What else is there to say about Elden Ring? It's a newer take on Dark Souls, the big famous series that really did need to be shelved (because, face it, the game became a strange story about recycling the same thing until there is nothing less - how ironic is that?), and it ends up, just as Bloodborne did, becoming a way more viable venture into the whole Souls concept. You'd be surprised, with how many copycats and entries into this genre, how fresh and fun this game is. It seems almost impossible, but its here and it is exactly what gaming needed.

So, you know the whole Souls thing, its hard. It isn't unfair, as the whole game is skill-based no matter what level you are. This means that there is some guy running around with a beginner character and some horrible weapon trying to defeat this games hardest bosses. No matter how many or how little levels you have, everything is technically possible with a little effort and time. Does this mean 'Git Good' is true? Well, yes it is. You could be maxed out and still find that bosses are whipping you good, or that a PvP invader is giving you a one-over. If you don't learn the mechanics, take that time, then you'll just be a blundering idiot no matter what and that isn't fun in a open world with so many bosses.

I'm sure you've all heard the good, so I'll pretty much lay down what is actually bad so you have the full scope of things here.

For all the adventuring and discovery Elden RIng brings, you'll find a lot of wasted concepts too and things held back by the obscure way that Souls games treats its quests.

You see, every little thing in a Souls game is important, all the characters and weapons and all of that. And it feels that way here, there is this war-torn world caught in turmoil over a strange power mistakenly bestowed upon them by a outlying force. Those surviving characters are of different factions and lay on the outskirts of it all, the Tarnished they say, but in actuality they are free and not bound by the whims of Gods and Demi-Gods that dictate everyone else in the world. But, in the typical Souls manner - you're kept in the dark. And that is fine with a game where your in the heart of a world smashed together as its literally burning out. Here, however, you have such a large world with those micro hints and that placed in such obscure locations that you'll likely miss them. I played this on another system before PC, and I did so for over 60 hours. In my 30 hour playthough, I found places and NPCs that I missed entirely despite twice the effort trying to find them. Not to mention, they barely make themselves known. I also really hate how NPCs seem to navigate the world unburdened by the same things that you are. It makes me feel like my character is just insane, or a ♥♥♥♥, because there is all this stuff going on and their only reaction is to jank others on horseback. So, Quest markers aside, this game really needed to flesh all that out more and make the story BIGGER for a BIGGER world and not just different. Also, for a guy who loves backstories and lore, why is George RR Martins fingerprint so scarce here? There is just so much more Souls here then there is anything to do with him or his style, I'm a huge fan and have read way more then just ASoIAF and here, it doesn't feel like he did much.

Another big issue is that you'll likely be sticking to your starter weapon despite all the crazy other stuff you get. The way smithing works here, you just get to smith too early and the smithing resources can be as rare as other Souls games. You'll end up with your starter weapon being some killing weapon of mass destruction, because you'll be so skilled with it and upgrading it. You end up forming a strange bond, its weird. Lets just say, 60 hours into my previous game on another system, I'd had a Broadsword still. I really think this is why they added the Ashes of War, just saying.

Armor is scarce, like REALLY scarce, until you get to later areas. SO, expect to be a wearing that prisoner suit, samurai set, or confessor robes for a long long time. Once you get that new armor, pray you have your endurance up because you'll need it to equip something decent. But hey, all sets are pretty good.

And, finally, all those dead-end and random seeming areas. I don't get the connection with all these random elements and monsters and that that pop up, sometimes becoming bosses or sometimes just populating a single area and mindlessly wandering. Areas with bosses seem to follow a small progression, and are a lot of fun to overcome, but others go nowhere and don't seem to have a reason. Why are the monkeys from Caelid over in a rocky outcropping by the lakes ready to attack you? Why is a Tree Knight from the Atlus Plateu just stalking the beginning area? I dunno, and there isn't much lore to say why this is even here. Its weird, considering 80% of the game makes sense why certain parts just seem so completely random at times.

Again, its excellent and the best game for anyone not looking to play a simple-as-dirt Nintendo character thats on his 90th expedition through Gan- I mean the 'villians' reign. Nope, this is for the serious folks who want to be immersed in a serious world with little or no jokes and cute crap. I wish people would stop calling it Breath of the Wild in the Dark Souls universe because that couldn't be farther and any worse of a comparison. It's more of its own game, and it'll prove that a person changes through hardship because thats just how it works!

What else is there to say about Elden Ring? It's a newer take on Dark Souls, the big famous series that really did need to be shelved (because, face it, the game became a strange story about recycling the same thing until there is nothing less - how ironic is that?), and it ends up, just as Bloodborne did, becoming a way more viable venture into the whole Souls concept. You'd be surprised, with how many copycats and entries into this genre, how fresh and fun this game is. It seems almost impossible, but its here and it is exactly what gaming needed. So, you know the whole Souls thing, its hard. It isn't unfair, as the whole game is skill-based no matter what level you are. This means that there is some guy running around with a beginner character and some horrible weapon trying to defeat this games hardest bosses. No matter how many or how little levels you have, everything is technically possible with a little effort and time. Does this mean 'Git Good' is true? Well, yes it is. You could be maxed out and still find that bosses are whipping you good, or that a PvP invader is giving you a one-over. If you don't learn the mechanics, take that time, then you'll just be a blundering idiot no matter what and that isn't fun in a open world with so many bosses. I'm sure you've all heard the good, so I'll pretty much lay down what is actually bad so you have the full scope of things here. For all the adventuring and discovery Elden RIng brings, you'll find a lot of wasted concepts too and things held back by the obscure way that Souls games treats its quests. You see, every little thing in a Souls game is important, all the characters and weapons and all of that. And it feels that way here, there is this war-torn world caught in turmoil over a strange power mistakenly bestowed upon them by a outlying force. Those surviving characters are of different factions and lay on the outskirts of it all, the Tarnished they say, but in actuality they are free and not bound by the whims of Gods and Demi-Gods that dictate everyone else in the world. But, in the typical Souls manner - you're kept in the dark. And that is fine with a game where your in the heart of a world smashed together as its literally burning out. Here, however, you have such a large world with those micro hints and that placed in such obscure locations that you'll likely miss them. I played this on another system before PC, and I did so for over 60 hours. In my 30 hour playthough, I found places and NPCs that I missed entirely despite twice the effort trying to find them. Not to mention, they barely make themselves known. I also really hate how NPCs seem to navigate the world unburdened by the same things that you are. It makes me feel like my character is just insane, or a dick, because there is all this stuff going on and their only reaction is to jank others on horseback. So, Quest markers aside, this game really needed to flesh all that out more and make the story BIGGER for a BIGGER world and not just different. Also, for a guy who loves backstories and lore, why is George RR Martins fingerprint so scarce here? There is just so much more Souls here then there is anything to do with him or his style, I'm a huge fan and have read way more then just ASoIAF and here, it doesn't feel like he did much. Another big issue is that you'll likely be sticking to your starter weapon despite all the crazy other stuff you get. The way smithing works here, you just get to smith too early and the smithing resources can be as rare as other Souls games. You'll end up with your starter weapon being some killing weapon of mass destruction, because you'll be so skilled with it and upgrading it. You end up forming a strange bond, its weird. Lets just say, 60 hours into my previous game on another system, I'd had a Broadsword still. I really think this is why they added the Ashes of War, just saying. Armor is scarce, like REALLY scarce, until you get to later areas. SO, expect to be a wearing that prisoner suit, samurai set, or confessor robes for a long long time. Once you get that new armor, pray you have your endurance up because you'll need it to equip something decent. But hey, all sets are pretty good. And, finally, all those dead-end and random seeming areas. I don't get the connection with all these random elements and monsters and that that pop up, sometimes becoming bosses or sometimes just populating a single area and mindlessly wandering. Areas with bosses seem to follow a small progression, and are a lot of fun to overcome, but others go nowhere and don't seem to have a reason. Why are the monkeys from Caelid over in a rocky outcropping by the lakes ready to attack you? Why is a Tree Knight from the Atlus Plateu just stalking the beginning area? I dunno, and there isn't much lore to say why this is even here. Its weird, considering 80% of the game makes sense why certain parts just seem so completely random at times. Again, its excellent and the best game for anyone not looking to play a simple-as-dirt Nintendo character thats on his 90th expedition through Gan- I mean the 'villians' reign. Nope, this is for the serious folks who want to be immersed in a serious world with little or no jokes and cute crap. I wish people would stop calling it Breath of the Wild in the Dark Souls universe because that couldn't be farther and any worse of a comparison. It's more of its own game, and it'll prove that a person changes through hardship because thats just how it works!