There are underground locations, which are more or less as big as the ones found in Dark Souls 3, and it’s all smartly connected to the main map. Both, as expected from a Souls game, are excellently designed, and the experience is elevated with each new tidbit, thanks again to the open world structure of Elden Ring.Įlden Ring’s open world also benefits from its vertical design. The critical path, barring the open world structure, remains similar to what we had in previous games, but the side quests can take you across the map, too. The game creates a sense of curiosity to visit these locations, so if you reach a ruin, for example, you will be compelled to go inside and find out what secrets it holds. If you reach a location and if you have the will to brave the dangers within, you will always be rewarded for your efforts. In my travels across The Lands Between, I found hidden items, side quests, merchants, and what have you. However, what makes the open world truly stand out is that each and every location rewards you with something. From secret locations and tunnels to dungeons and ruins, from towering castles to dilapidated residences, Elden Ring is home to some of the most eerie, dark, and depressing environments in the medium. Featuring a massive map that is divided into different locations, the world has all the ingredients that FromSoftware is known for. The open world is easily one of the biggest highlights of Elden Ring. The end result is an inconceivable adventure, an experience unlike anything in any of FromSoftware’s previous works.' 'Even though Elden Ring does what every Souls game before it has done, it also manages to do that in an open world that generates a quenchless desire to explore every possible nook and cranny. Yes, not much has changed in the way FromSoftware tells its stories, but that can never be a bad thing given how expertly it’s been done here. This method of storytelling is what adds to Elden Ring’s world-building and makes the game a joy to explore. It’s up to the player to connect these beads and derive the narrative. Yes, the world of Elden Ring “speaks” to the player, not in an explicit way of course, but thanks to FromSoftware’s brilliant art style and its composition of dark, orchestral, and eerie music, the environments have a story of their own to tell.

As expected, most of the lore is told in an indirect manner, whether it be through conversations with NPCs, descriptions of items, or through exploring the world. There is a close association of the main story beats with the side quests, and they all interconnect in an alluring way to tell a tale that will hold your interest consistently. The Lands Between, which is the setting of the game, are filled with a mysterious and an engaging NPC cast, as the game weaves an intricate tale of the player embarking on a treacherous journey to restore the titular Elden Ring. Elden Ring is no different in this regard. Games developed by FromSoftware have an unusual way of telling their stories, which is one of the many reasons why their experiences stand out amongst the competition. The end result is an inconceivable adventure, an experience unlike anything in any of FromSoftware’s previous works. Even though Elden Ring does what every Souls game before it has done, it also manages to do that in an open world that generates a quenchless desire to explore every possible nook and cranny. But after spending dozens of hours with the game, my skepticism was washed away. Initially, Elden Ring seemed to me like Dark Souls 4 but set in an open world. To be honest, I was skeptical about this approach. After all, there is only so much one can do with a tried and tested formula before apathy sets in.īut then, FromSoftware announced Elden Ring, an open world Souls-like game. One has to wonder if at some point this long-running mechanic would eventually become trite and FromSoftware would have to do away with its “try, try, and try again until you succeed” approach with video games. They used the same recipe of putting the player in a diverse world filled with menacing adversaries and engrossing NPCs, along with the more or less similar pattern of dying and then living again to fight another day.

Up until Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, FromSoftware’s games had a specific pattern.

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