Elden Ring - The Dark Souls Of Games That Aren't Dark Souls (Jimpressions)

[@wizzzer1337]

I love how the horse can jump really high, because it's an excuse for From Software to make sure your horse doesn't get stuck in weird terrain like other games, and they made it a feature.

[@glyman3318]

Yes!

[@chaoswraith]

Oh I still managed to get stuck. Luckily you start this game with the lordvessel already :)

[@snackplaylove]

Not sure why the horse is wearing roller skates though - but there we are

[@medude420024]

From software: "ok everyone. Hear me out.... Dark souls, right? Yeah people loved dark souls. But now you can *jump*" Guy in the back: "but you could kind of jump already in dark souls" From software: "Yeah, but now you can jump *while riding on your horse*." Everyone: *loses their shit*

[@jamesrule1338]

Double jump horse cow is the best addition to video games ever made.

[@AnemoneMeer]

Something I'm loving is that crafting isn't a useless tacked on extra. I ran into a boss I could barely even hurt (17 damage woo), because I had gotten ahead of myself on exploration. And I managed to kill it by making a shitload of poison bone darts and keeping it perpetually poisoned. Most open world games just add that stuff in as pointless filler that doesn't mean anything because your default weapon is super effective, but using random crafted shit has become a staple of my tactics now precisely because it's just so good compared to stabbing things.

[@linkszxx]

Was it a crystal person?

[@DannyboyO1]

I rather appreciate the pots. Found a horrifying nighttime boss, and correctly deduced it was weak to holy hand grenades. Suddenly realizing the fight location had the two ingredients needed for those just... lying around.

[@davestar4718]

I stupidly never use the crafting. Like i stupidly saved all my items in the souls series and never used them

[@100thdragoon]

@@DannyboyO1 FromSoft loves to do this with its level design, where it'll pose you a problem that can be easily solved by stuff lying around in the dungeon you just went through.

[@CedgeDC]

This is really cool. i haven't engaged with it much because my character uses a bunch of magic (jack of all trades build) and i already have my hands full of switching through weapons and spells, but im fully planning on making a 'hunter' sort of character that crafts a ton of arrows and uses items instead of spells. So cool!

[@yendorspoots5611]

That guy on the boat was having a lovely day on the lake until some maniac with a flail tried to hijack him.

[@-DeScruff]

I do really like that if a boss is too hard, you don't have to just 'git gud' throwing yourself at the boss relentlessly till you win. You can instead wander off and explore other areas - Maybe find a new weapon type that you end up liking more, Or maybe you took 2 weeks off from the game, and just need to refresh that muscle memory before jumping into a difficult boss.

[@Patchnose]

The funny thing is for some reason my brain cant let me come back later. I know a boss is there so I must kill it. And then I get the feeling of "I shouldn't of been fighting that thing" when it drops 91000 runes when normal bosses have been dropping 5-15.

[@SuperfiveGP]

how though. i went to this boss and got in the door. now i could not beat the boss and died. but i have no other choice but to go in the yellow cloud door again if i want my soul coins back. else i would lose them all. is there a way to get the coins back without going into the door. kind of like what hollow knight had with its shade retrieval npc.

[@brushfire1989]

@@SuperfiveGP You can enter the boss arena, grab your runes, then quit the game. You load in at the last site of grace. You have to be quick, though. Opening the menu doesn't pause the game

[@pievancl5457]

Also if you do enough dungeons, you’ll be able to find some incredibly OP ashes. I’m in the late game now and have a few ashes that could potentially one shot any boss without any help from me.

[@rose348]

@@SuperfiveGP dont worry about the runes you don't need them ^^ just leave them there and go explore, you will get plenty back

[@tomgrace8769]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the fact that they remove the stamina bar when not in combat. Dark Soul’s already good stamina bar design has been made even better!

[@hollandscottthomas]

I hadn’t even noticed that until someone pointed it out! Great design.

[@MarvinMonroe]

First thing I did was change HUD from AutoHide to AlwaysOn

[@Zarzar22]

Ah as a new player I was wondering why the stamina wasnt draining. Figured that running in general didnt affect it

[@populationcontrol5105]

They already did it in Sekiro

[@davidcarlton2513]

@@MarvinMonroe i did too as soon as i realised i could.....i like to keep track of health etc all the time

[@AnastasiaThemis]

The shift from Chalice dungeons basically being a grind to unlock the next of the same thing, versus here where the catacombs, which are around the same style of thing, have to actually be found by the player makes such a massive difference in how much I enjoy them. It feels not like I'm generating the same set of things, but stumbling upon a secret. I think that's just one example of how this game, unlike the vast majority of open world games imo, uses its open world to actually enhance an experience that was lacking something prior.

[@hollandscottthomas]

Catacombs are such an awesome little bite-sized dungeon too. I got worried that I would end up lost underground for hours at a time, but each one is pretty quick and simple and has a concrete reward at the end. Have run into a few with invisible walls that were confusing for a while, mostly because people have been spamming "hidden path ahead" messages where there are none and i don't trust them any more XD

[@gallyalgaliarept410]

@@hollandscottthomas have you ever visited the bear territory in limgrave?

[@SorowFame]

@@hollandscottthomas I always hit every wall one of those messages is pointing towards. It doesn’t cost anything and it paid off in Raya Lucaris.

[@Toksyuryel]

@@gallyalgaliarept410 The most terrifying bears in video game history

[@hollandscottthomas]

@@gallyalgaliarept410 Yep! I got warped right to a big boi because I foolishly trusted a very untrustworthy fellow.

[@WhiteHelljumper]

I do like how they added things like stealth and the jump attacks, feels like they took stuff from Sekiro to expand upon gameplay for Elden Ring.

[@zeebo30]

my immediate impression upon starting to game was that it feels like dark souls 3, sekiro, and breath of the wild, all rolled into one game

[@ctographerm3285]

Man, I just wish they kept Sekiro's deflect system or some close analogue to it. Parrying just isn't the same.

[@yotube155]

You know what mechanic I really wished they kept from Sekiro? The FUCKING PAUSE BUTTON

[@moejuggler6033]

@@yotube155 Best criticism 💯

[@RaistlinMajereFistandantilus]

They took the things from Sekiro, made them worse, then made Dark Souls worse. It's just a worse, less interesting, less fun game.

[@anarchicnerd666]

"I'm done here. I need to finish this video so I can get back to playing it." TRUTH THIS GAME IS CRACK COCAINE AND I NEED IT IN MY VEINS A quick note on performance - I'm playing on a Base PS4 and there are frame pacing issues, but it's no worse than in DS3 - I've barely noticed it. If you're on PS5 and you want a more stable experience, try running the PS4 version of the game via backwards compatibility. You'll lose some visual fidelity. But honestly? I'm playing on a base PS4 and the visuals have still left my jaw on the floor. F**k the graphics discourse, art direction is more important and Elden Ring's visuals are utterly captivating.

[@ghyutin3]

Yea so much for next Gen! Ps4 version runs so much better on ps5 then the ps5 version lmao

[@anarchicnerd666]

@@ghyutin3 Honestly? I had the game pre-ordered on PC and I was worried when the specs dropped and I had to cancel my pre-order. PS4 was a last resort for me. I don't know what the adoption rates for the PS5 and Series X are, but I'm really glad FromSoft put the time and optimisation in. I imagine there are a lot of people right now who are glad their old consoles run the game just fine (though I'm not sure about performance on X1)

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Yeah I think you're right. I heard the same thing. Best console experience is on ps5 with the ps4 version. I got a ps4 pro with a ssd 4tb I'm busy setting up at the moment. Hope it runs ALMOST as good as the ps5 with the ps4 version : ) Regardless though... I gotta wait to finished for memory transfers and crap so I can't play it yet. Sucks ass to be me right now lolz. That being said. It's kool. Still stuck trying to beat dread on dread mode lolz.

[@trollconfiavel]

On my PC it's shit, maybe because my RX 570 barely minimum on 1080p 60 fps is constantly overheating on *lowest settings*

[@lemmonboy6459]

^Can concur this is how it’s like on an XBox as well It’s amazing on PC, but works just fine on Console

[@bigpapastump9945]

Spirit summons are such a good addition. Jellyfish supremacy is at a fever pitch, and I'm here for it.

[@ahandsomefridge]

I summon the jellyfish just for the company. It's a cutie.

[@kastaway-mtx]

Summons are easy mode, they provide just enough distraction to get a few extra hits in, sometimes I've seen them survive an entire boss fight

[@Deus7447]

My sweet Aurelia! Fun fact, Aurelia is also the name of a genus of jellyfish.

[@deutschvanderlinde6900]

@@kastaway-mtx If they survive an entire bossfight then you are either overleveled or too good.

[@DrunknMonkee]

@@kastaway-mtx The Skeley's are good for that - as long as they don't get hit when downed they get back up, very useful in some boss encounters if you're having difficulty!

[@bryce1197]

Level design courtesy of From Software is just always ridiculously good. The idea that a company could in 1 game essentially go from being one of the best linearly designed games to one of the best open world designed games is just jaw-dropping. You'd think the change in mentality required to do this right would be immense.

[@hollandscottthomas]

I think it's because Miyazaki's underlying design ethos does actually work when you scale it out to an open concept. It's not necessarily a change in thought, it's just a different application of the same ideals. And it works so bloody well!

[@paladin181]

The DS games were always closer to open world than linear. There are a few things one must do, but how and in what order is generally up to you to a point. I love how this game is designed though, and my only problem is I have to share my computer!

[@dw3134]

@@hollandscottthomas You hit the nail on the head. Same formula, just expanded and enriched.

[@SaHaRaSquad]

Elden Ring has mostly the same concept but with the areas being larger and more connected. It still has linear dungeons and levels - Stormveil Castle is basically like a standard Dark Souls area. The Souls games always had a focus on exploration, the player gets rewarded for looking behind corners and trying out new things. That's directly applicable to an open-world game as well, but with more possibilities and more open environments. NPCs can now sit around more than 10 steps away from the next enemy. But it's still impressive how you can find stuff everywhere, I sometimes jumped up weird ledges I wasn't sure could even be reached only to be greeted by hidden items and enemies.

[@hollandscottthomas]

@@SaHaRaSquad I just found a whole section under Stormveil Castle I didn’t know was there, cos I finally got brave enough to go back and try jump off a ledge I ignored last time. Found a bunch of awesome stuff that I could have completely missed!

[@BreakDownUnder]

It's so good. We got power stancing again, new spells and options, and a horse with horns that can jump, and then jump 180 degrees in the other direction while you hit pedestrians with your sword. Amazing stuff.

[@alduinthetyrant5225]

I'm especially happy with the return of twinblades from ds2.

[@golfboy7438]

What's power standing?

[@marciamakesmusic]

@@golfboy7438 Basically additional movesets and damage buff when you dual wield the same or similar weapons. Was previously only in DS2.

[@golfboy7438]

@@marciamakesmusic thanks

[@goingferal7393]

@@alduinthetyrant5225 I am a twirling vortex of death right now and I'm only about 5 hours in.

[@MatthewDevil]

elden ring is living proof that when you don’t impose arbitrary deadlines on your development team, you get a better game every time. we waited nearly 5 years for this game since its original announcement and it’s clear that it was more than worth the wait EDIT: i originally used the term “crunch” and i apologize. i didn’t mean to mislead, i wasn’t aware that From’s labor policies are less than ideal; i guess i meant “avoiding crunch” more in the sense of just taking time with development and design so that you end up with a more fully realized world and better quality control, rather than just slapping a bunch of samey areas together just to get the game out quick. like jss said, this game avoids that for sure

[@gilon-xx1es]

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED 5 YEARS AGO!! HOLY SHIT! TIME IS WARPED!

[@theavidgamer6213]

Not entirely accurate. FromSoftware has been criticised for long work weeks and abysmal pay, even in comparison to other Japanese game studios that have also come under fire for that shit

[@AJ-xv7oh]

Yeah, you get a game that doesn't work for alot of people.

[@retardedfishfrogs1]

As much as I love the From games Japanese work ethic in itself is somewhat infamous by itself, not to mention the actual accusations about From directlym

[@MatthewDevil]

@@theavidgamer6213 oh wow i was completely unaware of this. good to know, thanks

[@Sterage1984]

It took me so long to realise the horse can frickin double jump. Mounted combat also feels invaluable against certain enemies whose 'melee' attacks seem to surge them forward 50 feet a swing. I'm loving the weapons and spells though, and the nifty summons.

[@cyco7229]

the level of customization is great as well, the swappable weapon skills were such a welcome feature

[@gallyalgaliarept410]

when you look at un discovered map segments you can see a small obelisk icon this is where the map lies.

[@jasonvolkman5977]

It'll literally tells you that you can the moment you first jump on the horse...

[@gabrielrussell5531]

I appreciate that From has finally decided to stop shitting on shield players.

[@jeffwask1]

The positive review content is a nice change of pace. Miss seeing and upbeat and happy Stephanie. Good to see and no knock to the important work other videos are doing.

[@aganaom1712]

when you take the concept of "see that thing that looks like part of the skybox? yeah you can actually go there" and the ludicrous level of verticality and shortcut porn in legacy dungeons on top of world design that makes breath of the wild look like an indie project, you get a game filled with more content than you could wring out of almost any other company's entire flagship series. this is beyond next level shit and nothing will come close to comparing to it for years to come.

[@mechanomics2649]

What do you mean by "See that thing that looks like part of the skybox? You can actually go there"? Like you can go to stars or other planets or something? Also yeah, I would expect that a game that runs on more powerful hardware to do more than a game a Nintendo console, who seem committed to gimmicks over hardware.

[@OniBoy02]

@@mechanomics2649 I think in regards to the skybox comment they were referring to distant towers, mountain ranges, off shore terrain, and the biggest of them all the Erd Tree.

[@unixtreme]

Seriously the game keeps fucking going, when I thought I was at the climax I was still just half way through.

[@hollandscottthomas]

Any devs out there working on an open world game have to be shitting their pants right now XD

[@Ancor_Vantian]

For me, this game is, like, just _the perfect_ mix of everything I love about Dark Souls (specifically, more so than the rest of Soulsbornekiro genre as a whole) and everything I love about the Legend of Zelda. There's no such thing as the perfect game, but Elden Ring is very close :D

[@BFBeast666]

I literally missed about half of Stormveil castle after taking the "easy" way in. I beat Godfrey at Level 24 and thought that was quite the tough battle. Then I came back at Level 42 looking for a way along that huge bridge which meant going through most of the inner courtyards. Boy, did I get my ass handed to me. Still, it was FUN! Also, like Jane said, it's nice to have the option to bypass many enemies. Those silver knights in Stormveil can go shiv themselves with their wind-shooting spears.

[@Draconis00788]

My god those knights gave me hell on my melee caster build. I got so frustrated I rolled a power stance greatsword build. Those jump attacks are disgusting at breaking poise 🤌

[@AtrociousAK47]

i went through the "secret" entrance but never noticed the left path after climbing the ladder behind the locked door, so i ended up in a room with one of those knights with the door locked behind me and some fucker cackling as he ran away. ended up dying repeatedly assuming I had to beat the Knight to open a secret door or something and then thought the whole thing was a ruse, so i went in the main gate. i didnt find out i was wrong till a friend went that way and complained about all the other knights, at which point i was glad i went the main gate (just normal guards with crossbows, and ballistas to dodge)

[@noahleach7690]

its feels like the game should be 100gb but its only 60

[@gamewrit0058]

4:03 "While there's a parry mechanic, you can also counterattack after successfully blocking - which really helps folks like me out, who have no sense of timing." Me, too! ADHD for the win! I don't know how many times Killer Croc killed me in this one button push starting a quick time event in Telltale's Batman - we had to have seen that five-second clip more than dozen or more times before I beat it - and my roommate laughed so hard and long that they were moved to tears. I did eventually get it on my own, but was about to hand the controller over to someone else.

[@Chimera-man-man]

On the level design aspect, I'm like constantly amazed at how much work has gone into this front and how cleverly they've implemented level design into the world. Like I'll wander into some empty looking ruins fight some enemies, walk around, fight some more enemies and by the time I've fought the last enemy the encounters and level design has lead me to the area where the mini-boss of that ruins is located. Which is like fairly clever since most of the ruins are just an open room basically. Plus in like castles and shit they've really leveraged the jump button to make level design that feels the kind of design they've actually always wanted to make.

[@cyco7229]

even on mini dungeons i'm being constantly surprised by the well crafted design, just did one with a platforming segment that made me sweat more than fighting bosses, dear christ I suck at guessing distances!

[@hollandscottthomas]

Even just Stormveil Castle... it's an absolutely massive castle, and because of the jump feature you don't feel like you're on a curated path through it, you're actually hopping up and down sections of it, over cracked walls, down through courtyards... it makes it feel so much more organic. It's incredible.

[@SorowFame]

@@hollandscottthomas my favourite bit about Stormveil is that, as far as I’m aware you can just go through the front gate and right to the main boss if you’re willing to brave the enemies and artillery.

[@SorowFame]

@zar athustra this isn’t an academic paper, who cares about their word choice?

[@FuzzyNaiyalism]

@zar athustra mate, ya know how 'uh' and 'uhm' are verbal cues for thinking while you talk? We have those same ticks for typing. Fingers wanna move but the brain is far behind so we throw in extra words such as like to give more time for our thoughts to form. It ain't a sign of literary incompetence, or a lack of grasping English. Its just being human.

[@mrofftopic2802]

From Software should rename itself *From From Software.* There is a nice ring to it. Also would love to see Stephanie Sterling being forced to say *from From From Software.*

[@ClickingPixels]

Sometimes when playing around the map you realize this actually feels like an old fantasy strategy game, with a swamp full of undead besides a castle and a forest with magical beasts. This game is pure fucking love guys lol

[@accelerator8558]

And you didnt see too much yet it seens there is more, much much more

[@ClickingPixels]

@@accelerator8558 I've played 30 hours and only just, explored the land to the south. I haven't even killed the first demigod loooool There si so much to do I'm no hurry, smelling these flowers really took me back in time

[@Robstafarian]

@@ClickingPixels Judging by the progress I have made in nearly 50 hours, I doubt that will beat Elden Ring in less than 500 hours.

[@GiordanoBruno42]

It really does feel like George R R Martin's personal 1970s d&d setting, but made into a game. All the world design has that classic metal album look lol

[@MrMichaelreay]

As to your last Jimquisition, you are correct and I bow to you as a better gamer than I on all counts. I have yet to defeat Margit, I get up to him and am suddenly struck by curiosity, 'what would this build play like' and suddenly I have six different characters all scattered to the world in a quest of discovery. My poor Patches wretch was unfortunate enough to open the wrong box and find himself flung to an end game area. Still level 1 with nothing but a stick, a dream and a loincloth he was so deep in it that there were no messages, no phantoms nor bloodstains. He had the dubious honor of being the first to die there.

[@barnebyoconnell8176]

Oh damn, and if you're level one you can't go down the well and teleport from there. I never considered that could happen to someone

[@MrTombombodil]

Elden Ring proves that you can have your cake and eat it too. You can fight Majin with multiple summons to tank for you using ranged spells and kiting, you can stealth around to thin the ranks of soldiers in a zone, and Fight a giant from horseback making it much less punishing. Or you can solve all those problems by just walking up with a straight sword and buckler and parrying/dodge rolling them all to death (after getting absolutely plastered a dozen times). It's lovely.

[@88Opportunist]

The open world here feels less like a design choice to expand and differentiate this game from the others but rather them realizing a vision they've always had for their games. They never wanted to make a series of small rooms and narrow corridors but that was all the hardware allowed them to do at the time. If the technology had been up to the task then Demon's Souls and Dark Souls would have been exactly like this, well obviously not exactly, but they would have already offered up far more openness than they ended up doing. The technology is finally ready to match the ambition of From Software.

[@davidaitken8503]

The technology has been there for some time. Many Japanese companies had fallen behind the west in terms of technical know-how in streaming large, open worlds. Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Xenoblade Chronicles 1, 2, and X, and now Elden Ring show that they've finally caught up. With their superior gameplay they are crushing the awful crap that comes out of the west.

[@carlosh9476]

This feels so much like Zelda Breath of the Wild, except the “side” quests are much better here since the combat is better and the rewards more worthwhile (no weapon that’s just going to break). I will say Breath of the Wild probably has the edge in “main” dungeons due to interesting puzzles in those.

[@Mauriac158]

See I found the dungeons in BOTW to be really underwhelming. Interesting core mechanic but broadly too short and easy. Elden Ring spoiled me here with sprawling and genuinely difficult dungeons. Person opinion obviously, and they're obviously different games as well.

[@SuperHeroNexus]

@@Mauriac158 I agree. If the dungeons could be a mixture of this and puzzles from the other games, BOTW2 would be unreal.

[@cloak211]

I don't think the comparison to BOTW is fair since it's emphasizing emergent gameplay design (in other words, it's an open-world immersive sim). BOTW, like Deus Ex, Prey, etc. is deliberately designed so the most obvious and direct solution (melee combat) is the most costly and difficult so the player thinks outside the box to get around obstacles by playing with the sandbox. By comparison, Elden Ring uses its new mechanics to build on top of its core gameplay loop - the combat. Sneaking, exploration, crafting usually directly help combat rather than circumvent it in Elden Ring.

[@silak33]

The breaking weapon system is the only system which doesn't always make me disappointed when I find the same weapon as I currently have or even a worse weapon XD

[@jamin5422]

I am finding the Elden Ring borrowed some cool concepts from BotW, like the art minigames (i dunno what else to call it) for example. They really laid out a great framework of how an open world should be and ER just took that and ran with it. Really love both games, they've set the standard for open world.

[@KnarfBlack]

It's really great. They took the open world stuff I like from Elder Scrolls games and put it in a much more fun to play game. I also love all the little quality of life stuff, like how your stamina bar doesn't drain outside of combat, or that you get some flask charges back after clearing a group of enemies.

[@no_nameyouknow]

@GretchTheZ They didn't say they took the RPG stuff from elder scrolls, they said the open world stuff. This game is still a traditional FromSoft game in the way the story is told and in the way 'quests' are undertaken. It's not a traditional RPG at all. It's also very much not just killing baddies to get stuff. But, you don't have to play it, not all games are for all people, these games are definitely more combat focused than a Bethesda title, and if that isn't your thing, that is cool. Personally, I haven't gotten far enough to really understand the story yet, but it seems intriguing so far. However story isn't the primary focus of these games either. It's always been a series about exploration, combat, personal growth as well as character growth, and triumph through overcoming extreme adversity. The last one is really the core of soulsborne games.

[@KnarfBlack]

@GretchTheZ I don't think any of us are far enough along to have strong opinions about the narrative, but yeah, you aren't going to find much in the way of non-combat verbs in the gameplay. No charisma/diplomacy builds here. There are still quests and factions though. I just helped a dude retake his ancestral fortress, but now he's doing a bad job of running it and somebody down the line is probably going to be mad at me for aligning with him.

[@MrWhygodwhy]

@GretchTheZ And thank god for that. There's nothing more boring than quest driven open world games. Give me real exploration and challenge, not a blank checklist world that more functions as a level select screen for some linear missions told with typical "game" standards for story. I'm so completely over that type of game, it has never been that good.

[@ghostsyynx]

@GretchTheZ 🤡

[@MrWhygodwhy]

@GretchTheZ I love some story driven games, but open world games just are not it. Probably the only good story I've experienced in an open world game was Red Dead Redemption 2. No shitting on taste, I am stating my taste. Firmly and with passion.

[@AJSdanmakufu]

The loathsome Dung Eater seems to be rapidly approaching status as best video game character of 2022

[@kikiwako]

Let's not forget that the game was freaking playable on launch, which is a rare thing these days...

[@makani9004]

I told my buddy that this isn't the game to decide if you love Dark Souls. That game is Dark Souls 3, and it's like 15 bucks sometimes. There are so many little things that Souls players just know that will make Elden Ring much less of a headache.

[@jameshoffman9189]

True it’s a good fromsoft game but dark souls is deff some else entirely

[@davidaitken8503]

@@jameshoffman9189 Dude. It's still basically just Dark Souls, but with a bit of Zelda: Breath of the Wild thrown in there. It really doesn't deviate that much from the Dark Souls formula. Lots of the animations and play mechanics are straight out of the Souls games. I'm not saying any of that is bad. I love this game, but it's basically another Souls game.

[@jameshoffman9189]

@@davidaitken8503 dood I know. Idk y u felt u had to type that. Dizzy and lonely?

[@walalon8719]

Oh and Jim, if you use healing spells you can be a shaman summoning spirits and heal them. The attention to detail in Elden Ring it’s superb

[@AlexTenThousand]

I feel like the spirit mechanic was inspired by that one Dark Souls 3 Pokémon mod. It's not true, but I like to think it is.

[@deldarel]

Cinders and Convergence have the druid and necromancer class which can do this for living and dead mobs respectively. I think it's the sheer abundance and popularity of summons in mods why they added it.

[@devilmikey00]

I love how you can just wander into higher level areas straight from the start and kill the easier enemies in those areas, they drop a shit load of runes that'll quickly level you up early on. Really lets you ease into the experience with some grinding far more so than DS1-3. Getting tossed into the grinder and "getting gud" isn't the only option available. With a bit of grinding, proper use of summons and item crafting it doesn't feel quite as overwhelming as some of the earlier fromsoft games did. It's not a cake walk but it's manageable in ways different than what I'm used to. I also dig how immediately powerful magic is again, like it was back in DS1. No more spending half the game playing a standard melee build until you unlock the good spells and enough levels so when you respec you'll have enough INT to actually hurt things. Just pick an astrologer and you're good to go in this one.

[@comyuse9103]

with the number of flasks and grace i think i'll drop physical sword completely at some point. the magic sword is just so strong and even fast once you are chaining it.

[@timmyman9677]

Agreed. I've never really liked magic in souls games but I find myself dipping into it here. You really don't have to invest much for it to be helpful

[@AtrociousAK47]

havent gotten to try the magic yet as i dont have the stats for any of it, and have been running a dual katana DEX build, tho have been debating on switching to a bleed build since it seems to be much more useful this time around. i played pyromancer in in DS3 and messed with most of the other spells but most of them felt useless, so i really only bothered with great chaos fire orb (the one that leaves lava behind), chaos bed vestiges, and like 2 spells that buff my sword (blessed blade and frost weapon). good to see spell casters getting some love.

[@modobo]

As one who is sick and tired of open world games I totally agree. Elden Ring is something special.

[@ahandsomefridge]

As far as open world games go Elden Ring definitely sets a new standard. The bar has been raised!

[@100thdragoon]

I think what made it click was galloping along on Torrent and realizing as I mapped out the spirit jump spots that, holy moly, look at this network of *shortcuts*.

[@djbeema]

Nice, I was hoping you'd review it a bit. You're one of the few people I trust to not pull any punches, and you also being a big fan of prior fromsoft games means a solid take for me

[@scottpolk8000]

I love how y'all addressed the trees without specifically pointing it out. Earlier in the video I thought, dancing trees. Later with wry, subtle humor you pointed it out with music from that Six Flags commercial, which was perfect.

[@wojtossfm]

Always happy to watch your positive videos about games. Your attitude to the game really comes through. The overall positive comments I've heard from you and other people I follow have made me want to attempt a souls-like. Thank you!

[@Gutsquasher]

I checkout out for a little bit, coincidentally as you were going very public with your transitioning etc etc, and I've gotta say you sound so... happy? Content? Like you've come into your own and I fucking love it. You're being you, unbridled, unfettered, and free, and it's the most attractive thing there is when it comes to the niche KZbin content I love. Thank you for being you, thank you for continuing to put yourself out there and, honestly, helping me confront some of my own biases and prejudices. You've been a diamond in the rough since I was first shown your video on violence in video games (the one with the senator) and the power of that video, of what KZbin content can be, still resonates with me today. I can wax rhapsodic your praises, but honestly, just thanks.

[@gedoplanet]

I’m glad you’ve evolved your opinion unbiasedly. Thank the Act Man for his crusade to defend the difficulty of the title

[@drawgam2946]

Its easy as it is.

[@SaurAuteur]

I am being constantly amazed by this game

[@111cvb111]

I keep finding new shit, like a lot of stuff you could say are fairly similar, but they add just enough to differentiate them. Like just found a giant that has the same moveset as a regular giant, except he can cast spells too. Spells that are absolutely massive swords that shoot at you.

[@kidv2]

the rolling goats are adorable

[@thelastwindwaker7948]

I’m much more keen on linear games than open world, but I can totally see why it benefits a game like Dark Souls. Honestly i already got that impression from the first Dark Souls. It just throws you in, lets you go about things your way, lets you stumble into areas you have no way of being ready for. It was pretty much asking for this.

[@butchernachos7518]

Me too. I probably won't play this even though I love the Souls game. Not a huge open world fan.

[@SPQRKlio]

My favourite actually-linear but sort-of-open-world experience was that one street in Last of Us 2 where you could go into the ruined shops on either side, and in some places around the alleys behind them, but your real objective was to get down the end of the street and across a pit. Variety and choice of exploration, but not a thousand random map markers, and a sense that progress is Straight In This Direction. That said, as long as there's a reason for exploring, not just flollopping around gathering wood and rocks and seeing the same bandit camp, I think I'd be happy. ETA: Also making me happy? That groovy dancing tree.

[@RobOngrui]

Elden Ring just feels like miyazakis vision finally has been made. Dark Souls tried so hard looking HUGE and VAST but was essentially extremely small. How much undead can live in the Burg? Maybe 50 if you are being generous. New Londo ruins, a supposed city STATE ruled by 4 (FOUR) Kings might have had space for a few hundred undead. Elden RIng is the first game where I actually believe with my eyes other than my mind. I guess nobody will read this, but it was on my mind for a few days and it needed to get out.

[@Nostradankus]

Yeah, I remember coming to Anor Londo for the first time, being amazed at how cool it looks and wondering just how much of it I'd be able to explore. The fact that it was just a cathedral, a church and part of the ramparts was a little disappointing honestly. Coming into the Royal Capitol in Elden Ring I had a similar feeling again, but this time the vast majority of the city I saw I could also explore. It's pretty insane.

[@Massiveillusion14]

That jellyfish is the biggest badass. It takes quite a while for an enemy to kill him and he is the best at stunning enemies from afar.

[@kisaLuver]

FINALLY someone else who likes linearity in games! I get lost and overwhelmed too easily in open world stuff, I always need a "hey dipshit here's the objective" guide arrow

[@Zorkii]

One good thing Elden Ring does is that it does give a subtle hint on where to go. When you look at your map the grace (bonfires) have a little trail pointing in the direction you need to go. So if you don't want to deal with the open world you can ride your horse past the enemies and do story progression.

[@silak33]

Doesn't most open world games have the dipshit objective guide arrow? :P

[@mechanomics2649]

@zar athustra That has nothing to do with anything.

[@mechanomics2649]

@@silak33 Yes.

[@silak33]

@zar athustra Undskyld jeg er dansk din grammatik nazi :P

[@Vicioussama]

the benefit of Elden Ring's open world is great for new builds. No more do you have to wait until you get to a boss/area before you can get the weapon you finally want, if you know where the build's core weapon/spells/whatever are, you can go right for them and get them to play the VAST majority of the game with your preferred play style for that character. And the fact the world was built with care is great. That being said, I do kinda miss the good progression of difficulty of the linear experiences. And I really miss the more clever connections of levels into other levels of Dark Souls 1 or Bloodborne (to a degree). That being said, the actual big "dungeons" for the core areas are great in design.

[@gamewrit0058]

"Elden Ring is just pure quality, through and through." - James Stephanie Sterling

[@medalkingslime4844]

Thank you for introducing me to "I'm still in a dream, Dung Eater". It will forever warm my heart even in the darkest of days.

[@djJaXx101]

Game is awsome!!! My problem is.... I want to go to point B. I get 100meters and get distracted by point C so i start heading to point C (thinking ill go back to point B later) then i see point D!!! which looks awsome so lemme just check that out quickly but on my way to point D there is a hidden tunnel! Its too good, over ever hill, in every vally there is sooo much to explore!

[@orlando5789]

I actually get this! And, by the end, turns out there was nothing too important at D, but I missed out on the huge reward at B. Anyway, fantastic game.

[@MayaEatsBooks]

I had this problem with breath of the wild, its probably one of the best issues to have with a video game

[@sjakierulez]

@@MayaEatsBooks Maybe because the issue doesn't lie with the game?

[@denimchicken104]

The mark of a great open world game

[@ctographerm3285]

Map markers can be very helpful.

[@pariah076]

Nice to have someone confirm the wonkiness of the targeting system. I thought I was going crazy

[@Victoura56]

Okay, I’ll admit I’m scared of From Soft games. I played both Bloodborne and Dark Souls 3…didn’t get very far at all. Yes, I failed to ‘Git Gud’ and decided they were too hard, too nerve wracking for me. That being said…perhaps I might give them another chance…after trying out Elden Ring of course

[@13nohead]

I really love how you put all your points in this. Perfectly explained. Thank you. I can't wait to get off work and play more

[@13nohead]

@zar athustra fixed it

[@fellipepessoa1685]

You could always say:"Elden Ring is the latest game BY fromsoftware"

[@Aelesis]

I trot out "___ game from By Softw- I mean by From Software" a lot

[@punishedfist]

bifrost summerwear

[@kaitoudark1]

Or "produced by", "made by", etc. One can also go in with adding a break in between; such as " the latest game made by development studio, From Software". I get it though. Horrible studio name.

[@Razgriz__1]

One of the things I like most about the game so far is just how well considered everything feels. I was expecting at least a few of the new features to feel incomplete or thrown together and to require a bit of work post-launch, but everything feels so (dare I say it?) seamless, there's nothing that takes you out of the experience because it's a hassle or badly thought out.

[@camrnjurena]

I was already thinking about buying this game and playing. But hearing you of all people talking positively about it is a very big indicator that it's great. You have a very high standard which I love, and you always call out the bullshit.

[@Cam-pe3nd]

The open world is nice, but so far my favorite part has been Stormveil Castle, which felt like a good old fashioned Souls dungeon crawl. You mention a lack of copy and paste, but every cave looks roughly the same as every other cave, every catacomb looks roughly the same as every other catacomb, every mine looks roughly the same as every other mine. Obviously there's big main locations, like Castle Morne and Raya Lucaria, but so far I've not done any that feel as immense as Stormveil Castle did.

[@jubuttib]

To put it in driving terms, a linear experience at its best is like a really good racing circuit. An open world at its worst is like a parking lot.

[@softcatmonster]

Done well, an open world is like the a series of great rally stages: you get some dirt, some asphalt, some snow, some jumps, a bit of black ice, steep cliffs and so on.

[@jubuttib]

@@softcatmonster I was thinking about that, but a series of great rally stages is still a linear experience... =) What I actually want is a dang open world racing/driving game that accurately models (in terms of road width, corner tightness, etc., not as in a specific place) an area of great mountain roads, including dirt roads, etc., with top tier simulation physics... Don't even need there to be anything premade in the world, just a way for me to drive there with friends in MP and set up impromptu stages/loops via waypoints. I'll make my own fun. =) So a world like TDU, except with more of a focus on twisty roads, and proper simulation physics...

[@samuelgallamore2427]

Why do all the trees bounce like they’re on a bumpy road lol, like is that supposed to be wind?

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Really enjoyed they made it less obtuse and more accessible. Love that the open world is not busy work like other open world games. It is truly the Breath of the Wild Dark Souls. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@AsterInDis]

My worry was that as someone who has struggled to get into the souls series, I wouldn't be able to play this from difficulty, but you make it sound like I should be all right.

[@pootissandvichhere9135]

Elden Ring also uses the empty in between to its advantage to convey the bleakness of the typical Soulsborne, which I like. Speaking of which the world building is fantastic and made with help from George R. R. Martin, and I want to know what it was like for him to work with the breadcrumb storytelling of a typical Soulsborne.

[@hollandscottthomas]

I've seen him speak about it a few times, and I think he basically came up with a bunch of lore and history and then handed it over to them to work their magic on.

[@Katie-hj5eb]

I'm surprised how big the map is (and I'm not even sure I've seen it all) everytime I think ive discovered the last area there is a new one somewhere else.

[@apocolototh1948]

I like how you have your map and its like...oh hey the map looks cool. not too large compared to others but very dense, so id say its preferable. spoiler territory. ... and then you get to the edge. and just continue going. and the next time you check the map, you can zoom out one stage farther

[@gallyalgaliarept410]

you arent beyond Limgrave and Caelid and lunaria yet what???

[@Mesjach]

72 hours in... I'm barely over 50% done with the game. Holy fuck this game is HUGE

[@xxCrazyIzzyxx]

"Backstabbing requires less perfect positioning" Me: playing an astrologer, who for the first time in a Soulsbourne game can not backstab once. Edit: It was because I was wielding my sword in the wrong hand. That's a thing.

[@zeecaptainsgirl]

As someone who hasn't finished any of the fromsoft games. I'm addicted to this game. It's the magic for me.

[@jessragan6714]

Maybe I'll get around to beating The Adventures of Cookie and Cream one of these days.

[@kneau]

Hey Glados hellsing, mind sharing where or why you stopped progressing in the other games?

[@zeecaptainsgirl]

@@kneau I simply got overwhelmed with pressure from other people to finish them. They are all very fun games, but they just couldn't hold my attention. 😥 I stopped in different spots on all the games. mainly near the "middle" depending. Except DS2. Didn't get far in that at all.

[@kneau]

@@zeecaptainsgirl understandable. While it can suck to feel or outright be pressured by others, I think they're fools for not purposing said pressure toward encouraging you to let them help via jolly cooperation (I realize this may not apply if those pressuring you just aren't interested & wanted you to do something else). So glad you're enjoying Elden Ring; the open-world gives even more reason to progress as you please.

[@zeecaptainsgirl]

@@kneau thanks 😊 I will say the co-op is way better in this open world. less fog gate separations

[@Satsujinki1973]

I forgot about the Loathsome Dung Eater!

[@envoyofrot7046]

Elden Ring is the open-world RPG of my dreams! It is simply so good, I love the world, the combat, the lore etc. and exploring is so much fun 👍

[@Neonsilver13]

A slight criticism regarding the open world in is that at least for minor things they did reuse the assets quite often and it's easily noticable. For example caves and treasure rooms, it's understandable and a minor thing, but I think it should be mentioned that it isn't entirely free of that open world game problem. I also think those huge bears are modified versions of the guardian ape boss from Sekiro, but I'm not entirely sure.

[@LordQuadros]

As someone who hasn't played the game, I have to ask: Is he loathsome because of the dung eating, or just generally loathsome as an individual, and the dung eating is just a notable descriptor?

[@comyuse9103]

yes.

[@adamplentl5588]

He do be eating poo poo tho

[@NATIK001]

All of it. He is also the bearer of a curse which he would like the entire world to partake in, and if you want to help him out you can make that happen together.

[@GiordanoBruno42]

Anyone stuck on Radahn, Get enough vigor that you can take at least one hit from him. Stay behind his back *at all costs* Get an upgraded bleed or scarletrot type weapon for your build, it will help a lot. Resummon your npc helpers once he goes onto the sky to use his meteor attack. If you are banging your head against this below level 60, congratulations you are either the next challenger Andy, or an idiot. Seriously though, bleed or scarletrot weapon. Stay behind his back where only some of his moves will catch you. At times you might need to be brave and roll underneath his legs to get behind him :) Become the elden lord you were meant to be.

[@JarvisSensei]

The tree dance killed me

[@eugenebebs7767]

MGS VI: Dung Eater sounds like a sequel Konami would make after booting Kojima

[@6lu5ky86]

Great review, never played a FS title so I'll start here.

[@ThePrecipice66]

Oh man that cat thing is super creepy. The way it walks and hovers. And that face. Gives me the heebie jeebies.

[@kesamek8537]

In this video I learned Elden From is an open field version of Dark Soulware. Thanks!

[@ChrisStoneinator]

I think you meant King's Ring is an Open Field version of Demon's Elden.

[@ronthorn3]

I hate that I get bothered when someone trashes or throws sekiro under the bus, it’s so fucking good in my opinion, my favorite game ever made, well, it was, until 2/25/22.

[@nozhki-busha]

I actually prefer the open world format used here, which is a surprise given how I dislike the typical Ubisoft open worlds. So far found the game much more accessible with a much greater emphasis on exploration.

[@makani9004]

I think the problem I have is that I'll hit a roadblock in content where stuff just wrecks me, go off on some long journey elsewhere, and then come back and suddenly I wreck everything. With an open world you can't really tell how strong a player is going to be and structure content around that like you can in the main Souls series. I like it for what it is, but that is the trade you make.

[@Nhadaly]

Wait, you can counterattack after blocking? I have been using a turtle shield with the barricade shield ability all of this time and I never knew that lmao

[@hollandscottthomas]

Yep! R2 right after blocking a hit!

[@GodZefir]

Yeah and it can stance break a lot of enemies

[@hibiscusman]

So glad you're enjoying it. This is definitely my favorite in the series now, even edging out Bloodborne for that top spot. Just absolutely love it, the gripes with it are minor and forgettable, and it's just doing a great job reminding me what a solidly planned and developed game can look like.

[@19fable]

This is the first From Software game I’ve been able to get really into and enjoy. Glad I gave it a chance.

[@crocodileman94]

You know you've succeeded when Stephanie Sterling gives their approval.

[@esmerylan]

The jellyfish isn't just adorable, it's a powerhouse once you upgrade it. Got the killing blow on Godrick for me. 😝

[@bunnylizard2717]

I'm in the same boat with regard toward enjoying more linear experiences. The last open world I played was maybe Yakuza 0, which is very densely packed, in a way to not waste the player's time (bought on the JSS recommendation!). BUT, I'm glad to see FromSoft has maintained their usual level of quality level design in this. Feels like the natural evolution of the somewhat open ended direction of Dark Souls 1, mixed with more player choice and some insanely good quality of life additions. Can't wait to play it once I can afford a newer graphics card that isn't stupidly expensive.

[@baltogames1501]

Just an anecdote from the intro: I HAD HAD all previous souls games FROM FROMSoftware before I played Elden RIng. ;)

[@L0LWTF1337]

"The loathsome Dungeater!" Grrm really pulling his weight.

[@Orain88]

I'm a kid in a candy shop playing this game. I'll be playing it for many years to come and still won't have found everything there is to do.

[@eylon1967]

Dark souls 1 design is the kind of "open world" I crave for. Tight design, lots of linear paths that interconnect and form a greater whole

[@bunnylizard2717]

Hell yeah! DS1 and Bloodborne are my two favorite From games for the exact reasons you described.

[@utisti4976]

Same. Basically a Metroidvania style world but in 3D. I wish that From would go back the DS1 style world instead of just an open world. :/

[@bunnylizard2717]

Yeah, I've often argued that DS1 has some metroidvania elements to it! Wish more rpgs took inspiration from MVs. Elden Ring looks decent, maybe the only open world game I'd be willing to try, but I'll wait for a sale while playing DS1 for the hundredth time.

[@iamamaniaint]

Yep I agree. Elden ring is great but the reused stuff kinda ruins the immersion for me. Dungeons, ruins, swamps, bosses etc. Makes the world feel less real and more gamey.

[@Sarklor]

I bounced off the Soulsborne games pretty hard (Sekiro I still enjoy because it gave me proper stealth as an option), but I'm really enjoying Elden Ring. The boss fights are still very punishing, but there are so many other places I can wander off to and level up, and so many ways to approach those other places, that it doesn't feel like a grind the way running the same corridor for souls/echoes/whatevertheycallitnow does. It also has a very Exalted the White Wolf RPG feel to it artistically, the beautiful bleakness is more colourful and maybe even a bit more epic? Just loving my time with it.

[@CedgeDC]

I'm so burned out on "open world games". I can't think of a single one that i've actually beaten, unless you count the new God of War as open world.. which it sooortof is, but not really. And while we're on the topic, that's a game that has less monster and boss variety than Elden Ring has in the tutorial. I am completely blown away by the sheer variety of dungeons, monsters, gear, new combat styles, new spells, and the way combat is just in every way expanded from previous titles. I love that this game finally offers you the option to just kindof exist in the dark souls universe space. For all those times (most of the time) that i don't have to commit to a long play session, I can just hop in and explore and find new paths, new dungeons that i can go back to later when i have more time. This is the game I have been waiting for my entire adult life, basically. So thrilled to get done with work and play more!

[@timmyman9677]

The open world is a nice calming contrast to the traditional souls expii

[@ilejovcevski79]

Only played this a couple of hours at my brother's and from those couple of hours, it really looks and feels great. I've been a long time lurker of the 'Souls' games, but never had enough spare time to actively engage in any of them. Judging by your review, it looks like i may get my feet wet with this one! (As soon as i get some free time in April)

[@TheGreatBusta]

Anyone else just happy and glad that Steph enjoyed an videoed game?

[@Nosh_Feratu]

excellent review, it really is an absolute gem. The game feels like it gives you so many tools whilst removing all the old blockers and inhibitors and just lets you experiment and explore without any of the needless frustration, and it keeps all the good bits too, the challenge is there in spades, the lore is deep and reveals itself through a wide variety of ways. Its just a triumph of game design.

[@DanOfTheDumb]

I didn’t even know that block-counterattack was a thing until this video

[@GodZefir]

It is so damn useful, I love it.

[@DanOfTheDumb]

@@GodZefir Trying to properly parry Loretta was fun, but now having this knowledge, she’s fucked

[@stairmasternem]

It’s equal to Bloodborne for me. I do prefer the tighter design to BB in both gameplay and overall design, but Elden Field is the best open world design I’ve played. It’s all about discovery and rewards running to the corners. The downside is it’s hard to gauge if an area is that much more difficult or you just are very underleveled. You need to explore to get the goods so if you are not doing the busy work of the game - seeking mini dungeons - you probably aren’t keeping up with the area difficulty progression. So explore and enjoy and if you feel like you are getting beat down, there’s probably still more you missed in a previous zone.

[@Akrilloth]

Bloodborne is a hard game to beat in it's quality, hell, i liked DS3 better personally, but the entire experience of Bloodborne is on another level, and i would say it's still an objectively better game. Remains to be seen if Elden ring can beat that.

[@timmyman9677]

Agree. I almost feel like it isn't fair to compare BB with Elden Ring. Both are absolute masterpieces

[@stairmasternem]

@@timmyman9677 this is why I call them equals, not one better over the other.

[@ksm_ngr]

A minor thing I love about this game is that Miyazaki really integrated several cool concepts from the runt of the litter, Dark Souls 2, instead of disowning it like what he did in Dark Souls 3. It's really tiring being a fan of the Dark Souls SERIES when there's a constant civil war/shitslinging between Dark Souls 2 Stans vs the Miyazakist.

[@gozzilla177]

I like how adding a dedicated jumping has cahnged things as well, me and my friends no longer think can that be done? but rather WE CAN MAKE THAT as we jump with full confidence no second questions and miss the jump dying of laughter as we sometimes find faster routes but mostly just find weird things like rats at the bottom of that large hole we didnt wanna fall in as we die!

[@MichaelPohoreski]

The latest game *by* FromSoftware. Was that _so_ hard Jim? /s

[@thomasgiles2876]

That thing... Give it to me... Your Dark Ring

[@Toksyuryel]

Breath of the Wild set the gold standard for Open World design, and Elden Ring just set the platinum standard. I cannot get enough of it. Whenever I'm not playing it all I can think about is when I can play it again.