How many times have you seen the first Elden Ring gameplay? For my part, I have lost count. The new from the creators of Dark Souls had already generated very high expectations, but what was shown at the Summer Game Fest in 2021 has raised a bar. What a pintaza has the first open world game of FromSoftware!
After two years without new advances, at least official, and with some news that have been arriving by dropper, Bandai Namco has condensed the hopes placed on the game in just three minutes . 60 seconds longer than your cover letter lasted. Of course, as you will see just below, three minutes much better used.
The first glimpse into ownership of the joint project of Hidetaka Miyazaki and George RR Martin has been glorious, but also very revealing: six months after its release on PC and consoles, FromSoftware has put the big cards on the table around the already is his most ambitious game ever made. Although, in fairness, amid the chaos, greatsword, and nightmare creature roaming around in relative freedom, it ‘s easy to miss the smallest details.
Precisely for this reason, at VidaExtra we have gathered in one place everything revealed and confirmed about Elden Ring, both in its first Gameplay and through the information officially offered by FromSoftware itself. And in this aspect there is a lot, a lot of fabric to cut.
and Discord
To simplify everything advertised and displayed in the most efficient way, we have established thirteen key points that bring together the essentials and the not so obvious around the Elden Ring . From key aspects of the open world to essential elements of the game’s story. Starting with the essentials: What is the Elden Circle?
Let’s talk about the Golden Tree and the Midlands
Elden Ring is an open-world ARPG that takes place in the Midlands , a withered and hostile realm that has seen better times and is completely subdued by greed, lust for power, and the vagaries of a particularly twisted fate.
To look at the sky in the Middle Lands is to be captivated by the greatness of the Golden Tree, an imposing illuminated manifestation that dominates any high mountain or fortress. And it is in its own origin that the Elden Circle once stood.
Legend has it that the destruction of the Elden Circle itself started a brutal war called the Devastation . The demigod descendants of Queen Marika , the Eternal, coveted her fragments, known as the Great Runes, and were blinded by power.
Since then, the Midlands have been constantly plagued by misery and despair. Condemned to a twisted cruel existence in which abominations and nightmare creatures rule over the rest and a halo of hopelessness corrupts nature.
Despite this, there is still someone willing to recover the Great Runes and prostrate once more before the Elden Circle: a lone figure that rises taking the name of the Sinluz .
Who is the protagonist of Elden Ring ?
In Elden Ring we will take control of a character totally created by ourselves and who will be known as the Sinluz. In other words; In FromSoftware’s first open world game there is no pre-established protagonist like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
According to Bandai Namco’s description of the protagonist, the Sinluz has been scorned by the grace of gold and returns from an exile in the Midlands.
And although we will have the last word in terms of playability, judging by the words that are used to talk about his past, he does not seem exactly a heroic figure.
The Golden Order is broken. Rise, Sinluz, and may grace guide you to embrace the power of the Elden Circle and rise as lord of the Circle in the Midlands.
You who have died but live, with your grace time has lost, walk the path to the Midlands beyond the misty sea to prostrate before the Elden Circle.
Ahead, and as can be expected from both Miyazaki and Martin, an especially twisted and dark plot in which through the figure of Sinluz a double theme will be shaped: the will and ambition of humanity. Because the player must not only obtain the fragments of the Elden Circle, but also discover the meaning behind this event.
And as we have seen in the trailer itself, in order to find the truth, you must first master the sword and magic. And, in the process, try not to end up composted, sadistically impaled, or brutally cremated by a huge dragon.
To be honest, and knowing the previous work of Miyazaki and Martin, the chances of all these misfortunes and worse are quite high.
An open world with dynamic weather
While the Elden Ring trailer has featured lots of recurring elements from previous FromSofware games, the truth is that its own gameplay approach and design make it a unique experience – it’s the first open-world game ever created. for the studio , and that’s quite a challenge for Miyazaki’s team.
Starting from the essentials, the original idea was to shape a dark fantasy title in which the FromSoftware team could include all those ideas that could not be integrated into the Dark Souls series. Literally, Miyazaki wanted to take his own formula to the next level and, in the process, expand it to an open world.
When it comes to the game environment, it is a colossal setting . The greatest From Software ever made. In fact, by way of illustration for the scale of the game, development for Elden Ring began in 2017 and production ran in parallel to Sekiro: Shadows die Twice.
Does that mean it’s a Miyazaki-style The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild? Well, as we will see a little below, there will be great parallels and even greater differences. Exploration on foot or on horseback will play a fundamental role, of course, and despite the depressing will be many of the landscapes, the open world of Middle Lands overflowing with life.
Not only because of the detail and the degree of depth put into shaping its most exotic places -and the least welcoming-, but also because it will offer a dynamic climate with its own cycles of day and night , as well as other aspects that will settle immersion in this dark and mysterious universe.
An open world that we will have to cross from end to end and from its highest point to the depths of its dungeons.
There will be plains, swamps, mountains and dungeons, but no load times
The truly challenging thing when creating an open world game is to shape it and fill it with elements that keep us in front of the screen for hours. And touring only what’s already shown on the Elden Ring will definitely take time.
In this sense, FromSoftware not only knows how to create unique environments, but has taken good note of the existing ones based on fantasy worlds and draws on Martins’ imagination to create an environment conducive to adventure and action. An open world with its own name: the Midlands.
The first thing that catches your eye is the enormous verticality and the level of detail of the interiors and exteriors shown in the trailer. What should not go unnoticed – and it was not reflected in the trailer for obvious reasons – is that, despite the scale, Bandai Namco anticipates that in Elden Ring we will be able to cross its landscapes and enter its dungeons in a fluid way and without interruptions.
Which, seeing the painstaking work of the Miyazaki team in motion, is really interesting: Elden Ring promises to offer a sustained experience in a dense lore that is palpable and gains strength through its setting and that manifests itself naturally during the course. of the game itself.
Logically, FromSoftware has taken the opportunity to add new mobility options that we will talk about a little below. Which not only includes infiltration resources and the possibility of riding and climbing on the back of a steed, but of fighting in intense duels on it. A necessary process to discover the true threat around the Elden Circle.
George RR Martins came up with the pregame plot
Martin’s role in Elden Ring is one of the great pillars and attractions of the game itself . That said, all that the creator of Game of Thrones and the subsequent Song of Ice and Fire novels wrote for the project is the story leading up to the events in which we will take part.
As Miyazaki himself detailed for the IGN medium, Martin laid the foundations and the plot foundations for Elden Ring . The events that defined the world that opens before us. But the history of Sinluz will be written by us.
Storytelling in video games, at least as we do at FromSoftware, carries many restrictions for the writer. I didn’t think it was a good idea for Martin to write within those restrictions.
By having him write about a time when the player is not directly involved, he is free to unleash his creativity in the way he likes.
Logically, that Elden Ring is an open-world RPG implies a total break with the linear plots, so the decision that Martin create the context and the universe before the game itself makes it possible to show off as an author and, in the process, give it total control of the player experience.
Also, as FromSoftware we didn’t want to create a more linear and story-driven experience for Elden Ring. Both of these problems could be solved by having Martin write about world history instead.
This is not to say that there is no room for betrayals and those twisted nuances that everyone expects to find in a work by Martin: discovering the truth around the Elden Circle will gradually unfold the lore of his universe. And, with it, quite crude truths will be revealed.
… But the setting is 100% From Software
While Martin envisioned the history of the world of Elden Ring, FromSoftware created the world of the game in the most literal sense. And in doing so, it definitely swept home: the gloomy and twisted locations so characteristic of the Japanese studio once again have a predominant presence in the game experience, and despite being an open world, the cult of detail has not been renounced. .
To the generous and sinister open locations we must add those almost claustrophobic indoor environments that keep us constantly on our toes with every step taken. And the use of the light itself, or rather the notorious absence of it, has a special role when we enter the catacombs, dungeons and ruins.
In fact, and in this regard, one of Miyazaki’s priorities for Elden Ring was to take advantage of the open world format to give the player greater freedom of exploration. All things considered, it is the biggest and most ambitious game ever made by FromSoftware.
In addition to the incredible contributions of RR Martin, one of the special things about the game is that it is an open world. Thanks to this, the scale of the game’s universe and its narrative, overall depth, and freedom of exploration have been greatly expanded. Without a doubt, it is the most extensive title to date.
There are many ways to define the concept of “open world”. Maybe I am not expressing myself in the clearest way, but what we are looking for is a game with a huge field for the players to develop. A world populated with dangers and threats, which is also full of areas ready for you to explore. Between these areas will be multi-level castles and other spaces of the style with a very intricate design.
As is to be expected, we will not be exactly alone in this open world: in the Elden Ring we will find dangers and possible allies of all shapes and sizes that will shed more than knowledge about what happened to the Circle of Eden. Because the truth hurts, but not as much as a sword blow capable of splitting us in two.
A combat system as intense as it is spectacular
If there was anything capable of overshadowing the brutal open world of Elden Ring during gameplay, it was the fighting. Because the confrontations are the salt in the Dark Souls and Bloodborne saga, and FromSoftware is fully aware of this in the face of the expectations generated in this new title.
As expected from dark fantasy games, we will have at our disposal a great variety of weapons, we will be able to make use of magic and, as we will see, there will be different game styles and strategies when playing and adapting to the already known circumstances. new kinds of confrontations.
As expected, throughout the gameplay we have seen that, although the use of weapons will have a greater impact on the game, tight dodges and precise blocks will have a very special importance. To which must be added the ability to perform magic-infused rapiers and slashes. In a way, we already had it.
That said, and as we will see below, direct confrontations will not be the only way to approach this fantasy world: the Sinluz will have new resources more in line with the possibilities of open worlds. Which will force us to sharpen our wits and be especially cautious.
Stealth and horse fighting will have its own weight in the game
That FromSoftware opens the door to stealth mechanics does not mean that intense boss fights have been lost along the way, but rather that new ways of playing will be promoted , including horse combat, infiltration techniques and exploration resources created for the chance.
The idea is that each player adapts in their own way to the circumstances of a game with a very different environment from that seen in previous FromSoftware games, and that implies that, as Miyazaki himself indicates, there will be more variety of actions than in the saga Souls.
Compared to other titles in the Dark Souls series, I think this game will have more variety in the way that players will be able to solve challenges and adapt their tactics when facing enemies.
At first, the Sinluz will be able to carry out silent attack initiatives on enemy groups guarding specific locations, and even take part in assaults on wagons and other mobile infrastructures. And, in this aspect, we can benefit from both the darkness of the night and the camouflage that the environment offers us.
In addition to the above, in the Elden Ring there will be combat on horseback both against other galloping enemies and against final bosses. That said, more than an advantage, it is a new type of resource that we will have to evaluate. Because sometimes we will be more interested in the advantage of height and speed to quickly conclude a fight, but having our legs on the ground opens up another range of options just as convenient in different cases.
About the Elden Ring mounts
Going into the Midlands is crazy, but traversing them from end to end to foot would be even more so. As is the tradition in open world games with extensive areas covered by nature, in Elden Ring we will have a mount. An especially curious one.
The most unique thing about the horse with which the Sinluz will ride are not its horns: as has been seen briefly in the gameplay, we will be able to invoke our mount on the fly , emerging from what seems like a kind of cloud in a matter of seconds.
It is not the only peculiarity of the Sinluz horse: in addition to adapting to the different and convoluted environments, it will be able to ascend to the top of huge mountains with a powerful jump. Although, most likely, there are specific conditions to be able to do the latter.
Our mount will not only be a means of traversing the open world of the Elden Ring, but also an essential element. As we already mentioned, we can fight on it and carry out assaults, but also initiate withdrawals or avoid dangers and great enemies. And in the Midlands there are beasts of colossal proportions.
Let’s talk about the final bosses, allies and enemies
Following Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice , FromSoftware’s new title returns to the dark western fantasy of Dark Souls . Of course, the premise is that Elden Ring pushes the limits of the formula that established the chair and, logically, the presence of intimidating and exaggeratedly powerful bosses , who put the skill of the player to the test must rise to the occasion.
Boss fights are something we love to design and in this case, they are part of what builds the climax in the game. There will definitely be a lot of very varied and scary bosses that will challenge players.
Throughout the gameplay of Elden Ring we have seen all kinds of enemies, including true giants, a spectacular dragon and even various beings that command very special respect. Although, of course, the maximum sense of achievement in the game will be obtained by discovering the weaknesses and routines of its final bosses. If they do.
That said, the Sinluz will not be alone in his quest . According to Bandai Namco, throughout Elden Ring we will meet characters with their own motivations to help the protagonist move forward, but they could also complicate his adventure even more.
In fact, and this is interesting, we can even request the help of allies, including the always grateful abilities of other players.
Confirmed multiplayer and for four
FromSoftware’s Japanese website confirms what has been suspected: the open world of Elden Ring can be addressed in multiplayer. That is, we can travel the Middle Earth alone or with up to three other players through an online connection.
Although, FromSoftware has to give many more details about it , in the trailer we have seen battles with spectral figures that emerge from what appears to be a spell and also battles of the Sinluz along with two other types of characters. Allies controlled by the game itself or a sneak peek at multiplayer?
It will be interesting to see how the game is set up for multiplayer and if it will be a free and separate experience (in the style of Red Dead Online ) or fully integrated into the story of the game itself. And despite the fact that facing monsters and eight-handed bosses seems to speed up the process, it seems to us that in these cases there will be some advantageous condition for the enemy on duty. Or not.
The character from the first teaser returns
The first preview of Elden Ring was associated with a very peculiar figure: a silhouette with long reddish hair and especially delicate features – at least, for what we expect to find in a FromSoftware game – who seems to have problems with his right arm. A character who, by the way, has appeared very briefly in the trailer.
While the original Elden Ring teaser showed two minutes of complicated sequences to contextualize, the new gameplay shows the figure in more detail, showing it impaling a knight. Once again, armed in a fine long and dressed in pieces of armor over a long dress. At this point, the big question is asking itself: ally or enemy?
Assuming that the Elden Ring background bears Martin’s signature, we can expect a little bit from each and neither of them. What is clear is that their destiny will be intertwined with ours, and that we have not been able to put a face on it yet invites us to think that, at the very least, it will complicate things throughout the adventure.
Yes, we will see Elden Ring on PS5 and Xbox Series X
More than a detail, a pleasant confirmation. When Elden Ring was originally announced in June 2019, there was still more than a long year to go before the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony were released. Thus, initially its release was listed for PS4, Xbox One and PC.
The new breakthrough came in mid-2021, and the video game industry has gone one step further. So, as a closing of the same, two highly anticipated data: Elden Ring will go on sale on January 21, 2022 (if everything goes according to plan) and the new generation systems from Microsoft and Sony will have their own version. .
And not only that: if we get the PS4 and Xbox One copies of Elden Ring, we can update them for free to the PS5 and Xbox Series X / S versions respectively. Benefiting in the case of Microsoft’s consoles from Smart Delivery.
At the moment the differences and improvements that Elden Ring will receive on the next generation consoles have not been announced, but a game of this scale and intensity deserves to be played with a good FPS rate . And if we get shot down with some regularity, the ultra-fast loading times are going to come in handy.
