Elden Ring has been the subject of much praise from players and fans since its launch in February. Originally revealed at E3 2019, Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware, the team behind the Souls series, as well as Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, was hotly anticipated as the next evolution in the developer’s long line of action RPGs that test the player’s might against difficult opponents.
Elden Ring follows the story of the Tarnished, exiled beings that are summoned back to the realm known as the Lands Between, where they must defeat powerful enemies in order to gather the Great Runes, pieces of a shattered relic known as the Elden Ring, an ancient artifact that holds ultimate power over the world. The game was directed by Souls veteran Hidetaka Miyazaki and written in collaboration with A Song of Fire and Ice author George R.R. Martin, who supplied FromSoftware with world building elements.
While Elden Ring shines when it comes to the game’s large open world with lore hidden around every corner, what players have ultimately come to the game for is the gameplay. Elden Ring presents itself as the culmination of every FromSoftware game, as the title doubles down on the challenging combat encounters from past games like the aforementioned Bloodborne and Sekiro, which has led to moments of players having beaten obstacles, only for another one to rear its head.
In a video posted to Reddit’s r/Eldenring, user ShockerP displays the fallout of a victory he had over an opponent in Elden Ring that was immediately followed by an unfortunate comeuppance. After dispatching an enemy over a giant cliff ledge, the player appears to have a small moment of calm, only to turn around to see another enemy, ready to throw an attack that knocks them off that same cliff ledge.
This moment is incredibly hilarious due to the impeccable timing of the enemy waiting for the player to catch their breath from a fight only to show them little mercy once they realize what's about to happen. The clip also reinforces how chaotic Elden Ring can be, and how players have to constantly stay on their toes while traversing the Lands Between.
Since its launch, Elden Ring reviews have been extremely positive, with common praise being shown for the game’s art design and the overall improvement of the FromSoft formula. While the gameplay continues to challenge players, it nevertheless will continue to create a fun and exciting experience.
Elden Ring is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
