telegraph each assail, assuasive you to memorise patterns so you know whether to coil, block or parry.

FromSoftware has too introduced a new counter motility, which can exist triggered immediately after you block an enemy's set on. This makes it relatively easy to dispatch your average grunt, merely spam it against a larger enemy and it's simply going to leave y'all exposed.

Similar previous games such as Night Souls and Demon'south Souls, you'll be able to pick from a variety of character classes at the start. This means yous can create a variety of graphic symbol builds, whether y'all want to specialise in strength and wield hulking battleaxes, or focus on magic and fire spells from a safe distance.

FromSoftware has likewise put more focus on stealth hither compared to Dark Souls, assuasive you to crouch and silently sneak backside an enemy for a backstab. This is arguably one of the weaker elements of Elden Ring'due south combat, every bit crossbow men would often start shooting at me with pinpoint accuracy every bit soon every bit I entered an expanse, even if I was creeping through long grass.

As with any Souls game, information technology'south the boss encounters that provide the real high points in Elden Ring. There's already an incredible diversity on offer in this closed network examination, from a wolf-like beastman that relentlessly chases you around the arena, to a towering troll which volition stomp you lot into the ground. I merely managed to succeed in two of the five boss battles I encountered, with a punishing merely off-white difficulty encouraging me to hone my combat skills and find better weapons.

You tin upgrade weapons in Elden Ring by spending experience points, similar with most other Souls games. But you won't be able to use special gemstones to alter the damage type of your sword, axe or hammer.

Instead, yous can discover Ashes of State of war items, which not simply alter the special attack of each weapon, while besides shifting the impairment type. The Ashes of War are interchangeable betwixt weapons as well, then you can swap in the most useful 1 for a particular battle, and don't demand to worry nigh permanently losing a powerful upgrade to a low-level sword.

There's also the pick to summon friends into your world to help take down specially hard enemies, or even enable invasions for PvP gainsay. I unfortunately didn't get a chance to try out the multiplayer feature, simply it's great to run into it render.

Graphics and Presentation

Ane of the all-time looking Souls game yet
Suffered framerate issues on PS5 during preview
Ray tracing is coming in a future patch

Elden Band is a gorgeous game, with a bright colour palette making the game world far more vibrant than whatsoever of the dark, gloomy worlds of Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

I played Elden Ring on the PS5, and had 2 modes to choose from: 'graphics mode' and 'performance mode'. The former renders the game at a 4K resolution, while the latter volition prioritize a 60fps functioning instead.

I picked the 'performance manner' given that timing is so incredibly important in Elden Ring, only was disappointed to see the frame rate drop on numerous occasions during my playthrough. It'due south besides early to become concerned about this in my opinion though, with Elden Ring not set to launch until February 2022 – that gives FromSoftware enough of time to shine out all of the kinks.

Elden Band will support ray tracing in the hereafter via a software patch on all supported platforms, simply I unfortunately wasn't able to see this in activity during my preview.

Elsewhere, I was impressed to run across how clean all of the menus looked, with a press down on the touchpad providing detailed explanations for all of the terminology and stats when judging the qualities of a weapon. This is ane of the well-nigh approachable Souls games I've played, with plenty of pop-upwardly letters giving yous succinct explanations for the various mechanics at play here. In that location's notwithstanding no option to change the difficulty though, which is no surprise since this is a FromSoftware game.

First impressions

Elden Ring's move to an open-globe format initially felt like a needless risk, but after playing it for several hours, I'thou happy to report my concerns were misplaced. The RPG mechanics suit the open up-earth structure very well, with plenty of weapons, spells and upgrades providing a cracking incentive for exploration.

The optional dungeons are fantastic, and the abundance of boss encounters ensures that FromSoftware is still focusing on its greatest forcefulness. If you're a fan of the Souls games, and so I'm confident you're going to love Elden Ring, while too potentially proving to be of the more outgoing entry points for newcomers.

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FAQs

Is Elden Ring like Skyrim?

I can certainly see similarities with the open-world format and the optional dungeons, simply Elden Ring still differs greatly elsewhere, with a far more punishing and nuanced combat organization.

Will Elden Ring exist similar Sekiro?

Elden Ring clearly borrows stealth and the jump mechanic from Sekiro, only the combat and RGB mechanics are closer to Night Souls and Demons Souls than Sekiro.

When volition Elden Band launch?

Elden Ring is currently scheduled to launch on 25th February 2022.

A 'hands on review' is our kickoff impression of a product only - it is not a full examination and verdict. Our writer must have spent some time with the production to describe an early sense of what it's like to apply. We call these 'hands on reviews' to make them visible in search. Nevertheless these are always unscored and don't give recommendations. Read more almost our reviews policy.