Elden Ring at times feels like a rehash of old ideas

Few video games have sparked as much heated debate as FromSoftware's latest release, Elden Ring, over the past few years, and this is no exception. For those who are unfamiliar with FromSoftware, the company rose to prominence in the 2010s as a result of the wildly successful Dark Souls series, a trilogy that is primarily known for its ahead of its time game design, versatile combat system, and, of course, its legendary difficulty. However, since the conclusion of Dark Souls in 2016, FromSoftware has moved away from the traditional souls-like formula of fluid RPG classes, vague storylines, and a complete overhaul of the combat system in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a game that manages to be even more difficult than Dark Souls while pushing the developer into new gaming territories.

So it's with great excitement that the much-anticipated PS Elden Ring Runes has finally been released, not only because it's the latest title from one of my favorite developers, but also because its lore and story are the result of a collaboration between Souls' mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki and acclaimed author George R. R. Martin, the author of the Song of Ice and Fire series. What were the outcomes? Amazing, but it falls short of breaking new ground in a number of areas.
 

1. In terms of gameplay and RPG mechanics, Cheap Elden Ring Runes PC is much more similar to Dark Souls 4 than it is to Sekiro 2, not only because of its medieval European fantasy setting, but also because its gameplay and RPG mechanics are nearly identical to those of Souls

2. The release of Sekiro signaled that From Software was ready to take a different direction, one that featured a more human protagonist than the undead husks of the Souls series, as well as a combat system that was more reliant on skill and reflexes than ever before

3. Instead, Blackflame build elden ring re-uses many of the tropes that the original Dark Souls introduced back in 2011, refines them, and functions as a synthesis of everything that has come before it, with one major difference: it offers a massive open world to discover and explore

    

However, despite the fact that the Souls games had large, nonlinear maps, none of them could be classified as "open-world" games because they were little more than glorified mazes in the first place. To be sure, Elden Ring is groundbreaking in that it allows players to explore the vast "lands between," and FromSoftware's first foray into open world gaming was nothing short of breathtaking. , which includes magical forests, crumbling castles, and hidden dungeons, gives players the freedom to explore the map in whatever way they want, never forcing them down predetermined paths and allowing them to face bosses and quests in any order they choose, which is both the game's greatest achievement and its greatest flaw.

Fortunately, Elden Ring runes has one of the most intriguing plots of any FromSoftware game, with Martin's influence visible in the themes of morality, betrayal, and revenge. Despite this, the game retains the same mysterious vagueness that any experienced Souls player would recognize from the previous games. It was one of my favorite parts of the experience to learn more about the world and its lore, which is just as rich and fascinating as Westeros.

While Elden Ring runes for sale at times feels like a rehash of old ideas, it infuses them with new mechanics that, for the most part, work well with the Souls format to create what is, in my humble opinion, FromSoftware's best game, second only to the near-perfect Dark Souls 3 in terms of excellence. Elden Ring is certain to be a contender on this year's best games lists, and it already has a Metacritic score of 96%, which is unheard of in the gaming industry.

In terms of character customization,  provides you with so many options that it almost feels like an Elden Scrolls game. Elden Ring has, in some ways, outdone Bethesda in terms of success. To the point where gamers can constantly discuss new methods online due to the sheer amount of gear, stat, ability, and overall build options available, the sheer number of available options is staggering. It seems like someone is always coming up with some wacky new combination of equipment and skills to completely demolish bosses.

There is always a way out, no matter what you're having difficulty with or what obstacle you're facing. There is a solution to every problem in Elden Ring, thanks to the literally galactic array of equipment and items that can be found scattered throughout the game. Nothing is impossible, and for the first time in history, these types of games can be played by players of all skill levels. With the proper combination of armor, weaponry, ashes of war, spells, and abilities, you should be able to take on virtually any area or boss in the game without difficulty.

However, there is still a learning curve involved. Although having excellent equipment will make the game much easier, you will still need to develop the git gud prowess that has become synonymous with all Souls games. There is no amount of powerful items that can make up for a lack of basic (and eventually advanced) skill development.

It's exhilarating to see how the gear meta is constantly shifting, and new updates like v 1.03 will ensure that things continue to shift. This is the type of thing you'd expect to see in a live-action game, not a singleplayer-driven RPG from a Japanese studio. It's a breath of fresh air, to say the least.