It was easy to not get into the hype of the game when it came out because I was not into these games back then. Then Star Wars Jedi happened, and that changed things for me. Since completing Horizon Zero Dawn, needed a game where I face a boss and keep trying to beat that boss. With the hype around the DLC and most of my gaming friends suggesting Elden, I decided to go for it. Here are my thoughts on Elden:
- This game is visually stunning. Farum Azula, the main city, and some of the boss arenas are just stunning (Radahn, Rennala, Astel, Radagon, Placidusax come to mind)
- The thing that makes this game one of a kind and amazing is that it has something for everyone. Someone can make this game as hard as they want or relatively easier (refer #11)
- The developers of the game know that this genre is punishing and not for everyone. Given that, this game was made with a lot of thought to make it accessible to as many gamers that it could attract. The early game offers many options to level-up. Of course, these are hidden, and one needs to go through several YouTube videos to access just the right parts early on and keep using this approach
- In addition to the leveling-up (player and weapon) options, there are 3 boss-fights for which the developers give the players extra summons (i.e., Godskin Duo, General Radahn, and Morgott)
- The game doesn’t do a good job of introducing you to the lore, I didn’t know my character was a human
- The world is very intricately and carefully designed. The underground world, some of the intersecting points of lores and the overall story, very intricate, very difficult to keep straight, kudos to the brilliance of the team
- I really dislike the concept of hidden walls, this game has quite a few of those
- This is game is extremely complex because of the different type of characters, weapons, builds, talismans, special attacks etc., way too much, overwhelming and complicated. Get yourself friends who will guide and support you
- The game does a great job of forcing you to consider other aspects of the game play such as weapons type, player type (melee, magic, or combination), and map areas for getting upgrades
- To me, this game is impossible to play without YouTube videos and 2 friends who will watch your game play and tell you what to do (my character build and weapon choices were essentially what @synapse told me to do)
- The side quests within the game are very well designed, they add a layer of depth to the game, and if you follow the right YouTube videos to do the right quests, you can end up with what anyone who wants to make this game is enjoyable should get:
- The summon Tiche that is obtained at the end of Ranni’s quest (you can also get Mimic Tear on your way there)
- Rune farming location at Moghwyn palace (one of the many underground locations)
- The second Tree Draconian Sentinel and the Godskin Noble were the most punishing bosses for me. The Sentinel made me explore the magic aspects of the game, I got myself the Rock Sling as a secondary weapon to have a range attack option to complement my primary melee Katana. I gave up on Godskin Noble till I got Tiche
- There’s no way I would’ve been able to finish this game without:
- The bosses in this game are really well designed, there’s a lot of variation in attack move sets and arenas. I realized 3 things that I really truly dislike:
- Arenas where it is difficult to dodge / move around (i.e., Godskin Noble)
- Bosses that cover the screen and I can’t see their moves (i.e., Radahn, Elden Beast)
- Me having to fight a boss again after me and the boss die at the same time or if the boss has 1 health left, and I die
- Radagon / Elden Beast is a well-designed final boss that, in my mind, encapsulates the skills needed to best a Souls / Souls-like game
- Phase 1 is about perfect dodges and getting in the right attacks
- Phase 2 is about managing stamina given the arena terrain and being aggressive towards a boss that covers the entirety of the screen, with some dodges
- I ended up accidentally getting the Ranni’s Consort ending, I wasn’t paying attention after beating the Elden Beast and pressed the first option that came up
- I would recommend this to anyone who likes open worlds and is open to the concept of trying hard at bosses to understand attack patterns and getting dodge timings right
- This game is easier than Lies of P
