FromSoftware: a famous name amongst many companies in both the business world of video games and it’s community. The Japanese company behind the creation of the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, some of the hardest game series to play, with millions of fans all over the world playing them today. With rich in-game lore, diehard PVP action, and hundreds of hours of gameplay with tough boss fights, what’s there not to love? Back in 2019, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), we were hit with something big. A new FromSoftware release, with a one-minute announcement trailer, it exploded with excitement. But, FromSoft played it smart, they didn’t release much marketing besides that, they kept development quiet even through COVID. But now it’s here, the critically acclaimed ELDEN RING.

You first start the game in a strange building, The Chapel of Anticipation. With only your starting class’s equipment and no healing items, the enemy ahead is quite difficult to beat, many unable to do so. Upon your defeat, you are taken to a crypt (Which incudes your standard tutorial area), but when you leave are left in the game’s beautiful atmosphere. Shining Sun, flowers growing in fields, a forest in the distance, and a Ginormous, almost light-created tree. That is the Erdtree, a symbol of strength and power within this world. “The Land Between”.

Where the Demi-Gods take their residences across. The game takes you through toward a towering gate, using Grace (The Bonfire from the other Soul’s Games, a checkpoint) to point you in its direction. Sitting by the Grace at the gate, you meet Melina, a finger maiden. See, you are Tarnished. Tarnished are those, guided by the power of Grace, to one day become the Elden Lord since the shattering of the Elden Ring. Tarnished require the power of “Finger Maidens”, those who use the power of Runes, the currency of this land, to empower and level up your character. She allows you to level up, while also handing you a very important item, a ring that allows you to summon Torrent, the spectral steed.

Elden Ring is completely Open-World, with a sprawling map with caves, crypts, and more to discover. Torrent allows for faster land travel and special combat on-top of him. From here, you are completely free. You can push forward through the gate to reach Storm Castle and fight Margit, The Fell Omen, or take your time and explore the beautiful Valleys and ruins of Limgrave. You can meet all kind of NPCs with their own unique storylines sprawling the length of the game. My personal favorite is Iron Fist Alexander. He’s this ginormous pot creature called a “Living Jar”. They have smaller legs, with very large arms. You can find him stuck in a hole within Limgrave, asking you to hit him from behind with a somewhat large weapon to free him. He’s not human, but he is still very jubilant and heartful, laughing and sharing his dream of becoming a story-renowned warrior. He’s very reminiscent of a number of characters from the past souls games such as Siegmeyer from Dark Souls I, or Siegward from Dark Souls III.

Just as the world is beautiful, so are its weapons. Like any FromSoft game, the swords, axes, and colossal hammers make the warrior. Spears, Bows, Twinblades, Katanas, you name it, it’s probably hidden somewhere within the game. But it’s not just all metal and steel, the mind is used as a weapon in Elden Ring. Sorceries and Magic for those who prefer the idea of being an All-Knowing Mage, with different Staves with special effects that buff different spells, and trust me, there’s a lot of spells. From basic Glintstone magic, to the new and scarily strong Gravity sorcery. But to those Clerics and Paladins who are getting discouraged, don’t be. Incantations, this game’s version of miracles from past games, are just as strong and expanded as their magical counterparts.

With lightning incantations to hurl spears of pure lightening, to bestial incantations allowing the use of throwing stone. The Maddened Incantations build up Madness in those around it for a huge damage boost, to the legendary Draconic incantations allowing the user to morph themselves into parts of dragon to spew fire, ice, magic, or rot. Nothing is weak in this game, everything is strong with the right mind and gameplay.

I give this game a perfect 10/10, not just with its huge arsenal of weapons and magic, but for its beautiful storytelling through dialogue from NPCs and bosses, well-made cutscenes, character design that really makes you feel for them, and the for the item descriptions that open your mind on the smaller, more hidden lore within the world. I implore you to purchase this game and enjoy it yourself or with friends.