I'm a little over 10 hours into Elden Ring. Here're my first impressions:
This is the most welcoming FromSoft game I've ever played. A small part of it might be, I've already played a few. But I don't remember any of them ever pausing the game to pop out a window explaining what I just picked up and how it's gonna be. Or asking me if I'd like to spawn back a little closer to where YOU DIED. Or reducing fall damage to an email that goes straight to your spam folder.
Some of it comes courtesy of being an open world. Stuff like a dedicated jump button, or not consuming stamina when you run. Even your horsey doesn't take up stamina. And all the bonfires/sites of grace, which coat the map and allow instant fast travel. You don't even have to be near one to do it - just go to the map, clack your shoes together and say "There's no place like Stormhill Shack".
Also featured: the most ridiculously generous parry mechanic I've ever encountered. Parrying usually means blocking at the precise moment an enemy attack makes contact. Here it just means your shield was up, therefore you're legally entitled to win the fight with your next heavy attack.
I will say it's a little hard to gauge your progress. Again it's the open world thing. You can pick any direction and be anywhere within just a few hours of starting the game, so it's hard to tell how much headway I'm making or indeed if I'm still splashing around the kiddie pool. Especially when I *just* got invited to what I think is supposed to be the game's Nexus/Firelink Shrine.
Bosses have been mostly easy. They all feel more like mid bosses at the end of bargain bin dungeons. I haven't really met any Master of Their Domain yet, like you expect at the end of a big area. But maybe it's the kiddie pool thing, or the fact that I haven't actually reached the end of anything yet, or even any area bigger than a couple of tunnels/caves. I miss the castles, courtyards, ramparts. Gorgeous scenery though, anywhere you look up.
Magic unexplored so far other than summoning a pack of wolves whenever the screen says I'm allowed to + I remember that's a thing. I also forget about crafting (just throwing darts) and upgrading stuff in general because I don't want to waste materials on something that's gonna get replaced as soon as I find a better alternative.
This is the most welcoming FromSoft game I've ever played. A small part of it might be, I've already played a few. But I don't remember any of them ever pausing the game to pop out a window explaining what I just picked up and how it's gonna be. Or asking me if I'd like to spawn back a little closer to where YOU DIED. Or reducing fall damage to an email that goes straight to your spam folder.
Some of it comes courtesy of being an open world. Stuff like a dedicated jump button, or not consuming stamina when you run. Even your horsey doesn't take up stamina. And all the bonfires/sites of grace, which coat the map and allow instant fast travel. You don't even have to be near one to do it - just go to the map, clack your shoes together and say "There's no place like Stormhill Shack".
Also featured: the most ridiculously generous parry mechanic I've ever encountered. Parrying usually means blocking at the precise moment an enemy attack makes contact. Here it just means your shield was up, therefore you're legally entitled to win the fight with your next heavy attack.
I will say it's a little hard to gauge your progress. Again it's the open world thing. You can pick any direction and be anywhere within just a few hours of starting the game, so it's hard to tell how much headway I'm making or indeed if I'm still splashing around the kiddie pool. Especially when I *just* got invited to what I think is supposed to be the game's Nexus/Firelink Shrine.
Bosses have been mostly easy. They all feel more like mid bosses at the end of bargain bin dungeons. I haven't really met any Master of Their Domain yet, like you expect at the end of a big area. But maybe it's the kiddie pool thing, or the fact that I haven't actually reached the end of anything yet, or even any area bigger than a couple of tunnels/caves. I miss the castles, courtyards, ramparts. Gorgeous scenery though, anywhere you look up.
Magic unexplored so far other than summoning a pack of wolves whenever the screen says I'm allowed to + I remember that's a thing. I also forget about crafting (just throwing darts) and upgrading stuff in general because I don't want to waste materials on something that's gonna get replaced as soon as I find a better alternative.
