Review of Elden Ring. An exciting adventure will depict your heroic tale. This game is the culmination of FromSoftware's efforts to create a masterpiece!

ELDEN RING is scheduled to be released by From Software on February 25, 2022. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).

This is a completely new title from From Software, known for the "Dark Souls" series. Players will be able to explore a vast open field and unleash a variety of adventures. This article is a review of the full version of the game. This time, I'm playing the PS5 version.

If you're worried about spoilers and don't want to know anything about the game, don't worry. I don't want to give away any information that might lead to an attack! If you're worried about spoilers, we've tried to keep the fun of the adventure to a minimum, and only introduced the elements and attractions. However, there is a video clip in the middle and at the end of this article. This article contains a few of those elements, so please be careful!

*Click here for From Game Newbie's "Elden Ring" review.

The stage for this adventure is the Lands Between. This was once a land filled with the grace of the Eldetree. Those who have received the grace have a golden light in their eyes. But for those who have lost the grace, the light has disappeared from their eyes. The Lands Between reflected through their eyes was a faded world. Those who have lost their blessings are called "Tarnished" and are banished from the Lands Between.

The player, the protagonist of the game, is a descendant of the Tarnished who were banished from the Lands Between. One day, the Elden Ring, the source of the Eldetree's grace, is shattered. With the Great Rune, a fragment of the Elden Ring, in their hands, the Demigods go mad with its power and start the Crushing War. Everyone fought to become king, but in the end, no one won. And the world was broken.

Eventually, Tarnished, who was outside the Lands Between, received guidance to the grace he had once lost. A mysterious revelation invites the Tarnished back to the Lands Between. The revelation leads the hero to the Elden Ring and whispers to him, "Be the Elden Lord".

To summarize, in the collapsed the Lands Between, the Tarnished relies on the guide of grace and goes on an adventure in search of the Elden Ring. This is the general outline of the game. Who shattered the "Elden Ring" and for what purpose?　And will the hero be able to become the Elden Lord?　This is the story that unfolds. Compared to the "Dark Souls" series, where the story was a bit complicated, this game is relatively easy to understand. Such an epic and royal story is one of the charms of this title.

I think the graphics are quite beautiful, especially the distant view is remarkable. When you take a close-up look at them in detail, the graphics are not as delicate and beautiful as those of recent AAA titles, but it's nothing to be concerned about. When you look at the entire screen, the total balance is beautiful and wonderful.

In the early stages of the game, you'll visit "Limgrave," a grassland, forest, beach, dungeon, and swamp, where you'll find many different situations. As the adventure progresses, various areas such as poisonous swamps and strange places will appear, tickling your adventurous spirit.

Other titles in the "Dark Souls" series and other series leading up to this title have had a dark atmosphere overall. SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE, while expressing Japanese taste and the beauty of nature, still had a dark and decadent image. However, this work has a royal high fantasy atmosphere as a whole, and I felt that it had a refreshing atmosphere that was different from the previous works.

Nevertheless, the game still retains the taste of its director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, with its strange and dark elements. The same can be said for a single spot on the field, and it is also present in the story. As a fan of Miyazaki's work, I was delighted to see that this is not just a simple and exhilarating adventure story. As a fan of Mr. Miyazaki's work, I can personally say that this is an element that I am glad to see (although those who first came into contact with his work through this film may be a bit confused at first: ......).

The purpose is easy to understand as mentioned earlier, but as is typical of Miyazaki's works, sudden information can make you go "What?　What are you talking about?" This is because this work adopts a style in which the players themselves spin the story by gathering fragmentary information from flavor texts and conversations with NPCs. The best part of the game is that you feel like the protagonist as you try to unravel the mystery, so let's try to unravel the story while considering various things from the conversation scenes and texts.

The main character, Tarnished, is created in the character creator, and his name, appearance, and age can be freely customized. You can customize the character's name, appearance, age, etc. The appearance is typical of previous FromSoftware titles, but you can also create characters with a bit of flavor that don't just look good. The appearance can be changed during the game, so you don't have to worry too much about it at the start of the game.

The most annoying part of the game is the "class" element, which is your initial class. You have to choose one of 10 unique classes, such as the simple "Vagabond" with a shield and sword, or the "Astrologer" who specializes in sorcery. I was personally drawn to the "Samurai" character and chose it. I personally chose "samurai" because it reminded me of the fantasy RPGs of yesteryear, with a touch of "Japanese" in the midst of a high fantasy game. What's more, the setting says that the samurai are from the "Land of Reeds". As a fan of FromSoftware, I was happy to see that the setting reminded me of the "Land of Reeds," the setting of "SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE.

The game system is largely based on elements from the "Dark Souls" series, and will be familiar to fans of the series. You'll be looking for site of grace (like bonfires in the "Dark Souls" series) to increase the number of locations where you can fast travel. The basic parts of adventuring are as follows. The basic aspects of the adventure can be described as a very simple action RPG.

The Lands Between, where the game takes place, is very large. Anyway, it's huge. Before the release of this title, a network test was conducted in which only a part of Limgrave could be experienced, and those who were able to participate in the test will remember that the western part of Limgrave alone was huge. If you were able to participate in the test, you'll remember that the western part of Rimgrave was huge. This is my own experience, but the western part of Limgrave was less than 1/10 of the entire game's field. That's how wide the scope of exploration is in this game.

Aside from the vastness of the field, the game also has underground dungeons and several huge "legacy dungeons" scattered throughout the game. The denser the area, the denser the experience. That's not to say that the vast areas are distracting, but they do give you a sense of freedom and adventure as you travel. The balance and playability of the game gave me a strong sense of fun as an RPG.

You may be worried that the vastness of the game will make it difficult to move around, but you can get a Spectral Steed called Trent early in the game. Since it is aSpectral Steed, you can ride it and travel at high speed. Also, you can basically fast travel to site of grace at any time, so traveling was never a hardship. Having a convenient means of transportation available from the very beginning of the game was also a nice and stress-free element.

I don't have to tell you that there is a lot to play. If you want to play it all, you'll probably have more than 100 hours to play. I want to sit down and play an intense action RPG!　If that's what you're looking for, this is the game for you.

The combat system follows that of the "Dark Souls" series, with right- and left-handed weapons and the ability to change the way you hold your weapon. It's safe to say that you'll still be able to enjoy the appeal of switching weapons to perform a variety of actions and enjoy a high degree of freedom in weapon use.

In previous games in the series, including Bloodborne, "parry" has been an important element of combat. Of course, it can be a powerful action if you master it, but in this game, I felt that it was only one of the ways to attack.

The reason for this is that there are plenty of other ways to attack in battle. You can attack from a distance with long range weapons, or use magic and prayer attacks, which are powerful and easy to use. There is also a "guard counter" action that can lead to a powerful counterattack from a guard, and there are elements that can break the enemy's stance, so an attack can lead to a defense. In any case, you can use a variety of tactics.

There is also an element called "Spirit" Summoning that allows you to call up characters to become your allies. Online cooperative multiplayer is also more casual and easier to play. Compared to the so-called "death games" such as the "Dark Souls" series, I think this game is much easier to play. That said, you will die, though.

In the "Dark Souls" series, it was popular to focus on one particular build (character development guidelines). Of course, it's possible to take that approach in this game as well. Personally, I found it easier to attack this game by making my character capable of handling everything to some extent, and more importantly, I was able to enjoy the game without having to work too hard on the weapons, sorcery, incantation, and other actions. However, it is up to each individual to decide for themselves. "I'm going to be a magic kinght!" There must be people who want to go deeper into RPG role-playing. And there is a depth of builds that make that wish possible. I felt that this point also contributed to the high degree of freedom of adventure and the appeal of the game as an RPG.As for the difficulty of the battles, the word "crisp" is appropriate. Compared to the "Dark Souls" series, the regular enemies are much easier to defeat, and you are not required to engage in gripping battles with every enemy character. Of course, there are regular enemies that you need to fight carefully.

On the other hand, the difficulty of fighting bosses is still high. It's not a boss battle that can be easily defeated on the first try, and it's a style of battle that requires you to lose your life many times over. However, since there are spirit summons and cooperative multiplayer, there are not that many situations where the game tells you to "slug it out. Of course, if you don't use spirit summoning or other methods, you can compete in a slugfest, so it's probably fair to say that the level of difficulty varies depending on the player's control. It's up to the player to decide whether he or she wants to be the king by making full use of all the methods at their disposal, or to be the lone king by dying hard.

In addition, a huge dungeon called "Legacy Dungeon" offers an experience similar to the Dark Souls series. As you explore the dungeon, you will fight enemies, manage the limited amount of recovery potion, and search for the site of grace at the checkpoint. It's that kind of feeling. When you die, it's fun to think about what went wrong and lament, "Oh, I'm going to have to start all over again at ......". Because this game has jump action, you can jump across footholds that look like they are just around the corner, and you can actually find new paths at the end of the passages you climbed, making the dungeon a more three-dimensional structure.

While the overall difficulty of the game seems to be relatively low (compared to other FromSoftware's games), some of the stronger enemies are still difficult. It's not that it's gory and difficult. However, if you're not good at action, you'll still face a wall. It's not just a matter of gaining experience and raising your status to make it easier to advance in ...... (although of course it does get easier). This is where the depth of your action skills and tactics will be tested, so don't give up on the challenge and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes from defeating powerful enemies.

[This is the battle of The Elden Ring! Let's check out a video of the battle] 　Here's a quick video of some of the battles in this title. We hope you'll check out how you can enjoy a crisp battle against normal enemies and a sweaty battle against bosses.

"Dark Souls" series struck a balance between action and RPG, and "Bloodborne" was a work that further enhanced the action and stage combat elements. I felt that "The Elden Ring" featured more RPG elements, and was a work that allowed you to experience your own adventure.

For example, the procedure for capturing areas. This is extremely free. You can go through the boss of the first Limgrave you visit and head to the next area, or you can train your main character to take on the challenge while exploring the various areas. There are objectives to be achieved in the main storyline, but basically it is up to the player to decide what kind of adventure they want to enjoy. Of course, some spots can only be accessed by conquering a certain area or defeating a boss.

Another point that is typical of RPGs is the need to fight with a variety of weapons and attack methods. For example, you can use a hammer to attack rocky enemies that are difficult to slash with a sword, or you can use a torch rather than a normal weapon to attack flammable enemies.

There is a wide variety of weapons and armor to choose from. There are so many that you'll be surprised. There are so many different types of weapons, such as swords and spears, and the action changes depending on the weapon, so collecting equipment is a lot of fun. The "Dark Souls" series had similar elements, but this title has even more.

What adds to the fun is the presence of "skills". are like that can be activated to unleash offensive actions and strengthen effects. Dark Souls III also had skills, but they were tied to each weapon. In Dark Souls III, there were skills associated with each weapon, and in this game as well, skills are associated with weapons, but they can be further customized.

That's what we call "Ash of war". When you acquire this item, you can add the battle techniques attached to the ashes to the corresponding weapon. This allows you to freely choose your own techniques, eliminating the situation where you feel like "the performance is good, but the techniques are too subtle to use. It's also nice to know that the range of options in combat has been greatly expanded, so you can either use your favorite weapon all the time, or you can use different weapons to fight with more dexterity. The high degree of customization in this area also contributes to the high degree of freedom.

The characters are as unique as ever, but they are much more "rounded" and easier to understand than in Miyazaki's previous works. Of course, some of them have overly strong personalities, but they are easy to get attached to, or rather, you can find them on ....... Compared to those who are hard to describe, you will meet people who are relatively gentle.

There are quite a few characters in the story, and one of the charms of the story is that you can enjoy interacting with many different people. The mysteries of the world and the stories of the Tarnished, told in fragments, will give you a deeper view of the world. There are also sub-quests, and encounters with these people are another element that makes exploring the field exciting.

My personal rating is "a masterpiece" that I would recommend to everyone.

　One thing I would like to mention is the loading time. I played this game on the PlayStation 5 version, and the loading time was almost non-existent. Retries are crisp, so you can die easily (that's a misnomer), and fast travel is a breeze. However, if you are used to the PlayStation 4 version, you won't mind, but if you experience the PlayStation 5 version, it might be a stressful factor.

　These are my general impressions of the game. FromSoftware's work has a lot of fascinating stinginess and sharpness that shines in a mysterious way, and game fans who find it irresistible will love it, but I personally don't think it's something I can recommend to everyone. The high level of difficulty is a hurdle, and even if you recommend "Bloodborne" or "SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE" to people who are not good at action, they might throw it away. ......

　However, "Elden Ring" is an action RPG that I can recommend to everyone. Although it contains some complex elements, it is relatively easy to play and stress-free overall. The result is a magnificent adventure that anyone can enjoy. Of course, there are parts that are difficult, but there are also many remedies. If you get stuck, it's easy to ask for help from other players.

Elden Ring is a masterpiece, filled with all the elements that FromSoftware has cultivated over the years. The only hurdle to overcome may be the sheer volume of the game. The only hurdle is the sheer volume of the game, and the more you play, the more places you'll find to explore, so you'll never know when to stop. If you play it, you'll be hooked for sure.

For these reasons, it is a dangerous game to get into casually. I would like you to challenge this game with the attitude that you are entering a swamp that you cannot completely get out of. Be a king, fading man.

(Text by Nishikawa-kun)

Check out the video for a rich adventure in the Lands Between!

Here is a video (using the PS5 version) of Famitsu's Staff, Hey Shouhei, explaining the appeal of this title's open field, as he understood it after experiencing 30 hours of advance play. We hope you can get a feel for the fun of adventure in Elden Ring.

We`ll be playing mostly in Limgrave, if you`re wondering! &style{end}

The February 24 issue of Weekly Famitsu will feature a 60-page feature on "Elden Ring"!

　Also, the March 10, 2022 issue of Weekly Famitsu (on sale February 24, 2022) has a cover and illustration card, as well as a 60-page feature including game information and an interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki, so please check it out as well.