The closed Network Test of the expected Elden Ring game started today. The souls-like affair from the masters of this genre, From Software, attracts with an interesting visual, story and notorious difficulty. Unlike the previous act, Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice, the Elden Ring developers are returning to their most famous brand, Dark Souls.
And you can tell right in the opening minutes. The dark locations, illuminated only by the slight bursts of torch flames, made me feel that the first enemy would jump on me right after the first turn and start cutting me into a pile. The bright spot that conjures a smile on the lips of every souls player is the bonfire, in this case the Site of Grace. As soon as you sit down at the first such place, you can continue through the main door, which will open the real world of Elden Ring to you. The first NPC follows, which will tell you in all seriousness that it would be best to find the hole in which you die right away. Well, I have to admit, I didn’t lie, because I saw the first “You Died” very soon.
The world called Lands Between is much more colorful than it was in the Dark Souls series. But don’t get me wrong, because even here there are dark and gloomy locations full of danger. And danger really awaits on every corner. Although it seemed to me after the first gameplay trailer that Elden Ring would be the “simpler” soul, the opposite is true. Although groups of enemies can be bypassed at any time, or gradually eliminated by stealth, you will not always succeed. In that case, there is a direct duel. It can be damn hard, especially when you’re running a lot of enemies and you’re just backing up defenseless. In my case, this also included relying on a partner’s rescue.
The boss fights, which require preparation, learning individual movements and undoubtedly using all abilities, have a similarly serious effect. In general, fights with bosses, who are even more bizarre than ever, are ruthless and punish every mistake. Behind every fog lies a unique boss who does not hesitate to use all sorts of techniques. The very first boss, Tree Sentinel, can really bother you, and if pride, like me, doesn’t let you run away, you’ll probably wake up to him for a few hours with tears in his eyes. Then we have a monster with the head of a pumpkin, a black rider who only appears at night, or a certain Margita, whose appearance resembles a sadist, a tree overgrown with trees.
As a Warrior in the men’s version, I was equipped with light armor, two swords, one of which can be exchanged for a small shield. This class is designed so that it is possible to perform the fastest attacks and moves, which corresponds to the speed of recovery. However, with greater speed, I was also more prone to damage. For this reason, this class is more suitable for more experienced souls players, which, as I soon realized, I probably am not. An integral part of Warrior are also weapon art, which is fun to use and can help you a lot in combat.
The environment itself is visually imaginative and really interesting. He can peek both day and night. Each Site of Grace shows me a ray of light where my next steps should lead. But Elden Ring doesn’t have a player now, so he can explore the world on his own. As is often the case in souls games, discovery is duly rewarded, and if you survive the influx of invaders or unexpected enemies, you can get an item that will help you in future battles.
The similarity with the Dark Souls is in some cases more than obvious. Similar movements, controls, animations, replenishment of lives with the help of estus, pairing, or stuns. The HUD itself is more or less identical to the Dark Souls series and don’t expect any significant changes from it. Nevertheless, the Elden Ring will introduce some innovations. The first of these is undoubtedly the map, part of which is revealed every time you find a certain fragment of it. With its stylization, the map resembles a drawing and creates a pleasant impression. You can record the point you want to reach at any time. Thanks to that, I was able to quickly find my way in the new environment. The second significant novelty is the horse, which would not only be a means of transport, but also an aspect in combat. This can be summoned thanks to the magic ring. Although a four-legged companion should make it easier for you to travel across locations, in the case of the Network Test, I had minimal need to use it.
The technical side is relatively difficult to evaluate, as Elden Ring will be in development for a few more months. Occasional framer crashes, levitating items, and crashes of some enemies are bugs that developers are likely to fix by release. In the case of servers, I encountered minor problems at the beginning, but it was a momentary case. I basically didn’t notice any problem with multiplayer. Another player can then be summoned only with the necessary items, and with each death the cooperation is immediately terminated and must begin again.
If you are a fan of the souls-like genre, you will feel at home in Elden Ring. Although I could play for three hours, I can’t say I would be bored for a second. The world of Elden Ring will immediately draw you in and serve you the best of From Software. At the same time, I have no doubt that the Elden Ring will also attract those who have so far avoided souls games.
During the weekend, however, you can still look forward to impressions from a colleague who played a different character and has a slightly different view of the game.
Elden Ring will be released on February 25 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S platforms. You can pre-order the game through the store Xzone.
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