In my time with the game, I found all manner of interesting things unprompted: underground crypts that held new weapons caves so dark that each step forward felt like a perilous risk and-yes-that classic From Software moment where I ventured into the unknown and emerged in the familiar, showing that the world was constructed thoughtfully. The setting of the Lands Between feels like a place that is designed to constantly pique your curiosity and then reward you for seeking out answers. And that is something new for From Software.Įlden Ring, it seems, is a game built around both exploration and discovery. The reason it stuck with me is because, as the Tarnished, you're not walking in the ashes of a fallen kingdom or doomed city, but fighting to change the fate of a place that is still very much alive. But in a Soulsborne game, these sounds are more unusual than multi-armed monsters wielding swords. This is all incredibly basic stuff for an open-world game, perhaps even unremarkable given their prevalence in similar games. Then there was the sound of the wild: crashing ocean waves, whispering winds, rustling trees, the pitter-pattering of raindrops-it was hypnotic. Instead, they simply took flight and landed elsewhere. I watched animals like goats and penguins (or whatever their fantasy equivalents are called in this world) just being.įor some reason, I was oddly fascinated with birds, which didn't attack me when I approached, as I expected. Along the way, I stopped on the edge of cliffs and gazed out into the horizon, as day turned to night. That came through strongest when I opened the map, picked a location that interested me, and attempted to reach it. The Lands Between is undoubtedly yet another place ruled by figures that have been tainted by otherworldly power and corrupted, but it's also a beautiful place teeming with life. And when I did, I found the world to be both familiar and unlike anything in From Software's previous games. The gentle, understated music that played as I wandered around aimlessly, or marveled at the beautiful golden Erdtree towering above, invited me to let my guard down and take in the world around me without the fear that a blade would suddenly be plunged into me. Walking around the Lands Between, specifically a small section of an area called Lingrave, I felt that same intent, but laid out over a vast open world. These places have a sympathetic quality to them, somehow being able to acknowledge the harshness of the world, lament that its fate has been put upon your shoulders, and comfort you when you're at your lowest, giving you the space to put yourself together before you pick yourself up and venture out once more.īy clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's Whether it's the Nexus, Firelink Shrine, Hunter's Dream, or the Dilapidated Temple, each FromSoft title has a place where adventurers can find respite from the cruelty of the world beyond. And yet, what defined my seven hours of hands-on time with the Elden Ring closed network test was what many would consider uncharacteristic of a Soulsborne game: tranquility.Īs much of a surprise as that was, it's not something that's completely uncommon in these games. Whether you've played From Software's games or are simply aware of them, you likely have an idea of what they offer: doomed kingdoms, tragic characters, a pervasive sense of melancholy, and gameplay that will challenge both your skill and your resolve. For more, check out our Elden Ring preorder guide.Of all the things I expected from Elden Ring, a sense of serenity wasn't one of them. A free upgrade will be available for PS4 players to the PS5 version, while the Xbox versions will offer Smart Delivery support. Xbox boss Phil Spencer told us last year that he had already been playing Elden Ring, describing it as director Hidetaka Miyazaki's "most ambitious game." It's set for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Those who are chosen for the beta test can take part in five different sessions, held November 12-15 for three hours each time. The closed network test begins on November 12, and you can register now for a chance to get in. The publisher also announced a closed network test for Elden Ring, and it begins very soon. The #ELDENRING Team - ELDEN RING October 18, 2021 We look forward to seeing you experience the game in the Closed Network Test in Nov. ELDEN RING will release on Feb 25, 2022, as the depth & strategic freedom of the game exceeded initial expectations.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |